Ren sprinted through the cave corridor, his steps swift and steady. It didn’t take long for him to reach the mouth of the base—and what he saw instantly put him on alert.
Bella, the female Penal Tiger, stood tense, her fur bristling with unease. Around her, her three cubs looked anxious. Their ears were folded back, and their tails curled forward—a sign of emotional distress. Their breaths were heavy, as if they had run a great distance.
"Hey... what’s going on?" Ren asked, his voice calm, trying to stabilize the atmosphere even though a knot of worry had begun to form in his chest. He stepped closer to Bella and placed a hand on her large head, gently stroking her fur.
Bella let out a low grunt, then turned her gaze toward the forest. She began walking, her tail swaying occasionally, as if signaling Ren to follow her.
Ren glanced back for a mont—toward the three Kitsune children standing at the cave entrance, their faces filled with worry.
"Stay here, okay? Don’t go anywhere," he said softly.
They nodded obediently, though their unease was still clear in their eyes.
Ren quickly followed Bella into the damp forest. Morning light had yet to fully pierce through the canopy, and the lingering chill of night still clung to the air of the Penal woods. Their steps were fast, but deliberate, until Bella finally stopped beside a large tree with thick roots crawling over the forest floor.
Ren narrowed his eyes, focusing on the tree’s bark, which had been scratched in a rough pattern. At first, it looked like claw marks. But as he looked closer, he realized the marks ford letters. Crude writing—handwritten, but not by any ordinary human. He had to squint and piece the ssage together carefully:
"If you want the striped one alive, co to the arena. Bring the Miko. On the night of the full moon. – T."
Ren exhaled deeply, his expression hardening.
"So he really did capture Alfred..."
Bella growled low behind him, the sound deep, rumbling through the earth beneath their feet. Ren turned and t the sharp eyes of the tigress. Slowly, Bella stepped closer and pressed her head into his hand—not in aggression, but in plea.
A plea that needed no words.
"I understand," Ren murmured, eyes fixed forward.
He stroked Bella’s head again, this ti with firm resolve.
"I’ll bring him back. No matter what it takes."
Bella stared into his eyes, then gave a small nod—a subtle motion, but heavy with aning.
"Co on. Let’s head back for now. I need ti to prepare."
They turned and retraced their steps through the woods, back toward the base. And within Ren’s heart... a plan for retaliation had already begun to take shape.
---
Ren rushed back into the cave, steps quick and determined. The mountain chill from Penal snaked into his chest cavity, tightening around his thoughts with relentless pressure. As soon as he entered the main chamber of the base, he called after his AI.
"Ultro. We need to talk."
[I’m listening, Master.]
Ren collapsed into his worn work chair and buried his face in his hands. "I found a ssage from Trek," he said, exhausted. "He captured Alfred. And... he ntioned sothing about a ’Miko.’ Can you explain why?"
[My apologies, Master. I failed to detect enemy movent last night. Primary sensors did not pick up any significant activity around the periter.]
Ren shook his head rapidly. "Not your fault. I was too relaxed. I thought because we’re deep in the forest, behind cliffs and valleys, they couldn’t find us. Clearly I was wrong."
He stood and paced several steps, choosing his words carefully. "The problem now is... Trek ntions a ’Miko.’ He worships Gorthar, the god of war. It makes no sense for a Miko to be associated with a cult like that."
[In Earth’s references, ’Miko’ is a young Shinto priestess. Usually linked with purity and devotion to deities.]
Ren halted mid‑step. "I know that basic aning, Ultro. But this world’s religious system doesn’t align with that. And if there is an actual Miko in the city of Eks, she should be under heavy protection—not hunted by Trek as a target."
He bowed his head in frustration. "What’s even more maddening... I have no idea who—or where—this Miko actually is."
As the words left his lips, soft footsteps echoed from behind. Ren spun around, alert.
The eldest Kitsune girl stood hesitantly in the doorway, her small fra nearly swallowed by the stone shadows. Her eyes t Ren’s—fearless, though visibly trembling.
"I’m sorry, Sir... I overheard your conversation with Ultro."
Ren softened. He drew near and knelt so they were eye‑to‑eye. "It’s okay. Have you had breakfast? Ultro?"
[Breakfast has been prepared. Today’s nu: a full English breakfast—eggs, at, and toast.]
But the girl didn’t answer. Instead, she spoke softly, but distinctly.
"The one they refer to as Miko... that’s ."
Ren stared at her, hardly able to believe what he’d just heard. "What?"
With shaking hands, she opened her collar, revealing a birthmark of three interlocking discs in the pattern of a mitsudomoe—an ancient symbol often tied to mysticism and spiritual power.
Ren stood silent.
"...Seriously?" he murmured, barely above a whisper.
The girl nodded gently, then added in nearly inaudible tones, "I’ve known for a long ti. But I don’t understand what the mark ans... only that people have always hated us for sothing we didn’t choose."
Ren rose slowly, eyes turning upward to the low-lit cave ceiling adorned with lights installed by Ultro.
He inhaled deeply, as if seeking answers between stone walls and newly built ventilation ducts.
Behind him, her voice was soft. "Sir... then I—"
"No," Ren interrupted sharply, though his tone stayed firm, not loud.
The Kitsune girl fell silent, taken aback by the sudden refusal. "But I haven’t spoken..."
"I know what you want to say," Ren replied, voice quiet but resolute. "You want to co with . You want to take you there. To Trek. To a place that is clearly a trap."
He turned, locking eyes with the girl’s golden-yellow gaze. "Listen... that ssage was too obvious. He left it on purpose, crafting the wording like I had a choice. But the only thing he wants is a fight. His wild desire to test his strength. And you..."
Ren lowered his head briefly, shaking it with a quiet sigh. "You’re the bait. The lure. I know the legend of the Nine Tails Fox. I know the dark history from the age of the gods. That hatred still lives on, passed down from generation to generation—to you, the Kitsune bloodline. Even now... soone like Trek doesn’t see you as a child. He sees you as at."
Silence.
There was no sound except the faint hum of the TPO reactor deep within the cave. Even Ultro remained silent, as if holding back a comnt.
Eventually, the AI’s calm voice broke the tension.[Master... I believe your words were too harsh. Especially for a child.]
Ren closed his eyes. "Is that so...?" he whispered, barely audible.
"I know that..." ca a soft voice from in front of him.
Ren opened his eyes, slightly startled.
"What?"
"I know, Sir..." the Kitsune girl repeated. "I know it’s a trap. I know he doesn’t really want to negotiate. But... I’m tired too."
Her voice trembled slightly, but her eyes remained steady, fixed on Ren. "We’ve been hiding long enough. Running, crying... hating ourselves. Just because our blood cos from an ancestor who made a terrible mistake. But... doesn’t every race have a dark past? Haven’t all nations made bad decisions before?"
She clenched her small fists.
"My mother used to say... we mustn’t bow our heads forever. The world may reject us, but we must not reject ourselves. I... I don’t want to live only because soone protects . I want to live because I have the right to choose my own path."
Ren stared at the Kitsune girl in silence, letting her words settle into the cool morning air still lingering in the cave. Her gaze didn’t falter, not even a little—and that, more than anything, gave him pause.
(A child born in peace... and a child raised in war. Their mindsets are completely different. Neither is wrong. But they are not the sa kind.) Ren thought to himself. (Environnt shapes the soul, like a mold shapes molten tal. This girl... she’s borne too much for soone so young.)
At last, he exhaled and gave a slow nod.
"Alright," he said quietly but firmly. "But only you co with . The others stay here. This isn’t a ga."
The girl—who had stood motionless like a statue—nodded once, resolutely. She didn’t show excitent, nor did she show fear. A posture... far beyond her years.
Ren leaned in slightly, studying her. "By the way, what’s your na?"
She hesitated for a second, then answered softly. "Kumara."
Ren narrowed his eyes. The na echoed faintly in the back of his mind, stirring sothing familiar but difficult to place.(Kumara... Kumara... where have I heard that na before?) he wondered.
Then a flash of mory struck him—an image of a nine-tailed beast, a legendary figure from the world he grew up in, with a booming voice and devastating power that shook fictional universes.
(Kurama... from Naruto.)
Ren almost laughed but held it in. This wasn’t the ti for nostalgia. Still, the irony was hard to ignore.
"Kumara, huh?" he said with a small grin. "That’s a strong na."
"Thank you..." Kumara replied softly, a faint blush rising on her cheeks.
Ren stood and turned, heading toward the main console on the side of the cave. "Ultro," he called.
[Yes, Master?]
"Prep light combat gear. I’m bringing one companion. Keep defense systems active around the base, and assign three drones to periter patrol. We don’t know if this is part of a larger plan."
[Orders acknowledged. Combat drones will remain in silent standby. Periter set to alert status 2.]
Ren turned to Kumara. "We leave in one hour. Use the ti to get ready."
Kumara nodded, then took a polite step back before walking out of the command chamber.
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