Petal watched, curious, as Akira began lining what appeared to be…something like salt…in front of the door and window. What was this fox-girl trying to do? She had done it so smoothly, as if she had done it a million times beforehand. Was this girl crazy? Would she need to be worried? Regardless, she almost let out a purr as Akira mentioned a bath. This was her chance! She would have the time to herself needed to change back! Petal padded towards a slightly more open area of the room, sitting down on her haunches. She closed her eyes, focusing. It wasn't a difficult task for her to mentally reach out and snag her human self back, but she needed time. Soon, however, she succeeded, and she smiled as she began to feel her bones shifting. She wondered why this transformation didn't hurt her. It certainly looked like it should be painful. Perhaps it was just a shapeshifter ability, or maybe she was just lucky.

Regardless, soon enough a woman was standing where not long ago there was a cat. Her clothes smelled of the rain-forest, and her hair was very messy, as if she had been through a hedge, but other than that she just seemed the typical woman. She glanced over at the rodent, about to say something, when she heard the door open. Eyes widening, Petal tried to think if a way to quickly get out, but the only safe way out was guarded by that monster of a shapeshifter. She resigned herself to her fate, frowning as the door opened to reveal a freshly-bathed Akira. This was going to be interesting…

When her hand finally fell, and her eyes opened, Akira blinked as her jaw fell. A sharp intake of breath with an audible gasp, and the child went from mildly shocked to excited enthusiasm in a heartbeat. She rushed in front of the woman, practically jumping from foot to foot, grabbing at her hands. "You're the cat? I knew it! Akira knew it! You're pretty! Can you show me how to do that? What's your name? I have a cat too. Coco turns into a boy! He likes to stay at home and read, but Coco likes to walk with Akira to Sularia. Why didn't you say so before?" Hundreds of questions would continue to rush from her mouth if she didn't have to take a breath.

It was at that point that the sleeping lemur came out of the pack, quickly shifting into that of an adult elf. There was nothing spectacular about her beyond the fact that moments ago she could have sat in one's palm. Neera gently took Akira's hands and put them at her sides. "Woah there, Akira! Take a minute to breathe, and don't smother her. How is it that you always find the shifters?" Her steel grey eyes looked up at the woman, almost distrustful as if she was trying to determine her goals with the child.

Petal blinked at the girl as she exploded in excitement. She had expected shock, or disgust, or something, but not this. Akira's enthusiasm was so pure and infectious that it made her smile, even in the awkward position she was in. Her eyes widened though as she caught the rodent shifting into an elf from the corner of her eye. Petal kept her gaze mostly on the shifter, wary, but smiled again as she took Akira's hands off of hers. She opened and closed her hands once or twice, making sure they hadn't been crushed by the girl's excited grip. She tried to quickly decide what questions to answer, uncertain. She needed to show she wasn't a bad person, because this guardian of Akira's seemed perfectly willing to rip her to shreds. 

"I…I was the cat, yes…uhh…thank you," Petal replied, blushing a bit, "My name's Petal." Thinking for a moment, she added, "And no, I can't show you how, and I couldn't tell you, because I cannot speak the common language when I'm in my cat form." Looking again at the elf, she said to them specifically, "Exactly what are you anyways?" She knew they could shift, but not what forms they could use. She couldn't see a connection between elf, rodent, and tiger, so perhaps this was one of those shifters that could turn into anything? 

As Petal introduced herself, Neera did give a respectful nod. Aside from scratching Akira previously, Petal had thus far not shown any signs of aggression. It was a favorable point for her in Neera's point of view, but just as easily taken away. "Aww, why can't you speak in cat?" "The same reason you can't speak cat. Now shhh, before I pull Steve out." That earned the puca a very nasty glare from the child, and a resulting chuckle from Neera.

The puca gathered the platter of food off the floor and put it on the table, taking a seat at one of the chairs. Her eyes were diverted between both child and shfiter. "Neera is a Puca." Akira spoke before rushing off tot he bed with a squeal. "Yes, I am a Puca. Typically, we are not the most pleasant things to behold in our natural forms, something like a goblin with a fish helmet and insect legs. Very disturbing. So we have mastered the art of polymorph, shifting into whatever form we require, or desire. And, before you ask, yes, I am the child's guardian, appointed by her biological mother, may she rest in peace."

Akira giggled from under a blanket. "That fancy for saying I'm adopted by new mommies." She poked her head out with a sly grin. "But I found daddy! He's a fox like me!" With another burst of energy, the child ran across the room, dug in her bag and found a stuffed white fox toy. It was then practically thrust into Petal's face. "See? Daddy give Akira this toy. I love it, and care for it. It keep me safe. And sometimes, Daddy show up as if he knows Akira in major trouble…" A frown furrowed the child's forehead. "Petal do know that ghost is after you, right?"

Petal awkwardly sat through the banter between the child and the puca, wanting to leave as soon as possible. She was a bit more interested in the explanation of what a puca is, but she still very much wanted to leave. She didn't feel right being in a town. Nature was where she belonged. She only half-paid attention to what the other two were saying, but she was quickly startled back into reality as the fox-girl shoved a stuffed fox into her face. She took a step back, blinking. She didn't know how to deal with a situation like this. It was all pretty new to her.

"Ghosts…?" Petal echoed, raising an eyebrow, "A….ghost is after me…?" Of course she had heard stories of ghosts, but she'd never actually seen any evidence of them. This girl had to be…a bit off in the head. It certainly seemed that way from how she spoke and acted. There was something unusual about this child and it wasn't her tail and ears. She gave Akira a smile meant to reassure her, "Trust me, dear, there's no ghost coming after me. May I leave now?"

Neera rolled her eyes. 'Here we go again.' she thought irritably to herself. "When she says she sees ghosts, this child means it. And she's not the only one. She's currently being tutored by a spirit… spirit binder? Eh, doesn't matter." The puca waved her hand dismissively at her train of thought. Of course, the child panicked and ran to grab Petal's hand desperately.

"No! Ghost is after you! Stood over you in clearing. Didn't you feel cold chill? It's why Akira grabbed you, and ran. You gotta believe Akira!" Her wild, wide eyes was proof that she wholeheartedly believed what she was saying. "It why I put salt on door and window. Purify, ghost can't pass. Please, stay till morning? Akira promise, when sun rise, Petal can leave. But Akira follow, make sure ghost stay away." The child was near tears as she begged and pleaded. She genuinely feared for Petal, and that ghost's obsession. 

Petal began to feel nervous as the child clung onto her. Every muscle in her body was telling her to just walk out and leave, but her heart was aching at how…clearly certain the child was that she was in danger. She supposed it wouldn't hurt her too much to humor Akira, right? She sighed, "Fine, I guess I can stay. Just…I'm staying in this form, so I want the bed too. Is that okay?" Petal supposed she could trust the little girl to sleep in the same bed as her without any issues. She just hoped the girl wouldn't sprinkle salt on her or something while she was sleeping. "I'm going to wash myself real quick," Petal added with certainty in her voice. This she wasn't going to let Akira stop her from doing. She smelled and it was bothering her. surely even a ghost wouldn't attack a girl while she was bathing right? She had to suppress a chuckle at the thought. She didn't want to get on this child's bad side as long as they were being protected by this creature. She gently removed Akira's hand from hers and made her way to the bathroom with her pack. Fresh body and fresh clothes were always fantastic after a rough day. She made sure the door was closed and began bathing, trying to put what had happened that day out of her head.

Akira gave a sigh of relief, and nodded eagerly. "Okay." Before she could throw her arms around Petal in a hug, the woman stated she was going to bathe, and extracted herself from the child's grasp to hide behind the closed door of the bathing room. "Child, you really are something. Xunatar has his hands full with you. I'm surprised he's not worried over whether or not you'll be overcoming your far too innocent for the world thing." The child stuck out her tongue at the tiger just before a giant yawn forced its way out of her.

"Alright, Akira, off to bed with you." She did not put up any fight as she grasped the white fox closer to her. As Akira crawled into the bed, Neera held open the blankets. Akira nuzzled the fox and mumbled sleepily. "Good night, daddy. Good night Neera." "May the gods watch over us and your mothers, tonight." The puca went to the window and looked up at canopy above. "She has your spirit, and is hard to contain. But you knew that, didn't you? Why me?" She knew why, but it was a rhetorical question. Akira's mother trusted Neera, and it was for their friendship that the puca obliged. With a sigh, Neera turned from the window, shifted into a ferret, curling at the crook of Akira's knees.

When the door to the bathroom opened, Neera lifted her head and watched the woman. "I wish to apologize, Petal. I understand the need to protect oneself, and with the stress of the situation and a lot of unknown variables, it was difficult to know what Akira intended. You were just protecting yourself. I hope we can put the scary, protective tiger thing behind us. Akira is a very passionate child, and only wishes for your safety. She easily trusts, and is easily hurt…." Her words were genuinely sincere.