I watch as the rabbit-kin filter into an access tunnel underground, preparing for a vote across their population. Unfortunately, we weren't invited. But that's okay – I'm honestly a little claustrophobic, so...win-win.
However, after a few moments, I notice that one rabbit-kin has remained behind with me and Zara...the little girl, the one it seems is named Sadhara. She directs a nervous look at me.
I raise my eyebrows at her.
"Are you not allowed to vote?" (Mizuki)
Sadhara shakes her head.
"I am, but Quira will do it for me." (Sadhara)
She steps towards me nervously, her eyes struggling to meet mine.
"Uhm...the spell...you can do it now. Do you promise it won't hurt?" (Sadhara)
My eyes widen in surprise briefly, then I give her a small smile and shake my head.
"I promise. I just need to hold your hand for a minute...you won't even feel or see anything happening." (Mizuki)
She nods, then hesitantly extends her hand to me, equal parts fear and resolve in her eyes.
"What does the spell...do?" (Sadhara)
I gingerly accept her hand, and begin tuning my magic sense to it. I feel her hand jerk slightly, as though she's fighting the urge to recoil from my touch. A tremor runs through her.
I continue as though I didn't notice.
"Normally, I can sense where people are...I can find them. But, I can't always tell what race they are. This spell will let me know who is rabbit-kin, specifically, when I try to find people in the future." (Mizuki)
Her body freezes, her eyes locking onto mine in disbelief.
"You'll be able to find rabbit-kin?" (Sadhara)
I nod warmly, then release her hand gently.
"That's right...all done now." (Mizuki)
I'm expecting her to react poorly, thinking she's just given someone dangerous the means to find her people any time they want. However, I see hope take root in her expression instead, her eyes probing mine with less fear than before.
"You said this was a favor?" (Sadhara)
I nod, a curious expression gracing my face. Her expression turns conflicted, as though she's debating something with herself, then she looks at me resolutely.
"Since I helped you by myself, does that mean you owe me a favor now?" (Sadhara)
I blink.
I...guess she kind of has a point? Maybe? Of course, I never really needed any of their help. I could have done this without their consent, without them even knowing. Hell, I could have done it without us even meeting if I really tried. I just framed it as a favor to be polite. But something about a little bunny girl, not even out of her pre-teens, trying to leverage a favor out of me is pretty endearing. Can't lie...she's got me curious.
My lips twitch upward.
"I suppose so. Why?" (Mizuki)
Sadhara's eyes light up, and she steps towards me. Her voice nearly cracks with anticipation.
"I want you to find my sister!" (Sadhara)
My eyes widen.
"Your sister? Is she missing?" (Mizuki)
Her eyes turn sad, her voice quieting.
"N-Not...exactly. She...left...years ago." (Sadhara)
My surprise deepens. I mean...I knew from that bunny girl at Elmesia's guild that a rabbit-kin striking out on their own isn't entirely unprecedented. But after meeting them, I assume it's a rare event. Not just because I've only ever seen one other rabbit-kin outside this territory, but because these rabbit-kin seem like highly distrustful collectivists, incapable of protecting themselves. Not exactly the environment where 'wandering loner' types are bred.
Still, I don't doubt Sadhara, it's just...
My gaze turns sympathetic.
"I can't find your sister, specifically, Sadhara. I can just find rabbit-kin. If you gave me more information about her, I guess I could track her down with time, but...are you sure she wants that? It sounds like she left of her own free will, right?" (Mizuki)
Sadhara's expression turns glum, tears beginning to well in her eyes, and she falls silent. I can't help but feel like an asshole, and I even catch a disapproving look from Zara, but I don't speak immediately either.
I'm not saying I won't help the girl, I just feel like I shouldn't agree to it out of hand. If her sister left of her own volition, there has to be a reason, right? Maybe she had a bad relationship with their parents, maybe she hated the way of life here...who knows. All I know is that she must have been getting away from someone or something here.
Of course, Sadhara is only asking me to find her sister, but I can read between the lines. A little girl doesn't just ask for information like that, content to simply know. She's probably equating her request to me reuniting the two of them. At best, that would involve spiriting Sadhara away to her sister's location.
Setting aside the kidnapping charges, and whether that's even what's best for Sadhara herself, is it right to drop a little girl in the sister's lap? Even if the sister is an adult, which she might not be, she can't be much older than I was on Earth. I don't think Sadhara is the sister's responsibility...as harsh as that sounds. She has her own life.
But, maybe I'm getting ahead of myself here.
I sigh and give Sadhara a small smile, trying to soften my tone.
"Can you tell me a little bit more? How old is she? Why did she leave? I might be able to help if I knew those things..." (Mizuki)
Sadhara sniffles, wiping her eyes with the sleeve of her shirt, and she gives me a hopeful look.
"I...I think Big Sis is twenty-one now? I don't...know...why she left. Mom and Dad always said it's because she doesn't understand how good we have it in our village, and that she'll come back when she realizes it. But it's been years, and Big Sis always argued with Mom and Dad anyway. I'm worried they were wrong...she'll never come back..." (Sadhara)
My expression becomes conflicted.
It sounds like Big Sis was growing dissatisfied with the life waiting for her here as she reached adulthood, and she wanted to see what the outside world offered instead. If she was really going to be disillusioned by it and scurry back here, it wouldn't take years. So, if she hasn't come back, it's either because she doesn't want to, or...something happened to her. Either way, I'm not sure how well Sadhara would handle the news.
I crouch down next to Sadhara, my lips pursing thoughtfully. Her head jerks, locking her eyes onto my sudden movement. Not scared, per se, but...cautiously curious. I smile warmly.
"Why do you want to find her, Sadhara? Do you want her back here in the village? Are you worried about her? Do you just want to see her every now and then?" (Mizuki)
I guess I've already decided that I'll help, but...I'm not sure what form exactly that'll take. I definitely won't drag the sister back here, or shame her for not coming back here. That said, finding her and communicating how much the occasional visit would mean to Sadhara doesn't seem like overstepping. If it looks like the sister is dead, though...should I lie?
If Big Sis seems dead and Sadhara is wanting to see her, then it's probably best to just say I couldn't find her. That's technically true, and no more harmful than lying and saying the sister was fine but unwilling to visit. If Sadhara just wants to know her sister is safe, though...
I sigh internally. I wasn't expecting this kind of emotional baggage so early on in my trip with Zara. However, Sadhara's response soon makes me realize that I was entirely too optimistic about the situation.
Her eyes begin to water again, and she looks away from me, her body beginning to tremble slightly.
"I'm just...scared, and lonely." (Sadhara)
I freeze, confusion and concern probably clear on my face.
"What about your parents? Have you told them how you're feeling?" (Mizuki)
To my surprise, that only causes Sadhara to lose whatever control of her tears she had left. She breaks into full sobs, her little fingers clutching at her dress viciously.
"They...sobs...two weeks ago...sobs...the dragon...sobs..." (Sadhara)
I feel my blood run cold, remembering Quira mention that a number of rabbit-kin had already died to the dragon in past weeks. Suddenly, the reason Sadhara wants to find her sister makes all too much sense...she's an orphan now.
I gingerly pull the sobbing girl into a hug, feeling her go rigid at the sudden contact. But it only lasts a moment, before she begins sobbing uncontrollably into my shirt. I cautiously pat her small back, feeling worse by the second about how unwilling to help her I must have seemed earlier.
"Shhh...it's okay, it's okay...don't worry. I'll help you look for your sister, okay? I promise." (Mizuki)
Over the course of several moments, I feel her sobs slowly subside, and she pulls away from the hug slightly and looks up at me, her eyes holding a glimmer of hope again.
"Sniffle...really...sniffle...?" (Sadhara)
I nod reassuringly.
"Yes, really. Can you tell me her name?" (Mizuki)
She nods eagerly, her mood instantly improving.
"Big Sis's name is Melena!" (Sadhara)
I go stiff. There's no fucking way.