Haru had left the window and headed downstairs noticing a new book on the table next to the front door. She picks it up reading the cover "Known Worlds". She took it flipping through the pages until she reached the C's. "Creation worlds" were displayed on one if the pages. The simple explanation given was that they were world, like the cat kingdom, or the human world, inhabited by creations. This was all the sanctuary allowed her to read as the book disappeared from her grasp.
"Oh come on? If you didn't want me to read it why did you give it to me?" Haru's question was answered with Baron knocking on her door.
"Ah Haru? Are you quite alright in there?" His voice asked, muffled by the door.
Haru blushed and opened it. "Yes Baron I am, please come in."
Baron nodded and stepped inside setting his hat and jacket on a coat rack. Walking further into the house Baron looked around. He turned to Haru and raised a brow in confusion.
"Were you, talking to yourself?" He sounded mildly concerned.
"Well the sanctuary actually." She mumbled and walked past him to the couch in the living area. "Baron, what's a creation world?"
"Ah so you heard our conversation. Well." He sighs and rubs the back of his head. "It's a little complicated to explain. A creation world is like an upscale version of the sanctuary. A fully formed world instead if a small one like we're in."
Haru thought for a moment before nodding. "I would hardly call that complicated Baron."
"The complicated part is the fact that there are more than just one, the cat kingdom is one of a kind as is the human world. Creation worlds are plentiful and each one is different in some or many ways."
"Well which one is in danger right now?"
"Camelot."
"Camelot..." Haru echoed before looking up at Baron confused. "Camelot is just a story Baron."
"Perhaps your version, but the Camelot I speak of is very real. I fear that whoever is looking for it wants the Excalibur."
"Excalibur exists too?" Haru held her head and sighed softly.
"Yes and it is where the world of Camelot came from, it was a powerful creation and now a major anchor of that world. Should it be removed from Camelot's world, well it won't be pretty."
"Well we should probably stop that right?" Haru stood and walked towards the door.
"Haru wait, we're not even sure of who it is that is doing this. Just calm down and ket us handle it for now, I won't leave you behind." Baron put a hand in Haru's shoulder.
"Promise me." Haru looked back to him.
"I promise, now go get some rest please, it is getting quite late." With that said baBaron grabbed his jacket and hat leaving the home.
Haru didn't find sleep very easily that night. Her mind swam with thoughts of Camelot. The Camelot, king Arthur, Excalibur, Merlin. Haru's thoughts continued until it was just her naming books and movies and the possible worlds that may exist because of them. Certainly if a legendary sword could create a world then movies and books could make worlds too, right?
oo0oo
Haru woke to the sound of Muta and Toto fighting. She grinned and stood up heading to the window. Watching them run around for a bit she opened the window and leaned out.
"You know boys, I'd like to be in awake before you start arguing." She giggled as they both stared at her in surprise.
"I'm sorry Haru, we had forgotten you were here." Toto looked away sheepishly.
"Don't worry about it today, I'm sure you'll need to get usused to me staying here." Haru turned and walked to her wardrobe picking out a white dress, matching gloves and slipper and set to getting dressed.
She walked downstairs after changing and put the front door. Muta and Toto had managed to stop their fighting entirely, probably because Baron was scolding them quietly off to the side. Haru stifled a giggle and went to taking care of her flowers. Watering them was one of the most normal things about her situation. Baron watched her for a moment and approached.
"Good morning Haru." He bowed slightly, she smiled and set the watering can down.
"Good morning Baron. No hat today?"
Baron felt the top of his head and smiled. "Ah no, I don't wear it in the morning, I always have it off during this time."
Haru nodded going back to the plants.
"I can water those magically if you wish Haru." She shakes her head. "I suppose watering flowers is quite calming."
"Did you find anything out Baron?" He shook his head face turning mildly annoyed.
"No, other than those missing creations information has been scarce."
"Baron, we have some new." Toto landed on his pedestal. "Another creation is in danger, I think it might be the ones trying to enter Camelot."
"Excellent work Toto, let's go before they are taken." Toto flew down to the ground and landed in front of baron.
"I'm going too." Haru said approaching Toto.
"Very well Haru, how are your feelings on heights these days?" Baron asked hopping onto Toto's back.
"Better than they were the first time I flew." Haru said climbing up behind Baron.
Toto smirked and took to the skies, Haru screamed and wrapped her arms around Baron. Baron smiled as they made their way across town. It was over quickly, much to Haru's enjoyment as she jumped off Toto and fell to the ground for a moment. Baron helped Haru to her feet.
"I thought you said you weren't so bad with heights anymore." Toto snickered.
"I said I was better with them." Haru complained catching her breath.
"Not by much." Toto pointed a wing to the building they landed in front of. "The creation is inside, the ones after her are only a few houses down."
"Thank you Toto, stay nearby, we may need a quick escape route. Think you can carry three?"
"Yes three of you won't be that difficult. Be quick they don't take long to search a house." Toto took off as Baron and Haru made their way to the front door.
"Ok so, how do we get in?" Haru looked to Baron, he shrugged and knocked on the door. "You think this will wo-"
Haru was interrupted by the door swinging open. An elderly woman looked around for a moment, mumbling something while Baron and Haru slipped into the house. Both half-cats hid under a table next to the door while the woman left the front door to the living room. Baron stepped out from under the table and walked to the stairs.
"Oh stairs, I've never been more upset to see them before." Haru complained jumping onto the first step.
"Yes, stairs are quite annoying at this height. " Baron agreed following behind her.
"There any way to make us taller?" Haru asked hopefully.
"Yes there is, give me a moment." He snapped his fingers and glowed for a moment, growing to a more human height. "Here quick." He lowered his hand for Haru, she stepped onto it.
Haru hopped into Baron's hand he lifted her up and hurried up the stairs. Setting her down at the top he let the magic fade and returned to his original size. Baron took the lead walking to an open door and stepping inside. A large bedroom lay before them, both due to their size and it was the master.
"Can I change like that too?" Haru asked, movement caught their attention.
"Who is there? Are you here to take me away?" The voice was scared and accusatory.
"No we're here to get you to safety." Baron said stepping further into the room.
"Baron?" The voice's owner stepped out from hiding, a mouse made of porcelain. "Oh I had hoped you'd show up."
"Yes it's me, this is Haru. Haru this is Tiny, a creation from Camelot." Baron smiled and approached the mouse.
"Tiny? It's nice to meet you." Haru stayed next to Baron.
"You too miss Haru."
"Just Haru is fine."
"Now Tiny I must ask before we leave if you know anything about your hunters?" Baron asked.
"Not much, just that one of them is a magic user from this world." Tiny squeaked walking to Haru. "You're friend is very pretty Baron."
Haru blushed and looked away. Toto tapped on the glass of the window, Baron jumped up to the ledge and opened the windwindiw enough for the bird creation.
"We need to go Baron, those two hunters are coming to this house." Toto watched the street below.
"Ah I suspect they saw us enter than?" Baron hopped down followed by Toto. "Tiny, Haru get on Toto, we need to leave."
Haru swallowed nervously and nodded heading to Toto and hopping onto his back holding her hand out. Tiny took it and climbed up onto Toto's back. Baron jumped on last, Toto took off and flew out of the window.
"Wait Toto something isn't right." Baron warned a fireball streaking past them. "Get us out of here qui-"
The next fireball was much more accurate slamming into Toto and sending the group spiraling down to the ground below. They all landed with a loud thud, Baron on his feet, Haru followed but fell upon landing, Toto hit the ground with a crunch, Tiny on top of him. Toto groaned in pain, Tiny hopped off and turned to him trying to help him. Loud foot steps caught the group's attention.
"Ah yes, the Baron finally comes out of hiding." One of the two hunters said. A taller one and shorter one stood before them, both in dark cloaks that hid their faces. "It's been all too long since I have seen you."
"That voice?!" Baron's eyes widened and he stood in front of Haru. "What do you want with me, Arius."
"Ah I'm not after you dear Baron, I'm after your fetching new companion." Yellow eyes flickered under the cloak. "She'd be perfect for a catalyst in making the portal."
"Catalyst?" Haru asked confused.
"Yes indeed, you have quite the large amount of magic in that body of yours. We can use it to get to any world we want."
Haru took a step back, Baron eyed her and shook his head.
"You're not getting Haru." Baron hissed.
The short cloaked figure dashed forwards kicking at Baron. Baron jumped over the foot and grew to his human size again. Smacking away the cloaked figure with his cane, Baron grabbed Haru, Toto, and Tiny starting down an alleyway. The short figure started to give chase, stopped by a hand on their shoulder.
"Don't bother, I'll deal with this myself."
oo0oo
Baron made his way through alleyways and empty streets, keeping his head down. Once the crossroads came into view a shadow formed on the ground. Arius stepped out of it his form aligning with the ground.
"Now now Baron, weren't you taught that it's rude to walk away from a conversation?" Arius said calmly stepping towards Baron.
"Any conversation with you is worth leaving." Toto said weakly, Tiny shushed him.
"Ah so the bird is still alive, I'll make sure to aim better next time. Now, give me the girl."
Baron set the three he was carrying down and held up his cane.
"You plan to fight me with your cane again, oh Baron. Surely you have something better than an old piece of wood?"
A sword flicked out from under the cloak, long and curved with a strange design. Arius began moving forward, swinging at Baron, who brought the cane up and blocked deflecting it and smacking Arius's knee. Arius stumbled back and lifted up the blade again.
"You seem to forget I was always the better swordsman." Baron smiled.
"Yes if you'd use an actual sword that is." Arius stepped back a sword coming down on Baron's shoulder. "Ah Rose, you're late."
"Baron!" Haru screamed running to him, He fell to one knee holding his shoulder.
"Should've known you would play dirty. Stay back Haru."
"When have I ever been known to fight fair? Rose grab the girl, we're leaving." Rose went for Haru, getting a cane in the face.
Stumbling back Baron grabbed up the three again and started down the familiar alleyway, Arius right behind him. Using his cane Baron knocked over a few beams blocking his pursuer's path long enough for the group to make it to the sanctuary. The archway closes and the sky turns fro. night to day.
"We're closed off from the human world now." Baron said setting the group down and shifting to his natural height.
"Baron you're hurt." Haru ran to him.
"Tend to Toto Haru, he is worse shape then me."
"I, yes but after you're both patched up I want to talk." All Baron could do was nod and move to the bureau slowly.
oo0oo
With Toto in a makeshift body cast Haru went to the bureau and opened the doors. Baron was seated behind his desk wrapping his shoulder slowly. Haru hurried over and took the bandages from him wrapping it quicker.
"Thank you Haru." Baron smiled up at them. "I guess you have questions?" Haru nodded. "Well, I'll cover the basics. Arius was a creation once. He was obsessed with becoming anything but a creation. Arius's current obsession with Camelot makes me believe he found an answer to turn human there."
"What does he need me for?" Haru asked finishing with the bandages. "I don't have any magic, that I know of."
"With your transformation it wouldn't surprise me if some kind of magic was unlocked. I don't know what kind of magic, but if Arius is after it we can't let him have it." Baron stood and turned to Haru. "Even more so given the fact that it is you Haru."
oo0oo
Ooh spooky, this chapter kinda went everywhere, but you know, I'm trying. hope you like, will be a while before I write anymore.
