Toofy felt terrified, as she gathered the key members of her ragtag army into the tavern. Pretending to be fine, as Orli's father fried up some meat for her, and she pressed far too much silver into his hands.
Her entire life, from the moment she should have died as a kitten, had been leading up to this. Every glimpse of knowledge that she shouldn't had, had been coordinating and guiding her towards this moment.
It wouldn't be a mistake to say that her entire existence could be summarised in the next few days.
From yowling in the rain... To whatever happened next.
The catgirl slurped up a piece of meet, smiling happily even though she didn't even want to eat in the first place.
Before she could launch into organising the assault on the palace, and the delicate magic that they would need to do before that happened to save Toofy's son, and to protect all of them from Menes' legacy, a heavy tail wrapped around her waist.
Toofy's eyes widened as she was jerked from her feet, the salamander sprinting out of the tavern and leaping up onto the roof. Dragging the catgirl with her, as if she weighed nothing.
She held her breath as she once again found herself on her back, looking up into the salamander's eyes. Seeing the barely contained lust there.
She could see dozens of new marks on their scales from the fighting. From where Mia had beaten down the hundreds who had gathered into a half-dozen she could respect.
"Want share." Mia said at length, and sat up, lifting Toofy into her lap. The dragon put their arms around her waist, and the catgirl finally noticed the sunset.
She felt the tension fading from her shoulders, as she looked at the treasure that the dragon was willing to share with someone else. "It's beautiful... Mia?"
"Mmm?"
Toofy bit her lip, "She doesn't love her. Can't. She's sorry."
"I am artist. I will record Twenty Four. Bring her image to life in the wood. Bend and shape, bring it out." The dragon said stubbornly, "I convince you to share egg, one day."
She leaned back into the solid lizard, noticing that even their breasts felt like stonework. Though that might be part of the transition. Toofy let them hug her, let them make her feel safe.
"Toofy might die, soon." She whispered.
Mia flicked a tongue along her neck, "Want egg?"
"Fixated freaking lizard." Toofy said with irritation, "She was sharing her heart, because Mia shared this with her. Toofy is... Toofy is scared. Has to be strong, especially for her Sai."
The salamander kissed her neck again, "I know she is strong. Always know. Always know. I will follow, even if everything looks stolen."
"Toofy's son is sick. Bad magic." She whispered, "Only one who could save him, is the motherfucking kitsune. Who would like to hurt Toofy. But if Toofy doesn't try... Emperor could use him. Kill Toofy with her son. Use bad magic, inside her, to swallow her up."
Meerakeilian sighed and leaned their head onto her shoulder, "Life difficult for the Devourer. I wish could help, but only kill things. Break things. Break things."
"You help." Toofy smiled sadly, and then frowned, "Mia... Back when we were young... And you attacked Toofy and made her angry enough to plot to become your Devourer... Were you trying to flirt?"
"Mmm."
The catgirl gave a little chuckle, "It must have been hard. Being the only salamander at the temple. We were taught so many things, but never really taught how to be our own. A companion is a servant. That... Isn't you."
"Hated." Mia agreed quietly, "Chose art, instead. To be left alone, and explore. Want to make art of you. Can't have heart, but will still love. Want egg."
Toofy closed her eyes, feeling the warmth behind her, and the warmth of the sun. She could laze here all day, given half a chance. Safe in the embrace of the strongest thing she knew.
Yet... Yet even Meerakeilian would barely be able to hold her own against the abomination that the ork warlord had turned the emperor into.
Power beyond power, and yet it still wasn't enough for that man. He had ambition, just like Toofy. Both of them couldn't be content with this empire.
The entire world was for the taking.
Though both of them saw the world as full of their playthings, the difference was that one of them wasn't afraid to break all of their toys, and the other wanted their toys to feel free.
Toofy's ears twitched as her mind flooded with knowledge, and she growled, "Oh, fuck off, Eratigan! How many times must Toofy say it!?"
"Oh, I'm not here." Her mother replied lightly, "Because I'm not allowed to be here. So I'm not here. Can't go breaking the rules."
Toofy looked up sideways at the white-haired witch, and then understanding dawned and she leaped out of Meerakeilian's grip with a bone-disjointing movement.
She landed on the edge of the roof and let out a bellow filled with rage, "To arms!"
---
"It isn't much, but this is where I'm supposed to wait until she contacts me." Saia said, waving around the deserted underground city.
She frowned, looking over, "Though... I was not expecting to find that. Looks like the Castelle family have been sorting out their problems."
The half-cat girl clinging onto the elf peered around. Her golden eyes glowing like watchtower lights in the dark. The woman whispered nervously, "What is this place?"
"No idea." Saia shrugged, "Toofy found it, when she was living on the estate. I had a feeling that she... Went looking for it. She reinforced the tunnel we took, but she used to spend hours down here. I don't know where she went or what she did."
Esmerelda sighed, "Well, I can't see shit."
The halfcat raised a hand and snapped her fingers. There was a spluttering of sparks, and then suddenly Saia was wincing as a globe of light winked into existence, high above them.
It may as well have been a sun.
Taudry took a deep breath, "I've never seen a dead body, before."
"Lady of the aristocracy." Saia said with disgust, and went and leaned against one of the walls, "Do you have even the slightest idea how many people the Domina had ordered killed off? Esme and I do. We did her dirty work. Your ladyship."
"Leave her alone!" Esme yelled, wincing as her voice echoed out and into the dark. "It isn't her fault, Saia. Don't... Don't be like that."
The succubus shrugged, "I wasn't, idiot. I was preparing her. You two are now part of something far worse. There has never been a peaceful transition of power in this empire. Not once. When our current bastard took the throne, he had his father's entire household killed."
Esme cringed, "I know."
"I know, that you know." Saia sneered, "You're an elf. You are old enough that you were there. As one of Yu's apprentices. Inexperienced, but good enough to hunt down a bunch of concubines. Frightened women. Killed because someone else owned them."
The two looked down, feeling turmoil.
Saia rolled her jaw with irritation, "You're still not getting it. People are going to die. But Toofy isn't the same. She won't do the same. The emperor will, out of spite. We will have to stop him."
"What do you mean, she isn't the same?"
The succubus touched her neck briefly, feeling the lack of weight there, and smiled slowly, "That's why she taught me. Gods, I hate how she always seems to know."
