Chapter 4: Rogue Subjugulator

We set up camp 20 miles away from Teal City. I sat with Terezi who was telling a story about the fantastic dragon. Mituna and Equius were setting camp up as I sat high in a tree with Pounce. "So, you don't trust everyone here?" I asked as she turned her head.

"The justice troll I don't trust. The others seem fine," Pounce yawned as I let that sink into my mind. "They are higher blood ranks than mine and Mituna," I objected as Pounce looked at the yellow blood below. "The Captors are Gemini. They have double lives," she said as she watched Equius who was rather deep in thought. "I see," I replied as my ears twitched to the sound of water. I went with Pounce for a hunting lesson as we bagged a Clawbeast. I was able to kill it as we dragged it back, skinned it and then cooked it.

Soon as everyone had their fill, we smoked the rest of the meat and I used the Clawbeast's pelt to make a blanket. Equius was surprised I could sew. After living in an orphanage I did learn skills I could use in my future. "Well girls, we are going to go find a water source. If we find one we will let you know after a bath."

A stream was good enough that the boys went off to bathe leaving me with Terezi who was deep in thought as well. "It seems you don't trust me all that much," she looked at Pounce and me as I landed on my feet. "Not really," I sighed. She pondered. "Well Nepeta, I'll tell you anything you wish to know," she told me as I thought for a minute.

We played a game passing information about ourselves about or in my case all I can remember. This went on for a solid thirty minutes as the boys came back with firewood as well. "I see they are getting along just fine," Equius grinned as we turned to him as Mituna started the fire with his Psionic powers.

Equius pitched the tents up as he put Soper sleeping bags in for him and Mituna and I put some in for Terezi and I. I had a friend that I was now happy to travel with. Pounce had been in the trees hiding and watching out for predators as well as rouge trolls. Rouge trolls were a problem in some towns. Many were thieves, most were strong, some were poor and some were descendants of the high bloods which made them spies.

The ones who were spies didn't show mercy. Stories say if you were to go against a rouge indigo blood, there was no chance of life. Equius told me and Terezi to wash up as we did. Soon after our bath, we joined the boys around the campfire. It was almost sunset as I tied a scent bomb up in a tree next to some fat meat. If a creature came into our campsite it'd cause a scent that would scare it off.

I climbed down as Pounce stayed in the trees to keep watch. I was first to crawl into the tent into a Soper sack. I felt safe in the green ooze as I stayed asleep until morning. Terezi kept mumbling in her sleep and it made me nervous. She kept talking of becoming a dragon master.

I woke up to Terezi, who was actually attractive. I blushed as she pulled her red glasses over her eyes. "You are very pretty," I grinned as she blushed teal. "I, uh - thank you.." She blushed as she started to get dressed. I followed this but heard Equius and Mituna walking around outside. "Pounce has been growling a lot," Equius looked at the white cat above. "Yeah and?" I asked popping my head out of the tent. "Get some clothes on, we have an intruder." Equius told me as I pulled my khakis and black and green Leo shirt on.

"Right," I sighed as Terezi and I wandered out. Terezi sniffed the air. "I can smell the troll too," I sniffed. Being a cat troll I had powerful scent. By the scent of the troll I could tell he was strong. We went towards it, until we ran into the indigo blood. He was heavily bleeding because something had attacked him. As we sat there by the troll I decided to bring him back to camp.

The troll was an indigo blood. They were hard to kill. This one must of been weak as I propped him upright as Equius saw the indigo blood he and Mituna went to Terezi and I to have a chat. "Why did you bring a Highblood to camp?" Equius asked as I looked at the bloodied troll. "He needed help.." Terezi spoke up. I looked at her nodding. "I don't trust him.." Equius said as Mituna nodded to Equius' argument. "You are an odd one Nepeta.." Mituna sighed as we tended to the indigo blood.

He seemed fine after we bandaged him. He had a halfway smile which was rather creepy. But at least this guy smiled. "Hmm.. This is rather odd.." Mituna sighed as Equius inspected the Subjugulator. "Why have you came clown?" He asked as he sat looking the Subjugulator in the face. He coughed indigo blood as the subjuglator laid there. "I- I came to give her a- a pr-ofacy..-" he was cut off by Equius who looked angry.

"What's your name Highblood?" Equius asked as Terezi held onto her dragon cane. "Gurgles sir.. Spare me.." Gurgles whimpered as I felt bad. "Let him go Equius.." I tried getting Equius off the troll. "He's a Highblood scum. The Royal Highbloods aren't scum like you Gurgles," Equius grabbed onto the poor indigo blood's horn and held him up.

"Be merciful.." Gurgles sobbed as I looked at Equius. "Please don't Equius.." Terezi felt a pain in her heart as Mituna sided with Equius. His visor raised to blue and red eyes that glowed. "Equius! Stop it!" I sobbed as Equius stopped what he was doing and put Gurgles down. Equius shoved the troll away as he glared at him.

"Go back where you came from. Tell your leader, I will not bow, as long as I live I won't bow." Equius sighed as Gurgles got up and ran. Equius shot an arrow that probably hit him as Terezi and I both saw a side of Equius today. We didn't know he had this side.

We ate and got ready for bed. "Well, at least we got each other," Terezi sighed as we went into our tent to rest. It started to rain as I looked at her. "So.. Rain.." I sighed. I hated water. "At least Mituna put the camping visor over our tent so it doesn't get water in it." Terezi sighed. "Yeah, but I can't help but worry about this journey. I've been having weird dreams lately.." I sighed laying there. "Yeah, but it's all good." Terezi smiled as she rolled onto her side facing away from me. "I'm going to turn in so I'll talk to you in the morning Nepeta," she yawned as I sighed.

I went outside in a robe and admired the patterns of stars. I could see Taros, and Gemini, and the Virgin Mother. Each constellation brought a smile to me. As much as I hated the rain, I loved the stars best. "Yeah, maybe I'll bring back the fallen stars. That'd be really cool," I grinned as I noticed something odd. Some stars were going out which troubled me. I went to bed and let sleep take over me as I sighed. Today had been long and tomorrow was longer.

Yellow Town was close and I wasn't sure what we were going to find.