Ribh woke up. She had been lying down for a few hours. She had never been so tired as she was that night.
She got up and curiously looked at the mirror. Yes… there it was: her rabbit face. Pretty, white, with some dark spots on the ear, nothing out of the ordinary. At least, not in that world.
Because she already knew the term, she was an anthropomorphic creature. She preferred to say she was a marvelous creature. In that place, the mystery was not exactly known, but most of the time, the little female rabbits had feminine bodies, pompom tails, and large rabbit ears on their heads. Sometimes, some even had little paws, these were the most common. Because there were some that, wow, were almost humanized rabbits.
She was lucky, she was born with a perfect, feminine body, but only up to the neck. Not that it displeased her, but she was sure that, at some point in her life, she had not been like that.
And she was right.
Because her new form was not an accident. It was the result of a pact with Aranathus, the former guardian of the Hall of Forgetting. Ribh had wished for enough strength to face the enemies who pursued her, and Aranathus, in her bitter wisdom, granted it. But the price was high: her human beauty, taken forever, and part of her most precious memories, ripped away like pages burned from a book.
Now, every time she saw her face reflected in the mirror, she remembered the pact and the emptiness in the memories that would never return.
She was supposedly content with everything that had happened and pretended not to care. After all, she was really a little rabbit.
She got up, changed clothes, which were nothing special, covering just the basics, enough. In that world, men were probably not so terrible, except for the lobhumas, right? They always had been.
But now, after changing and washing her face, she went down. She could not forget the main thing, her sword, always at her waist. After all, she was a warrior. Even if it did not seem like it, because her fragile, tall, and slim appearance was very deceiving. But those who knew her knew.
Ribh was not to be messed with. Few words, short smile, agile mind. And her eyes always sharp, ready to spring into action at any moment.
Part 2
She went down the stairs. Her body, even with some laziness, was still agile enough that it did not require any effort. The steps creaked, not because she was heavy, but because the wood was already old.
As she descended, she noticed the curious glances turned toward her. As soon as they saw her perfect female body, the clients averted their gaze almost immediately. They knew that, along with those long and beautiful legs, there was always a sword, perhaps not as sharp as any other, but uniquely deadly. And she, moreover, had more than enough skill to use it.
She went down lazily, her gaze not fixing on anyone in particular, until it met Lobraw's eyes, her friend, her master. No one knew this, only the two of them.
She sat on one of the long, sturdy wooden benches at the counter. With a slight short smile, she said:
Hey, friend, get me something for breakfast.
He was turned away, but when he turned, there he was, a wolf. When stern, he inspired fear, but he was rarely stern. His eyes were cheerful, his mouth and snout conveyed confidence. Yes, he was a humanized wolf, or better said, a lobhuma. And there were many of them spread throughout the village.
However, at the center of all that dark past, only that small village remained. It had once been a prosperous city, part of the enchanting Kingdom of Aurinia, Nivalem, the City of Fortune. Now, what remained was only a fraction of its former glory, the poor, yet cheerful, village of Tavarin.
Ribh preferred not to think about the wars and betrayals that had destroyed her homeland. At least she knew that the lobhuma in front of her was not to blame. On the contrary, it was thanks to his efforts that Tavarin still stood today, the only vestige of the once-powerful Kingdom of Rabbits.
And, under the name Wolf's Fangs, Lobraw's tavern prospered little by little.
Part 3
Wolf's Fangs Tavern, Tavarin Village
The usual, little rabbit? asked Lobraw, while wiping his hands on a worn cloth.
She, with a face of few friends, only responded with her gaze. She grabbed the glass of goat's milk and drank it all at once.
And to eat? he asked, without changing his tone of voice.
I know, the usual.
He turned to the embers, throwing some exotic liquid seasonings that released a delicious aroma, capable of filling the hall. The other clients watched from the corner, but they knew she had priority. Ribh might not notice, but, for Lobraw, she was more than important.
While handling things skillfully, he thought about her. This girl was born to be something much greater than this humble life, but she pretends not to care. I know it's not true. Because she still searches for those who were once her companions. Her eyes revealed everything, sadness, hardness, an invisible armor. The smile? That was even rarer.
He placed the hot snack in her hands. And, as always, Ribh did not wait for utensils or a plate, she bit directly, even if it burned her, while he laughed. Rustic to the last strand of hair, but with a pure heart, like a child's. That was why she never needed to pay.
Coins were necessary, of course. Who didn't need them? There, copper was most common, but small amounts of arkios, a yellowish, durable, rarer and more valued metal, also circulated. Still, he never charged her.
And then, Ribh, what will you do today? asked Lobraw, resting his arms on the counter.
She raised her eyes, without energy.
The usual, Big Worm. Maybe I'll switch this sword, seems like it doesn't cut well.
He sighed on purpose, pretending disgust, but it was the only way he allowed her to call him that.
I can't believe it, the third sword in less than five days. What is it cutting? Trees or stones?
She shrugged and gave a half-smile.
Almost managed to hit it.
He laughed inwardly. I should have made the joke better. It had been so long since I last saw her smile that I almost forgot what it was like. Those lips, those teeth on display, for a moment, he admired them.
She noticed. Her sharp eyes almost guessed his thought.
Forget it, Big Worm. I'm not in the mood to smile today.
And when are you? he replied, amused.
He then placed another sword on the counter.
I already knew yours wouldn't last long. But see that you don't ruin this one so quickly, after all, what are my lessons for, huh? he said in a lower tone, almost a grumble.
She picked up the sword and, in a rare gesture, made a respectful salute.
I am grateful for everything you do for me, my guardian. I just cannot show it.
He opened a toothy smile, more wolf than man.
I know, little girl. Just stay alive. There is still time to discover how to reverse this, but, as I promised, I will succeed.
This time, Ribh truly smiled, unknowingly.
And here you go again with those promises, but, go ahead, make me laugh.
He let out an amused growl, which sounded like a real wolf laugh.
That was precisely my intention.