The aracanolocomotive thunders along the track, heedless of the action brewing within it. Only a few passengers see the three figures leaping out from the cabin and disappearing into the foliage below.
Once-fancy dresses catch and tear, and faces become scuffed and dirtied as three lovely ladies land in the dirt.
The pink kobold is the first to stir. She snorts sediment from her snout and scrambles to her feet.
The wolpertinger is second, slowly stumbling to stand beside the cheering Tik Tik. “That was… exciting, but also scary. W… what do you think those thieves wanted with me?”
The third of their party hops up to full height, the albino woman blushing bright red as she stamps her foot. “It doesn’t matter! We lost our last chance of getting back home to Mistress Jun! Not only that, but all of my luggage was on that train.”
Tik Tik taps her snout. “Why Camilla no use teleportation. Get help?”
The human places her hands on her hips, narrowing her eyes. “Because, if I did that, you could scurry off with Ayda, and I may not find you again.”
Less boldly, she continues, muttering under her breath. “Besides, I can’t just teleport anywhere. The magic is so expensive, and I wouldn’t be able to get back, even if I wanted to leave here.”
Ayda’s ears twitch gently. The wolpertinger tugs on Tik Tik’s cloak. “Miss Tik Tik. Don’t you have a better teleportation thingie?”
Tik Tik snickers, bowing with a flourish. “Indeedy, doo! But, Tik Tik leave and then wouldn’t find Camillia, who then disappear with Ayda before Tik Tik get see Mistress Jun. We still in this together. No need be worried. Get Ayda to Mistress, and then all be good, yes?”
Camillia frowns, staring up towards the starlit sky. “Well, luckily for us, I’m sure our magic will allow us to quickly find a town. We shouldn’t have too many problems getting back to my mistress; she must be worried sick. Let me just see if- ah!”
Camillia clasps at herself, fondling every inch of her dress. “The communications mirror! It’s gone!”
Tik Tik tilts her head. “No, speak with Mistress, eh? Well, should just go, then!”
“Mistress Jun is going to be so worried!” the human says, clasping her arms tightly, shaking back and forth. “What to do, what to do!?”
Tik Tik shrugs and grabs Ayda’s hand, ushering the wolpertinger deeper into the forest, away from the train tracks, and into the unknown.
A moment later, Camilla blinks and yelps, lifting up the hem of her dress and rushing off to follow the two into the darkness of the unknown, her heart racing, but also broken.
—
Days pass. The arcanalocomotive arrives, and while the luggage made its way to its home address, the owner of the material did not. For a few days, business was slower than usual, not because of a lack of demand. Instead, the people who patronized the establishment talked about how the madam didn’t have the spirit to keep going. None of them knew the actual reason why. How could they?
Dusk arrives in the city. The kitsune returns to her residence to shift out of her uniform and into her night attire. Tight corsets and leather, plus a magician’s hood and high boots, are just parts of the complete ensemble, and by the time she pulls on the last glove, the transformation is complete.
Or it would be if her Flower wasn’t missing.
She’s just going through the motions now. With a few arcane swirls and utterances, she produces a strip of paper, where the calligraphed name of “Flower” fills its length. A tongue of blue flame rises out from the piece, enough for the mistress to toss the scrap away, letting it dissolve into ash.
Another night with another blue flame. The mistress traverses away from the comforts of home and arrives at the seat of her next appointment. Everything is so formal, as is tradition. When she sits upon the desk, she prepares her mask, sitting tall, looking stern, and lacing her fingers together.
A knock on the door tells her that work has finally begun for the evening, and she looks over her sheets, checking to ensure everything is in order. Kinks and limits, safe words and fantasies–they’re all laid out for the kitsune or the client to present. And, of course, there are the contracts and liability waivers and-
When the door opens, she flicks her golden eyes upwards, but she drops the papers then and there, her jaw-dropping, her tails swishing back and forth in a hypnotic display.
“Flo-Camellia!” She gasps, standing straight up, kicking her chair back, but then stopping herself. She stands tall and holds her hands behind her back, narrowing her eyes, scrutinizing every inch of the woman and the two companions with her.
Three tired travelers stand before this dominatrix, each dusty and dirty with their clothing ripped and stained.
“F… Forgive me, Mistress Jun,” Camellia explains, her head low, not looking her mistress upon the face. “We had no money, and we had to endure so much.”
The two other companions glance around the office wide eyed and chattering among each other.
Jun frowns.
“If I had some way of getting word to you sooner, I would have. There were so many misadventures and dangers we ran into along the way. I will give you a full report posthaste in whatever form you wish, whether it be written or oral or-”
“Camellia,” is the only word that sounds from the commanding and confident voice.
Camillia leaps at attention, her eyes darting about after making quick contact with those golden orbs. “Y… yes, Mistress?”
“I’m glad you’ve returned,” the kitsune responds, sighing, “But… could you all please get a bath?”