Edited and Reposted
Disclaimer: I do not own any of this, besides the plot, all characters and places are the property of Tamora Pierce.
Note: This is my first ever fan fiction so I would appreciate some reviews on it to tell me what everyone thinks.
I'm currently going through the story and re-editing all of my original chapters to get back into the swing of things before continuing on. No major plot changes have taken place; in fact barely anything has changed at all. The majority, actually I think all, of the edits just have to do with rewording phrases and switching words here and there, so hopefully it's a little better quality.
Summary: Post Bloodhound. When Beka comes home to Corus everything does not return to what they once were before she left for Port Caynn. Many changes are occurring that leaves Beka lost at what to do with her new found secret. Beka x Rosto.
Chapter 1: Black Eyes
A party was long underway at the Dancing Dove, which was not unusual in and of itself since one expected to see company at the Dove at all hours of the night and the day as well for that matter. No, what was unexpected was the company. There were many Dogs in attendance and even a noble or two. These Dogs were not hobbling or collecting bribes even though there were plenty of Rats in their presence; they were actually getting along quite well with the Rats, all things considered.
Although there were ample amount of people about that one could avoid another without making it look unseeingly unnatural, one mot stood off to the side tense and alert. She could not seem to make up her mind: that there were too many people or not enough. She started out the evening with the former in mind.
When she first entered the room she was promptly embarrassed by all the attention she received. She quickly made her greetings around the room before slipping to the outskirts of the party. She allowed herself to relax and be amused by the antics of her former partner whom she left stranded at the heart of the party. She could see that the woman was tired of folk congratulating her on her new position, and if her curled fist was anything to judge by she was getting dangerously close to bashing in the head of her next well-wisher.
A soft smile began to form on her lips at that thought, but it froze as she felt the hackles on the back of her neck raise up. She quickly shifted into an alert position and began combing the room for the threat. The moment she located the threat was the moment, that perhaps for the first time in her life, she wished there were more people around, even if they were all strangers. It was the moment that she looked into the hard black eyes of a handsome cove across the room.
Her eyes held his for all a few seconds before the young mot looked away. She usually had no problem holding that cove's gaze, but this time was different. There was no mistaking the emotions in his eyes: relief with a bit of happiness mixed in, but the overpowering emotion that shone through and pushed the others aside was hurt. She could not stand the hurt, especially because she knew deep down that she was the one who caused it.
Unfortunately for her, this exchange did not go unnoticed; two mots, one dark and one fair had observed it. After a quick, whispered discussion the fair one approached the sullen mot. Lithe in her movement she almost caught the other mot unaware, almost. She was about to announce her presence when pale blue eyes swung up to meet hers.
"He truly is happy that you are alive, Beka, the fair mot began. "He was in a dangerously foul mood when he learned of your dalliance that he started several of his own." The mot called Beka opened her mouth to retaliate when she was stopped by the other's held up hand. "Don't go protesting and let me finish. I know you and Rosto are not together. However, the fact is that he cares for you more then you know. He respects you and has been biding his time and giving you plenty of space, too much in my opinion. As soon as you go away without him you throw yourself into the arms of another man. That hurt him, deeply. He truly has not been with another mot since he's come to Corus and started chasing after you. He only stopped to help himself get rid of the pain after he heard of your affair. So I do not want to hear any digs on his behavior, not when yours is the more questionable one."
Beka pulled back as if she had been slapped. "Aniki…" she began, but the fair one merely shook her head and glided back to the dark mot to report what had transpired.
Beka, left alone, felt sick. She could still feel Rosto's intense gaze upon her. She knew she need to leave the room, she could not take Rosto's stares anymore. She strode purposefully to the center of the group and made a few hasty farewells, feigning that she was still tired from her healings. With that accomplished she slipped out the door and exited via the back way of the Dancing Dove. From there she trotted across the street, back to Madame Trout's lodgings and up to her apartment.
When she entered the room she shut the door, kicked off her boots, and crawled onto her bed. She curled in on herself waiting for the sickness to abate.
Running away will not help anything. The voice of her cat cut into her mind.
"Quiet you," she growled, not in the mood to hear someone else's opinions.
You will have to face it sometime. The you I know will not allow herself to wallow in self-pity. With a swish of his tail the black cat disappeared out the door.
"I know," she whispered, but she had no notion to move. The bloodhound that had been sitting on a chair in the corner whined, before crossing the room and curling up next to her on the bed. She welcomed the warmth of the hound's presence and turned into it. She stayed lying there until she eventually drifted off to sleep still dressed in her tunic and breeches.