The Next Morning
Sirus stirred first, glancing to his left—Selvynee curled into a ball. Her face was breathing close to his.
Her tails unconsciously swishing over Sirus' chest.
He blinked.
Selvynee's ears twitched. One of her arms tightened instinctively around the pillow they shared, murmuring something unintelligible in her sleep.
Sirus exhaled through his nose, more amused than annoyed. He didn't move—perhaps couldn't. Her warmth, though faint, was oddly grounding. A dangerous comfort.
He raised a hand and gently lifted her tail from his chest, careful not to wake her. It coiled slightly in his palm, as if alive with memory.
A crow cawed on their windowsill–harsh and alone.
Selvynee shifted, brow furrowing. Her eyes fluttered open, half-lidded and dazed.
"...Ashfang?" she whispered, voice hoarse from sleep.
"I didn't move," he said evenly, arching a brow. "Your tail have a mind of its own." He replied in an amused tone.
She blinked again, registering her position. Her eyes widened—and then narrowed. "You're too warm. That's the only reason." She turned away, but not before her ears turned red.
Sirus smirked. "So I'm the pillow now."
"Shut up," she muttered, pulling the blanket over her head like a curtain of denial.
He sat up, bones creaking softly. Staring out the window, he spoke without looking back.
"I wasn't complaining…" he muttered under his breath.
Selvynee's ears twitched. A soft smile formed under the covers.
Peeking out, she looked up at him—Ashfang, still and silent, seemingly focused on something outside.
"What are you doing—?"
"I won't lose…" he murmured absently.
Selvynee blinked. Then, craning her neck to see behind him, her mouth parted slightly in amusement.
"You're having a staring contest with a crow?" she teased, wildly entertained by this rare glimpse into his oddities.
The crow cawed again, as if accepting the challenge.
The crow met his gaze through the windowsill, unmoving. A single breath passed. Then another. Sirus didn't blink. Neither did the bird.
Then, without warning—laughter. Loud, sudden, and untainted. It filled the room like sunlight through a broken curtain.
Startled, Sirus blinked. He lost.
The crow flared its wings in triumph, flapping once in mockery before lifting off the sill with a victorious caw.
Sirus's expression remained unreadable.
He turned slowly toward Selvynee—who was rolling side to side on the bed, clutching her stomach, tail swishing wildly with laughter.
Sirus stared at the wild creature rolling around on his bed.
Selvynee's laughter echoed in the room, raw and unguarded. Her limbs tangled in the blanket, tail thumping against the mattress like a drum. Eyes squeezed shut, tears at the corners.
She was alive at that moment. No chains. No collars. No fear.
And Sirus... didn't know what to do with it.
He stood there, spine stiff, hand halfway to nowhere.
Glancing down, he noticed a pillow–thrown to the floor by her antics.
Picking it up slowly, he stared at the pillow. Then at her
Walking over to the edge of the bed, he gently smacked her head with the pillow.
Selvynee paused, looking up at Ashfang.
Her face was unreadable, so was his.
A breath passed.
And then both of them cracked–like a dam broke. Laughter poured out of them. Sharp and sudden. Warm and real. They laughed until they gasped for air.
"Alright, enough chaos," he muttered. "We've a mayor to interrogate."
Selvynee peeked at him from under the blanket. "We're going to collect our information, Ashfang. Not threaten him."
Sirus grabbed her cloak and slung it over her shoulder. "Tch."
She sat up properly now, hair a mess, tails even worse.
The two began gathering their things. Sirus noticed her unruly hair and tail is a complete mess.
Sitting behind her on the bed with a brush in hand, he spoke gently.
"Don't move, your hair is unsightly."
Selvynee slightly startled, murmuring. "Big brother moment here."
Ashfang froze for a breath, then resumed combing her hair.
A breeze swept in through the cracked window, tugging at the curtain.
The warmth from earlier still lingered in the air. But it had shifted—refined itself.
Finishing with her hair, his gaze drifted down to her tail.
"Want to comb your tail as well?"
Selvynee hesitated for a moment. Then her tail drifted onto his lap.
Taking this as a sign, he combed gently. Making sure he got every strand of fur neat and shining.
"You going to be normal with the mayor?" she asked.
Sirus caught it. "Define normal."
"Try not to glare holes through everyone."
"No promises."
She rolled her eyes, but the smile still ghosted her lips.
"Aright. Look after yourself more." Stashing away the comb into his jacket, he stood up.
"Let's get this over with."
He opened the door, and together they stepped out into the sunlit corridor, shoulders brushing as they walked in rhythm.
As they walked through the morning streets, Selvynee curled her tail onto Ashfang's arm.
Sirus caught the action. Not saying a word but took a gentle note.
"Let's get breakfast first."
"Hmm!" She chirped with a hop.
As they reached the same cafe between two buildings.
Slipping in, they noticed it was still eerily empty.
Sirus shaking his head with a sigh, left a silver rulen on the counter. Walking out of the store with their food in hand.
Selvynee's tail still curled up, slowly unbind as they reached the mayor front gates.
"Do what makes you comfortable." He spoke simply, crimson eyes staring at the guards., ignoring the guards and waltzing straight through.
"You got it?" He asked, tone harsh-fierce.
The mayor twisted his chair to face the demon, gesturing curtly to a stack of papers on the desk.
"Everything you need is here." He narrowed his eyes to the leopard girl, hiding behind the demon.
Sirus catching his unwelcomed stare.
"Got a problem with her?" He walked to his desk–leaning forward, crimson eyes faintly glowing brighter for a moment.
The mayor glancing up to the demon. Looked away, murmuring something under his breath.
Sirus slightly annoyed at the mayor behaviour. Without a word. He grabbed the mayor's collar and leaned further his face close to his.
"If you cause her pain—if she sheds even a tear because of you…"
His mana surged like a pulse of thunder, crawling up the walls and thrumming in the floorboards. Dust rained from the ornate ceiling as the air thickened—hard to breathe, hard to lie.
The mayor paled, lips parting with a shallow gasp.
Sirus's face was close now.
"If you or any of your men as much cause her to shed a tear," He let go, causing the mayor to sink back onto his chair. Prompting the mayor to grasp his chest, gasping for air.
Grabbing the pile of paper, before waking out of the room.
Pausing at the door, he narrowed his eyes back.
"I promise I'll tear every single human from limb to limb. Let that be your first and last warning."
Selvynee flinched—not from the threat, but from him. From the truth that Ashfang could tear this man apart, and maybe not stop there.
She glanced once at the mayor, before catching Ashfang's arm tightly.
The manor gates shut behind them with a low groan, as if the stone itself exhaled in relief.
"I didn't mean to scare you," he murmured.
Selvynee didn't look up right away. Her tail coiled tighter around his arm. "You didn't."
He glanced down.
She wasn't lying. But her voice held a tremble—not fear, but recognition. The weight of what he'd said. What he meant.
"I just—" she paused, chewing the inside of her cheek. "I don't want you to become like them."
Sirus turned to face her.
"Them?"
"The ones who protect so hard… they forget who they're protecting."
The wind stilled between them.
His crimson gaze met hers—firm, but not angry. Not this time.
"I'll never hurt you."
"I know," she whispered. "But that doesn't mean I won't worry."
A silence passed. Not cold. Not distant. A shared silence—old as winter, soft as new snow.
"Sorry…"
"Want to tell me what that was all about?" She asked.
Sirus took a deep breath before answering.
"That mayor… Everytime we saw him together. He eyed you everytime, and now when I asked him if he had a problem. I knew at the moment. He was the one that ordered your capture."
Feeling a slight shiver through his arm, he looked down.
"Let's leave as soon as possible, Ashfang…" She looked up
"Please. Brother." her voice cracked.
Catching a flicker within his crimson eyes, she stared down.
"Hang in there for a while longer please. I… Still need to collect more information." He calmed his breathing–even out. Walking forward with measured steps.
"As long as you continue to trust in me. Say brother…" His crimson eyes growing brighter for a moment, he continued.
"I shall and I promise. Selvynee… Sister… You can always lean onto my shoulder."
"Hmm" She chirped softly, her heart settling down. Her face buried into his chest.
"Thank you, brother." She whispered.