I looked back and assessed the situation. The elf seemed to recover and reached for the sword on his belt. I wasn’t having that. I swirled water around myself, creating a veil of protection.

  “Tama doesn’t want to kill all of you, but she will!” I hoped they would take the promise for what it was meant to be and not what I felt it was, a death sentence for me. I was the greatest ninja ever, well, second greatest. Sensei would always be the greatest, and he was a traveler. He was immortal.

  It seems my words were ignored, and the elf brought his free hand up. A ball of fire formed weakly and shot at me.

  It was super slow, but if I dodged, the fox girl would get hit. Instead, I sliced down with Serenity, and she dispersed the fire easily.

  I blinked to the side of the man and stabbed forward, piercing his chest. He fell over, not moving. I blinked into the air just as a small condensed ball of water shot past where I had been.

  It was really small and weak. I wondered if it could have even gotten past my veil. I turned right as a bolt of rock came at me. Instead of dodging, I took a risk.

  I let it hit me, and to my shock, it bounced off my water veil like it was paper. I frowned at that before looking at the Foxkin who cast it. He took a step back, his face pale in horror. One of the Nekojin called out, “What are you, monster!”

  I clenched my teeth at that. I was not a monster! I was a Nekojin like him! Tears began to fill my eyes, and rage filled me. I blinked forward and sliced down without thinking. His body gave no resistance, and the once cute Nekojin was fully split in half, both sides falling to the ground.

  The remaining Nekojin screamed and turned to run away. “Don’t let them escape! They are wanted criminals!” the fox girl suddenly called out. I looked over at her. “Criminals?” I asked curiously.

  She looked at me stunned for a second before saying, “They are bad people, they were going to use my body for sex against my will!” I tilted my head. What was sex? The Foxkin stared at me uncomprehendingly.

  As she did, the remaining Foxkin shot another ball of water. I was so distracted, I ignored it, and it bounced off my veil.

  I turned to face him and glared. He turned and started to flee as well. They ran very slowly. I was pretty sure I could walk and still catch up quickly.

  I turned to the Foxkin and asked, “What’s your name? Tama’s name is Tama, and she is the greatest ninja ever!” Second greatest, I thought to myself after I said it. She pointed at the men and said, “Please finish them before they hurt some other poor innocent girl!”

  I frowned at that. Her voice had that underwater effect again, and I felt something hit me and then instantly pass by. I glared at her and raised Serenity. “Nya! What did you just try to do to Tama!”

  Stolen from its original source, this story is not meant to be on Amazon; report any sightings.

  The fox girl paled, and she held up her hands. “I was just trying to get you to help, please!” She pleaded. She seemed genuine, at least partially. I could tell she wasn’t telling the whole truth. Still, those men had attacked me first. Also, I really hated cowards.

  I turned away from the Foxkin and blinked in front of the furthest one. The Nekojin had made it around thirty steps and was literally mid-step when I grabbed him by the throat. He grabbed at my arm, and he felt weak. He tried to pull, but it was like he was tickling me. He started to sob and punch at me. I dodged the first few but quickly realized much like his pulling, they didn’t even activate the water veil, and I felt nothing when they hit.

  “What were you doing to that fox girl!” I said as I glared at him. I should have killed him, but the fox girl didn’t sit right with me. Instead of answering me, he continued trying to punch me. I felt like Sensei when I tried to hit him. It was a bold move, but it was not paying off. Finally, I snapped his neck. He went limp, and I turned to the remaining man.

  I blinked in front of him and was about to grab him when he pulled out a small glowing dagger. I saw the enchantment, not what it did though. It made me wary, and I blinked to the left quickly. He sliced the blade down where I had been. As he did, a very sharp-looking rock came out of the dagger and flew forward, slamming into the earth and sinking deep into it.

  I decided he was too dangerous to question. I blinked behind him. He tried to turn and swing, but I grabbed his head and twisted once. There was a snapping sound, and he fell to the ground not moving. I turned back to the female Foxkin. She had started to move toward the gate, but when I saw her, she froze and then smiled sweetly at me.

  I blinked over to her and pushed her against the wall. I double-checked she had no weapons, but that didn’t mean she didn’t have powers. So I put my dagger to her throat and said, “Tama wants to know what’s going on, you are going to tell her!” She nodded fiercely as she looked at the blade fearfully.

  I felt my tail wrap around my leg, showing my discontent. I made sure the fox girl looked me in the eyes so she wouldn’t notice. She sighed and glared at me, though her body still shook from fear. “If you must know, yes, they were criminals. They were bad people! I was trying to hire them to help me with a quest. Then you show up all sword swinging and ruin everything! I had everything under control before you showed up and ruined it!” she said.

  Then her eyes went wide, and she looked puzzled for a moment before asking, “What did you just do to me?!” I looked back, puzzled and angry. “Tama did nothing! Tama asks the questions!”

  The Foxkin stared at me for a long moment before replying in a calm tone. “Look, as I said, I was trying to hire those gentlemen when you showed up and killed them. I think it is only fair that you help me with my quest in their place. You mentioned being a ninja, right? That means you must be an adventurer of some kind. Take up my quest with you and your party. I promise it will be worth it.”

  She seemed uncertain of herself even as she spoke, but by the end she looked at me with certainty she clearly didn’t have a moment ago. I considered her words and replied, “Tama is not an adventurer, she is a ninja. She has come to Drestor to help people and find her aunt!”

  The Foxkin seemed deep in thought for a moment, then smiled widely. “I tell you what, let’s make a deal! I help you find your aunt, you protect me by escorting me through the Trelloark forest. Fair?”

  I pursed my lips, but after a moment I slowly let go. She wasn’t lying, that I was certain. Also, I felt a strange kinship with her despite her being a Foxkin. I nodded and said, “Okay, Tama will help as long as you don’t lie!”

  She nodded at me gratefully as I put her down and stated, “By the way, my name is Autumn, but you can call me Saki.”

  I paused as I heard that name. That was when… Autumn…