I started awake. It was sometime around midnight, and I was disoriented for a few moments as I cleared the fogginess of sleep out of my mind. It was raining lightly outside, which made me feel drowsy as the steady cadence of rain drops hit the top of the tent that protected me and Luna from the elements. Why was I awake? There it was: a noise. That's what woke me up. It sounded like a...like a...

A kitten.

A shiver went down my spine.

Luna was curled up beside me, breathing softly and purring not-so-softly. Moving her off to the side, I stood up and stepped outside.

There it was again: the sound of a mewling kitten. It was faint, but it was still there. I had to double check that I wasn't hearing things before I continued on any further. When I was sure my tired mind wasn't screwing with me, I walked toward the gate: The mewing grew a little louder, and my heart began to ache. I didn't want to wake everyone up by opening the gate, so I blinked myself to the other side of the fort walls.

Silence: only the rain could be heard in the thick of the night. I then heard another soft, mournful mewl. Luna had taught me a little bit about sensing an organism's aura, and that was what helped me find the kitten. If it weren't for the knowledge Luna shared with me, I wouldn't have been able to find the poor thing. I closed my eyes and focused for several moments. Just when I thought I was going to find nothing, I finally found the aura of my mystery visitor: it was almost as black as the night.

After searching around blindly in the dark foliage for roughly ten minutes, I felt matted fur and picked the kitten up. The poor thing was so small in my hands, and I was taken aback by how light she appeared to be. I sensed a great sadness emanate from this small being that was unlike anything I have ever felt. Then, with a start, I realized that this was no ordinary kitten.

"You're a kaitrit..." I murmured in wonder. "How...quaint..."

I blinked back into the fort and hurried over to the cooking area. I snapped my fingers, and the cooking fire erupted back to life. Thankfully, it continued to burn even with the light rain hitting it.

"Helix?" Luna inquired in a hushed voice as she walked toward me. She had brought a blanket with her, and she was currently rubbing the sleep out of her eyes. "Everything okay?"

"Huh? Oh fuck," I mumbled as I realized that my new friend was shivering violently.

I looked at Luna and felt sweat run down my brow. "Luna, please give me that blanket."

She handed me her blanket, and I wrapped the tiny kitten up before handing her to Luna.

"I heard mewling outside of the fort. I went outside and I found her lying among the leaves. She's starting to freeze, so please sit by the fire so she can warm up."

Realization dawned on her face, and Luna went into Momma-mode. She cared for the kitten while I warmed a little milk up for her to drink. Thank the gods Soren was able to afford milk...I'm going to have to thank him later.

When she smelled what I was cooking up, the little furball started mewling desperately.

"Shh...Shh little one," Luna murmured, softly petting her. (I don't know how I knew, but I just knew that the small ball of fur in Luna's hands was female.)

After warming the milk, I put it in a small bowl (Another thing I'm going to have to thank Soren for having.) and let it cool slightly before walking over to a table and setting the saucer down on it while Luna set the bundled up furball next to the warm sustenance.

She started lapping at the milk greedily.

A soft sigh escaped Luna as she watched the young kaitrit continue to lap at the milk before her. "I couldn't hear anything with the rain hitting our tent, so I wouldn't have been able to hear her..."

"In the end, I sensed her aura," I admitted: "I thought I was going mad, but the lesson you gave me over auras before we left for Mareth was what told me there was something outside the gate."

She nodded, and a thoughtful frown slowly spread across her features "I don't want to just refer to her as 'kitten.' That doesn't seem right..."

"It isn't, I agreed, "Do you have any name suggestions?"

"I...I was thinking of referring to her as Sylvia," Luna suggested in a soft voice.

I smiled, "That sounds like a lovely name."

The lass seemed to like the name as well: She started purring as she continued lapping at the milk. After she cleaned out the bowl, Sylvia began mewing again for more milk.

I chuckled and poured out another serving for the pint-sized furball. After she drank all the milk, she promptly fell asleep.

Luna looked at me, her yellowish-green eyes glowing in the night, "What should we do with her? Do you think she has a family somewhere nearby?"

I sighed. "I'm not sure she has anyone to go to.  While I don't want to know what happened to cause her to appear outside of Soren's fort freezing and close to death, I'm not leaving her to die out in the cold-Not a chance in hell."

Luna smiled softly as she picked up Sylvia, "I know you'd never do that. How do you think everyone else will react to...well...?"

I facepalmed, "I suppose we'll find out tomorrow. For now, let's get out of this rain."

She nodded in agreement, "Yeah, I'm freezing out here."

I chuckled and followed Luna back to our tent. She paused for a minute outside of the tent, then chuckled to herself.

"What's funny?" I prompted her in a soft voice.

"Hmm? Oh, nothing." she breathed.

After we entered our tent, I kissed her on the cheek as we laid down. The bundled furball was placed in between us, and I fell back asleep to the sound of two cats purring.

"Goodnight Luna," I murmured.

"Goodnight Helix," She breathed, and everything faded to black.

. . .

I woke up the next day with two cats clinging onto me. In between me and Luna laid a little girl with long black hair. She wore a rough-looking light gray nightgown that had a few holes in the fabric. I noted with alarm that...blood appeared to be splattered on the course fabric of her clothing. I spotted a few scrapes and bruises on her arms and legs-almost as if she had taken a tumble down a hill. Other than that, I didn't see any open wounds. I noticed that she was lightly breathing, which was relieving to say the least. Small black cat ears periodically twitched, and an equally-black tail sat motionless beside Luna's right leg. I gently poked her face and flinched in surprise when brilliant silver eyes looked back at me.

"Oh, uh, sorry Sylvia." I stammered, "Good morning."

"S-Sylvia?" She echoed as she looked at me with confusion written across her face.

I realized with a sinking feeling that my assumption about what might have happened to Sylvia may very well be correct. I'm not entirely sure, but I have a feeling that Sylvia fled her home when it was attacked by a demon hoard. Keep in mind that this is merely a swing in the dark, but it does explain why Sylvia appears to lack speech skills most children her age would have. Her ability to speak may have been damaged if she had very little exposure to other beings that could talk back to her. (Keep in mind that we're also in Mareth, where demon ambushes appear to be commonplace.)

I nodded, smiling, "Aye. That is your name, little one."

She cocked her head to one side, "Name?"

"A name is something that belongs to someone. A person's name is their own-it's special to them. Your name is Sylvia." I explained.

Sylvia's eyes clouded up in sorrow before she flashed me a bright grin.

"Sylvia." She echoed, happily this time.

Luna stirred beside us, then looked at me in surprise, "Oh, good. She's awake."

Sylvia looked at Luna, then hugged her.

"Oh!-good morning little one!" She began in surprise, "Thank you for the hug."

We stood up and each took a turn getting dressed within the tent. After we got dressed for the day, we looked at Sylvia as she sat by the tent wrapped up in her blanket.

Luna looked at me in concern, "Sylvia can only speak a few words. Why is that?"

I explained to Luna what I believe happened to her, and I couldn't blame her when she looked back at me in horror.

"No..." She murmured.

I nodded grimly, "I believe Sylvia's parents were killed by a demon hoard, but she was fortunate enough to get away."

Luna looked at her now: she was watching a blue butterfly flutter around her, and she sneezed softly as it landed on her nose, "I know we aren't her blood parents, but I still want to take care of her as if she were my own kin."

I nodded, "That makes two of us Luna. Oh bother...everyone's waking up. This'll be fun."

Well, I wasn't wrong. Explaining Sylvia to everyone else was...fun.

Dorrian looked as if a blood vessel in his forehead had ruptured when I tried to explain how I had found Sylvia.

"Wait, wait, so you're telling me that you and Luna..."

I groaned, "You bloody fool. No, that didn't happen. Let me finish explaining before you start jumping to conclusions. Besides, Sylvia appears to be about five or six years old, so...don't jump to conclusions you asshat."

Soren looked genuinely unsettled by Sylvia as she stood behind me and Luna.

"So you believe she lost her parents to a hoard of demons?" He prompted me, eyes clouded with grief.

"It's but a mere assumption, but yes, I do believe that." I confirmed.

He nodded to himself, "Usually, I'd be skeptical of new additions to my fort, but I'll let this pass. Besides, I'm not going to kick a child out-I'm not heartless." His face grew very solemn, "I've come across children that have lost their parents to demon hoards in Vastiin and in my travels across this realm, and they've all had the same look: glazed eyes, unmoving in their stare. The innocent joy of childhood was wrenched away from them far too early." He looked at Sylvia as she played tag with Luna and Nova, "I'm just glad to see that you saved the lass. It gives me hope for the future."

I overheard Luna teaching Sylvia two words: Mama and Papa.

Luna pointed at herself, "Mama."

Sylvia looked at her and smiled, "Mama."

Luna then pointed at me, "Papa."

She ran over to me, "Papa!" Her brilliant silver eyes twinkled as she hugged my leg.

Soren smiled, "The lass seems to shine like a brilliant gem."

"Aye." I mused, watching Simon lumber over and gaze down at her, "Indeed she does."

"Oh, hello," Simon began, "I almost didn't see you for a moment there."

Sylvia looked up to gaze into Simon's pale blue eyes: "H-Hi," She replied shyly.

Simon chuckled, "Ah, so you're a shy one, eh? I don't blame you. Somedays, I hardly feel like talking much. Other days, I very much enjoy conversing with other people."

She looked at the metal giant before her curiously.

Soren looked at me, "When you're ready to go to Vastiin, let me know."

My face fell, "Ahm...about that...I can't leave."

He nodded in understanding, "I know, you can't leave Sylvia behind. Would it be possible if you can bring her with us?"

"I'll have to ask Luna," I told him.

"Ask me what?" She inquired as she stood beside me.

I opened my mouth, then paused.

"Can we take Sylvia with us when we go to Vastiin?" I finally asked her, "Heather and the other Inquisitors are expecting us today."

She pondered my question for a few moments, "I don't know..."

"What if I blinked everyone to the city? We won't have to worry about any...surprise encounters." I offered.

Luna shrugged, "That works."

I motioned for Nova to walk over.

"Yeah bro?" She asked.

"Care to tag along today sis?"

"Oh, I'll gladly tag along." She chortled, "It'll be an adventure!"

I caught sight of Dorrian and grinned: "Want to come along as well, my dude?" I asked him.

"Hell yeah!" He confirmed with a bright grin on the side.

"He-?" Sylvia began, only for her mother to cut her off.

"Oh great!" Luna shouted, kicking Dorrian in the shin, "I can't believe I have to make this rule, but no swearing around my daughter!"

"Ow shi-eet!" Dorrian squeaked, "Sorry! I didn't mean to!"

"Wait, daughter?" Analise echoed, confusion written plain and clear across her face.

Soren snorted, then beckoned for Stefan and Simon to tag along.

"Very well," Stefan replied, looking at Tanis, "I'll be back soon."

She nodded, "Alright. Take care, goofball."

He rolled his eyes, then sighed.

I looked at the rest of my team and bid them farewell: I had quickly whipped up a simple breakfast of eggs and sausage, so they were still dining on my handiwork.

Stanford waved while scarfing down a plate of eggs, "See ya, Hel."

Evelyn gave him the dreaded stink eye, "Stan, we've talked about this. What have I told you about talking with your mouth full?"

Stanford sighed, "It's not polite."

I heard Analise and Sasha laugh their asses off while Isaac chuckled quietly.

"See you later Helix," he called.

I waved at him, "See you Isaac."

"Woof," I heard Ana call.

Stanford glowered, "Hey. I'm not Evelyn's bi-hehehe," he cut off as Luna glared at him.

Dorrian cheered, "Whoop! I'm not being made fun of for once!"

"Oh, just you wait," Ana replied, smiling evilly, "I'll get you good when you least expect it."

His throat bobbed, "C-Can we get moving please?"

I saw Grigori busy at work in his apothecary. Much like Nova and her portable work bench, that's where he seemed to be spending most of his time. Occasional explosions were heard from his work area followed by maniacal laughter.

I saw Gwyneth appear out of nowhere and yelp in surprise when she saw us.

"Oh, greetings Soren." She began in greeting after she had composed herself, "Off to Vastiin, I presume?"

He nodded, "Aye. Heather's expecting me. Where have you been?"

Her face darkened, "I've been in a council meeting of my own. The kitsunes left in this realm that haven't been killed or captured called an emergency meeting to discuss the deplorable condition of the realm. You were expected at this meeting, but the others understood that you couldn't show up."

Soren's face fell, "Shit-ow!"

"I am a woman of my word." Luna began with a dangerous glint in her eyes, "Don't test me. I don't want Sylvia developing a potty mouth right off the bat, so please refrain from swearing around my child."

He grimaced, "I'm sorry Luna. Anyway, if you're heading back to the council meeting, tell Malcolm I'm sorry. I would've showed up, but I'm taking care of Inquisitor business and, well, stuff involving Thaleous."

Gwyn smiled, "Malcolm understands why you can't show up, and he's proud of you for working you a-butt off to protect this realm. Do you still wish for me to take your message to him?"

Soren nodded, "Please."

After Gwyneth left, Soren looked at Luna and chuckled, "Forgive me Luna, I didn't mean to swear. I'm just...so used to swearing that I hardly think about it anymore."

She grinned, jerking a thumb in my direction, "Don't sweat it Soren. This one's no better. To say he swears like a sailor would be a sad understatement."

I gave her my best innocent look, "I have no idea what you're talking about."

"Bull...butter," She shot back, catching herself before she violated her own rule.

I picked up Sylvia and placed her on my shoulders. She laughed with glee and looked around curiously due to the fact that she had a higher vantage point to see the world around her.

"I believe we're ready to go," I stated. I closed my eyes and envisioned us before the sprawling city in the desert, and I opened my eyes a few moments later to see that we had appeared before the sandstone gates of Vastiin.