Insanity
Elizabeth Knight
Chapter 10
Bra cuddled closer into the warmth beneath her cheek, and felt the cool air racing by her face. A few strands of hair whipped across her face tickling her nose and making her smile. She slowly came awake, laying still right where she was. Bra blinked the sleep out of her eyes and gazed up at Kyle's face. He was looking straight ahead, a golden glow glistening upon his silver fur. She studied his face for several minutes, smiling as the corners of his mouth tilted upward.
"Well?" he drawled, still not looking down at her. "What do you see?"
"Perfection." With the simple word she'd captured his full attention. His eyes glowed with a warmth that was comforting and friendly. "Where are we?"
"Sit up and look for yourself." He helped her up and she gasp in surprise. Isaru's large wings glided through the air like a manaray in the water. Fluffy clouds drifted by so close she could reach out and grab them. The most beautiful scene hands down was the dawning colors as they displayed themselves in all their magnificent glory. Bright pink and gold streaked the lightening sky, casting everything in a glorious shimmer. Even the green far below seemed to have an iridescent quality about it that drew curious eyes.
Her face was awe filled with wonder as she whispered, "Beautiful."
"Yes." he agreed, his eyes never leaving Bra's glowing face. Unaware of the complement that had been bestowed upon her, she leaned forward over Isaru's neck to look out in front of them. Here and there where the clouds parted she could make out the green tree tops and meadows down below. As the sun climbed in the morning sky the colors changed, and they were surrounded by rich molten gold. Isaru's white hair was even stained a light yellow, and Kyle's eyes.... Bra was mesmerized. His golden eyes flashed in the sunlight as if they were full of golden glitter. He let her stair only for a few moments before he raised an eye brow at her and grabbed her around the waist, pulling her back against him to look forward again.
"Where are we going?" she ask Kyle.
He was quiet at first, but then decided on an answer for her. "I'm taking you to my village. It's not far away now."
"But Kyle, the people in your village will surely hate me."
"Perhaps, but you will be protected. You have nothing to fear."
"What of us? You must hate me after what my father did to your sister." Bra hung her head with a shame that ripped her into.
Kyle's paw clenched under her chin and raised her eyes to meet his own. "Don't ever presume my action unless you understand my cause, Bra. If you knew anything about me, you never would have feared my response. I would never hold you responsible for the actions of your father, Bra. It took a great deal of courage to confront me with the news of my sister's death."
They were quiet for several seconds. "You were going to leave anyway."
"I couldn't stay, Bra."
"You weren't going to take me with you either."
"Not at the moment, but I would have come back for you. I wish it could have been your choice, but I have no choice in bringing you with me now."
"Would you prefer it if I weren't here?" Bra ask quietly, needing the reassurance.
"Your more trouble to me now then you would be if you were back in Saiyan City." Kyle answer her honestly.
"So then if the fire hadn't of brought you back, I wouldn't have seen you again, would I?"
"I just told you, I'd have come back." he growled in her ear.
"Why?" Kyle didn't get to answer. Isaru turned, and they were headed strait down. The air whistled in Bra's ears and her hair flew back into Kyle's face. She clung to Isaru's hair, leaning back as far as she could. She thought that she was sliding forward, but Kyle's arms kept her in place on the dragon's back. Minutes later they landed at the edge of a clearing. Kyle helped Bra off Isaru's back while her eyes scanned the empty encampment. There didn't seem to be anyone around anywhere. Not any living breathing creature could been seen.
"Where is everyone? I thought we were going to your village?"
"We're here."
"I don't see anyone. In face I don't even see any buildings. Where do you sleep?" Bra ask him curiously as he smiled over at her.
"Up there." he answered, pointing into the trees. At first she didn't see anything as she looked up, but upon closer inspection she began to notice the little bridges connecting the trees. Then when she walked up closer she began to see the tree houses half way up the tall trees. It was the perfect camouflage.
"So are you going to just stand around down there, or are you going to come up?" RepSarah called down to them.
"How did you get here before us?"
"You took longer to get out of that burning building then what you thought. I was sure you were a goner. Between you and your sister I'm going to die at a very young age."
"My sister?" Kyle ask in amazement.
"Who do you think made the escape possible?"
"I should have guessed. She is a cat after all."
"Don't speak too hastily. She's not in the best of conditions at the moment. You had better get up here and look in on her for yourself."
"I'm coming!" Kyle took several steps then stopped and turned back to Bra. "Come on. Didn't you want to see where I sleep?"
"I'm not sure that wouldn't get me into trouble." Bra answered, coming forward. He gave her one of his playful smiles and took her hand to lead her up the rope ladder to the first bridge. RepSarah helped Kyle pull her up onto the slightly shaking bridge.
"Don't worry. You'll get used to it." he told her, as she grabbed a hold of the rope railing to steady herself. The swaying motion was making her slightly dizzy looking down at the ground as she was. She closed her eyes and let Kyle lead her onto the first steady board walkway. When she opened her eyes, it was to see an older cat man coming toward them. He smiled fondly at Kyle and embraced him lovingly. Kyle greeted the man in a language she'd never heard before.
The older man seemed to smile in joy right before his gaze settled on her. He pushed Kyle out of the way to stand right in front of her. Looking down, he reached forward and picked up the pendant on her necklace, raising a skeptical eyebrow at Kyle. It was meant to ask a question, but Kyle didn't answer him. He shrugged his shoulders and turned back to face Kyle, completely ignoring the saiyan behind him. It was almost an insult, and one that Bra didn't miss. Kyle frowned down at the older man, but said nothing about the insult. He conversed with the man for several more moments before addressing RepSarah.
"I need to go with the chief and address the council. Could you take Bra to my house, RepSarah?"
"Where should I put her?"
"In the guest room." he answered as RepSarah through him a confused look. "The room next to Zantha's."
"And where should I put your things?"
"Put them in my room up top."
RepSarah frowned then shrugged her shoulders saying, "This way, Bra."
"Now tell me. Why did you bring her back here with you? RepSarah told us you had saved her." the chief said.
"I had too, uncle. Once I was outside, there was no turning back."
"They will come after her, and they will look here."
"I don't believe they will cause us any trouble."
"Why not?"
"I have plans for Bra, uncle. I want permission for her to stay here."
"For how long?" the chief looked at Kyle questioningly.
"Chief? The council members are assembled and await the two of you." a young lion cub announced to the two cat men.
"We will finish this conversation later, my son. Now come and take your place by my side at the table of elders. One day these people will look to you for leadership and answers to their questions. You must be prepared." Kyle followed the chief into the darkened room and took the seat he offered next to him.
The tree house was bare inside for the most part. There was a sparse table at one end of a long rectangular room and two hides hung in front of openings that led into different rooms. One she was led into, and the other she guessed was Zantha's. The room she was led into had a bed in it with fur coverings on top. Other than that, there was nothing. "Is there a place I could use to bathe, RepSarah?"
The reptile looked at her strangely but finally nodded. "I'll show you to the springs."
"Thank you. I'm grateful for your help." Bra followed her back out of the tree house and to the ground. They took a ten minute stroll before coming upon the open pools of water. There were several cat-women already bathing in the pools when they walked up. Most of them stopped to stair in shocked silence, while others stared more in contempt.
"What is she doing here?" one of them growled at RepSarah.
"Kyle brought her back with him. If you have a problem with it then I suggest you take it up with him when he gets out of the council meeting." she scathingly replied.
"Why would he bring a saiyan back with him?"
"Well I would hazard to guess that it had something to do with this." she said, pulling out the necklace that was hidden in the folds of Bra's top. Everything went silent as they staired this time is disbelief.
"Sueka?" one of the women breathed in horror.
"Never!" the second cat-woman replied in haste.
"Then what would you call it?" RepSarah ask her.
"Insanity."
"It very well may be, but it would have nothing to do with you. I'd hate to see the cat who tangled with Kyle over this matter. I doubt he'd be very merciful or understanding."