Too bad, because I'll never forget it. And if they won't join us again, I'll be sure to make sure they never forget either.
Either way, I win.
Ree lets out a contented sigh and looks at me. I give her a grin and I can tell the little dance party helped heal something for her.
It feels good that I sparked it in her. Really damn good.
Thivoll breaks the silence. "As I was about to say, Ree needs protection."
"Of course, big guy. We'll crush anything that tries to get near."
"Let me finish. She mostly needs protection from herself."
Ree groans and throws an arm over her eyes. My eyebrows lift. There's a story or two there.
"Alright," I tell him. "I've met her sort. I know what you mean."
She whips the arm away. "Kira! What about human solidarity? Help me out here."
"Nuh, uh," I tell her. "Pretty sure kitty cat knows you better than I do. I trust his judgment."
"Thank you, Kira," Thivoll says with a purr. "We need her protected so she can strategize and recruit."
"Well–"
I don't get to finish because Drasuk cuts me off.
"I think it would be wise to let those with the most combat experience make such important decisions."
Thivoll starts chuffing and then turns to me. "Has he not realized you are in charge of him?"
Now I'm the one laughing. I turn to Ree. "What did you do to the poor cat-man, girl? Withhold tuna? Sneak catnip into his food and hypnotize him while he was high? He's whipped already."
Ree laughs and flaps a hand to dismiss my teasing. "He isn't whipped. He just, uh, seems to think I'm the commander of a bunch of troops."
Drasuk lets out his rock scraping scoff. "You are even smaller than Kira. What kind of commander could you possibly be if anything here could kill you?"
Thivoll goes from relaxed and purring to standing with his fur puffed out in rage in a blink. I dart to my feet in response, spilling Ree off me. A grunt from her and Thivoll's tail is whipping around and Drasuk is on his feet with spikes in their most menacing position.
He's hissing from between all those scary sharp teeth as Ree calmly stands and brushes herself off.
"Drasuk. Thivoll." Ree doesn't speak loudly. In fact, she doesn't raise her voice at all, but it is deadly serious. "Stop acting like kits right this instant."
My hair's standing on end as the two of them immediately de-escalate. I'm pretty sure any one of us could break her over our knees in half a second, but her voice sends chills down my spine.
It's somehow soft, confident, kind, and pure fucking steel all at once.
I'm in awe.
Part of my brain is screaming at me to even consider being part of a squad again, but the rest is too caught up in being fucking impressed to resist where this is headed.
Thivoll turns to Drasuk with a purr. "See. Like I said. A commander."
"Well, fuck me sideways, Ree. You are definitely in charge," I tell her as I poke her in the ribs.
Thivoll puffs up his mane in outrage again. "She will do no such thing. She is mine, Kira."
"Keep your claws in your pants, kitty. It's a figure of speech."
