The trio was on the way home. This time around they traveled on train. Completely exhausted from the day before, they all sat slumped in their seats
"Why are we on the train again Aunty?" Turquoise asked.
"Because... zzzz" Amatesa mumbled and drifted off. Turquoise looked disappointed at Amatesa. Then proceeded to sleep as well. Leon had already been asleep, the moment the train started moving.
The train comes to a stop to in a city along the way. It will pick back up in 30 minutes to give everyone a chance to stretch and walk around. Turquoise is still asleep, while Leon and Amatesa awoke when the train stopped.
"I'll go get some food for us. I can speak whatever language they have, I'll be back. You want anything special?" Amatesa asked Leon.
"Deer would be good for me. Nothing fancy." Leon responded.
"Let's hope this city has those connections. Alright, be right back." Amatesa runs off the train. She is in a busy city with several people from different backgrounds walking around in peace. Humans and beast alike are coexisting peacefully. She gets to a 5-minute butcher shop to order food.
"Welcome, sister." The cook shouted in beast as Amatesa walked in. "What can we get started for you?"
"Do you have deer or anything similar here?" Amatesa asked.
"Sure thing, I'll have that ready in no time. Any special preparations?" He asked as he went to a storage labeled Deer to pull the meat.
"No customs here, we'll take it the house way." Amatesa said happily. She then took a seat at the bar. "Wow, do you guys usually have tall customers? My feet are dangling on these and I'm 5'11."
"We have all different species of people here. You're on the small side compared to the average here." A server appeared to handle the money. "Oh wait, are you from around here? You seem familiar?"
"No first time here. I'm heading back down south to beast land." Amatesa responded.
"I see, you just seem somewhat familiar. Well here's the cost of the meal. We accept foreign money as well." The server responded. Amatesa paid for the food and sure enough it was ready in 5 minutes.
As Amatesa was headed back to the train, she heard an unfamiliar voice calling out to her. "Hey, dragon woman!" A woman that appeared to be about Amatesa's age came running up to her. "Do you recognize me?"
Amatesa looked puzzled initially. "No I'm sorry I don't. When did we meet? Amatesa asked.
"I'm your cousin. Can't you see the resemblance?" Amatesa looked at her closer now. They were a similar height and built. Similar face and similar skin tone. Both of them a very light color. Amatesa is noticeably lighter than her older brother who is much darker. Though not as light as Tetsuya.
After thinking it over looking at her. "Checks out for me. I don't recognize you but we do share similar qualities. Guess you're a human cousin I never met before. What's your name? I'm Amatesa."
"My name is Crescent. Like the Crescent moon. We have to catch up." Crescent said happily
"I won't have time though. I have to take a train that leaves in a few minutes back south." Amatesa replied.
"Oh. Can I come with you?" Crescent asked.
"Sure, let's hurry so you can get on this same one." Amatesa said as they ran over back to the train. Crescent manages to purchase a ticket and hops on.
"I have the food!" Amatesa says as she gets to their room on the train.
Turquoise wakes up and immediately goes foe the food. Once she starts eating, she locks eyes with Crescent. "Hi?"
"Hey, I'm Crescent. Nice to meet you." Crescent said smiling.
"This is my cousin, Crescent, and this is my niece, Turquoise." Amatesa introducing them to each other
"I didn't know you had a... human cousin." Turquoise said confused.
"Neither did I." Amatesa responded.
"Neat." Turquoise continued eating unbothered.
Leon wakes up from the smell of food. Looks up and sees Crescent next to Amatesa and Turquoise who are casually eating.
"Who is this?" Leon asked.
"My cousin, Crescent." Amatesa continues eating.
"She's a human though. How can you be related?" Leon asked confused, not even reaching for his food yet.
"We have similar faces and complexions. Plus, she seems very nice. Don't worry, it'll be fine." Amatesa said.
"I promise I'm not tricking anyone." Crescent said surprising Leon as he wasn't expecting her to speak beast.
"Sorry, from my background, someone attempting to pose as family have something foul planned." Leon said while looking directly at Crescent.
"I want to spend time with my cousin. I have another opportunity to do so and I won't miss it this time. Life is short and you'll never know when someone will leave." Crescent said to Leon with a smile. Leon took a sigh and decided to eat. Knowing Amatesa is stubborn, nothing he says will change her mind.
Once the group was finished with the food, Crescent decided to introduce herself fully.
"I'm Crescent, I'm from the land of snow but I ran away from there years ago. I'm a mercenary at the moment, just taking whatever jobs come my way with good pay. All my other family is still up north, besides Amatesa. Seeing her in person, I just couldn't help but run up and introduce myself. I'm 26 and also can dance." Crescent said to the group
"Nice to meet you, Crescent. There are some cool dance bars in town we can go to together. They have great music." Turquoise said.
"How do you know about bars? You recently turned 15." Amatesa asked.
"Uhh, I had some older friends who told me about them." Turquoise said while avoiding eye contact. "Don't worry about it, definitely don't tell dad."
"Anyway, Crescent. I like your name. It's very unique." Amatesa said to Crescent.
"Our families usually name kids around the solar system in some fashion during birth. I was born under a crescent moon. Generally our names center around that with a few exceptions. We're all gifted uniquely by that same token. I was blessed by the moon spirit to have the power to ignore defenses and protections. Mercenary work came easy because of it, though I prefer not to work like this." Crescent explained.
"That's so cool, you're like the opposite of me. I have impenetrable defenses. I can definitely tell more we're related." Amatesa said happily.
"You're so naive. But hopefully, this all works out. I don't want to rain on your parade." Leon said.
The train comes in and they are back home. Leon heads to his home and the others back to theirs.
"Crescent, you'll have to hold my hand while we walk through the forest. The magic here will displace you and you could get lost forever." Amatesa said to Crescent as she stuck her hand out.
They walked through the forest and were quickly met by Ryuu. "Family, are you ok?" He asked calmly. He was staring directly at Turquoise's face.
"Yes, we're fine. This is my cousin, Crescent." Amatesa pointing at her with her other hand. "Nobody is in danger, you can relax. She's completely safe I promise."
Ryuu looked back at Turquoise who silently nodded in agreement. "Welcome, Crescent, I'm Ryuu. I'm Amatesa's big brother." Then Ryuu looks puzzled. "You look.... familiar."
"We do look alike Ryuu, can't you see it?" Amatesa said while putting their faces together.
"Yes I see that, but I vaguely remember seeing her before. Briefly, but we've definitely met. This would have been when we were all children though. It'll come to me later." Ryuu explained.
"Is she fine to stay?" Amatesa asked.
"She's fine, you are odd for just picking up random people, but this wouldn't be the first time for you." Ryuu said as he started walking back to the cave.
"Who was the first?" Turquoise asked.
"Darius. That's why I'm not worried." Ryuu said.
"Speaking of which I haven't seen him in forever. I might go by and see him later." Turquoise said aloud.
"Come on in Crescent and make yourself at home. I'll show you around" Amatesa dragged Crescent inside.
Inside Crescent was introduced to Lea. Lea hugged her and went back to her room. Crescent stayed the night and caught up with Amatesa over events in life. Once everyone was going to sleep. and falling asleep wherever they were, Ryuu approached Crescent. "What are your true goals? I can read you like a book and you have something planned."
Crescent smiled and said, "In time, you'll know the reason. However, there's no harm to anyone here. You and your family, including your sister, will be ok. I do have something planned and Amatesa is needed for it, as she's the only one who can do the job. But, in the end, she'll get what she's looking for too." They looked at each and both broke eye contact at the same time. Ryuu thought to himself to always keep a tab on her. But to let some events play out and see how everything u folds.