To be suddenly crowded by so many girls, she hadn’t even noticed them. Where had they come from? ”I promise, each of you will have food in your bellies, and a place to sleep. You will be taken care of. How would you like that?” Akira, along with all of the other girls, pressed closer to the man of lies, begging for his gifts. ”Yes, please!” He laughed deeply. ”There will be plenty, I assure you.” Then a wagon came up. ”The moment you step into the wagon is the moment all of your worries disappear.”

The foxling nearly lost herself in the near stampede. Somehow, she managed to keep her footing, avoid being trampled, and found herself on the edge of the crowd. Akira gazed up at the man, feigning hesitance. ”You promise?” ”Of course, my dear. All these troubles will be but a distant dream. Never shall you scrounge on the streets, looking for your next meal again.” She gave him a bright smile and climbed into the wagon with the other girls.

It was a loud, almost giddy ride. While life continued on outside the wagon as if nothing terrible soon to happen, the girls were excited. They giggled as they fantasized a bountiful feast. Meanwhile, Akira put her hand in her pocket to feel the irresistibly soft fur of the sugar glider in her pocket. Neera licked her fingers in reassurance. The hardest part was to not look for the boys she knew were trailing along. ~~Daddy, keep me safe.~~

Lewis and Xeik followed carefully, keeping at a safe distance. Every so often, the cart would shake, revealing the girls inside. For the most part, they seemed excited to live a life of luxury. Depending on their new owner, they might not even survive long enough to make it to their new home. The boy’s brow furrowed in disgust. Patience, he thought. It would all be done with soon.

Left, right, left, left again. The cart took a winding path through the streets. Xeik couldn’t get a read on where it was possibly headed. Still, he’d keep this up all day if it meant stopping them. The cart stopped suddenly, though, near the center of the town. Xeik and Lewis stopped as well, perching themselves above the cart. The swaying of Hoja Mesto seemed to count the seconds down as they waited.

Xeik and Lewis waited in silence, the lull of the town goers below them barely reaching their consciousness. The two boys were in perfect focus on the cart. And at once, the cart vanished.

Xeik’s eyes widened in panic. “W-what? What the hell?” He looked to Lewis. His eyes were wide as well, but instead of panic, there was calm.

Lewis narrowed his gaze. “Magic. We don’t have any other option but to wait for Neera.”

Xeik looked back to where to cart had disappeared. “I can’t just wait though…”

:We don’t have a choice,” Lewis replied.

Akira knew what consensual magic felt like. To suddenly feel a blanket of magic grip her, the foxling felt scared, holding her ears as it weighed down on her. It took all her strength not to scream out. ”We have one sensitive to magic!” “That’s good. Makes her more valuable.” She peeked up at their hungry eyes, smart enough to know their demeanor turned from generous to evil schemers. ”Don’t worry. Do as you’re told and you’ll be, fine little mouse.” While the others missed the change, Akira moved more timidly, following the group out of the cart.

Yes, she was aware of the plot, but they saw something she had not anticipated. Akira broke character for a split moment and thus was thrust into a new character mentality. Several more adults than had accompanied them surrounded them, and the foxling realized they had been teleported inside of a building. They led the girls down a hall until it came upon a spiral set of stairs. Escorted by the men, for Akira realized that none of the adults were female, they descended to the level below. Cages filled this new room, some with a handful of girls from a previous venture, lured by lies.

With some unnecessary force, the girls with Akira were pushed into the nearest cell, Akira herself sprawled onto the flooring. As she sat up, the men jeered at them and left. The flooring was covered in dull, dirty straw which reeked something foul. She stood, ignoring the bawling orphans and inspected the cages. Sturdy, thick metal bars extended from the ceiling towards the floor like bony fingers. Neera finally poked her head out and climbed onto the child’s shoulder.

”You okay?” Akira nodded. ”Came down one floor. Find them, Lewis and Xeik wait. Akira talk to girls.” With a nod, Neera turned into a flying bug and flew the way they had come. She found an open window two stories above where she left Akira. Unfortunately, the teleport moved them three blocks away from the boys, as to further throw people off the trail should anyone be wise enough to track them. When she found the boys, Neera told them everything.

Waiting had been the worst part. It took everything Xeik had not to pace back and forth, wondering if he had made the wrong choice. What if Akira got hurt? What if Neera never found them? What if they weren’t able to get to her in time? Xeik furrowed his brow. He felt more like an adult now than he had ever felt. He looked to Lewis, who seemed ever the calm thief.

“How can you stay so calm?” he asked his partner.

Lewis glanced to Xeik. “Because I know we won’t fail.”

It was a simple answer, but it filled Xeik with a weird mix of emotions. Did Lewis and the rest of the boys have this much unwavering faith in him? On one hand, he felt flattered. On the other hand, he was worried that the faith was largely misplaced. But the words that Lewis had spoken had calmed him down, at least a little.

Finally, Neera found them, speaking quickly. Within moments, Xeik and Lewis mobilized. The warp spell they used had not taken them very far apparently, and it did not take long for Lewis to infiltrate the building across the street, which apparently housed a lot more than just the fake beggars out front. The would be assassin motioned from the doorway: all clear.

Xeik held up his hand and signaled the boys to move in.

Xeik and Lewis headed the charge, quickly and efficiently knocking out the patrols on the main floor. It wasn’t long before they descended to the lower levels, the boys splitting off from each other to rescue the captured girls. Lewis and Xeik, though, made a beeline for the newest lot.

Hold on Akira, Xeik thought as they tried to track her down.

Akira turned to the girls, seeing the fear in their faces. "Don't worry. Help come." Only a couple looked at her, but none of them believed her. "I promise. Help come. Soon!" "Ya? Take a look around, little demon. Even the grown-pus break their promises. What makes you so special?" An older girl pushed on Akira with enough force that she stumbled back a step. The foxling stood her ground, however, her small hands rolled into fists.

"Akira has friends! They follow Akira here." Again, the bigger one pushed her. "In case you didn't know, they used magic. They wouldn't be so easily followed. Shut up, little demon, before I make you." Without warning, Akira got low and swept the girl's feet from beneath her, the surprise attack working in her favor. Instantly, she straddled the girl's chest, a concealed dagger from her necklace now revealed and pressed against the girl's throat. Gasps fell into a collective silence as everyone raptly watched the unfolding scene. "Call me demon again."

Her voice was low, dangerous and commanding with much more power than her small frame let on. When the girl said nothing, Akira's attention turned to the others. "Friends been trying find way help you. All you. Today, Akira give them that chance. Soon, they will come, they will free you. We find you way out, with future. No more begging. But you must help sevles too. Help us when boys come. We will leave. Together." There was a sense of confidence that could not be ignored from the little fox as her ears twitched at a noise she heard, a sound too low for human ears to catch.

Neera led the way as a songbird so that when she landed on Akira's shoulder, Akira breathed in relief. Ready to leave?" Akira released the bully as she greeted her protector. "Very." She smiled as she caught sight of Xeik and Lewis, calling their names excitedly as she gripped her prison bars. "You are shiney!" The puca groaned with a roll of her eyes. "She means you are a sight for sore eyes, good to see you."