Felinis: The following is a chapter featuring mostly Judith and Estelle. An unusual duo
Yuri remains conscious of the world around him and few hours before he realizes that his body is slowly burning with fever. The slight discomfort turns hot and blazing as sweat breaks oh his forehead. His head is hurting and he wishes that whatever core is in that chest would shut up and give him peace!
His teeth fall out to his displeasure and he as they clank on the floor. This again? His head in pounding as he feels the blood trickle down to his ears from his horns. How long till his mind goes blank? Yuri knows this will be one of those episodes unfortunately and he's annoyed by the whole thing. He tries to swear, but having no teeth really puts a damper on things. A pain starts itching at his scalp and Yuri pads his face into the bed.
Judith is waiting when Estelle heads to the deck. The Krytian woman is crossing her arms and throwing a playful glance. "So, you knew all along?" Estelle states.
"Yes." Judith nods. "Sorry, to steal your thunder."
"How did you know?"
"I'm a Krytian and he's an Entelexeia or at least similar to one. I can't help knowing who he is." It's not fair. Estelle worked to earn his trust, but Judith can just walk in and Yuri will tell her his secret. It doesn't matter that she can just read his mind! Estelle wants to trust Judith, but it doesn't seem right when it's now clear there are lies between them.
Estelle's mind turns and it all clicks together. "You're the dragon rider."
"Why would you say that?"
"You showed up shortly after Yuri took off in Dahngrest. Not to mention you know who Phaeroh is." Estelle states firmly. "It seems too much of a coincidence that you just happened to show up."
Judith nods. "Yes it is."
"Why are you destroying blastia? Why did you try to kill me at Heliord?"
"I didn't mean to kill you in Heliord. I thought something was there, but I was mistaken." Judith states calmly. "I destroy blastia just for myself and that's all you need to know. If you have a problem I'll leave once we get to Nordopolica."
Estelle grips her own hands firmly. "I don't mind you traveling with us. But, if you try to hurt people or do anything to my friends I won't hesitate to raise a blade against you."
"I can live with that." Judith says stretching herself. "I'm surprised though, I didn't think you had the nerve for that."
Estelle turns up her nose. "I'm full of surprises."
Judith chuckles. "It's no wonder he thinks your adorable."
"You know, many would consider it rude to go digging around in someone's head."
"Aren't you curious on what he thinks of Flynn?"
Estelle hesitantly gives Judith her attention. "A little."
The woman smirks as she passes Estelle. "It's very amusing. He's blissfully ignorant, but I'll help with that. After all, both want our boys to be happy." Estelle crosses her arms in annoyance at both Judith and her statement. She storms through the ship and enters her shared quarters with Rita slamming the door shut.
"I think I might hate her." Estelle mutters.
"Hate who?" Rita says turning from her research notes.
"Judith." Estelle says kicking the floor boards and sitting sourly on the bed. "She's just so… so… so vexing!" Estelle grips the bedsheets frustratingly. "It's so infuriating! She's smart, pretty, and strong… not to mention Yuri didn't even bother hiding his 'secret' from her." Estelle crinkles her nose. "Not to mention everyone just drools over her!"
Rita rolls her eyes. "Jealousy is both unbecoming and a trait for idiots." The mage gets up and plops next to her on the bed. "If you're worried that Yuri will replace you, calm down. Judith's like a stray turtle he picked up on the side of the road."
"Thanks…?"
Rita just shakes her head. "Estelle, you're everything you said about Judith and more." A blush takes the mages face. "You're stunning… anyone can see that. You said Yuri was honest with you? And he's the kind who doesn't like to trust people. It means you've earned it. Besides, Judith is so standoffish."
Estelle chuckles softly and plops down with her. "Thank you, Rita." She says taking Rita into her arms much to mage's protest.
Worry sets in when a day passes and Judith says that Yuri hasn't called for them. From what she gathered Yuri's episodes weren't usually that long. They cautiously open the door where Yuri is lying on the bed still tied like before. It's her first time seeing the red horns on his head they seem larger than she remembered and his eyes are aglow with feral madness. He growls when they enter bearing a mouth full of large canine like teeth. "Yuri?" She nervously back up as Yuri tires to break out. This is what Flynn deals with every time? She sees that his skin is flushed in a feverish red as he whines in exhaustion. Judith walks up taking a tray of food and force feeding it down his throat despite his screams.
"Stop! You're hurting him!" Estelle says shutting the door and taking the food from Judith.
"You do understand that right now he's literally ceased thinking." Estelle blinks in shock as Yuri growls again at her. "I keep trying to hear his thoughts, but there's nothing. He's behaving on instinct right now. I'd be surprised if he recognizes us."
"But, why does he hate me?" Estelle pouts.
"He smells that you're poisonous." Judith starts feeding him again only for Yuri to try and spit it out. "Even he knows you consciously it doesn't matter."
Estelle crosses her arms staring down at her. "Judith, why am I poisonous? I'm sure you have at least a clue."
Judith is softly rubbing Yuri's antennas calming the man down and relaxing him as she feeds another spoonful. "Your power is a disease to an Entelexeia. To creature's like Yuri or Phaeroh you're poison." Judith stands tall and darkness burns in her eyes. "I treasure Entelexeia above even my own kind; I know you care for Yuri too, but I also know you're reckless and impulsive. You've been carelessly poisoning him without thinking and for that reason I won't let you hurt him further. You told me that you would hurt me if I hurt your friends. Well, I will do the same."
Estelle respects Judith and bows. "I understand. Here I'll be a hindrance so I'll take care of things outside." She makes little excuses here and there. Claiming Yuri has a small fever from stress. Karol is harder to pacify, but Estelle simply says he's having an episode and he just nods. One day turns to two, then three, and so on till it's been almost a week and Yuri still isn't back to his senses. Judith sighs as she leaves the room with an empty plate. "How is it?"
"I'm worried he might hurt himself when he finally wakes up." Estelle bites her lip and ignores her curiosity that asks her to look inside.
"Is it really that bad?"
Judith thinks a moment tapping her fingers on her waist. "Well, we can hide it, but he's going to be very upset."
Estelle can only imagine… This whole process is draining on her in a way she couldn't have imagined prior. Flynn has been dealing with this for years and Estelle wonders if he's turned numb to this. She feels that would be necessary otherwise the worry would eat away. "Patty keeps trying to see him." The girl kept insisting that she went in to check on him, but both Judith and Estelle kept vigilante guard. "I'm worried he won't snap out of this before we dock."
"Keep faith. The physical changes have finally stopped so he should wake up soon. You should sleep, Estelle. I'll keep watch."
Keep faith? Estelle gives a deep sigh when she finally enters the room and leans against the door. "You okay?"
Estelle forces a smile to her face as she looks at Rita. "Yes! I'm fine."
"You're pushing yourself too hard." Rita says poking her in the chest. "Honestly! Estelle, sit down on the bed right now."
Estelle is pushed down on the bed and looks up at the mage from the pillow. "Rita?"
"Lay down and stay quiet." Rita hops on and straddles her back making Estelle squeak. "You're stressed. So shut up and let me help." Before Estelle can protest two hands start rubbing into her shoulders making her moan in relief. "Don't tell anyone about this okay?" Estelle nods melting into the touch with a happy hum. Rita is wonderful when she lets herself be.
"Rita, thank you for being my friend."
Estelle can feel Rita blush and turn her head. "Whatever." Yes, absolutely wonderful. Estelle hopes one day she can be like Rita.
Yuri awakes with a heavy groan as he sits upright on the bed. His whole body feels odd as he groggily opens his eyes to startling revulsion. He screams as tries get the mirror to better see what's wrong wriggling desperately out of the rope ties. The door is flung open and Judith and Estelle have run inside. Estelle's face goes wide and she covers her mouth. "Let me out." Yuri tires to say but it comes out as lisp and harsh. Yuri stops and feels over his teeth realizing to his dismay that they're almost all pointed.
Judith pulls apart his ties and he darts to the mirror tripping on some kind of cloth groaning. "What the…" He stops when he realizes it's hair… his hair. There has to be over ten feet of it! Yuri hesitantly grabs a clump and notes how the deep inky black tone he's always known slowly drifts into a pale eggplant towards a soft purple; a white streak like the one in Judith's hair hangs in his face. It could be worse. His teeth have been changing for a while and he can easily dye his hair. But, that's not what has Estelle looking at him worriedly.
He stops and looks at his hands in horror. Pads… The skin on his hands is thick and dark like paw pads. He stops and feels the bottom of his feet and his face falls. Yuri finally looks in the mirror and there's relief flooding in as he sees the only unusual sight is his hair. He forces a grin looking back on the two of them. "You had me worried for a moment. This isn't too bad."
"Yuri…" Estelle says pointing to his chest. Yuri then sees it and his face falls. It's almost has consumed the left side of his chest stretching around pectoral to his navel with scattered spots on the right side… smooth for the most part like a peach fuzz, but it's fur the same color as his hair. He's growing fucking fur!
"Where else?" He growls darkly.
"A few spots on your back and a small patch near your neck. As far as the legs go, you have a few large ones on your lower right thigh." Judith says. "Are you okay?"
No he's not! Yuri wants to cut off these… these infected specks of flesh from his being! He wants to scrap away the skin off top oh his hands and pray they're normal underneath. Yuri wants for his body to stop changing in these grueling ways! Yuri wants to be normal and human just once!
Estelle leans next to him with a smile. "It's okay. Maybe we can shave them enough so you can't see it."
"Y-yeah." He swallows. Monster… He's really turning into a monster. The nightmares that Yuri always dreaded come to mind only this time it's reality. He can't wake up and find he's okay.
"Let's get started on the hair." Judith smiles pulling out some scissors as she cuts away at the long locks.
Estelle is awkward as she sits next to him. "Um… Yuri, they really are very pretty. The horns, I mean."
"Thanks." He mutters emptily as he watches the locks fall to the ground. It's not too hard to deal with really as far as covering it up. Judith hands him two black leather gloves that hide the padding while he attempts the cut away the fuzz. To his chagrin it doesn't work and Judith takes the razor away before Yuri can attempt to flay those pieces of skin from his body. With a great sigh, he debates what to do about his neck. It's not that big and it could go unnoticed, but doesn't want to chance it. Even when Yuri buttons his shirt the collar isn't high enough to hide it. When he gets to port he'll need to figure something out.
It's only after both girl have left and Yuri has time to himself does he finally let his fury out and punch the mirror fists. He pays the shards on the floor no mind as he finally steps into the evening light. He can't stand it! Why? Why Yuri? Why the hell does Yuri have to deal with all this shit? All he's ever wanted was for once in his life to be human! To not be a freak! Being like this had ruined his life and hurt others. Flynn, Norien, Olive, Niren and so many others… If he was human things would have been different. He's five seconds from screaming over the railing or maybe just jumping in anger.
"You okay?"
"No!" Yuri yells turning to see Raven of all people holding a bottle as walks up.
The old man's face falls as he looks Yuri hand. He quickly hides it when Yuri realizes he left the gloves in his room in his anger. "I'm so sorry kid."
"Fuck off!"
Raven closes his eyes sadly his face seeming to age twenty years. "I mean it. It's not fair what's happening to you."
Yuri clicks his tongue turning away. "What do you care?"
"Your face is too much like his." Raven says taking a swig. "It frankly unsettles me."
"Did you or did you not know my folks? Your story is so too inconsistent, old man."
Raven leans on the railing and takes another sip. "An old drunk new 'em. Hated Lowell with everything in him… As for Hanna…" Raven swirls the bottle. "He always wished happiness for her. But, that rat ruined her life without thinking. He fucked with the wrong people and helped add fuel to the fires of war. That monster should have left her the moment he got her pregnant with you!" Raven slams his fist on the rail. "If he'd cut off his ties and jut left she would have lived… And then, you had to go looking like him and reminding me."
Yuri wants to punch the man in the throat. "So what? You pity me because I look like some asshole you once knew?!"
"Yeah, and…?"
"I don't want any of that shit!" Yuri says grabbing his bottle and throwing to the ground smashing. "I don't want pity because I look like some fuck who I've never met. I get it! I wasn't supposed to be born! I get it! I'm a monster just like him! And it just keeps getting worse!" Yuri flailing wildly trying cave Raven's face in in his rage. He's just that sick of this shit! "I never wanted this!" He screams and punches in a floorboard.
"I know. You're a good kid… that's what makes it worse." Raven says bringing him into a hug and patting him on the back. "I'm sorry, Yuri. You really deserved better..."
Felinis:In case you're wondering the purple I'm talking about is basically a higher saturated version of Yuri's actual hair. Remember, cannonly Yuri's hair is black but in a tales style video game black hair doesn't always translate well so it looks purple in game.