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Tina was just full of life as she rushed around the home, starting up her decorations for the holiday. Everyone else seemed to be caught up in their usual daily routine. All but Zee, who was still in her docile, harmless mood. Onima had only one day left to push Zee off the edge.
Over the last few days, she's actually had Zee following her around, chasing her, and even pouncing or tackling her. The result was always the same, however. Either Zee would decide to regress into her depression in mid pounce and simply walk away, or would hesitate a bit too long and lose Onima to the overprotective Ekone. Zee seemed as though she were being pulled in two directions. Deep in her mind, she wanted to bite again, but it's as though there is a mental muzzle on her that keeps her from doing so.
Ekone, due to these events, was making himself seen a lot more than usual, and did his best to keep Zee from harming Onima. In a normal scenario, if he witnessed or caught wind of house events like this, he'd stay out of the way to keep himself out of trouble. He was never one of Zapook's experiments, or one of Zee's meals, or an outlet of Tina's hidden aggression, and wanted to keep things that way. However, because of his obsession with the albino cat demon, Tina, he was well passed being charmed by her innocent act, and swore to protect Onima with every fiber of his being.
Onima herself, 'twas another story. She didn't like this unfamiliar side to Zee she's been forced to help bring out. She also didn't like playing guinea pig to Zapook. What bothered her more than either of those was the fact that Ekone still scared her, as did the foxes that surround the house.
It took Zapook nearly two weeks to finally notice that Onima avoided Ekone just as she herself often did.
After summoning Onima into her lab via grunny mail, which was a note tied to Boem's back, Onima slowly made her way down the steps, only to find Zapook over a cauldron with Yinxao sitting next to her.

After a long silence, Onima finally spoke up, "Um...Why do you have a huge witch pot? I thought you were a scientist..."

Without looking up from her work, Zapook only sighed, "Later for that. What's up with you and Ekone?"

Onima only shrugged, "I don't know...It's just...Snakes freak me out..."

"So you don't like nagas?"

"Well..i don't like reptiles in general...or wolves...or foxes... or large cats, usually... or-"

"Anything that would usually make a meal of a bunny in the natural world," Zapook interrupted.

Onima sat in silence for a few seconds before nodding, "You know...I think that's why. I've seen others like Zee that have tried and succeeded in catching me. Though..I don't remember much from there..." She trails off.

Zapook nods, setting her stirring stick down. "Maybe you just blank out or something from fear."

"I always wake up and the one that had attacked me was always gone..."

"How long has this happened?"

"As long as I remember. Wait...You run from Ekone too. Why are you so afraid of him?"

Zapook sighs, hanging her head, "Look...Reptiles in general usually have me on the edge of paranoia when ever they're around, Unless they're friends of course."

"Of course," Onima nodded, agreeing with Zapook.

"Well, Nagas freak me out twice as much...and for the same reason you fear them as well. I know it's not right to judge, but I try not to be to careful."

"Tell me about it."

Quickly switching subjects, Zapook clears her throat, "Ahem...So you tend to blank out when you're caught?"

"Every single time for as long as I can remember. Ever since my mom put that spell on me."

"Spell?"

"Yeah. Before you ask, I know nothing about it. Only that is has to do with mushrooms. I remember that because she used to call me her little 1up. She played a lot of video games before I was born."

"Anything else you can tell me?"

"No...sorry..." Onima said, shaking her head, "So why does Ekone keep following me around?"

Zapook shrugged, going back to work, "Heck if I know. Maybe he likes you."

Onima stopped for a minute, slowly looking up toward the stairs and sitting on the words that were just spoken to her.
"He...likes me..?"
The thought ran through her head several times.
All she could do was blush and smile.