I am not sure how I did not update this when I last updated a bunch of these, seriously no clue. For everyone who liked this fic and waited this long for a chapter 2 I am sorry. I hope this chapter makes the fans happy. And now on to the long delayed chapter 2.
Aishi Say
"My attitude will always be based on how you treat me."
image from Pinterest of Facebook.
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"And then I hit him upside the head...and he fell down," Duo finished falling back, landing on the floor in a heap.
Trowa frowned at the unconscious Duo before leaning closer to Hilde, "I see your point."
"Good," Hilde responded sipping her drink, Duo normally did not drink to excess. When he did it was best just let him, it was less of a headache later.
Trowa frowned slightly at the cool tone, "What was done to you?" It was obvious she had something against his kind rather than just him, he was curious what it was.
Hilde sighed softly, it was not a happy memory, "I was out riding and some furry blur shredded my dog."
"Some hunter," Trowa muttered, killing a pet was petty.
"Yes, well, if Duo had not shown up I'd likely be dead to...I shouldn't take it out on you." Hilde admitted softly, the feline seemed like a decent guy.
Trowa shrugged slightly, "You wish to protect Duo, that is understandable."
"Well we are friends," Hilde commented, she had been friends with Duo for what felt like almost all of her life.
Trowa nodded, choosing not to imply or infer anything, "Of course."
"You really aren't so bad," Hilde decided glancing at the feline sitting beside her.
Trowa nodded absently, "Tigers are fighters, and as I told the child I would listen to Duo...mostly."
Hilde smiled at that, sipping her drink again, "He is kind of the leader, but he is weaker."
"I am not a lion or a wolf, I am a stray of sorts, and have no wish to lead a band." Trowa was fine listening to Duo when he was the one with greater experience, not all bands needed a sole leader.
Hilde considered the others logic for a moment, "I never knew Beastials could talk so well."
"I observe, many do not care to converse much with humans," Trowa knew plenty who had no interest in humans, some of them other humans.
"So no hard feelings?" Hilde asked, not needing to ask why anyone not human would avoid them.
Trowa smiled, bowing his head, "None, should we remove him from the floor?"
"Nah, let him sleep it off for a bit. Come, I want to show you a few things if you want to remain with us." Hilde tossed some coins on the counter, the owners would make sure Duo was not bothered. He had been well paid to, and he was not about to cross a mage with a Beastial familiar who was not even marked.
Trowa nodded getting to his feet as well, "Lead than, I shall follow."
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"He is Deathscythe, and mine Skywise. That scar there was done with a scythe." Hilde nodded to the scar on Duo's mount left hip. The feline had met the mounts earlier, but had not been introduced to them really.
Trowa nodded, the scar was distinctive but not crippling, "Reapers then?"
"Yes, Duo has one of their scythes, but hates the dead only policy." Hilde did not have much love for it either, some criminals deserved it far more then others. Reapers were one of a few orders who all used the same basic gear, though they were likely the most reconzieable.
"It would not sit well with a lover of live," Trowa commented, it was not hard to see Duo and Hilde fought to protect not kill.
Hilde smiled at the insight, "You see a lot for a cyclops."
Trowa turned from Deathscythe, "I am a cat."
"Why don't you hide?" Hilde asked curious, most non-humans were more weary of humans then the feline clearly was.
"I hide to hunt, never in fear," Trowa had not been concerned with humans since he was a cub, he was much harder to kill now.
"Don't you get scared?" Hilde was not surprised normal humans did not scare the feline, but did anything?
Trowa titled his head, clawed hand resting on a thick neck, "Tell me what wild animal is rumored to be one of the deadliest?"
"Tigers...are they?" Hilde did not know much of tigers, they were not native to her homeland, or any of the lands she and Duo had traveled.
"The largest of cats fear nothing but skilled human hunters, and I am both," Trowa did not waste time fearing anything weaker then he was, there was no point to it.
"Did you ever serve a mage?" Hilde was curious if the feline's ability to speak and such was due to being a familiar at some point, many were.
Trowa frowned, he had no interest in being a mage's servant, "No."
Hilde nodded, no need to ask why with that frown, "Duo is gifted but never formally trained...can you do magic?"
Trowa shook his head, "Like many other mystical creature we have energy attacks, but cannot cast spells."
"May I?" Hilde asked hesitating slightly, she understood he disliked mages but he seemed all right with normal humans.
"May you what?" Trowa asked curious, not wanting to assume anything out loud.
"Touch you," Hilde did not want to just touch the feline, if he did not like being touched he might just swipe like a cat did.
Trowa chuckled amused by the timidness, "I do not mind being touched."
Hilde reached out stroking long bangs before tracing a stripe that curved down near his jaw line, "You're warm."
"It is not cold outside," Trowa reminded the human frowning slightly.
"No, I mean you are warmer then Duo," Hilde explained, it made sense really that the feline was a little warmer then at average human.
"Oh...I did not know that," Trowa fought humans not really touched them, blood was hot regardless of what human or humanoid it sprayed from.
Hilde frowned slightly, "You have any reason to join us, or just a whim?"
"I am a hunter so why not? Duo tells me you both do it for justice?" Trowa heard humans use that word a lot, it was often a fancy way to say revenge.
"It's not just for the money...do you even use money?" Hilde asked frowning at the feline, he was wearing clothing like any human. They were not patched or otherwise damaged, meaning he likely changed them often.
"From time to time, but not as often as you humans do." Trowa had no need to buy food or tools, moving around made things more of an annoyance then anything.
Hilde nodded, humans did seem to love things, "You know I think a little gold would look good on you...and make you look a little less wild."
"I see no harm in a little," Trowa replied, knowing what she meant by less wild. He did not wear anything he could not easily remove, constricting clothing was not his style.
"Good, I know a bizarre near the shore that sells like everything," Hilde was curious if the feline had ever been to one. He had gotten his clothing from somewhere, and she was pretty sure he had not stolen it. A piece or two from some fool he defeated was another matter, she and Duo had a few items acquired that way.
Trowa frowned slightly, he did not waste his time at such places often, a few trader haunts were more to his liking, "You enjoy such things?"
"Oh sure, so does Duo," Hilde answered, she and Duo enjoyed hunting for odd items rather then just shopping.
Trowa shook his head, humans and their things, "You plan on spending the reward there?"
"Some...say have you ever seen a three tusked boar?" Hilde asked eyeing the feline, she knew he was fast firsthand, how strong he was she was less sure of.
"No, why?" Trowa had never hunted such a beast, perhaps there was a bounty on a rampaging one somewhere.
"Don't tell Duo, but some hunter nut wants the head of one, weight in gold want." Hilde kept her ears open for such things, sometimes they made nice easy coin that way.
Trowa frowned, "He does not wish to kill the beast himself?"
"Not all human hunters wish to risk their lives for trophies," Hilde disliked trophy hunters, but boars were prone to attack humans so killing one for profit did not bother her.
Trowa sighed as he nodded, bragging about kills that were not yours was not his style, "And this reward would please Duo?"
Hilde nodded, getting the feeling the feline disliked trophy hunters as well, "Yes it would, and they are such nasty rampaging things."
"Why not tell Duo?" Trowa was curious why Hilde would keep something from her friend, perhaps she wished to surprise or prove something.
"I want to surprise him...you in?" Hilde wanted to surprise her friend, as well as see what the feline could do when he meant to kill.
Trowa titled his head, arms crossing, "I take it you wish to see me do the killing?"
"I know you're fast so sure, is that a yes?" Hilde caught the sarcasm, but sarcasm did not mean no.
Trowa shrugged, "I have no problem with it, when?"
"There's a fork in the road a day that way, that's where we'll split. You can kill one right?" The feline acted nonchalant about it, and Hilde was pretty sure it was not just an act.
"As I said before I have never faced one, but it sounds interesting enough," Trowa had no qualms about killing a boar for profit, they were not nice beats magical or otherwise.
Hilde smiled, that was a yes, "All right than, I think it is time to go tuck Duo in."
Trowa frowned slightly, "Why, we are not going anywhere?"
"Do you want to leave him on the floor all night?" Hilde countered, she had done it before when he got on her nerves.
Trowa shook his head, "Not particularity."
"Then we should go get him. Don't worry you'll get the hang of us," Hilde smiled patting his shoulder.
Trowa uncrossed his arms as he fell in behind the human, "If you say so."
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"Ow, what hit me?" Duo muttered, hands on his face, head throbbing but not as bad as it could be.
"The floor," Trowa answered evenly, absently watching the human.
Duo bolted upright before remembering the feline was not an enemy, "Right, good monster."
Trowa chuckled, chin on the back of his left hand, black clad legs crossed, "Silly little mouse."
"Hey now, no food jokes with that smirk," Duo protested, eyeing the feline who was sitting on the side of the bed facing him.
"Tigers don't eat mice, too small," Trowa reminded the human amused.
"So I'm too small am I?" Duo demanded with mock offense, not even considering the implications of the joke he had just made.
Trowa tilted his head at the human, "Are your feeling really so delicate?" Clawed fingers reached out taking the braid, left arm lowering to rest on his raised knee, "Living cay toy."
Duo glanced at clawed fingers, "Do tigers chase things too?" The sleeveless high-necked shirt the feline was wearing did nothing to hide the stripes that ran down the outside of his arms.
"If we choose, care to run?" Trowa purred sneering, he could be sarcastic as any when he chose.
"You're mean," Duo pouted crossing his arms, Hilde could be like that sometimes.
Trowa shrugged slightly, "You're the one who passed out."
"Oh like you've never overdone it?" Duo snapped, yeah it was his own fault but everyone did stupid things now and then.
"Never, I don't trust your kind defenseless," Trowa muttered before looking away, "I'm sorry I..."
"Hey," Duo soothed, reaching out to lay his hands on hunter green clad shoulders, frowning slightly when the feline did not look up. "If I wasn't human and as cute as you I'd watch my ass too."
Trowa sighed softly, "Still I should have thought before speaking...you and Hilde are not threats."
"Oh yeah, you two made up. Good I thought that might have just been wishful thinking," Duo was relived his best friend and his new one had come to an understanding.
"No, are you all right?" Trowa asked looking back up, Duo did not appear to be badly hung over, he had seen far worst.
"Mostly, you?" Duo asked pleased the feline was looking at him again, he did not like it when people didn't meet his eyes.
Trowa frowned slightly for a moment, "Fine."
"Good...Hilde?" Duo felt safe assuming the feline knew where Hilde was, or at least where she likely was.
"Taking innovatory, she asked me to watch you in her stead." Trowa had not minded, he preferred to be useful while awake and not recovering.
Duo nodded, it made sense to him, "How long ago was that?"
"An hour or so," Trowa answered, glancing at the shadows the sun cast on Duo's sheets to do the quick absent math.
"Right, hunters wait," Duo was fine with the feline keeping him company rather then Hilde, he was a decent guy.
Trowa half smirked, "We're learning."
"Teams have to learn or they won't work," Duo was more then willing to learn more about the feline, and he seemed inclined to stay with him as well.
Trowa nodded, the human had a valid point, "True...a team will take some getting use to."
Duo grinned, patting the feline's shoulders as he pulled his hands away, "You're a quick learner so don't go losing any sleep over it."
"hmm...that would make me cranky," Trowa did not enjoy losing sleep at all, most felines he knew agreed with him.
"Bad for everyone," Duo teased, he knew how he was when he was tried.
"True," Trowa agreed nodding slightly, he had a feeling Duo was either cranky or distracted when tried.
Duo watched sunlight glint off of claws as the feline shifted, chin resting on his arms as they folded to rest on his raised knee, left foot resting on the floor, tail tip twitching now and then. He had never seen anything look so human yet alien at the same time as this cat, whose liquid grace he could watch all day trying to copy. "So...should I expect to find you in my room often?"
Trowa blinked at the question, it could be taken in a less then friendly teasing way, "I observe, if it bothers you..."
"Now wait a tick, I'm not upset or anything, I was just curious." Duo was not worried about being jumped, even in teasing, by the feline.
"Hilde informed me you need looked after," Trowa half teased, Duo had been teasing rather then serious.
"Maybe," Duo half teased, he enjoyed playful teasing over serious.
Trowa shook his head, "I have no doubt."
"See learn at high speeds," Duo praised grinning up at the feline.
Trowa arched a brow at the grinning human, "And just where did you learn English?"
"The streets so yeah," Duo answered shrugging, he had never wanted to be like everyone else.
Trowa curled his fingers around his chin, "hmm...it is unique."
"Hugs!" Duo cried, glomping the startled feline.
"Am I interrupting?" Hilde cooed from the doorway, arms crossing, amused.
"Strips said I talk all unique so hugs," Duo answered, still holding onto the striped young man.
Hilde shook her head with a sigh, "Duo let him go before he decides to scratch you."
Duo jerked away, yelping when he slipped, blinking up at the feline before looking at the wall and floor. "Alright, reaction time is still a little off."
Trowa pulled Duo back up, shaking his head as he turned to Hilde, "Once again I see your point."
"Don't feel bad, as I said you'll get use to us," Hilde assured the feline with a teasing little smile.
"What are we jerks?" Duo demanded, frowning when Hilde just giggled.
"We're good to go," Hilde informed the males, changing the subject.
Duo grinned at the serious tone, "Atta girl."
"Duo the Con starts in about four days," Hilde reminded her grinning friend.
"Road trip!" Duo cheered, arms up.
"Yep," Hilde agreed, use to Duo being excitable.
"We'll go now!" Duo decided standing, it would not take him long to get ready.
Trowa frowned at the excited human, "It's past midday."
Duo turned to the frowning feline, "So you hunt at night right?"
"Well yes, but we have four days," Trowa was a patient hunter, running around did noting but waste energy.
"A day early is always best," Duo explained, it made sense the feline did not know about this short of thing.
"And that little errand needs done," Hilde reminded the feline, it was a little job really.
"What earned?" Duo asked frowning, no one had mentioned anything to him.
"Oh I just need to borrow him so he can replace my staff," Hilde had every intention of seeing the feline did just that before they reunited with Duo.
"oh...that does make sense," Duo frowned, the feline had ruined her staff so it made sense for him to get her a new one.
"You should just go ahead of us in case we get held up, you can get our normal spot," Hilde did not know how Duo did it but he could fine the best anything, his luck was insane.
Duo sighed, "Well...alright I guess so, but only because you two are chummy, and it is the spot."
"What is this spot?" Trowa asked, not caring which human answered him.
"Only the best camp at the Con, and you Strips will turn heads." Duo would be surprised if the feline was not mobbed by girls at least once.
Trowa titled his head frowning, "Turn heads?"
"He means people will stare...a few will probably attack." Hilde had no doubt people would take notice, the feline did not cover all his stripes let alone the ears and tail.
"Poor them," Trowa drawled unimpressed, average humans were of no concern, they scattered easily.
Duo smirked, "No starting fight now, they frown on that."
Trowa rolled his eyes, "As if humans need provoking."
"Hey now!" Duo cried, not sure how serious the feline was being.
Hilde sighed, "Duo get ready, I'll go double check everything."
"Hil I love you, shoo both of you." Duo ordered, making shooing motions at the pair until they closed the door.
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"Such impatient creatures," Trowa muttered as he fitted a leather cuff to his wrist, its twin already tied.
Hilde smiled at the halfhearted complaining, their mounts already use to the feline, "He's like a kid, which I notice you like."
"Not all of them," Trowa reminded the female evenly, some children were monstrous.
"I know Duo can be a handful at times, but you just can't help but love the guy," Hilde had met few people who were anywhere near as charming as Duo could be.
"Hey there pretty lady, nice horses," A disreputable looking man jeered.
Hilde turned, she was use to being jeered at, "I'd stay back if I were you."
"And why is that?" The man asked, she did not look tough to him. The young women pointed up, and he followed her finger, crying out when he was pounced on. Blinking at a striped young man snarling in his face, a knee pressed into his chest, "What in the...Witch!"
"Not really, he just doesn't like creeps," Hilde informed the man as she walked up to the crouched feline, touching his shoulder. "I think Rathan should deal with him don't you?"
"Yes! Arrest me, just don't let it eat me!" The man cried, those teeth looked very, very sharp.
"Stay with the horses, I will handle him," Hilde ordered, playing the part of a 'Witch' to keep the man scared of her.
Trowa stood, dragging the man to his feet one handed, "As you wish."
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"So where is our lovely lady friend?" Duo asked seeing no sign of her, the horses seemed perfectly happy to have the feline around.
Trowa frowned, "On her way back from Rathan, she was approached by a creep."
Duo shook his head, "She is a pretty girl, and not all men get manners. Do you think she's pretty?"
Trowa shrugged slightly, "For a human yes."
"I like natural myself, not all gussied up," Duo was not about to waste his time with normal mage attire, being able to move mattered much more.
"Gussied up?" Trowa asked frowning, that was a strange sounding word.
Duo frowned for a moment, "Fancy hair, make up, nails, that kind of thing."
"Pointless," Trowa muttered crossing his arms, nature and fancy did not mix.
Duo nodded, "Exactly, now looking nice for special occasions is different, because it's special."
"Logical," Trowa commented, he did not attend many, but the logic was still sound.
"We have our moments. You alright to walk to wherever then to Con?" Duo was not an expert on Beastials, he knew the feline could move faster, which made sense since he was a cat.
"I am no wolf, but yes." Trowa was not at all concerned about about long walks, predators had to sometimes traveled far to hunt.
"Alright, if you say so I believe you," Duo had no reason to doubt the feline's word, there was no reason for him to lie.
Trowa frowned slightly, "I have no reason to lie."
"Well, we humans use tigers as noble symbols, so they must be noble critters right?" Duo grinned when the feline titled his head at him. Noble in beast terms bit not mean the same thing as noble in human, though sometimes they still synced up pretty well.
Trowa smirked when Duo grinned, "We can take lions."
"You're more interesting to look at. I like the stripes, they give you character." Duo had been wondering how the pattern looked on his back, tigers always had cool stripes on their backs.
Trowa glanced at his stripped arms, "And that is good?"
"Sure, you stand out, I like character," Duo preferred to stand out, a Beastail may not enjoy it as much.
"Thank you," Trowa said bowing his head, Duo clearly enjoyed being different.
Duo shrugged still grinning, "No big."
"Hello you two," Hilde greeted walking up to the pair, holding out a small pouch to the feline. "Here you should have some coin on you."
"True, thank you," Trowa took the pouch, slipping it into a pouch fitted to his belt.
"You caught him," Hilde dismissed as she took the reins of Skywise from Duo.
"Aw bounding," Duo cooed teasingly, it was nice seeing them getting along after a rocky start.
"Shut up and get on your horse so we can go," Hilde muttered, use to Duo getting distracted sometimes with jokes.
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"Stripes? Where did that cat go?" Duo frowned when he only saw Hilde sitting at the fire, where he had left them both.
Hilde smiled, turning from the stew she was cooking, "Did you ever think to ask his name?"
"Nope," Duo admitted, sniffing at the cooking food.
"Stripes sounds like a pet's name," Hilde reminded her friend, adding a bit more pepper, it was nice that they normally had spice for when camping.
"It's a fair nickname, he has stripes," Duo countered, stylized perhaps compared to a 'real' tiger, but still striped.
Both humans jumped when the feline dropped, landing cross from them, two cleaned rabbits in his hands, "Hungry?"
"Starved actually," Duo answered, guessing Hilde had known the feline was out hunting.
"On it, you two talk nice now." Hilde teased taking the rabbits, it would not take long to cut them up for stew meat.
"Yes mom," Duo teased back, catching the feline smirk before he began to lick the blood from his right hand. "So Stripes got a name?"
"mm hm," Trowa murmured, not pausing his cleaning.
"Care to share, or should I start guessing?" Duo was find calling the feline whatever he preferred, he was not sure if Beastials cared much for names.
"Trowa," He could tease the human a bit, but Trowa decided to take pity on him.
"Cool...I like it," Duo liked the sound of the name, pleased it was something easy to say.
"Why?" Trowa asked curious, he did not think much about his name.
Duo smiled, "Sounds nice, and I can whine it real easy, watch Tro...waaaah!"
Trowa playfully whacked Duo's thigh with his tail, "Don't do that."
"Aw, why not?" Duo liked teasing the feline, he had a feeling the feline did not get to joke around with humans often.
"I said so," Trowa answered, crossing his arms.
"Mean kitty," Duo pouted, at least the other was still teasing.
Trowa smirked at the human, "Never said I wasn't."
"Leave him be Duo. I'm sure whining hurts his ears," Hilde chided, dumping the chopped bits of rabbit into the stew.
"Oh right ears...dose it?" Duo had not really considered that, those furry ears were not just for show.
"No, it's fine Duo really," Trowa assured the human, Duo's teasing had not been highpitched just loud.
"Sure?" Duo asked wanting to make very sure, he was still a little worried.
"Yes, sure. You are a rather sensitive human," Trowa commented shaking his head, he worried so over nothing.
"When I like someone sure am," Duo was hated to upset those close to him, strangers he was less concerned with.
Trowa chuckled, "You needn't worry so much Duo, I am use to listening to humans."
"OK, a little creepy," Duo commented, frowning slightly, he would be temped to lay around a easedrop if he could.
Trowa shrugged, "Predators hide and listen, what can I say?"
"He has a point Duo," Hilde commented, use to mostly listening as she cooked.
Duo waggled a finger at the feline, "No spying on us hear? We no likely."
Trowa bowed his head, folding his arms on a raised right knee, left leg folded on the grass, "Of course."
"Good. I'm starved, Hilde my love feed me?" Duo leaned back, smiling at Hilde like a little kid.
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"Tell me something?" Hilde asked the feline as she rode along beside him, the forest peaceful around them.
"If I can," Trowa responded not looking up, the forest sounds absently being tracked,
"Don't you ever get lonely?" Hilde knew large cats were not as social as house cats, but he was also part human.
"Solitary by nature helps, but yes, at times," Trowa answered with a slight nod, there was no reason not to be honest.
"It must be hard watching people who would likely try and hurt you," Hilde hung her head for a moment, it was not a pleasant thought.
"Not all humans fear and despise us, like you and Duo," Trowa reminded Hilde as he turned to face her.
"Most hide," Hilde reminded the feline, it had come up before.
Trowa nodded, "Most wish to have nothing to do with humans."
"Why do you?" Hilde had been told he was not afraid of humans, but that did not mean he automatically liked them.
"Curiosity really, humans watch animals for the same reason." Trowa liked to watched those around him, not all humans were threats or boring.
"Some animals bite too...won't you get tried walking?" Hilde asked frowning slightly, he seemed perfectly fine so far.
Trowa shook his head, crossing his arms, "Not really, I have much better stamina than a human, no offense."
"None taken, cats are pretty strong," Hilde was use to magical beings and creatures being stronger then an average human.
"You are not exactly weak," Trowa reminded the human, not that she relied on physical strength.
"Compared to you I fight like an old lady," Hilde said shaking her head, she was plenty fast enough to beat up fools, but she needed some work for trained fighters.
"I can teach you to use your speed if you wish," Trowa offered, she did not need as much work as she likely thought she did.
"Really? I'd like that," Hilde and Duo both liked speed to win, she was fine leaving brute force to the feline.
"Good, I have a feeling you'll need to learn," Trowa had a feeling joining these humans would lead to some nasty fights.
"You mean bad Furries?" Hilde wanted to get a bit better before facing anything like Trowa again.
"Furries? hmm… fitting I guess," Trowa frowned half thinking out loud, not that he was really furry compared to a 'real' tiger.
Hilde patted soft hair, "I think it's cute."
Trowa frowned at the smiling human, "You think I'm cute?"
"I love cats," Hilde answered, still teasing the feline a bit.
"Duo seems too as well," Trowa commented, fingers curling around his chin.
Hilde grinned, "He loves all cute fluffy things."
"I am not a fluffy thing," Trowa muttered, not even liking that in teasing.
"Are to, you have fur," Hilde smiled when Trowa sighed, "Cheer up, you aren't a house cat."
"Some humans keep tigers for pets," Trowa wondered about those people, tigers could be rather temperamental.
"Well yeah but...would you call them house cats?" Hilde guessed they were, technically, but that was not the point.
Trowa frowned for a moment, "No."
Hilde nodded, the feline was learning just fine, "See?"
"Good point," Trowa commented before stopping, growling low.
"I mean no harm, please Sorceress?"
Hilde blinked at the blonde women, who looked her age. The stranger staggered, blinking up at Trowa eyes wide. "He won't harm you miss, unless you give him a reason. What happened?"
"Bandits, I was lucky to get away," The blonde answered, starting to relax a little.
Hilde nodded as she dismounted, "You OK to ride?"
"Yes, thank you," The blonde answered, blinking when the feline set her in the saddle as if she weighed no more then a child.
"It's nothing, we're heading into town anyway," Hilde assured the blonde, dusting the front her lavender shirt off, violet vest and black leggings free of pine needles.
"Ah...your beast is stunning Lady Sorceress, and pleasantly free of gaudy jewelry." The feline was not wearing anything gaudy really.
"He's not my beast he's my friend, and I am not a sorceress," Hilde was fine not having magic, it could be a real pain sometimes.
The blonde blinked her blue eyes, "But they are wild uncivilized beasts, how do you control him?"
"I don't," Hilde answered, she could yell at the feline nothing more.
The blonde blushed embarrassed, "Oh...I..."
"You are far from home, your ladyship, bandits are somewhat common outside city walls," Trowa informed the blonde coolly.
"Ladyship?" Hilde asked, the young women was dressed nicely, but not as nicely as ladies normally did when outside.
"She smells like the oils nobles fancy, and then there is the way she behaves," Trowa answered not looking at the blonde.
"I hope you mean pleasantly," The blonde commented affronted.
Trowa frowned slightly, "Predators do not care much for flowers, but the blood on you ankle smells of fear."
Hilde frowned, she had not noticed a bloody ankle, "You're hurt?"
"A scratch really," The blonde assured the violet haired young women.
"Well we'll be at the walls soon," Hilde commented, not sure about this noble.
"Thank you again," The blonde said with a bow.
"It's nothing," Hilde dismissed, there was no harm in having a noble owe you one.
"Can I trouble you to take me all the way to the palace?" The blonde asked, nibbling on her lip.
"Sure...Trowa?" Hilde was fine with it, but Trowa may have an objection.
"It will be the big stone building," Trowa answered, not overly concerned with the current conversation.
"No silly, I want to know if you're all right with walls," Hilde was not worried about walls, she was human.
Trowa glanced at Hilde, "Of course, your human defenses are made to deter humans, which I am not."
"You mean our people are in danger?" The blonde demanded suddenly worried.
"Not from me my lady, I'm just passing through," Trowa answered, not concerned with the noble and her kingdom.
"Don't talk to the guards," Hilde commented, no doubt they would not find him amusing.
"Why would I want to?" Trowa asked, turning to Hilde.
"Just don't," Hilde answered, Duo would tease the lady and the guards too.
"I won't," Trowa assured his friend, guards tended to swing first ask questions later.
"Good," Hilde commented, glancing at the noble who was frowning at them like they confusing.
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Trowa sneered, foot holding the pike down, arms folding behind his back. "Beast let go!"
"Thom, Bratan leave him be!" The blonde ordered, frowning at the feline easily holding a pike down with his foot, the other guard frowning.
"Lady Peacecraft!" The guards cried bowing.
Trowa stepped back as both men bowed, snorting as he walked past them. Hilde hid a grin, cats were cats after all, "Sorry."
"Not at all, please come you must rest here tonight." Lady Peacecraft wanted to thank the pair, and a nice meal and a fine bed was a good start.
Hilde glanced at Trowa, who nodded, "All right sure."
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Hilde sighed, examining the golden colored gown she was wearing in the full length mirror. "You look lovely," Trowa commented stopping in the doorway.
"Oh Trowa, knock will you?" Hilde teased turning, smiling at the feline, "You look nice."
"I don't often wear white," Trowa commented, frowning at the bliowly white sleeves.
Hilde smiled as she walked up to Trowa, "You clean up nicely.
Trowa smirked, he did not dress up often but he had before, "So do you." Hilde shoved him playfully, blinking when he held out his arm, "Care to be formally thanked?"
"I've never faced royalty before," Hilde was nervous, she knew how picky and petty nobles could be.
"You'll be fine," Trowa assured Hilde, patting her hand.
"All right if you say so," Hilde decided to trust the feline, he seemed to right as often as Duo.
Trowa smirked, she had little to be worried about, "You're learning."
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"I would like to thank you for bringing my daughter home," Lady Peacecraft greeted bowing her head, her daughter sitting at her right.
"It was our pleasure really," Hilde responded as she curtsied, Trowa bowing saying nothing.
"My daughter tells me the feline is not under your control, yet he appears tame, please explain?" Lady Peacecraft was curious, mystical creatures did not often just work with humans.
"You will find many of my race are quite civil despite the name Beastial. Tigers are a noble symbol among humans of the east, much as lions are here. Surely a tiger with a human's intellect is no wild beast?" Trowa asked tone even, smirking slightly at the blinking.
Lady Peacecraft fidgeted slightly, "No, of course not, what I meant was..."
Trowa held up a hand, "I find you humans often say something rude, and then apologize byt saying that was not what you meant, when it was indeed what you meant."
"That is quite rude feline," Lady Peacecraft informed the feline coolly, not happy about being corrected.
Trowa narrowed his eyes slightly, "So is referring to civil members of my race as tame. Knowing human etiquette, and following it when I choose, is not something I was trained to do by some human. It is my choice, as is following Hilde. As it is yours to see the cat and ignore the man, tigers will eat humans even if I do not."
"I am a queen," Lady Peacecraft reminded the feline, he had some nerve.
Trowa nodded, "Of humans, and queen or not you do not have to right to insult one you call quest."
"He does have a point mother," Relena commented softly, leaning close to her mother.
"We do not see many Beastials here," Lady Peacecraft reminded them all trying to recover a bit.
"Most dislike being treated as talking animals enough to stay away," Trowa flicked long extendable claws. "I am not one to shy away from humans."
Hilde noted the royals wide eyes and frowned, she was not aware they could grow that long, "hm."
"Princess, heels and forests do not mix," Trowa reminded the younger Peacecraft, bowing before he turned and began walking out.
"Feline?" Lady Peacecraft called.
"Yes?" Trowa asked not turning, she was annoyed but not enough to be dangerous.
"Do you make a habit of testing you luck?" Lady Peacecraft asked curious.
Trowa turned to look over his shoulder, "Yes, actually, I do."
Hilde smiled at the feline as he walked out, "Sorry, but, he's right, and I'm really no better then he is."
"Well Relena I see you have a knack for meeting opinionated young man," Lady Peacecraft commented at her daughter.
Relena smiled at her mother's comment, "That I do."
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Yeah for making Relena and her mom look stupid! Chapter 3 is the last one I have written out so 4 on should get up faster since I won't have to type them out. Sorry once again to all my 2x3x2 fans for letting this fic sit so long. Until next time.