*It's some kind of large lettuce, that's my belief.* Two young Arcerians
looked intently at the strange creature.
The companion of the one who spoke disagreed. *It's an animal of some type. Maybe we should take it back to the den.*
*Once again, you are completely out of your furry mind. What if it's dangerous? I don't think our mothers would be very happy.* Laeyl was the elder of the two, and quite often he took this as a way to act superior.
*But it looks like a bald she-kitten.* Oryanae protested. *Maybe they will know what to do with it. At the very least, it could be dinner.*
Elesarian thought she was dreaming the voices that seemed to be sent over an Opal thread. However, she roused enough to catch the last words. *Dinner!* The indignant side of her drove out all anger. *I am not dinner!* She glance up at the sources of the voices and nearly choked on her own words. While still young, these were _big_ cats. Uhhh.ut oh. She felt close to being sick. The cats, however, merely looked more puzzled. *It talks!* Oryanae exclaimed in glee. *Whoever heard of a talking lettuce?*
*Okay, okay, it's not a lettuce.* Laeyl conceded. *Who and what are you?* He demanded of the thing, which was looking small and scared after its outburst.
*I'm a. a girl. My name is Elesarian.* She mumbled. *My village is gone. I have no where to go.*
*I was right. It's a she-kitten.* The smaller Arcerian crowed. *We should take her back to the den.*
*I suppose.* Laeyl was hesitant, but he eventually gave in.
~_~_~_~
Elesarian was numb and confused, otherwise she might have protested a bit more as the two young Arcerians roughly dragged her off to what was apparently their den. The prospect of more and bigger felines was making Elesarian a bit ill.
When they arrived, she was certainly glad for the warmth of the cave, but it was not echoed in her welcome. The young girl waited miserably while she listened to fast exchanges in what must have been the language of these big felines. All it sounded like to her was howls. Finally, one of the biggest came over and sniffed her.
It was either shriek in fear, or pretend to be brave, so Elesarian raised her eyes and stared boldly back at the feline, who must have been the matriarch. She was a Queen, the girl noted with surprise.
*A sapphire jeweled Eyrien Queen?* The female sounded both amused and wary. *What are you doing here?*
*I was flying. and I fell.* Elesarian made her tone bold and defiant. *My village is gone.*
*I don't know what to think. I must consult the others. Perhaps we will contact Kaelas at the Dark Court. Restrain the she-kitten.* She turned to go, and several large felines moved in with silent snarls.
Elesarian gulped and watched them with growing dread.
The companion of the one who spoke disagreed. *It's an animal of some type. Maybe we should take it back to the den.*
*Once again, you are completely out of your furry mind. What if it's dangerous? I don't think our mothers would be very happy.* Laeyl was the elder of the two, and quite often he took this as a way to act superior.
*But it looks like a bald she-kitten.* Oryanae protested. *Maybe they will know what to do with it. At the very least, it could be dinner.*
Elesarian thought she was dreaming the voices that seemed to be sent over an Opal thread. However, she roused enough to catch the last words. *Dinner!* The indignant side of her drove out all anger. *I am not dinner!* She glance up at the sources of the voices and nearly choked on her own words. While still young, these were _big_ cats. Uhhh.ut oh. She felt close to being sick. The cats, however, merely looked more puzzled. *It talks!* Oryanae exclaimed in glee. *Whoever heard of a talking lettuce?*
*Okay, okay, it's not a lettuce.* Laeyl conceded. *Who and what are you?* He demanded of the thing, which was looking small and scared after its outburst.
*I'm a. a girl. My name is Elesarian.* She mumbled. *My village is gone. I have no where to go.*
*I was right. It's a she-kitten.* The smaller Arcerian crowed. *We should take her back to the den.*
*I suppose.* Laeyl was hesitant, but he eventually gave in.
~_~_~_~
Elesarian was numb and confused, otherwise she might have protested a bit more as the two young Arcerians roughly dragged her off to what was apparently their den. The prospect of more and bigger felines was making Elesarian a bit ill.
When they arrived, she was certainly glad for the warmth of the cave, but it was not echoed in her welcome. The young girl waited miserably while she listened to fast exchanges in what must have been the language of these big felines. All it sounded like to her was howls. Finally, one of the biggest came over and sniffed her.
It was either shriek in fear, or pretend to be brave, so Elesarian raised her eyes and stared boldly back at the feline, who must have been the matriarch. She was a Queen, the girl noted with surprise.
*A sapphire jeweled Eyrien Queen?* The female sounded both amused and wary. *What are you doing here?*
*I was flying. and I fell.* Elesarian made her tone bold and defiant. *My village is gone.*
*I don't know what to think. I must consult the others. Perhaps we will contact Kaelas at the Dark Court. Restrain the she-kitten.* She turned to go, and several large felines moved in with silent snarls.
Elesarian gulped and watched them with growing dread.