The guest quarters were more comfortable than he expected them to be.
Nathaniel paced back and forth, making another log on his pocket vinyl. When he got to one end of the room he would take in the light of the morning sun, only to return to the shade of the room on the other. He had not bothered to fully dress himself with so much on his mind. Incessantly, he spoke into the transcriber. Waving his arms around in frenzy as he detailed the past day.
"–and if we don't lose our jobs for taking her through mantis country–UNPREPARED–then Travlack nearly gets hacked to pieces. Amber, it was nice knowing you. By the time you even reach this log, Coordinator Cooper would have already mounted my head on his wall. And if he hasn't, then my father will come out of retirement and do it himself."
A knock on the door.
"Nathaniel Bosh, out. I'm sorry for the ranting. Don't bother trying to transcribe my meltdowns."
Nathaniel adjusted his hair and glasses before opening the door. There stood Heward, standing tall, tail wagging and carrying a clipboard.
"Heward! Good morning–thank you again for all you've done. Anything new on Travlack?"
"Doctor E actually sent me to fetch you. Pun intended."
"Pun…?"
Heward gestured to his tail.
"Oh…cause you're a harehound."
"Springhound, actually."
"Right."
Nathaniel glanced down to diffuse the awkwardness only to quickly regret it.
"Hew?"
Heward had already turned around, ready to take off. He cocked his head back, facing one eye to Nathaniel.
"You're…uh…where are…?"
He further tilted his head in confusion. Though Heward was covered head to toe in dense fur, he was still naked.
"I…forgot. Let's go."
Heward nodded and started to pace off. Nathaniel found himself nearly running in order to keep up with him.
"Just down this hall and we'll make a right–"
Heward skipped off the wall. Nathaniel nearly slipped turning the corner, finding himself face to face with a patient in crutches.
And no clothes.
"Pardon me–ah."
The patient bore him no mind and went about their way. When Nathaniel was far enough down the hallway he wiped his clothes. Finally, he caught up with Heward. He stood outside of the door, hand on the doorknob.
"Doc E was just about to begin her treatment."
Heward opened the door.
Nathaniel stood mortified as Doctor E's mouth clamped around Travlack's arm. With her eyes she acknowledged them one at a time. Seconds later she unhinged her jaw from Travlack's arm and reached for a cup. On her way to a nearby window, she gargled before promptly spitting it out.
"Ah…salty."
Nathaniel looked between the two with wide eyes. Doctor E and Heward exchanged glances of confusion before Heward addressed Nathaniel.
"Is…something wrong?"
"There's no way that's sanitary."
"It's saline," stated Doctor E, "It's a natural mixture–"
"I'm talking about not wearing–!"
Doctor E stared at Nathaniel with narrow eyes.
"You will quiet yourself, Mister Bosh. We are in a ward."
His mouth closed before he knew he closed it.
"Heward, please lead him to my office. I have to do my rounds."
"On it, Doc."
Doctor E stood just above Nathaniel's waist as she walked by.
"And throw something on for our guests," she continued, "I surmise they may find it hard to focus with us in our…natural state."
"Heard."
Doctor E closed the door behind her. Heward took an extra blanket from where Travlack lay and wrapped it around his waist.
"Alright. We're going this way."
Heward led Nathaniel down another cozy corridor. His gait staggered every other step in an attempt to keep the covering on. Nathaniel studied his stride, noting how often Heward would adjust his tail every couple of steps.
"Why don't you just…regress the mutation?"
"Because…" Heward grumbled, nearly tripping over himself, "I don't want to–ah!"
He had stepped on his own tail, yelping in the corridor. Immediately he dropped the blanket and cradled his tail, whispering apologies as he caressed it. Nathaniel could only stop and look away as Heward took all the time he needed.
A minute later Heward kicked up the cover and placed it over his shoulder. After opening the door for Nathaniel, Heward went to a closet and threw on a pair of shorts, ensuring that his tail went through a custom made opening first.
"There. Now let me get the Doc's cloak and…"
"Sorry, Heward."
He turned around with a long robe in hand.
"What for?"
"I don't mean to impose by having you cover up."
Heward waved it off and set the robe on an ornate desk.
"Whatever. The Doc already explained the situation to me. Outsiders are usually pretty flustered when they come around. What would be really embarrassing is if Doctor E had to get–"
The door clattered open with one of Ava's hands stuck out in front of her. She was hunched over as her other hand was led by Doctor E. Around her neck was Vae, who remained unfazed by her new surroundings.
"...the blindfold she uses when outside patients can't stop staring," Heward muttered.
Ava's voice wavered as she flailed her arm around the room. Vae lazily hung from her shoulders, adjusting each time Ava's balance would shift.
"Nathaniel? Are you already here? I took two steps inside this building and I'm positive that what I saw wasn't a tail!"
Doctor E led Ava's hand into Nathaniel's and marched to her desk. Ava let a sigh of release escape and sank to her knees.
"Um–yes. Ava I'm here."
"Is it over? Can I take it off?
Nathaniel looked around the room awkwardly. Doctor E rolled her eyes and slipped into her cloak.
"Yes."
Ava used a finger to lift the blindfold slightly. Satisfied with her findings, she cautiously slipped the blindfold off and looked around the room.
"Is there something wrong with him, doctor?" asked Nathaniel.
"No," she stated, "Aside from being overworked."
"Be glad the doc got to him when she did," Heward chuckled. He walked behind Nathaniel and Ava, his tail brushing against them. "She'll get him fixed up."
"We should really be thankful for your speed, Heward," Nathaniel noticed how much fur Heward shed in their brief collision. He brushed it off his arm.
Heward fanned his hand in front of his face and sneered.
"Oh, it's nothing. Just springhound speed and grace."
His body had betrayed the cool expression he held on his face. Heward's tail batted back and forth across a counter, knocking over several instruments. In a swift motion, three tails from Doctor E stretched from her desk and constricted Heward's tail.
Nathaniel and Ava leaned back in their chairs as Heward yelped.
"Doc–doc–doc that hurts that hurts–!"
"An…unpo?" Nathaniel trailed off as he found himself captivated by her sudden transformation.
He looked up and down at Doctor E, who was now covered head to toe in jet black fur. Her pupils narrowed into a feline nature, complete with stringy whiskers by the corners of her mouth.
"Get the tail under control, Heward. I won't be able to replace that until the shipment after next."
"I hear you doc! I hear you–please let go! I'm sorry!"
Doctor E released her tails from their grip one by one. When the last one came free Heward pulled his tail and caressed it. Doctor E's tails retreated back into her cloak. Nathaniel watched as Doctor E's fur disappeared in real time.
"And yes, Mister Bosh, an unpo. What you saw me do to Travlack was give him enough poison to assure he won't wake up before I need him to."
"Poison?" questioned Ava, "How is poison going to–"
"Unpo poison isn't really poison," Heward interjected, "That's just what it's called."
A couple seconds of silence went by. Ava snapped her fingers, and to Nathaniel's surprise, there was a spark.
"What about Chrissy?" Ava leaned forward, "How is she?"
Heward and Doctor E glanced at each other before they collectively sighed.
"Mister Bosh," Doctor E started, "Whatever did that to her…are you sure it's gone?"
"Gone? Like…deceased?"
Doctor E and Heward nodded. Both leaned forward, expecting a suitable answer.
Nathaniel shook his head. Heward's tail drooped to the floor whereas Doctor E leaned back in her chair.
"The last we saw of it, three inspectors from the DLF were handling him. If that doesn't work, then what will, right?"
No response from either of them. Doctor E and Heward looked at each other from the corner of their eyes before looking at Nathaniel.
"Where's Jay?" asked Heward.
Ava sat up straight and snapped her fingers again.
Another spark.
Nathaniel noticed how she lingered a little when blinking. Was that a wobble in her chair?
"Oh, he left Nathaniel and I here while he went to get us a visitor's permit."
A large yawn escaped from Ava. She promptly covered her mouth. Heward did his best to stifle the contagious reaction but failed. After yawning himself he asked another question.
"And how long ago was that?"
"Quite a while ago?"
Doctor E's eyes widened.
"...oh."
An explosion could be heard in the distance. Debris hit the windows of Doctor E's office, causing splotches of shadow to cast over the room.
"Heward," Doctor E got up from her chair and opened the door of her office, "Intercept him before he gets here. Need I remind you of last time."
"On it, Doc."
Heward vaulted over the desk skimmed between Nathaniel and Ava. In a rush of wind he bounded off the open door and down the hallway. Doctor E signaled for them to follow her down the hall. Due to her nature, her stride was shorter than Nathaniel and Ava's. They found themselves awkwardly adjusting so as to not pass her.
"Doctor E," Nathaniel said, careful not to step on her robe, "What's going on."
"Jay speaks too much. If whatever wounded your friend is alive, it's tracking her," she stated.
"Does this mean Chrissy isn't okay?"
Nathaniel noticed that despite being around Therians in their natural state, Ava did not notice.
"Chrissy is fine. But Therians who share traits with the rapid skewers can't make those markings unless they're Relinquished…or Overcome."
"Relinquished? Overcome? Doctor E–"
Ava was cut off by another muted explosion outside the ward. Closer this time.
"I'd be happy to give you a biology lesson later," said Doctor E, opening another set of doors, "For now, please stand behind me and say nothing."
Doctor E led them outside where a large man with carved horns stood with balled fists. Nathaniel caught glimpses of his indigo fur with a white patch down his chest. Heward along with other ward attendants were trying to deter him from going any further.
"Move out of my way–where is Doctor E?!"
The fuming man smacked the sides of his horns. An awful vibration hummed from the tips, causing everyone to falter. Ava and Nathaniel covered their ears and shrunk behind Doctor E, who stood unfazed.
He pointed his horns to a nearby tree. Seconds later, it burst at the center with a violent crack. It dropped to the ground, causing foliage to fall everywhere.
"A tuning ibex…," murmured Nathaniel.
Ava moved behind Nathaniel and poked her head over.
"Doctor, is he going to–"
"No. Not to you. He's just throwing a tantrum. Fitz is just…passionate about his work."
"Eunice!"
The horned man shoved his way past the hospital staff and marched right up to her. He took the time to make eye contact with Nathaniel and Ava separately before focusing his ire onto her.
"Eunice, your visitors from outside the village have to leave, now. The village charter clearly defines them as a threat."
"That remains unproven, Fitz. Two of their party arrived wounded, meaning I have to help."
He stamped his foot in the ground and blew smoke from his nose. The horns on top of his head rattled in response.
"Eunice, I'm not asking. The mayor has already authorized me to remove them–by force if I have to."
Doctor E's tails flowed from beneath her robe, raised above her head. They shook back and forth–smoothly in the middle but erratically at the ends. The sound they made caused Ava to yawn.
Then Nathaniel.
Then the assistants of the wards, one after another. Heward yawned and stretched so deeply his tail stood on an end.
Fitz gritted his teeth and stared at Doctor E, maintaining his fury. The moment his mouth opened he smacked his horns again. The pitch rapidly increased until the noise became shrill. He whipped around and blew up another tree in the courtyard.
"Now would you stop that!" he growled.
"I will when you calm yourself. I understand your concern but, as a doctor, I cannot ignore those in need."
"Jayce filled me in on everything. I cannot let the festival come into harm's way because you want to let a–"
He stopped himself.
On his exhale more smoke drifted to the ground. He looked around the courtyard and saw people from the village start to gather around. Onlookers peered through the gates and those with wings kept their distance as they investigated the commotion.
"Eunice. Your office. Now."
—
The blindfold had once again found its home over Ava's eyes. Nathaniel took her hand and led her to a chair before taking one himself. Fitz paced back and forth along the bookcase in Doctor E's office. The doctor herself sat in her chair, eyes closed and tails softly swaying in the air.
Heward came through the door with an ornate tea set. After pouring five cups he handed one to each person in the room.
Nathaniel guided a cup over to Ava, who sat straight up and took a polite sip, keeping the cup plate perfectly level with her other hand.
Nathaniel let his rest on the desk, but not before taking a sip himself.
Doctor E thanked Heward and placed it down in front of her. She took it into her hands and softly blew on the surface of the beverage.
Fitz stopped pacing and stared at Heward with a blank face when offered. Heward promptly set it down on the side of the desk Fitz paced on.
Finally, Heward took his cup and leaned against the wall. Nathaniel watched as Heward used his tongue to scoop the tea into his mouth, just as a springhound would lap water.
The sounds of Heward drinking caused everyone to turn to him. He looked up and licked the sides of his mouth.
"What?"
"Heward," smiled Doctor E, "I believe it would be best if you made your rounds now."
Heward nodded dejectedly and drooped his tail between his legs.
"Understood, doc. I'll be taking my tea to-go."
He slipped out the door and closed it softly. A blindfolded Ava broke the silence first.
"Lovely tea. What's in it?"
"It's fermented plum tea," replied Doctor E, still attempting to cool it down, "One of our nurses–Opal–she threw it up this morning."
Ava froze in place.
"Pardon?"
"Her Therian nature presents itself as a damequus," she said, taking a sip, "The wonders of a second stomach."
Despite this information, Nathaniel quite liked the tea. He gave it another sip and nodded in agreement.
"Nathaniel, would you take this from me? Please?"
He reached over to Ava and set her cup in front of him. Unsure if he liked it enough to have a second cup.
"Eunice, why is it we keep doing this?"
Fitz picked up his cup and stared out a window. The light of the sun enhanced the color of his indigo fur. He towered over Doctor E, who remained sipping tea with her eyes closed.
"Because we're both good at our jobs, Fitz. Where's Jayce? I thought you would drag him here by the horns?"
"He's talking to the mayor. I came because I wanted to hear their side of the story free from his outbursts."
Doctor E nodded in agreement.
"Would you want to speak to Chrissy as well? I can have Heward fetch her."
"I'll speak to her and the Igosi one tomorrow. Today…"
Fitz set down his cup and loomed over the table.
"Today it's you lot. So tell me and tell me true, what did that to your friend?"
"Nathaniel," Ava leaned over, "Is he addressing me or you?"
Nathaniel looked over only to be reminded that Ava was still blindfolded. He sighed and sat up in his chair to respond.
"To be entirely honest, we're still not sure. Like Doctor E said, he's a rapid skewer. From what Chrissy and Travlack told us they met him in a cave near the departure of our survey. They say he helped them find Neville–Chrissy's pet bat–while down there. The first time I actually saw him was when he attacked us."
"And did Jay identify him as Relinquished or Overcome?" asked Fitz.
Ava opened her mouth to speak. She looked at Nathaniel, rather, turned her head to where he was sitting and shook her head.
"Nathaniel, what does that mean?"
"Forgive me for not being so up to date on my terms," Nathaniel sighed, "But is that what you call the Unmoored?"
"Unmoored? Now that's a term I haven't heard in a while," chuckled Doctor E, "Is that what your father called it, Mister Bosh?"
Nathaniel nodded.
"Goodness," she continued, "Unmoored. I haven't heard that word in maybe thirty–thirty five years? Rather archaic. When was the last time–"
"Eunice," sighed Fitz, "Would you please?"
Doctor E dropped from her chair and started digging through a cabinet on her bookshelf. Laid out on the desk were flasks of oil, water, and soybean extract. Nathaniel leaned over and advised Ava it would be beneficial to remove the blindfold for this part. A recommendation she hesitantly agreed to.
"This is a demonstration I do when I teach young children. I hope you find it captivating," she said, placing down an empty cup. "Now. Let this represent people like you."
Doctor E poured some water into the cup.
"That's the shape of your soul and its contents. It holds, pours, overflows, boils–whatever you need it to do. That's the power in your body. Some have more, some have less. Now…"
She poured oil on top of the water. It rested above, not mixing with the water below.
"This is the Therian soul. The oil is how our mutation expresses itself. Sometimes we allow more oil, sometimes we allow more water. Regardless of how much we choose to divulge in, we still have access to either side. This is how we're supposed to be. Something that happened–especially in times long before ours–was the mixture of the two."
Doctor E poured a couple drops of the soybean extract.
"This is an emulsifier. In our case, soybean oil is a bridge that allows water and oil to mix and prevent them from separating. In the case of Therians, the only known bridge that allows full immersion with our Therian soul is…desperation."
She put a finger in the glass and swirled it around. The oil and water became one uniform color.
Ava softly gasped.
"I get the same reaction from the young ones, it's quite something," Doctor E chuckled, "Now your term, 'Unmoored', is outdated. Infers too much of a trance-like state. But as we kept learning about ourselves, Therians classified two types of desperation."
"The difference being laying down your soul for your instincts to kick in," Fitz stated, "Or your Therian soul demanding that it persevere. Relinquished and Overcome."
"This example does fall apart as souls aren't liquid," ceded Doctor E.
"Then how did Jay do it?" asked Ava.
Fitz and Doctor E shared a glance. For a moment, the ticking of her clock was all that could be heard. Doctor E adjusted how she sat in before answering Ava.
"Jayce is a rare case."
"And we're not here to discuss him," Fitz placed his palms on the desk. He leaned over Nathaniel and Ava, engrossing them in his shadow. "I need an official statement when I report to the mayor."
Fitz took a pocket vinyl and transcriber from one of the drawers. He willed it to life and set it down, facing Ava and Nathaniel. Ava looked over and pleaded with her eyes for Nathaniel to speak.
"We don't know," Nathaniel sighed, "Lanon showed up at Marlowe's outpost and heavily wounded the bandits that had attacked us earlier. That was the last time we saw him."
"Yes," chimed Ava, "Other than that, we have no idea what where he–"
The sounds of a scuffle could be heard from outside the door. Jay waltzed into the room and smiled at everyone, bearing his teeth. Heward stood beside him, his tail tucked between his legs.
"Sorry Doc," he whimpered, "I tried to tell him."
Jay strode to the table and poured himself a cup of tea while humming a lively tune.
"Boshy. Ava. I see you've met some of our elders! Doc, Fitzy, it's good to see you. Is this tea from Opal?"
Fitz and Doctor E rolled their eyes as Jay sipped loudly.
"Mmm–she can work a miracle with that second stomach. What are we talking about?"
"I was just leaving," grumbled Fitz, grabbing the transcriber, "I have no further questions until the others in your group wake up. If you will excuse me–"
"I'll come with you," sighed Doctor E, "We should report our findings to the mayor together."
Doctor E left her chair and climbed onto Fitz's back. She sat on his shoulders, dangling her legs off either side of his chest.
"You're still doing this?" he mumbled as he trudged toward the door.
"You've never stopped me," she ducked her head underneath the door frame as they passed, "Heward, with us, and Jay? We'll talk to you tomorrow."
Nathaniel and Ava stared at the trio as they disappeared down the hall.
"They've been married for twenty-six years now," he sighed.
Their jaws dropped to the floor.
"Good to see them going strong," Jay took another sip. He smacked his lips in satisfaction as he looked between the two. "Anyways, are y'all hungry?"