Lost in the swirling currents of her emotions, Ritso didn't register the gentle weight that settled on her shoulder. The sudden touch startled her, a jolt running through her as she jerked her head up, her gaze colliding with the soft, concerned eyes of Zyna. Zyna, a young woman with the proud bearing of her half-orc heritage, stood there in a simple yet beautiful blue dress.
"Zyna?" Ritso's voice was a little rough, still thick with unshed tears.
"Thank you," Zyna said softly, her gaze unwavering, "for everything you are doing, sister."
Ritso quickly scrubbed at her wet eyes with the back of her hand, a flush creeping up her neck. "What are you talking about? It's nothing."
Zyna took Ritso's hand, her own calloused fingers surprisingly gentle as she squeezed it, her warm gaze locked on Ritso's. "Thank you for saving us… from that hell." The words were spoken with a quiet intensity that resonated with the shared trauma of their past.
Ritso's cheeks burned a deeper red, a wave of nervousness washing over her. She glanced around the hall, at the women sharing quiet smiles, She understood the weight of Zyna's words.
Scratching absently at one of her curved horns, Ritso mumbled incoherently, unable to articulate the complex tangle of emotions churning within her.
Below them, Kelly, still clinging to Ritso's jacket, punctuated the moment with a sharp kick to her thigh.
"Ouch…" Ritso winced.
"It's all thanks to you, sister," Zyna continued, her voice thick with emotion, "that I and my son can finally live together again."
Ritso's gaze flickered to a subtle movement behind Zyna's long skirt. A small child, his skin a delicate greenish-brown, peeked out with wide, innocent eyes full of youthful curiosity.
Ritso knelt down, bringing herself to the child's level, a genuine smile spreading across her face. "Ohh hey cutie, can I know what's your name?"
The boy struggled to meet her gaze, his small fingers nervously fiddling with the fabric of his mother's skirt.
"Ohh, a shy one…" Ritso chuckled softly. "Reminds me of someone I know." She glanced pointedly at the still-clinging Kelly.
Zyna gently caressed the boy's head. "Dyon… You know Sister Kelly, right?"
The boy's eyes followed his mother's gesture to where Kelly stood, puffing out her small chest proudly, a childish grin plastered across her face. He looked back at his mother and nodded shyly.
"So this lady," Zyna explained, gesturing towards Ritso, "is the big sister of Sister Kelly. Her name is Ritso."
Dyon's gaze finally settled on Ritso. She offered him a warm smile, tilting her head slightly in a gesture of reassurance. But the boy's nervousness was still palpable. Ritso blinked slowly, understanding dawning in her eyes.
"What happened to you, Dyon?" Ritso stood up, gently drawing Zyna's attention away from her son. "Hey hey, it's fine. He saw me for the first time up close. It's something I can understand, no need to be strict."
"Bu-But sister…" Zyna stammered, her brow furrowed with concern.
Ritso took her hand, her grip surprisingly firm. "I said it's fine. Let it be a natural development. You can't force anything; it won't work."
Zyna looked conflicted, her gaze shifting between Ritso and her son, words failing her. "I-I…"
"Shushhh," Ritso said softly, placing her right hand gently on Zyna's shoulder, giving it a reassuring pat. "I understand, sister."
Zyna's gaze softened as she looked back at Dyon, his big, shining eyes melting away her exterior of forced composure. "I-I… I never been a… mother… before." The confession was barely a whisper, filled with a raw vulnerability.
Ritso moved quickly, embracing Zyna in a warm, comforting hug, gently caressing her back. "Yes, I can see that. Just be patient with this child. We asked you prior if you could handle motherhood. Your answer was yes. Then be the best mother you can be."
She paused as Zyna returned the hug, a silent acknowledgment of her struggle.
"You remember what Ash said, right?" Ritso murmured, her voice low.
A soft unison filled the air as both women spoke, the words carrying a weight of shared understanding: "Unconditional Compassion and sacrifice is motherhood."
Ritso pulled back, a small, amused smile playing on her lips. She playfully slapped Zyna's arm. "You remember everything, silly. Why acting like a dum-dum then?"
Zyna chuckled, a genuine sound that eased the tension in the air. She self-consciously touched one of her outgrown fangs. "I'm sorry, sister. I forgot in that moment. But seriously, I understand what you're saying, and I will take care of that from now on. Compassion and sacrifice…"
"Ha… that's right, girl." Ritso grinned, her earlier weariness forgotten in this moment of connection.
Kelly and Dyon watched them with pure, innocent curiosity, oblivious to the depth of the conversation they weren't a part of.
Zyna smoothed a wrinkle from her blue dress, then took Dyon's small hand, looking back at Ritso with a slight bow of her head. "Just before going to our bed… I want to thank you again, sister."
With those heartfelt words, mother and son turned and walked towards the other women and children settling down for the night. Dyon, however, subtly twisted his head, his large eyes fixed on Ritso with a curious gaze and a finger tucked into his mouth.
A few seconds later,"Kelly looked back at Ritso, who seemed lost in thought once more, a deep sigh escaping her lips. With a sharp kick to Ritso's thigh, Kelly broke her reverie.
"Wakey wakey, Rito!"
Ritso jolted back to reality, rubbing the spot where Kelly's small foot had connected. "Ouch!"
"Don't 'ouch' Rito. You tough, Kelly know." Kelly declared proudly.
"But that doesn't mean you can kick people! Where are your manners?" Ritso retorted, feigning indignation.
Kelly tilted her head in genuine confusion. "Mannaa? What that?"
"Oh yeah," Ritso sighed, a hint of amusement in her voice, "I keep forgetting you were born and grew up in the sewers."
Kelly's small face crumpled in offense, her lower lip jutting out in a childish pout. "Don't say that, Rito! Kelly is not a sewer! Sewer is not Kelly!"
"Ha ha ha ha, you look so funny!" Ritso burst into laughter, thoroughly enjoying Kelly's indignant reaction.
"HEYYYY…!" Kelly's furious reply was cut short by a heavy voice that echoed through the hall.
"Ritso!"
Ash's deep tone sliced through their playful banter. Ritso's laughter died in her throat, her eyes widening in surprise. Kelly, however, reacted with unrestrained joy, her small tail beginning to wiggle excitedly as she launched herself towards Ash, clinging to his leg like a cat. Even in his human form, Kelly's small stature barely reached a third of his leg, a stark contrast to the supposed smaller size of beasts in their natural forms. Ash's reddish-orange eyes remained fixed on Ritso, his expression serious.
"Ritso, I need to talk to you."
Her earlier amusement vanished, replaced by a nervous scratching of her horn. [What did I do wrong this time?] she wondered frantically. "Mhmm, what you want to talk about, Ash?"
Ash gently scratched the nape of Kelly's neck, the small girl leaning into his touch, her cat-like ears twitching with pleasure, her tail now wagging with unrestrained delight.
"It's about time." His simple words carried a weight that Ritso couldn't ignore. A sense of inevitability settled over her, her shoulders relaxing slightly as she closed her eyes briefly.
"Okay. I understand. I think we should go outside and have a talk, leaving Kelly here to manage." Ritso suggested, glancing down at the excited child clinging to Ash's leg. "She is a big girl now." She nodded at Ash, a silent acknowledgment of whatever serious matter he wished to discuss.
"Sure." Ash agreed, carefully detaching Kelly's small hands from his leg. The girl whined softly at the sudden cessation of affection.
Before stepping out into the dimming light of the alley, Ash looked back at Kelly, his expression stoic but with a hint of something softer in his eyes. "Remember, Kelly, if you are a good big girl, I will give you a gift."
The word "gift" painted a rosy blush on Kelly's cheeks. Her pout vanished, replaced by a wide, hopeful smile. She nodded eagerly. "Okay… Mista Ash." She waved enthusiastically as they stepped out, the heavy metal door closing behind them, leaving her alone in the brightly lit hall.