Merle wandered into the courtyard, holding her nail file in her paws. Her nails were always getting scuffed as she ran on all fours around the castle. She looked up and caught a glimpse of the mystic moon, just before it fell below the trees that she was walking under. "I can't believe Hitomi wants to go back there." Merle whispered under her breath. She shook her head; she couldn't understand why Hitomi would want to leave Vaughan. Wasn't it obvious that her absence would kill him? Merle shrugged off her thoughts. She wasn't the type to think this deep about things. She smiled, and continued walking across the courtyard, filing her nails with the nail file that dangled around her neck. Suddenly, without warning, a little kitten darted out from underneath the fountain, running in Merle's path, knocking her to the ground. Merle was not the most graceful of all fallers, and so fell directly on her behind, her nail file flew out of her hands and landed in some nearby bushes. Merle, being Merle, immediately lost her temper, and stared daggers at the kitten that had caused her to trip. But being a kitten, she wouldn't be able to hurt it in any way. Doesn't stop her from threatening it a little though. Merle's fur stood on end, her tail resembling a feather duster rather than a cat's tail. The kitten, unmoved by this threat, sat on the spot, and stared directly between Merle's eyes, almost as if it was staring through her, rather than at her. "You wanna piece of me?" Merle snarled at the kitten, which by this time was licking its fur delicately. This action only served to make Merle even angrier. By this time, she began to approach the kitten, which continued to sit contentedly in the middle of the courtyard. Merle knew that she would win a fight. This was a morsel of a feline; she was the pinnacle. Merle scoffed at the kitten. "I don't have time to deal with a runt like you!" Merle snapped as she turned her nose up, and looked away. "I have no idea to whom you are speaking, child." A low, wise voice called out. Startled by this, Merle's fur stood on end once more, but this time with shock. Looking about her, Merle was puzzled as to the source of this booming voice. The kitten, however, began to approach Merle, who was oblivious to this at the time. "Your innocence suprises me, child." The voice continued, getting louder and clearer with every word. "You have no idea that the source of this voice comes from me." The kitten lovingly rubbed its head against Merle's ankle, purring softly. Merle jumped out of her skin, and turned to face the kitten, bending down, inspecting it. The kitten looked up with its large eyes, and smiled contentedly. "You?" Merle asked inquisitively. She still wasn't sure if this kitten really was the voice she was hearing. "Are you saying all that?" A look of curiosity and innocence beamed from her expression. "Of course." The kitten smiled happily, as the voice seemed to come from nowhere. The kitten sat motionless, its mouth still. "Telepathy... You're telepathic!" Merle cried happily. The kitten nodded slowly. "I know there are many questions you wish to ask." The kitten continued, completely motionless. "I am Koor." Merle frowned. There was something to this name that was strangely familiar. She thought it rude not to introduce herself. "I'm..." Koor interrupted. "Merle. Yes, I know." Merle stood back from the kitten, afraid of how he knew her name. She had never met him before in her life! How could he possibly know anything? She was too stunned to reply. Koor continued. "Merle, you must listen to me. You need to follow me. It is not safe to talk out in the open here. Any questions you have, I will be more than happy to answer. But we must move now. We cannot stay here a moment longer." Merle stared back at the castle, up at Vaughan's room. She looked down. She didn't know whether or not she should leave Vaughan, especially now since Hitomi was planning on leaving. Surely he would need her the most right now. But then again, HE pushed her out the night before. Why should she care? Merle turned back to face Koor, who was on all fours now, alert and ready to run away from this place. Merle smiled and nodded hesitantly, before he darted into the bushes. Merle skipped onto all fours and playfully chased him, almost as if they were playing a game. "Where are we going?" Merle called out breathlessly, as she patted along the ground, struggling to keep up with the pace. He was surprisingly quick for such a small feline. "To the fields, on the outskirts of Fanelia!" His voice retained grace, despite the physical exertion. Merle followed helplessly almost entranced by him. Bushes, trees, and other natural objects flew past the pair as they raced across the plains of Fanelia, to their destination, the outskirts.