He’s only wearing pants.”

The

Mavka’s

eyes

flashed

a

reddish-pink

in

embarrassment as he reached up to touch at his bare chest.

Snush rushed around the counter to go into the back of the shop. There were clothes hanging on racks, but even she could tell they were too small to fit onto the height of a seven-foot Duskwalker.

“You are lucky I always make clothing for something of your kind since you come back infrequently and are too impatient to wait for me to tailor you something.” He came out holding folded bundles of black clothes, a whole stack of them. “There is also the odd Demon that is almost as tall as you.”

Reia remained quiet and frozen at Orpheus’ side, only moving when he did to step out of the way so Snush could approach the Mavka freely.

He flinched and scuttled back a step when Snush raised a shirt to his body to check that it would fit. He nodded, not seeming to mind his apprehension.

“He is a little more gangly than you, but they should fit just fine for now.” He pointed to his pants. “Are they the only ones you have?” When he nodded, relaxing slowly, Snush shook his head. “Stolen from a human no doubt? It’s even

tied together by rope! Let me quickly stitch another button onto some pants so they don’t fall and then you should be fine. Do you need a cloak?”

The Mavka looked to Orpheus for guidance. He nodded in return.

“Yes. Cloak is good.”

Snush waved his hands down so that he would lower his head and inspected his antlers.

“I will have to alter one of those too since you won’t be able to slip your antlers through the holes like his horns.” He turned to Orpheus. “Give me a few minutes and I’ll be done.”

When he was gone, Reia reached inside her mask to cup her cheeks in disbelief.

“Oh my gosh,” she gasped. “I can’t believe this.”

“I was very surprised when I first came here too,” Orpheus said down to her, patting her back lightly as if he was trying to comfort or reassure her. “This place wasn’t as advanced as it is now. It has grown over the centuries, but I have experienced what you both are feeling.”

I highly doubt that. He was a Duskwalker; he wouldn’t understand the maelstrom of emotions and shock after shock she was experiencing. There was no fear, there was no need to be afraid of this place.

It was lively and surprisingly welcoming. She wondered what it would have been like to walk around without her disguise. Would it have been different? Would she have felt a million threats rather than the mostly insignificant glances she was receiving?

Before she could say anything, Snush returned with the altered items inside a knapsack except for a singular pair of pants, a shirt, and the cloak.

“Here, I have packed two other shirts and pants inside, but you can put these on so that you don’t look so out of place on the street.” Before he laughed, “Although, three Mavka’s walking around is already an odd sight.”

“Turn around,” he growled down to Reia when the Mavka started untying the rope holding his pants up.

She did as she was told, turning in his cloak so she couldn’t see anything and waited for him to put the new pants on. She could hear Snush talking, telling him how to use the buttons before sighing and offering to show him how to do it.

Orpheus tapped her lightly to tell her she could turn back around, and she blinked at the Mavka who was fully dressed, cloak included.

Snush pointed to his feet.

“You will struggle to find shoes since your feet are hoofed, but there is a store a few shops down that have slippers with a hole in the end to account for them.” Then he clapped his hands together with a sharp-toothed grin. She’d almost forgotten he was a deadly predator with how nice he was until she saw the white flash of them. “Trade?”

Orpheus dug into the sack of crystals he had and pulled out a small handful and held his fist out.

Snush jumped while kicking his feet, running forward to collect them with his hands cupped forward together.

“You always bring these. Customers love it when I add them to clothing, and I can ask for higher trade.” He placed them in his pocket before bringing his gaze to her and stepping forward. “I have never seen a female Mavka. She is so small. I may have a dress or two that’ll fit her.”

Orpheus drew her deeper into his cloak to hide her, only allowing her a small amount of a gap to see through one eye.

“Do not approach her,” he barked loudly.

“I thought you preferred humans,” Snush chuckled, sounding less mousy and much deeper. “Gave up trying that useless endeavour and found one of your own kind then?”

Orpheus only growled in response.

“Testy, testy.” He shook his finger up and down at him, not seeming to be afraid as if he was used to his aggressive

behaviour. “If she is like you and prefers black, I have something for her.”

“Would you like?” he asked her, ending his growl to give her an excited, ‘hmm?’

Her curiosity was too much, and the idea of wearing something made by a creature that would normally eat her sounded too enticing. Reia nodded while remaining silent.

Excitement thrummed when he pulled a short black dress from a rack that had a V of beads stitched around the waist.

She expected something garbage and instead was presented with something that was quite lovely.

Orpheus took it, used both hands to lift it into the air, and then nodded. “It’ll fit her.”

Reia blushed. He knew it would fit because he knew her body well. That’s so embarrassing!

He handed him another crystal shard and they promptly left. He gave it to her so she could hold it for now until he obtained his own carry bag. It was light and her bag was fairly empty now that it had almost no food and just a half-filled water sack in it.

They went to the shoe shop Snush told them of, and Reia and the Mavka were able to acquire footwear suitable for them both. It was a large shop and she picked out two slippers, one black and the other navy blue, and a pair of brown leather boots. The storekeeper wasn’t as chatty and let them be as they searched.

Then Orpheus led them deeper into the markets once more. They received significantly less stares now that the Mavka was clothed. He looked neater and less like a savage.

A food stall vendor approached them holding out a tray of pastries with a large fang-filled grin. Reia pointed to them within her cloak, showing Orpheus she was hungry.