"...it looks like...it looks like you're growing a tail?!" Vix forced out, her emotions fluctuating between worry and horror.
"Ha-ha, very funny, humans don't have tails. Only beastkin and dem--" Tensa's response cut off as her hand reached the base of her spine. Sure enough, there was a protuberance there too long to be a mere cyst or nub. In fact, as her hand traced the flesh, it twitched slightly, a twitch she could feel . Tensa looked over her shoulder, flabbergasted.
Although Tensa did not finish her thought, Vix understood exactly what she was trying to say. The only humanoid races in the world that had tails were beastkin and demons, although all beastkin had tails from birth. Demons, however, if they turned demon - being another species initially - could grow a tail as the transition progressed. In fact, that unique attribute was why humans, elves, and dwarves looked down upon beastkin. They all felt that the beastkin's possession of tails, something that only they shared with demons, made them somehow less of an ally. They of course did not take into consideration the fact that beastkin probably hated demons more than any other race, since beastkin often felt the brunt of demon incursions, the beastkin lands and the human Vaunt Empire being the only two regions bordering the demon lands, the Vaunt Empire having slightly more geographical protection than the beastkin.
Tensa was so lost in shock that she failed to notice another emotion flash across Vix's eyes - guilt. Vix was well aware what had happened to Tensa in the Demon King's castle, and knew she had ignored the risks of what Manti had done. She just wanted her friend to stay alive, the only human Vix trusted. But what was now happening to that precious friend?
"That's not...possible..." Tensa's words trailed off as she became lost in thought. Had being in the demon lands affected her somehow? But her other companions seemed fine. Did it have to do with killing the Demon King? Did it...taint her somehow? Change her?
While they stood in the shallows for a while contemplating, both came to the same conclusion. There was nothing that could be done at the moment, and they needed to come up with a plan of action. Of course, they were both experienced enough that they did not need to communicate this verbally; rather, when Tensa turned back towards the camp, Vix followed after shaking the water out of her tail fur.
Tensa and Vix returned to the camp in silence and dressed, each brooding silently over their own thoughts. It was only when they both finished their meals, staring at the fire, that Vix finally spoke up.
"Tensa, I think...maybe..." Vix said hesitatingly...