Dear Risa,

  We made it to the city!

  Shocking absolutely no one, the picturesque city of Riverriverriverriver is built on the banks of a river. But not just a river, no, it’s where two rivers meet, creating a new, third river.

  So why, you may ask, is the word “river” in the city’s name four times? Who the hell knows! I sure don't! The people at the Guild don't! Maybe there’s a secret fourth river somewhere underground or something. Or maybe it’s in the sky!

  But yes, names are dumb, we have established that. Moving on.

  Maki and Luke got all the necessary plumbing things to make a bathroom in a pocket dimension today. Cali and I got all the proper things to make it an actual bathroom and not just a room with interesting plumbing.

  I really, really wanted to get two sets of things; an extra-girly extra-sparkly set, and a normal set that people would actually want in their house. Cali, curse her logic, said doing that would mean wasting a rather significant amount of cash on a prank. She didn't want to. Sooo we just got the normal-looking stuff.

  I mean, it’s all nice and elegant, don't get me wrong, but it’s nothing that my brother will see and immediately demand we change. Sad.

  Oh, we got here just before lunch. They have decent food here. Better food than what they had in Cuff, at least.

  This book's true home is on another platform. Check it out there for the real experience.

  The problem with food is, Cali does the cooking when we’re on the road. Cali’s mom, my aunt, has a diner and her Chef level is at like ninety bazillion. She taught Cali everything. So Cali is pretty much incapable of making bad food. She didn’t even know what boring food tastes like until we left home a few months ago.

  And then we get to cities and Guild halls with average-quality food, and it’s, sadly, not as good as what my cousin makes us every day. Here and in Cuff, the food has been slightly less than average in quality. Which means everyone is very disappointed. I might have been mad if it weren't free.

  Anyhow, about twenty people today asked for extra-long handshakes so they could change into nekos. They usually ask Cali or Maki, because they’re obviously not changelings. I guess changelings can't pick up the changing magic from other changelings. Because magic. I only had two people ask me directly, and they did that after asking if I was really a neko.

  I'm glad I’m helping spread neko-ness all over Bestest.

  One of those people was a lady who runs a spa. It was one of her requirements if we wanted to take the liondrakes into her big bath. Another requirement was that no people were in there, which, thankfully, there weren’t.

  I’ve never given a giant cat a pedicure before. Turns out, their feet are a lot like ours, so it wasn’t all that hard. I thought they would splash around and make a mess, but they saw the fancy room and apparently their drake side kicked in. They lounged more regally than you do, Risa dear, and that’s saying something.

  And yes, I will admit, their leg fur was exceedingly dry and dusty. Cali was just going to wash them with normal shampoo and call it a day, but come on, we were at a spa! You know they had twenty thousand overpriced oils and conditioners, so I took over when the practical stuff was done. Cali knew how to get them clean and healthy, and then I got them nice and pampered. Aaaaand yeah it was a little expensive. But that’s ok, because if the giant flying murder kitties who drag my house around want to smell like jasmine, by Bonnie that’s what they’re going to smell like.

  I might need to get some of that conditioner for myself, it smelled really good…

  If I smell like jasmine when I see you, now you know why.

  Regards,

  Maeve Zee