DUAR-FEI, THE NEKO PARADISE
Summary: Raised by farmers on the Independent lands, Santana was not the typical stray from her own race. She only has a heart for two humans, she cares for a brother, pretends to be indifferent towards a shadow walker, and may have found an individual to match her magic.
Rating: M
Pairing: Santana/Brittany, and several OC/OC which no one ever cares about anyway.
Disclaimer: Glee character names are not mine. Characterization and setting belongs to me and cousin.
Author's NOTE: This was NOT originally a Brittany/Santana fic. I mean, I specifically wrote ALL THIS for their characters, but the original characters were their own. I was told it read for a very good Brittana story. I've heard differently as well. Also, I rarely put any of the Glee characters in here. You'll see a few. But they may only make a one-time appearance just to give that "glee story" vibe, I suppose.
SCROLL TO THE STORY:
Backstory: So, uh, this takes places in a separate Universe created by my little brother and I a couple of years ago. The planet is called Cal-Mei (Pronounced c-owl-may). I was young and naïve when I first wrote about the "Neko" savages. I didn't realize they had already been around for so long. I had based them from the Centaurs and Satyrs. In this universe I had referred to them as the Leo-Neik (Funny how close those names can be.) But for my sanity, I am going to call them Neko. The shortened name is their slaved term given to their wild sister race: Leon.
Leons and Nekos: Their "Neko" people are typically siblings to our "domesticated" cat. Some are gorgeous, some are bitchy, others have so much fur they can be a pillow for babies, and then you have your "alley" cats. The "alley" cats are the slaved "Leons" in our universe. Their fur is thin, a typical brown or black color (Not beautiful compared to the flashing yellows [blonde], reds [ginger], greens [I don't even know], etc…). My version of the Neko's lifespan is about 40-60 years old, depending on their living environment. Their appearance remains that of a twenty-some to thirty-some human. The rest of the history is boring and not worth knowing; unless there are questions. I will have answers.
Time: (Otherwise known as "Boring Shit No One Is EVER Going to Read".) This world's year goes by the "Main Star's" cycle around the planet. Earth's takes up 365 days. Our world is nearly twice the size, where atmospheric density fluctuates, so there are about fourteen months in a year: winter, spring, black season (Clouds gives off toxic gases around certain parts), summer, fall, then breeding season lasts about a full year and won't return for another three. (This time is called the Duar-Fian year.) Humans, animals, Leons, and everything else can only have babies during this year; the air becomes too toxic for infants during the other years because of a neighboring planet near their own. Nothing, well I'm sure they probably will find a way eventually, will keep the newborns alive. And similar to the way we made the calendar (Before Christ "BC" and Anno Domini "AD") their years are 193 P.L. (Prisoned Leons).
Counting Months: None of the months have names. They're called the "First Month", Second Month, Third Month, and so on. There are 30 or 31 days. Similar to counting the months for Earth on our knuckles is the way I counted for this world; and since it could go up to fourteen, I made fourteen months. Cool, right? Nah, it's fucking stupid. Not really, this shit is bananas.
WARNINGS: I'm not certain which storyline I should warn about without giving too much away. Well, uh, there's violence, murder, mentions of blood, mild-strong sexual content. Mentions of "sorceresses". (I've written stories where some find it offensive.)
Two-shot, maybe Three. Possibly Four-shot.
/ / / /
Chapter One – "The Cause for Our Lineage"
Fourth Month, 3rd day – 193 P.L.
It was cold. Though, it always seemed to be cold around these mountains. The Vyshen trees were forever green, and appeared forever tall. Wherever those trees had rooted, the main star's light and its warmth were scarce, keeping certain grounds frozen, and keeping the Empire's soldiers away nature's inhabitants.
But it was dark, the main star had set and the everlasting chill faintly blew past a mother's ears as she curled herself around her bundle of fur. It squirmed here and there, causing a nervous wave to the mother. Her kitten wouldn't sleep. He wanted to play. He tossed and rolled around in the leaves hissing his infant laughs as he did so. His older sister sat in the corner of their home. Alone near the warm trunk of the Vyshen, she watched in fascination as her fellow kitten brother seemed unstoppable in his rolling. His thick kitten fur kept him from harm, including the chill occasionally breezing into the opening of their home.
His mother raised her head and sternly reached for her kitten grabbing him in a strong embrace and sliding him closer to her chest. Nearly human looking, thin, starved; she would sacrifice many more meals if it meant her offspring would live another day. Her eldest kitten had already begun losing her kitten fur. Soft bronze skin was appearing daily; but still young.
"Sleep." She whispered in an ancient tongue no longer breathed in these mountains. "Sleep, my child." She softly commanded.
She used a language from a life long ago, forgotten. The slaved language was spoken only among the poor; the animals—the Leons.
Her son's right ear twitched as he curled himself into his mother, obediently closing his eyes knowing his sleep would find him so soon as his mother wished. The proud mother of her second litter lay her head down against her kitten, humming contentedly when she felt the warm body of her daughter against her back. She closed her eyes and shut her mind off from the world, though not too distant, a safe rest was never a guarantee in these forests. But she found rest. Her muscles had finally loosened from their strain to keep awake for her kitten's sake. It had been a long winter. The promise of the flower season was only weeks away. She was tired and hungry. She only needed to rest her eyes a moment longer, though if she had. . .
She felt in the winter fur protecting her twitching ears before she smelt it. There was a flutter in the winds before the faint scent caused her eyes to immediately open. It was dark outside, nearly black. The animalistic side of her heritage awoke before she summoned her awareness to her eyes.
It couldn't be.
Though, it had to be. But, why in the black forest so far away from the Empire? Her spine vibrated, straightening before arching in an instinctive defense. Her daughter's head lifted in alert. Her mother gave off a strange odor; none which she had ever smelt before.
It tasted dangerous in her mouth.
The mother curled tighter around the runt of her litter who had still fought sleep, but was now stone still in his mother's arms.
They're too close! Nearly half a family of Vyshen away!
There was no time to think, she had to save her kitten before the Empire ever got to them. As she gathered her youngest in her arms and fled, feeling her daughter directly beside—there was a thought in the back of her mind wondering and praising the main star it took this long for the Empire to find her.
She ran through the trees, which moved in sympathy; as though they knew of her fear. Long ago when she was merely a kitten bundled on a cold floor in an Empire prison, she remembered her wrists burning. She was not allowed to tear or cry in the way she had seen human children do. She was not like them! Her slave name was burned onto her flesh—no, into. Her wrist, something was in her wrist. They tracked her! It been so long she had almost forgotten. Almost.
Her children!
She stopped and nearly threw her youngest kitten to the ground, watching in pain as he easily landed on all fours but looked up at his mother in terror and confusion.
"Run."
Her wrists raised themselves above her head. They were much closer now!
"Run!" She hissed at her eldest kitten, her golden possession, her main star and water. "Take him away!"
The larger of the two kittens quickly grabbed her twin brother's tail and roughly tugged. He winced, hissed silently, and did something the mother never dreamed to see. He was crying as though he were human. The bare skin of his human face glistened with pain. He appeared as though he could be human, merely wrapped tightly in animal skin for the winter; but he wasn't human. And he would never be like them.
Her wrists jerked her entire body back. She was airborne until she hit the ground hard. Shouts could be heard, phrases recurring. The term "Leon" was being yelled more than once. Her body was being dragged away by an invisible force, and she hissed in disbelief when her youngest kitten began to run after her disappearing body.
"No! Flee from here!" But he was remained persistent. "They'll kill you!" She shouted, but her kitten wasn't hearing her words. He only saw his mother; not the approaching soldiers.
If she couldn't save this kitten, then—her eyes locked with her daughter who was now high in the trees following her brother, a look of frustration about her kitten's features—she could save this one. No longer in control of her body, she let her body language and scents speak to her kitten. When her kitten stopped on a particularly thick branch, she clung to it and tried to blend her dark brown fur with the black and dark green skin of the tree. It was rough against her new skin, itchy and scratching her in aggravation. She saw the wild look in her mother's eyes and understood what her natural instincts were beginning to tell her how this new decision would change her life: survival.
It shook her to the core as she watched them finally grab hold of her mother and do things to her no child should ever witness. So she turned away and fled, pushed farther by the unholy sounds her brother made as he watched.
She ran fast; faster than she ever thought her small limbs could take her. Leaping from branch to branch, she reached higher and higher desperately trying to remain out of sight and far away from the ground. She ran until she could run no more. She ran until her body collapsed with pure exhaustion. Her chest ached as she took quick breaths here and there. The main star was going to rise from behind the White Mountains soon. She could smell it. Her eye lids were too heavy to keep open, and if only her arms were strong enough to keep her body from sliding off the branch. . .
Her body twisted in mid-air instinctively correcting her fall. Her feet silently hit the ground and the rest of her body quickly followed. She was near a main road somewhere. The forest's natural scents were fading this close to the ground-walk. Though, she needed rest. She could not run any more than she could walk; and so she rested.
She never awoke as large hands gathered her up and placed her on a back of another animal. She never awoke as she traveled miles in the opposite direction of the Empire and where her mother was captured.
The kitten still slept as the voices in her head yelled at her to wake up.
/ / / /
Fourth Month, 16th day – 193 P.L.
"This fur pageant is pointless." A deep voice whispered into a little girl's ear. "Why not bind them and sell them as flock? The amount of rock we waste on those savages; might as well burn down the empire with their waste so close to our tables."
The little girl being spoken to have simply ignored her uncle as she nearly fell over the balcony to get a better view. "They're so beautiful, father."
Another man chuckled from behind, amused by his daughter. "Careful now, Adele." He delicately pulled his daughter back while he glanced over her head to frown at his wife's brother. "She hears not your words, Sebastian. It is her birthday, after all." He gestured towards the young Leons being brought out onto the stage, "Leave now, or gift my daughter. For your sister shall be very pleased."
Sebastian refrained a click of his tongue, knowing disrespecting an officer of the Empire was a sure death. Even if Milok was family, he held his peace. With a polite bow of his head Sebastian respectfully placed his hand on Adele's shoulder. "I made an oath to gift her any desire she pleased on her twelfth ring." He bit his lower lip in disgust as he watched the Leons being led out of their cages. "I assumed this gift would have been deemed much more suitable for a young lady." Sebastian may have been a young boy himself, barely reaching sixteen winters and a half of the main star cycle.
When Adele began tugging her father's hand toward the stairs, Sebastian knew the child had chosen a pet from afar. He watched as the duo quickly made their way towards the cages, he let out a sound of distaste as he followed. "I'm spending no more than fourteen silvers. No more." He repeated to excited girl.
Adele didn't seem to mind. She walked up towards the platform where the cages were placed. The crowd shifted for the young lady and her father, allowing them to pass without hassle. The young Nekos had to be newborns. Some Nekos laid to rest, too young to have been away from their mother's milk, while the others lapped at the water given to them. Adele tried to look away from the cages of the dead kittens being taken away from the stage.
"What a tragedy." Sebastian actually sounded sympathetic. He looked down at his niece, offering a small smile. "I've heard stories they age much quicker than we. Best pick a youngling or you'll be burying a pet in five wint—ahh!" He winced as his brother by a sacred bind roughly pinched the back of his neck.
Adele covered her mouth at what Sebastian told her. "How long do they live for? That early to be laid in the ground?"
Milok simple pulled the boy away from his daughter. "Choose whichever you like, your uncle will provide a year's supply of care for your pet."
Sebastian merely glared. "I made no such promise."
Milok grinned and nodded. "You have done so right now, boy." He rose out dominate arm [his right] and opened his palm towards the ground. "Send us the healthiest Neko you've have." He looked the officer in the eye, the man who was in charge of the hunts and now the offspring of killed adult Nekos. "Preferably female."
Adele tugged his non-outstretched hand. "May I please have a red one? The governess has a red one and he's so obedient and light on the eyes."
The officer looked to the little girl who had spoken out of place, though he wisely held his silence.
"You'll receive whatever they have to gift." Milok nodded towards the officer who held up with hand towards a woman kneeling near each cage feeding the kittens.
He whispered to the woman. The Neko physician looked up and eyed the man in power standing beside his daughter then looked to the cage where Adele was currently kneeling beside and nodded.
"Collect carriage 5. Deliver it to the temple's priest." The officer nodded his approval. "It'll be distributed to your dynasty once the Neko is, merchantable." He bowed his head politely. "Lady Boreus."
Adele returned the bow. She tucked a stray of light brown hair behind her ear before kneeling next to the cage. A small lump of white fur faintly rose and fell, appearing to be resting its eyes. Rachel reached inside the bars to stroke the nearly white fur.
"So pretty." She whispered in awe. "I'll bathe you, love you, and keep you from being sold to the government." Adele grinned widely when the creature raised its head. "You're still an infant."
The Neko still had her kitten fur all around her face; the only visible skin was around her eyes. She was scared. She quickly backed away from Adele and curled into her fluffy tail. But Adele wasn't offended. She cooed and giggled at the adorable kitten. She briefly wondered where her mother was, and if she had served a family inside the city walls; perhaps at a small town near the borders—or maybe. . . Adele leaned her head against the cage, chewing her bottom lip in wonder.
"Can I name you, little one?"
The kitten only stared, not used to the language barrier and the new scents.
"I promise to keep you safe. You'll belong to my family's name, but you'll need a forename."
Adele reached into her thick coat and pulled out a thin cylinder container. She emptied the water from the bowl given for the Neko and poured the creamed milk into it. The reaction was immediate, the white fur vibrated. Adele recognized its tail from the movement. The kitten sniffed the air before cautiously crawling towards the bowl with Neko's feed. It was real, and the kitten knew it; so she greedily lapped at the warm milk offered. Adele to gently pet her head and strangely large ears.
"I assume you'll grow into them. . . Lily?" Adele stuck out her tongue. "No. Mika? My father would definitely not approve for such a name." Adele continued to pet her new Leon. "Doesn't matter now. You live in the capitol, you'll be given many names—mostly cruel and upsetting—you'll learn to behave."
Adele smiled and hummed happily. For the next main star's rings around their realm, this Neko will belong to Adele Boreus.
/ / / /
Second Month, 21st day – 194 P.L.
The cruel scent of baking traw (could otherwise be called fish) would have woken any human in alert and repulsion, but this particular creature smiled. The chill of winter had long passed, but the ache of losing a beloved was hard to live with.
"Santana!" The fisherman called for her across camp.
With the appearance of an eight year old girl, Santana rolled onto her stomach and stretched. The back of her throat vibrated in content when she felt the right pull from her arched back. She looked over her shoulder to tuck in her uncovered tail. These men knew of what she was, it appeared as though they didn't care but Santana knew the truth. She was the fisherman's "Slave". He found her that night, took her in and cared for her as though she were his own daughter. He was aged for many rings; but the man worked as though he were twenty years.
Santana quickly hopped off her bed from the lowest branch. Landing perfecting on her feet, she pulled her hood over her slightly pointed ears and ran towards the fisherman's voice. The metal clank over her wrist was a public announcement that she belonged to Dimitry. He was an independent farm owner away from the Capitol's hold on the Leon's. But this was still Nemnah, the lands free of war and poverty, and the Emperor had rule over every sky.
Santana avoided the men who had requested her labor through ownership of the Leon. Though they weren't cruel to Santana, she still had no desire to leave Dimitry—the man who clothed her, as though she were human, and fed her until she could eat no more.
"Yes, my lord." Santana stood straight, her back burned to the feeling. She had to get use to the straightened posture. Santana was a worker now.
Dimitry tossed a large fish at her feet, watching his fellow huntsmen for any reaction "Eat." Was all he said before preparing his horse and carriage for traveling.
Santana quickly grabbed the fish and ran passed her master towards the forest trees. She never hid herself, for she wasn't allowed with these men. She understood important phrases from the men; learning when to speak, and how to address the men at a higher prestige. Never speak to them or look at them—this is what Santana was taught. She began eating the flavorful food in her hands, eternally grateful of the man who feeds her. She owed him her life if he were ever to require it.
The blood which flowed through Santana was a rarity. Dimitry knew, and even the men fishing alongside the traveler could see a difference in Santana's behavior. She wasn't a true blood Leo-Neik; nor did she appear as a true Leon. Her sister species were small petite (easily overpowered by a human), yet powerful in strength, aggressive in their speech and appearance—Santana was none of these.
She adapted quickly.
She could blend in with the humans—an act she wished to never to do.
Her top ears twitched uncomfortably. She ached to pull off the hood of her cloak but knew the men working alongside Dimitry desired the pretense rather than being reminded of a Leon in their midst. As she fed on the fish—her most favorite meal—she scratched behind her ears, purring to herself. Her ears appeared small, only because they drooped half way, falling onto her human like hair. Her hair was dark rich brown, and could be seen as black; but her fur was light brown, immediately catching the attention of wanderers. Her thin furred tail was shorter than the normal length and there was a hint of puff at the tip fading from the dark furs around her lumbar and blended into a bright brown.
Santana knew if she were owned by the capitol she would have been sold for many stones. She was a beautiful and obedient creature—as a kitten anyway. She didn't have the colored fur for slaves, or the attitude of one. She was a deceiver—sold directly into official homes of significant people.
Dimitry walked up to her and tossed her the ropes for the horses. He stood for a moment, seeming as though he wanted to look over his shoulder at his fellow travelers, but he remained. Santana cautiously stood, dropping her food to give the man her full attention. Dimitry discretely lifted his dominate hand, fist closed towards the sky—a sign of trust, or a silent request for forgiveness. Santana understood. He didn't want to treat her the way civilization treated her race.
Santana shuffled closer and took the ropes. "I will . . . knot ropes for you." Her tongue struggled to speak the common language of the humans.
Though, her small mind was full of untapped knowledge. She learned much quicker than any human child he knew. He knew Santana couldn't have much older than a year, yet here she was—speaking, working, and eating as though her cycle matched the main star's seventh ring. She truly was a remarkable creature.
"You shall." He whispered. He turned and briskly walked away whispering a silent prayer for Santana's safety as they traveled through the mountains.
The young Leon watched him retreat to the water line of the river, gathering his line of traw to store for the road. Santana licked her lips and itched to walk closer, her natural instincts were to run away from these men; get as far away from this camp as she could. The false wrist band, snug in size, reminded Santana she was not a slave—but a shadow of one. The Leon grunted as she marched up to the creature she inwardly feared. The horse kept his attention of the basket of tough fruit and grain the fisherman left. The horse loudly munched and slurped his meal unaware of the approaching Leon.
Santana was nearly invisible in her approach catching the larger creature by surprise. "Makile" was what her fisherman hollered, perhaps the horse's name. The pitch black beauty watched her with a sense of curiosity about him.
Santana shivered as she grabbed his mane to slip the head rope around the pointed ears and around the muzzle. Makile cleared his nose loudly, snorted at the strong smell Santana gave off. She shrieked and jerked at the spray, causing her hood to fall off, uncovering her ears at the motion. Her ears twitched uncontrollably, something Makile found fascinating. He leaned and inhaled powerful sniffs before gently nipping at the furry ears.
Santana chuckled and pushed his head away. "You have your own." She spoke in her mother language, comfortable in front of Makile. "I'll bite them back if you hurt mine." She covered them again.
"I must pull you towards the bank. The fisherman wishes to travel before the main star reaches the high peak in the sky." Santana pulled the horse along as she squinted through the thick woodland. The star's light was bright, but the morning fog hid most of its brightness. "We leave soon, animal."
Santana waited beside the horse as the fisherman gathered all his catch and packed the traw into small barrels on his carriage. The other men had begun to pack their belongings as well. Most saddled a single horse and their prized weapon for a hunt along the way. Several men had already left before the morning star even began shining on the White Mountains, while others waited to travel in large groups.
Santana climbed into the back of the carriage once Dimitry, and one other man's son whose surname of Figgins, had attached the horse to the pull ropes. Dimitry turned around from the front, "We travel on our own from here."
"Where?" Santana asked.
Dimitry faced the front and hollered at Makile to walk. Once the carriage jerked in motion he answered Santana. "Home in Punorge."
She made a small bed for herself besides the barrels of fish, water, and horse feed. Santana grabbed a robe of bear skin. It was thick, perfect for padding as she lay against the hard wood. She uncovered her ears and reached down to open the tear in the back of her pants. She groaned in relief when her tail popped out. It may be short and able to wrap her thigh, but it wasn't what she's use to. Her tailed curled and lazily swayed much to her extreme delight. Now in full comfort Santana was able to relax as the carriage disappeared through the trees on a small road. It wasn't a commercial highway, so Santana knew in a short while she'll be able to sit beside Dimitry once they were far from the river's roar of life.
/ /
Dimitry pulled on the Makile's reigns to stop in front of longhouse. He removed the hat from his head and waved it towards the elderly woman standing on the entryway to his private land. He hopped off the seat and patted Makile hind leg in an understanding appreciation.
"At ease, boy."
Dimitry's wife approached him before he was able to check on his barrels. "Is she still with you?" Lara eyed the carriage with a mother's worried gaze when she didn't spot the young Leon. "Did the kitten run off?"
"She's here." Dimitry nodded towards the back of the carriage. "Sleep held her down. It was indeed a trip for the strong and experienced."
He unlatched the ramp and gently pulled it down, not wanting to wake Santana. "Where should I put her?"
"In the house?" Lara questioned as though it were the most obvious answer. "She's been alone for how long? She could use a good night's rest."
Dimitry barely nodded. "I told you before, woman," He respectfully bowed his head for his wife, "she had not been alone since I saved her from the Empire's nomads."
His wife appeared unsettled. "You risk so much for so little." Lara reached forward and gathered a very light Santana in her arms. "And foolish is what you are, but you are my lord. I have never questioned you until now."
Dimitry followed his wife down the pathway to their home, the garden keepers tended to Makile and the carriage. A family servant held the door opened for them, he recognized the creature in the mistress' arms but said nothing. The remaining echoes of the arguments both masters had was disturbing enough to repeat. The young Leon was no threat to the servants. They held their peace with the Leon and her—seemingly—adoptive parents.
Santana woke up near the fire place towards the back of the house. She vaguely remembered this place the first time Dimitry brought her here when she was a scratching and hissing kitten. Those months are behind her. She's much older now. She yawned lazily, not wanting to move from the warm bed Lara had probably made for her on the floor, but the scent of food was a stronger call. Barefoot and only clothed with a large shirt, Santana basically crawled to the hallway rubbing her side along the walls at a slow pace. The rough brick reached all the right spots with the perfect pressure. Once near the common room, she straightened up and dutifully bowed when several servants walked passed her.
Santana knew she was told not to, but they were still humans. And from what little she remembered from her mother—all of them were dangerous and far above her class in race.
None of it mattered. Survival was survival; Santana would do anything to survive.
Eating with the servants was a happening Santana had expected or even alongside the barn animals, but never would she had imagined being served at the master's dined table. Lara met her in the common room and welcomed Santana to join them for an evening meal. The ever reluctant kitten remained silent, afraid to upset the mistress of the family home.
"I insist." Lara had said. "You are the guest, little one. Please do not run off."
Lara had even knelt for Santana; her right knee touched the floor so she could Santana in the eye. Lara smiled a motherly smile. She reached out and gently played with the human hair surrounding animal-like ears.
"You are a misunderstood, ill-treated, but a very beautiful race."
Santana remained silent, an honored hope swept over her so powerfully she nearly fell on her face to worship the very ground Lara knelt on. This human had no right to show a submission to anyone other than the—no, not even for the Emperor, these people are set apart from the empire.
Santana could nearly taste the magic over these lands. No empire official or townsman would be seen in these mountains where the mystics lived and where man ate with the beasts.
Lara then delicately grazed Santana's left ear. "It is magnificent and soft as silk to the touch." She stood and held out her non-dominate hand for Santana to take hold. "Come, you'll be safe here."
Santana felt as though her hands were dirty, she knew they were clean, but standing there mute watching a beautiful mistress admire beauty Santana knew never she possessed, well—it was a dream. It had to have been. So Santana lived her dream, grabbing onto Lara she muttered her shy and quiet gratitude.
The mistress only smiled more, "One day, you have more words to say than I ever will."
Santana curiously tilted her head, she sniffed the air and her mouth immediately began to water. "Milk?" She suddenly became courageous and was the one pulling Lara towards the dining room. There was a large dark-skinned woman servant speaking with the master of the land. Dimitry sat at the head of the table; Lara quickly joined his side, while he dutifully listened to what the servant.
"We will manage our inventory come dawn, Mercer." Dimitry then stood to properly send the servant to her private quarter for the night.
She was a young girl, with an air of superiority as she passed Santana. This servant wore a dark red gown, unlike the other female servants who wore a light blue. Mercer seemed startled by the creature standing in front of her. Dimitry and Lara were dressed as though they would meet with a priest for a blessing while they dine while Santana wore a large man-sized undershirt. It was cream colored, soft from a fresh press. The usual quester sleeves were tightened to stayed at Santana's wrists, while the bulk of the sleeve hung loosely. It reached her mid-thigh with a slit in the back; her tail didn't sway but it was out on display for Mercer to see—as though she couldn't the large brown cat-like ears resting atop Santana's head.
A guest, Mercer was told. An animal, she grew up hearing about. But this creature standing before her was no animal, but a little girl; a hungry girl at that.
"I've prepared sweet milk for the little misses." Mercer grinned. "Would she desire anything else?"
Santana's eyes widened when she realized the servant had referred to her . . . as though she mattered. "No." Her voice nearly escaped her at the struggle of the single word.
Mercer paid no mind. "Very well, little lady. I rest in the room across from yours, if there be anything needed," She left her sentence incomplete knowing her hour is up and her service no longer in need.
Santana may not have known this, but she understood what the rushed servant was attempting to say.
She sat on the other end of the table where her wide cup of warm milk was placed. The urge to lean over the table and lap as though she were a starving kitten was strong, but she withheld and took the warm cup and gingerly sipped the milk before it became too much. Santana began gulping and gulping swallow for swallow. The milk truly was sweet and the perfect warmth. It had been many months since she fed from what her mother provided, this was significantly different, but it settled nicely with the Leon. Santana's ears twitched, her tail moved lazily from side to side—occasionally brushing the chair on which she sat—and she purred contently when she placed the cup on the table.
Dimitry held in his grin as he watched, happy the orphan finally felt at ease to eat as she pleased.
/ / / /
Sixth Month, 8th day – 194 P.L.
She crouched low behind a small statue of a fairy. Her prey was close, she could hear it—she could smell it. Crawling on all fours, she inched forward and leaped over the stairway and onto the adjacent ledge. It was a good three meters from the first landing. She waited until the helpless victim dared to show its face. A little girl appeared from beneath the stairway, looking about as if she were waiting for something or someone. The poor human girl never knew what awaited her. The creature quickly leaped out, landing silently beside the girl and bent down to bite the ankle, it was a sudden reaction.
The girl screeched and hollered, falling on her rear in fright. "Brittany!" She rolled onto her side, laughing uncontrollably. "That's not fair! You can smell me!"
The ivory furred Neko playfully rolled around, giggling when brown hair rushed over to her. Neko and girl playfully wrestled, occasionally pulling hair—or in Brittany's case, her tail. Brittany jumped at the sensation. It was odd, not painful, though it definitely got her attention. She crawled away from her owner, laughing and sneaking soft nips at Adele's ankles. Brittany rubbed her face along the girl's calf, loving the feel of warm flesh against her newly shown skin of her cheek. It was a mere two months ago when Brittany lost her final kitten fur, and it was unfortunate to be the facial fur.
Adele adored the look. But now that she can fully appreciate the Neko's exotics features, she liked it more now than before.
Human stared Neko in the eye, challenging the creature. The Neko rushing and lithely swirled around Adele running on her two legs towards the back gardens where they could run freely. Adele quickly caught up with the tall Neko, her shorter legs working harder than the natural born athlete who was now breaking winds through the garden trees.
Adele may have been wearing her long diner gown, but she tackled Brittany with no mercy once she knew Brittany wasn't going to run anymore. The Neko had anticipated the attack, knowing how much thrill Adele gets from dominating her pet. Brittany sprawled out, raising her arms above her head in a silent admittance to defeat.
The "bangs" around Brittany's face moved from Adele's heavy panting. "I win."
"You win." Brittany repeated. Her owner then dropped heavily onto her. "Oh!" the Neko chuckled softly, wrapping her arms around the smaller girl. "I'm longer than you now."
Adele had closed her eyes, enjoying the feel of a warm body beneath her. "Much smarter if you can speak words by now."
By nature, Brittany loved to cuddle, so having an owner who shared the interest was the best part of being a pet. Brittany nuzzled close towards Adele's neck and inhaled deeply. "I learn as I grow, and I grow as a tree."
"You grow as a weed." Adele mumbled. She turned her head to the side so she could be heard. "You were born two months passed a year; and yet, you carry the features of a girl my age—my thirteenth cycle had arrived and passed. You already stand nearly a hand taller than I!"
"This doesn't mean you are short." Brittany sat up with Adele on her lap, the girl turned around to get comfortable. "My legs are long as a horse."
Adele snorted. "You wish to be related to a carriage puller?"
"Not them, their cousins!" Brittany happily announced. "The ones with horns; I heard they live in the White Mountains. The magical place where the main star's light is never hid, and every year a baby can be born." She whispered the last part, falling into a respectful silence for the lost mothers of her fellow Nekos.
The mother's waiting for the breeding to arrive, desperately wanting an offspring—only to have it snatched from her very grasp, before they could even taste motherhood. They would never know the feeling of watching over a youngling.
"That's impossible." Adele shook her head. "The black star is high in orbit during most of the years." Both girls looked up seeing the very shadow in the sky as they spoke. "The gods are merciful for allowing us to live this long, to ever bear children one day."
The human reached out and flicked a nearly white furred ear. "This is why I will never bear children of my own. I'll grow with you, old." Adele now firmly petted Brittany's ears. "I'll grow weakened, dependent, and wrinkly. You'll be lucky though."
Brittany tilted her head in question. "How will I be lucky when you'll be lying in a bed, soon forgotten?"
"That is the point of it all." The girl simply smiled. "Your race is much more beautiful than ours. Your face from here," She cupped the halo of hair perfectly framing a god-like featured face; "will rarely change 'til you lay to rest. You'll always be beautiful. One day I will lose mine."
Brittany placed her hand over Adele's and fought the urge to openly disagree. This was not her place. Instead, she dared to lean forward and press her cheek against Adele's. "You humans have the most fascinating views on beauty. Everyone is beautiful."
She pulled away to stand, helping her little lady back into the house. As the girls walked towards the back entrance of the palace, Brittany openly risked her life by stepping in the entrance first. She turned around and faced her owner. Dressed in a comfortable fitting smock with matching half pants, Brittany knew she appeared as an animal to these people of the Empire—a prized possession pet. She knew which boundaries to never tempt, how much money she can carry on her own, and which people truly wish her race dead.
But none of those people owned her. Brittany belonged to one girl in the Empire, and the kindness in her soul was most likely enough to wash away the black star and allow the breeding season to last for as long as their world spins.
"When you age into your high numbers, you'll still be as beautiful as those horned horses from the White Mountains."
Brittany meant well; although, Adele knew she meant the best of best intentions, which is why it touched her so.
"Thank you."
/ /
Brittany was lying on her stomach, while Adele brushed her tail. As a kitten, her puffy tail nearly overtook her tiny body, but now with longer legs for jumping high and long arms to catch her prey—if Brittany were ever to hunt—her tail remained as cottony; becoming thicker in the cold season. Brittany's ears were larger than any other Neko, and a bright white silk; the fur had a thickness which kept in the soft. Her human-like hair was a soft yellow—some humans would name it a blonde—with a hint of darker shade at its root. Brittany's tail was what made her a very attractive creature even for the religious, military soldiers, and the upper class housemen.
The root of the fur to her tail was covered, almost from what appeared to be an extra layer of skin. Flat and even softer—her "turtle-skin" Adele liked to call it. There were designs on her skin layer, soft swirls in a darker colors, tanned—if anything it made Brittany more beautiful to look at; though, she was always covered, her tail and ears the only pieces on display for the people. Brittany never liked clothes, and it was completely normal for her to shed them as soon the girls in the privacy of Adele personal quarters of the palace.
Lying naked on her stomach atop of a soft blanket, Brittany was nearly asleep as Adele brushed her tail, groomed her ears, and delicately traced the patterns of her lower back skin.
A normal routine since the Neko was a kitten; it was what soothed the young infant into a peaceful rest for the night. Adele placed Brittany's tail brush on a nightstand, leaning over to see if her friend had visited the land of dreams and freedom.
"I'm awake." The Neko whispered drowsily. She rolled onto her side, grinning happily. "I love it when you brush my tail. It feels very nice."
"If it makes you happy, I'm always willing to brush you." Adele crawled closer, curling against Brittany's extremely warm body.
"You should sleep without all those robes. It's very comfortable, I promise."
"Don't be silly." Adele softly laughed, "I cannot sleep naked, it's not tradition."
"We can make it your routine right now." Brittany offered a mischievous grin. "I won't tell anyone."
Adele seemed nervous. "I can't."
"Why not, though?" Brittany looked around the empty. "No one will see you but me. And if someone were to request an entrance, they would knock, which would give you plenty time to robe yourself."
"It won't feel strange?"
Brittany leaned further into the pillow she was on. "It feels free, if anything. Try it."
"No."
"Just one night?"
"Perhaps, but not tonight, or with you in the bed."
Brittany blinked several times. "Did I offend you? I could sleep on the floor if you like."
Adele laughed and shook her head. "No, I love having you I my bed."
"Is it my scent? I bathed this afternoon, shall I have another?" Brittany even prepared to leave the bed, sitting and moving forward.
Adele quickly reached out and held tightly onto Brittany's. "Stay in bed, you're tired. You need sleep more than I do at this point in your life."
"I'll sleep when you sleep . . . naked."
The girl chuckled and shook her head. "You won't give up until you see skin."
Brittany shook her head. "I've seen and tasted your skin plenty of times before." Adele involuntarily shivered at the innocent declaration. "But I'm curious about your sleep patterns. You've kicked me a ton in your sleep. Perhaps it is your robe."
"It is not my robe."
"Your hair?"
"You love my hair."
Brittany nodded. "I do. It smells lovely." Brittany bit her lip in thought. She then looked down at her naked body. "I mean, look at me. I'm very comfortable like this."
The other girl shook her head. "You're use to the feeling. You're bloodline has been in the wilderness for how many years before man got to them? Many years. As a kitten you've roamed the palace in nothing but you're kitten fur until you appeared older. Then certain body became noticeable, so the servants clothed you. But me suddenly sleeping as you do . . . would not fin my personality. I do not say this so be rude, but some even consider it—"
"Animalistic?" Brittany offered with a slight frown.
Adele sat up, "Brittany, no. I meant nothing of the sort, and you know it." She fell silent as she thought of her words carefully.
"You care too much of what others think."
"It is in my nature, my love." The little girl, no older than thirteen cycles began to pet Brittany's ears lovingly. "I will feel exposed. You remove the robes because you felt as though you were tangled. It is against your nature to be hidden. I hide, because it was meant to be as I was born human."
"And not an animal." Brittany whispered so quietly, she wasn't certain if Adele understood.
But she had. Adele lay back down, clinging to her Neko, kissing Brittany's cheek, and scratching her ears. "Has something happened? You know I have never referred to you as such a term, nor do I want to. Has something happened to you? If someone had called you a certain name you will tell me, won't you? Please, tell me now."
Brittany returned the powerful hug, nearly lying atop of Adele. "Nothing happened. It was a silly mood the Lord Tubbington was in this morning and the things he told me were not very kind." Brittany scrunched her nose remembering their conversation from earlier. "I think he hurt my feelings."
Adele had already closed her eyes. "Can you actually speak to my grandmother's cat?"
Brittany hummed. "We're more similar than you and I, but he has an accent that can be hard to understand."
Adele giggled uncontrollably at Brittany's antics to put her in a better mood. "Well, tell him I said to stop chewing on my jewelry. I've been missing quite a few things."
The Neko chewed her bottom lip in thought. "I was certain those were crickets. The Lord usually steals my things because he's jealous my tail is prettier than his."
"We can agree on that."
Both girls fell silent, sleep creeping around their conscious doorstep.
"Is it my sight, or is the Lord Tubbington gaining a bit of weight?" Adele whispered sleepily
Brittany silently nodded, pulling Adele tighter in her. "I'm not a tyrant. I won't say anything on this matter."
With that said, Adele fell asleep wearing a smile and dreaming of impossible fat cats.
/ / / /
Twelfth Month, 28th day – 196 P.L.
The seasons were beginning to blend into each other the more she remained in these mountains. Santana had almost forgotten there were changes in the air until she stared it in the eye. And she watched it move slowly through the thicket. She was seated [crouched] high up in a tree waited for her prey to make its move. Her hands were flat against the branch, hind legs quivering with anticipation to launch her body off the tree. Her tail moved in an hypnotizing motion: back and forth, back and forth, and back and forth. She wore a thin skinned skirt, holes in the hood for her ears, and her pants the same for her tail.
For the first time since she was told to wear shoes, Santana was actually barefoot. For the first time, she actually wore less clothing to display her true race. Santana had become accustomed to dressing, acting, and speaking as though she were human. These mountains and spacious valleys may have been home to the most superstitious and carnal living folk, but to hear of a Leon living amongst them was the darkest omen—it would bring terrible fortune—or, so they say; and they say many things.
These are the many things only seems to care about. Their beliefs had perhaps rubbed off on her; though, her instincts will soon win out.
Like now, as she crouched waiting for the deer to finally step out of the river and onto dry land, her very being vibrated with a raw need. Santana needed to hunt. She craved for it, ached for it—could nearly die without it.
Her now high pointed ears flickered, picking up a noise—a breath, a muscle twitch—she lowered her upper body before silently jumping off the high branch, the dirt barely moved as she landed and she ran with much strength and speed humans could have coveted. The deer heard her movements and took off in the other direction, back into the stream and up the rocky mountain. The trees were many and thick, easy for Santana to swiftly catch up with the struggling deer before she saw a move to make. The poor creature never saw her coming and she pounced with ease.
/ /
Dimitry was sitting out on the bricked pathway to his courtyard when he saw Makile break the tree-line with a smaller figure walking beside him. Santana was returning home from her weeks of hunting. Years ago on Santana's first trip Dimitry had armed her with a bow and dagger. She was eager and an astonishing student on the bow. She always hit her target, her eye sight and large advantage. But now, seeing the way Santana's muscles twitched whenever she shot an arrow at a boar or deer, seemingly wishing to use another tactic for hunting. The first time Dimitry let Santana hunt alone she returned no longer than four days later with a three weeks' worth of hunted food.
Not one arrow was used, and the dagger was used for the gutting.
It was fascinating, Dimitry actually craved to see his adoptive daughter at work, but he knew there was a time and place for everything. And watching Santana hunt was never going to be one of those instances. She had never felt truly at home with him and Lara. Santana still honored and obeyed their every word, but there was a look that almost said she needed to be in another place. Perhaps a natural instinct such as herding, migrating . . . mating?
Dimitry abruptly stood up at the thought startling Lara who was speaking with Mercer their main house servant. Truly Santana was not . . . no father ever needs to know what his daughter—needs?
Santana was getting closer to the family entrance; her cloak shielded her rather petite form. Her greatest weapon was her body size. Santana appeared small and fragile, but with the amount of hunt she brought home at the end of the week proved just how much power was hiding beneath the skin.
She was talking to herself or maybe the horse again. Dimitry had caught her on several occasions speaking with the horse as if he would answer her in return. Did Makile know how to communicate with Santana? Did animals speak with one another? What did it matter? Santana is a part of his family name and nothing else. She could speak freely with whatever or whomever.
Dimitry walked the pathway to greet the young girl. The young girl was barely reaching her fourth year of life, yet she appeared as a pre-adult, a young teen; a little lady and a mighty lady at that.
Santana shrugged the off the hood, her ears popping up from the weight of the material. "Master," she addressed the lord of the land; "I have brought back a means of survival for the upcoming winter. We could use their hide. This one's really soft right here. Touch it."
And Dimitry did so. "Hmmm." He quietly agreed.
Santana's eyes sparkled with an emotion of some sort. "Does it honor your, master?"
Dimitry jumped onto the bed of the wagon and looked around the large clump of fresh dead meat. "It is more than a honor, my love." He looked over his shoulder to the girl still standing on the ground waiting on approval. "I have said before many a time, and I will say again until my dying breath: I am your father, not your master."
He held out his hand for the Leon to take hold. He pulled her up with ease and offered the smallest hint of a smile. "You've done me proud, Santana. Now help me take these to storage so the servants can freeze most of it for the winter."
Santana grinned at the man before her, pulling the hood of her cloak over her ears once more. "Thank you, father."
After father and daughter unloaded the bulk of the deer into a freezing cave underneath his house the two headed into town side-by-side on the carriage seat behind Makile. The black horse was tired but knew he was required a few more errands before he could return to the barn to feed and rest. The Leon jumped out of the carriage first and grabbed the line of rodents she caught with traps and tossed them over her shoulder. Her father walked in front of her and steered them towards the butcher and cook. William Schuester and his assistant Khaun—Khen—or some foreigner from the other side of the black waters, otherwise known as the "Keerma", the water which brought death or dire misfortune. Santana knew her place beside her father, these superstitious folk were wild; yet, when the main star was showing in the day, these men showed a different face to their women.
But she could practically taste the wines, other strong drinks, and foreign women who weren't their wives all over these men. She could smell it even more, and it was not pleasant at all. Santana didn't hide her open disgust once she stepped inside the butchers shop. The aroma of his previous night's activities dizzied her. She shook her head violently, trying to clear it and making sure her hood never fell. It was pinned to her hand, but one never knows when an ill timing mistake could happen.
Dimitry grabbed the line of kill from Santana and walked over towards William "the coward" to sell the valued for gain and rock. They murmured quietly under their breaths, while Santana took one last look around the mucky place and quickly walked back outside.
"Damned fools thinking they are far above their own women." She hissed angrily under her breath.
Santana briskly walked back towards Makile who appeared a bit down. She immediately began rubbing the horse's side and back, offering comfort with her hands and voice.
"You're weary, dear brother." She soothingly patted his neck and legs. "I promise to wash and feed you the moment we return home."
Makile shook his head and let out a horse snort. Santana rolled her eyes. "Had I known father wished to sell for gain the moment we arrived home, I would have rested us for the night by the tree-line." She looked up at the small hill that separated the large town from Dimitry's private lands. "A bit of a climb it was."
Her ears quivered in alertness, she felt it first rather than heard the swinging weapon nearly silently slice through the air. Makile heard it as well, but by the time he made a reaction Santana had already twisted out of the way, grabbed the attacker's arm and roughly shoved them to the ground.
The small body hit the dirt road so hard it bounced a bit before sprawling a few feet away. Their staff still tightly held by a small fist. The intruder groaned and wheezed. They were too winded to move a muscle.
"Mucker mystic." Santana hissed as she approached the cloaked figure still attempting to catch her breath. She leaned over the girl and gripped her collar, roughly yanking the dizzied mystic up to eye-level. "You and your clan need to cease the delusion you carry on about me behind closed doors." She nearly growled, her voice slightly quivering from fighting the natural need to howl out an animalist growl no human should be capable of making.
The mystic's hood fell off revealing the same young apprentice who had pursued Santana for the previous years, even following her while she hunted. Santana used a bow and arrow that time.
"Rachel," Santana growled, "You heed your previous warnings in vain?"
The young mystic eyes finally cleared and then they had she smiled of secret grin. "I cloaked myself."
Santana rolled her eyes and dropped the sorceress in training. "Return to your home, and I may even purchase a new cloak for that horrid rag."
Rachel stood up with the same smile. "Not my garments, but my appearance. I cloaked my smell so you couldn't see me! And it worked. You are something far from our human bloodline. You are a secretive and quiet wolf among us."
Santana grimaced. "I assure you I am no mutt. Though, I'm most certain our loyal friends are cleaner and more honoring than you."
Rachel now held up her staff. "You heard me sneak up behind with an ability far surpassed humans!"
Santana pinched the bridge of her nose and sighed. "And here she goes."
Rachel waved her staff and murmured an incantation before she paused for dramatic effect; "A goblin from the realms of Khata!" She even raised her arms, flashing her staff to the passers who never gave notice to the crazy girl.
Santana simply stared, arms crossed and bored into oblivion. "Have you been drinking your frog juices again? I've found you wandering the trees near my land naked the first time you pretended to be fully-grown."
Rachel actually appeared embarrassed when a few children tossed mountain rocks at her feet; a symbol of a bad reputation from insanity. "It is flogg, and they are potions I have been working on."
Santana frowned in faux sympathy, "I've told you one too many times before; you aren't getting any taller, shadow dweller."
"There is something tremendously wrong about you and I will find out what it is if my last breath depended on it!"
Santana genuinely smiled. "I'm counting on that, forgotten runt." Santana turned to walk away when the young mystic wouldn't let alone.
"You are a beast, Santana Xa Mear! The Mears had no children! Lara has been barren since she first bled."
Santana stopped and angrily looked over her shoulder. "You're speaking about my mother now?"
Rachel saw the look she was receiving but held her ground. She tightened her grip on the staff, almost hoping it would give her courage as well as protection for the stranger standing before you. "These are scared lands, beast. We don't want your kind here."
"Beast?" Santana quickly approached the girl. "You call me a beast, yet here are with dark magic markings on your face."
"They're holy promises!"
"Promises of what, deer dropping? That you'll forever be the thorn in my side?" Santana once again gripped the lapel on Rachel's cloak. "Well, I'll simply roll over and crush you."
Rachel hands quivered but she swallowed her pride. "You scare me not."
Santana laughed. She was so tempted to share that the little imp reeked of fear. "I assume cave dwellers have nothing to fear, but their own misuse of the forbidden magic." She dropped Rachel and watched as the mystic stumbled back.
"It's not forbidden. We have our rights here in these mountains. Every folk hears of these holy grounds."
The Leon scoffed. "Holy? Tell that to the fornicators and their put-aside wives."
"They aren't breaking any laws."
"Oh no." Santana held up her hand and stepped closer. "They are breaking the sacred law."
"And you would care because of what? Their living is their own."
"True." The Leon shrugged. "But I was raised by a non-strayed family. No other person had lain beside them except their vowed partner." With that Santana waved her hand in a hastily motion. "You best leave now before my father sees you again. It was not pretty sight seeing you beg for freedom when you crossed into our territory unannounced—it was a glorious sight."
The young powerful girl raised her staff and whispered a prayer. "They had no child, then they had an infant—I've hear your cries from the other side of the hill—and now here you stand." Rachel smiled triumphantly. "Where is the child?"
"You are delusional, little girl. Now please return to your home. I request honorably." Santana even bowed slightly, smirking at the young mystic. She knew their ways around here, and she was itching to scratch the very flesh off the mystic's face. "May your journey be safe."
"You curse me." Rachel struggled to lash out again, her staff vibrated with power under her grip. But with the town's people wandering about the streets, and Santana showing faux respect—the people wouldn't know otherwise—she returned the bow, and slowly backed away from a creature she knew in her gut was not human.
Santana chuckled under her breath, laughing when she looked up and saw Makile watching her every move. "You must admit, I was much more polite this time than the last."
She jumped up to sit on the carriage bench, leaning back to watch Rachel briskly walk away. She chewed her nail in thought. Santana wasn't worried about the dwarf, neither was she afraid of the power the small girl seemed to possess; but it was more than Rachel could bear. Similar to a little boy balancing too many barrels with only one hand—it becomes heavy, hard to balance, and too much to pay attention to at the same time. Santana was only worried about the magic of it all.
She felt her own warm her during the cold nights.
An itch settled over her being. This had happened before many times.
Santana didn't like the feeling. Her face became warm in the cool air, her hands trembled, and her legs ached to run. But where would she run? This was not her home, and the closer breeding season came the harder it was to stand still. She had returned from a hunt a mere hour ago; and yet here she was, vibrating from adrenaline . . . and something else. Something she had never felt before. It was as though a second presence wanted inside her very soul. Santana wanted it to happen, but didn't know how.
Makile kicked his hooves, becoming restless with the energy Santana was giving off. The wonder of a creature she was had to have been born from a line a fine magic, because she was sending waves and waves of drive for movement. The Leon could practically taste it on her tongue, so of course her adoptive brother would be suffering from the effects.
She quickly jumped off the bench and cradled her horse's head between her hands. "I am sorry. I don't understand it either." Makile thrashed his head around, bucking the reigns and the pulling ropes. "I will learn to control when I come to an understanding of what it is. Okay, my brother?"
Santana gingerly stroked the top of the horse's nose. "Have patience for me." She leaned forward and placed a kiss between Makile's nostrils, giggling when the horse cleared his nose. "I will find where I come from. One day. And on that day, you will run away from here with me. Dimitry has plenty horses, and he knows I long to travel away from here. One day, we will find a new home."
The Leon felt another wave pass through causing her to lean heavily against the horse. It was if he could sense her struggle. She clenched her teeth, hissing in anger. "I swear to the stars, that dwarf best not be behind me waiting to feed off this cursed touch."
/ /
It wasn't too long until the Mear's family returned to the plantation over the small hill. The servants stood at the front ready to receive their master and little misses who appeared fully grown by now—an adolescent pre-adult in the making. She may have appeared mature, a young woman's body, but in her heart she was as young as the star's told her.
Santana had bathed in the barn this night, wanting to feel secluded from the wandering eyes of curious helpers. She had never minded them before, flaunting her tail here and over there, but with the sudden changes in her core-being the Leon didn't even tolerate Makile staring at her as she washed in the pigs water bin. She cleaned it out first, but the water was cold as ice. Once ready to return to her private bed-chamber, Santana made the long walk around the flat home and towards the servants entrance where Mercer was seated reading a book. They acknowledged one another with a simple head nod, which was very common.
They were women of many words with others, but once in the same room, silence was comforting.
Once Santana reached her room she locked the door with the heavy bolt and removed all of her robes including her underclothing. The Leon sighed in contentment as she molded herself onto the thick blankets, her shutters were open and the chilly night breeze was blowing in but her skin was so warm she hardly felt anything. Her ears fluttered by themselves from the woodland noises and the forest animals coming to wake at night. Her breathing had thinned and her core burned ever more than it's ever been. Santana rolled onto her back with a pained groan.
Her tail was vibrating with a need again, though the young Leon didn't recognize this one. She grunted and moaned in pain and confusion—confusion, because it wasn't a true pain. Her body heated even more to the point where even the small chilly breeze wasn't enough, so without much thought Santana shot out bed and began clawing the brick walls before jumping out of the window just as the ice began forming on the ground.
/ / /
Somewhere across the continent a Neko was suffering the same feeling, but instead of dealing with it alone she sought comfort from a master. Brittany let out a smaller whimper this time as she palmed Adele's bare back and pressed the human girl closer. The sixteen year old human moaned in shock at the feeling of Brittany's tongue on her neck. It all began several days ago when Adele crawled into bed as bare naked as she was when she were born, much to Brittany's excitement. And they clung to one another as they always had; though both races were going through separate stages in becoming an adult, the feeling was the same.
When Brittany woke up one night and began smelling a sweet aroma, the Neko couldn't find sleep for the rest of the night. Though, several days later when she discovered it was radiating from her friend it drove her mad. Especially when Adele would smell even sweeter the more Brittany touched her available skin—like she did now.
Brittany only wanted to nuzzle and sniff at the scent close to Adele's pulse point. It wasn't all she could handle once her nose gathered the aroma and sent it to all her other senses. The Neko's stomach began to ache, her palms burned from whatever flesh she could grab; and holy stars, was the Neko grabbing all that she could get. Adele grunted when Brittany sucked harder on her throat; she hissed when her butt was being roughly squeezed by the Neko.
"Perhaps we should . . . oh, stop." Adele weakly pushed at Brittany. But her mind was so dizzy from the wave of magic Brittany was breathing into her. "Brittany, I think you're reaching your age of—ungh!"
Brittany licked all over Adele's neck until she began trekking further down, all over Adele's breasts, stomach, and she would have reached more skin when a particular hard tug on a very sensitive ear brought Brittany back into awareness. Her Neko senses kicked in and bolted up into a sitting position panting heavily. Her vision was glazed she couldn't see Adele gather her tossed robes on the floor and begin putting them on. Her mind was here as well as there. The Neko wanted to feel apologetic, but her core being easily fought it—as though she wanted to attack her master and finish . . .err, well, finish what exactly?
Brittany tried to swallow to gain some sense from what had transpired between the girls. And the Neko knew whatever she found sweet and entertaining; Adele mostly found it unusual and forbidden. Brittany blinked her thoughts when she heard Adele swiftly walking away from the bed. She quickly crawled forward and jumped off to chase her master
"Have I offended you?"
Adele was standing against the wall, desperately trying to catch her breath; her hand against her chest with a shocked expression. The girl waited a moment to gather her wits and bearings. She let out a shaky breath before slowly opening her eyes to stare at the Neko. Brittany looked so young with her pouted expression. It tugged at the human's heart.
"No." she breathed; there was a hint of a smile playing at her lips. "It's natural for the both of us to feel—so warm . . . when breeding year is a mere two months away. Our bodies are preparing for—well, children."
The Neko cocked her head and sniffed the air once more. The scent drugged her so well. "Can I give you litters? Is that why you stopped?"
"Goodness, no." Adele whispered then laughed. "At least, I'm not certain on that. Though, one thing for sure, we're both young women in the making: hormones. This is all it is."
Adele's breathed hitched when the Neko suddenly pounced, pressing their bodies tightly together once more. She pressed her nose to the heat of the other girl's throat and purred at the back of her throat. It was so, so good. "I'm made of the most pure magic. It is becoming more of me. I can give you an heir if you let me."
Brittany then pressed an open mouth kiss onto the skin, lazily licking where Adele's pores have opened up and let off all her natural scents. Neither girl saw a faint blue tint of dust-like air fall from the Neko's breath, only to be absorbed into the slightly darker skin. Adele's mouth dropped open, a noise hanging off her tongue only to be sucked back when Brittany dared to press their lips together for the first time in both of their lives. Lips hesitantly moved in awkward motions, a giggle here and a caress there; until the Neko gripped on Adele and pressed harder.
"Can I have you for this night? Just this one night. Your smell is—doing things to me. I must touch you." Brittany breathed into Adele's mouth, unknowingly sending more and more pheromones to the girl. "It'll feel so good, I promise."
"I . . . don't doubt your words at all." The human swayed as though she were under an influence of strong drinking.
Adele played with the Neko's ear, grinning lazily while pulling her closer, humming when the fur of Brittany's tail brushed her leg. "You enthralled me." She leaned up to kiss the Neko. "So you will have me once."
This was all the encouragement Brittany needed. She slightly bent her knees to lift the human girl, and with a magical strength Brittany carried her towards the bed. It took some time and a great amount of patience from both sides to understand the body of the other, but once the night was over, the fire that was once burning inside became a dull ember. Still alive, but waiting to be fed to blossom and prepare for a seed, a seed Brittany was aware enough to not send from own. This night was strictly for entertainment. And entertain each other, they did well.
/ / / /
Second Month, 14th day – 197 P.L. – The Year for Breeding.
It was pouring hard when Santana saddled Makile and ran him towards a neighboring town nearly a quarter of day's journey to arrive there. They left an hour before dawn and arrived at Hurzah just before the sun reached its highest peak in the sky. Her appearance had stopped aging nearly month or two ago, much to Lara's happiness. What grace for a mother to a quickly aging creature, but her caring parents were falling to their weakness with fragility and fatigue much quicker as the months passed. Santana couldn't bear to witness the inevitable to travel much more to other towns, bring back mysterious root, leaf, and other herbs she was told carried a mineral to strengthen her mother.
Two sides of Santana were pulling from opposite ends. She wished to never return the moment she left for travel, and she dreamed to never leave the hour she returned to her Lara's bedside. Fifty years old could not have been much numbers, Lara still had her dark hair and young skin—whereas Dimitry had white dusting his brown—but Lara did have the strength of the women her age. Something was slowing her, and possibly killing her.
It was too much for the Leon to understand—how fragile the human body was. So easily wrecked from the strong tower it once was. This was the weakness Santana couldn't see, didn't want to see. It hurt too much. But ever the independent creature she was, staying in another town for a few days was always a treat.
Makile ran towards the brick roads and the mighty gates keeping attackers out of Hurzah. The walls were tall, prepared for battle, and the walls circled miles around the city—one of the few great cities separate from the empire's pull—with its own army and government leaders. She hopped of her horse and pulled his reigns towards the guards who stood watch. Santana wasn't use to this sight, so many armed men suddenly standing straighter as though she would attack with a secret army hidden in one of the bags tied to Makile's side.
A tall man stood forward, drawing his sword and nodding towards the cloaked woman walking closer. "Halt!"
The Leon stopped in her tracks and eyed the soldiers. These men appeared plump and tired, too lazy to truly watch guard the gates of Hurzah. Santana chuckled under her breath. Hurzah knew their walls would never truly be under a threat far more dangerous than every-day thieves, nomads, or orphans searching for a new home. These men who liked to pretend they guard the walls were the throwaways. The meaningless string of bodies not worthy enough for the true palace walls acted as though what they said held something meaningful.
But Santana could smell the alcohol rotten meat among them. Her nostril burned with another scent she dare not acknowledge. Humans were more disgusting than the wild beasts Santana hunts with.
Eager to get passed these goblins in uniform, Santana held out her dominate hand, fist closed facing the sky. "I come from Punorge. I am daughter of Dimitry Na Mear, who is husband to Lara Nu Mear. I was named Santana Xa at birth. I am the only blood child they have."
Another guard stepped forward, shorter than first and held out a stick. It appeared wooden, but Santana had recognized the design and markings. It was similar to mystical tree she came across in a dream. She had been placed a deep sleep by a very old sorcerer. His hair was as clear as the wind, and his eyes as black as the Dark Star. He was reaching out for something in her mind, a promise—a sign for a new beginning which lied in Santana's blood. She awoke with a burn mark on her leg, similar to the ones which marked the short staff this filthy guard carelessly swung around. He obviously didn't know or fully comprehend the sacred power he held.
She assumed perfectly when he poked her side with it and laughed along with his fellow guards. "Mear?" He stepped forward and poked her again, this time with more power behind the push; though, Santana barely budged. "Are you a liar or a thief?"
"I am none of which you speak of." Santana held her ground as she lowered her fist. It seems in some places, old tradition is a dead tradition. "I request an entrance. If not for the night, then allow me to feed and water Makile, my companion here."
The guard laughed to himself. "It rains, does it not?" He even looked up towards the pouring water from the heavens. "Use your cloak to gather a drink for the both of you."
The Leon was beginning to lose her patience. "Shall I return home with no medicine to offer my dying mother?"
"Ah!" The guard poked Santana with the stick again. "You request illegal entrance for a dying mother you lie about."
Santana frowned. "You think me a liar?"
"And a murderer. The Mear's lineage has no heir. The mistress of the man you call father could not offer him a son." He looked the Leon up and down. "Let alone a little girl. There is no promise for a family in a woman's blood." He made his point by spitting at her feet.
With that, Santana reached into her cloak and gripped tightly onto a parchment. The guards reacted immediately, drawing their swords and shouting for Santana to drop her weapon. The Leon simply arched a brow. If this were in the wild she would have killed these men, and been on her way. But this was not those times. She may have killed many humans in her short life, but the act wasn't done by desire or greed and protection on a family name not given to her by blood, but by voice and declaration.
The girl pulled out the parchment with a sly grin and offered it to the guard now holding his stick as though he was going to strike her with it. "I believe this is for you and your band of merry lunatics."
The guard unrolled the scroll and read the letter, recognizing the faded family crest on the bottom. He simply glared at the girl and shoved the parchment into her hands. "Let her in!" he shouted before marching towards the bridge where he stood before.
Once inside the large walls of Hurzah Santana pulled Makile towards the barn. The rain had just begun to die down when she pushed the gate open. A young boy sat on a high ladder which overlooked the stalls; an easy way to an eye on each horse. She patted Makile on the back before addressing the boy.
"How much coin for the night?"
The boy jumped off the ladder and ran his hand over Makile's neck. "One horse?"
"Yes."
"Food, brushing, and water are the only care we offer at 2 gold coins and one purple stone." He was a big boy. He was tall, broad shoulders, a muck price, but an honest expression. "Father's orders not mine."
"Goodness to stars. " Santana scoffed and began to pull Makile. "Will he be able to fly by morning?"
The boy grabbed for Makile's reigns. "Wait, there's nowhere else to house your friend. If the soldiers find him outside the Inn's, they take him for good."
"Listen,"
"Jacob." The boy offered a side grin.
Santana scrunched her nose, but held her tongue. "Is there anything else you'll accept besides me selling my body for breeding season?"
Jacob chuckled. "Hold the gold and give me three silver coins." He held out his hand. "But my father will count for purple stones."
The Leon arched her brow, but sighed. Reaching for her money bag tied around her waist, she pulled out the small stone. It was a similar shape to a coin, but wider and much thicker. Plus, many say each colored stone has gifts from the right use of magic. So this was a very valuable piece of stone.
After Santana paid for Makile's luxury suit, she headed towards the tavern desperately in need of a strong drink. Her core had been burning for several long weeks now; and the burn of alcohol into her system dulls the throb. Born in the forest and raised in a small town, Santana had loved to visit these places silent hoping more drunken fights took place when she was there. She asked around for the directions, and when she was pointed towards a majestic looking structure the Leon was sure she would only be able to afford a free cup of water—which they never offered.
Santana stepped towards the entrance, pulling off her raincoat hood but kept her head covered with a scarf. There was music playing loudly, several musicians were too drunk and were playing off tune or were having their way with women in front of everyone who cared enough to watch as though this place were a brothel. They humped, grunted their filthy sounds, and cheered when one finished into an oblivion state for a few seconds.
"OLAH!"
The foul scent nearly knocked Santana on her butt. "And they call me an animal."
Not wanting to gain any attention on her first night, Santana chose to sit at the very back and order a cup of warm milk mixed with red wine. She had been craving the creamy drink since as long as she could remember. It was more appealing than anything else in this ritzy town. Attempting to dose off and daydream with her eyes open was an imaginary wish when another had pulled the seat out and shared her table.
"I'm not looking for company." She mumbled into the cup before throwing back the drink in two large gulps.
The man let out a long whistle. "That's a lot of drink for a very slender woman such as yourself."
The Leon rolled her eyes behind her arm. Good heavens, this is not what I need. Santana then swiftly stood, not feeling this pub anymore. "Who's to say I am only a woman, but a mistress?"
"I see no ring." The man simply sat back and openly gawked at the cat-like girl. "No man has promised you an everlasting happiness? Well then," He stood along with her. "I see my invitation. No need to be subtle. I'll even pay for the room."
At this the young Leon frowned in confusion. Sure she held the appearance of an experience pre-adult, but she was only several years old hidden in a plantation surrounded by servants and horses. Santana wasn't completely in the dark, she knew exactly what the man wanted and how he wanted it—she could smell it from him. But, the Leon would never guess his antics would actually work on a woman.
She looked him down and shook her head. "Not interested." Though her body betrayed her words when she felt her tail strain against her pants while something within her growled to take this man's offer.
Santana's eyes widened and she stiffly turned attempting to make a fast runaway but ended up slowly moving through the dancing bodies. Something inside of her was barely beginning to take control and Santana did not like it one bit. It terrified the Leon to her throbbing core. The second she stepped out of the tavern she gasped for a much needed breathe. Her face began to her warm and her hands trembled at her sides. Her vision sharpened causing her to stumble down the steps. She easily balanced, but it wasn't the point.
The Leon never tripped.
Her vision became harder and harder to focus on until she grabbed the nearest the person who walked beside her and dragged them to the nearest inn.
Her mind blacked out; though, her body was hard at work.
/ / /
Brittany was sad. Sometimes she's never sad, disappointed from not having enough milk during mid-afternoon hours, but never truly sad. No, at the moment Brittany was utterly devastated. She held in a sniffed as she watched Adele and her new husband authorize her departure towards the sacred breeding lands for Nekos. Brittany was being sent away as though she were a layer of robe no longer needed for this season. But the Neko could see and smell the disappointment radiating from Adele. Once her mistress had married two months ago—a month after she let Brittany have her—her father had set up and arranged marriage with the priest's son.
Ever the holy man, Adele knew he would rid his family of the Neko as soon his new wife held his family name, and he did. High priest to be Daro De Scon, son of Alphos le De Scon the current priest in the high temple, handed the documents over to the General with a satisfied breath. Daro then approached the Neko with a device and held it over her wrist.
"I free you, dear sister of the High Star." He gently removed the cuff, which imprisoned Brittany to the Empire. "You may go on your way, and be as you choose."
Daro grabbed another device and pressed it quickly to the previously cuffed wrist. It burned very much, but the only burn the Neko cared about was the one in her heart. She was being taken away from her beloved friend. Brittany was being stamped an independent citizen. Other Nekos would treat this as a promise from the heavens themselves that the dark years are finally coming to a finish. They would take advantage of their freedom and run as far away from the capitol Empire.
Brittany didn't want any of these things. All she wanted was to curl into Adele's side once and never leave. The human girl cried openly, grabbing the Brittany's cuff from her husband and held them to her chest as the Neko was being led away. So much for freedom, she still felt like a prisoner. A covered carriage was waiting for her out the council hall. It was fancy, being pulled by fancy looking horses, and she would most likely get the chance to eat fancy looking food. Her ears perked up in alarm when she noticed she wasn't traveling alone.
"Oh, hello."
The stranger turned out to be young make Neko. He was very handsome, and nearly feminine. He shuffled away from Brittany to allow her room to sit.
Brittany faced the boy and grinned. "Were you freed as well?"
The boy gave a sad grin. "Weren't we all? It was only a matter of time when our natural core surfaced. Our preemptive dwelling place could only hide so such of ourselves"
Brittany scratched her ears and frowned. "You talk really strange. What do you mean?"
Instead of answering right away the boy held out his hand. "Kurt. I was named Kurt. And yourself?"
"Brittany." She wiped at her eye when she saw Adele watch the carriage pull away. "It was a plant, or something . . . equally as forgetful."
Kurt suddenly appeared very disturbed. "Well then, Brittany. I suppose we should familiarize ourselves with one another before we reach the breeding grounds."
Brittany nodded distractedly. "How long until we're there?"
"About a four days drive. Why?"
Brittany curled her tail around her hands and sighed. "I do not anticipate offending a new acquaintance, but I don't want to talk to you at the moment. Leave me in silence, please."
She could hear the boy moving around in his seat to get more comfortable. "Brittany, dear girl, you do know why they send us away together?"
"I'm not imprudent." Brittany nearly snapped. "I know exactly why they send us off in pairs. They expect us to mate and bear offspring for their high-price auctions. It's good for the economy, I've heard so myself."
Kurt held his silence for a moment to watch the angered Neko. "The human girl must have been a dream mistress for you to be longing so."
Brittany sniffed and shook her head. "I miss her. I miss her presence, her showers, the way she brushed my tail. . ." She tapped the side of the carriage with her knuckles. "I'll miss her kisses, her friendship, and when she allowed me to have her for one night."
Kurt cleared his throat, but said nothing. "I was never close to my master. It is a treat to leave his care."
The female Neko sighed and buried herself into her thoughts and daydreams. Of course, she missed Adele. Brittany couldn't think of anything else than when Adele had woken up to Brittany grinning a prized smile the morning after they played with one another, to when Adele came running into her private chambers and announced her engagement through tears and angry words Brittany would probably never understand. The Neko didn't know Adele was upset because she would lose ownership to her companion. Adele's new role to the Empire was to make her husband happy and vice versa.
Maybe somewhere on these breeding grounds after Brittany bears her first litter of kittens, she will find a way to run off into the red forest and across the dark waters into a place she can only imagine is free from this pain.
One day, she'll find a new home.
/ /
The scent of dawn woke her up.
The hardest pull kept the Leon's head hard on the pillow. Direction was spinning in her mind, flipping from right to left. Falling upward or floating downward, Santana couldn't separate the parts; nor did she want to. The voice in the back of her mind no longer growled but purred in contentment. There was something she had done to cease the voice and the raw need for some odd thing the Leon couldn't name.
Santana wasn't sure if she would ever move from where she lay. Her ear fluttered from nearby warmth, which reminded her of mother's hug. Her feather pillow was soft, hard, and slightly moist from her drool. Unusual, it was. Her spine straightened before arching, bending to stretch her muscles from their sleep—that was when the scent of human struck her nostrils. But, it wasn't just any human. The Leon carefully lifted her head, painfully aware of her lack of robes and slacks. Her tail vibrated with a freedom and a dominating taste. This was not what she wanted to happen when she traveled to Hurzah. The moment she slowly turned to face the person in bed beside her, the Leon inwardly shrieked and jumped from the bed in confusion.
Golden hair, fair skin, and bright eyes—greener than emeralds—had met her attention. A woman, still awake, lay on the bed panting as though her life would end if she could breathe in much more. Her pale skin glistened with human perspiration from the obvious activity Santana and the woman shared.
After the shocked feeling faded from the thought of sleeping with another woman, Santana's hands shot to her ears protruding in the open and announcing what her true blood is. Though, it didn't seem to bother the woman. Instead the woman still gasped and shuddered from the aftershock of—apparently—an amazing finish.
Still feeling young in her mind, Santana rushed to dress herself, keeping an eye on the woman now passed out from sheer exhaustion. Once dressed, the Leon couldn't have run out the room faster than she had. Santana vaguely remembers hearing the boy behind the counter whistle and howl in another language as she brushed passed him. The words faded together and Santana barely gather what the boy meant: something about being the man who ran out in fright after properly taking care of Santana's needs.
Goodness! How many have seen what she truly was?
Her father would not be happy. No, no, not happy at all. She should have visited the town physician and left immediately.
Oh mighty heavens Santana could smell the woman on her! She rushed towards a wash barrel for horses outside an office building; she held her hood down and dunked her whole head under the freezing water. It pricked and stung a bit, but the relief from the paralyzing heat was way too much to bear. The Leon lifted her head for a needed breath. She scratched and harshly rubbed at her eyes and hands. The musky scent was overpowering her awareness. Her hands even shook with a weakness Santana never knew she had.
Her instincts were letting her know the beginning stages of her life cycles were reaching their points for Santana to finally act on them. She knew what was happening, but she was raised by human farmers. They could not have known the power of what was happening to her body. No one was there to warn her!
She had reached her age to . . . mate.
The horror of the thought! This was not what she had anticipated when she grew up. Santana then headed directly to the stables where she could hear Makile whining. It was a bit of a walk, several corners, and a field away from the main civilization.
There was a different farm boy instead of Jacob. He was much older, presumably married, and wore much less clothing than the young lad. He looked up when he heard Santana walk into the barn area where several more horses stayed.
He straightened up and puffed out his bare chest. "Hoy my lady." The man rushed to greet her, nearly tripping over himself in his rush. "A return for another yowl?"
Santana's attention was on her adoptive brother, wildly shaking his head, restless from his stay away from someone in his family. "How's my guy doing? He wasn't too much trouble was he?"
Once in front of her, the man looked his shoulder and noncommittally shrugged. "He's a good bred. Good boy." He straightened and sent the Leon a sly grin. "He sure missed you. Jacob said you waged for one night, but after the third night, I assumed all the pants you were getting into you may have found some coin."
He finished with a wink.
Santana stared for a moment, waiting for the laughter to soon follow. "I don't understand the joke. Saddle my horse and point me in the direct of your priestess."
"Oh, girly." He licked his lips while looking her up and down. "You sure gave me a ride for my coin and stones. Had I known you were into the pagan lifestyle of bedding women, well then," he began rubbing his stomach. "I'm full to your content, lady."
Something inside Santana took a good look at the young man standing in nothing but loose slacks and work boots, before curling into itself and slowly died. A violent shudder recoiled through her tail and she grimaced in more than one type of pain.
"In all my stars and dreams, I pray I did not touch you while you were unclothed." Santana stared wide-eyed in bewilderment.
The man only smiled more. "It was magic."
"The cursed black magic?" Santana began walking towards Makile who was now bucking as best he could in such a small space. "Saddle my horse, I'll find the priestess on my own."
"Whoa there!" The man blocked her pathway. "You owe us quite a bit of coin, and purple stones. Three nights we fed and watered your stallion, the least we deserve is two more purple stones and a handful of copper coin."
Santana scoffed and glared at the little man she could easily break. "I've paid my dues. Now give me my horse."
The man's brows shot up and he chuckled softly. "You do not remember me, do you?"
"You've made your jokes and told crude stories—"
"They aren't stories." He interrupted. "I am called Liam; my brother is Noah and the little one Jacob. We are bastards."
"Sounds pitiful."
Liam ignored the tone. "To the great amount of fun I had sharing your pillow, which does not pay what work we've done for your horse, we're honest working men. You've claimed your bedside among many others other than me. You've gained your coin; now please give us our hard earned wages."
The Leon scowled. "Have I truly been here more than one night?"
Liam slowly nodded. "And quite the reputation you've gain from the tavern. I wouldn't return if I were you. I've heard you were quite an animal in bed."
Now Santana was confused among being utterly terrified. "You've said we've had lain together, now you switch your words."
"I was filled with strong drink, and not in my right mind." Liam shook his head. "I only remember you leaving to find another." This time he chuckled softly. "A woman."
The Leon stared for a moment, contemplating her choices for the next few seconds. Anger dwelling underneath swirled to life as she clenched her fists; this utterance of the man and his poor choice of words—best to walk away, it would not be worth it no matter how much Santana wished to—what?
Santana paid her past-due nights, before quickly gathering Makile and his saddle. Her brother's energy was nervous and anxious. He galloped out of the stables at full speed, not used to being locked behind a wall for—well, at all. On the Mear's plantation all the horses simply ran the vast hills and fields. Santana led Makile up the streets and past the small farm land towards a small cottage hidden behind the forest and darkness; where the priestess lived. Eager to leave the lively city and towards the smaller village area of Hurzah, Santana let Makile run the entire way knowing full well his legs needed to stretch and work out his stiff muscles.
By the time Santana had arrived at the small cottage a wave of nausea was dizzying the Leon at the thought of bedding so many people in the past few nights—not that she believed the stable boy. But as she jumped off the horse, her legs no longer quivered, nor her core from an uncontrollable heat. Her body was in a state of serenity, she had never noticed before—when she had ran out on the strange woman—but even her walk was lighter as though she floated through the trees and towards the cottage pathway.
It was extremely odd.
Keeping her robes in its proper place to hide her Leon bloodline, Santana respectfully knelt next to the door before knocking. She's heard so many stories about many different priestesses' from many different lands. Once her mother caught the beginnings of an aging sickness, Santana had traveled to the furthest mountains for foreign root and strong leaf drippings. She found nothing from her travels over the past few months, but the night she returned home, wind from the town's gossip told Santana of an arriving priestess in Hurzah. She had just returned from the White Mountains with a blessing about her finger tips—ready to give back to the people in these sacred lands.
The door opened and an elderly woman stepped out squinting to properly see who was at the door.
Santana held out her hand and allowed the woman the grasp it pulling the Leon into the cottage and lead her towards the sorceress. The urge to remove her cloak out respect to the higher gods was a strong calling, but Santana kept her hands at her sides once the older woman let go.
She wore a clean black robe that was long enough to drag on the floor as she walked, her hair was as white as the frozen rain, and yet there was still a distant beauty about this woman as Santana watched her. Perhaps it was her energy that Santana was able to sense. But she was aged into her highest numbers. The Leon could tell by the way her fragile hands shook to retrieve a cup from the table. The woman shuffled to the burning fire and grabbed the kettle that was placed next to the warmth.
Once at Santana's side again, the woman poured the red fluid into the cup and motioned for Santana to drink.
Santana wasn't a stranger to this ritual, if anything, she was far too familiar drinking the tea leaves drippings—among other roots the Leon couldn't pronounce. She tilted her head back and swallowed the bitter liquid in three large gulps. The Leon pressed her lips tightly together before placing the cup on the table, the only furniture in the room. Her eyes watered but she knelt immediately, reciting an old prayer as she waited for the sorceress to call her in.
A warm smoother hand hesitantly pressed onto Santana's shoulder. "She awaits you, my lady."
The hand belonged to a young boy no older than six in human years. He held his baby features, but his posture and mannerisms were that of a boy well into his teens.
Santana stood and bowed, holding in a grin when the boy held out his dominate hand and waved it in the direction of the dark hall towards the woman in power. "May the main star shine its brightest for you, my lady."
"As well for you, young master." Santana whispered loud enough for the boy to hear as she walked passed him towards the hall.
Her Leon bloodline flourished in the darkness, her senses widening towards the smallest of sounds, the barest of movements from a simple intake of breath, to the feel of a heartbeat calm and soothing . . . and oddly familiar in tempo. The closer she walked towards the room the farther away the Leon felt from her body. It was as though her soul was floating away in a far land full of dreams and wild horses.
The drink was taking its course.
Feeling on the edge of a half-life and a shadow dweller, The Leon walked numb into the room where the sorceress was sitting cross-legged in the center of the room. An invisible pull brought Santana closer towards the small girl.
Her core began to slowly burn into life, sending her bloodline energy into the air. From Santana's other travels this had never happened because of the desires to breed were far greater than her blood magic. This feeling was ever greater, stronger, and lighter in her mind.
Santana Xa was high from her own magic.
The sorceress's head snapped up at the feeling. The figure was cloaked with a dark green, almost black, robe; the large hood handing wide and low, shielding all personal features. That was when Santana finally smelt it. She wanted to react, but her body was in a trance, unable to move unless the sorceress allowed it. The kneeling woman in power quickly stood and back away from the Leon, she grabbed her staff in alarm and held in Santana's direction.
"How did you find me? You truly are a beast, Xa Mear!"
Oh god.
Santana felt the burning intensify, which nearly "melted" the pull of the concoction the old woman had her drink. Her mind began to clear and she stumbled forward falling flat on her face with a rather hard thump.
"Unngggggrrrrrrrrhmmmmmm." The Leon groaned in pain.
The sorceress shivered from an unknown energy floating around her. She kept a watchful eye on Santana, still mumbling face-down on the floor, and tried to pin point where this nearly white feeling was originating from. Surely, it could have been coming from Santana, the spoiled daughter of the great Dimitry Na Mear and his wife Lara.
The red stone embedded into the tip of her staff began to vibrate to life, something Rachel had never seen happen before. Her firm grip wasn't strong enough for the power coming to life from the creature lying on the floor. And the Leon felt it as well. She rolled with a hiss and attempted several times to get up. In her loss of direction, the Leon's head snapped back from an uncontrolled strong gravity pull, which also caused her hood to give from the snaps and fall from Santana's head. Her pointed ears twitched and flicked in the new surrounding and Rachel was finally able to know.
When Santana gathered herself and shook her mind completely free from the Sorceress's cleansing drink, she slowly stood her eyes falling on the kneeling sorceress. The Leon inhaled a nervous breath when she felt the dark air hit her ears.
She clapped her hands and whistled lowly. "Well, I suppose this secret is out." Santana chuckled bitterly. "Who knew, right? And for a certain promise, I did not enchant my parents. They love me as I am."
Santana then squared her shoulders and waited for what Rachel had planned. She knew this little rat had wanted to get her filthy low-eaten paws all over the Leon's true bloodline—she knew a punishment of some sort was a mere moment away. The Leon may have despised the dwarf when they were younger, but a holy woman was a woman to be respected; so Santana held her peace. But Rachel remained on the ground, her hand no longer on the staff, but her attention on the creature. Mouth hung open, eyes wide—surely she had something to say, this little rodent from the lands of Punorge had to have been full of words waiting to spill.
"You are a Leon?" Rachel continued to stare. "An imprisoned rare breed of the Neko; it is the black bloodline."
Santana tilted her head, "Are you not going to kill me, hopper?" Her fists were tightly clenched waiting for the staff to drop a storm of pain.
The young sorceress shot to her feet in alarm. "Kill? You wish me to kill you? Good stars, no! I wouldn't! Nor could I! The staff is coming to life with you here." Rachel finally leaned to lift the staff, the red stone now forming in a white stone. "This is only done by purest magic in the realm."
The Leon felt a swell of pride, but strained with her life to hide it. "I've told you before, I am an honorable woman."
"You are a tormenter who takes advantage of their pure lineage!"
Santana arched a brow and smirked. "Advantage, young priestess?" She bowed before stepping forward. "You were a threat to my family."
"And I assumed you a threat to my people." Rachel whispered back. "I have more to care for. My duty is to my people, a larger continent than two farmers well off enough to bring a slave into their home."
"Do you wish to test if the gods favor me, rodent? You speak out of place for a holy woman whose power is from the Main Star. I am no slave!"
Rachel simply stared; energy of defeat was strong around her. "I meant no disrespect, Leon. But simply spoken what I have seen in my younger years around your family lands. I am curious by nature, all humans are; and we cross boundaries, kill strangers, terrorize family towns, and hurt loved ones because of that curiosity can become fear if dealt in a wrong manner."
"And yours became what, young priestess?"
"Pride." Rachel finally stood, staff in hand and pointed at Santana. "I've been the youngest in my family for as long I can remember. My sisters in power treated me as though I would never live long enough to be blessed by the Main Star and carry my own responsibility. You were my rain to the sun, my practice. If I could prove something supernatural was amongst us, I may have been worthy enough in their eyes."
Santana hummed in thought. "And now?"
Rachel shook her head with a small smile. "You have blood more pure than mine; therefore, you cannot be my standing foot." She inhaled deeply. "You've come here for your mother, but I don't carry the root you need—and you have little to no time."
The Leon backed away and held her stomach in a pained grief. "You must have something for her. I will give you every coin I have if it means a sure good health for my mother."
"And adoptive mother."
The Leon stared for a moment. "We are a loyal race. Lara is as much my mother now as my birthmother who cried for me to flee from the Empire's soldiers in order to save my life. I may have an imprisoned brother out there. I've thought about it, yes. Or he may be dead alongside my birth mother. I carry them with me as long as I live, through our lineage. But Lara is neither blood nor magic. I have her as long as she is alive."
Rachel stood in silence, searching her thoughts and memories for something, and then, "I may have root to give, from a friend; an ally, he is to be trusted."
The Leon felt a surge of hope. "This is good news. Where is this ally you speak of?"
The young priestess but her lip in worry. "Is your horse fit for a long travel?"
Santana scratched her ears and sighed. "As long as it takes. Hopefully not too long."
/ / / /
Second Month, 26th Day, 197 P.L.
"I will order the strongest wine."
"We are on travel for official business. She'll have a cup of warm milk."
Brittany looked to the man behind the counter. "Serve me a strong drink, kind sir. I am in no mood for argument."
Kurt slapped a purple stone onto the shiny wood. "A warm cup of milk is all the strong drink this young kitten will have."
The Neko being addressed sighed in frustration. She leaned forward onto her arms and pouted in anger. Two weeks for a supposedly five days travel was wearing on the high energy Neko. Brittany's leg bounced at a high rate, her ears picked up every conversation about them in the tavern, and her tail had accidentally brushed against too many humans for her liking. A little girl even walked up to the Neko to pet her tail. Offended by being viewed as a pet and not an independent citizen, Brittany may have exposed her teeth and growled at the girl. It was purely instinctual, something she actually regretted.
But that incident was nearly one week prior to the present hour. Now, Brittany sits in a tavern with her mating companion praying her warm milk was peppered with drippings of wine.
"I am no kitten." She hissed under her breath.
Kurt sipped at his water, looking to Brittany in disinterest. "Oh the contrary."
"I have my rights to be wanting." Brittany gulped her warm milk with a purr. "This travel has been the worst nightmare, and I don't think I've ever had one. My ears are constantly ringing with distant sounds, my tail is thinning in this new climate, and I miss my grandmother's cat. He also was a misunderstood lord of the palace."
"Is that what we are: misunderstood?"
"Indeed, friend."
Kurt rolled his eyes. "Your slight sovereign attitude is becoming, and that poor young girl could have saved her own precious time."
"You don't understand, she touched my tail."
Kurt closed his and groaned. "I had forgotten about that with much effort. She was only a child, Brittany."
"As am I."
"No, no." He strongly shook his head. "We are not humans. We age in our own time, and our time is come. We have reached our full matured appearance." Kurt looked over his shoulder when he felt the stares from several patrons. "They stare at us as though we are a meal."
Brittany twisted in her seat to look around, and sure enough several groups of friends or coworkers sat at their tables for an hour of forgettable drinking, and watching the Nekos with the strongest interest. "It bothers me none, friend. Let them have their fun and gossip."
Kurt snapped his head in Brittany's direction. "Looking is allowed, but no touching from a curious child?"
Brittany shrugged. "None of it bothers me. I only snapped because she touched a spot Adele had touched the night we gave our purity to one another; it brought up the best memory that only I should remember when I'm alone or bedding a second warm body."
"I have yet to believe you about that. For instance, how would you go about pleasuring a human girl?"
"It isn't hard. It took time and smelling her body from the sweetness she kept sending. Adele, that mighty pincher amongst the sheets and pillows. See? Now this is something I could speak about and not worry you'll cause my early death with boredom from your voice." Brittany waved her hand to order another cup of milk.
Kurt simply stared. "Oh, how your words move me." He deadpanned.
"It's a gift along with my extra furry tail." The female Neko sniffed the cup before taking a small sip of milk. "The female body is magical in every race or specie. I supposed I tapped into it. Though, many nights since then I've waited for another time with her, or perhaps another individual."
She looked over at Kurt with a secret smile.
Kurt's ears flickered when somewhere inside shuddered at the look Brittany was giving him. "If the empire has any say, then you are to have me whichever way you desire."
"This I know." She slowly licked her lips as she looked over the male Neko. "Your skin looks so soft. I bet your fur is even softer." Brittany whispered the last part, followed by a noise which sounded much like a purr and a moan. "Can I touch your tail? I have the sudden urge to lie next to it. I mean, yours is not as perfect and wonderful as mine, but there is a second place for a reason."
Kurt immediately waved towards the man who tended the strong drinks. "Serve me the strongest wine you have."
Brittany clicked her tongue. "Shame on you, young friend. We are on official capitol business and I'm hungry."
"I've said what was needed in order to keep your mind clear from shame had you done an awful act with an even more awful person." He quickly sipped his new severed wine. "Thank me later."
"I never regret anything I do."
"You've never had wine, girl. Your mind has only been yours."
Brittany scowled. "I know how these drinks work. Very similar to our own bloodline magic, we don't corrupt the mind; we only free the barrier surrounding it."
Kurt looked up from his drink. "Have you used our blood magic?"
Brittany inhaled deeply and twisted to fully face her fellow Neko. "Once; it was an accident, it felt as though there was too much water in a small cup—it fell out of me without notice. And as beautiful as that night was, I would never do it again on a human."
"Your mistress?"
Brittany nodded. "Human blood is weak and easily influenced with magic, strong drink, and bad weather. I love Adele, but she was not made for me. I wish to find someone who is made for me and my bred of magic."
Kurt finally grinned. "Should I guess that I am not that person?"
"You are not, because I can smell it on you. It is foul and I'm threatened you might be prettier than me." Brittany scratched the surface of the bar and hissed under her breath. "And I'm still hungry."
Kurt pressed down the hair around his ears, slightly moved by Brittany's compliment. "You've had three cups of warm milk. What more does a kitten need?"
Brittany smiled brightly. "Food I can chew on."
/ /
The Neko travelers stood watching a butcher toss the desired fish towards a young boy who began cooking the fish for Brittany. Her mouth watered at the smell. The beady eye were watching her every move and she loved it.
"That is prefect right there."
The boy simply kept cooking, sending a confused look to Brittany and Kurt.
Brittany stepped closer and held out her hand as though she were attempting to grab the fish off the grill. "No more cooking. I'll eat my fish as it is. Thank you."
The boy yelled towards the back in another language. He stepped away from the grill when the butcher ran up and immediately took the fish off the grill. He scolded the boy while pointing towards Brittany. The female Neko simply watched, worried she might not get her food. But then the butcher wrapped the fish in a bread type paste and handed it so the hungry Neko.
"I apologize for the boy. He is my nephew and a stranger to your race."
Brittany didn't hear what the man said but quickly bit into her breakfast and walked away. Kurt sent the butcher their regard s and paid for Brittany's breakfast before jogging to catch up to the female Neko.
"You have your glorious way in showing gratitude, kitten."
Brittany shoved the last bite into her mouth and moaned in satisfaction.
Kurt grimaced and wiped off the juices falling out of her mouth. "Will you cease this savagery? You eat like a hound from woodland living. If our companions see us they may leave us here to eat as wild beasts."
Brittany pushed his hand away and smiled. "Did I not show I appreciated his food by purchasing his catch?"
"I paid the coin." Kurt grunted in frustration. "Now, I believe we were to meet with the carriage around this time of day." He clapped his hands and looked around the small village to make note of where they were.
Brittany kicked the dirt and sighed. "I don't want to leave just yet. For the moment, I hate traveling, but I would stay here then allow the empire take us to the breeding grounds."
"We know our place, Brittany." Kurt grabbed Brittany's hand and pulled her in the direction of the carriage. "We do our part for the empire, and then we are truly free."
Brittany mumbled a few curse words under her breath as she followed her companion towards their carriage. The fat man, whom Brittany completely despised, was the very reason for their week long delay. Something about his wife, then having the appropriate legal papers for travel through the independent lands who forbid the empire folk, unless they have signed paperwork from their town governors. All of this nonsense running from small village to an even smaller village was strictly legal business.
Their carriage was being watched over by the town's soldiers, the last pathetic excuse of fighting men on the outskirts of empire territory.
Kurt made a face the closer they got to their tents and carriage. "What is that foul smell?" He looked over all the soldiers and shuddered. "You three are on my short list the minute I am a free man."
The scent bothered Brittany as well, but she didn't understand the point in making empty threats. When they reached the breeding grounds, they would officially be separate from the empire and be a part of what the gods have promised for them. Though, as much faith Brittany puts into the Main Star, she has a feeling and a greater belief in something else. She simply doesn't know what it truly is, yet.
One of the soldiers threw a chewed chicken bone at the Neko's feet. "There! If you're hungry then eat, man!"
The three overweight guards laughed amongst themselves, and obnoxiously at that. "He is no man! You make a joke!"
"Look at their cloaks they wear. I've always wondered where the tails comes out."
From our pants, not our cloaks you ignorant pig! Brittany frowned at the other words these men spit back at the Nekos. She had said it never bothered, and it didn't; but it only bothered her now because it bothered her companion: Kurt.
She could literally feel the waves of anger and hurt flowing off the Neko. His fists shook at his side and his ears flattened atop his head. His tail straightened stiff before slowly waving from side-to-side. His body was preparing for an attack. Brittany's eyes widen and quickly grabbed Kurt's arm and pulled him toward her tent. Once inside the tent, Brittany faced her friend and slapped him hard across the face.
Kurt's head barely snapped back, but he still arched a brow and dropped his jaw in shock. "Are you insane!" He rubbed his cheek and brushed passed Brittany to sit on her bed.
"You were about to kill those men and you wouldn't have known until the townsfolk saw!"
Kurt scowled at the scared Neko. "I don't kill. I don't even know how to kill a man even if I truly wanted."
Brittany and sat next to Kurt. "But if you truly wanted, then our instincts wouldn't have stopped but guided you through it." Brittany flicked his left ear and smiled softly. "I felt your magic, but it wasn't the good kind. It was something dark." Brittany looked around the small tent as if someone might be watching her. "I've heard of this magic. It's very rare and very dark. You would have killed."
Kurt refrained an eye roll. "It has nothing to do with magic, but anger. This is what you smelled. I was very angry, still am. But it doesn't take magic for a Neko to kill a man; I've heard the stories as well."
Brittany bit her lip and sighed. "Those must be very sad stories."
"Those are actually the happy ones."
"Taking a human's life would make you happy?" Brittany frowned and shivered with an unknown feeling.
"Oh, I would be very happy."
A surge of anger ran through Brittany and shook her being to the core. She shifted on the bed, suddenly feeling very uncomfortable next to Kurt. This boy must have had a hard time in the capitol to be so narrow minded on the humans. "I don't understand how that'll make anyone happy."
Kurt lay down and wiggled around to get comfortable. "Easy: speak to a human and the desire will shortly settle."
"You are a very angry person. Putting all your frustration on a terrible experience with an evil master is not going to make you a happy kitten."
Kurt looked over to Brittany. "As for you, dear Brittany. Not every human is as delicate as your precious Adele. I've seen her around the city. Happy girl and proud spirits—be grateful you're gone for that wouldn't have persisted very long."
He didn't see it but heard it before he felt the burning sting once again on his cheek; though, this time his head did snap to the side from the force. He clenched his jaw but said nothing when Brittany quickly left the tent.
/ /
Brittany was glaring at the back of the horse as they trotted down the smooth road towards Ty, the first city on the independent lands. She sat next to the fat driver whom was more tolerable now than looking at Kurt in the eye. He insulted someone very close to her heart and that was hard to forgive, let alone forget. She was snacking raw meat Sayrea kept stored in a small water barrel. No, that wasn't his name.
Sahri? No, that was a woman's name. But when Brittany looked over the man, she supposed he could be woman if he grew out his hair and if Salizine shaved his beard.
For certain this man's name must be Senn.
Brittany grabbed for another piece of meat and frowned at the man. "What is your name, Sir?"
"Voz Nean." He exhaled as though speaking was painful for the fat man.
Hmmm, wrong name completely. Brittany shoved the last meat slice into her mouth and shrugged to herself. None of this matters anyway. But what does matter is the fact that she'll still have to share a bed with Kurt. She made a face. As angry as Brittany was for the recent delay, she was praying to every god for a longer one. She looked at the Main Star and prayed to it, and then she prayed to the Cal-Mian grounds. Brittany spent the next hour praying in her head to every creature she could name. It wasn't until she prayed to the unnamed horned horses was when her ears picked up a distant sound quickly heading their way.
On pure instinct, Brittany grabbed the reigns from Voz and yanked hard swerving the carriage around a bed a trees, narrowly missing the swarm of arrows flying at them. They stuck into the side of the carriage, and one struck a rear horse that stumbled and brought the line of horses heavily to his side. Brittany let go of the reigns completely and jumped down to the tongue of the carriage. She pulled out a dagger she pick-pocketed from a blacksmith and began cutting the harness to let the horses loose from the weight of the carriage. They still ran, but even faster sensing the pursuit of an enemy. The carriage jerked once the horses were free.
Brittany then used to her enhanced agility and jumped off the moving vehicle into a thinned brush. She rolled and rolled down a small slope but eventually shifted her weight and rolled onto her feet and hands into a hunting position. Her breathing was strong from the adrenaline, and the excitement of what was to come.
The horned horses have answered her prayers! These must be the true gods!
Brittany's head snapped up when she heard an arrow shooting towards her. She leaped out of the way and ran back up the slope to grab one of the bandits by the neck. Her footsteps were silent to the human's archer ear and she quickly twisted his head into an odd position. When she let go the body fell limp on the ground and she inhaled deeply when a rush of warmth blanketed her mind. Her ears flattened, she bared her teeth, and she crouched low. Her vision sharpened on its own, tunneling on a stray man running through the trees and towards the carriage.
Brittany didn't want another confrontation. The human would have killed her otherwise. She knew who these strays were: road thieves. They were truly in the independent lands. She ran around the side trying to hear if Kurt was still alive. Too many men surrounded the carriage and one even had the door opened! Kurt either ran off or he was in their hands. As angry Brittany was with Kurt, she hoped the boy had run away the moment the arrows flew at the travelers.
Praying her companion took his chance; Brittany ducked behind a particularly large tree and waited a moment before taking off into a run in the opposite direction. She ran and ran and ran. The thrill of being so free had tasted so good, why was letting herself be led to a breeding ground where she'll lay for hours offering litters until her final days? The empire freed her, she shouldn't be forced to go anywhere but where her legs would take her. And quite the distance were they taking Brittany.
Fast and nearly silent, the blonde Neko ran with an adrenaline pouring out of her each breath. She believed on the small bandits of men to have lost her trail once they stole what they wanted.
But she hadn't counted on a stray tribe waiting at the front of the tree line.
Cursed me!
Brittany swore in her head when the sound of a gun shot rang through her ears, loud—dizzying her. The Neko kept running until she heard a second fire, a third, and the last. She looked over shoulder but saw no one. She ran straight ahead into the belly of the bandits.
"Ahh!" Her shoulder jerked back throwing off her direction and she ran into a tree. She collided hard and dropped back with a pained groan.
With a shaky hand, she pressed onto her shoulder and hissed at the burn she felt. She had seen these weapons be used before, though only by a soldier of the capitol. It burned a focal point on her shoulder, literally melting the skin by the second. If she were human her arm would have been gone. But Brittany wasn't human, so she was healing by the second; her body fought the chemical seeping into her pores drip by drip. Though Brittany kept her arm, and sealed her skin closed, she couldn't stop the poison from reaching her heart.
It stopped once, it stopped again, and then the ice cold liquid dramatically slowed her heart-rate until she passed out on the ground. The four men cautiously approached her, weapons still aimed at the still Neko. One man even stepped closer and kicked her body to make she wouldn't wake up.
He holstered his weapon and nodded to his comrades. "Bag her. Keep her alive with the other one."
/ /
When Brittany woke up she was hanging upside down from a large tree branch in the middle of darkness, the rope tied around her ankles were thick and harsh against her human-like skin. She hung there for a moment allowing her vision to clear and her chest to cease the aching.
"Guh." She whispered the grunt when she attempted to press her hand onto her chest, but the burning was very great she couldn't move. "What did they do to me?"
There was movement behind her, occasionally pressing into her back—she could still smell this one.
"The appropriate question is to ask what I'm going to do them once I chew through these ropes."
Brittany may not have been able to see him, but she was internally grateful Kurt was still alive. "You crazy boy should have run away next time."
"And leave you all to yourself with these nomads?" Kurt made an animal noise at the back of his throat. "No, no, no. Someone played the hypocrite game and left a friend of theirs lying dead on the forest floor."
Brittany attempted to smile; even strung up like dead cattle she could hear the scornful tone in his voice. "I'm certain they'll make you into a coat."
"I tried to take their attention off you the entire time!" Kurt continued on. His voice was hoarse and even with him yelling at Brittany, the sound he gave off was merely a notch higher than a whisper. ". . . and successfully lead them towards the cliffs when their shots rang out. Had I known you were running right into their hand like a mad-cat I would have come directly to you! But no, there you were . . ."
And he went on with his tale about how unprepared Brittany was for this kind of mess. She could feel him move, elbowing her here and there. She figured he was actually attempting to chew his way through the ropes. The need to lift herself and try to chew her ropes was strong, but it hurt Brittany far too much to breathe let alone use effort to lift her upper body. If only the poison has missed her heart she would be out of these and away from this camp site in no time, which brings another question:
"How haven't you escaped so far?" She moaned in pain after she spoke.
Kurt had pulled himself completely up and was now grabbing the rope around his feet. His lithe form easily twisted to look down at Brittany. "They broke my dominate leg when we reached camp." He continued chewing on the rope and spoke around it. "They don't understand our race. I've said my prayers, but it has yet completely healed." He spit out several strands. "I'm getting us out of here."
"Okay, friend." Brittany whispered with sudden fatigue. She wasn't sure if her body was still fighting the poison in her heart.
She closed her eyes and waited for sleep. But she couldn't find a peaceful rest. Instead, her ears worked against her conscious and began picking up a distant noise. Brittany was no fool, she knew of the current songs and yells from the men dancing and singing around their fires, the gnawing on the ropes from Kurt, but this was different. Her senses were working against her because this new noise was a threat. Lazily she peeked through one cracked eye-lid then quickly shut it from the current hazy vision. Her ear fluttered this time—the noise was getting closer.
With much effort Brittany used all her strength to open both eyes and peer through the blackness of the forest. That was when she saw it. Far up into a high neighboring tree, a figure hugged the trunk attempting to blend in. It surely did, but Brittany was the master at hide-and-seek in more ways than one. Her nose directed her vision straight to the figure. She watched it for a moment, not feeling threatened at all. But her breathing did sputter when it suddenly vanished in a blink of an eye.
"Wow." Brittany whispered to herself. A burst of sudden energy waking up her senses to she could turn her head this and that way to look for the figure.
Kurt stopped mid-bite to graceless shove Brittany. "Will you quite what you are doing? You're hitting my balancing arm with your legs."
Brittany stopped twisting around. "Sorry." She wasn't truly sorry. "I was trying to see my friend up in the trees. It is a horned horse. He has come to rescue me." She spread her arms out and giggled. Her tail was finally coming to life to twirl around a few times.
Kurt frowned before looking up into the trees. He slowly shook his head in distraught. "I swear to you, Brittany. Once we are free, I am taking you to a healer. That poison is messing with your mind."
Brittany dropped her arms and sighed. "Your tail is hideous."
Kurt merely rolled his eyes but continued chewing.
When Brittany stayed still for a moment she saw the figure again, this time clearer than before—because it was much closer. She nearly jumped in alarm, but the more she stared at the shadow in the trees the more or less she saw. It was a person. A hooded man wrapped in dark clothing crawling along the branches as though he were a part of the tree. It was elegant and a wonderment to watch. The moon was hidden by the thick and tall Vyshen's. It gave the man an advantage to sneak closer to the campsite unannounced, unless Brittany said anything. Though, she had a feeling this man knew she could see him and that he was only toying with her fuzzy mind.
"There he is again." Brittany's whole body shook as she raised her arm and pointed towards the high branches in an adjacent tree.
Her companion ignored this time, clawing and growling around the thick ropes keeping him there. The figured disappeared once again, this time it caused Brittany to laugh through her pain.
"He did it again!"
Brittany stopped all movement when the man appeared on the branch next to her own. "Kurt, he's right next to us."
Kurt ignored her once again. Figuring his companion would soon pass out from the dizziness.
The figure stood on the branch and watched Brittany. He looked to the drunken humans before jumping off the branch, hitting the ground noiselessly. Brittany's eyes widened with sudden fright when the figure walked closer. Nearly eye-to-eye, Brittany could smell that the man was actually a woman. She pulled her hood slightly away and revealed only her eyes; a piece of cloth was wrapped around her nose and mouth, shielding her identity. When Brittany opened her mouth to speak a hand pressed to her mouth.
Frozen in shock, her body instinctively jerked at the touch which knocked Kurt from chewing the ropes. He swung down in a silent scream and slammed in Brittany's back. He growled in frustration and would have voiced had he not heard another speak first.
"Well, well. Look what I found here." A low rumble of a voice echoed through two pairs of Neko ears. "A snack is waiting for me." She whispered in amusement.
The hand covering Brittany's mouth disappeared along with the woman. She appeared in front of Kurt. The boy new his place to keep silence, assuming this stranger wanted nothing to do with the humans. This creature was not human at all. She stared at Kurt for a long moment, before hesitantly reaching out to touch his ears. Her caress was unsure, too light, and something else. A look of sadness flashed behind those eyes and disappeared faster than a human blink.
She pulled down her scarf and frowned openly. "Who is your bloodline?" The woman—or creature—reached behind her back and pulled out a very small knife.
It was wrapped in thick leather, shielding the sharpness of the blade. Kurt watched her as she leaped up without an appearance of effort and cut Kurt's rope without warning. He twisted and landed on his hands and feet. Kurt quickly straightened up, assuming he would be catching Brittany, but the woman had cut both their ropes at once. Brittany landed on her feet, but her face contorted in pain and she quickly tipped over as though she were going to collapse. Kurt held her still and sniffed her for good measure. There was still poison flowing through her blood.
"Follow me." The woman wrapped the scarf around her face, letting her eyes be the only skin to show.
Kurt wanted to question logic and whether or not this creature could be trusted. But when Kurt looked down at the weakening Neko in his arms he made his decision. Brittany tried reaching for the shadow in front of her. Her vision blurred even more, but she insisted in her mind—she must touch this person who the horned horses sent to her.
She must touch the cloak of this stranger, if only her body had not weakened.
They left the humans without a look back and ran through the forest towards another destination: where this stranger may have lived in the wild.
/ / /
Santana was lining fish on two separate tables, which were placed side-by-side. On one table she gutted the fish and removed the head; on the other she did nothing, but placed the fish in neat lines for her new fellow traveler. Two of the four in her current camp she set up were asleep as the dead, and the other watched her every move. He was a young boy for his race, perhaps even younger than Santana. He watched her with a hint of sadness, hope, and hostility.
The second his friend was in the presence of the priestess, he seemed to have calmed as the young girl whispered prayers and rushed to gather her healing roots and drinks. He was grateful, but then he was skeptical at the convenience of it all. Surely, this boy had one tough upbringing to be questioning something so great. Santana had ignored it last night, but now as she prepared everyone's breakfast, the boy whose name she forgot looked on as though he would wake up tied to the tree or his friend would be dead.
Strange sister creatures they were. The blonde kept trying to touch Santana, pray to her as though her new god sent for her by grace. Santana scoffed under her breath at the thought. Once she was finished with the organizing she placed Rachel's fish in a pot of boiling water and went to Makile to pet him and give him affection and the left over vegetable peelings. She could feel the burning stare follow her wherever she went. It amused her at first, attempting games and play to see how high this Neko could jump. What a delicate sister race. He was not made for the wild. Wherever he lived in his youth is sure stuck to his mannerisms.
The boy attempts to be rough, but he couldn't even catch one fish, complaining it was too dark and the water was very cold.
Santana kept her attention on the boy as she grabbed a raw fish from her table and walked over and held it out for her new companion to take.
He looked up at the offered and felt his face warm in offense. "I will feed when it is convenient for me. I not a wet-behind-the-ear kitten waiting for my mother's milk!"
"But this is fish." Santana chuckled loudly and she bit into the fish and sat across from the boy. "No more milk and cream, boy. I eat what I hunt."
"You also hunt for the priestess." He nodded towards the fire where the boiling water cooked the impurities out of the fish.
Santana saw what he looked at and shrugged. "She's to give me protection and a destination for travel, I give her food and a place to rest her head. This is an equal victory for both parties." She continued eating her breakfast. "But what have you to offer besides a dying friend and another mouth to feed, boy?"
"Kurt." The boy whispered.
Santana arched a brow and grinned. "Kurt. Is this what your master called you, or were you able to see your birth mother?"
Kurt inhaled a shaky breath. "I was too young to remember my mother, and my master was too proud to name me. He purchased me solely for the reason to appear as a great political leader."
Santana tilted her head and sniffed the air. "Keep a restraint on your scents, Kurt. We are not the only hunters in these woods, and right now you smell very delicious."
"You think me to be afraid?"
"I know what I smell." Santana threw the scraps from the fish. "Is it me you are worried about . . . perhaps your friend?"
Kurt stared at the woman for a moment. "What is your name stranger?"
"I am called Santana Xa Mear daughter of Dimitry Na Mear and Lara Nu Mear of Punorge. " She smiled slightly. "I stopped being a stranger the moment I rescued you from the humans."
"A salvation through a stranger."
Santana pressed her lips. "So be it."
"Are they your birth parents?"
"They are . . ." Santana looked over to the tents then to Kurt, "they are my parents. This is all you need to know."
Kurt sat back, "Fair enough. I've heard of the Punorge from the independent lands—the Holy City is what they called it."
"It is anything but holy. Let's cease this talking. My companion should be waking soon and she speaks as though the many gods are echoing through her—never to stop."
Though it wasn't the priestess to wake up first, Kurt and Santana turned their attention towards one the tents at the noise of movement. Santana ever eager to see her companion tensed waiting for the young woman to appear, but it was the blonde one to stumble out of her tent, legs caught in her pants around her ankles. Kurt assumed she was too disoriented to get dressed, but then he remembered Brittany had been fully clothed the entire night. Her foot was caught in her tail hole and she roughly kicked the garment successfully off before turning to face the two watching her.
She wore no under garments but her travel shirt was long enough to hide her decency. The woman bent down to stretch, crawling to her hands and knees and arching her back. Her tail whipped around, thick and fluffy as it was in the capitol.
Santana shivered at the sight and felt a warmth travel down the center of her back ending in her tail.
Brittany approached the duo and sat on the log next to Kurt. Sleep was strong in her eyes but she remained where she was, sitting and watching the fire.
"How are you feeling?" Santana asked to break the silence.
Brittany blinked several times before finally looking to Santana. Her ears were large, larger than Santana's and larger than she remembered her mother's being. They fluffed around the edges appearing constantly groomed by onlookers. But it was her tail to catch most of Santana's attention. It much longer and more beautiful than any Neko Santana's seen on her travels. Sure Kurt's was gorgeous as well—these two were most definitely bred for the empire—but Brittany's appearance was bred for show. Her breed was meant to do much more than be furniture for a royal family house. If only she knew what they were for.
The nearly white furred stranger watched Santana before grinning brightly. "My horned horse! I owe you much gratitude and my life. Though, I love to live so I may need to think of another gift."
Santana toyed with her hood; the vibration of a laugh wanting to come out shook her ears instead. "A horned horse, you say?"
"Her new deity." Kurt grumbled, trying to scoot away from the nearly naked Neko.
"They are not new, but finally recognized now for their power." Brittany swayed to a tune in her head as she watched Santana. "I imagined you to look much different."
Santana did smile at that. "Because I am no unicorn."
"Unicorn?"
"Your horned horses you speak of. Their proper names are unicorns. They live in valleys past the White Mountains." Santana kept her smile at Brittany's befuddled look. "I even hear a few have the power of flight through wide wingspan."
Brittany's eyes couldn't have widened more than when she heard about the other gifts from the creatures. "Do they truly? How fast can they fly?"
Santana nodded and hummed. "Quicker than a arrow and silent as the still wind."
Brittany's eyes sparkled with excitement, wonderment—so many questions to ask this woman! "How would I go about to meet one?"
Santana hesitated to speak freely. She heard how the unicorns were rather unfriendly and extremely hostile creatures. Many who have met one never returned home. She did not know this young Neko, nor did she wish a second visit to the death star's realm. The half-in half-out will not settle well for the god for death. He is hungry for what he missed last night. Santana said a prayer for Brittany's continuing safety.
"If you ever travel to the White Mountains, go in peace. Lay aside worries and you may dream of one. And not just anyone can dream, they'll come to you." Santana knew she only spoke the half-truth. She assumed it would be enough for the light-hearted Neko. "And when one visits you, you'll be able to see your unicorn."
"But," Brittany toyed with her tail in thought, "I dream of them all the time. So, where's my unicorn?"
Kurt narrowed his eyes and scoffed. "You think me a lunatic to believe null lies?"
"I have no reason to lie to strangers. It merits me nothing." Santana bit back in angry whisper.
"Yet, here you are ridiculing Brittany's imagination with obscenities. She is no child."
"I have not treated her as such." Santana was beginning to growl her words in anger. She abruptly stood and glared at Kurt. "Forgive me. My intentions were not for insults but common conversation. I will leave your lady in peace."
Santana walked away towards Makile, rolling her eyes when the boy yelled how the girl was not his lady. He sure protected as though his role has been taken into care. The priestess was right. She should have left the strangers to their fate. She unbalanced what was meant to be, which now meant, something drastic would be happening to Santana. But once she reached Makile and she saw the blanket strewn over his back, she shuddered—a blanket sown by her mother. There are worst things that could happen on these lands. And they travel towards the White Mountains for a tree.
Rachel had called it the tree of life, youth, and dreams: the Genesis.
But Santana knows very well that tree no longer exists. It is nothing short of fable now told to children of every race so they could live towards something better than the horrible life they were born into.
/ / /
Second Month, 1st day – 197 P.L.
The priestess awoke to an unholy sound of beast dying, but in reality it was only Kurt still angry at Santana. Who knows why, Santana kept herself set apart from the new travelers as she cooked for the powerful girl in her care. When her food was served, Rachel closed her eyes and said a prayer for grace and guidance as they traveled. Santana, still the strong believer of the White Mountains and the Main Star's rule, respectfully bowed her head before sitting on the ground next to the priestess.
"They're like you, only different." Rachel spoke carefully as she chewed her carrots and leaves. She looked down at Santana who kept her attention down at her hands. "Have they said something to you? I can send them on their way with food and cloth if they've bothered you."
Santana's jaw tightened. "You've bothered me plenty, rodent." Her face showed anger but her voice held whispered. It was how she now addressed the priestess.
She may be a holy woman now but she was still once a dagger in her side twisting with aggravation and stupidly annoyance. Santana held her tongue, she may know better now but she's still a Leon through bloodline. She can't help what she says.
"They're bred for those capitol auctions. I've heard of them." Rachel wisely chose to ignore Santana's previous comment. "Their appearance is gorgeous and naturally made to be stared at."
The Leon scoffed but said nothing.
"The female's eyes are wonders, as well for her tail. The boy is rather thin for a Neko or are they usually small figured? It wouldn't matter anyway, the capitol has their favorites and the favorites are always chosen."
"It is called a favorite for a reason—not to be neglected but upheld." Santana murmured quietly, now tying several knots for traps and her arrows.
Rachel stopped eating to look over her travel partner. Her hood was still covering her head, hiding her true identity—even from the strangers who are Nekos—just like her. "Is that how you feel how it? One race was chosen strictly for their furs while the sister race was tossed to the forests with the nomads and shadow walkers?" Rachel pushed away from the table and stepped towards the saddened Leon. "If it is worth anything for you, I would have chosen you because I am a woman of destiny and hope: you give me both and much more. Your different colored fur and smaller appearance doesn't make you inferior to them. You are their equal, even so for the humans."
"I am not the same as you, humans." Santana spoke slowly and articulate. "I am far above your race."
Rachel didn't cower at the tone but held her ground. "Then prove it to your dying human mother how far above our sickness you are."
Rachel didn't see it coming. She couldn't have seen it.
One second Santana was sitting in front of her, in a blink she on her feet hauling Rachel up by her lapel, holding her eye-to-eye. "You were given one purpose in those mountains: To Prove yourself. I am given a similar reach. You are helping me as much as I am helping you on this travel. Do not insult me, thorn."
Rachel's feet kicked as they swung in the air. "I didn't. I swear to you by my bloodline. I meant no harm."
Santana placed her back on the ground and glared. "You were about to. I could smell it. Learn to hold your tongue, priestess."
Santana turned toward the tree line and ran, whistling for Makile to follow.
The sound of a small laugh from behind Rachel startled her. She turned around and found the golden furred Neko smiling widely. She was still pant-less and barefoot. She stood on the balls on her feet, hands behind her back and ears twitching in humor. Her eyes sparkled with something Rachel couldn't name.
"Where is your companion?"
The tall Neko simply shrugged, as she knew something the young human didn't. Brittany moved closer with grace humans would never be capable of having. Her excitement practically flowed off her in thick waves as she nearly floated towards the priestess. She dragged a finger down the length of human hair which flowed past small shoulders and over a rough cloak. She hummed here and there, sighing to herself at secret thoughts, and laughing again as she walked around the priestess as though she were stalking a prey.
"And where is yours, priestess?" She continued circling the smaller girl, clicking her tongue and eyeing a meal.
Rachel ached for her staff to be in her hands. She knew she shouldn't! Not in front of this creature, but her palms began to moist with slight fear. "What are you doing?"
The Neko shook her head, still grinning as though she caught her favorite mouse in the hardest trap. "But what are you going to do, priestess?"
Rachel wiped her hands on her cloak and attempted to walk away but the Neko was fast and stopped her with the small pressure of her tail pressed against her belly. "What are you doing?" Rachel repeated, her arms now shook with a growing magic from her fear, something the Neko could sense.
She tilted her head and sniffed. "Fret not, priestess. I am not going to harm you. I am getting to know you."
"In what manner?"
Brittany stepped closer and pressed her nose to Rachel's hair. "The only manner I know of." Once she was finished sniffing the air around Rachel, Brittany stopped in front of her and held out her hand. "I was given the name Brittany." She toyed with her collar as she spoke. "I was not given a family name, for I have none."
Rachel flinched when something soft brushed her hand. She looked down and saw it was Brittany's tail curving around her waist. Oh merciful. . .
"And your name, priestess?"
"Rachel Barah Bastreign." The priestess rushed out.
This amused Brittany to no end. She flexed her tail around Rachel's waist, bringing to young girl closer to the Neko. Rachel was now nearly pressed up against the tall beautiful creature. There was an aroma in the air, something bothering her mind and senses . . . it was making her . . . not think properly. If only she knew—
"The oracle of voice is your family name?" Brittany questioned in a breathy tone.
Rachel swayed once then twice and then again. She made a fist with her dominate hand before lifting it up to strike the Neko. Brittany easily caught her wrist and was surprised when she felt a hit on the back of her head. Her trance was officially broken from the priestess causing Rachel to collapse hard on her back. Brittany turned around prepared to hold her ground when she arched her brow at who it was.
It was the other woman still wearing her hooded cloak. The morning was very warm and not for the cloak wearing temperature; yet, she kept it on as though it were second skin. Kurt stood behind her, arms crossed with an angry expression. He knew what Brittany was doing with the priestess and he didn't find it amusing one bit. Neither did her companion, who now stood tall snarl in place and body vibrating waiting for a fight. Brittany wanted it to happen. Her core warmed at the sight of the strange woman, she could taste the different bloodline through the air. It smelt as wonderful as it tasted, but Brittany wanted to press her body against it. This magic was far different then her own. Her vision blurred with an too familiar feeling, and it was brought on by scent.
Brittany could see the other woman struggle to stand still. She stepped away from Brittany more and more. This only sent the desire for Brittany to be closer to the buzzing. Her wild bloodline spurred and fired when she saw movement underneath the woman's hood. She far much quicker than the shorter creature and gripped the sides of her coat in an iron hold.
"Tisk, tisk. Sneaking up unannounced isn't very nice." Brittany stared Santana dead in the eye, daring her to move.
There was a silent battle of wills before Santana snapped and pushed Brittany away reaching before her dagger on her belt. "I wasn't raised to be nice, but tolerable."
Brittany eyed the dagger and smiled. "Hmmm, lucky you. I wasn't raised either." She stalked around the Santana's side of vision, staying in sight and toying with the other alpha. "I was owned."
Brittany felt her awareness being cut off from her conscience. An inner voice growled at her to take this being, another yelled for her run away, but another voice sounding similar to her mistress begged Brittany to leave this creature alone. This voice was ignored. Her body had already tasted death—the thrill of the kill—but was it death she truly wanted at this moment? Santana widened her stance, tossing the dagger to the floor and pulling her coat off. She's dealt with far too many forest predators, and this house pet was not about to get the upper hand of whatever battles this blonde furred creature wanted. But, so be it. Brittany must have hit her head far too hard to be seeking something brutality.
"Come at me, cat." Santana hissed under her breath.
This triggered something in Brittany and she pounced on the smaller woman, using a heavy force to bring her down hard.
Rachel ran and stood next to Kurt. She grabbed her staff and prepared to aim it at the wrestling Neko and Leon. Kurt held out his hand and shook his head.
"Do not be affrighted by this, priestess. It was bound to be due sooner rather than later." He almost spoke as though her were bored of watching Brittany viciously scratch and bite at Santana. "It'll pass when they had made more use from this absurdity."
Rachel wasn't sure what to think of this. "You knew this was going to happen?"
"I did. I've seen it happen in the empire quite a bit." Kurt shrugged as though it were nothing. "Females fight a lot during these years. Some clash because of a mate issue, most fight to the death mainly because their magic won't accept the other. The direct opposite pull of energy could throw their senses. Death is the only solution to ease such a pain."
Rachel's eyes widened when she heard this. "And you never said anything until this moment! What if Santana kills Brittany? Or worse? What if the death star finds this moment to take what he lost from Brittany and takes them both from us?"
Kurt slowly turned to look down at the priestess. "I assure you, young girl. One of them would be dead already before we arrived to this camp if their magic didn't accept the other. This is most likely a typical alpha female issue."
Brittany rolled over and wrapped an arm around Santana's throat, thoroughly blocking her air passage. Santana was on her hands and knees and bucked back, pushing her arms out to grab Brittany's long hair and pulled down to toss the Neko on the floor. Brittany twisted in mid-air to correct her fall. She then roughly grabbed the back of Santana's head and slammed her onto the ground. Santana's head dizzied for a moment, she felt her hood finally fall from the clasps hold it together. When Brittany spotted the twitching brown cat-like ears. They were small than her own, but they smelled much more fresh than her own. She felt Santana continued to struggle even as he grip loosened when she stopped to stare for moment—hypnotized by their smell. Brittany's mouth watered at the sight and felt the natural pull to bury her face in Santana's hair.
So she did.
Brittany pressed her nose against the fur and her tail immediately vibrated with a burning want. So she opened her mouth and bit the ear hard.
Santana stopped squirming and winced. She shook her head free before roughly pushing Brittany off her. Her breathing was hard from the effort of keeping Brittany off her back. The house pet sure knew how to hold her ground and it angered Santana to the core. All her hard earned living wasted in seconds. She shrugged off her over coat, a soft brown shirt covering her modesty from the Neko. Santana was missing a boot, her tail hole was torn—but her tail was still firmly tucked inside her pants—and her dignity was lost somewhere between the many times Brittany had gotten the upper hand. The burning need to growl or bite at this creature was gone, no longer heating her comfort to discomfort.
Brittany watched her struggle and battle an inner voice. It wasn't anything the blonde Neko was used to, she simply gave in to each and every craving and instinctive desire. Her body reacted positively towards Santana's and she wanted to do everything right about it. Brittany sprawled on the floor and rolled onto her back, looking up to see an upside down version of Santana glaring at her.
"Let us play again!" Brittany giggled excitedly when she sniffed the air and smelt that familiar odor.
But Santana wasn't taking any liking to how Brittany was reacting. Oh how angry she was!
Santana scowled and clenched her fists so tight if it weren't for her superior strength, bones may have cracked. "Play? Is that what you were going for?"
Oh holy stars . . . the Neko was playing with her mind. Santana saw the gleam in annoying blue eyes. This was one dangerous creature to be around. How in the world was the empire able to keep a leash on this one? Santana could already feel her mind moving against her! The Leon quickly looked away and sighed.
"We are to leave for travel in an hour. We'll provide enough cloth and food for travel for you and your companion."
Brittany perked up at this. "You're leaving us here in the forests for other predators to find?"
"You seem to know how to take of yourself."
Brittany rolled onto her stomach and frowned. "We were not fighting. And besides, you're not a very threatening predator compared to the stories of creatures I've heard." She kicked her feet as she smiled and looked over the scowling woman.
Santana figured this wasn't meant to be wasting her time. "We leave soon. Our road is long before us, and there is a main trade road not far from here. We will drive you there. Your business can stay your own so long as you stay away from the human drifters and shadow walkers."
Brittany quickly stood and frowned. "Shadow walkers? What are those? They sound dangerous."
"Because they are." Was all Santana offered before walking away to gather the Rachel's tent and the spare wool blankets they gathered to house Brittany inside.
/ / /
