Amber rested her back against the side of the building, her ears twitching as she listened to James talk with Zenaria. Her mind refused to settle after the last week of events. She felt helpless and worthless as James fluctuated between getting better and worse. No matter how much she wanted to help, him, she just didn't know what to do.

So she was going to do the only thing she could. She was going to clear the city and defeat the nest while growing stronger. If she could pass Luna, all the better.

Morphing her legs into her feline form, she summoned her claws and stepped away from the wall. Spreading out her senses, she found the building across from her was packed with monsters. She didn't know what she would be running into, but they would be good practice for her new Aura of a Thousand Kisses. Mix that with Thousand Cuts, she should be able to shred groups instantly.

Rolling her neck one last time, she jogged over to the building and touched the front door. Or at least the frame. The complex was open; the door laying on the street in a rusted heap. Just inside the building, she could see piles of rubbish and stone from the walls. Sections of the rebar was showing, while the lobby desk and many other desks were rotted, or simply crushed.

Mushrooms grew over all of the wood that was somehow still present. They were likely the same ones that James ate to increase his skills when he first awakened his soul. Or at least similar. She also didn't want to test them.

Inching her way into the room, she sensed the first group of monsters through a hall at the back of the room. They were slightly spread out, but the moment her feet touched the worn tile, the souls tensed.

They know I'm here. How?

Swallowing her nerves, she activated her Soul Claws and felt the anger take hold. All of it was focused on the monsters in front of her and their hidden forms. No longer walking patiently, she rushed to the hall as the doors burst open.

Slashing her claws through the air, she took the fraction of a second to recognize the monsters as some sort of humanoid lizards. A head filled with razor sharp teeth was cut from the first monster as she activated her Thousand Cuts and Aura. The other ten monsters around her were ripped apart as the first monster fell into chunks and the others followed.

A paltry amount of soul energy entered her, barely denting what she needed.

They are too weak. I don't think I'm going to level as fast as I want.

Flicking the blood off her claws, she found the building buzzing with activity as the monsters started making their way toward her. Chuckling, she welcomed them with open arms and claws ablaze with flames. Only one of them would be walking out of the building when she was done.

***

James stood on the roof of his building, overlooking the city. The morning sun brought a sense of peace to the death and taint in the air. Shimmering white clouds drifted overhead, and the heat reminded him that he was near the equator. The sects he had left behind would be starting winter in a few weeks, or a month, and would likely have their first snow. Oddly enough, the snow would only last the day before the night flares melted it.

Still, the storms always brewed during winter. A never ending cycle of snowing and melting brought blizzards and cold that most people hid from. The cultivators would be hunkered down in their mountains, likely meditating the season away.

It feels peaceful. How does a place like this have a nest?

The destruction was beautiful in its simplicity. From atop his building, he could make out rooftop camps that the humans tried to live in when the city was falling. Blue barrels of stagnant water were grouped together, while clotheslines held scraps of old clothes and blankets. Old cars were rusted and degraded on the streets down below. These ones had round tires like they were supposed to. A reminder that the Forsaken city really screwed up a few details.

Rusted windchimes hung in a few open windows, playing their music for the city. It was nearly drowned out by the roaring of monsters and the crunching of grass and shattering stone as his people tore through buildings.

Miles, and miles of territory were free for them to fight in, and at the very center was a pulsing mass of energy that wasn't a soul. It was something familiar, yet not something he could absorb. He knew it was the nest, or whatever was spawning monsters and would need to be destroyed.

Turning his attention from the nest, he examined the roof he was on. Yet another camp was a mess of blankets and torn cloth around him. Planter boxes with corrupted soil and mushrooms were spaced alongside the edges. An old radio, or at least the shell of one rested on a table that was on its last legs of life. Everything mechanical had rusted out, and only plastic was left behind.

What did this city look like in its prime? Was it noisy with all of the cars and people? Was it at peace like it is now?

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He wanted the answers, but knew he would never have them. Humans destroyed any way for cities to return to those like the past. Technology was lost and forgotten with time, and the world was more dangerous than could be accounted for.

At least until the nests and rents are cleared. I wonder what will happen when I destroy this one.

Glancing at the stairwell, he watched Zenaria step onto the roof, her two tails swaying behind her. One was clearly made from soul energy, and it would be any day, or level that she grew a third. He could tell she was happier than she had been in years, just being near him and the hope he gave.

"Are you sure you want to stay up here with me?" he asked.

Walking over, she poked his cheek. "You don't get a choice, mister. If you try to leave, I'll pin you down until everyone is done."

Frowning, he took a step back. "Can you do that?"

"Yes." Narrowing her eyes, she pointed at the ground. "Sit down."

Jumping to obey, he sat on the ground and crossed his legs. Zenaria joined him and pulled a chess board out of her ring. Setting it up, she smiled.

"Do you play?" she asked.

"Sometimes." He vaguely remembered playing in the sect, but his memories were still distant.

"Good. Just so you know, I'm a master at this game."

James regarded her twinkling smile before shaking his head. "I'm so screwed."

Clapping her hands excitedly, she made the first move. "You're turn!"

He wanted to comment on her eagerness to beat him, but held his tongue. Reaching out, he touched his first pawn and felt the world shift. Time seemed to freeze as he found his arm to be much slimmer and his height shorter.

Sitting across from his was a man with snowy white hair and wrinkles at the edges of his mouth and eyes. He looked peaceful as he regarded James.

Moving his piece, James remembered being happy that the man had agreed to play him. He was an elder of the sect that guarded his home, and friends with his father.

"Let's see if you can counter this," the man said with mirth before moving his knight out into the open.

James felt his lips curl up into a smirk as he mimicked the move with his own knight. "I'm sorry, Grandpa, but I have to win this match."

Beaming with pride, the man continued to play his pieces. Little by little, they whittled away at the board, striking perfectly to counter one another. Minutes passed as James rubbed his chin in final thought.

Sighing, he knew he had lost and tipped over his king. "I'll get you one of these days."

The man laughed and stood. "You get better every time I see you, James."

"Thanks, Grandpa."

Eyes twinkling with happiness, the man ruffled James's hair before pointing to the board. "You better pick up, son. Your mother will give us both an earful if she steps on one of the pieces again."

Matching the man's smile, James eagerly started to pick up. Elation ran through his body as the elder treated him like family. Yet, a slight feeling of not belonging permeated him. James felt like something in his life was missing, and no amount of family could fill the void.

"James?" the man asked.

Shaking his head, James focused on the pieces. "Sorry, Grandpa. Just thought of a new strategy to try on you."

"Oh?" Sitting back down, he helped James set up the board again. "Do share."

"You're on!"

The memory started to blur and after blinking a few times, James found himself back in his body with Zenaria touching his cheek.

"James?" she asked softly.

Blinking hard, James set down the pawn and rubbed his eyes. "Sorry. Moment of nostalgia."

Letting him go, she slowly sat back. "We can play something else. Maybe you can wash my tails like you promised."

Rolling his eyes, he picked up his pawn again. "You aren't getting two washes today. Just because the others aren't around, I won't let you take advantage of me."

Ears drooping, she widened her misty eyes with a quivering lip. "Please…"

Groaning, James got up and summoned the bath. "I can't believe that worked…"

Giggling, she jumped up and turned on the water. "I promise my fluffy tails will help you relax."

"If I knew beast demi-humans were so time consuming with their tails, I wouldn't have started doing this in the first place," he grumbled.

Giving him a knowing smirk, she slipped out of her clothes and into the bath. Tossing him a brush, she sank below the golden water and rested her tail out of the tub. "Chop, chop!"

He could only chuckle as he pulled a stool out of his storage and sat with her tail.

***

Zenaria wrapped her tails in towels before drying off her body. James was emptying the tub, having cleaned her tails and wasting an hour of their day. His attention was wholly on her, and their was clarity in his eyes. That is until he set down the brush.

Slipping on her clothes, she stepped up to his side, and touched his shoulder. When he turned, he had a slightly vacant gaze that quickly turned to focus before he blinked.

"Feel better?" he asked. "I never thought I would be spoiling you like this."

"James?" Holding his gaze, she made sure he was focused before asking, "what would you do if I snuck into your bed?"

For the briefest moment, his soul fluttered and his eyes glazed over before he laughed. "I would force you to cuddle, of course!"

She forced herself to keep smiling. "What about Luna?"

Pinching the bridge of his nose, he winced. "Sorry…"

"No, it's okay," she whispered.

Returning his focus to her, he lowered his voice. "I don't know what Luna would do," he admitted. "I feel…"

In that moment, his gaze grew distant and his cheeks tinged red as golden veins inched along his cheeks. They only lasted a moment before his soul pulsed like a beating heart and he came back.

"What were we talking about?" he asked.

Zenaria stopped herself from gulping. "We were discussing what we were going to do when my third tail came in."

A joyful expression lit up his face. "I can't wait! I've been saving a bottle of rum for such an event."

"Isn't the rum for Amber?" she questioned.

Frowning, he shrugged. "Not sure. I suppose we can share some with her."

Forcing a small laugh, she turned and brushed her tails across his stomach. You need to come back to us, James. Until you do, I'll be by your side every day. I'll help you remember things. It's up to all of us to help you, even if your emotions are leading you down different paths. I just wish they were your emotions, and not those that you absorbed and broke you.

She knew he would never have considered sharing a bed with her before. He would only choose Luna, and yet, he wouldn't settle without Amber now. Who was he going to pull in next?

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