03 Some Kind of Arrival

"Juliet...?"
Sitting up, Romeo blinked furiously, trying to clear her eyes. It was dark... or maybe her eyes just weren't working. Rubbing them, she swung her head around, trying to see... well, anything.

"Shh, hush darling, lie down."
Romeo flinched, swinging an arm out at the sudden voice in the darkness. She felt it connect with something soft, felt what seemed to be a hand, only... furred... wrap itself around her wrist and gently place it next to her body.
"Hush hush, no need to get so het up, dear."
"Where's Juliet?"
"Juliet? Oh, your pretty friend. Don't worry dear, she's here."
Romeo rubbed her eyes again, shaking her head, confused.
"Why can't I see..."
"Oh dear, that's just the transfer. Don't let it bother you none, it'll wear off soon as anything. Why don't you lie a bit, let yourself rest."
Romeo flinched, tensing as gentle hands pushed her down onto a soft surface.
"Where am I? I want to see Juliet! Is she okay??"
The voice cooed softly. "Dear now, you worry! Your friend is fine, she sleeps soundly, just as you should. Rest dear, rest, we'll learn all to be learned once the morn comes."
Shivering slightly, Romeo shut her eyelids - keeping them open was obviously serving no real purpose.
"That's a good dear. You rest, we'll talk tomorrow."

Listening, Romeo heard soft footsteps pad away, then the sound of a door closing. Rolling onto her side, she struggled to remember what had happened. They'd run away... She remembered driving them to the abandoned highway. She remembered stopping, letting Juliet drive - she was the only other person who would ever be allowed to drive the RX8! She remembered them stopping at a camp site, sitting next to the car together, talking and laughing. Then what had happened? Where were they now...? What kind of transfer took away sight? Sighing, Romeo squeezed her eyes shut, trying to force her mind to stop so she could at least sleep... The voice had said she'd find out tomorrow.


"This... is so weird."
Opening her eyes, Romeo blinked. At first her vision swam, then slowly the world came into focus. She was lying on a low bed in a small room, colored in pastels and browns. A tight window was shuttered closed, and next to the closed panelled door was a rickety wardrobe. And sitting on her chest was...

"JULIET!"
"Romeo!!" The door flew open and Juliet appeared, her eyes wide in panic. Romeo pushed the creature off her and scrambled to her feet, running to the other girl.
"What the hell is that thing?!"
Juliet laughed, relaxing. "It's okay... They're not gonna hurt us."
"They?" Romeo repeated, swallowing. Juliet nodded. Looking down, she beckoned with one hand. From beside her stepped another creature - a small, white, fox-like creature with low-set ears and large lavender eyes. Romeo swallowed again, looking back at the bed. On it sat the creature who had woken her with its comment. About the size of a medium dog, it was almost lion-like - but its legs were shorter, less furry, and its thick, long tail ended in feathers. It was a tan color, marked in pale blues with deep green eyes.

"Um... what the hell are they?" Romeo asked. The creature on the bed tilted its head.
"We're you. Both of you."
"W-what?"

"Now now, what's all this fuss about?"
Romeo turned as a familiar-sounding figure bustled into the room, wiping her hands on a pink piece of cloth. She was taller than both of them and wide around, wearing a tan housewife's dress and an apron over her pale grey, furred skin.
"Ah dear now, you're awake! How are you feeling?"
Romeo didn't reply. To be honest, she was feeling a little faint.
"This is Santilli." Juliet said, smiling shyly. "She can explain about... well, them."
"Ah yes, we haven't told you!" Santilli smiled widely, showing slightly pointed teeth at the front. Slowly, Romeo started noticing other things - like the woman's - if she could be called that - long, rabbit-like ears sticking out from under her grey bun. That combined with the long, whip-like tail waving under her skirts was enough. Romeo started laughing, almost in hysteria. Juleit moved forward, hugging her and pulling her onto the bed.

"Don't worry, we'll explain everything." she said softly, brushing Romeo's hair back. Romeo continued to laugh.
"S-she's a furry!" she stuttered between laughs. Juliet bit her lip, resisting a laugh.
"Uh, I don't think so..." she whispered, pressing a hand over the girl's mouth.
"S-so... what are these things? What is she? And where are we???" Romeo asked, finally calming down.

"Well now, my dears, let me explain to you both." Santilli moved further into the room, pulling out a chair from the table near the wall and sitting down.

"You two are humans, if that be the right of it?" Santilli asked. Romeo nodded, paling.
"That's..."
Juliet shushed her, letting the woman continue.
"Well, my dears - where you are now, we rightly don't have many humans at all. You two are the first we've seen in this village ever, if I do recall so rightly, which I do if I may. And over here, where you two be, humans are kinda different than us who live here mostly. See... Ah, now how do I explain it by rights..."

The white creature kneeling by the door spoke up, revealing a light, poetic feminine voice.
"We're your essences. We're the inner most part of you that's always been there... Just now we have form."

"That's the right of it! When humans come here, their insides, their secret minds and hearts - that part of you what we calls your 'essence', is brought out into the open and given life! And it's a different creature each depending on who you are and what you're like, by the right of it. You don't need to be scared - these two are just you two." Santilli smiled at the white fox near the door and the small lion on the bed.

Romeo looked down at the tan lion-like creature.
"So you're..."
"I'm Ammadeus." he said, sniffing. "And like I said - this is weird."
"And you're..." Romeo looked at the white fox.
"Kemarin..." she replied shyly. Romeo nodded faintly.
"We're not in Kansas anymore, are we..."
Juliet shook her head. "I think... we finally get our new life."
"We'll just... need to get used to it.