"We still haven't identified a traitor." Spoke the wolf woman as she cleaned the blood from her body.
"Yeah, I'm still hoping they try something again." Zenesha responded, her back turned towards the naked woman.
The two of them were inside a large private tent, letting Laura wash off and change her clothes as everyone outside reorganized. They needed to take a headcount and figure out how many they lost. As well as check for damages on the remaining vehicles so they can attempt to bring their dead comrade's home. As well as remove any other bombs attached beneath the vehicles.
The tent was unnecessary; its only purpose was to give the traitor an easier time to try something. Their ambush failed, so if they truly wanted Zenesha dead, they would have to do it themselves. No one questioned this decision, thinking their Queen just wanted to treat her savior with special attention.
"You sure it's okay for me to use all this water though?" Laura asked with concern looking down at the metal basin she was standing in and the other basin full of clean water next to her. "I learned fairly quickly that mortal bodies need water."
"It's fine, we make sure to bring more water than necessary on missions." Zenesha answered back. "Also, you being covered in blood was making everyone uncomfortable."
"They're soldiers, shouldn't they be used to blood?"
"Yes, and normally they would just feel bad for the person covered in it." The Ice Princess sighed as she held her head in her hand. "But your carefree attitude while bathed in blood and viscera just made you seem unhinged."
"You don't seem bothered by it though~." Laura whispered into her ear, causing it to twitch.
Jumping back in shock at the sudden close proximity, the fox turned around with a red face and pointed at the naked wolf as she shouted, "Wha- what do you think you're doing!?"
Laura tilted her head playfully as a smile played on her lips. "Nothing~. Anyway, mind handing me my bag next to you, my spare clothes are in there."
Still red in the face, Zenesha complied as she grabbed her bag and tossed it at the naked wolf. She turned her back on the other once more while they changed behind her. Laura chuckled at the reaction.
"You're very cute Princess." Laura spoke with amusement.
"You just have no shame!" Zenesha yelled back. "Aren't you embarrassed to be seen naked?"
"Hmm, I guess?" Laura answered. "This body is more like clothes for me. While I don't particularly want people seeing it nude because it's mine, I'm not embarrassed to be seen naked."
"... What about your true form?"
"I don't want others to see that." Laura stated. "Now that would feel like I'm naked."
"You can turn around now by the way." Laura added.
"Well no one tried to attack so guess we'll just pack up and head home." Zenesha said as she turned to face the wolf.
Instead of answering, Laura's head snapped to her left. "Yeah, I guess so." She answered as she carefully, silently, and slowly moved towards the tent's wall.
She then shot her hand through the tough material, before pulling it back, this time with a person in her grasp. Before Laura or the mystery person dressed in a black cloak could do anything else, the cloaked individual was encased in ice.
"You have to tell me where you keep getting this ice from." The wolf woman said, turning to Zenesha.
"Well this time from the leftover water there." She pointed at the clean water basin. "Most of the time I use the water particles in the air."
Giving an impressed nod Laura turned her attention to the cloaked figure. "Time to figure out who you really are."
Laura then paused hearing her own words. "Huh, If we just got two more people and a dog this would be perfect."
"What are you talking about?"
"Nothing important." Laura said before pulling the hood of the cloak down.
A plain-faced man with black hair and eyes looked up at them silently. They have yet to make a single sound, even as they shivered from the cold. Laura turned her head to Zenesha with a raised eyebrow, and the fox just shrugged and shook her head in return.
"Yeah, I have no idea who this is."
"Huh, so it's just some nobody? I was kinda hoping for a twist."
"I doubt he's working alone. They set that ambush far too quickly, and the original ambush that got me in this situation couldn't have been set by some random soldier."
"So, he's just a pawn?"
"Yes."
As the two of them talked they suddenly heard a crunch coming from the plain faced man. Turning their heads, they found the prisoner convulsing as foam came from his mouth. The two of them quickly rushed over to his side with panic.
"What the actual fuck, this is real!?" Laura yelled annoyed. "This is movie levels of bullshit!"
"Can you do something about it?"
"Maybe." Laura said, placing a hand over the man's face. "If the poison is fast acting, I won't be able to do anything, but if it's slow enough I can stop it."
For a few minutes the room was silent. The only noise was the soft breathing of the two women, for even the man's gurgling sounds as he died have gone silent. Eventually Laura sighed as she pulled back and stood up.
"Sorry, I can't bring people back from the dead with my current stability. To do that I would need to attach myself to someone."
Zenesha looked at the now dead spy with disgust. Turning around silently she walked out of the tent and after a few seconds came back inside with two soldiers.
"Take this man and figure out his identity, inform the Commander in charge of this School of this situation as well and tell him this is top priority."
Saluting, the two soldiers grabbed the body of the man, which was freed from the ice cage, and dragged it out of the tent. Sensing Zenesha's frustration Laura walked up from behind and placed their paw on top of the taller woman's head.
Her hand slid across Zenesha's soft silky hair, gently brushing it. The fox woman's tension slowly dissipated as Laura patted her head. She didn't say anything, but she didn't move either, just stood still and let it happen.
"We still have time to catch this traitor. No need to worry about it."
"I guess." She muttered. "It's upsetting that I can't fully trust my own people right now, yet I'm trusting an actual devil."
"You say that like it's a bad thing." Laura shot back with a smile. "Besides I'm just a slightly more advanced mortal at the moment."
"Yeah, yeah. We should start packing up though."
=======
The moon was high in the sky by the time they managed to get back to the Zari Legions capital city. Before the split of the old Veroso Empire, the Zari Legion was already fairly independent. Their territory had complete control over the coast since the other four regions were landlocked.
Thanks to this they were able to stay independent without any real difficulty, even announcing themselves as a new nation. They wanted nothing to do with the fighting between the other four factions deciding to stay neutral. This allowed them to not have to worry about the effects the fall of Veroso would've had on them otherwise.
Of course that was a long time ago. Things were slightly different now, one of them being the fact they were at war with the White Ash Syndicate.
Laura stood in a bedroom room located inside the central tower of the military compound located near the water. She had a clear view of the ocean, with the moon reflecting off its surface. Behind her Zenesha was grabbing clean clothes as she prepared for bed.
"I'm going to take a quick shower, you're free to use it when I'm done." She said before entering her private bathroom.
Laura soon heard the sound of running water. She glanced around the room a little, noticing a bookshelf to her right with a desk and computer next to it. There was also a shelf full of figures she assumed was from whatever shows exist in this world.
To her left was a door leading to a walk-in closet, and the bathroom door. There was also a double bed to her left, but that was situated in the middle of the room against the back wall. It would be more accurate to say she was to the right of the bed.
She walked over to the figurines and looked at them. They were mostly cute girls with the occasional mech. She smiled as she realized this world also had anime or something similar and Zenesha was a certified nerd.
"What are you doing?" The fox asked as she left the bathroom and witnessed Laura peeking under the skirt of one of the girls. Specifically, a black-haired fox girl.
"She looked like you and I figured you'd get mad if I actually tried this, so I used her instead." Laura answered matter of fact.
"What is wrong with you?!" Yelled Zenesha as she snatched the fox girl figure from her hands. "Just take your shower!"
=-=-=-=
"Hey Laura."
"Yes, my princess?"
"Why are you still here?"
Zenesha was sitting on her bed staring at the void wolf who was also sitting on her bed wearing shorts and a t-shirt. She felt a little embarrassed in comparison since she herself had light blue pajamas with clouds on them. Still, she shouldn't feel this way in her own room when Laura has her own!
"I can't protect you if I'm not close by. Don't worry I'll sleep at the foot of the bed."
"... That's specific, why?"
"I feel the urge to curl up at your feet? Is this a wolf thing?"
"Well, you can't sleep there anyway." Zenesha said deadpan, her face as stoic as ever.
"Fine, fine, I'll sleep on the floor then." Laura said as she got off the bed and reached into her bag again.
She pulled out a sleeping bag and unrolled the bedding onto the floor next to where Zenesha was sleeping. Smoothing it out she then opened up before stuffing herself inside. With a sly grin she turned on her side and propped up her head with her hand as she looked up at the fox.
"Well, sweet dreams~."
Zenesha just rolled her eyes and pulled the covers over herself as she attempted to sleep.