"They


    have the village surrounded," my daddy said,


    his voice solemn but there was a tremor in it.


    "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 push 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 to my chest as she


    turned us away from my father.


    “Momma!”


    I cried,


    “Quiet


    sweetie, its 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 dead eyes looking back at me. Blank, lifeless. Terror.


    <hr>


    I sat up in bed, drenched in sweat. It had


    just been a nightmare—thank the Elements. But the memories


    lingered. A burning village. People 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 had 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 leapt 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 let go. No pressure, no expectations. Just


    me and this silly boar in a ridiculous wrestling match. “You should


    know by now, Jiggle. I''m too good 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… me. 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.


    Okay, okay, time to finish this. 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 was speed.


    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, he continued to buck, I


    however had been careful to not hurt him, as such 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 large then 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 were negligible. I could have fought him easily ten more


    times and not run out. Even as I thought that I felt what little had


    drained top off again.


    I used my water to push him into his no-no cage


    and closed the cage door from on top. The medium sized wooden cage


    was made of heavy and thick oak. Even Jiggle would struggle breaking


    from it.


    I hopped off and stood, panting from the exertion,


    dirt and water splashing around as I stood in the middle of the chaos


    I''d created. My skin was completely covered in mud, my hair tangled,


    and my clothes—well, my clothes were non-existent. I had forgotten


    about them when I got caught up in the moment.Unlawfully taken from Royal Road, this story should be reported if seen on Amazon.


    I grinned, wiping my brow with the back of my


    hand. "See? Tama told you She would win, Jiggle!" My chest


    heaved with the breathlessness of it all, and my heart still thudded


    in my ears. That was fun. No real 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. “Does 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 uneccesary violence or say..” He looked


    around the area and at Tama herself. All of it covered in mud. “an


    unneeded mess?”


    I deflated instantly. “Well, Tama means, Jiggle


    is a <i>lot </i>stronger then 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 that 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 even 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 <i>really </i>did


    not want that on top of training today.


    I appeared in my room and immediately rolled my


    eyes. I wasn’t <i>that </i>dirty,


    I just.. as I spoke a large glob of mud fell off my arm and plopped


    on the floor with a <i>squelch</i>.


    Okay, maybe I was a <i>little </i>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 matching my 108 pound form.


    I was shorter


    then sensei, shorter then most Sensei told me. I was 5’2”, which


    couldn’t be that short could it? I was taller then 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 her nice


    long 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 I 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 was work time!


    I turned to step out of my room when my sensei''s


    voice traveled on 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 it was girl


    stuff.


    What did that even mean? What did sensei have?


    When he was shirtless, his 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 and


    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 <i>all </i>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.