Title: Haven: Kitsune
Chapter: 7
Story Notes: Part of my "Haven" series. This is the story focusing around the race of the Kitsune. Fantasy based and takes place in the same world as the rest of the "Haven" stories. BUT they are all completely separate from one another. AU really but in the same world.
Chapter Notes: A couple of OC's here... and yes. My writers name is one of them :\ The name was always meant for a character but I decided to use it a long time ago for when I put up stories as well. Sorry sorry. These OC's won't stick around for too long either, so don't get too attached.
The horses shook their heads as they were pulled to a slow walk. They had been traveling fast since starting out at the first sign of the sun peeking passed the horizon. It was now late afternoon and they were making their way through the last city they would find before reaching the Greymistra River. Safe Haven, or just Haven to most of the locals. They had a few items they needed to resupply, ones they were unable to find on their own. Then they would leave the area before nightfall.
Trowa looked up into the canopy of trees, probably, old enough to remember the Elves roaming these very lands. They were massive, all four horses nose to tail didn't even reach fully through a single one! But the most impressive sight was the winding wooden pathways encircling each. All the way up to buildings built on top of the largest branches. It was, really, a breath-taking sight. The small portable shops that were on the ground were just a sampling of the available items, to entice a traveler to make the trek higher up and to the main building and continue shopping.
He swung his gaze from one tree to the next, they were spaced widely apart, yet branches overlapped and became roads above the ground to move from one building to the next. There was even several planked rope bridges if a natural path was not conveniently placed. Trowa made a mental note that they would have to visit again, when there were less pressing matters, his mind was itching to learn the stories the locals would tell over a mug of ale.
But even with the magnificent city spanning the sky above their traveling party, the mood was, ultimately somber.
Normally Duo would be the first one leading the way into town. Pulling his poor horse's lead this way and that, curiosity fueling his movements because, maybe, he'd want a closer look at something. And with such a unique setting for a town, Trowa expected the braided thief to be going on about 'everything' with overly fast-paced sentences. But when their group silently walked passed the display from the local blacksmith, Duo's favorite place to find new shinys, without so much as an out-of-the-corner of his eye glance... Trowa pursed his lips in worry. The braided youth had tossed and turned the remainder of the night away after the Quatre had woken them up in a panic. Even now those violet eyes nervously flickered to the Kitsune every few moments.
Heero, on the other hand, was completely normal being as quiet as he was. It was more his body language that spoke of lingering 'off-ness'. He was pushed far back into his saddle, uncomfortably so. Cloaked arms winged out to either side, taking a posture far from his normal show of perfection, effectively keeping himself away from the body riding in front of him. He didn't appear to be doing it for his own sake, Quatre was pulled as far into himself as he possibly could, keeping his hood low and forward. Much different from the first time they had traveled through a city and curious aquamarine eyes roamed their surroundings.
Was it because Heero had struck him?
Trowa tore his eyes off the riders of the two horses in front of him, to look at the fourth Kuroi. The only one still acting normally, Wufei was politely asking the blacksmith's assistant for directions. Bowing from the waist before pressing heels into his horse's side, trotting to catch up with the group. He had also taken note to the differences in their group while traveling that day, but he ignored it. Opting to concentrate on the task at hand. The sooner they got what they needed, the sooner they could leave the sprawling town. It made them all nervous to be in such a densely, human, populated place.
The tree they had been directed to housed several brightly colored buildings, tapestries drifting lazily in the slight breeze. An intricately designed plate of metal was indented into the tree's bark at eye height. Giving a name to what the branches high above them held. "The Narrows Market." Trowa read out loud. "Is this what you were looking for Wufei?"
His black haired companion nodded. "We should be able to find everything we need here, it is their version of a market place." His low set ponytail swung parallel with the leg he threw over his horse in order to dismount. The reins were tied to an offered water basin near the ascending pathways entrance.
Trowa followed suit. Happy to stretch his long limbs after so much saddle time. He gave his faithful horse a pat on her shoulder, then pulled his arms back as far as they would go, easing the tightness that developed from being slouch a little too long. There was plenty of grass around the tree base but he'd have to see if a treat could be found for the hard working beasts. Heero's pace was never easy on the animals they rode.
He stayed near the horses as Wufei and Heero made their way to the shop tables. An extra set of eyes on their surroundings and the 'gem' they transported. The Kitsune stayed, rather obediently, near Heero. Always keeping the slightly taller man between himself and the mass of humans running the ground level shops. Bringing the number of people in their party acting weird to three. Green eyes found Duo still standing next to his Roan. The large horse had his muzzle buried deep in the hair at the base of the thief's neck. A pale hand patted the side of the beast's thick neck, re-adjusting his stance when the horse upset his balance to get closer to his human. Always the affectionate.
The thief's eyes still followed Quatre's heavily cloaked form from a distance. The frown playing at his lips was eerie.
Deciding that the awkward situation, whatever it might be, would need to be dissolved sooner than later, the taller man moved close enough to peek around the broad horse's chest where Duo had taken to half hiding behind. Stroking the soft fur beneath his fingertips. Both parties seem to be finding a comfort in the act. The horse was going to give him no remorse once they were back to traveling. The attention it was being given now, was more than it ever got from its rider.
"Do you think this is right, Trowa?" Duo spoke as soon as he was near enough to hear. The spoken question was hitched low and he did not meet the other Kuroi's questioning gaze. Eyes focused farther away, yet wavering, lost in thought. "Humans owning another..." He took a trembling breath. "Being a prisoner locked away in a tower is one thing. This is... well... I don't think I 'want' to know what this is."
"You better not let Heero hear you."
Duo's eyes flickered to their leader, almost out of sight because of the giant tree's base. "Why do you think I'm speaking to you only, brother? I can imagine the glare I would get right now. Not that it would change anything, we have a job to complete and we 'will' complete it. I would never risk our reputation or any of you, it just... turns my gut."
Trowa could hear the uncertainty. Duo was forcing himself to be convinced of the very words he spoke and that could be a dangerous thing in their line of work. "We all have nightmares Duo, those of a stranger should not bother you this much." Trowa was correct. A vital piece of the story missing from the night before. That piece had Duo's mind whirling with no hope to find its own answer. The oddly colored eyes, that briefly met those of the ranger, were genuinely torn and a tightness squeezed at Trowa's chest.
Duo slumped his head to his horse's coat, their eye contact, again, broken... 'But' Duo whispered, repeated the words he had heard the night before. The words the Kitsune had spoken low yet with a fierce resolution. It was a struggle to push the words out of his throat, and he knew Trowa would never miss the waver in his voice. By the last broken word, Trowa's face had twisted into a mixture of horrified and utter shock.
The braided boy didn't know if he would ever be able to forget the words of their captive, they were etched with fire in his mind. Not only that but the sight of Quatre's eyes, the smell of the dying fire, everything! He could see it all subconsciously, as if it was still the night before. Silence fell back over them, only the gray horse closest to them nickered softly when the hand on his coat stopped all movement. Not caring about the human speak as long as it gained the attention it craved once again.
"He fights us 'every' step. His will to live is something I couldn't only hope to fathom after all the years he must have been a prisoner, BUT his eyes didn't lie to me last night!" Panic swirled in darkened violet orbs. "It wasn't us he was speaking those words to. If Heero hadn't snapped him out of it..." Another elongated silence. "Why would they go through the act of siring a half-breed, when they would lose a full-blooded Kitsune in the process, Trowa? Why?!"
Why indeed? With the gold they were to be paid for obtaining Quatre, Trowa could understand why the Noble would think even a half-blooded Kitsune would fetch a handsome price. But if what they had been told about the 'mothers' of the Kitsune race was true. There was more to lose then to be gained by such a vile act. "Wufei has the most knowledge of the Kitsune, but even he didn't know that a soul had to be transferred in order for a baby to be born." He swallowed the lump in his throat. "They probably didn't know either."
Duo's teeth audibly clicked together as he clenched them, fisting a hand full of gray mane. "And success would have meant death for him! One way or another... Whether he bore the child and left the world knowing his offspring was to suffer the same fate as he. Or he could take his life and the life of the unborn babe and end it there." The thief swore under his breath. He understood 'why', but that didn't mean the answer he had found didn't further rattle his sense of duty. No matter that his view on children differed greatly from that of the fox race.
Their lives were two completely different ones. He grew up having to fight for the food he needed to survive. There were so many abandoned children living in the temple where he was dumped and called home until he was deemed old enough to be shoved back out the doors. There was never enough of anything to go around and even if you were lucky enough to be given a meal that day, it didn't mean that one of the older, bigger kids wouldn't take it from you a few moments later.
"He is correct to say humans are monsters. Hiding behind a mask of many faces..."
Trowa and Duo's conversation wasn't as private as they might have thought, triangle ears shifted unpleasantly against the black wool that hid them. True to his animal resemblance, Quatre's hearing was far greater than that of a human. But the hushed words of the two Kuroi were not something he wished to hear. The episode was still too raw in his mind, his wits scattered. Instead the Kitsune shifted with the party's leader, carefully giving Heero just enough space that they wouldn't accidentally brush up against each other as he browsed for the items they needed.
Duo was right, his fiery spirit was currently snuffed out, replaced by a blanket of numbness, suffocating the Kitsune at the re-lived memory. It had been well over a year now, but that dream plagued him whenever his eyes closed without the peaceful loll of Opium in his blood. It was just a painful reminder that his life was never his own. He was just a bauble for powerful Nobles to admire from behind expensive restraints.
He wasn't sure how much longer his pride could take the painful reminder.
"Do you see something you like M'lord?"
Eyes the color of the ocean refocused from a faraway gaze to a small white gem he had been starring at without realizing, but the shop keeper had. "Um..." He backed up half a step, Heero was gone, having moved a couple tables down when Quatre stopped paying attention to his surroundings. The layer of comfort having the Kuroi leader so close was stripped away, yet he couldn't turn away from the item he saw on display there. Cushioned in red silk, it seemed odd for that fine of a material to be used for such a simple round item.
The human merchant scrutinized every movement the cloaked figure made, assessing the chances of a sale. "I see you have an interest in this Tear stone. A fine eye you have there, not many know of an item such as this." The older man lifted the small box, holding it up for his potential buyer to see the perfectly round stone nestled inside. Also causing a particular scent to reach the Kitsune's sensitive nose, washing his body in a bone jarring chill. It couldn't be?!
The silver links connecting his wrists together clinked as he moved a hand forward, toward the offered item. He stopped, mid motion, due to the noise, broken claws, tattoos, and bindings, all of these things would give the human more information than Quatre was willing. Humans never just stopped at a glimpse, he would see and raise a racket that would alert more humans of his odd presence. "How did you get this?!" He asked instead, heart hammering in his chest. Were the human's ears sensitive enough that he could hear it as well?
"A lone traveler sold it to me a few days ago. Lucky for me he did not know of its value either. I was able to buy it at a good price, saves you in the end as well." The tall man smiled through a tangle of beard. "Do you know of the history behind such a rare item?"
Quatre tasted blood on his lip, where his long canine teeth had broken the skin on the inside of his lip. The smell of blood mingled with the unmistakable odor coming from the red silk. The seller took his silence as a queue to continue his explanation.
"These stones are not something that can be mined for. Oh no, M'lord! These are the product of a lost race from the Blood Wars. The legend goes that when the land was stripped of its magic, and everything was dying, a creature with nine pure white tails cried. Cried for that which was lost and the people who were now wandering the land with nowhere to hide from the rain that left nothing but destruction in its wake. This gem..." He angled it to catch the light of the sun filtering through the leaves above them. In turn the white gem reflected back specks of blues and greens in a beautiful halo floating above the stone's surface. "Is that very tear the creature shed. They are extremely rare, this is the first time I have ever seen one in my lifetime, but I know the authenticity by the odd refraction of light. It is not something that can be mirrored by even the most talented of jewel smiths."
The roar in Quatre's ears blocked out everything behind him. Clawed fingers bent at the knuckles, straining the strike out at the man for having seen the Tear at all! No doubt the older man had touched it as well, with his filthy hands. A growl started deep in his throat, too low of a pitch for inferior ears to pick up. He had to get it back! But even his red washed mind knew that out right killing the man would not be a wise course of action. Yet his fangs yearned to open the human's soft throat and retrieve the gemstone from those who should never touch it!
He spun abruptly on the balls of his bare feet, leaving the area before his mind could no longer surpass instinct. Blood. He wanted blood on the ground!
Heero, who had never taken his eyes completely off the captive, heard the Merchant's confused call after the Kitsune. No doubt not wanting to lose a sale so easily. But the cloaked figure didn't lose a stride as he made a straight path away from lineup of tables. Heero took a step to follow the black cloak pushing through the crowd, not trusting the Kitsune if a chance to escape presented itself. No matter how docile he had been acting that day. Trowa also noticed Quatre's sudden movement away from the group and stepped away from the horses, waving the Kuroi leader back to what he was doing, indicating that would follow instead.
The tall ranger followed the 'gem' through the heavily populated area around the Narrows tree, taking a much more graceful path than the one he followed. Quatre just walked, with hastened steps forward, paying little attention the people he bumped against, or the words they raised in his direction afterwards. He only stopped when a different enormous tree blocked his path. Trowa watched him glance up for a moment, seeming surprised by the obstacle he came upon, before spotting the pathway that led up to the thick, building supportive branches.
It was less urgent to stay close when the Kitsune had only two directions he could essentially move in once he set foot on the winding wooden path. Trowa kept him in eye sight at least, following him under the arched sign stating "Adventurers' Guild" and up, admiring the unique craftsmanship of the surface he walked on and how it was safely anchored the rough surface of the tree. Quatre's strength was still waining from his long time in captivation, and he wasn't able to make the entire trek to the top building in one go. His hands found the railing for a moment of support, gasping out puffs of air angrily, looking to the ground below before growling loudly, teeth flashing and forcing his feet to continue upwards.
The fox was out of breath when he finally reached the entrance of a large tavern, ignoring the pretty girl with emerald curls that greeted his presence. She repeated her question on if he required a table and was answer by glaring blue-green eyes under the low hung hood. She took a wary step backwards, one hand to her breast by the time Trowa took the last stride to come up next to his charge.
"I apologize M'lady. My 'friend' here is in a bit of a foul mood. We have been traveling all day and he doesn't do well on an empty stomach. Perhaps a table a little ways away from the others would be best?" He clamped a hand on Quatre's shoulder, keeping the young man in place. He couldn't miss the hard flinch that greeted his presence, no doubt the Kitsune hadn't been privy to the fact that he was being followed until Trowa had spoken just then.
The serving girl smiled again and bowed slightly. "No problem at all mate! If you wouldn't mind leaving your weapons at the door, I'll gladly show you to a table."
The request was slightly odd, but Trowa was not worried about needing weapon to defend himself either. He removed the short sword that was sheathed horizontally to the small of his back and handed it to the girl to be set with in a cabinet near the door with the other weapons from the few patrons eating and drinking inside. If they had any issues enforcing that particular rule, it probably wasn't until the later hours when too much ale had been drunk.
Trowa gently pushed the Kitsune to follow the green haired girl as she weaved her way through the interior of the building, coming up to a table opposite of a slate encased hearth, set under an open window. Perfect, at least he'd get a bird's eye view of the town, a perspective that he preferred for both business and pleasure. He smiled before pulling out his chair and taking a seat, turning his attention back to the young woman who hovered next to them.
"Would you be liking a drink sir?"
"Yes." The Kuroi looked to the main bar and the tall, older gentleman filling a tankard. "Whatever is the norm for this region if you please. We are not from around here."
Curls bobbed as the girl nodded her head and turned her attention to the other guest. "And you?"
"Whatever."
Trowa shrugged his shoulders and smiled reassuringly to the girl before she was off to grab their wanted items. The space inside the building was surprisingly big, and even with the carved marble bar spanning the length of the room, Trowa doubted the tree beneath them felt the weight as any sort of hindrance. Given the time of day there were not many others seated at the multitude of tables, but that probably would not last much longer as workers finished up for the day. He would have to make sure they were done and gone before the tavern filled up too much, less there be a confrontation with the human hating 'gem'.
Looking back to the said 'gem', Trowa found him still standing, ram-rod still next to the table. "Sit" He commanded, ignoring the look that the serving woman had been backed away from earlier. "I'm sure you are hungry. I know I am. It will be nice to eat something I haven't killed for a change." Not that he minded hunting for their meals, but it was a lot more work to hunt, clean, and cook for each and every meal they needed.
Quatre, thankfully, obeyed with no more fight, keeping his hooded gaze out the window. Ignoring his companion once again.
Whatever had angered the Kitsune was something Trowa would try to figure out after putting a warm meal in his belly. He seemed to be a bit more forth coming after each evening's dinner was devoured, and a warm meal was the least Heero could throw gold at, for Trowa having to track down and watch their charge for a bit of time.
It didn't take long before two large mugs were set in front of each patron, resonating with the wood they collided with. "Thank y-." Trowa started, turning to the splash of green off to his right. Stopping short when he realized the face starring back at him was the exact same, but it was no longer the girl they had first met. Instead it was a young man with the same emerald shade of hair, just brushing his jaw line. The Kuroi cleared his throat and tried again. "Thank you, can I beg what these are made of. I'm always interested in the local customs."
The boy stood to his full height and crossed his arms together over his chest. "Aye, these are wines we actually brew here. So I wouldn't call them a 'local custom'. Though most travelers coming through here will drink them. They are made from-"
"Roses..."
Two sets of eyes swiveled to the black cloaked hood bent over one of the drinks. Quatre made a clear noise that he was smelling the liquid sitting in the tankard.
"Yes." The worker continued. "Roses are used to make the wines. We have several different varieties. My sister grows each kind herself throughout the year. Hopefully you will find them to your tastes. Were you looking for meals as well?" This sibling was a bit more to the point then his sister. He also watched Quatre a bit more closely than the Trowa would like, but the fox's actions weren't always made to hide who and what he was.
"It would be appreciated, thank you. Perhaps something with a good deal of meat."
Once the server walked away from the table, Trowa brought the mug to his lips, sampling the sweet, yet full bodied wine. The scent the Kitsune had mentioned was present as soon as it was closer to his own nose. It was very good. He watched the one across from him carefully grasped the mug with both hands to be able to maneuver it for a drink with his hands secured by the silver cuffs. Their eyes met, but Quatre didn't look away the second time, instead more interested in quenching his thirst.
"Do you like it?"
A pause. "Does it matter, human? As long as it provides enough substance so that I don't pass out from dehydration?"
"No, I'd rather you enjoy it as well. Though, please don't pass out on me. I do not think me having to carry you all the way back down would be pleasant for either of us."
The Kitsune scoffed. "Did the humans really think they would be more protected by building their houses in these giant trees?"
"Hmm..." Trowa looked out the window. It was quite possible there was true in that statement, but there was probably just as many reasons why this style of architecture was a hindrance in times of battle as well. "Maybe. Being this high up gives one a good advantage point for long range weapons. But it also leaves a big disadvantage when the enemy could just light the entire forest on fire and kill everything living here."
Quatre shuddered, not wanting to think about the magnificent presence, that these trees spoke in, being snuffed out for such a meaningless reason. He could feel the hundreds of years each tree here had experienced, the one they sat in was the oldest in the forest, its sapling probably one of the first to emerge from the burnt ground that the red rains left behind. Just being near it was slowly calming the veil that had blinded him earlier. Its aura was probably the reason his subconscious had him heading straight for it before. His control over the natural plants might be hindered by the chain he was forced to wear, but that didn't stop the plants from reaching out to him. Their very core understanding who and what he was from the generations of germination, leading all the way back to when a plant's ancestor had probably live with the Kitsune of old.
He took another awkward drink, even the roses in it spoke about the kind hand who tended them into full bloom. They lived a full life, loved, nurtured, before finding another reason even after they were picked. The humans were happy when they drank the liquid of the flowers. This made the flowers, in the end, happy as well.
The Kitsune's eyes slowly drifted shut, blocking out the surrounding sights, he no longer cared about them. With the world black his other senses flourish into a possibility that he wasn't on a journey to meet a new human owner. The bustle of the people around him and those far below were normal every day occurrences. Birds talked through the distance between them, looking to become friends once they finally found each other. The smell of bark and roses invited memories of his own homeland, something he was afraid he would someday forget, how many decades had he been gone now?
Every forest smelled different, but they all felt the same. Aged and naturally flowing through time's passage, never causing a single ripple out of place. The large trees gave shelter to those smaller. Plants grew, flourish, and enjoyed the life presented to them before dying and providing fertilization for their ancestors that would burst out of the soil after them. The cycle applied to all living things really, but humans found a way to kill the land that provided for them, at a high cost. Thoughtless and selfish.
Aquamarine slivers appear again when the smell of the forest was masked by one of cooked meat. Tantalizing a rumble from the pit of his stomach. Bits of roasted bird on top of a bed of greens, bread and fresh carrots. Quatre sniffed it carefully, while his idea of human food was less then desirable, he could not convince his body of the same. Regular meals and plenty of water was a luxury no matter the gruff he gave his captors.
Another large chunk of meat was dropped on to his plate by his table mate, who then stole the sticks of orange before sucking on his fingers. No words explained the action but Trowa's green eyes shine with a knowing. The Kitsune was a canine though and though, preferring meat to anything else. Though he did appear too indulged in a bit of a sweet tooth after Duo had pulled out a pile of candies from his horse's saddle bag. Especially anything covered with honey.
They ate in silence, comfortable enough with the equal distraction. The server girl coming to their table every so often, large skirts swishing against the wood that composed the furniture in the sitting room. No matter that Quatre never paid her a bit of attention, she still smiled to both of them equally and kept they cups filled with the sweet wine. Her brother helped when needed, delivering drinks and manning the weapon cabinet as people came in and out.
The third person working in the Tavern was older then the two who shared a face. Brown hair, as was so common in the area they traveled, pulled back into a small tail. His keen eyes watched over everything while he poured drinks and gathered plates of food for those who were looking for a meal. A few tables he personally took care of, chatting with known acquaintances. Often allowing his deep laughter to fill the air of the building.
By the time the meat had disappeared from the Kitsune's plate, they were the only remaining table occupied. A lull before the locals came in for a well-deserved drink. The green haired boy dumped a few logs into the hearth and coaxed a fire to life, preparing for the drop in temperature as the sun dipped lower in the sky. Its warmth died down faster than a normal land dwelling city, with their towering trees blocking it before the horizon was even met.
Quatre wrinkled his nose at the soot that was kicked up, more sensitive then any of the humans in the room. He placed a fist to his face, hoping to stop the sneeze that threatened to spring worth, ignoring the Kuroi who quirked an eyebrow in his direction. Stupid human would never understand.
"Hey, hey!" A loud voice boomed from the entrance. "It's pretty empty in here tonight. The food finally scared the customers away, has it Lord Star?" The words dripped with unspoken sarcasm. Three larger men strutted further into the room, barrel chests out and confident that they belonged there more than any others. "And why is our table taken!? I'm hurt by this unfortunate act. Now we'll have to ask your poor guests to relocated, no doubt a negative experience for travelers not from around here. They'll never come back to our little city again."
Trowa's lips pulled into a frown, since they were clearly the ones being addressed. There were no others in the room besides the Tavern workers. No doubt these 'regulars' were not as welcome as they made an act of being. The male twin mirrored the look of the ranger, unknowingly, before taking the duty at the door upon himself.
"Adrian! I do hope you'll be able to explain the situation here. We are loyal guests to your establishment and our only requests are 'that' table." A finger jabbed towards Trowa's attentive gaze. "And that the lovely sister of yours attends us while we are here. Surely that is not too much to ask for someone spending our hard earned gold here each night."
The younger male cocked his head, listening patiently before spreading his fingers, palm up, waiting. "Derrian, unfortunately, is ill today sirs. The healer said she should remain in bed a few days. I'll be sure to pass your condolences when she is well. Weapons please?" Much of the chatter of the burly man, with a shaved head, was obviously ignore, and the sneer he gave the tavern worker as just as blatant. None the less, the sword he had strapped to his hip was willing removed and handed over. His two companions copying with their own weapons.
"And your dagger 'sir'. You didn't think I had forgotten about your newest purchase since yesterday did you?" Adrian's smile didn't reach his eyes. Two more weapons were relinquished to the clever young man before he went on to explain that they would 'unfortunately' have to choice a different spot for the evening. Surely one night would be okay since they had the entire room to pick from. A shadow spanned down the face of the out spoken arrival. His pleasure with his parties opening scene was slowly becoming a stepped on after-thought. This, of course, was not the first time the Adventurers' Guild had dealt with the Darren brothers.
"Fine! We'll take another table for tonight, but only out of the kindness of my beating heart." The oldest Darren strolled to his intended destination, obscuring several chairs in his path before noisily pulling out the chair of the table closest to Trowa and his ward. He leaned over stare at the nearly empty plates in front of the two travelers. "Duck, I hate duck. Taliant!" He shouted a gruff command to the building owner. "A round of white wine and I'm sure you can come up with something with more fat on it than that dead bird."
The lack of enthusiasm from the two being ordered around was almost comical. Trowa would guess that it was a common occurrence, and he was not sorry at all that they had managed to sit in the table that this annoying trio had wanted. Perhaps the, suddenly, missing female had a clever hand in that bit, not every profession allow you to kill those that crossed you wrong. He took another long drink, ignoring the noisy neighbors and instead turning his attention to the 'gem, whos body language pulled in more than it had been with any other humans they had interacted with during their trip to town. The downcast hood hiding all but the smallest hint that his pupiless eyes were carefully watching the three large humans.
The lack of trust could not be helped, and frankly Trowa did not blame the fox. There were few he, too, trusted in the world and those were the ones he traveled with. The other's he dealt with were exactly what you would expect someone whom never had to want for a single thing since birth. Spoiled, selfish, and believing gold would buy them the love of both Moons if it was the right amount. These were just some of the reasons why Trowa stayed out of any new contract negotiations. The pompous fat men they had the pleasure to called 'clients' made no attempt to hide the fact that they believed their business was something that would keep the Kuroi 'well fed' and 'keep a roof over their heads'. Did they really that they were the only ones dealing with those who worked within the veil of darkness.
Trowa was not known for his outward display of emotion, but at times he wondered if his fists would act out before his mind caught up. No... Their leader let nothing effect his emotions at any point during the job, start to end. Making him the best choice to go face to face with the stuck-up Nobels of the land.
"Wolfsbane..." The words Quatre breathed were barely audible to human ears. But the single spoken word had Trowa's utmost focus.
Unlike their run in with the Nightshade flowers, Trowa knew the name of this plant. It was often used to poison unsuspecting victims and cause any number of ailments before the subject died, only taking a few hours to complete the cycle. There were several varieties and Trowa had personally used several of them.
The cloaked Kitsune stood suddenly, rocking his chair backwards. His eyes speaking silently to Trowa's when they briefly meet. Quatre was leaving, now. And he suggested Trowa follow soon after. The table next to them also took note of the quick departure, attention drawn, for a moment, away from an unrolled piece of parchment set in the middle of the table. It was something they had on their person and were studying under hushed tones. The top words, written in neat ink, offered a reward in a 'very' sizable amount.
Several gold pieces were taken out of Trowa's pouch. It was time that they met up with the rest of their party and continued on with their journey. His ears had not picked up any troublesome rumors in this town, but the Kitsune's unsettle state was either due to the previous night, or an almost animalistic foresight. Either reason was well enough to go along with for the moment. The others should be finished with the supply gathered by that point.
Things were never that easy however. Just before passing under the doorways frame, Quatre's lowered vision was filled with dirty clothes and large booted feet. Unable to leave, he stopped immediately.
"Out of my way halfling." A deep voice commanded and a large hand, not waiting for the other to make good on the request, grasped the Kitsune by the upper arm, pushing him hard to the side.
The 'gem' stumbled slightly, not ready for the force behind the movement, also not pleased with the contact. "Do not touch me!" He stated, twisting to regain his balance and force space between the two of them. He automatically barred teeth to the large man who had manhandled him. The smell of the poisonous flower wafted off of this human as well. More so then the other three still seated by Trowa. That very smell was one of the triggers to his leaving the shopkeeper's table earlier. No matter that he had something no human should be allowed to lay eyes on. The tear gem also had smelled of Wolfsbane, it was a memorable smell that froze his very being. The Plant Lord loved to grow it in many varieties. He also loved to use it and he encouraged those serving him to do similar.
Another moment caught in his ugly memories and Quatre was, again, caught off guard. The human's burly hand shot out like lightning and Quatre gave a pained cry when his long blond locks were yanked forward, bringing his head too close to a race he despised. Even with his claws too short to be of any use, the Kitsune pushed them hard into the tunic of the large human male.
"That's an unusual shade." The man's hand tightened on the hair he clenched, hunching downwards while forcing the blonde's face uncomfortably close to his own. His foul breath was damp. It was disgusting.
A chair scrapped on the wooden floor behind him a moment before Quatre's elongated teeth sunk into the arm holding him.
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