"So let me get this straight." Ronin started, eyeing the three visitors that came to his tent late at night. "Nya is trapped in a castle in the woods with a snake?"

Kai paced the floor in front of him. "Yes. And we're running out of time. I don't know how long she's going to last in there."

"Nya's tough, Kai." Ronin rose a brow. "Surely you aren't doubting her?"

"I'm sure he isn't." Cole responded for Kai. "Of course Nya is strong, but this monster sounds much stronger. He could easily overpower her at any time."

Ronin mumbled in understanding. "So you're coming to me because...?"

"We need strength in numbers." Kai quit pacing and faced the thief. "Please. We'll pay you anything."

"I don't need your charity." Ronin answered, straightening up. "If it's Nya in trouble, then I'll help you, no matter what."

"Oh." Kai blinked in surprise. "Well good. We're going to need to make preparations then. It's a rough journey ahead and the storm is settling in."

Dareth cleared his throat. "You know, if you don't need me to do anything else, I can get you whatever you need and stay behind..."

"Don't be silly, Dareth." Cole smiled, patting him on the back. "We need support. Although, you can make a run for supplies while we prepare a wagon." He reached into a satchel, hesitating before giving Dareth a large sum of coins. "Use it sparingly." He whispered to his servant, the only man that knew of his predicament.

As Dareth ran off, Cole turned to the other two men. "So it's settled then. We'll head for the castle at dawn."

"Dawn?" Kai shook his head. "I need to get to her as soon as possible!"

"I'd have to agree with Lord Cole here." Ronin placed a hand on Kai's shoulder. "Look at yourself, Kai. We all need to rest up, or else we'll never make it."

"She's going to be okay, Kai." Cole nodded towards him with a soft smile. "I promise we'll rescue her."

"Let's hope so." Kai inhaled shakily, glancing at the night sky. "I know it sounds ridiculous, but I'm terrified that thing is going to eat her."
-
"Thank goodness you're here. I'm starving." Jay smiled at Nya, watching her step down the stairs carefully in her new gown, a simple periwinkle dress with white-laced sleeves that stopped at the elbow. He slowly took her hand into his clawed one, escorting her down the stairs and to the breakfast table.

He had drawn the curtains and allowed the servants to decorate, smiling as Nya marveled at the light room and bouquets of colorful scarlet roses. "These are beautiful." She breathed, picking one up by the stem and sniffing it. "Where did you get them?"

"There's thousands of bushes in the courtyards. Magical ones. They bloom year-round, even in the snow." He picked a smaller one with a short stem and walked towards her, brushing her short hair behind her ear and tucking the rose in. "There. It brings out your eyes."

Nya's eyes sparkled as she smiled. "Oh. Thank you." She touched the rose with the tips of her fingers, afraid to break it.

Jay clumsily pulled out a chair for her and allowed her to sit, crossing the table to seat himself. "Ah, I hope you like porridge..." He mumbled softly. "My tee- fangs were hurting me today, so I requested something softer. B-But if you want something else, Zane could make it for you..."

"There's no need. It sounds perfect." Nya lifted her spoon and began to eat, beaming after her first swallow. "This is delicious!"

"It- It is?" Jay asked nervously, and Nya realized he hadn't begun to eat. "That's good, I mean."

"Didn't you say you were starving?" She rose a brow, continuing to eat.

"Uh..." He glanced down, his unruly dark hair falling into his eyes. "I don't exactly eat very... um..." He shook his head and held up a hand. "Never mind. I'll eat."

Nya watched as he shakily picked up the spoon between his claws, cursing under his breath as the tiny thing clattered to the table each time he picked it up. She felt a certain sadness as he finally got a scoop in, only for it to fall to the table and spill.

"Wait- let's think of another way." She offered, cupping the bowl under her hands and holding it to her lips. "Like this. It's smooth enough to pour." She took a sip to demonstrate.

Jay cringed at this. "It hardly seems proper. I'd hate to force you to eat that way, just because I can't hold a damn spoon..."

"Don't be ridiculous." She took another sip to assure him. "It's either this or I spoon-feed you."

"Ugh. That would be a bigger blow to my pride. I'll take this over that any day." And with that, he tipped the bowl back and drained it quickly. "God, that's good. Forgive me, I haven't eaten in a day."

Nya giggled and lowered her eyes, trying to hide her blush. Jay smirked to himself at this, swishing his tail. She was absolutely adorable and he couldn't handle it.

After she had finished, he took her by the hand and led her up the staircase to the workshop. "I was up all night trying to fix this place up. I hope it's suitable enough for you."

"You're... letting me use the workshop?" Nya's eyes sparkled again, and Jay felt himself trying to hide his blush this time.

"I'm giving it to you." He smiled widely, praying she would accept. "I have no use for it anymore. The whole space, the materials, they're all yours."

Nya's eyes widened. "Are you sure...?"

Jay nodded. "I'm positive. It was simply collecting dust, and... well, since you're going to be here for a while, I figured you'd get bored with the castle alone..."

She held both of his claws tightly, unafraid to grip the sharp things. "It's wonderful! Thank you so much, Jay!"

Jay's heart fluttered at her touch, running the soft part of his thumbs along the back of her hands. "You're welcome." He spoke in a voice barely above a whisper, nearly choked up by her beauty.

The sweet touch lasted only a moment as she pulled away, eager to start working. He watched her from a corner of the room, crouching awkwardly in the nicer clothes he had dressed himself in for the day. No more rags. He had told himself. If I'm to become man, I ought to look like a proper one.

"Jay?" Nya's sweet voice called him, sending his heart pounding once more. "Can you help me reach this box? I'm, uh..."

He laughed at this, knowing she didn't want to admit she was too short. "Coming, my dear." He teased, standing over her and picking up the box, which ended up being heavier than he anticipated. With a little yelp, he dropped the box and tumbled over Nya clumsily.

"Ah- Nya, I'm sorry, I-" He rolled over and crawled away, flushing.

Nya giggled and waved it off. "Don't worry about it. That was funny." She lifted the box with ease and plopped it on top of a workbench, sorting through. "Oh- forgive me for exploring." She said quickly, lifting up her hands and looking to Jay.

Jay hopped up and moved towards her. "I cleaned through this place, remember? If there was something I didn't want you to see, I would've hidden it away."

Nya nodded slowly, reaching back into the box. "What's this?" She asked, lifting up a small tin man with a winding handle. Twisting it, it began to walk back and forth like a marching soldier.

"My father made that for me when I was a child." Jay spoke quietly. "My adoptive one, I mean."

"You were adopted?" Nya looked towards Jay. "I... assume he was the head of this castle."

"Quite the contrary, actually." He drummed his claws along the wood, trying to recall the memory and see if he could even tell her. "My birth father was the head of the castle, and my birth mother was a serving girl. I'm sure you can see why she had to keep her pregnancy a secret. She died in childbirth."

"Oh." Nya looked to the floor, feeling sorry for the woman. "And your adoptive parents took you in?"

He nodded, gently taking the toy in his hands. "They raised me until I was about eleven. That was the year my birth father died and I inherited everything. I owe everything to my parents, though. They didn't have much, but they gave me the proper skills I needed to grow up well."

"Where are they now?" Nya asked quietly.

Jay closed his eyes. "I don't know. They continued to raise me for about a year before they simply... disappeared. Then everything started to get strange."

"The curse? But I thought it was later in your life."

"It happened gradually." Was all he could say before the choking sensation began to take a hold of his throat. No. Please. Let me tell her...

"Jay?" She asked, but he could only grunt in response, his voice muffled.

Please. Let me tell her! She deserves to know! Isn't this how I break it?

Foolish child. Came his voice. You can't break it, and you never will.

"Jay!" Nya cried out this time, clutching his hands. "You don't have to tell me if it hurts you- please!"

Jay shook his head and glanced at her. "I'm so sorry, Nya. I-I didn't mean to worry you."

Nya sighed in relief. "It's okay. I thought I'd lost you."

"No." He held her tightly in a hug. "I'm here. I'll... always be here."

In the back of his mind, he could still hear Nadakhan cackling.

Foolish child. She will never love you.