“Do you think bandits live around here? I think I need some clothes.” Vivienne asked, her voice dripping with mischief as she turo Rava, fshing a devilish grin. “Unless, of course, you like the view as is. The cold doesn’t bother me.”

  Rava immediately cast her gaze aside, a faint blush creeping up her neck despite the biting wind. She cleared her throat awkwardly, her disfort evident. “No... Not many cross this border uhey’re truly desperate.”

  Vivienne smirked, clearly enjoying the effect she was having, but she didn’t press further. Instead, she gnced down at herself, running a cwed hand across her smooth, unmarked skin, and hummed thoughtfully. “Shame. I’m sure there’s something charming about bandit attire, but I suppose I’ll make do for now. I don’t mind a bit of exposure.”

  Rava shifted unfortably, still not quite sure how to process the new Vivienne. She was both the same perso entirely different. The strange mixture of fidend wildness emanating from her was uling, but it was hard to deny that the woman before her was as captivating as she was uling.

  “Bandits? I wouldn’t expect many around here.” Rava said, trying to steer the versation ba safer ground, her eyes sing the path ahead. “We’ll cross a vilge soon enough. There should be someohere who help, or at least tell us where we find shelter.”

  Vivienne raised an eyebrow, her eyes still gleaming with that spark of amusement. “Shelter, you say? We always make our own.” She gestured expansively at the barren ndscape, her firailing through the cold air as though sketg invisible lines. “But... I suppose you're right. A vilge could be... iing.” Her tone shifted subtly, taking on a more ptive note, as if something deeper lurked beh her words. “Snack?”

  Rava’s response was immediate, her voice firm. “No snack. We’re almost ieppes. I’d like to keep a low profile. And by ‘we’, I mean you.”

  Vivienne’s eyes fshed with amusement, a pyful smile tugging at her lips. She spun iretg her limbs with exaggerated grace, as though enjoying the sheer freedom of her own form. "Low profile?" she repeated, her voice ced with mock disbelief. "But I am inito, Rava. I’m practically invisible." She gave a dramatic twirl, her cws leaving faint trails through the air. “Don’t you think?”

  Rava didn’t respond at first, her gaze shifting briefly to the path ahead. The nd was stark, but it wouldn’t be long before they reached the outskirts of the steppes. The terrain was more open, more exposed, and she didn’t like the idea of drawing attention—especially not to Vivienne in her... current state.

  “I’m serious,” Rava said after a moment, her tone dropping into something mrounded. “You stand out, Vivienne. Even if you’re n to. So, let’s keep things low-key, yeah? We don’t rouble.”

  Vivienne rolled all of her eyes, the motion exaggerated and theatrical. “Yes, yes, I suppose you’re right. I’ll need something to wear if I’m to... not blend in but at least make myself somewhat less spicuous.” She grinned, her sharp teeth catg the light for a moment.

  Rava’s hand brushed against the pouch of s at her hip with a quiet k. “I’ll see if I buy you something in the vilge. Though,” she hesitated, eyeing Vivienne, “you might o wait outside while I do so.”

  Vivienne pced her cws delicately against her cheeks, a look of mock horror sweeping across her face. “And you would leave your poor damsel in distress all alone, in the cold, with nothing but the lurking dangers of the night?” She gasped dramatically, her tone dripping with pyful sarcasm.

  Rava rolled her eyes, her posture rexing as she let out an exasperated sigh. “You’re not a damsel, Vivienne,” she deadpanned. “I’ve seen y men to their knees with nothing but your thoughts. You don’t fear a thing. You ’t evehe cold.” She met Vivienne’s gaze with a smirk. “And, let’s be ho here, you’re the dahat lurks in the dark.”

  Vivienne’s lips curled into a slow, pleased smile. “Touché, warrior. You do know how to ftter me,” she purred, her voice sultry but ced with that edge of wildness Rava had e to expect from her. “But if I must be the danger,” she tinued, her tone shifting into something pyful, almost teasing, “I should at least be properly dressed for the part, don’t you think?”

  Rava gave her a sidelong gnce, her expression unreadable as she adjusted her pack, the cold from the snow creepih her furs. “Fine. What do you want to wear?” she asked, tripping slightly in the snow as her foot caught on a hidden patch of ice. The biting chill from the storm seemed to bite through eveempest aether, settling deep into her bones.

  Vivieapped a cw thoughtfully against her , her gaze drifting upward as if sidering the many possibilities of a wardrobe she hadn’t yet been given. “I prefer skirts or dresses, something that cuts just above the knee,” she mused aloud, her voice light and lilting. “A blouse, perhaps? Something soft, but with a bit of fir, yes? But not too much—don’t want to attrauch attention, after all.” Her eyes gleamed with a mischievous spark, as though the suggestion was less about practicality and more about amusement.

  Rava blinked, momentarily distracted by the image Vivienne painted in her mind. She quickly shook it off, trying to focus. “Right. I’ll try to find something that’ll fit, then. But if you start wearing frills or something too extravagant, I’m going to leave you in the snow.” The words came out half-joking, but there was no hiding the undercurrent of beh her tone.

  Viviehrew her a wink, a small, knowing chuckle esg her lips. “I promise nothing. But don’t worry, Rava, I won’t give you more to hahan you already have.” Her voice dropped to something more teasing, almost pyful. “You are my bodyguard for the moment, after all.”

  Rava snorted. “You know, I might need oer all of this.”

  Vivienne ughed, the sound like a soft, eerie melody. “Oh, you wound me, my dear Rava. But no worries, I’ll be on my best behaviour... until we leave town, at least.”

  Rava shot her a g didn’t respond. They tinued on in silehe stark beauty of the snowy ndscape stretg around them, broken only by the occasional howl of the wind through the trees. As they he vilge, Rava slowed her pace, taking in the modest wooden buildings dotting the hillside, smoke curling from eys as the vilgers went about their daily business. It seemed peaceful enough, for now.

  “Okay, stay hidden for now,” Rava instructed, her voice low and firm. She adjusted the strap of her pack, sing the vilge ahead. “I passed through here on my way to... Aegis.” The hesitation in her words was brief, but enough t a flicker of something intaze—regret, perhaps. “It’s mostly a logging vilge, but if I remember right, they’ve got a general store.”

  Vivienne grinned, her many eyes gleaming with amusement. “Miss you already!” she teased, her voice carrying a lilting, mock-seal tone. Without waiting for a response, her body seemed to dissolve into the shadows of a nearby piree, melting away in a ripple of darkness until nothing remained but the faint rustling of needles.

  Rava grunted, shaking her head. “Show-off,” she muttered under her breath, though there was in her words. She trudged onward through the snow, her boots g against the frosty ground. The chill her fur, but she pressed on, her focus sharp as she approached the outskirts of the vilge.

  The st of fresh-cut pine and wood smoke filled the air, mingling with the faint hum of voices carried by the breeze. Rava pulled her hood lower, hoping to obscure her features as much as possible. She wasirely sure how a lekine would be received here—especially oravelling alo she couldn’t afford to draw any uention.

  She approached the rgest of the wooden buildings, a squat structure with a hand-painted sign that read Garron’s Goods. The door creaked as she pushed it open, stepping into the warm interior. The st of dried herbs, leather, and mp oil filled the space, along with the faint tang of iron from a small rack of tools he ter.

  Behind the ter stood a middle-aged lekine man with a wiry build and a sharp, assessing gaze. He looked up from a ledger as Rava entered, his eyes narrowing slightly before his expression smoothed into something more ral. “Afternoon,” he said, his voice gruff but not unkind. “What I do for you?”

  Rava dipped her head iing, her voice steady and polite. “Looking for some clothing. Something sturdy, warm... and modest.” She hesitated, trying to imagine how to phrase the part without raising suspi. “For a panion. About two heads shorter, but... wider in the hips with some extra room in the bust.”

  The shopkeeper raised an eyebrow, gng at Rava’s tall, muscur frame. “That’s a specific request,” he said, scratg his thoughtfully. “My husband might be able to help with that. Why isn’t your panion here? Would be easier to get her clothes if she were.”

  Rava’s ears flicked at the shopkeeper’s pointed question, her mind rag for a believable expnation. “She’s... shy,” she said finally, keepione even. “Not used to people. Figured it’d be better if I hahis for her.”

  The man didn’t look entirely vinced, but he shrugged, his expressioral. “Fair enough,” he said, motioning toward the back of the shop. “Wait here. I’ll grab my husband—he’s got an eye for tail. He might be able to find something in ste that fits your ‘shy’ friend.”

  As the shopkeeper disappeared into the ba, Rava let out a slow, measured breath. She turoward the rack of cloaks by the door, idly fingering the edge of a thick woolen one. Outside, the shadows danced faintly, and Rava had the distinct sehat Vivienne was watg.

  She muttered under her breath, barely audible. “You’d better stay put.”

  A soft ugh whispered through her mind, almost like the rustling of leaves. “But darling, this is so much more fun than hiding in the dark.”

  Rava didn’t react outwardly, though her lips twitched in annoyance. She resisted the urge to g the window and instead focused on the rack, pulling a pin grey cloak from the sele.

  A moment ter, a broad-shouldered man with kind eyes and a weathered face emerged from the ba, carrying a bundle of fabriame’s Garron,” he said with a nod, setting the bundle on the ter. “Heard you need something for your panion. Not every day we get folks passing through asking for sizes.”

  Rava ined her head. “Appreciate the help. We’re travelling through the mountains, so warmth is key. She’s, uh...” She hesitated, searg for the right words. “...particur.”

  Garron chuckled, unfolding the fabric to reveal a sturdy wool dress, dark green with simple embroidery around the nee, and a pair of thick leggings. “This should work. Durable, warm, and a little fiving i. You think she’d like it?”

  Rava studied the outfit, nodding after a moment. “It’ll do. Do you have boots and gloves to match?”

  “Of course,” Garron replied, turning to pull a pair of sturdy leather boots and wool-lined gloves from a nearby shelf. “You’re looking at twenty silver for the lot.”

  Rava reached for her poud ted out the s, pg them on the ter. Garrohem up with a practised hand, ing the items in a burp sack. “Pleasure doing business,” he said, handing the buo Rava. “Safe travels, miss.”

  She offered a polite nod and turo leave, stepping out into the crisp mountain air. The moment the shop door closed behind her, a shadow peeled away from the trees, coalesg into Vivienne’s familiar form.

  “Well?” Vivienne asked, her qui of eyes gleaming with curiosity. “Did you find something lovely for me?”

  Rava thrust the sato her panion’s arms with a grunt. “Here. You ge irees.” She paused, her voice dry. “Try not to scare the squirrels.”

  Vivienne cackled, holding the bundle close to her chest. “Oh, darling, I’m sure the squirrels will adore me.” Without another word, she disappeared bato the shadows, leaving Rava to shake her head in exasperation.

  Soon after, Vivienne emerged from the shadows wearing the green dress Rava had bought for her. The fabric fit snugly around her hips while leaving some room in the chest, and the hem fell modestly halfway down her shins. There were now holes in the sleeves for her spiearing the fabric messily. Her tail trailed out zily from uhe dress, leaving a trail in the snow as she walked. Her feet were ed in sturdy leather boots, but what she held in her cws stole the shoair of gloves dangling by one finger, her grin wide and devilish.

  “Gloves?” Vivienne asked, holding one up with exaggerated delicacy, her cws already poking through a few holes in the leather. She raised her other hand and flexed her talons with a faint screeetal against each other. “Really, Rava? art of me made you think these would work?”

  Rava pnted her hands on her hips, unimpressed. “You said you wao blend in. sider them an experiment.”

  Vivienne snorted, slipping one glove over her cws as gingerly as possible. Predictably, the tips of her talons shredded through the material, leaving a jagged mess. She held up the ruined glove, shaking her head with monity. “Well, I hope you didn’t pay too much for these. They didn’t even st a sed.”

  “They were cheap,” Rava said, already regretting the attempt. “And if you weren’t so stubborn about looking like... that, I wouldn’t have bothered.”

  Vivienne smirked, her sharp teeth fshing. “My dear, I couldn’t give up my cws even if I wao. They’re part of my charm.”

  Rava groaned, snatg the remains of the gloves from Vivienne’s hand. “Fine. No gloves. But you’re keeping the rest of it on.”

  Vivienne’s smirk grew wider as she twirled dramatically in the snow, the hem of her green dress fring out. “No dang naked uhe light of the moons? You’re taking all the fun out of this, Rava,” she teased, her tone light but with that ever-present mischievous edge. “Though I suppose I indulge your mortal need for beds and stew... for now.”

  Rava shot her an exasperated look, starting down the road toward the vilge. “You could at least pretend to care about blending in.”

  Vivienne fell into step behind her, her cws clig softly against the leather of her boots. “Oh, but where’s the fun in that? Besides, I think I’m already doing a remarkable job at being ordinary.” She gestured to herself, the fai glint of mockery ione. “Look at me! I’m positively mundane.”

  “Yeah, you’d blend right in if people ignored your extra eyes, cws, ah.” Rava rolled her own eyes, keeping her gaze forward. “Just... stay quiet whe there. The st thing I need is for you to scare the locals int an angry mob.”

  “An angry mob would be so eaining, though,” Vivienne murmured, her voice pyful. But at Rava’s pointed gre, she sighed dramatically and held up her hands in surrender. “Fine, fine. I’ll be good. For now.”

  The vilge came into view as they rouhe bend, its sturdy wooden palisade lookihered but well-maintained. Smoke curled zily from eys, and faint sounds of ughter and versation carried on the crisp air. It was a small settlement, bustling just enough to feel alive, but with the quiet simplicity of a pce far removed from the Aegis Snty’s reach.

  Rava paused just before the gates, gng back at Vivienne. “Remember—quiet. Let me do the talking.”

  Vivienne’s lips twitched upward, but she nodded solemnly. “Your wish is my and, oh fearless leader.”

  With a sceptical gnce, Rava turned and strode into the vilge, greeted by the curious stares of a few vilgers. Most of the attentioo Rava’s t figure, but some flickered toward Vivienne, who followed with a demure posture that was suspiciously exaggerated.

  Rava ighe murmurs and made her way to the rgest building in sight—a weathered structure with a swinging sign with a mug etched on to it. The st of roasted meat and spiced ale wafted from within, and Rava’s stomach growled in anticipation.

  Ihe tavern was warm and dimly lit, with wooden beams overhead and a r fire in the hearth. A few patrons sat scattered at tables, nursing drinks or sharing quiet versation. The barkeep, a broad-shouldered woman with sharp eyes and greying hair, looked up as they entered.

  Rava approached the ter with a polite nod. “Two beds for the night, if you’ve got them. And a hot meal.”

  The barkeep’s eyes flicked briefly to Vivienne, who stood behi lekine panion, cws csped primly in front of her as she gave the woman a wide, uling smile. The barkeep frowned slightly but said nothing, returnitention to Rava. “Rooms for two are five silver each, meals are eight copper, in the evenings and ms.”

  “Fair enough.” Rava ted out the s, then gnced over her shoulder at Vivienne, who while ag demure, could see the gleam of hunger in her eyes as she watched the barkeep t the s.

  The barkeep pced the key down with a practised motion, her sharp eyes lingering on Vivienne for a moment lohan necessary. “Don’t cause any trouble,” she added ftly, her tone suggesting it was more of a warning than a request.

  Rava grunted an aowledgement, taking the key and motioning for Vivieo follow. “e on,” she muttered, already heading toward the stairs.

  As they asded, Vivierailed behind, her movements unnaturally smooth and silee the creaking steps beh them. She gnced back at the patrons below, who quickly averted their gazes when they noticed her looking. Her smile widened, and she whispered to Rava, “Such a warm wele. I feel positively adored.”

  “Don’t start,” Rava said without looking back, her voice low and weary. “We’re here to rest, not to stir up trouble.”

  Reag the room, Rava pushed the door open, revealing a modest but space with two small beds, a single wooden chair, and a window overlooking the snowy vilge. It wasn’t much, but it was leagues better than sleeping on frozen ground.

  Vivierolled in, her eyes sing the room before perg herself gracefully on one of the beds. She crossed her legs and leaned ba her hands, the green dress settling around her like the coiled threat of a predator. “Quaint,” she remarked. “I almost feel the charm.”

  Rava closed the door behind her and leaned against it, folding her arms. “You’re not here to critique the decet some rest or eat. You’ve been pining about food sihis m.”

  Vivieilted her head, her dark, glittering eyes fixing on Rava. “Oh, I’m not pining anymore. There’s plenty to feast on here, wouldn’t you agree?” Her tone was teasing, but the edge in her voice was unmistakable.

  Rava straightened, her gaze narrowing. “Don’t even think about it.”

  “Oh, rex, darling.” Vivienne waved a cwed hand dismissively, her grin pyful but sharp. “I meant the stew. Probably.”

  Rava groaned, ping the bridge of her nose. “I’ll go see about the food. You stay here and... try not to terrify anyone.”

  “No promises,” Vivienne purred, reing further on the bed with a nguid stretch. “But I’ll do my best. For you.”

  Rava hesitated, then shook her head and stepped out, log the door behind her as she desded back to the tavern floor. The warm, earthy st of roasti met her again, and she approached the barkeep once more.

  “Two meals,” she said simply, pg the coppers on the ter.

  The barkeep eyed her for a moment before scooping up the s. “Stew’s still on the fire. I’ll bring it over when it’s ready.”

  Rava urning to find a quiet er where she could sit and keep an eye on the room. Her muscles ached for the rest a bed promised, but her mind refused to let its guard down. Even here, surrounded by vilgers, she couldn’t shake the sehat Vivienne’s presence was a storm waiting to break.

  Above, Vivie in the room aloaring out the frosted window. Her refle stared back, a faint shimmer ioo-dark eyes. She tilted her head, watg her own expression shift, the edges of her smile curling wider. She watched the vilgers mill to and fro, unaware of the mohat was now amongst them.

  “Modest little vilge,” she murmured to herself, her voice low and almost fond. “I missed this.”