October 25th, 3090
After sending off Simone, the twins had called up a meeting with everyone that was available in Wafershire. Upon delivering the news, not many were keen that another fight was brewing, but as Shade delivered, she did not want anyone fighting if they did not want to. Many were uncertain if they wanted to or not, as on one hand, it meant that they would be able to escape and live another day. On the other hand, it meant that if they did nothing, then more issues could arise if the problem goes unchecked.
In the end, half of the remaining garrison stayed, while the rest took it upon themselves to help evacuate those that were unable to fight. Some refused as they wanted to assist fortifying Wafershire as the twins deemed it the place where the standoff was going to take place. Neither of them minded, so long as by the time the real thing happens, is that they get out while they can.
Other places were warned shortly after they were informed. This caused some disarray with the supplies coming in, but likewise, some extra came around to lend a hand. Some of the wrecks in Wafershire got repurposed as makeshift barricades, blocking off any damaged walls that could allow access within. By nightfall, the citadel had quieted down as rest came for those that were fortifying.
Except for Kitsuno, as she was wandering around the town, looking for her sister. The elder twin was not present in the house as Melissa was stuck underneath a pile of pillows and wadded up blankets. Shade's armor was also laying around a collapsed table. Concern awashed the younger twin as this was unusual for her to have wandered out by herself this late without anything on. Not even Daybreaker as it too laid against Shade's armor in its dormant state.
After wandering around a bit, Kitsuno finally spotted her sister, huddling her knees against her chest as she sat underneath a fallen tree. Slowly approaching her sister, Shade looks up for a moment before burying her chin in her knees. The faint moonlight showed dampness around her eyes. "Shade, what's going on?"
She did not speak as the elder twin was choked up on her own thoughts. Kitsuno sat next to her and wrapped an arm over her shoulders to pull her in for a hug. "Seriously, what's wrong?" Moving her left hand up, Kitsuno gently wipes around her eyes, "It's rare for you to be crying."
Shaking as Shade took a slight breath, the elder twin tries to hide her face in her knees and tails. "I'm a horrible sister..." this causes Kitsuno to look at her sister in slight shock, "Wha... why do you say that?" Keeping her tails warpped up around her legs, Shade's words become a bit muffled. "Shade, get out of your own tails."
The elder twin sat there for a moment before shaking her head. Not having it, Kitsuno moves her hands around to dig into the bundle of fluffy tails and reach inside for her sister's face. "Sis, look at me. What makes you believe you are a horrible sister?"
Feeling her sister grab onto her face, Shade tries to keep herself hidden away in her tails, but fails as Kitsuno pries her out of her own fluff. Shakily grabbing onto her sister's wrists, Shade pulls her sister off slowly before closing her eyes, "Because I am." Kitsuno furrows her brows as her grip held strong on her face to keep her from retreating, "No you are not. What's gotten into you?"
"What kind of sister drags her only family along to do a bunch of dangerous shit that could end up getting us killed? When we came to Druisalle, we were suppose to start a new and quiet life. But instead, I talked you into us becoming mercenaries so we could not get knocked down." Tears began to drip from her eyes again as she looked firm into Kitsuno's, "It's my fault we got into this mess. I started the war. I caused you actual pain because of your curse. People actively want to kill us because of what we are."
Kitsuno held her hands out as she tries to comfort her sister, but they are pushed away as Shade curls up in her tails again. "People call us demons and monsters, you don't deserve that... I do." Shade reaches her hands up onto her ears and tries to sink further into her tails, "Everything that has happened. The direwolves, the slavers, Zephiel, Sarydia...."
As she sunk her head back into her tails, Kitsuno shook her head. "Shade..." digging her hands into her tails, the younger twin feels around her sister, "Let's be honest. At one point or another, if we did end up doing what we originally thought of doing before changing at the last minute, it was going to happen eventually. Gab and Jake told us about the tension that was happening here when we snuck around the border."
Her hands wrap around her sister's neck and she pulls the bundle of tails in closer, "I am willing to admit, things could have been better. But, if we never went to Sarydia, we never would have met people like Liam, Wilhelm, or Zhutto. And with how the bandits were kidnapping people, if we never took things too seriously, we would have ended up as slaves early on." The last part made Shade recoil and attempt trying to sink deeper into herself.
Shaking her head before shoving her face into the tails, Kitsuno forces her way into the defensive shell Shade put herself in, "Would you get out of your tails? This is getting ridiculous, even for you." She then proceeds to unfurl her sister as best as she could. "Listen to me. Don't ever say you are a horrible sister. You care for me, I know you do. Why else would you go through the trouble to fight?"
Reaching under her chin, Kitsuno makes Shade look up, "So what if other people are coming after us? Since when has that ever stopped you?" Shade grabs onto one of her tails to wipe her eyes, "But... I wanted things to stop. Just so we can finally be at peace." Moving a hand up onto Shade's head, Kitsuno started rubbing her ears gently, "It's a hard thing to ask for. However, you're not going to help make things settled if you're busy cowering."
Grabbing onto her tails with her free hand, Kitsuno wraps herself close to her sister, "If I ever felt you were a terrible sister, I would have left a long time ago. And before you say anything, I don't give a damn about what happened in our past. Right now, we have to be strong for our mother and father. We were given a second chance somehow, and it won't do us any good if we sit around and take it."
Kitsuno could feel the warmth of her sister radiating as she slowly wrapped more of her tails around her body, "Sure, there are some things you have done that are very questionable. And the fact that you had to take lead of an army ever since we erased Sarydia, I get that you have to put on a brave face." Moving her right arm, Kitsuno grasp onto Shade's waist and pulled her in closer, "Despite that, people admire you. They look up to you. Just like I do."
Her ears perk up slightly, "Kit..." Moving her sister closer, Shade could smell Kitsuno's fur. Despite everything that has happened over the years, the familiar scent of grasslands from home never left them. "Shush. I don't ever want to hear you talk bad about yourself like this." Kitsuno then leans in closer to Shade's left ear and begins to nibble on it. This elicts some slight squirming and a giggle from the elder twin before she moves her own arms around and embraces Kitsuno in a tighter hug.
Sensing that her sibling was cheering up a bit, Kitsuno smiles before nuzzling her head against hers. "Right. I have to be. I must be strong. Stronger than I can ever be to keep you and everyone I care for safe." The hug tightens for a moment, before Shade releases herself and her tails from her sister. The cold air of the night brushes against them for a moment before Shade's own body heat countered it.
Kitsuno stands back up and brushes her sleepwear before helping her sister up, "Just remember this though sis, I'm still here to help. You can't stay strong by yourself you know." Shade nods before holding onto two of her tails, "I know. I think all the stress has finally gotten to me." She then looks at her tails, "Being like this... doesn't help either."
"I bet. The amount of power flowing through your body must be burdensome." Kitsuno then pauses for a moment, "Or, you're thinking of how much fur is going to be laying around?" Shade shudders before lowering her tails, "Well I wasn't thinking that at all. Thank you for putting that in my head sis." The two stare off at each other for a moment before they let out a set of giggles. "But seriously, thanks Kitsuno. I really was worried that all this time you resented my choices and that you hated me."
Grabbing onto Shade's left hand, Kitsuno began to walk her twin around the city ruins, "Don't be silly sis, sure you do some things that get under my skin, but I don't full on hate you hate you. Plus, what are siblings for anyway? We've met with plenty of them before and have usually seen of have been told of stories on how one another disagrees at times."
"Heh, that is true." Kitsuno then stops and looks up at the moon, "There have been times though, where I wonder how things would have gone if our roles were reversed. As in, if you were the one who waa cursed, and I was the free one." Shade rubs the back of her head with her right hand. "Not gonna lie sis, I've had that thought myself every once in a while." She looks down at her lower region beneath her sleepwear, "If I was cursed to have my magic sealed, part of me wonders if it will curb my sex drive."
Folding her own ears, "Yes, that would be true. Though...." she let go of Shade's hand and turned around, "If you have magic generating in your own cum, wouldn't my curse prevent that from ever coming out entirely?" Shade stood there for a good while to process that thought, before cupping her groin with a grim expression, "As if... with how high the buildup gets, I'm sure I would explode if I never had an orgasm." Kitsuno held in a laugh while Shade glared at her, "It's not that funny! I never wanted to be this virile and horny."
"I know you never asked for it. That reaction you had though was something else for sure. It's like you had snow stuffed in your pants." Shuddering at the thought of that sensation, "More like snow stuff up my vagina. God... why."
Shade shakes herself before the two continued roaming the city, "I appreciate you helping me take my mind off things though sis, I really do." Kitsuno smiles before waving her tail about near her sisters tails. "No problem sis. Though, we should get as much sleep as we need. It's going to be a long storm coming." The elder twin nods as she follows.
Despite having been cheered up, Shade couldn't help but still feeling a tinge of sadness inside herself. ("If there is anyone who needs looked up to more, it's you sis. Cursed as you are, you are a lot more stronger than me by a long shot. Cause most of the time, you don't have the power of the gods helping you as much as me.") As they return into their home, Shade catches a glance of her own reflection in a broken mirror.
("I am... and I hate it. How am I even sure I am this strong, if some of this power doesn't even belong to me to begin with?")
