Day 13

What the fuck was Red thinking! The dog was out of his fucking mind! I swear he was trying to get me killed! He decided that TODAY was when we were to attack Jonah’s place. If it weren’t for Alakath showing up, I’d be a dead bunny right now.

Red woke me up by dragging me by the ears out of bed. I asked what the fuck his deal was, and he just growled. That’s when I noticed his jaw was broken, and had been crudely braced. He pointed at me, then out the door. I asked why and he just shoved me towards and out the door.

I bumped into Marril as I hobbled down the hall, following the direction Red went. She asked if I was going to be okay with Red’s plan and I told her fuck no I wasn’t. I didn’t even know what the plan was. She just shook her head, like she expected as much but was still disappointed. She told me to follow her to her room, and I did. When we got there, she pulled out some thin-looking leather armor. She said that it was tougher than it looked and would suffice for the day. I just glared at her before I yelled, asking if she was insane for thinking I’d fit in her armor. That earned me a rather vicious slap from her.

She told me to calm down and that she didn’t want me to go any more than I did, but she wanted me to stay alive, so she was giving me her armor. She admitted that it would need to be altered a bit, and she knew what needed to be done. Before handing me the armor, she took her knife from a dresser and cut out a triangle where the bust was and slit a good way down the front. She had me put it on to check the fit. Her alteration, while crude, made it to where I could wear it, although my tits were spilling out, essentially leaving them fully exposed. The slit made it to where I could breath, although now the armor didn’t provide anywhere near the protection it would have before.

I then apologized for being a bitch towards her and for taking out my frustration on her. She just pulled me into a hug and told me to stay alive and that she knows exactly what I’m going through. She then ushered me back into the hall and told me to get going. She said that she’d explain what she meant when I got back. Before hobbling down the hall, I looked her dead in the eyes and said if I could help it, I wasn’t coming back. Before she could make me clarify, I went to the common area, where I assumed Red wanted me to go.

Before I got there, though, I was jerked into one of the bedrooms. I looked at who it was, and it was Pantera. She covered my mouth before I could say a word. She said she knew what triggered the raid being today, and that reason was why I needed to listen to her. She said that somehow, the General and Jonah had come to some agreement that involved both my mom and Eliza, and that it was a ploy to get at me.

She said that Eliza was to be sent to Jonah’s about now in order to become a maid there. In return, once my mom, who was to be the one training her, finished for the day, she was to report to the General to become his concubine. They both wanted me to work for them, and they agreed that putting the two people they had control over into more harsh situations would lead me into their hands. The worst of it, the part that Brutus placed the most emphasis on, is that they both knew that I’m here, and that Red will at some point send me right into their hands, whether he intends to or not, if I didn’t go myself.

I think my expression gave away my thoughts, as she then said that both she and Brutus had told him that it would be best for me to stay here. However, Red is too stubborn to listen to anything that conflicts with his own ideas and desires. Or maybe he has high confidence in my physical prowess. I glared at her, knowing that wasn’t the case. She uncovered my mouth, and I asked why she was telling me all this, and she just said she wanted me to know and give me a reason to be extra careful. With that, she ushered me out of the room and back into the hall.

I proceeded from there the remainder of the way to the common room. Red was standing near the front entrance, Amy in front of him yelling. She was making a last ditch effort to convince him that I shouldn’t be up front. She also said something about Macy being gone because of this. That’s when I realized that I hadn’t seen her since we ate dinner yesterday. She was nowhere to be seen in the room, either.

When Red noticed my entry into the room, he placed a paw over Amy’s mouth, and jabbed a finger in her eye when she bit him. He then pointed at me and waved for me to come over. I slowly hobbled over to where he was. I asked what happened to his jaw and he just shook his head. He looked at Amy and nodded towards me. She just growled and said that she wouldn’t until he agreed to whatever she had been pleading with him over. He responded by slapping her on the side of her head, shoving her away in the process. I growled at him and asked if that was necessary.

His response was to grab me by the neck and lift me off the ground to where my face was level with his, choking me in the process. He growled through the uninjured side of him mouth that I will be the one leading the raid and I will be the one that kills Jonah. He said that there would be severe consequences for not just me, but my sisters as well, should I attempt to get out of it. I could barely hear April ask what’s gotten into him. He just looked over at her and dropped me. I collapsed to my knees, coughing painfully, the moment my feet hit the floor. Each of my sisters ran over to me, and I think I heard Tara yell “Fuck you!”.

I then heard April say that Macy was right about him, that he’s just using us to get what he wants. That struck me as odd, since she always defended him when I questioned what he was doing. I asked where Macy was, and no one answered. I looked up and saw all my sisters glaring at Red, who was snarling. He growled that there wasn’t time for the argument.

I snapped then. I bellowed at him that I wasn’t going anywhere until he told me where Macy was. He just shrugged his shoulders and said she’s gone. I asked where, and he again shrugged his shoulders. Again, I yelled, asking where she was. Red growled that he didn’t know, that she was just gone. I then, with tears forming and my voice cracking, asked what the fuck he did to her. He growled that she betrayed his trust, so he kicked her out.

April asked how she did that. He just growled that there wasn’t time to talk, that we needed to get going. I then asked what she did, again saying that I wasn’t going anywhere until he told us. Again, he grabbed me by the neck and lifted me face-level. I dug what little claws I have into his arm to get him to let go, but I don’t think they even pricked his skin. He said that I will do what he says or my sisters and I will pay dearly. I managed to muster enough air to spit in his face, daring him to do something. For me, that something was being flung into the nearest wall, knocking the wind out of me.

That set my ears ringing to where I couldn’t hear shit. All I could do was look straight to the ceiling while gasping for air. Aurora came and breathed into my mouth to try to get my lungs working again. She did this for quite some time, and, despite me coughing back into her mouth, she kept her lips locked with mine.

Eventually, I had a successful gasp of air and she immediately backed off. Someone, April I do believe, hefted me on their shoulders and carried me towards the back where the stairs to Reds office is. Only, I heard a panel slide open and we went inside there instead of up the stairs. The passageway we entered was pitch black. That is, until someone lit a torch.

I looked and saw Amy holding a torch and that it was indeed April that was carrying me. Amy rushed forward and April kept up easily, despite having to lug me around. I asked where we were going and April just whispered to be quiet. Occasionally, I’d hear Amy let out some obscenity, usually as we got to an intersection and she struggled to navigate this maze we were in.

Eventually, Amy found the exit she was looking for and opened the door. It lead to a run-down alley. One that separated the slums from the Noble District. I heard Amy yell “Fuck!” and glanced where she was looking. There, standing with his arms crossed with a smirk on his face, was Red. He said to not bother trying to run, as his men, his loyal men, he emphasized the loyal, were blocking all the exits of the alleyway. He already had others punishing my sisters who tried to hold him down.

He said that he would forgive us, if we would go raid Jonah’s brothel. With me at the front, killing everyone he said to. Amy heaved a huge sigh, hung her head, and said “Fine.” April said that we could take him and his men down, but Amy shook her head and said to think of our other sisters. She then said she would agree if he stopped whatever punishment he had for our sisters. Red then looked at April and me. April said those were her terms as well. I just said if they agree, then I’ve no choice other than to agree as well.

Red yelled out a couple of names, and a pair of his men showed up. He growled to have my sisters’ punishment stop, immediately. They affirmed his demand and ran off. He then looked expectantly at us. We each looked at each other, downcast, and sighed. We all then nodded our acceptance of his demands and followed him out of the alleyway.

When we got to the front door, I saw Tara leaning against the wall. She was trying to hide that she was standing awkwardly, but her stance was really too awkward to hide. I didn’t need to ask what happened to her, as the fur on her face was matted from the semen on her face, which was also discoloring it. Red just smirked at her as he walked by, a deadly scowl on her face. I imagine the others went through something similar.

Before setting off, he pointed at April, who was still carrying me, and gestured for her to set me down. She scowled and shook her head. She then said that my injury was too severe for me to walk there. She’d carry me that far. When he began walking towards us, Amy and Tara stepped in front of him. Amy said that he’d have to get through them to get to us. At that point, Tara said that I’m too injured to even be asked to fight. When she asked what the hell he was thinking, he backhanded both of them in one swing.

Before either of them could retaliate, a gruff voice yelled “Enough!” from just behind the formation of men. Striding through it was Brutus. He said that Red, calling him Jacob, knew better than to be turning against his own. Red growled that it was his own turning on him. Brutus said it didn’t matter, that he was handling it poorly regardless. The upcoming battle was going to be bad enough. He didn’t need to be beating on his own.

Red said he’d handle trouble in his ranks however he saw fit. Brutus shook his head and said that the window for the attack had nearly closed. If it was going to happen, it needed to be then. Brutus glanced at April and me and sighed. He said that, being injured as I was, I shouldn’t be involved. I could still be what he wanted me to be without me needlessly in danger. Red again said I needed to be the one who gutted the sharks. Brutus shook his head, accepting that he wasn’t talking the stubborn pit out of it. The panther then said that I should keep to the rear until then, as I’d be a liability. In near perfect unison, my sisters said that that’s what they each had said.

He sighed and grunted that April was to keep me safe at all costs. Seemed fitting, she had been carrying me for the past hour or so, and didn’t seem to mind carrying me more. She just nodded. With that, Red gave the order for all of us to march towards Jonah’s.

Red led the way, followed by my sisters and I and Brutus, then the men behind us. This military-like procession moved silently through the still dark streets. Across town, I could hear bells and whatnot, likely a diversion to keep the guard from seeing us. Soon, we were in sight of the Hell that’s Jonah’s brothel.

I asked if Mom had been gotten out of there yet, and Brutus nodded. He said that he slipped her a note of warning and to do whatever she could to get out. His instructions to her made clear only she was to evacuate, as it would be obvious to Jonah if suddenly every girl was missing. The hope is that he wouldn’t catch that she was missing until it was too late.

Almost on cue, Jonah emerged onto the balcony by his office. He was yelling for his guards to “find that miserable cunt”. He clearly had noticed her absence. We halted our advance, still largely in the shadow of the dark alleyway. A few of Jonah’s thugs left through the front gate, splitting up in pairs to search for wherever my mother was hiding.

Once those thugs were out of sight, Red motioned for us to continue. He could barely be heard growling that once we left the alleyway, everyone but April and I were to storm the front gate. April and I were to take a few men with us and breach the back. April said she’d have to set me down when we got back there and I nodded, knowing she can’t fight and hold me at the same time.

From there, we were to break in through the weak spot in the women’s quarters and as silently as possible proceed to Jonah’s office. We were to kill anyone who tried to stop us. With that, Red waved us all forward to begin the assault.

April took a team of about ten guys with us as we quietly made our way to the back side of the compound. We managed to stay unnoticed, in large part due to the majority of Red’s forces engaging the front entrance. When we got to the back corner, April set me gently onto my feet. She instructed two of the guys to stay with me as she and the remainder pressed ahead. They nodded and she, with the other eight guys, rushed the back gate.

When I got to the gate, I felt a paw on my shoulder and a familiar voice behind me ask if someone overslept. The guys and I turned around and there was Alakath! I couldn’t help but smile at him and hug him. He said to keep moving and he’d help keep me alive while Red had us on this suicide mission.

When we entered the rear courtyard, we immediately saw the corpses of the eight guys that went with April. We also saw who was responsible for their deaths: Judah. April was engaged with him, her spear cutting and pricking at him, but not doing any noticeable damage. He, meanwhile, was continually charging her, trying to barge his shoulder into her. Her spear gave her a distance advantage, but Judah’s speed nearly negated it.

Alakath immediately drew his sword and charged in, swinging deftly at Judah. Judah immediately dodged the blade, but April’s spear found a weak spot in the armor he was wearing, as she gouged the shark pretty good. The shark reacted by turning away from them, yanking the spear out of April’s hands before she could withdraw it. She then drew her rather short blade. The handle of the spear splintered as the shark slammed it into a nearby wall.

The two of Red’s guys stayed near me with their weapons drawn. I hobbled as best as I could towards the weak spot that Red wanted us to go, but that was exactly where Judah seemed to be guarding. I drew my knife, to be as ready as I could should the raging shark decide to rush at me. Seeing me move where I was, Alakath kept himself positioned between Judah and me.

Judah also saw this and charged at April, who was still in line with the gate. He swung his huge fist at her when she ducked to the side. Her blade came up and narrowly missed his arm. I then hobbled towards the wall, Alakath staying between the shark and me. April stayed engaged with the shark, actually charging him and slicing with her blade.

The shark made no attempt to evade, instead swinging at her head with an uppercut, which connected squarely with her jaw, sending her flying into the air and dropping her blade. As she came down, he kicked her into a tree at least ten yards away, demonstrating his raw strength and power (and her lack of weight). She moaned while a few small branches fell from the tree, landing on her head and torso.

With that, the shark turned his attention towards Alakath, who was still perfectly between our opponent and me. I began to go along the wall, trying to get to where I could help April. Judah, meanwhile, charged directly at Alakath, who deftly evaded the shark, barely missing the shark with a swing of his own. The shark’s momentum caused him to bowl into one of the guys by me, who managed to cut the shark’s thigh before being crushed into the wall, bones audibly breaking. The other guy immediately jumped in front of me as I hobbled away from the shark.

Seemingly out of nowhere, Alakath came sailing with a kick to the shark’s jaw. The impact briefly stunned the shark and the last of Red’s guys took a swing at the shark. His blade impacted right at the neck, where a loud “cling” was heard, and the blade bounced. He had hit the collar of the shark’s armor. By the time the guy recovered, Judah had as well and before the collie could react, Judah smashed his face into the wall. Leaving just Alakath and me to fight off this brute.

I continued to hobble towards April while Alakath kept himself in front of the shark. I eventually got to my sister and began clearing the branches off of her. Alakath, meanwhile, kept lunging at the shark, trying to pierce the armor the shark was wearing while staying out of harm’s way himself. Judah rushed at the cat as I helped April to her feet.

I heard a loud groan coming from the cat/shark duo, and saw Judah landing on top of Alakath, then a pool of blood forming underneath them. April picked up her blade then ran over to roll the shark off of the cat. Alakath’s sword had penetrated cleanly through the shark’s armor right through the heart. Alakath pulled the sword out with a grunt, wiped the blade clean off of Judah’s tunic and sheathed his blade.

I sheathed mine as well and pulled him into a hug. Alakath returned the hug and asked what we were to do now. April said that there’s a weak spot into the back of the building into the women’s quarters. I nodded and told them to follow me as I went towards where I remembered it being from the inside.

Even on the outside, the brick here was more cracked than elsewhere, making it easy to locate. Of course, the means of actually breaking through had been left a mystery to me. April went back to one of the corpses of the men that came with us and grabbed a small satchel off of him. She affixed it to the wall somehow and yanked a string out of it. She shoved me to the side right as it quietly exploded. In its place was a hole just large enough for us to crawl through.

So crawl through we did. When I emerged, the room was full of girls, looking scared as the three of us emerged. Alakath motioned towards the hole we crawled through, saying they were welcome to leave through it, but to stay safe as they did so. As the girls slowly left through the hole, we made our way into the hallway. Standing just outside was a familiar cat, apparently assigned to keep people from coming in.

I said his name, and he jumped. Alakath seemed to perk up at the name as well. He asked if he was the same Benny that was dating Amarlee, and both he and I said yes. Alakath told him to leave through the hole in the wall as well, as Amarlee is worried sick about him. He nodded, thanked Alakath for not killing him and left into the room.

From there, I had to rely on memory to find Jonah’s office, where he was expected to be hiding. Normally that’s an easy thing, but being drunk when I was last here made that a bit fuzzy. It helps that it’s on the top floor. Still, we found it fairly quickly. More shockingly, however, was that we didn’t face any interior guards along the way. It was like Jonah had pushed all but Judah and Benny to the front. I turned the corner that led to the office and armory, and in front of Jonah’s office was that mink girl.

Her grin diminished when Alakath came from around the corner. In fact, it turned into something of a scowl. She said she told Jonah to leave more people inside, but men never listen to women. Alakath said that some do, but for the most part she’s right. He asked why she stayed here and not do her own thing. She said something about owing Jonah a favor or two, but she was starting to think those favors were paid.

I said that she didn’t have to fight us if she didn’t want. She smiled at that, but shook her head. She then said that Jonah still has one string around her neck that keeps her around. I asked what that was, and if it was possibly worth dying for.

She sighed, like she wanted to say whatever it was, but shook her head and said she couldn’t say. She didn’t think was worth dying for, but she didn’t have a choice, either. April stepped forward, asking if she was an insider. The mink shook her head, saying that she wishes that was the case, because then she wouldn’t be forced to fight us.

Alakath then said that she’s his squire, and she nodded. He said that, given her master’s cruelty, she would be forgiven for stepping aside and allowing us to get to him. She smiled, a tear forming in her eyes as she raised a slingshot and fired a pellet in our direction.

She missed us completely, instead hitting a wall somewhere further down the hall. With that, she dropped her weapon and collapsed, sobbing. April walked over and helped her to her feet, walking her to a corner where she would be out of the way of any reinforcement that came. With that, we entered Jonah’s office.

He was standing with his back to us, watching the battle in the main courtyard at the front of the compound. When we got to about the center of the room, he began to clap. He said something about how impressed he was with our tenacity and such. When he turned around and saw Alakath, he said he was amazed that Alakath would help with the attack. Alakath said he was only doing it for me and my family, which earned a laugh from the shark.

Jonah just said that that was always Alakath’s biggest flaw. That he’s too emotional and sentimental. Alakath just said that he’d rather be that than cold and heartless. With that, Alakath and April both drew their blades. I would have, but I was struggling to even stand at that point, the pain in my leg was so great. April noticed this and gently pulled me behind her.

Both April and Alakath charged the shark. Jonah didn’t bother trying to evade, instead he swung his arms out like he was swimming, trying to send them to the sides. April didn’t react quick enough and she was flung into the far wall, crumpling from the impact. Alakath narrowly missed, and in turn spun around and sliced at the shark. His blade hit the side of the shark, but didn’t break through his tunic, or rather, the mail he wore underneath.

I hobbled over as quick as I could to my sister, but Jonah charged at me. All I could do was drop and roll towards the side of my uninjured leg. Alakath had followed him over and took a swing at him. Again, his sword hit, but didn’t break through the shark’s mail.

As quickly as I could, I got back onto my feet and drew my knife. Again, the shark charged me, and all I could do was stab with my knife as he rammed his shoulder into my chest. The knife stuck in his shoulder as I went flying and rolling towards the balcony. Alakath again managed to strike the shark with his sword, again finding the mail seeming to be impenetrable.

I slowly rose onto my feet and looked up just in time to see Jonah barging his shoulder into me again. Again, this sent me flying. I landed on the rail of the balcony and it collapsed immediately, sending me over the edge. I reached out and managed to grab hold of part of the remaining rail, stopping myself from falling to my death.

I could hear Jonah and Alakath going at it in full force it seemed. I’d hear Jonah growl like he’d charged. I’d hear Alakath groan and the “clink” of his sword hitting Jonah’s mail. I started swinging my body, trying to build momentum to pull myself up back onto the balcony.

Right as I pulled myself up, I saw Alakath lunging at the shark. Jonah’s back was towards me, and I believe Alakath was trying to get him to back further in my direction. I think I made the rashest decision possible. I leaped onto the shark’s back.

I pulled back on the shark’s jaw, trying to guide him towards the edge of the balcony. I wrapped my legs around him as best as I could as he spun around, trying to sling me off. I heard Alakath scream my name, then down we went.

I reached out and somehow grabbed onto a window sill and managed to hold on. Jonah plunged all the way down to the ground, landing with a loud thud, blood immediately pooling around him. I looked down, and the fighting seemed to stop at once. Jonah’s thugs immediately dropped their weapons and held their hands up, surrendering to Red’s forces. Red’s men, meanwhile, hoisted their weapons and cheered. I think some even chanted my name.

After an eternity of hanging there, two pairs of arms grabbed mine and pulled me in. I looked to see who it was, and it was Tara and Amy. They asked if I was okay, and I said as okay as my leg allowed me to be. I draped my arms around their shoulders, glad to be able to take weight off my hurt leg. In the hall, I saw Alakath walking down the stairs, April having draped an arm over his shoulder as she shuffled along, still severely shaken from being hit by Jonah. Her eye had even swollen shut and she had a severe limp, like her foot or leg was injured.

When we got outside into the courtyard, Red’s men began cheering again. Again, I could clearly hear some of them chanting my name, which made me start blushing. Then, suddenly, the men parted, forming a path to the gate, but what took me by surprise, was who was standing at the gate: Mom.

Her hands were cupped over her mouth and nose, and judging by how she was trembling, she was crying. My sisters and I all went over to her and we each hugged and kissed her. I think after a few minutes, we all were hugging each other, crying, glad to finally be reunited.

Noticeably absent from this moment was Red. He was nowhere to be seen. Not that I cared, I was happy to see my mom, and not have to worry about what some fiend was going to do to her. But eventually, Alakath said to someone they should try to locate him.

Eventually, he found him, or rather, his body. Jonah had landed on top of him. What killed Jonah, was Red’s sword stabbing straight through the shark’s heart. The weight of the shark’s impact it likely what did Red in. Everyone was stunned. For several minutes, everyone from both sides just stared at the bodies.

It was Alakath who eventually broke the silence, and he did so by simply suggesting that everyone go back to their families. With that, the majority of people left the compound. This left my family, Alakath, and a few guys who didn’t have families to return to. Alakath suggested the younger ones enlist in the Army. The older guys could find accommodations and wage-work with the Labor Corps.

Eventually, after Alakath gave them instructions on how to do whatever he had suggested, the men dispersed, leaving just the dead corpses, Alakath, my family, and myself there. Soon, we were joined by the mink girl, who seemed unsure whether to feel happy or sad at Jonah’s death, and Eliza, who had arrived not long before the battle began (her words) and had walked out with the mink. Alakath pulled the mink to the side and talked to her for a bit.

Soon, we realized that without Red, the organization, the Paradigm, was no more. We were no longer bound to its cause. Eventually, we also realized we were now without a home. While not having a home wasn’t new to me, it was to the rest of my sisters. But being in a large group without a home was new to me. Alakath, once he finished speaking with the mink, suggested we take over Red’s base. We didn’t have to take up the cause, but the building could house us, and the building was legally considered abandoned, so we could legally claim it without much cost.

Mom agreed that it was a great idea. She also added that we all have useful skills that we could use to bring in coin. Maybe we could start an organization ourselves, one dedicated to making this city better without destroying it. Alakath said he could get behind that, but that would take lots of planning and money. For now, we just needed housing and work, and the base was the perfect place for it.

Before he walked off, Alakath said he’d make sure Macy would meet us at our home. I asked where was she, and he just said that she’s safe and in good company. I asked was it Starlight or Gladia and he shook his head. He just said I’d meet her very soon and walked off.

I then hobbled to where Eliza was standing. We hugged and smiled at each other before briefly kissing. I asked what she was going to do, and she said she didn’t know. Likely, the General would try to bring her back under his control, but I said that we couldn’t let that happen. I offered to have her come stay with my family and me. She smiled and agreed that it would be best for now. Holding hands, we walked over to where my sisters and mom were and explained what the plan was. They just said she was welcome to live with us and we would keep her as safe as possible.

My family and I walked to what was going to be our home. We walked in and were greeted by not only Macy, but Aurora, Abernee, Ammory, Marril, Mallory, Andrea, Ashley, and Amarlee as well. Everyone was here! It was the first time since I had been banished from the brothel that we had all been together at the same time.

Sitting in a corner of what was the common room was Alakath and a hare, whose arm was in a cast. When Macy noticed that I noticed them, she pulled me over and introduced me to the hare, whose name is Heather. Heather stood up and gave me a gentle hug and smiled at me. She actually even offered the place she was sitting to me. I just giggled as I sat on a bench across from them.

Heather’s a really cool girl. She’s apparently going to be Alakath’s squire, something Alakath’s offered me many times in the past. I’m glad he’s finally found someone who can benefit him as such, rather than trying to waste such a privilege on me.

Eventually, Alakath and Heather said they had to leave, but not before giving my mom a bunch of Furre. He said it would cover the cost of obtaining the legal rights to the place. He said to come get him if we were unsure of where to go and whatnot, and mom said she’d likely get him anyway.

Eventually, my sisters in apprenticeships also had to leave. They said they would visit as often as they could, and if we needed anything that they could do to let them know. No doubt we’ll be seeing them frequently.

So, I have Alakath to thank not only for saving my life, but also for reuniting my family. Here’s hoping that a happy, normal life is now possible. But, I would still like to go adventuring with Starlight and Gladia, but my leg needs to heal… and I finally get that opportunity, or at least, I hope I do.