There was a half-rabbit girl, with a sharp look, sitting beside a fox woman who was sharpening a dagger with her claws.
A porkius snored while awake, and a lobhuma, with dark fur and eyes glowing like embers, leaned against a corner with a cup in his paw. The place went silent for an instant when the pair entered.
The lobhuma from their previous encounter looked directly at the young woman, without hesitation, and said with a low growl, heavy with sarcasm,
"I'm not to blame if you're following me."
She didn't reply. She just stared at him with dangerous firmness. Her eyes narrowed behind the shining mask — like two blades about to clash.
Ji Ao stood still, not knowing whether to move or pretend he was part of the scenery.
She yanked Ji Ao by the arm, dragging him toward a table in the far corner, saying nothing, not even looking at him. But the eyes of the others followed them, full of muffled whispers and a few laughs.
The young woman… looked ridiculous, and Ji Ao had just realized it.
Ridiculous and threatening.
She wore Ji Ao's oversized pajamas, which on her were far too tight. The sleeves didn't cover her arms completely, and the pant legs stopped at her calves, leaving her clothes tight and uncomfortable in a way that was almost comical — except no one dared to laugh in front of her.
Ji Ao, on the other hand, still barefoot in his own loose pajamas, with the look of someone who had rolled out of bed and fallen into the wrong book, tried to look as little human as possible.
A few whispers echoed.
"Are they a couple?"
"Food?"
"Looks like a consolation prize."
The half-fox woman chuckled softly, hiding her face behind a clay bottle. The porkius muttered something to his companion, who just snorted in reply.
The grumpy lobhuma… didn't take his eyes off them.
And the young woman?
She sat in a corner on any bench as if she owned the place. Cruel, proud, with a direct gaze and the posture of someone who owed no explanations to anyone.
Not even to him.
The young woman suddenly stood up, snorted in impatience, and walked to the counter, where a large, friendly lobhuma — different from the one sitting in the corner — watched her with those brown eyes that seemed to understand more than they revealed.
This one was broader, with grayish fur, kind brown eyes, and a slightly crooked smile that looked permanent.
When he saw her approach, he gave a low grunt, raising a furry eyebrow.
His eyes quickly dropped to the ridiculous pajamas she was wearing — Ji Ao's oversized pajamas, which on her looked small, with sleeves and legs too short, showing her skin in an awkward, uncomfortable way.
"Princess Ribh... Do you still need my help? More clothes, perhaps? And what happened to your last outfit? And that boy... why is he dressed in that ridiculous rag?"
Ji Ao, still seated at the table, looked equally out of place — barefoot, in loose pajamas — watching everything like a frightened rabbit on the trail.
He heard the word "princess" and frowned. He looked at Ruby but didn't connect the dots.
The young woman hesitated only for a second, then replied quickly,
"Ah, Lombrão, a trip. The usual mess. Can you get me some things? I'll pay you later. I'm counting on your kind heart."
The lobhuma let out a small laugh, as if he had heard that a thousand times before, and without offense, replied,
"Of course. Go to the other room. Pick something nice. For you… and for the boy. You can pay me later."
She gave him a rare, almost genuine smile.
"You're a good little wolf, Lombrão. Even old and ugly as you are."
She nodded sharply and pointed toward Ji Ao without even looking at him.
Ji Ao, still confused, realized she was referring to him.
"Oh, right. The boy. He needs clothes too. Come on, move it."
Ji Ao stood up, not really sure why, and followed her down the corridor to the back of the tavern.
The back room was simple but cramped, smelling of leather, wood, and a faint touch of incense. Clothes hung everywhere — cloaks with golden clasps, tunics embroidered with symbols, feathers, and metallic scales; boots reinforced with claws.
Strange fabrics, clearly made for the half-human, half-animal creatures of that world.
"What are we going to do now?" he whispered, nervous.
Ruby got straight to the point. She pulled a dark cloak for herself, tried it on, adjusted it firmly, not looking vain — just practical. Then she turned to Ji Ao with an impatient sigh. He looked around, still trying to understand it all.
"You're too skinny. You'll drown in these clothes. Here, try this. And don't complain."
Ji Ao took the tunic and boots she offered. He dressed with some difficulty while she was already fitting her new long boots. The two now looked like… travelers. No longer out of place, though still odd.
"I asked what we're going to do now?" he repeated, nervous.
She didn't answer right away, focused on a pair of boots. Finally, she said firmly, with a gleam in her eyes,
"We need to blend in. And then… we have to find what I came here for."
Ji Ao tried to ask something else, but she raised a finger, silencing him with a gesture.
Minutes later, when they returned to the counter, she leaned casually against it, looking at Lobraw with the tone of someone asking for a favor — and demanding it at the same time.
"Lombrão, why do you have a painting on the tavern wall showing a human kid wearing a crown? Is that some old royal symbol or just another collective delusion of this stupid forest?"
The lobhuma smiled.
"Ah, that one? Well, I found it somewhere among my scattered stuff. They say he's an old king… or a trickster adventurer. No one really knows. But folks here respect him."
"Of course they do. A tavern with a human cub as a king. Really? This forest is a nest of deranged creatures."
She walked away with her new clothes folded under her arm, without a single thank-you.
But Lobraw only watched her go, with quiet fondness, shaking his head and murmuring,
"She never changes... thank goodness".
She was almost crossing the door of the tavern Wolf's Fangs when she remembered something.
When they were about to leave the tavern, Ji Ao hesitated. He looked at her, his nervousness seeming more like affection than fear, and called out,
"Hey... Ribh?"
She stopped. Turned slowly, her expression tinged with impatience.
"Ribh? You calling me that makes it sound like an ugly name. Is that how you heard them call me?"
Ji Ao looked confused but nodded.
"Yeah... I thought that was your name. But... if it's not, sorry. It's just that... well, you look more like a Ruby. I think that's a pretty name too."
She frowned for a moment. Then, her expression softened — just a little. Behind the mask that still covered part of her face, a faint smile appeared, barely noticeable to anyone who didn't know her.
"...Ruby. Fine. Keep calling me that. Only you. And don't overdo it."
Ji Ao blinked, surprised, then smiled shyly.
"Thanks, Ruby."
She turned her back, already walking through the tavern door as if nothing had happened.
"Come on, Ji Ao. The White Forest won't wait for your ridiculous slowness. And if you call me Ribh again, I'll leave you lost among the beast-bears and talking owls."
The two left together, crossing the threshold of the Wolf's Fangs tavern, ready — or not — to face the dangers and wonders of the White Forest.
As soon as they left the Wolf's Fangs tavern, Ruby stopped abruptly on the stone path covered by a thin mist.
The wind of the White Forest moved between the trees with a constant whisper, as if warning that danger was not far away.
She turned to Ji Ao with seriousness, her eyes hard behind the mask.
"I need a weapon."
Ji Ao blinked.
"A... weapon? You mean a weapon?"
"Yes," she replied, impatient. "We're going to face creatures or... people who don't give up easily. You should think about that too. Unless you want to depend only on my goodwill to survive."
Before Ji Ao could answer, Lobraw appeared leaning against the tavern door, arms crossed and a crooked smile on his face. His furry face was relaxed, but his eyes watched Ruby with contained affection.
"Hey... at this rate you'll deplete my stock of kindness, Ruby."
Ruby froze in place.
"What did you call me?" she said, her tone cold as stone.
Lobraw raised both hands, laughing.
"Peace, peace. Ribh, Ribh... I know. But I heard you say the boy could call you that, so I figured I could too, since I'm the one who provides food, clothing and now... weapons."
She let out a slight sigh that almost went unnoticed.
"Just because you heard it doesn't mean you have that right, Lobraw..."
"Lombrão, for you," he interrupted with a half-smile. "But nobody calls me that. Only you and my mother do, and that when she's angry. You can keep calling me Lombrão, like you always have."