Chapter 4: The Kawaii Boy and the Firecat
"Don't tell me, that's going to be my new name," Taven wrinkles his nose.
"Not unless you don't want it to be," Tris grins. "But you are kawaii!"
"And what does that make you?" Taven sighs forlornly at the odd girl.
"Well, I guess that either makes me a kitsune or a neko," Tris frowns and turns to stare at Firesong and Silverfox. "They keep calling me a neko, so… I guess I'm a neko."
"What does kits...?" Taven raises an eyebrow.
"Kitsune. It means fox-demon. Neko means cat. That reminds me!" Tris turns her cheerful smile back on Taven.
Taven, who is a bit weirded out by this look asks, "What?"
"Do you want to go see if Altra and Karal want to talk?" Tris questions.
"I thought you were bored," Silverfox blinks in surprise.
"I'm not bored anymore," Tris laughs. "Besides, I want see if Altra will go into my head."
"It's official, she's insane," Firesong grimaces behind his mask at the other two males.
"No one is truly sane, especially not a vain peacock, like you. Firesong no baka," Tris replies crossing her arms and stalking off to find Altra.
"What?" Firesong's mouth fell open.
"She certainly keeps you on your toes, ashke," Silverfox chuckles.
"Um, I think I'll join her," Taven runs after her at his top speed, catching up to her in a few minutes.
"I'm sorry," Tris stares at the ground as she talks to Taven.
"What are you sorry for?" Taven is thrown out of his track of thought.
"For embarrassing you in front of those two, for becoming annoyingly cheerful, for sounding weird…" Tris sighs. "My sister hates it when I do that…"
"Hey, for what it's worth, it's nice seeing you're not all gloom and doom," Taven places his hand on her shoulder. "But why do you want someone in your head?"
"Altra is a Firecat. I just thought that someone might want to know what really happened to me, and know what I know," Tris sighs as she looks up, and finds a tree in front of her. She smiles sadly and climbs as high as she can. Taven follows closely behind her. "My sister, father, and mother… my cat… everyone is gone. I'm alone in a world that I thought only existed in fairy tales and dreams. It's a big difference from my world."
: Weren't you coming to see me? :
"Altra!" Tris smiles and begins her slow decent from the tree's top. "I was wondering if you'd mind snooping in my head. It might be easier for others to understand if you do. Besides, I always have trusted cats more than people."
"You have?" Taven looks at Tris in a new light.
"Friendship is given easily, Taven, but it hurts when it is abused by many at once. Too many times, have I gone to my cat and told him what was wrong, he stayed and comforted me. He purred until it was no longer an open wound, but just an ache. Cats can be more reliable than people," Tris smiles sadly at him.
: Tris, I am flattered, but aren't you going to introduce me to this mate of yours? : Altra's mindvoice chuckles in both of their heads.
: Altra, he's not my mate. And his name is Taven. You really are a bit annoying, but I guess all nekos are, even my Star was. :
"Did that cat just talk in my head?" Taven stares incredulously at Altra.
"Altra this is Taven. Taven, I'd like you to meet the Firecat, Altra," Tris sighs.
"Nice to meet you… Altra…" Taven blinks many times.
: A pleasure. : Altra chuckles. : Well, let's take a look at those memories of yours, Shiantris, shall we? :