A New Dawn: Raven's Revelation

A New Home

The day had come and there was no way to run now. There, Raven stood with her mother Miranda, her father Robin, and her four younger sisters, Fern, Lillian, Rose, and Autumn at the docking section. The bells rang, signaling that it was time to board the ship. The ship that would carry Raven away from all she had ever known. Raven was about to turn to board the ship when her father stopped her by placing his hand firmly on her shoulder and turning her to face him. He looked at her with a cold glaze,

"Now, Raven," he spoke, "Your only task is to either find a proper high-standing suitor to wed or simply find a rich man willing to take you as his mistress… I do not care what happens to you or if you do not find love. You must do what you have to do to ensure our family's well-being and more importantly, the well-being of your sisters' future, understood"? He said to her sternly.

Her father was the reason they were all in this mess. One moment, they were all happy, living a life in high society in their lovely villa home, but her father started to drift away. Seeking a high-class mistress and picking up a gambling problem, which landed them in a small cottage not suitable for their large family of seven. Thus, leading them to where they are now, at the docks shipping poor Raven off. As a pawn for her family to get everything they wanted. Raven was a very soft-spoken and well-mannered girl. So, although, she was scared to pieces for the future ahead of her. She did not fight her father in this manner. Raven simply obeyed his order by nodding her head silently in agreement. She couldn't utter a single word at the moment. Her tongue was tied with a whirlpool of a bunch of different mixed emotions. The bells rang again, signaling the last call. Raven picks up her small tote from off the ground and boards the ship. As she gets settled on the ship, she stares out at the ocean. She couldn't help but utter a single tear.

She wasn't entirely sure she wanted to be married off or even become a contracted courtesan. Although her situation made her sad and even a bit scared, she would not complain about her circumstances. She knew that she had it better than most out there, and it was better than any of her younger sisters having to endure this kind of treatment. Maybe through her, they could find their own path instead of one chosen for them. Maybe they could marry for love or become whatever it is their hearts desire to be.

The ship blows its horn as it departs. Raven sighed, “Goodbye Genesis, the only land and home I've ever known" she said softly. Raven’s departure was bittersweet. She didn't want to leave, but she didn’t want to stay either. Although she was scared, she looked forward to what this new adventure would bring her. After all, maybe she would find some sort of happiness out there. Maybe, although it was very unlikely, she'd find a suitor who would love her for who she was. She could only have hope. Maybe just maybe there is someone out there who, despite her not having a dowry, would love and care for her just the way she was. Raven didn't even want to think or consider becoming a courtesan, a man's mistress, his plaything. The idea of it made her so sick inside that her stomach hurt. A loveless or even a contract marriage would be better than being a man's sidepiece, or at least, so she thought. Nonetheless, Raven would do and be anything her little sisters needed her to be. All just so, they wouldn't have to share the same fate.

After a few hours had passed by, the ship was finally docking. Raven held on to the ship’s railing as she peered at what would be her new home. The bells rang as it signaled that it was now safe for all the passengers to depart. Raven took a moment to gather herself, she stared off into the distance, taking in the new sight for her to see. Eden was so beautiful and filled with so much life. She didn’t know what this place would have in store for her, but she prayed it would be nothing but what was in the best interest of her and her sisters. She grabbed her tote and departed from the ship, grateful at last to be on the shore. As she departed, her mother’s friend Crescent waited for her with her footman Lilac.

Lilac was a man with French bulldog features. Unlike most of the kemonomimi race, he was truly rare. For, instead of just having the ears or the tail of his descendant animal, his face had no human characteristics like most of the kemonomimi races did. The only human characteristic he had was that he stood tall like a human would. He also had hands and feet like a human would. Lilac grabbed Raven's tote and loaded it into the carriage. He then took his place back at Crescent's side, awaiting her next command.

Crescent was a wolf kemonomimi. A wolf kemonomimi has the body of a human but has the snout, tail, and ears of their wolf descendants. Crescent was a beautiful sight to see. She was a gray wolf girl with silver hair. Her eyes could draw anyone in with her brown and blue eye color. She had blue tribal wolf marks that went down her entire body.

"Come along now" Crescent spoke to Raven, who was just standing there staring at them.

"Uh, yes ma'am," Raven said as Lilac held the door for the carriage for her and Crescent to get in.

The ride was utterly quiet. No one spoke a single word. Raven wanted to, but she was so nervous that she couldn't even find the right words to say. She wanted to thank Crescent for everything she was doing for her, but she just couldn't find the words. Soon the carriage stopped, and Lilac opened the door to the carriage, helping both Crescent and Raven gently out.

In front of them stood a grand bakery. The bakery was an all-white marble building. It was so lovely with its glass windows displaying the delicious freshly made pastries. They all took a step inside. Crescent walked to the bar and poured them some tea.

"Here is where you will work every morning. You will be a host, welcoming all our many guests, as well as serving them" she said.

Raven nodded and said, "Yes ma'am". But here is where things shifted.

"I will not be sponsoring you in your pursuit of finding an eligible suitor. You have no Dowry which doesn't leave you with too many options. You can use the money you make here to either send to your family or save for some sort of dowry. The choice is yours to make. However, you will need to pull your weight around here, meaning you are responsible for buying yourself whatever you may need, food, clothes, etc." Crescent paused “I suggest that in your free time, you find yourself at some of the gentleman's clubs and bars. You may have no dowry, but there will be your best chance of at least a contract marriage if not becoming a courtesan. I suggest you make yourself more appealing to the man's eye" she said.

"More appealing?" Raven failed to understand what Crescent meant.

Crescent looked at Raven. The girl was nothing but pure innocent. "I suggest you wear more skin-revealing clothes. Shorter dresses and nothing loose fitting. Something that will reveal more of your assets", Crescent explained.

Raven listened and nodded her head. Crescent then took her downstairs, which displayed a cozy sitting area for their guests to enjoy themselves as they sipped, ate, and gossiped about the latest news. In the back, there was a spiral staircase that led up to a loft that had nothing but a cot to sleep on.

"This loft will be where you sleep, make the best out of it. I recently had a private bath built for you. You will open the bakery in the early mornings. I suggest you get some rest" Crescent said.

Raven started to piece some of the pieces together. "Wait, so, I'll be staying here by myself," she asked.

"Yes, that is the way it shall be" Crescent replied as she handed Raven a key to the bakery and the private bath.

“You'll spend your mornings working for your keep and your evenings doing whatever you must do to help your family. most bars and pubs open late. By then the bakery will be closed. The keys are to ensure you can get back in", Crescent said, and then departed, leaving Raven there alone.

Raven took her tote to the private bathroom. She set her tote down and decided to take a shower. after she finished, she dried herself and got ready for bed. Raven looked at herself in the mirror.

Her bunny ears were purple with white tips. She had long wavy purple hair with white undertone highlights that went past her shoulder blades. Her eyes were a pretty silver, and she had a purple diamond charm in the center of both her eyebrows. Raven looked away from the mirror. All her life she was told she was beautiful, that her tan skin pretty much glowed in the sunlight. She wondered if her outward appearance would be enough to ensure her sisters’ fate.

Raven went to her loft, turned off the lights, and called it a night.