"You arrived together. You're both early and... together." Stammered Isabelle, her usual bitch face cracking slightly, hinting at hidden surprise.

  I sensed an underlying seething from Isabelle as me and Layla approached, having spotted her in the market.

  "Harvey came to my village!" Layla cheered.

  It was late winter, approaching spring. Layla's thicker cloak with a snow leopard motif fluttered as she ran to Isabelle. She grabbed her with mitten covered hands, burying her bonnet covered head into Isabelle's bosom.

  Hat, mittens and scarf were themed on something called a snowshoe lynx.

  Isabelle patted Layla on the head with her own gloved hand as she looked at me. I was picking up... inquisitive?

  "I had time and was near her village." I said with a smile.

  I was trying to quit using deception on these guys.

  "Harrr-Veyyy! Yo!" I'd clocked Audovald when Layla and I in unison had called out to Isabelle.

  He'd ducked as we walked past and tried to skirt around me unseen.

  "Woah! Hey Audo!" To please him, I acted surprised as he picked me up from behind, pack and all. Anyone else but Audovald would have been a blood stain right then...

  . . .

  "Wooooow, man this is niiiice." Audovald lifted up then spread out his pelt, almost knocking over a passing waitress.

  "I don't know if I can accept this." Isabelle mumbled.

  I went to dismiss her nonsense—

  "I gave mine to my dad! He likes wolves. He loved it soooo much he wanted Harvey to marry me!" Layla told loudly to the table.

  Isabelle's stony face looked about to crack as her eye twitched.

  "I had to make clear we were friends plus surely; if I loved his daughter it would be something cat related?" I said trying to chuckle off Isabelle's death stare from across the table.

  "Where'd you get these pelts bro? It'd take a party of mid-levellers to take down these wolves or cost you a small fortune."

  "Yes. How did you acquire these Harvey?"

  I don't think that was what Isabelle really wanted to ask about, I shook off the frostbite from her question, then spewed some pre prepared, grade A, bullshit.

  "I went ice fishing with my friend, had to cut the trip short when we encountered the hunting party that really paid the price for those pelts."

  I've been ice fishing once. Me and a collegue got prepped by the organisation. We were just a couple good ol' boys ice fishing, nothing suspicious. The target group arrived the next day, we left the day after, their bodies were found when the ice started to melt.

  I caught a walleye, was tasty.

  "Me and my friend parted ways after I got the hunters healed up. They offered a couple pelts, and thinking of you three, I bought the third at a discount. So please don't stress." I lied.

  "I will make something of this and wear it. Thank you." Isabelle stated a split second after shooting a very brief, very subtle, dirty look at Layla.

  "Yoooo... Sis... You know I love you sisterrrr..." Plead Audo, moving closer to isabelle with a cheeky smile.

  "I will make something of yours for you." Said Isabelle, using her elbow to shoo Audovald away.

  "Thank you sis– Cheers Harvey!"

  "So you returned early due to Layla's father's attempts to betroth you?" Ah that sounds more like what she wanted to ask about, I smiled and went to respond—

  "Nope! We had to leave early because raiders attacked my tribe and my big sister wanted Harvey and your two pelts." Interjected Layla.

  I think lying by omission would have been better, thank you Layla.

  Layla broke the awkward silence almost as soon as it had started.

  "I have a gift for you too Izzy! One of the raiders had dual blades, my dad said I should give them to you. I've told my family all about our adventures! Sorry Audo, Harvey, the axes and swords weren't so special and I can't carry so much..."

  Both me and Audo reassure Layla it's OK. I finally got to see what the odd extra bundle on her pack was about. Isabelle cranked her head from death staring at me, to a subtle smile at Layla, likely hiding her annoyance at the change of subject.

  "They're kinda beaten up but my dad said they're worth cleaning."

  Isabelle nodded as she accepted the two blades handed to her. While her face was still, her eyes darting over the curvy blades, told of her excitement. I let out an impressed whistle, then asked to see one.

  "I think these are called err... coo-cook-er-rahs?" Stammered Isabelle.

  Stolen from Royal Road, this story should be reported if encountered on Amazon.

  "You're thinking of kukri and no these are too straight, from nearby and probably inspired— these are Eneps...

  Couple day's work, handles are falling apart, sheaths are rotten, blades need more than just sharpening... But Lobo— Layla's dad, was right. These are worth it." I said.

  Isabelle held her Enep against her adventurers card, using its very basic appraisal feature. Audo asked to see the one I'd taken.

  "Min level 15 in their current condition. I think the blacksmith in town could make these so they serve me quite a while. Thank you very much Layla, and thank your father next time you see him."

  Layla quietly beamed at Isabelle words, sitting beside her, I gave an approving back pat... I think she was purring. Audo handed Isabelle back the other Enep, he was obviously about to say something, when Isabelle loudly cleared her throat. "These are off raiders you said— and something about your sister?"

  While spoken to Layla, for the last part, Isabelle aimed her petrifying glare at me.

  At some point in the ensuing awkward exchange, I got pressured to tell the whole story.

  * * *

  Approaching Layla's village, I sensed I was being watched. I carried on strolling, humming as I do, an aloof healer, not worth attacking...

  An approaching attack, jumping at me from my 5o'clock. I can't kill them. I can't killl them. I can't—

  I bent down as the assailant flew over me, I took my boot off, then patted it as though getting something out.

  "Huh? Where'd you come from?" I asked kneeling back down.

  The young woman who clearly hadn't prepared for landing, tried to save the situation, jumping up.

  "I amf dawwer o' cheef— Hey!" She sputtered from between busted lips.

  "I'm a healer, let me look at your face, did someone just hit you?" I'd very quickly got very close, and had my hand on her chin, moving her head to the side to look at where she'd crashed against the ground.

  "Now! (no but through hurt face) Gea off me!"

  Trying to push me away, all she achieved was to push herself off balance.

  "Wow, I think you might have a concussion, let me help you to the village." I said catching her by the lower back and shoulder before she fell backward.

  "Now!"

  "Yes right now, OK, don't worry! I got you." I knew she was trying to say no through a busted swelling lip, but by that point I was actually enjoying myself.

  I slid the arm I had on her back, up as I lowered her, and went to her side. Then taking hold under her knees, I lifted her up. She flailed then grabbed the back of my neck to steady herself, with her free hand, she tried to claw my face. I retracted in time, smiling.

  "Please don't be scared, I may not be a high level healer but I'll do everything I can to help you."

  She could best be described as Layla but a little older, taller and dog themed.

  I moved my head aside from another attack, and let her sink her claws into the leather armour on my collarbone.

  "EXCUSE ME! HELLO! This girl is hurt!"

  Try to jump on me and find out, bitch! Entering the village, the few people out in the cold turned to look at me. She stopped clawing my collarbone to cover her face.

  "Is there a hut I can take her to, to heal her up please?" I called out.

  "What are you doing with me daughter!" Barked a gentleman larger than Audovald, leaning out of his yurt. He was draped in wolf inspired barbarian gear.

  "Your daughter? So I can heal her in there? Out of the way sir, I think she has a concussion!" I turned sharply then brazenly walked toward him. He hesitated, but moved out the way, holding up the door flap for me to pass him.

  "HARVEY!?"

  "Layla, where can I put this injured girl please?" A shocked Layla jumped up and pointed to a bed beside the one she'd been sat, sewing on.

  The moment I put her down she tried to curl up into the fetal position. I could feel her father staring down over my shoulder. I wanted to grin like an evil son of a bitch, but I kept my outward appearance innocent.

  "I need to see your head, please turn and face me."

  She did so with a little coaxing, pounding her fists either side and gritting bloodied teeth. I started healing. Mwahhahahahahahahahaha!

  . . .

  "Now your sisters healed up, I have a gift for you, Layla." I said before anyone could ask me anything.

  I pulled out three rolled up wolf pelts to peel one off, before stuffing the others back. "Layla, please don't be disappointed, I know you like cats, but I got these and want you to have one. I won't be offended at all if you re-gift it!"

  "Urrr... Mr Harvey... This is a really nice wolf fur... is it real?"

  "It is, but I assure you, the hunters that took those wolves down had no choice. They were man eaters that sadly had to be put down. So Layla please, I can see your family take after different animals, trade it, gift it, do with it as you please."

  She hesitated. In the guide to making friends it recommended bringing food when visiting their home.

  "I didn't catch that wolf, but... I did bring something I know a cat girl like you would love. Some fish!

  I caught a few for you and your family. I know I'm an unexpected guest... but you said I could visit, and I brought fish...?"

  I unhooked and unwrapped the frozen fish from outside my pack. I'd blasted them out of a lake using dark magic, so was it really a lie to say I caught them?

  Layla looked happier at the sight of the fish than the pelt. Layla's father got closer, gawking back at fourth between the wolf fur and the four large fish.

  "Erm... Daddy, this is my friend Harvey, the healer I told you about, can he stay with us awhile? ... oh and I guess, this is for you! You've always wanted one right?" Layla cheerfully hoeld the pelt out toward her father.

  My assassin training hadn't prepared me for Layla's father snatching the fish from my hand, then lifting me into a one armed hug.

  "Daughter, you bring home a man! I approve! Wife, our daughter found a man! For tonight's engagement celebration, we dine on fish!" He declared.

  Layla's blushing and shocked, I'm genuinely bemused, Layla's sister Roxie looks mortified and Layla's mother... she just nodded knowingly.

  "Hubby... I think she just said friend— I'll get them defrosted." She said taking the fish from Layla's confused father, who then reached for the wolf pelt. "Don't! Touch that fur before you wash your hands! I won't make you anything from it if it smells of fish!"

  I found it interesting that Layla's mother was not far off my actual level, a real deal high priestess.

  Naturally I left certain details out when telling Adovald and Isabelle of my introduction to the Ilves-Farkas clan. Lobo Ilves-Farkas, chief of the Ilves-Farkas clan had taken some persuading that I wasn't marrying his daughter, in the end he agreed to "live in hope".

  High priestess of the clan and Layla's mother, Lis Ilves-Farkas was a lovely woman... at first... surprisingly she too wore canine themed attire. Hers was arctic fox themed. This meant Layla was the rebel of her family?

  * * *

  I shared with the siblings that I'd learnt at dinner that Layla's grandmother had liked cats too.

  Audovald bought me another drink, before I told them of the incidents with raiders, and Roxie Ilves-Farkas.