FSE

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formerly SoFurry search engine

Ucci pulled her Mana Pepper in the window, putting the hardy plant on her countertop and retrieving a pair of Mithril pruning shears from the collection of horticulture implements under the counter. It was rare that she would have to use them, and she made sure that the blades were dust free before standing upright again. She hadn't smelled her, but the Gnoll was in her store idly browsing through the goods on display. She didn't pay the young-looking female much attention, carefully leaning in to her Pepper and finding the right spot to harvest the fruit from.

This was always the most important part of any treatment of this particular botanical marvel.

If she pruned it too high, the plant could be harmed and die, if she pruned it too short, the pepper would leak its magical properties like a sieve. She, over the years, had practiced the art of cultivating this plant into a fine art, and she snipped the stem and carefully handled the fruit into a Mithril container. Mithril was another vital part of the plant's cultivation. Too many places sold cheap Mithril pot knockoffs, clay pots simply glazed with a low-grade Mithril film, and this would always be the first mistake any potential cultivator would make.

Only the Manticore could make true Mithril pots.

It takes time and patience to smelt useful Mithril, as it must be let boil in its melting pot at least overnight to keep its magical property. After that, it's like handling any other metal, except that it is immune to rust, chipping, or tarnishing. Smelted Mithril was as close as anything could come to being immortal, and prices for it were steep. Armour was rare and cost an arm and a leg, and weapons made of Mithril were all but banned due to their potential hazards. Mages detested clothing made with it, as it has a habit of draining mana from those wearing it, and spells cast against it would be absorbed by the material. There is still a breaking point, however; should it absorb too much mana then it would expel it in vast and explosive quantities, virtually liquefying those wearing it.

Ucci had been sent her pots by asking her father, who was a well-off smelter of Mithril items, and the Mithril gardening implements were sent with it, appearing in the packaging by surprise, not to mention some containers that she could keep the peppers in for shipping to the mages that had her store's logo engraved on them. Mithril pots could grow any plant regardless of weather, making tropical fruit grow in even snowy weather, or plants that require cold to grow in sweltering heat. The problem is that the mana in the metal would slowly leech into the soil and plants, and if it ran out then its magical properties would end. Ucci solved this problem by having the city's mages help her by giving it a charge every now and then in return for a discount at her store. She carefully tucked the box into a safe compartment under the floor before returning the pot to its place on the windowsill and stepping around the counter. She moved with a silent grace as she walked to the Gnoll, who was looking at something on a shelf with great curiosity.

"They're leeks." Ucci said, sidling up to the female and leaning down. "A human vegetable, you eat the white stem; I've found that it goes well in soup, but it's not too bad as a substitute for onion for any other meal."

The Gnoll female cringed slightly, shying away from Ucci. The Manticore didn't find it odd, most free Gnolls, if not all due to their rarity, shy away from larger and stronger races because of their unfortunate past. She only smiled a warm, welcoming smile and held a clawed, padded and furry hand out.

"I'm Ucibmareth, Ucci for short; welcome to my store." She said kindly, shaking the girl's trembling hand. "You can tell your Harpy companion that they are welcome to come in, I'm sure I still have some fish from this morning's catch in my icebox."

The Gnoll nervously nodded and headed outside, waving to something up high before returning inside.

A harpy landed at the door and stepped inside.

Unlike most other races, Harpies evolved for the skies. Instead of arms, they possess strong wings for flight. Their faces are similar to those of birds of prey, especially eagles, and their entire body is covered in a soft, fluffy down of feathers in varying colours. This female was a green and pink with light yellow flecks here and there. Harpies don't kidnap other races to breed with them, as is common folklore, but the diverse peoples in their home comes from accepting orphaned babies that are left in their canyon. The children are kept warm, safe, and well fed; they're educated to the best extent that Harpies can provide and loved like their own flesh and blood. Once a Harpy Clan child reaches a certain age, they leave on a pilgrimage to the villages and cities of the other races in search of something of value or worth to the rest of the Roost; cartloads of fresh fish are quite common, the cart being useful for moving heavy goods and the fish is always welcome.

Every child out on pilgrimage is accompanied by an adult Harpy, who guards the youth, and each child wears a feather on their person -should they not be a Harpy themselves- that warns people that they are of the Clan.

People who would do harm to these children generally don't walk away.

Ucci greeted the Harpy warmly, bowing with respect to the female, who dipped her head in return. Her green and pink plumage was quite stunning, and Ucci had met this Harpy once before.

"Palia, it's been a long time," Ucci said cheerfully, "tell me, how long have you been out with this cute kid?" She shook up the fur on the Gnoll's head playfully as she spoke, getting a giggle from Palia.

"This our first day in New Hope." She chirped. "Was only too eager to bring Ulrica to meet you."

Ucci's smile didn't fade as she moved to the Harpy. "Not been here a day, hmm? Well, have you found somewhere to stay for the night?"

Palia shook her head. "Not yet, sightseeing."

"That's no good; tell you what, you can stay here with me until you find what you're looking for? I could help you look even?"

The Harpy shook her head. "We impose..."

"Think nothing of it;" Ucci hastily replied, shooting the feathered female's argument down in seconds. "I've a spare room, and I can always get a spare mattress from the attic. If you're hurting for ideas I could give you a few, too. Please, it's the least I could do."

The Harpy shyly looked to the floor. "I... I guess harm would not come from it." She mumbled. "But-"

"Excuse me." A human male in lengthy purple robes snapped, pushing past the Harpy rudely.

She squawked and hurried over to the Gnoll, who was looking at the stocks on the shelves, pointing out a few things that they could purchase with a clawed talon, looking over her shoulder at him spitefully. Ucci sighed.

"Hello, Magus Richie." She said in a monotone. "Welcome to Shoppe for Food."

Another mage stepped in behind the rude human, another human male with grey hair and a wispy beard. He walked with a gnarled staff, and gave the younger mage a firm rap across the back of his head.

"That was quite rude, Richie." He grumbled. "Being civil is one of our most important lessons. We have power, being kind to those without assures them that we will not abuse it."

"Archmagus Theolore, welcome. I trust you're here about the Pepper?" Ucci asked, hurrying around the counter.

"Well, it's a pleasant surprise to know that yours is ripe; our gardener informed me that they shouldn't be ripe for another week..."

Ucci giggled cheerfully. "You know me; I take pride in my Mana Pepper. I lost my second plant last week to an irritating pest, but this berry should be of top quality; it ripened only a few minutes ago. I'll take a cutting and replant, but if that irritating little bastard comes around again I'll have to have the city guards take him."

"Oh? Whatever happened?" Theolore asked, leaning on the counter worriedly.

Ucci sighed.

"The boy from three streets down thought it'd be funny to throw stones at my pots. He knocked one down, thankfully not damaging the pot, but killed my plant; it was looking like a promising season, too, there were four peppers on that one, and they were all ruined." She lifted the Mithril container she had put the pepper onto the top and gave him a sly grin. "Why, if they'd all survived, I could have bought myself a new pot, or even afford to have a mason come and convert the upper walls to stone and my roof to tiles..."

The Archmagus laughed at her cheekiness.

"You could always come and work at the Mages College as one of our gardeners." Richie said. "I'm not sure why you stay here in this... place."

Ucci glared at him.

"I like my home here, I get to meet some interesting people, and I've quite a few regulars who keep me well afloat. My mushroom farm is doing quite nicely in my basement, I've a well with access to the underground rivers in which I cage crabs for sale-" at this, Palia turned her head in interest, seafood is the most popular food of Harpies, "and I've old friends who know that I'm here that come back from time to time." She snapped, nodding towards Palia. "Harpies know my store as a safe haven, as do Gnolls, other Manticore, Naga, Dragonkin..." She trailed off slightly, letting him know that the list for people who knew of her store was indeed rather lengthy. "Why would I leave?"

"Why indeed." Theolore mumbled, trying to lighten the tone a little. "Well, it is most unfortunate to hear that your Peppers have been so rudely vandalized, I shall see about sending a Magus around to keep an eye on the store; we would not want our supply of high quality peppers to be ruined, now would we?"

Ucci nodded faintly, opening the container for Theolore to see the Pepper.

"Ah, a most splendid fruit; even with your misfortune, it seems as though you are not to let us down. How does... two hundred gold sound to you?"

Ucci blinked. "A bit steep," She replied, before seeing Theolore's look and grinning. "Though I guess, with circumstances being what they are, two hundred doesn't seem that bad; it saves me from having to request that you never bring young Richie to my store again, and it should more than pay for the soil I need to replant."

"It is settled." Theolore said, carefully closing the container and shifting it into his robes, where he switched it with an empty one that he handed back to her. "And here is the container from last month." He said as she took it. He held out his hand with the gold, which she graciously took and ferreted away into a safekeeping container. "And I believe that your pots have not had a recharge in at least a month or two; I would be happy to assist."

"Ah, of course, thank you." Ucci said, lifting the empty spare pot onto the countertop and gently lifting her still living plant to the counter. "I hope you don't mind if I serve my other customers while you help me so?"

"No, no, go ahead." He replied, magic starting to glow in his hands. "I shan't be long."

Ucci turned to Palia and Ulrica, who was slightly cowering from the mages. They held a basket full of foodstuffs.

"Let me see..." Ucci mumbled, rifling through the basket. "Yes, this isn't too bad... No meat? You having a vegetarian dinner tonight?"

Palia looked as sheepish as a bird could manage. "I hear something about crab..?" She asked nervously.

"Crab, eh..?" Ucci mumbled, looking down at the basket. "Yes... this wouldn't be bad for crab soup... If you wanted a meatier meal, I'd suggest against a couple of these..."

She took out a pad of paper and started scribbling down some notes, glancing in the basket while her head ticked away.

"Hmm... yes, this should do..." She mumbled, before tucking the basket away behind the counter. "Don't worry about paying for that stuff, I'll cook dinner tonight, give you a real treat for your first night here; a Manticore speciality." She turned around and took a bottle of poison from the high shelf, adding it to the basket. "What I will charge you for, however, is what I'm about to give you;"

She headed around the counter, waving as the mages left, and took a large strip of dried beef jerky from a hook, handing it to Ulrica.

"I hope I can trust you in my store while I go get something from my icebox, Palia..." She mumbled, hurrying behind the counter. Palia puffed up her feathers with mock offence.

"Of course!"

Ucci was only gone from the store for a minute or so, hurrying back with a large fish in one hand. Palia eyed the salmon presented to her. Though slightly short of what most species called basic intelligence, real Harpies can tell to within an hour how long ago a fish was caught. She sniffed at it.

"Hmm, not bad..." She mumbled.

"I promise it was caught this morning, one of my Manticore deliverymen pulled in his nets after leaving them out for a week by mistake and this one was still moving when I put it in the ice; he charged me twelve gold pieces for it."

Though one might think ice is impossible with the day and age they live in, another of Ucci's specialities was a box of water lined with Mithril and enchanted with freezing magic. The water stays at freezing temperatures, preserving whatever is placed in it.

Palia sniffed at it one last time before nodding. "It is quite acceptable." She said.

"I trust I don't have to filet it." Ucci joked, holding out the fish and letting Palia snap it up, practically swallowing it whole.

"We thank you for your hospitality." Palia said happily, giving a smile to the Manticore.

"Think nothing of it, anything for friends." Ucci replied. "I think... for old friends I'll give you a special discount; Eight Gold."

Ulrica fished the gold pieces from her satchel, handing them to Ucci who discreetly packed them into her safekeeping strongbox.

"Now, I would suggest going for a little wander of the city, there are quite a few-"

Her sentence was cut off as an arrow soared through her front window and buried itself into her wall, scaring the daylights out of them. She glanced outside, put her Mana Pepper under the counter and dove across the wood, effectively tackling Ulrica and Palia to the floor.

"Get down!"

A dozen more arrows slammed into her store, hitting stock and burying into wood. Ucci carefully lifted herself from her customers, looking down at them worriedly.

"You two okay?"

They nodded faintly, both in shock from what had just happened, and Ucci climbed off of them and darted into the street, heading towards the human holding a bow.

"What the glemswich is your problem?! You could have killed someone!"

"I should only be so lucky..." He grumbled while drawing the bow and shooting Ucci square in her gut with dozens of people watching. Ulrica screamed, and Palia appeared at the human's shoulders in an instant, grabbing him with her razor sharp talons and beginning to lift him. Several guards ran to the scene, a priest healer on horseback amongst them who hurried to Ucci, rolling her onto her back and pulling the arrow from her stomach.

Ucci growled loudly, watching Palia lifting the human higher and higher into the air.

She was going for a kill.

"Palia..!" Ucci shouted, noticing that the man stopped rising so that the Harpy could listen. "Don't!"

Palia seemed to consider this, before gently lowering back to the ground where guards were waiting to apprehend them. Palia struggled against the guards, and Ucci clicked her fingers at them.

"Guards, please, don't punish her, she was only defending me." She grunted, the priest casting healing magics into her wound. "That bastard shot up my shop, but she's just a friend of mine."

Reluctantly the guards released the slightly struggling Harpy, lifting the bowman up and clapping irons on him before dragging him off. The priest helped Ucci up before mounting, bowing respectfully and heading back to the districts' Titan Ground, a church for the collective worship of the Twin Deities.

There were several different religions devoted to the Twins, most of them little more than collective prayer groups for giving thanks to the Twins for whatever it was the prayer was thankful for, good harvests, bountiful fish or game, even just general thanks for still being alive for another day. The only one that was mostly disliked was the Apostles of Human Enlightenment, which stated that humans were the be-all and end-all of all mortal races, and that the Titan Twins had left the planet aeons ago after seeing humanity's perfection. Naturally, this particular religion was not very large, as most races, including humans, found it quite distasteful. The Revenants, the servants of the Titans, neither approved nor disapproved of the mortal races' collective worship, sometimes one would even come to mass to reassure those who were down on their luck.

Ucci brushed herself off gently.

"Well, that was rather..."

"Off?" Palia suggested.

"Quite."

She looked over at her beaten store and strolled inside, waving the Harpy back inside. Palia followed hurriedly, checking to make sure that Ulrica was alright.

"Well, since it looks like I'm going to be closed for a while until I can right the shelves, how about we go to the local bathhouse? I'm sure you would like a wind-down after that kafuffle." She asked with a hopeful look to Ulrica and Palia.

"It sounds good." Palia said, giving a nod. "But... we do not have towel?"

"That's fine, I have a few spares, and I'll let you borrow them. You can borrow a couple of clothes I have too, I managed to acquire a little bit of other races' clothes in trades."

"That seems... satisfactory." Palia said.

Ucci smiled. "Great, let me get it all and I'll lead you there."

Ten minutes later, and the trio were in the changing rooms for the females-only half of the bathhouse. Ulrica had been exceedingly nervous around all of the larger races here, of which there was an impressive amount. Humans, Manticore, Elves, Naga... Another Harpy pair had greeted them like family at the door to the changing room, and a Greatwood Draconid had even slipped by them as they found a bench to change on. Ucci undressed with no evident nervousness, as did Palia, but Ulrica, upon standing, already had her towel wrapped around her middle, hiding herself from sight.

Ucci only held a hand gently to her back and guided her to the bath, Palia following closely. She had their belongings in a fabric bag, tied with an enchanted bell that would make an audible ring even if muffled for security. The trio found a small bath to one side of the main hall which was currently unoccupied and slipped in, though Ulrica hugged her form shyly.

Idly Ucci pulled a bottle from their bag with a paper label on the side, on which a picture of a manticore stinger with the words 'stingers' brew' blazoned on top.

"Are you old enough to partake, Ulrica?" She asked, waving the bottle in her direction a little.

"N-no." came her meek reply.

"Shame," Ucci mumbled, pulling the lid off with a twist.

"Is... is allowed?" Palia asked worriedly.

Ucci nodded after taking a mouthful. "They sell several of their own, including one that harpies seem to like, something called 'Gentle Wave'."

Palia gave an eager chirp. "Gentle Wave sold here? You no lie?"

"Yeah, though I didn't really favour the taste myself..." She swirled her drink a little in her hand. "Something more potent is my thing." She held the bottle to her lips and gave Palia a sly look. "Tempted?"

The harpy nodded and stood, shaking her feathers off as she got out of the bath and went to move off.

"The girl is over there." Ucci said, pointing over to a room on one side. "Take some coin."

Palia wandered off, coin purse held tightly in one of her wings, leaving the two to their warm water. Ucci grinned a little, took a swig of her odd brew, and sidled closer to the shy Gnoll.

"Hey," she began, poking the younger female in her ribs playfully, "you don't need to be so shy, we've all the same stuff."

Ulrica shrunk slightly. "Not..."

"Hmm?"

"You... no chest." She pointed out.

Ucci blinked and looked down before giving a gentle chuckle. "Ah, I see what you mean, I lack the same cleavage most females, even harpies, have." She mumbled, before wrapping an arm around the Gnoll's shoulders. "No, Manticore don't grow breasts, our young, though born live, eat mushrooms until their teeth develop, thus we have no need." She looked across the pool, seemingly into space for a moment or two before turning her eyes back on Ulrica. "But that's not the problem is it now? You're afraid, aren't you?"

Ulrica nodded.

"I... Nudity among harpy uncommon." She said weakly, almost in a whisper. "But outside clan cliffs, laws."

Ucci smiled warmly. "I see; you're worried about social taboos." She said. "Not here, hun; this is a bath-house, nudity is expected. More frequent visitations to these places remove the fear somewhat from the young, but..." She pointed to a human woman shyly covering up as she walked past.

"How... how you not shy?"

Ucci chuckled lightly. "The drink helps a little." She said, wiggling the bottle. "But, Manticore are used to it. It's a rare day that you'll find a Manticore who is shy about being nude." She took a quick drink before giving the Gnoll another playful poke in the ribs, making her giggle and writhe. "Any Manticore who's afraid of being nude's not getting into my home, let me tell you."

Ulrica nodded with a little laugh, seeming to open up a little, and Ucci took a moment to peek and see where Palia was, sitting back and leaning to the Gnoll's ear.

"Hun, you want a good hint for a gift for your pilgrimage?"

Ulrica nodded faintly, tilting an ear in Ucci's direction.

"Harpies have difficulty teaching and speaking Human, yes?"

Another nod.

"There is a store in town that sells books, amongst those are educational books on reading, writing and speaking Human. Think of the boon to the Roost these books would be when educating young?"

Ulrica looked puzzled.

"I... not follow?"

"Your Human speech is..." she waved her arms a bit, looking for the word, "broken. The books I speak of could teach you and your kin how to speak Human fluently, perfectly, as if it were your native language."

The Gnoll made a series of clicks, whistles and chirps.

*This is my native language, though.*

Ucci only smiled and replied in kind.

*But your Human speech like my Harpy; difficult, not fluid.*

Ulrica blinked again. "Your Harpy good for non-clan."

"Thank you, I have been practicing, but it is difficult to learn without a teacher, Harpy cannot be taught through books like Human can."

"You say books can teach Human..?"

Ucci smiled. "Now you're getting it." She said cheerfully, tapping Ulrica on the nose. "Oh, if I had the time, I'd teach you some Manticore..."

Another female Manticore, this one larger than Ucci in both bulk and height, strode into view and gave them a glare.

"Gnoll! This is not your break time, get back to work!"

The woman moved over and reached to pull the cowering girl from the pool, only to have her wrist grabbed by Ucci.

She spoke in a language more music than word.

"She's of the Harpy clans, Rui'thrameth."

The other female looked into Ucci's dead-serious expression and nodded.

"O-of course."

She backed up and bowed slightly to Ulrica.

"I apologise, Harpy Clan, I-I didn't see a Charm."

Ulrica only squeaked in fright, shivering where she sat.

"We have removed it for her to relax better, it is not good for her fur to wear it at all times, is it little one?"

Another squeak was all that left her lips.

Ucci put her beer down and gently embraced the Gnoll, cooing reassuringly to her to calm her down, only shooting a few sung tones to her fellow Manticore.

"I believe you should go, you have frightened her."

She nodded and walked away with worried haste. Harassing a Harpy Clan was not only frowned upon, but it often led to being assaulted by the Clansmen's guardian.

Not many walk away from this with less than one broken bone.

Palia returned with a bottle of Gentle Wave under one wing and a coin purse under the other. Ucci helped her put the purse into their bag before opening her bottle for her while she got into the water with them.

*Ulrica, sister, are you alright?*

Ulrica nodded.

"Another Manticore mistook her for one of their workers, but I set her right." Ucci said, not missing the words that Palia said in her foreign tongue.

"Understand, did they?"

"Oh, yes, after I told her that this little darling," she emphasized her point by ruffling Ulrica's head-fur, "is one of your clan and not a Stray, though I wouldn't let her take a Stray either."

"Did you speak?"

"How do you mean?"

*In your own language?*

*Yes.* Ucci replied with a cheeky grin.

Palia cooed faintly. "Ah, Manticore tongue like music, long time since I have heard it."

"You only need ask."

It was now that Ulrica cut in.

"Stray?"

Ucci blinked at her.

"Stray is the term used for a non-enslaved or Clan Gnoll, hun. Though it sounds harsh, the only other term that is used in Human is to call them Wild Gnolls. Strays call themselves something else, it's hard to translate, but in Human the word is Pure." She informed. "The word they use is Herthu. The Manticore is Unchani, or Hillchild, as Gnolls first came from the Lowland Hills. Harpies don't have a word for them; all races are the same to the Clans, creatures of this world. The many races have different words, but the most common one you'll hear is Stray, I'm sorry."

Ulrica still looked confused.

"Why different words?" She asked curiously.

Ucci shrugged slightly. "It depends on the culture, but the history between two races tends to raise names. Humans use Stray or Wild because, about five hundred years ago, their monarch swept across this Draconic Province, which the Gnolls had control of at the time. The human armies captured the children and weaker females and culled the rest they found. Sadly those captured were turned into slaves, and Gnolls have just never really seemed to pull themselves from the slump." She gave Ulrica an apologetic face. "If I ever meet a Stray, I always ensure they're looked after, I have a fair amount of pull with the mages at the College; there are some unscrupulous people in human cities who would take advantage of Gnolls..."

She shrugged and took another mouthful of her drink.

*Don't worry, little sister, I will look after you.*

Ucci grinned a little, somewhat slyly.

"That she will." She mumbled quietly in her singsong language.

The trio returned to Ucci's home, and sat about the living room on the top floor talking about where Ulrica was going to be shown next. The girl seemed eager to visit the local Titan Ground and learn more about the Twin Deities, especially after the encounter with a Gnoll Priest on the way back.

Night fell, as it does, and the trio enjoyed a meal of Crab in Manticore dressing, made with Ucci's venom. Ulrica had been sceptical of this sauce, knowing as all creatures inherently do that Manticore venom is exceedingly poisonous. Ucci, however, reassured the Gnoll that she had much practice in cooking the delicacy that was Manticore venom.

A few hours later and they were heading off to bed, Ucci taking a little time to move her day's earnings to her basement safe, double reinforced steel with a complex lock that was nigh impossible to break into.

She lay back on her pillows, listening to the chirping of her temporary housemates as they discussed whatever they were discussing, trying to drift to sleep.

Next thing she knew, she was awoken by a painful heat and a distinct smell. She roused from her bed groggily before becoming fully awake and pulling her pillow to her face.

Fire!

She grabbed her wallet and safe key before dashing out the bedroom door and kicking open the door to the guest room, shocking Ulrica and Palia awake with indignant squawks.

"Ucci, what problem!?"

"Fire! My house is on fire! We have to get out of here!"

The pair blinked in shock before scrambling to grab their essentials, few though they were, and followed her in fear. They made it to the staircase to find it ablaze, and Ucci dragged them back to the back rooms.

"Out the window!" She snapped, kicking the glass from the pane. "Go, go!"

"Second floor!" Ulrica protested.

"Palia, go, lift her to the ground!"

"Ucci..."

"GO!"

She emphasised her final word by pushing them almost out the window, Palia panicking and grabbing Ulrica by her shoulders with her taloned feet, launching out the window and smoothly gliding to the ground.

Ucci hit the ground next to them with a thud and a hiss, the landing hurting more than she thought it would.

"Where to?"

Ucci moved to walk out into the street before ducking back and pulling the duo with her.

"There are humans throwing flaming torches!" She hissed. "C'mon, we need to get to a guard!"

They hurried down the alleyway into the street parallel the one on which Ucci's home rested, only to encounter another mob of humans.

"There!" "Get them!"

Ucci panicked and pushed Ulrica to Palia.

"Take her and fly to the castle! GO!"

Palia complied in fear, grabbing her charge and lifting her away, moving across the rooftops to the castle.

Ucci ducked a pair of groping arms, dashing past the group and running to the castle at the end of the road as fast as she could. She wasn't fit, she knew, but her fear and adrenaline would keep her moving at top pace until she either hit a dead end or hyperventilated. An arrow snarled past her ear, shooting new dread into her heart, causing her to break into terrified tears. She could hear them chasing her, their footfalls as furious as her own. She reached the castle and stopped dead at the outer wall, the drawbridge up and the portcullis down, a rush of wind flowing overhead.

She'd hit the dead end.

One of the humans stepped out of the crowd that had gathered, walking forth and lifting a dagger in his hand.

"This is a human town, in a human world." He spat, his words full of self-satisfactory smug. "Your kind has no place anymore, you disgusting filth not of our race which drove the gods to spread our glory amongst the stars!"

He grabbed her throat, and her hands went to his forearm, trying feebly to pull him from her.

She regretted being weaker than the normal Manticore.

"Your death will be painful, the poison on my blade one of great suffering!" He snapped, driving the blade into her side. She tried to scream, the pain from being stabbed making nothing but strangled air leave her lungs, before struggling against his grip no longer.

She twitched her tail.

"Do you feel the pain yet, you monster- NNGH!"

He looked down to see her stinger move away from his side, and heard her hiccup. His eyes looked at her in furious puzzlement, her own eyes full of despair and tears.

Her tail stung again.

"My name," she began, her words struggled out though terrified and hyperventilated lungs, "is Ucib'mareth; it is a Manticore name which means 'sting of the final breath.'" She took a heaving breath before continuing. "First you will feel your blood tingle, as if full of magic, before your lungs burn like acid. Your death will not be swift, but it will hurt." She gritted her teeth as he tightened his grip. "Manticore cannot be poisoned or envenomed, but we can feel the effect of our own." She chuckled for what she could, humourlessly though it was. "I might bleed to death, and it will be slow and faint, but you? You'll feel the wrath of a woman scorned, of a race, a world insulted by your distasteful religion."

The man dropped her, and she fell to her knees as he took a step back and looked down at the side she had stung him.

"You'll not even have enough breath to scream." She spat. "At least you'll do us a favour and die quietly!"

He held his hands up, staring at something that only he could see, before grasping his chest and seeming to convulse, falling to the ground and foaming at the mouth, his face full of pain as he convulsed, his muscles tensing in agony.

The rest of the crowd started to move in, and the portcullis raised as the drawbridge fell. No-one stood on the wooden bridge, but heavy footsteps could be heard over the crowd, which fell silent as they stared in wonder as the moat water rose into the air, swirling into a vortex above the drawbridge.

The water calmed, falling back into the moat, and a female covered in heavy black armour strode into the street.

She stood, looking around at all of the people, before looking down to Ucci and holding out a hand. A stream of water shot from her palm to Ucci's wound, her deep cut healing in an instant.

"R-Revenant..?" She breathed.

The woman nodded.

"I am Ara'thiel the Turbulent, herald of Saoirse, Titan of Freedom." Her voice was feminine, yet with the echoes like those of being within a tomb. "The dragons of this province have extinguished your flames and reported to the king; however the King is unable to control a crisis of this magnitude.

"As such, more drastic measures are to be taken."

The world felt heavy around them, the air itself buzzed with power and mana, and a bolt of light struck the ground next to the Revenant. A figure stood, white mists pouring off her grey figure. A blue aura pulsed around her faintly as she looked up and opened luminous blue eyes.

She stood about six foot, her body covered in a fine grey fur and a tail as long as her legs leading from the end of her spine. A pair of horns as supple as her animalistic ears jutted from her temples and over the back of her head, catching the faint wind gently. A jewel as deeply blue as the most vibrant of sapphires embedded at the base of her throat not only glittering in the light, but seeming to give off a faint glow itself. The air around her pulsed with contained power, and she simply looked about the massed crowd with distaste.

Ara'thiel spoke again.

"Saoirse, Titan of Freedom."

The crowd seemed to collectively intake breath, and the new female opened her mouth to speak before closing it again and looking down to Ucci. She fretted herself, stepping over and gently helping the pained Manticore to her feet.

"Ucib'mareth, you poor creature, I hope you are unharmed?" She asked, her voice like silk to hear.

"I..." Ucci managed to blurt in her own language before slapping a hand over her mouth. Her tongue failed to manage Human, her fear forcing her to rely on her own language. "I am, thanks to your Revenant, but..."

"But what young one?"

"But I... I killed with my sting, something I swore to never do. How can you forgive me? How could I possibly forgive myself?"

Saoirse smiled in a motherly way.

"Your life was in the hands of a would-be murderer." Saoirse replied calmly. "I forgive you for protecting yourself in as dire a time as you were in."

She gently held the Manticore to her shoulder, allowing the female to break down into tears.

"I'm sorry! I..!"

"I understand, Ucib'mareth; after millennia of banishment I, too, understand the weight of taking life; but it was you or him, and I, for one, am glad it was one who shows such remorse, I cannot be prouder of your race."

"Hey! What gives?!" One of the humans shouted rudely.

Saoirse's gaze turned on them, and she gently pulled Ucci from her embrace as she turned to them fully.

"I am Saoirse." She stated flatly. "Titan of Freedom, goddess of C'larssis. My brother, Rufaro, Titan of Happiness, and I have cared for this world since its birth at our hands, and, as it grew, gifted the races that evolved here with our power, sharing the races equally; while he claimed the Naga and Gnolls, I claimed the Harpies, who could feel true freedom through flight, and the Manticore, who have swiftness and senses that rival that of any cat, and freedom from toxins and poisons."

"And then mankind was born, and you were so stricken by our-"

"NO!" Saoirse yelled, her voice echoing off the buildings and through the city, her rage causing her gemstone to shine brighter. "Don't you DARE!"

"M-milady...?"

"Mankind evolved without a fellow race, one to opposite itself and balance the world; we could not decide who would get your race, and we, in our selfish arrogance, fought. This world still bears the scars of our ignorant feud." She said, leaning forward and snarling. "Mankind has no patron Titan, and neither of us wants you!"

She righted herself and regained her composure, shaking Ucci gently to keep her calm.

"I am here not by the request of your King, but of the Blackwings who saw this pointless nonsense coming." Saoirse said angrily. "Though I find your race distasteful, I do find some of your kind with merit." She smiled faintly down at Ucci for a moment. "My brother, however, is not as forgiving as I, and wants nothing to do with you after the near extinction of the Gnolls by your races' hands."

"Milady, my friends, did they make it here safely?" Ucci asked in her singsong tongue.

"Yes, my child, they are quite safe; my brother is with them."

"M... May I go to them? They will need to know I am safe."

"Of course, young one, you may go to your friends; they are in the courtyard."

Ucci smiled and gingerly limped to the drawbridge.

"Ucci?"_Saoirse called, prompting the Manticore to turn to her. She smiled in a motherly way once more. _"I thank you for your courage this eve; I could not be prouder of your race, or of you."

Ucci nodded, a quiet thanks to the deity before heading into the castle grounds.

She found Palia and Ulrica by the Court Fountain, a water fountain of such grandeur it had its own name. Another creature, similar to Saoirse in appearance only with a more masculine shape, red eyes and a jewel that rivalled the most flawless ruby, stood alongside them, seemingly entertaining Ulrica with tale. A male Revenant stood nearby, his form also covered in heavy black armour. Palia looked up at Ucci limping closer and stood worriedly.

"Ucci!" She worriedly squawked, "You are harmed!"

She shook her head as she limped closer. "I am fine, Palia, it's only a sprained ankle." She said before sitting alongside her Harpy friend and looking up at the male being. "Greetings milord, I take it that you are Rufaro, the Titan of Happiness?"

He looked over to her and stood upright, giving Ulrica a gentle scratch behind her ear. "Yes, that is I." He said calmly. "You have met my sister, your patron Titan?"

Ucci nodded. "I have indeed; she spoke my tongue even, I think highly of her person, I must say."

Rufaro smiled faintly. "She would be most delighted to hear this." He said.

"Are you versed in Harpy, lord?" Ucci asked sidelong. "It is a wonderful language."

"I am versed in all languages; each has its own quirks."

"Even my own?"

"Even your own, Manticore."

Ucci let Rufaro get back to his conversation with Ulrica, resting now that her panic was over. It was now that the true weight of her loss slowly rested on her shoulders, and she became more and more depressed because of it.

Palia seemed to notice.

"Ucci? What is problem?"

She shook her head. "I'm homeless." She said. "I cannot afford to repair the damage to my home and store, even with all the money in the kitty. My mana pepper has most likely been destroyed by the fire, as has all of my stock. The basement will only be safe because of the stone roof that is the ground floor, but... I have no bed, no clothes..."

"We were invited to stay here," Palia said, "at castle. Maybe... you too could stay?"

Ucci shook her head. "You cannot just ask to stay at the King's castle until your own home has been rebuilt; I'm... homeless."

The finality of it hit her hard, and she gave a sob.

"I guess I could see if the Mage College needs a gardener, I am very good with Mana Peppers..." She mumbled sadly. "Or... I could go home to my parents and live with them until I can support myself again..."

Rufaro turned and knelt down to the now crying Manticore, putting a finger under her chin and lifting her eyes to his.

"Child, you should spend the night where you are most at home." He said. "Go to your home, in this city."

"But..."

"Listen to me;" he began, his words calm and almost parental, "go home. Your heart yearns for one more night at least, you owe that to yourself." He wiped a tear from her cheek gently. "Consider it advice on being happy from the god who is the essence of happiness."

She nodded faintly and stood, slightly wobbly, and dawdled from the courtyard back into the streets.

Ulrica broke the silence.

*Will she be alright, lord?*

Rufaro only smiled. *Oh yes.*

Slowly Ucci walked the familiar path home, staring at the ground beneath her as she went in brooding, sullen silence only permeated by her tapping feet and her sniffles. She'd been so... happy. Life was, for what it could be, perfect. Sure, some little brat killed one of her Peppers, but compared to destroying her whole home? Her heart had been in that house for years, she knew every feature like it was a part of her; the squeaky floorboards, creaky stairs... even the cobblestone walls.

Sullenly she strolled through the alleyway beside her home, rounding the corner into the street, eyes still on the ground. She nudged open her front door, stepped inside, and closed it behind her before looking up.

The room was perfect.

No signs of the fire were on any of the surfaces, the shelves were stocked and clean... She wandered in disbelief to the counter, running her hand over the perfectly smooth wooden top before checking her Mana Pepper on the windowsill.

Undisturbed and content.

She strolled down to the basement, where everything was as she left it; even the mushrooms, which had aged slightly with her departure, had been given their weekly mulch.

Back up to the second floor, and she checked the guest room; the beds neatly made and tidy. She finally ended up at her room, and she opened the door to find Saoirse standing by the windowsill looking out over the city.

"I hope you found it satisfactory, young one." She said, turning with a smile.

"Y-you did all this..?"

"'All this'? I could coat the walls in gold, or replace every metal article with purest platinum; your home is no feat to be honest, but sometimes it's the little things we treasure, is it not?"

Ucci nodded in a daze.

"I have one final gift to give you, young Manticore." Saoirse said; "But I cannot give it to you while you are awake; I would like it to be a surprise."

Ucci looked to the bed in the corner, neat and tidy.

She looked back, and Saoirse was gone.

With a huff, exhausted from the night's activities, she shut her door and slipped into bed.

Ucci woke the next day feeling refreshed. With a yawn and a stretch she got out of bed and went to her private bathroom, where she ran a hot shower for herself before getting dressed and going downstairs to open.

She'd slept in this morn; there was a small crowd of her regulars outside, and she dutifully let them in.

"Good morning, sorry for the late opening." She said, as if nothing had happened the night before.

"We heard you'd had a busy night." One of her elder regular customers mumbled.

"You could say that..." She mumbled.

She spent the next ten minutes serving her customers, waving goodbye happily as the last one left and the door dinged shut.

She sighed heavily, still slightly weary from the night before, when the bell on the door rang and Ulrica and Palia walked in.

"Girls, welcome back." She said warmly. "Busy night, eh?"

"It amazing what Saoirse do in one night." Ulrica said.

"It is." Ucci replied sluggishly.

"Also, Ulrica has gift for Pilgrimage," Palia began, "books on learning Human and Manticore tongue; would make great gifts for roost."

"How about that then, she came up with a great idea." Ucci replied, giving Ulrica a quick wink.

"We wonder if you interested in café?" Palia asked.

"Only if they serve breakfast all day, I only woke a short while ago..."

She sniffed the air, a unique smell filling her nostrils, and she turned to the window at which her Mana Pepper sat, moving over and looking out.

Not only were they ripe, they sat in a planter box of pure Mithril. She laughed.

Within the planter box, between two large Mana Pepper plants, a miniature of Saoirse sat in the loam with a note.

'Ucib'mareth, this planter box is my gift to you; may it bring you the fortunes to enjoy life freely. This statue is a powerful mana battery, and you will never need to recharge the planter, and it also has a protection enchantment in it to protect your plants from that nuisance several streets away.

May your life be as free as the wind~

Saoirse.'

"You know what?" Ucci asked, grabbing her pruning snippers and gently harvesting the peppers, placing them into Mithril boxes. "I think I will go with you, it's a good day, and I'd love a chance to enjoy it.