"They have the village surrounded," my daddy said, his voice solemn but there was a tremor.

  "How many?" my momma asked, her voice sounded strange. Usually so comforting and loving, there was something new in it I didn't understand.

  I also didn't like this smell, it was so strong and made my eyes water. "Mommy!" I cried "My nose hurts!"

  My momma looked down at me before bending down to pick me up and pushing me into herself. My mother's scent helped bury the smell a little and I was grateful.

  There was a loud crash and a horrible sound. "Get out of here, monster!" my father cried, I felt my mother push me harder against her chest as she turned us away from my father.

  "Momma!" I cried,

  "Quiet sweetie, it's going to be okay," momma said, her voice full of something that scared me.

  Then momma made a scream and she fell on top of me, it hurt.

  I saw my momma's dead eyes looking back at me. Blank, lifeless. Terror.

  I sat up in bed, drenched in sweat. But the memories lingered. A burning village. People are screaming. My mother... I felt a tightness in my chest, my body trembling. I clenched my fists, forcing myself to breathe.

  "Just a nightmare Tama, just a nightmare," I repeated out loud, assuring myself that everything was fine. I rubbed my eyes, still seeing my mother's blank stare burned into the dark. My tail lashed once, sharp and angry before I shook my head hard. "Nope. Not today."

  I looked around my room to calm myself. My small bed was perfectly sized to fit me, a nightstand stood against the wall to the right of the bed, and to the right of it was my mirror. Sensei got it for me as a gift. It came from the outside world.

  I took a few more deep calming breaths before feeling my heart rate finally die down as I laid back down and closed my eyes. I felt my body begin to relax as I dozed off.

  A loud crash jerked me out of my relaxed state. Instantly, my body reacted, springing out of bed and grabbing my dagger. My senses heightened as adrenaline flooded my veins. Was it goblins? Another monster?

  The cold air bit into my skin as I stepped outside. I could feel my heart hammering in my chest, the rush of battle instincts taking over. Just like Sensei had taught me, I fell into position, every muscle tense, ready to react.

  But when I saw what caused the noise, I let out a breath of frustration and disbelief.

  "Awww, come on! Not again!" I cried as Jiggle rammed himself into the chicken coop. No doubt trying to get the eggs again. I was like 110% sure boars weren't supposed to even eat eggs; most boars didn't even touch the chicken coop. This boar did, however.

  Jiggle. Of course. It had to be him again. I named him Jiggle because of the way he jiggled, but also because he liked to try and wiggle his way into the chicken coop all the time.

  Frowning, I threw my dagger down, the blade embedding itself into the wooden step, and stormed over to the fat boar. "Alright then, time to get you out!"

  My tail flicked irritably behind me. Jiggle was a problem, sure, but he wasn't the enemy. Yet every time I wrestled with that damn boar, it felt like a small victory. Like for just a moment, I could forget the weight of everything else. I didn't want to deal with my emotions—I didn't even know how to. So, instead, I picked a fight with a pig.

  My ears—perked and purple-furred—pinned flat as Jiggle's squeals assaulted them. I hissed a wholly inhuman sound, before launching myself at the boar. My tail lashed behind me like an indignant metronome, its fur fluffing to twice its size. Water swirled around my fists on instinct, scattering droplets that caught in my wild, royal-purple hair.

  I leaped back as another wild tusk tried to impale me, my heart racing with adrenaline. "Ha! Too slow, Jiggle!" I teased, my feet barely touching the ground as I dodged around him. The boar's angry squeal echoed through the air as he spun, searching for me, but I was already behind him, tail flicking with excitement.

  "You'll never catch me, Jiggle," I purred, grinning like a mischievous cat. My heart was hammering in my chest, but it was the fun kind of hammering, not fear. This was a game to me—pure, ridiculous fun. My body felt light, almost weightless, as I danced and twirled around him, my bare skin glistening with water from my magic. A little cold, but refreshing. The perfect distraction.

  Jiggle charged again, but I jumped, flipping gracefully in the air. The boar tried to follow, but I landed behind a tree with a cheeky laugh. "Not fast enough!" I teased.

  I couldn't help it—I was laughing too much. It felt good to just . No pressure, no expectations. Just me and this silly boar in a ridiculous wrestling match. "You should know by now, Jiggle. I'm for you!" I whispered to myself, even as I threw another splash of water at his hooves.

  The boar slid, his large, muddy feet slipping out from under him as I crouched and grinned, hands on my hips. It was almost too easy, but I wasn't about to stop. This was a rare moment when I could just be... . No ninja missions, no responsibilities. Just play.

  "You really are slow, aren't you?" I laughed, my voice sing-song as I spun in place. I planted both feet firmly on the ground and raised my hands, sending a pulse of water that splashed over Jiggle's face. His eyes widened, clearly startled, but it didn't slow him down enough.

  I giggled to myself, crouching low before sprinting toward the boar. I felt the rush of wind as it whipped through my hair, pulling at my skin, and I could almost feel the air whispering at the edges of my mind. This was my second element—wind. Not strong enough to attack with, but I didn't need it. I fast.

  I pounced, landing on Jiggle's back with a loud "TA-DAAA!" I clung to him like a second skin, my legs wrapping around his barrel and my arms winding around his neck as I grinned like a crazy person. He bucked, snorting and squealing, trying to shake me off, but I was already pushing more water into his face, splashing his eyes and nose. "Gotcha, you silly boar!" I laughed, my heart swelling with a strange mixture of pride and giddy joy.

  Jiggle was no slouch, and he continued to buck. I, however, had been careful not to hurt him, which is why I had been holding back both my primary water and my secondary air elements from doing any real damage. It was also the reason I had thrown the dagger down; that would've been too dangerous for the little guy. I snorted as I considered the boar that was larger than me as little.

  All the holding back led to me not using a whole lot, and the water being splashed in his face was just enough to disorient and exhaust. Which it did masterfully. Jiggle was too tired now. His struggles grew weaker, the water sapping his strength. Finally, with a frustrated grunt, he collapsed into the mud, snorting in defeat.

  I had not even broken a sweat, the drain on my elements was negligible. I could have fought him easily ten more times and not run out. I had barely used any energy, and even that was already replenishing.

  I used my water to push him into his no-no cage and then closed the cage door. The enchanted medium-sized wooden cage was made of heavy and thick oak. Even Jiggle would struggle breaking from it.

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  I hopped off, dirt and water splashing around as I stood in the middle of the chaos I'd created. My body was completely covered in mud.

  I grinned, wiping my brow with the back of my hand. "See? Tama told you she would win, Jiggle!" My chest heaved, not from exhaustion, but from the thrill of it all, and my heart still thudded in my ears. That was fun. No danger, just enough chaos to make my heart race.

  Jiggle snorted behind the wooden bars, throwing me an indignant look. My ears twitched as I smirked down at him. "That's what you get for trying to steal eggs again, dummy." My tail flicked triumphantly as I dusted my hands off, stepping away from the cage.

  The fight had left me breathless, my muscles tingling with exertion. But beyond that—beyond the fun, the ridiculousness of it—I felt... good. Like I had control.

  Like I wasn't just some helpless little girl waiting for bad things to happen.

  I sighed, the high of the chase fading, and let my head tip back to stare up at the sky. The breeze felt nice on my skin, cooling the sweat clinging to my neck. The world here was peaceful—mostly. This place, this routine, was safe. Simple. And part of me wanted to cling to that.

  But part of me also knew it wouldn't last forever.

  I crouched down, resting my forearms on my knees as I studied the fat boar. His amber eyes glared back at me, completely unbothered by his latest imprisonment. Jiggle was a stubborn idiot. Always testing me. Always finding ways to make my mornings more exhausting. But maybe that was why I let him get away with so much.

  I made it a point to put on a serious face and frown at the boar after a moment. "Bad Jiggle!" I scolded, hands on my hips. "You absolutely know better!" A suspicious glint in his amber eyes betrayed no remorse. "You do this on purpose," I huffed, "just to get Tama in trouble!" I giggled to myself as I taunted the pig trapped in a cage.

  I grabbed my dagger from the wooden step where I'd thrown it earlier and turned around to head back inside. Only to see the smirking face of my sensei. "What on purpose, little one?" The wizened voice spoke with a hint of amusement. I froze, a chill crawling up my spine, before facing my sensei with a smile too sweet to trust.

  He loomed over me, a towering figure at 6'3" with a clean-shaven face etched by decades of stern judgment. His storm-gray hair stuck up in its usual disheveled mop, but it was his eyes that pinned me in place—piercing blue, sharp as winter ice, glinting with a mix of amusement and trouble. My stomach dropped. That look never ended well.

  "Well, sensei, you see..." I clasped my hands behind my back, rocking onto my toes. As my mind fought for an excuse, I actually considered what I had done wrong. Nothing! My smile grew by an inch. I happily pointed at the boar with a look of pure indignation.

  "It was terrible sensei. There Tama was, minding her own business and resting when there was a loud crash outside. As the responsible ninja Tama is, she, of course, investigated, only to find Jiggle was going after the eggs again!

  Tama gave her best cute face as she continued. "Tama, of course, knows how much her sensei's eggs mean to him! So Tama did the wisest thing she could!"

  Before I could continue, sensei spoke up. "You used your air and water affinities and skills to safely herd Jiggle back into his cage without unnecessary violence or, say, an unneeded mess?"

  I deflated instantly. "Well, Tama means, Jiggle is a stronger than he looks!" From behind me, Jiggle snorted in derision. "You stay out of this Jiggle!" I said, whirling on the pig. Quickly, I changed tactics.

  "It wasn't Tama's fault! We were ambushed! A whole horde of goblins—fang-toothed, slobbering ones—right in the middle of the forest! And then these... these demons swooped down, all claws and curses!" My voice pitched higher, fingers fluttering dramatically. "Poor Jiggle was trembling! Tama had to free the boar! It was heroic, really! A-and we barely escaped with our lives!"

  The lie hung in the air, brittle as autumn leaves. My sensei's eyebrow inched upward.

  The old man stood silently listening to my story, a look of bemusement on his face.

  "So sensei, as you can see, Tama HAD to let Jiggle out last night! It was of world-ending importance!"

  My sensei simply nodded and smiled down at me before asking, "Is that so?"

  I, believing I might have escaped punishment, nodded aggressively, looking serious. "Tama did her very best, but with Jiggle, she had saved the day!"

  My sensei simply continued smiling as he nodded. "I see. Well, since the two of you were so strong and brave, I am certain you are both just as responsible!"

  My face fell as I realized where this was going. "Well, Tama isn't responsible! She is only 16 after all! Tama has lots of growing to do!"

  My sensei chuckled at me and nodded. "Indeed, little one, you do, and you can start by fixing the chicken coop and feeding Jiggle and his brothers before breakfast for yourself today."

  My ears deflated to my sides. I opened my mouth to argue, then thought better of it. I was being spared a lecture right now; all I had to do was an extra chore. That seemed super lenient.

  "That is, of course, after you get dressed," the old man said with a sly smirk.

  I paused as I considered his words before looking down at myself. I wore nothing but a bra and panties. Mud and filth from wrestling Jiggle coated me from head to toe. I looked up at him, unperturbed about my current appearance, and simply bowed to my sensei before seemingly vanishing into thin air. My sensei smiled as I used my wind to travel back to my room.

  I would have argued with him, but I didn't believe my own story. I figured it was best to cut while I still had a chance. Sensei looked like he was about ready to give one of his famous workout sessions. I did not want that on top of training today.

  I appeared in my room and immediately rolled my eyes. I wasn't dirty, I just.. as I spoke a large glob of mud fell off my arm and plopped on the floor with a . Okay, maybe I was a dirty. I created my water and warmed it to a nice temperature before guiding it over my lithe body, making sure to get everywhere.

  I knew sensei would check and make sure I had thoroughly cleaned myself later. It was my own fault too. I used to get into heated arguments about my body and wearing what I wanted. Clothes were so... restrictive.

  Besides, we were in a forest alone, and I had not left this forest since I could remember. In the end, as with most arguments, sensei won. As I finished cleaning myself, I looked in the mirror, creating my wind to dry me and fix my hair.

  I looked myself up and down. My sapphire blue eyes stared back at a fair-skinned nekojin girl. Long royal purple hair fell down my back all the way to my ass. My lean features match my 108-pound form.

  I was shorter than sensei, shorter than most, Sensei told me. I was 5'2", which couldn't be that short, could it? I was taller than all the chickens and pigs! Only sensei was taller than me, and he was an old man!

  "Any guy would be lucky to have Tama!" I told myself, but deep inside I wasn't so sure. After all, I had lived in the forest my whole life, for all I knew, I was super unattractive. The thought irked me and I shook my head as my tail stood up in irritation. My ears quivered at my stupid thoughts, both feline appendages the same royal purple of my hair.

  I went to remove my panties when an idea hit me. Technically wet was not dirty! "Besides, it's not like sensei will know if Tama skips changing as long as all the mud is gone!"

  With these thoughts in mind, I opted to keep my soaking wet underwear on since it felt nice, instead opting to put on my t-shirt, pants, and overalls. I looked meaningfully at my ninja garb on the rack before sighing and sliding my closet door shut. I only had three outfits: one for work, one for play, and one for ninja stuff. Now it was work time!

  I turned to step out of my room when my sensei's voice traveled in the wind: "You better have changed your underwear, Tama. You will get sick if you don't."

  My face went red as I grumbled and began undressing again. This time, I removed my underwear and bra before hanging them up. I used my wind to quickly dry them, and the areas they had been covering, before putting them back on with irritation.

  "Tama thinks this is a waste of time," I said to myself, though secretly it was because I didn't want to see those parts of me. They made me uncomfortable. Were they supposed to look like that? Sensei claimed he did not know, and that it was girl stuff.

  What did that even mean? What did sensei have? When he was shirtless, he looked like mine... or at least they used to before mine began to change. More stupid thoughts! I shook my head and quickly got dressed, making sure to not look in the mirror. I didn't want to see those parts of me, they were strange.

  Once I was fully dressed, I went downstairs, grabbed the hammer from the rack of tools next to the door, and went to work on fixing the chicken coop.

  After a couple of hours and with a frustrated huff, I threw down the hammer. The day already felt like it would never end. I almost wish fervently that I hadn't woken up. But... never mind, it was for the best. The mere memory of my nightmare made me realize I would rather be doing anything else. Including this. But even still.

  "Tama could be out playing in the woods instead of fixing this stupid chicken coop, Tama thinks Sensei does this just to upset her!" I said loudly to myself. Looking at the mostly repaired doorway. A snort from behind caused me to swing around and glare at Jiggle in his cage.

  "This is all your fault!" I proclaimed with indignation. "Why do you get to sit in your cage while Tama cleans everything up?" In response, Jiggle simply snorted again and tried to ram the cage. "Oh no! You are staying in there day after what you did!" I said angrily.

  The boar simply huffed and slammed himself onto the ground in a pout. I pursed my lips, Jiggle really did look so adorable when he did that. For a moment, I thought maybe I had been a little too hard on my boar friend. I stood to go let him out like the foolish girl I was.

  Right as I reached the cage, however, Sensei's voice carried on the wind to me. His words played as though he were whispering in my ear: "Tamaneko, my dearest protege, we must speak at once." I felt my veins run cold. The only time my sensei used my last name like that was when something was wrong.

  I didn't hesitate, stopping only to smile at Jiggle and undo the latch to his cage, before vanishing into the house with a burst of wind.