Chapter 3
The Lady and the Lord
Disclaimer:
Toboe: Sorry it's been a while. I wanted to update Slaves so I put this off and then I had a horse show and then I went to Colorado… I'm kind of disappointed in you all. Not many people got free internet pie… But I thank those who did! You really made my day! I loves you!
People: -rolls eyes-
Toboe: Oh and I have some very important news. I am dedicating this chapter to a very special friend. Kisa has to go in for surgery in a few days and I want all of you to support her! I'm sending the reviews to her for this chapter so review! FOR KISA!
"My family has served the Lady of the Snow and Lord of the Ice as long as I can remember. We live far into the mountains of the north. Because of the size of some of the people we lived in small clans on the outer fringes of our kingdom. Anywhere to five to 20 of the Li'sk and one to four of the Ki'lic. In the huge clans at the middle there are any were to a hundred or two hundred of the Li'sk and 50 to hundred of the Ki'lic."
The cat stopped as Kris made a confused face and cocked her head.
"I suppose this is confusing you. The easiest way to explain this… The Li'sk are my people. We are descendents from 'housecats'. Fact is I can trace my history back to around four hundred years ago when my ancestor … um … Fluffers … first came to the kingdom." He paused, glaring at Kris's grin at the name and continued. "The Ki'lic are the bigger cats. Any way the smaller clans are closer together, enough range for each clan to get plenty of food, even in the lean times. As you can imagine the territory of the large clans are enormous. The only reason we are able to survive in such high numbers was the due cause of several hundred large valleys with sulfur hot springs at the most desolate places. They give plenty of warmth for the green food to support the abundant number of plant eating prey we eat-"
"Sir Tevonulas" a large, thin grey cat wailed as he barreled through the open doorway. Tev jumped up, his tail lashing angrily, his eyes ablaze.
"What is so important that you interrupted me when I gave specific commands not to be disturbed!" he spat at the other cat and once again Kris wondered who he really was. Even though he was much larger then the Tev, the cat who interrupted them murmured an apology and bowed his head.
"I am sorry Captain Sir! I um, just received important information consisting of our Lord and Lady."
Tev's neck fur laid flat and he curled back up and closed his eyes, his tail curled around him with his paws tucked tight.
"Proceed" he purred.
The cat gulped nervously, throwing a glace at Kris and continued his story.
"They are being moved to the 4th hall. It is there that the wolves have been put Sir. We have a cat stationed there who will make contact on your command."
The cat stood silently as Tev digested this information.
"Get half a score of housecarls and meet me at the Dead Oak Gate. Hurry!"
The cat scurried of and Tev stood with a sigh and walked to the entrance of his den.
"Come and I'll tell you the rest on the way to the Gate"
---
"Are you sure this is the right approach?" Jess asked Tsume as they stalked down the ally. It was the third city the pack had tried, splitting up and heading down different alleys, in search of food and information. Jess had decided to follow Tsume, trailing behind him as he stalked, hands thrust in pockets, back bent, and glasses hiding his eyes. This seemed like the 20th time she had asked a question, as the wolf was flatly ignoring her.
"I mean, it hasn't exactly given us a lead. Are we just going to do this until we die?"
Jess scowled and picked up her pace to keep up with the larger human. She was still upset about everything that had happened but at least she had concealed it after the first few days. Even her pain over Hige. She flinched and threw another question at the wolf, hopping to hide her momentarily lax in protection of her feelings.
"So how did you all meet?"
Tsume turned to her and she almost collided into him. He looked down at her and glared.
Jess made a face and at the next fork in the path she took the opposite direction all the time muttering darkly to herself.
"Is it so wrong to be curious I ask you! He is such a b…"
Tsume sighed as she pulled out of hearing range. For some odd reason ever since the others had left he had felt touchier and more irritable then usual. He hated it. Well whatever it is it will pass, he told himself and continued down his way ignoring his heart as it cried.
---
"Excuse me sir?" Toboe said pulling on a man's sleeve. The man shrugged him off and continued on his way without even looking at the crestfallen pup. Toboe scowled and searched the crowed for someone who didn't seem to be in a desperate rush. There wasn't a one in the group. He groaned and leaned ageist the rough concrete wall as hordes of busy people rushed by.
"Hey Toboe"
The pup startled at the she wolf, hand clasped over his heart, letting his breath out, and calming his racing heart as he recognized the wolf. It was Kuni.
"You startled me" he said with a smile. She didn't smile back and Toboe's grin faded. She was nothing like Kawa. He shook his head and Kuni gave him a quizzical look. He gave her a weak grin.
"Come see what Klaue has found"
Toboe stood and followed the girl as she walked purposely towards an alley. Toboe followed with a sigh. No one really seemed alive anymore. If it was Kawa who had startled him then he was sure he would have got a teasing and a laugh. Now no one gave a response to anything really, they had become overwhelmed with guilt, sorrow, and purpose. Not that he could say much himself.
"Here we are," Kuni said. Toboe looked around her and saw Klaue conversing with a large thin grey cat with a strange accent.
---
"What do you think he meant?" Reavan wondered out loud.
"About what?"
"About everything"
"I think he thinks Chi is Kawa's pup" Roukan said slowly as if debating the idea himself. Kawa scoffed at the idea and nosed Chi's head, who was asleep in her lap.
"Even a complete idiot could tell he is a fox."
"But he looks so much like you that they might of guessed…"
"Don't get me wrong, this conversation is um… interesting to say the least but what about all the other things he said?" Mika interrupted.
"I don't know about that," Roukan shrugged. Who knew what that deranged man thought and in result Roukan closed his eyes and enjoyed a few blissful second of heaven, in which he was disembodying the disturbed doctor.
"Hey, human alert," Mika growled lowly. She would never admit it but the reason she had even spotted the bugger was because she had been watching Hige. He was just lying there, not doing anything, like a zombie. It kind of wigged her out.
"What do they want now?" Roukan snarled.
---
Kris anxiously watched the long building from atop the hill. She wanted action. Growling to herself she scanned the skies for her feathered companion and then glance down at the row of 4 long buildings, each with two lines of 30 some cages each. Kris could see what she thought were Roukan and Mika two middle cages but she wasn't sure. She guessed that the other three were facing their cages. It had taken most of the wolf's reserves not to call to them now but Tev had told her it was the utmost importance not to arouse attention. She followed the others gaze to two huge cages being pulled to the buildings end. Doors opened and the cages were pushed in hallways behind the cages, one on each side. She could hear the roars all the way up here!
"What is in those crates?" Kris growled at the cat next to her.
---
"Do you hear that?" Kawa said cocking her head. Chi huddled against her, his fur messed up and eyes wide from terror.
Questioning out loud Mika voiced everyone's bafflement.
"What is it?"
The sounds of rolling wheels, talking humans, and some kind of animal snarling put all the wolves on high alert. All excepted for Hige where alarmed. Teeth were bared, ears and tails were up and fur bristled. They could all hear it now. The sound was coming from behind the concrete wall.
All at once the entrances from the cages next to Kawa and Mika burst open. Two Leon-shaped creatures roared and launched themselves at the bars. Claws flashed in the light and the clatter of metal rang through the air as the creatures flung themselves from the bars. All were alarmed. Wolves snarling, creatures roaring, Chi whimpering, and Hige even lifting his head. Then it got silent quickly as one by one the wolves recognized the creatures. They all could see at least one of the beasts even if they did have to crane their necks in uncomfortable positions. Both of the creatures were around 10 feet long, from the tip of their pink nose to the end of their black tipped tale. Thick white fun coated their bodies with black stripes racing down their backs. Their bodies were lean and muscular and they walked with natural catlike grace. A thick ruff of white fur encircled their necks, with ears twitching in the direction of small sounds. One white tiger turned to the wolves, piercing blue eyes surveyed the companions while long tails twitched and huge paws paced.
"And who might you be?"
Toboe: Please pray for Kisa-Kun. This marks her first day in the hospital. With Love to Kisa! Oh and Leon means lion. Oh and if anyone cares I got third place in my horse show! R&R!