It’s still strange to think where life has taken me.’

She looked down with a distant gaze as she thought about the three monster girls she was traveling with. Alyssa the witch, Squeak the ant girl, and Specca the nixie; three monsters that, although compelled by their nature to breed, to seek out and use human men to repopulate their races, were traveling with two humans in an effort to bring peace between their races and mankind. They were proof of Daniel’s belief, that monsters could control their inner nature, that they could become trusted allies, that they could control themselves from mindlessly breeding with whoever they could find.

With a sigh Triska looked up at the sky, remembering that even though these three monster girls were helping her and Daniel with their quest, they also had taken a liking to Daniel. More than a liking actually, as they had all confessed that they loved the boy just as Triska did. In fact, they all confessed their love at the same time to Daniel, with the only response they got for a while being stunned silence and a bewildered expression on his face. After he had time to think about it Daniel told the girls that although he cared for each of them, he couldn’t return such strong affections to any of them because he didn’t know if he felt that way about any of them right now. Their quest to find and speak to monster races about peace became a bit more complicated, with each girl in the group wanting to be Daniel’s mate while at the same time having to travel and work together with each other.

“I never thought I’d be competing with other monster girls like this for him. I mean, I never thought I’d have to compete for him in the first place, every other girl in our village thought he was crazy. I was sure I’d have him all to myself, and yet here I am trying to win him over from three monsters,” Triska said to herself, somewhat half-amusingly and half-depressed. She and the other girls were still determined to win the boy’s heart, and at the same time wanted to keep the peace with each other since Daniel didn’t like it when they fought with each other. There was that, and the girls, even though they were rivals for the boy, had even formed friendships with each other during their journey and trials. It was a difficult situation for the girls, and for Daniel, however they all agreed that Daniel’s quest came first. They were out in the world with a purpose, and that couldn’t be lost sight of. Still, the girls all couldn’t deny their feelings for Daniel, so they had brainstormed on a way of resolving their inner conflict, without having to draw blood from one another. After going over many different options, all of which none of them could agree on, they had finally settled on something that would be fair to each of them while allowing each of the girls a chance to have ‘quality time’ with Daniel.

Slowly a small smile formed on Triska’s face as she brushed her hair back behind her ear.

“Oh well, at least tonight it’s my turn, I just need to make it count. C’mon, Triska, don’t screw this up, you have to show Daniel that you’re the ideal girl for him,” she reassured herself. She chuckled and formed her hand into a fist with a confident expression.

“No other girl, monster or human, is going to take him away from Triska Raylight,” she declared boldly.

“Who’s Triska Raylight?” a girl’s voice asked from above.

“I’m Triska Raylight, I’m-” Triska started before freezing in place. She blinked then looked up to seeing a familiar butterfly girl sitting on a branch above her in a tree.

“You are? I never knew that, I thought you were called Triska,” Luna said curiously. Triska jumped and backed up from the tree as she saw the butterfly monster just watching her with a curious expression. She was dressed in her normal revealing outfit of foliage and petals, her brightly colored wings fluttering once behind her as she dangled her legs casually over the side of the branch.

“How come humans use two names? Isn’t one name enough?” Luna asked scratching her head.

“Luna? What are you doing here?” Triska asked putting her hands to her hips. She glanced around then looked at the butterfly girl with a dull expression.

“Where’s your sister? How come she’s not with you?” she asked, even though she was pretty sure she knew the answer already. Luna glanced around then looked up innocently.

“I don’t know…” she said distantly.

“I think you do know, actually I think we both know. She’s trying to steal Daniel away right now, isn’t she?” Triska replied dryly.

“I don’t know…” Luna said looking away while rubbing the back of her neck.

“Luna, why are you here all alone?” Triska asked walking up to the tree.

“Because I am…” Luna replied sheepishly. Triska just watched her with a dull expression then rolled her eyes.

“Come on down from there, you’re not fooling anyone,” she said tiredly.

“I don’t know what you’re talking about, I’m just sitting here, I’m not doing anything wrong,” Luna replied with a shrug. Triska watched her for a moment then looked away with a small smirk.

“I suppose you’re not. Well then, I guess I’ll be going back now, I’m getting pretty hungry. Hmm, I think Alyssa made some cookies this morning now that I think about it, that sounds pretty tasty right now,” she mentioned casually. Luna’s eyes snapped to her instantly with wonder, with Triska looking back up to her with a wink.

“Chocolate chip too,” Triska added.

“Alyssa made more cookies?” Luna breathed out in awe.

“I think she did. Tell you what, if you just tell me what Falla is up to I’ll let you have some,” Triska offered while crossing her arms casually. Luna’s eye twitched a bit before she quickly looked off to the side then back to Triska again.

“Um… but… I… she…” she stuttered nervously.

“All you have to do is tell me, that’s it.