Now, Chie is a curious girl. And like all curious girls, when presented with an overgrown, seemingly magical castle and nearly free rein over it, exploration is of course a given. Giving Yuma a few moments to meander as he would, she waits, before padding to the open door and stepping out into the hallway that she still had yet to see. What was most likely once beautiful and elaborate wallpaper hangs off of the walls in torn sheaths, in some parts so destroyed it folds over itself to hide dark wood wainscotting. The floors were of an equally dark wood, but with scuffs and deep rivets, as if something sharp had dug into it and carved thin ruts. Chie tries very hard not to think about that.
She treks on down the hallway, confirming that there really is magic of a sort. Candles along the walls, held up by tarnished iron pieces, light themselves at her approach. Her shadow grows behind her, stretching and perverting itself into something barely recognizable. At the end of the hallway is a flight of stairs that winds itself in a tight coil. She approaches them, padding up carefully. When she clears the landing, after what seems like a good bit of climbing, she wanders to a window, taking note of the outside.
A thick blanket of snow covers the grounds, the white, pristine reward for withstanding the terrible storm. Chie can see Yuma trudging through the snow with a… shovel? She frowns, watching him slowly begin to dig out a doorway. When he seems satisfied, he tosses the shovel aside to open the door. Only when the force of it opening sends a wave of snow flying does she realize it's a greenhouse. Chie's eyes widen with delight, and she soon finds herself going down the stairs much quicker than she had gone up. Finding another window to orient herself, she starts to run down the next hallway, glancing out of every single window she passes. She must see that greenhouse for herself. Soon, she finds the next flight of stairs, and flies down those as well, finding the great set of doors she had come in through earlier. She quickly goes for them and opens them. The cold greets her, biting at her ill-covered skin, but Chie pays it no mind, wading through knee-deep snow as if it were naught but a light sprinkle. She distantly sees Yuma through the glass lift his head, sniffing the air, before quickly striding out, turning toward her- only to stiffen with surprise when he sees her coming in his direction. His wings suddenly spread as he leaps from the ground, using them less to fly and more to extend his leaps as he rushes to her in a few bounds.
"What, ya hungry after all?" he frowns, seeming quite confused.
Chie shakes her head. "No, you have a greenhouse! I want to see it!" She says excitedly. Yuma stiffens, before bursting into a snorting laughter.
"You're half-frozen, ya dumb sow. You're gonna get sick," he says accusingly, but Chie skirts around him to get to the greenhouse. He sighs, rolling his eyes and following her. "What, ya never seen a greenhouse before?"
"No," she replies simply, small legs just not able to clear the snow very quickly. Her bare legs are now slightly numb and pink, and Yuma glances down, catching sight of one. He makes a 'tch' noise, before leaning down and scooping her up in his arms.
"You're a weird kid," he mutters, walking her to the greenhouse. "Your legs are red."
Chie glances down. "Oh, so they are," she hums passively. "My village was too small for a greenhouse. The most I have are little clay jars where I grow rosemary and bigger ones for tomatoes."
"Tomatoes are a fine vegetable," he says approvingly. "I got some myself. Growing lots." Yuma sets Chie down inside the greenhouse, eyeing her legs warily, as she skips around in wonder.
"Wooow, it's so big!" She squeaks. "You grow so much, is there more than just you, Yuma?"
"No, but there ain't much point in just growing a couple things. That ain't gonna fill anyone up," he scoffs.
Chie turns to look at him briefly, cocking her head. "Do you need to eat, Yuma? I thought you just had to drink blood?"
"Well… no," he admits. "I just like it. Tastes good, and gives me something to do. I hate bein' idle."
Chie nods, before suddenly sneezing. Yuma sighs deeply. "I told ya you were gonna get sick."
"No, I'm fine," she huffs, waving him off. "I wanna look around more."
"Not a chance. I'm the one that's gonna have to take care of ya, so you're goin' inside," he says firmly. "No whining, Sow."
Chie crosses her arms, glowering. "You said I could go wherever as long as I didn't go in the West or run," she grouches. Yuma sighs.
"Look… go inside, and I'll see about gettin' ya warm stuff, okay? Geez… women are such pain."
"Let me go then," she snips right back, causing him to roll his eyes.
"In the house with ya, Sow. Last warnin'," he says, lifting a lip to reveal a fang. Chie blanches, before huffing and trudging to the door.
"Fine, but I'm not happy about it," She grumbles. Yuma laughs.
"I'm shakin' in my boots, tiny," he snorts. As Chie passes him, his hand suddenly spanks her ass lightly, causing her to squeak and clamp her hands to her bottom, reddening and looking up at him.
"Wh-what was that for?" She stammers.
"Makin' me think you were runnin'. Now hop to it, or ya might tempt me to do it again," he says, grinning wolfishly. Chie grumbles and hurries. She does not understand that dumb monster.
Once back in her room, Chie notices her cold. She strips off her socks, setting them in front of the fire to dry, as she sits on the bed and rubs them to try and coax feeling back into the neglected flesh. She really shouldn't have gone out like that, especially while still wet from the bath. Chie sneezes again, small body wracking from the force of it. She grabs a new pair of socks and pulls them on, before dimly noticing something out of the corner of her eye. A cup of tea, steaming. She pads over to it, confused, but chalking it up to magic once again. She smiles slightly and grasps the cup, bringing it to her lips and taking a sip. It tastes nice, full of cream and sugar, and makes her feel rather sleepy. She finishes the cup, before deciding she has nothing better to do than nap, anyway. She may as well.
Chie lies down in the large, comfortable bed, nestling under the covers. She falls asleep almost immediately.
The castle stands grand, proud, and glorious. Dozens of people walk in, dressed in the finest silks, velvets, and chiffons. Women in beautiful dresses hold the arms of men in handsome doublets as music fills the abundant gardens. Above the door, on a stone balcony, are four young men. The tallest, a man with long, brown hair cascading over his broad shoulders, a dark haired, brooding gentleman, a sunny blond, and a mild-tempered looking man with soft, doleful eyes. They observe, before one by one they disappear back into the mansion, and before long, only the tallest is left. A loud cry is suddenly heard among the guests, before the smell of fire and smoke becomes heavily prevalent, suffocating any whom breathe it.
Chie bolts up, coughing invisible ash from her lungs. Yuma stands over her, blinking. "I damned told ya you were gonna be sick, and now you're running a fever," he accuses, bringing his hand back from her forehead. "You're the most high maintenance prey I've ever seen in my life."
"I feel fine," Chie mumbles, settling back down against the pillows, even as an aching in her chest tells her otherwise. Yuma glances at her, before frowning.
"Ya look all scared. What's up?" he asks. Chie sighs.
"I just had a nightmare," she mumbles. "Fire, and such."
"Fire?" He asks, suddenly a bit louder. He coughs, before turning away slightly. "Ah, probably just your fever talking. Go back to sleep. I'll bring ya some food in a bit," he instructs. He leaves the room a little quickly, leaving Chie wondering what exactly she said