''Shii?'' Your throat is painfully sensitive; one painful clearing dislodges the malaise. ''Shigeko?''
''Yupyup, don't worry, we're fine.'' Says the tall, strong, blue woman. Her forearms bear obvious red lines, bruises, and marks from this afternoon's canine invaders.
''I heal quickly.'' She noticed your stare and gently slapped her forearms. ''We gave you two healing potions, the kind that dissolves in your mouth, you'll be fine.'' She helps you on your feet with one good hand, her other one holds the small cup Usha is slumbering into.
Good. The tiny one is a comical little mass of slime with a defined head and that pink core.
''Poor little gal was beside herself in worry.'' Shigeko also looks at the slumbering slime. ''Seyraphal managed to calm her down at least, she looked entirely fine physically, but man, she was scared when you stopped moving.''
''I'll keep her close to make sure she wakes up in good spirits.''

Slowly but surely, strength returns to your limbs, and you don't need the tall warrior-woman's support when you reach your family's living room. Not that Shigeko needs to know that. All the blood has been scrubbed clean and displaced furniture put back where it belongs: from the many windows outside, you realize the sun has gone down, changing the hot early afternoon into a breezy evening. A campfire has been lit with your father, mother, and Seyraphal talking around it. Mom must really trust Shigeko, for her to be the one to greet me...


''Hey, Rey?'' Shigeko tone comes out in a careful near-whisper, closing her eyes. ''Sorry for not getting here sooner. My experience with crises should have made me realize something was up, Seyraphal shapeshifting affects her instincts, so I'm-''
''Shi.'' You interrupt her with a light scratch on the arm she's using to support you. ''I wouldn't be alive if you and Sey hadn't been here.''
Like Seyraphal earlier today, there's a noticeable deep hesitation shadowing the pretty features of that big blue woman. Unlike you, she seems to lack the courage to take a step forward to meet your parents outside.
''Shigeko.'' You finally extracted her out of whatever darkness she kept brewing in her mind. ''Thank you.''
[I]''I wanna hug her! But that'd probably be too quick, huh?''
This upcoming chat is going to be... stressful.
>Try to forge a bridge between your new Mamonos friends and your parents; they should stay for the entire discussion.
>Some distance between family and friends is inevitable; it is important to understand that.
>Free
This choice is more important than it looks.
The ungodly heat going on all week has been slowing me, sorry about that.