The Leon Pogroms

By GoldenEagle

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Still longing for what yesterdays lost...

The dreams we had and we shared - shattered, broken...

All the pain that we could not see

We both knew what we wanted

And we took it believing it free

And we took it believing it free.

-Sarah Mclachlan, "Mercy"

Author's notes: Phah! I finally wrote something. Thank the gods for inspiration, ne (i.e. Sarah Mclachlan and, I dare say, Staind)? Well, on with this story. My other stories are pretty much at a standstill due to a heavy case of writer's block. Anywho, toodloo. Please review!

Chapter One: Almost Trampled. Twice.

Merle was so caught up in her game of tag with a local stable boy that she didn't even notice the group of horses galloping down the main road until they were upon the two dust covered, rolling forms. She let out a small yelp before grabbing Jonah (her playmate) by the hand and pulling him out of the way of sharp hooves and Asturian soldiers. She stuck her tongue out at them and received a particularly vicious glare from one of the men before they had tumbled by.

"By Escaflowne, I wonder what that was about." Muttered the twelve year old Jonah who was currently pouring all his attention into a scrape he had received when being dragged out of danger's way by the catgirl before him.

Merle gave him an odd look, her shoulder length pink hair shifting in the warm Fanalian breeze. She found it odd to hear the new slang of the younger people of Fanalia. So many terms referring to the war. And she had seen all that they spoke about. She unconsciously shrugged. What did it matter now? The war was over, Fanalia was going through the long process of being rebuilt, and she was strangely stoic and nostalgic. At seventeen, Merle had gained little self control and even less of a sense of "everything has its own time and place". "I hope nothing's wrong." Muttered Merle, playing with the tip of her tail out of habit. Somehow the hostility of the look she had been thrown and the determination with which the Asturian soldiers had charged forward unsettled her. The sense of contentment caused by years of peace and tranquillity among the land of Fanalia dimmed a bit at the moment. The boy Jonah didn't seem to catch hold of her uneasiness. Perhaps it was an animal's instinct.

"Hey, don't run off! You know I can't keep up with you! Merelu!" She left the boy yelling out to her as she sprinted forward, her only thoughts consisting of talking to Lord Van about what the soldiers had wanted and whining about how close they had come to trampling her into the ground.

It took her less than an hour to reach the palace, located at the center of the city. She was at the gates about the time that the same troop of Asturians tore out of the palace gates and almost trampled her again. Not to mention that they also came close to destroying a few carts and Fanalian citizens, as well. Merle glared at them as one of the palace guards helped her to her feet.

"Are you all right, Lady Merelu?" He asked, genuine concern in his voice. She brushed the dirt off of her already muddy dress and nodded stiffly. She wasn't very fond of Asturia at the moment, to say the least.

"Is Lord Van in his study?"

"He was, Lady Merelu, to take the message sent by King Aston." Translation: "He was in the study, but he's probably gone by now, pining away-"

"Up on the roof." Merle sighed, glancing up at the setting sun. "Always on the roof, stargazing, even when the sun is out." She sighed. The guard gave her a sympathetic look.

"Why don't you go and see him, Merle?" The man asked kindly. She looked up at him. He was handsome, she had to admit, and young, maybe a couple of years older than her. She blushed quietly as she began playing with her tail again. The boy suddenly seemed to startle out of his warm gaze and looked a little horrified with himself. "I'm sorry, Princess Merelu, I shouldn't speak so informally with you-"

"It's fine, really." She answered, smiling up at him, her blush fading but the sparkle to her eyes heightening. "It's Solomon, right?" She asked. He nodded, a faint blush growing on his freckled cheeks. His black hair just barely escaped the wooden helmet he wore, sending a few wisps into his silver eyes. Yes, beautiful. His expression is a lot like-

"Van." The name from her lips broke both the guard and her from the trance and she looked away, feeling guilty suddenly. "I need to see him. G'bye." And she bolted off.

"Goodbye." He whispered after her. *********************

"Van-sama! Van-saaaammaaa!" Merelu had resorted to a whining wail as she sprinted through the castle. Lord Van hadn't been on the roof of the palace, nor in his study. This made the catgirl uneasy. Shouldn't she be able to find him by now? She had been trampling about for at least the equivalent of half an hour, wailing for "Van-sama" and somehow managing to tangle herself up with almost every maid, cook, or guard in the palace she passed before she finally found him, out in the gardens. He was seated out beneath a fig tree (or the closest thing Gaea could offer to such a plant), already looking up at her as she somehow increased his lope into a sprint, going down to all fours.

"Merelu!" He laughed as she barreled into him, knocking both of them to the deeply green grass. He ruffled her pink hair as he pulled both of them up, smiling largely as the catgirl stared up at him with huge green eyes.

"Van-sama," she said softly, but after his spoken name her voice came as a whine. "I looked everywhere for you! You weren't on the roof or in your study or in the war room," (thank the gods, she thought offhandedly), "or in the sparring room or-"

"Merelu, quit babbling. I'm right here." He ruffled her hair one more time before standing, the furry bundle that had attacked him clinging to his arm, forcing him to half pull her up as well. He couldn't help but laugh again. "Merelu!" He said through mirth, his eyes sparkling.

She smiled back up at him, letting her earlier fruzzled mood slip. "Come play with me!" She mewled out happily as she tugged on his arm.

"Merelu, I can't! We can't. We have to pack." She looked up at him, suddenly puzzled, her arms slipping from his.

"Pack?" She asked excitedly. "For what?"

"We've been invited to Asturia for a ball. King Aston is holding it himself."

The catgirl frowned. "I was invited, too?" She asked in a confused voice. Her grim surprise sobered the king beside her a bit, and his smile went down a notch, though it lost none of its sincerity.

"It's a good sign, Merle. Perhaps after the war things will be easier." He said calmly. "Hopefully it has united us. All of us."

Even the beast people? Merle thought doubtfully, childhood instinct rising above current comfort. But all her worrisome musings fell away as Van nudged her, giving a small wink. "There'll be food, and dancing, and plenty of handsome young men for you. You're becoming very dainty, you know."

Merle gagged dramatically. "Dainty? Is that how you'd describe me? Dainty's for silk slippered aristocrats."

He laughed at this, and she couldn't help but notice how deep his voice was becoming, how tall he had grown since their childhood and the war. "Well, no. Savagely beautiful is a better way of putting it. I'll have to keep an eye on any of the boys who go after you."

She stuck her tongue out as the stepped from the shade, heading towards the tall walls of the castle. The gardens had been made public by Van's request, and were not bordered by the high brick towers that stood watch around the home of the king of Fanalia. "You're just required to say that because you're my brother." Strange that she choked on the word "brother". Strange how it bothered her so, how much she wished it were a different word.

He chuckled as she grasped his arm in a very deceivingly sister like way. "Someone has to keep you out of trouble." He said knowingly.

"Phah." She griped before grinning mischievously. "I'll race you to the gates." Van gave a seemingly stern nod as he released her arm, crouching a bit, ready to sprint forward. She mimicked his position. "On the count of three. One, two- Hey!" She cried out as he jumped forward, leaving her fuming behind. "Cheater!" His laughter was the only answer she got as she finally came after him.

Merelu should have won the race, she is a cat, after all. But, of course, she let Van Fanel win, pretending like she had actually tried her hardest, and Van knowing she was pretending. He looped an arm around her shoulders as they made their way into the cool interiors of the palace, both grinning hugely.

Merle completely forgot about the Asturian soldiers who had almost ran her over until that night, after all her packing was done and she was alone with her overactive thoughts. Then, of course, she couldn't sleep.

STOOOOP!!! I need your help! I'm planning on placing tidbits of quotes and lyrics on each of these chapters, and if one of you can help me with that I'd be so happy!!! PLEASE!!! Email me at GoldenEagle7777@yahoo.com or you can put it in the review OR IM me on AOL at Evilplatypusmoos. I just want you guys to help out!