It was in her hair.
She found it between her paws, coating her skin, and… on her tongue?
In vain the catgirl forced a cough in an effort to remove the grains from her throat.
It was in the air as well.
It would be a problem easily solved were it not for the lack of water as of late. Wiping thin beads of sweat from her forehead, she looked to the sun, towards the east, and wondered when Van would give the orders for their return home. Ever since they'd arrived there she'd been in misery. Besides the chaotic landscape, the dog men (whom she did not get along with, naturally) were driving a hard bargain, requiring prices she thought too high for the "privilege" to pass over their land.
What hard times they lived in, she thought to herself, when even the great Lord Van had to bargain with others in order to make a living. She grimaced at the thought of it, and tears filled her deep azure eyes in her lament; but such was the fate of nomads, as she and Van were. At least, they were nomads in her personal sense of the word. She never was overly fond of their branding as bandits. Everyone had to make a living, one way or another. And it wasn't like they ever purposely hurt anyone; that disrespectful girl was just an unfortunate exception.
She turned her face from the sky and gazed toward a mound of sand just some feet away from her. Just below it was a cave where that "disrespectful girl" now dwelled, alone with Lord Van. She made little circles in the sand with her tail, wondering how much time had passed since she left. She was curious as to what they were doing down there. What was he saying to her? And what was taking him so long to say it?
But she didn't want to question him, so she sat there patiently, as he had asked of her, drawing and retracting her claws in exercise to pass the time, her tanned skin acquiring a thin coat of sand as she waited. She didn't bother to sweep it off- she knew it would be futile, and so accepted her grainy fate.
"Where is Lord Van?"
Merle didn't bother to turn around; she had a very keen sense of smell, and the scent of he who approached was intensified by the surrounding heat. Besides all of that, dogmen were easily detected. She could have heard him panting and slobbering a mile away. Merle pointed into the distance,
"He doesn't want to be bothered. You should just wait until he's finished with his business."
"And just what is his business?"
Merle shrugged. "He'll be done soon, whatever it is. Why are you here?"
"The day grows shorter, night approaches. It's best he doesn't stay."
"I know, I know," Merle replied, her voice straining as she stretched her aching limbs, "it shouldn't take much longer. You shouldn't be so impatient with Lord Van. Don't forget whose side he was on when you and those Pungygmals were fighting with one another."
"Lord Van has not overstayed his welcome. The way I see it, he cannot- but that girl- she can't stay out here, if Lord Van plans on preserving her. We haven't many supplies out here besides the ones we've provided for your trip, and some of our brothers are growing hungry; already some have caught wind of her. They like her smell…"
Merle narrowed her eyes. That was the problem with dog men. When they got desperate, it seemed they would be willing to eat almost anything. Ruhm narrowed his eyes in return,
"I'm not one of them, if you're wondering. I just thought I'd warn you."
She wasn't suspicious of him, exactly. Neither was she overly concerned with his clan's appetite for the "disrespectful girl". By that, she didn't necessarily desire to see her devoured, but she was now the official property of Lord Van (undeserving as she was) and as such, he wouldn't let anything happen to her.
"Then you have my thanks, and Lord Van's. I'll go get him right now."
Jumping from her spot Merle moved to fetch her master, but stopped in her tracks at the sight of a figure in the distance, obscured by the swirling sands. She crossed her arm over her face as a shield, but her look was not one to discern; she knew his shape from any distance.
"Lord Van!" she shouted excitedly, waving her other arm in welcome. She was certainly relieved; now they could go home. Both she and Ruhm noticed another figure at his side, rather reluctant in its movement. Both could tell it was his new captive, her hands bound and feet dragging as she was pulled along callously by Van. As they drew closer, Merle could see the fire in her eyes; it would be a long ride home, with a hellcat like her in their company.
"Lord Van, Lord Van!" Merle ran to him, desiring a hug but knowing she would not receive one. Ruhm approached him with hurry as well,
"Lord Van, I've come to tell you- "
"Is everything ready?" His voice was muffled as he spoke behind cloths obscuring the lower half of his face. Ruhm answered affirmatively and pointed towards a cart, "That's all we have left. The wheels are a bit wobbly, but they'll ride for some distance, enough to get you home at least. I've also watered and fed your horse."
"Thank you. You've taken all you found interest in?"
"And left the rest to you- we loaded it into the cart." As Ruhm spoke his eyes glanced to Hitomi every so often. She returned his stare with a gaze cold and hard as stone. His heart was pained at that moment; he felt somewhat responsible for the death of her companions, as his men did not control themselves on coming upon their group. She struggled in vain against Van's hold as the two locked gazes, but his one arm was enough to keep her in her place. He looked at her arms, bound at the wrists by rough rope, the skin on those parts turning red and blistered from her struggles. A thought crossed his mind to ask Van to loosen her bonds if only a little, but was gone as Van tugged at her, bringing her closer to his side as he readied to leave.
"Until next time, then?"
Caught off guard, Ruhm nodded somewhat absent mindedly, his fingers wriggling in a half-hearted goodbye.
"Let's go Merle." Van, his partner and their new captive made their way to the cart. Merle jumped in readily, more than excited to leave, but after considering in whose close company she would be journeying home should she ride in the cart, decided to ride upon the horse. Though her mouth was gagged, Hitomi mumbled and screamed curses as Van lifted her onto his shoulders and dropped her into the cart. She watched with fury and secret hopelessness as he hopped upon his horse, him, the cat girl and the beast he rode upon ready to take her to an unfamiliar and savage land. By herself in the wagon, she rolled and struggled trying to break free, knowing it was no use. She was tiring herself out needlessly; she decided to wait for another opportune time to make her escape, for at the moment she was helpless.
Cold, hungry and miserably tired, she looked at Van's back as he roused his horse to movement. He glanced back at her once, then set his sights forward. Knowing he would likely not look back for some time, Hitomi's green eyes began to water. Not once since her mother's death had she allowed herself tears in mourning, and looking up at the setting sun, saw the dimming light a symbol of her fading hope. Could she not escape, she thought with worry, there was no telling what doom and misery awaited her at the hands of the one called Van…
Meanwhile, Merle held tightly to her leader, her arms wrapped about his waist and cute face leaned against his back, content at hearing his heart beat. She was lost in his smell, the scent of the outdoors, and would have found herself in the perfect moment were it not for the sand the gathered at her eyes and in her nostrils, making them water. She had a good mind to wipe the grains from her face, had the notion not involved her having to release her embrace. With impatience she wriggled her bottom as well; the sand was all encompassing, finding its way even up her dress! She frowned at the foil to her perfect ride home with Van.
That was the problem with sand-
It got everywhere.
A/N: Oh my. It's been… a few months since I last updated this. Haven't given up on it, of course, I just have a lot on my plate with school and all. As always, please read and review and thank you for all the support so far. Next chapter should be up fairly soon, I'm on break. Well, later!