As she arrived on the 28th floor, she could smell that familiar scent. "He's grown a little bit, but what's with these other scents?" She followed her nose to a set up camp. "Hey, where is he?"
"Huh? Ah!!"
Shurry's ears flickered, as he ran through the fields, with Ardee on his back. "Shurry? Did something happen?" Shurry sniffed a few times, and then bolted off. "Ahaha, Wee!!"
Shurry arrived at the camp, and stopped right next to the woman. "Aunty Lyca!" He cheerfully spoke up, wagging his tail. "Hmm, why'd you come down here?"
"These two… Or rather that third bratty bunny decided it would be fun to run these two ragged. And now their illness has come back a bit."
"Oh! Treatment then… Uhm, I can. But I told mommy that we'd be back in 5 days. If I heal them now…"
"I'll stay with you, no need to worry about any of that."
"Okay! Healing time!"
Silverish light erupted, The healing magic based upon Luna's own ability, was now far stronger. Clear evidence of this being that the twins were right as rain in a matter of seconds.
"Woah! I feel so much better. Oh! Little brother!" Meteria reached out, hugging Shurry, realizing there was a girl on his back. "Huh? Who's this?"
"Her name's Ardee, and she's my friend!"
"Oh? And what's a friend doing riding my little brother? That's my spot." Meteria pouted.
"No, it's my spot!"
And that sparked a small, yet simple rivalry. One Alfia bopped Meteria's head for. "So noisy. Thank you, little brother." She gently pet Shurry's head.
"Hmm?? It's no big deal." Shurry yawned, laid down, and rested in wolf form.
"Shurry, what's wrong? What'd you do to my friend?" Ardee worriedly complained.
"Don't worry. He's tired. Powerful magic. Like that." Alfia explained, stopping because while healed, she was still very much tired from the work out beforehand. "I'm going to hit that bunny brat right on his big stupid head when I get back."
Ardee, unsatisfied with the answer, started petting Shurry, almost in tears, then laid down, and the two fell asleep.
Lyca waited, watching to see if it would happen again. He's not having a nightmare again? Pfft. He's too cute like this.
"Hey, no fair! Ardee, he's my alpha!" Neze ran up and snuggled in close.
"Pfft, that looks comfortable." Alise giggled, piling on as well.
The sight Alfia and Meteria came back to, left Alfia wide eyed, and Meteria pouting angrily.
"Come on, I said that's my spot. That's the big sister spot."
Nernatti approached Lyca, reluctantly sighing inwardly. "Miss Lyca, would it be alright to ask for your assistance on the way up? I'd like some more practice but if he's hunting-"
"You won't have any prey for yourself."
"Yes, I guess that's right."
"Okay, but tell me, what's the deal with that Ardee girl? Neze makes sense but Ardee is human, unable to feel the same instincts we do. She seems to be attached at the hip."
"Pfft, get this right…" Nernatti goes on to elaborate on the whole thing.
"Really? Pfft, now that's good. And I bet, seeing him take down the thing that caused her so much grief in the past helped too… That's cute." He's already asleep, looks like it's been a long day for him. She couldn't help but smile.
"Miss Lyca, let's fight. I want to get stronger."
"Oh? You're the young captain from Ganesha familia, right?" She looked over with an inquisitive eye, and smirked as the scents wafted into her nose. "You must be that girl's family, a sister perhaps? Why do you want strength?"
Shakti was stunned. How did she guess so accurately?
Lyca pointed to her nose. "My sense of smell is better than my captain's, or Maxium's. Even some of your thoughts are easily sniffed out." She smiled. "Though, you're just a level 3, and alone, this won't be much fun for me. If you can answer my question, I'll fight with you. Since it seems like Shurry doesn't need any help keeping those nightmares from haunting his dreams. I suppose I owe your sister some gratitude for that."
"I want to get stronger. I want my sister to look up to me, not him."
"Oh, I think Lady Hera has said there are people like you. Sister cons? Oh well, let's have some fun and work up a sweat. Shurry needs a nap before his bath anyway."
"Huh-" Shakti uttered in a confusion cut short by a fist, she barely managed to block as she was sent flying.
"I'm a level 6. How will you come at me, I wonder? How will you improve? How will you act in the face of overwhelming power?"
And the fight- onesided beat down- began. All while Shurry and the other kids slept soundly. Alfia complained about the noise, covering her ears with pillows. Meteria was gently petting Shurry's head, noticing the earring.
I've seen this thing many times before. But, what exactly is it for? And why doesn't he ever take it off. Hmm? There's something written inside the loop, Seldas? Who's that? "Oh well, he's my little brother now. No one else can have him."
"Bold of you to say that, dear sister." Alfia said, with a glare hidden behind her eyelids.
"Oh you know you're an exception."
A few more bickerings went on, and soon Shurry took in a huge breath, and then yawned out, adding a soft howl towards the end. "I feel better now, what about you?"
"I'm fine, do you want to play some more before dinner is served?"
"Dinner-" Shurry sniffed the air.
"Yay, Shurry's awake! Are you okay? I thought you'd been hurt!"
"I'm good, really good! I smell yummy prey!"
Alise and Neze both slowly woke up, as Ardee nudged them both awake. "Hey, Shurry's going hunting. Get off him."
"Awe, but he was so warm and fluffy!" Alise giggled.
"Can I go hunting too!" Neze asked, waking up instantly after hearing that word.
Shurry was freed, and then vanished, sprinting across the fields, vanishing into the forest, and came back out with a Giant Stag in his fangs. He pranced back into camp. "Yummy prey!" He said licking his chops.
That night's meal was nothing short of delicious, and full of meat. Some had a harder time dealing with it, but whatever wasn't devoured properly would be eaten by Shurry. They polished off the whole thing… Not really a surprise.