Manen's 'Dialougue' is displayed with this font.
He Followed Me Home
"You are completely out of your mind."
"That's what I told myself when I was crushing on Elsa. Look how that turned out!"
"That was romance. This is bringing a large, deadly killing machine inside our home!"
"True, but he's also not going to hurt any of us."
We'll see,Manen's voice answered in Ignus' head.
Ignus stopped arguing with Kristoff to shoot his new companion a look.
"You are not helping your situation."
This 'situation' was brought about by you, if you recall.
"I didn't make you follow us!"
But you were the one to offer me a new and apparently rather luxurious home. How was I to refuse?
Ignus groaned. He didn't really regret that decision. He just wished it wasn't thrown in his face so much.
"Fine."
Kristoff and Sven were walking beside them, Sven keeping a very sizeable distance between himself and the fearsome mountain lion next to Ignus.
"So if you're so sure Elsa will allow this, how about explaining why to me?" Kristoff said, still very skeptical.
Ignus held his arms out to towards the lion in emphasis.
"What's not cool about having a mountain lion?!"
"Gee, I dunno. Maybe the fact that it could kill us all in our sleep?"
"It's a 'he'. He said his name's Manen."
Kristoff snorted. "Wow. Great. The cat's got a name."
Manen growled in warning. Kristoff immediately paled a bit.
"See?! This is what I mean!"
"Kris, that was just because you called him a 'cat'."
"Well, he is one!"
Manen growled again, louder. Kristoff got the picture.
"This is, in so many ways, the dumbest thing you've ever done."
"Even the art gallery incident?" Ignus asked.
Kristoff contemplated that.
"Okay, close second."
Ignus sighed. "Look, he's not dangerous. He's…well he's like me. In a lot of ways. He got kicked out of his old pack and he's been on his own for a while."
Kristoff immediately saw where Ignus was going. "Hmm. Well, still. Elsa's going to need more than that."
Who is this Elsa?
"The Queen of Arendelle." Ignus said, looking at Manen. "Owner of the castle I'm trying to allow you into. And also my fiancé."
Fiance?
"It means I'm going to marry her."
…marry?
"Y'know what, just…forget it. I love her a lot, she loves me a lot. We spend a lot of time together. That paint a good picture for you?"
Well enough I suppose.
Ignus sighed, still amazed at the situation he was in.
About fifteen minutes later, they arrived in town. Thankfully, it was pretty late, otherwise the sight of a large carnivorous animal prowling the streets would have probably caused a panic.
This is the first time I've been in a human settlement.
"I'm not surprised. What do you think?"
Manen nodded his head in a non-committal way.
Seems a bit unnecessarily large.
Ignus was starting to realize the large feline was a bit prideful.
"Y'know, if you don't like it, you don't have to join us."
I have no where else to go without being hunted by your annoyingly persistent hunters or my own kind.
Ignus noticed a trace of sadness in the lion's voice.
"Why were you kicked out?"
The feline shot him a look.
My past is no concern of yours, fireman.
"It is now." Ignus retorted. "Consider it rent."
What is rent?
"Oh for-just tell me! And I'll tell you my story!"
The lion was stubborn for another moment, then sagged it's shoulders.
My pack…rather my kind are not fond of humans. They take our land, hunt us down and steal our prey. I was raised to never trust humans and never to show them mercy. As a cub I despised humans.
Then I met a young child in the forest. It was weak, helpless and alone. And I did something my pack could not forgive. I understood it.
Ignus blinked. "Can you understand all humans?"
I'm not entirely sure. I do know that you are the first to be able to communicate back to me.
I heard the child's thoughts. It's pain, loneliness and suffering. So I took pity on it. I took it by the scruff of it's neck and returned it to a nearby human settlement.
My pack discovered my actions. And you saw the punishment they gave me.
Ignus recalled the scars he saw beneath Manen's pelt.
"They chased you out because of that?"
The true reason was because I was the only one among us who could actually perceive and understand human language. They saw me as a connection to humans. And that connection had to be removed.
Ignus exhaled in disbelief.
"That's a stupid reason."
It was. But the entire pack was behind it.
Ignus' mind snapped back to that awful day when his village believed him to be something he was not. No one had supported him.
"My village blamed me for the death of my parents."
Manen's expression remained solemn.
Were they correct?
"No. It was someone else. But I had fire powers and my house was on fire. They put two and two together and made five." Ignus said with some bitterness.
And they forced you out?
"Yeah." Ignus said.
Manen stared ahead stoically.
You have a painful past, yet you seem so happy.
Ignus looked at him a moment, then turned away and smiled.
"Well, I met someone who helped me overcome all that."
I assume that would be this person Elsa you speak of?
"You assume correctly. She's also been on her own a lot."
For what reason?
"Well, uh…you know how I can do this?" Ignus lit his hand.
'How' you do it, I cannot say. But I do know that you 'can' do it.
"Right, well…Elsa can do it too, except with ice."
Manen retracted his head a bit in disbelief.
Is this common for your kind?
Ignus laughed in agreement. "I know, it's weird. Actually, we're the only ones with abilities like that. Well, aside from Frax and Isen. But…okay, it's a really, really long story. Just go with no, it's not common."
You ramble quite a lot.
Ignus grumped. "Don't remind me."
"Hey, I hate to break up the introductions, but maybe you could tell me now how we're going to persuade the Queen, not just Elsa, the Queen, to allow us to let a 300 pound predator into the castle?" Kristoff interrupted as they neared the castle.
Ignus shrugged. "I mean, I was gonna go for the puppy eyes thing-"
"That never works."
"Not for you, it hasn't."
"What else?"
"Explaining to her that I can talk to him and he's actually not a bad guy. Aside from being a bit arrogant."
I call it 'being aware of one's own status'.
"Yeah, yeah. Anyways, failing all else, I'll just say we'll call it even for her freezing my arm."
Kristoff gave him a very stern look. "You know how she felt about all that."
Ignus cowed a bit, remembering. "Yeah, you're right. I wouldn't do that to her."
"I mean, she almost dumped you because of it."
"Oh, god, please don't remind me about that, my stomach'll flip."
Ignus wanted to forget all about what Elsa had very nearly done after they had returned from the journey with Fraxinus and Isen.
Now, I'm not too sure about the details of human constructs, but isn't this a door?
Ignus looked up to see the gate of Arendelle Castle before him, practically taunting him with it's presence.
Outta time.
Ignus exhaled. "I'm starting to wish I thought this through a bit more."
"Just now. You're JUST NOW realizing this."
"You are not helping, Kris."
Ignus braced himself and pushed open the gates, entering the courtyard. He walked towards the castle gates, feeling very anxious.
As he looked around, however, he saw that there were actually very few guards around the castle. He looked at Kristoff.
"Seems a bit quiet."
"Yeah. Weird."
Ignus cautiously readied himself for anything.
"Well! Good luck! I'm gonna take Sven to the stables." Kristoff grinned supportively and hustled away.
"Wait, hold on!"
Too late. Kristoff and Sven had made a mad dash for the small building beside the castle.
"Really? Really?!"
Ignus stared at where Kristoff had run off to for a moment longer. Then he ran a hand through his hair in frustration.
"So much for back up."
Manen looked at him silently.
Ignus sighed. "Okay, look. She's probably going to freak out when she sees you."
Oddly enough, I was expecting that.
Ignus ignored the cougar's jab. "So just…I don't know, don't look too intimidating? Try and look friendly."
How exactly am I supposed to pull that off?
"You think I'm some sort of cougar expert? I have no idea, just…try to make a good impression."
Manen regarded Ignus with his pale blue eyes, then slowly sat back on his hind legs in a very presentable position.
Ignus nodded. "Good start."
Holding his breath, Ignus knocked a few times.
He heard through the door several footsteps, moving very quickly. There was a clatter, and then the door flung open.
Elsa was standing there looking like she had been up for three nights. Her hair was a bit messy and her eyes were filled with worry.
Ignus was completely surprised by her current state.
"Uh…hi-"
He was immediately cut off as Elsa hugged him.
"Where on earth were you?! You've been gone since this morning, and I sent out guards to look for you and Kristoff but they had nothing and I thought that-"
She sounded like she was either about to kiss Ignus or slap him. It wouldn't be the first time.
Ignus hadn't even realized the lapse in time. He felt a bit shameful of his irresponsibility.
"Sorry. Some stuff happened, and we needed to see Kristoff's family. He's okay too, by the way, he's just in the stables with Sven."
Judging by the lack of a reaction, Elsa had not yet noticed the enormous cat beside her.
Ignus chose his next words very carefully.
"So…Elsa, about the 'beast' in the forest-"
"Did it attack you? Did you kill it? Or scare it off?"
Oh, lovely.
Ignus shot Manen a look as he patted Elsa's back.
"Um…well, yeah it attacked us, but it turns out that…well, he was just trying to be left alone. And well…it turns out that sinceicanusefireicanunderstandhimsowesortofbecamebuddiesandnowhewantstostayhere."
Elsa blinked, looking at him. "Sorry, I didn't really catch that last part…"
She was interrupted by a small snort beside her. Lookig to her left, she beheld a very large, very fearsome black and white mountain lion.
Is it bad when her eyes expand to the size of moons?
Ignus winced. "Okay, Els, Els, listen to m-"
"Ignus, what is that…"
"He's friendly, he's not gonna hurt you-"
"Is that a mountain lion?"
"W-yeah, he is, but he's also-"
"What is going on?!"
Ignus took a breath, trying to say this as gently as possible.
"This is the beast of Arendelle Forest. His name's Manen Skygge, and…he wants to stay here."
He smiled weakly.
Elsa was still looking at Manen in terror.
"You brought back…a wild animal to our castle?!"
Mayday. Mayday!
"Okay, I know it sounds crazy but-"
"Ignus, you brought a carnivorous, man-eating COUGAR to our home?!"
This was going south very quickly.
"It's not what you think! Look, look…"
Ignus let go of Elsa and walked over to Manen. Elsa made a small gasp of warning.
"Manen, uh…shake?"
Manen gave him, quite possibly, the most derisive look in history.
You cannot be serious.
"Look, just-" Ignus looked at Elsa, who was now severely concerned that her fiancé had finally lost it. "Just do it, okay?"
Manen made a small growl, and very reluctantly held out his paw. Ignus shook it.
"See? Not dangerous."
Elsa was very far from convinced.
"Look, Elsa I…" Ignus was just now realizing how insane this sounded. "I can understand him."
Elsa laughed once, almost hysterically. "Do you now? Can you understand what it's like to be a mountain lion?" She said sarcastically.
"No, not like-" Ignus groaned. "I mean I can actually understand him. Like language."
Elsa stared at him a moment. She looked like her mind was, literally, about to snap.
"You mean to tell me that this animal can speak."
"Well, no…he sort of thinks it and I…well…okay, I'm not sure how it works, but yes. I can hear him speak to me."
"What's it saying now, then?"
Manen growled. Ignus winced.
"Oh, uh…I don't think you really want to know."
Elsa narrowed her eyes dangerously.
Ignus went for the emotional approach.
"Look, I know this seems strange, because it totally is. But I'm not lying to you, I promise. And he…he was kicked out of his old pack. He's been on his own for a while."
Ignus shuffled his feet. "Guess I saw some parallels with my own life."
Elsa's expression softened just a tiny bit.
"Ignus…"
"Look, I know it's stupid of me to ask but…I know what it's like to not have a home. And when you guys let me stay here it…it changed me forever. For the better. And I just want to help him out now."
Elsa was slowly understanding. But…
"Ignus, he's not a person. He's an animal."
Ignus almost laughed. "I know. But…well, he's a really smart animal."
Elsa put a hand over her eyes. This was clearly not easy for her.
"Ignus, what will people say, what will the servants say?!"
"They'll say the same thing they did when you got engaged to a pun-making, ash-covered, smelly and altogether completely unworthy doofus."
Elsa couldn't stop a small laugh from escaping her lips. "You're not any of those."
"True. Just like Manen here's not a bloodthirsty predator."
Elsa considered this calmly.
Then she heaved a great sigh.
"You really can speak to him?"
"Yes." Ignus said seriously.
"What's he saying?"
Ignus looked at Manen.
"He said that he thinks you are wise to be wary of him."
Elsa raised an eyebrow. "Did he now?"
"He also said he's going to growl the next time you say something heavily sarcastic."
Elsa smiled, seemingly playing along. "Well, tell him I'm very sorry to-"
Manen growled softly.
That took the smile right off Elsa's face.
She stopped mid-sentence.
It was like she was looking at Manen in a whole new light.
"You…you can actually-?"
Manen was silent. Then, as if for no other reason than to completely blow Elsa's mind, he nodded once.
Elsa's jaw fell open.
"He can understand me!"
"Well, yeah, like I said-" Ignus said, a bit miffed.
"He can actually understand me?!"
Surprise, came the cougar's sullen response in Ignus' mind.
Ignus was now a bit concerned. Elsa looked like she was about to fry a circuit.
"You know what, how about we just head inside and sit down, okay? Get you some water, chill a bit, you know?"
Elsa weakly nodded. "Y-yes…that sounds nice."
"And I assume that we're now cool with Manen here?"
Elsa looked at the cougar once again.
"Ignus, if he ever uses the castle as a bathroom…"
Manen snorted in outrage. As if!
"I think we'll have no problems there." Ignus said as he gently supported Elsa, walking into the castle and back to the room.
Ignus.
Manen's voice appeared again in Ignus' head. He turned and looked at the great feline.
Why do you insist so much on helping me?
"Well, first off, I'd be crazy not to befriend a TALKING COUGAR. Second, everyone deserves a home." Ignus said simply.
Manen seemed a bit at a loss for words.
Well…thank you.
Ignus grinned. At least this guy had the humility to say thanks every now and then.
Now let's go inside. I want to see what this castle has to offer in terms of scratchable items.
Aaaaaand right back to it. Ignus thought sarcastically.
As they entered the common room, Ignus helped Elsa lay down on her favorite chair by the fireplace, which Ignus immediately lit. Then he heard a loud snore.
What on earth is that?
"That'd be the Princess, Anna." Ignus answered.
Anna was fast asleep on the couch nearby with a blanket on her, snoring loudly.
"She was worried sick about Kristoff, so she stayed up late with me. Eventually she just couldn't fight the exhaustion." Elsa said, softly laughing.
"Well, It'll be a nice surprise for her when she wakes up." came a voice from the hallway.
Kristoff had finally entered the room, back from the stables. Ignus shot him a glare.
"You took your sweet time."
"I knew you had it under control. And besides, it looked like it worked."
He gestured towards Manen, who was now lying beside the fireplace, making himself perfectly at home.
He seems to have gotten used to the idea rather quickly.
"Oh, he was never worried about you." Ignus said, looking at Manen. "He was worried about Elsa's reaction."
He's saying this woman's fury is worse than a large, angry cougar?
Ignus drew in breath through his teeth, nodding. "I have to agree with him."
Elsa's lips curled in sly satisfaction.
"Whazza?"
Anna had made a noise from the couch. Kristoff sat next to her and put a hand on hers.
"I'm back." Kristoff said to her, kissing her hand gently.
Anna's eyes slowly opened as she gave a huge yawn. Smacking her lips, she rubbed the sleep out of her eyes.
Then she squealed and crushed Kristoff in a hug.
"You jerk! I was worried sick about you!"
"Sorry, sorry. I was, well…preoccupied."
"With what?" Anna demanded sternly.
"With him."
Anna followed Kristoff's gaze. She practically petrified when she caught sight of Manen.
"Wh-what the…Elsa?!"
Elsa wearily waved a hand in reassurance. "Believe me, I was as skeptical as you, but it turns out he-"
"He's BEAUTIFUL!" Anna gushed, running over to the fearsome mountain lion like it was a puppy.
Wait, what is she doing?
"I think she's going to pet you." Ignus said with a tinge of worry.
Pet? What does that mean? What is…oh. Ooooh my. That…that's wonderful.
Manen crooned softly as Anna scratched his chin with childlike affection.
Whatever she's doing, tell her to keep doing it.
Manen practically melted with Anna's affectionate scratching. In a matter of seconds he was purring loudly, leaning against Anna's legs.
It was hard to tell who was in more disbelief, Ignus, Elsa or Kristoff.
"Do we get to keep him, Elsa? He's such a sweetie!" Anna said, now stroking Manen's black and white pelt.
Tell her yes. For god's sake, tell her anything to keep her doing this.
"Yes, Anna, we can keep him. For now." Elsa said warningly. "But if anything happens…"
"It won't. I think he likes it here." Ignus said, chuckling at Manen's harmless state.
"If anything does…I'm holding you personally responsible, Captain." Elsa said with a very professional tone.
Ignus swallowed nervously. "Absolutely, your majesty."
Elsa smiled.
"Now come here. It's late, I'm cranky, and I need a hug."
Ignus grinned, happily obliging her. Or rather, he was about to when a small, white object came scurrying into the room.
"Who needed a hug?" Olaf exclaimed excitedly, arms out in expectation.
Then he caught sight of Manen.
His arms fell a bit.
"Okay, I don't mean to be rude, but I reeeeeally hope it wasn't the giant cat."
Manen looked accusingly at Ignus.
'Giant cat'?
Ignus sighed exhaustedly, sitting next to Elsa and holding her.
"Well, I never said I was the only weirdo who called this place home…"
END