What good comes of knowing

by **Kaden Swift** on December 3rd, 2013, 7:20 pm

Winter 1st, 513 AV

Note :

Morning. It had been just a few days since he came to live with Spirit but those days were gentle and kind. He was always warm and thanks to the dogs he always knew when anyone got close to the door. He hadn’t realized doors were not just to keep someone in but to keep them out; to keep things safe. Now he knew and he felt some peace in being in the room, not a slow rising panic of not being able to get out. He woke to see Spirit gone, but he already knew she would be since she said there were things to do. Stretching he knocked aside Ticker who sulked but moved away.

Once more he had slept shifted, not yet brave enough to stay human in his sleep; not here. Now he yawned and stretched further so that his fur all stood and fell back to place neatly. Today was a day he would be alone but he felt the bond warm and comforting like a heartbeat right next to his own. Jumping from his bed he started his day by grooming himself. Every pass of his tongue took away the scent of dog and the faint traces of dust and dirt. Lazily he let the rising sun continue on as he did nothing more than settle nerves and fur in silence of dreaming animals.

Once finished he shifted only to open the door and leave without clothes. His bag was in hand but missing his red fur; that he left home. Such a new word home, but it was a welcome one. He had his clothes and boots packed as well as a few gold coins just encase he needed something or found something. Stepping into the hall he closed the door after checking for poking noses or tails; then he simply shifted again. He had his morning already planned and now with Spirit away he could fix a little thing that had been gnawing at him for days.

He followed knowledge and scent to Spirit’s cousin’s door. He knew from watching and waiting that he was gone for a hunt; and no one was around to stop the tiger as he reached the door and jumped to his hind legs. His front paws were braced at the upmost top, then he slid down all while letting his claws cut across the wood. Maroah had humiliated him. While it had been Spirits insisting that forced him to accept the human males help; Maroah had done nothing to argue and he had been the one to carry half the bed. So now Kaden was doing what he had wanted to do for days. Claw marks lay from the very top of the door to the very bottom.

Kaden landed back on the ground with a pleased growl and he cast his eyes to his handy work. The claw marks were deep; a few sporting some blood for splinters had cut into his pads. Sitting back on his haunches the tiger nibbled his paw pads and licked away the bits of wood he found there. It was worth it, just small drops of blood to warn the male away both from ever trying to compete with him and trying to hit Spirit again. That was more the reason he did it, the male dared touch his bonded. Once more he eyed the door, no mistake it had been his claws but a human might not know. He knew this might get him in trouble but his anger outweighed the possible scolding he might get.

Standing up he shoved himself against the door and arched; rubbing the side of his body against the claw marks so that in wood and blood he left orange fur. He turned and rubbed the other side of his body before pushing his face against the door. He rubbed and drew his whiskers across the wood leaving his scent for any animal that would dare come close. Let him try and get rid of it. Kaden would just do it again. Utterly pleased and feeling accomplished he left the door alone and moved through the building. He would have continued through it to leave if not for the small orange cat that stepped into his path. Kaden stilled and watched without blinking as the other cat did so to him.

They stood seemingly without movement, but looking closer someone could see a twitch of a whisker or a widening of the eyes. They were speaking together in a way humans would never see or know, a way they could never duplicate even if they would notice such small things. Suddenly they each flicked their tail as if to wave and together their muscles relaxed and their whiskers fanned as they each found pleasure in the previous destruction and warning. Cats were solitary creatures but they all came together in agreement on revenge, which at least they could work together in; if far little else. Kaden sat and still stared at the smaller feline, a cousin of his own but one who knew without words that they were not equal.

While both cats, only the smaller feline truly knew and understood the ways of waiting and revenge. He could hide in shadow and watch in utter still silence without an eye on him. Yet for all this stealth the small feline did not have the strength of Kaden, nor the eye catching colors that made hiding near impossible. They each had their skills and they each understood this between them without ever acknowledging the difference at all. It was silent and deep knowledge and they now only bowed to it as all animals did. So was the way things went in silence and in the shadow of far reaches in an animal’s mind that humans could never understand even should they know it was there.

by **Kaden Swift** on December 6th, 2013, 4:32 am

They continued to speak, weather and scents. They spoke of passing little things that would not matter to humans but were of interest to a cat. There was a nest of mice growing in number in another hall; a boy was feeding and protecting them but the small feline was patient and would wait. Humans were not creatures with long memories and would soon forget the fattening mice and the small feline would take them all. Kaden once fed on mice and rat but now he was too big, he spoke of the deer outside and the vast empty place of the waste.

They each understood and did not understand each other but it was fine. You didn’t need to understand everything and if you did life would be horribly boring. By a silent signal Kaden chuffed and licked the smaller felines head and in return the cat licked Kaden’s lowered head. Greeting done the tiger and cat stood together before leaving and neither looked back. Each had things to do and each had to pay the humans their due. The small feline would look for mice and show his affection to the chosen humans; and Kaden would look for a human who could help him.

This wasn’t a pleasing task but he was forced now to search one out to better help him. Spirit and he spoke but he did not have enough words to truly talk to her as he would like. So he now searched for one that could fix this, one that could sit and speak to him and help him with the words that were once senseless noise to him. As the days passed with Spirit he was forced to acknowledge that the words meant things that would be helpful to know and understand. If he could speak better than he could understand Spirit better so that he could please her.

There was little of late that pleased him more then to see her smile or hear her laugh. Where once the sound was mocking and filled him with fear, her laughter was never something harsh or unforgiving and was given only in humor and happiness that warmed him like nothing he had known before. He had secretly been watching the humans more. They acted differently to each other and he longed to learn what made them stay together as they did. Would learning these make it so he could see Spirit happy then he would delve back into the humans and learn what he had once vowed never to touch. He had at some point in his life promised himself to never pick up what the humans would call humanity so that he would never see them in himself.

Now he had no choice if he was to see his bonded happy and protect. It was all he wanted and it was he realized days ago; all he had ever truly felt that he wanted to do. So he had watched as the humans cried, watched as they would strike at each other and he did not turn as one would act cruelly to a cub. These he could not understand. He watched as they brought together their bodies and found little interest in this act but he understood the humans did. He had seen them cry for a dog but watched as they stood cold like ice over the death of a snow cat. This too he did not understand. Should he die would any be sad or would he be much like the dead snow cat?

The animals had charged the walls earlier, dying or screaming in agony of wounds only for teary faces to silence their pained calls. Why then did they cry? Yet he had learned some. He had felt his lips move in a smile now and then and it was a peculiar feeling but seemed to bring the person he directed it at to smile in return. This was a useful thing to know for it seemed to ease Spirit when he did it even if he did not understand the need of the action. So now he left the building and searched not to watch the humans but find one who would answer what he didn’t dare ask Spirit. Would his bonded not be disappointed to find her bonded so lacking in things that the humans around him fluttered in like falling snow. So much and so many they did not even notice until one did not react the way they knew.

This he would now fix but like many things he had learned more about time. It took time for things and time to understand but he did not have time as the humans. It was with limited time that he had now, time that could be even shorter but never could he lengthen it. It was a harsh and cruel thing that he learned time. He understood now more than ever that he would one day die and leave his bonded alone or that she would do so to him. He would not last past that; he would never allow it should it even happen. So he needed to learn to speak better so that when he would leave his bonded it would not be with empty meaning.

He would leave her knowing what she meant to him. In just a single touch she had given him something precious that now he had no words to explain. He did not know if there were even words to tell her of such a thing but he would try and would he leave she would know more than any in the world what she had done in just days. Soft and careful warmth and words that had dashed old pains like glass and scattering them, even now she moved the pieces so he did not step on them. His bonded to protect for all that he had time left here. He would not waste it by being unable to speak to her. He walked through the snowy streets and watched the people around him warily.

by **Kaden Swift** on December 6th, 2013, 4:34 am

None of these did he want none of these held the scent he searched for. The smell of leather and paper; of glue holding the pages of books; it would be that person who he would ask. He searched for a male for it was a male he needed. Females did not speak as males did and if he were to learn the things of humans that had escaped his early life he would do so right. People moved from him, wary of a tiger that seemed to be stalking the streets for prey; and foolish creatures that they were the humans were right. He was hunting but not for blood, not this time.

While normally his fur would soak the blood that his claws and teeth would find, he did not look for it now. Suddenly he smelled the scent of ink, that sour and stinging scent that burned the back of his nose. Kaden turned and looked to see a group of young humans. None were old but none were cubs. He approached them and they stilled like deer catching scent of him. He didn’t hesitate and pushed his way into their group until weaving through them he found the one who smelled of ink and paper; of leather and dust. A male.

Content with what he found Kaden pushed the boy and tried pushing him from the group much like a herding dog. They did not like this and shouted angrily. Kaden grew angered and growled which caused them all to stiffen in fear. Why, he wasn’t going to eat them, he hadn’t eaten a human in a long while. Recalling Spirits dislike of him without clothes he weighed the choices only to a have no choice. So he shifted clutching his bag now not in mouth but in hand. “Stop, I want to ask for help.” He warily looked at them; his skin pebbled as he realized it was pack around him. Still he didn’t move away despite the utter need to flee.

The one he had tried to herd away coughed and suddenly all of them flushed a new color. Hair and eyes rippled in colors to quickly for Kaden to catch. “I need to learn more words, you smelled like the book place.” He looked directly at the male he had picked out but they had moved just a bit so not to touch him. He looked at himself in confusion. Humans reacted so strangely but he knew he looked just as they did, he had checked one day. The male nodded and said something in Vani but Kaden did not know what he said and growled warningly. He didn’t want them to talk with something he couldn’t understand, who knows what they would say to each other.

‘Fine fine just put on clothes!’ Kaden hummed in pleasure and he shook out his clothes to pull on. They were clean again thanks to Spirit and now that he was clothed the humans looked at him curiously. ‘So what do you want, are you asking to teach you how to talk?’ The very way he said it caused Kaden’s lips to pull back in dislike. The male held his hands up quickly. ‘Fine fine you got it, just don’t have a kitten.’ Kaden found neither of this amusing and why would he have a kitten unless they thought he held one in his bag. That would not be wise the mother would not be happy and no doubt would find a way to pay Kaden back for harming her cub.

‘Oh just come on, I have nothing better to do I guess. Everyone’s busy moving the dead animals around and crying about the end of the world or something.’ So Kaden followed as they entered the place that held the books that at one time Spirit took him to read and write; neither of which he could do. The other young humans had left and now Kaden sat with the one he had picked and so the male just gave a shrug and started talking and randomly explain things. Poems and stories, things none of which Kaden understood but now and then he questioned him of a particular word he had heard Spirit say. The young human seemed to brighten up and sounded less bored as he suddenly spoke of games and of books he had read that were even now held in the shelves around them.

He continued speaking and Kaden paid rapt attention to him for this was something he needed dearly to learn. So it went that hours passed and still the boy spoke as if he had none to talk to who would listen. Kaden learned of the male’s troubles with his parents and with wanting to leave Avanthal to explore the world. Of a woman he loved who would not even glance his way. All the while Kaden listened and nodded; learning things he had never thought about at all. ‘You know, it’s going to take a long time for you learn how to talk much.’ The human male gazed at Kaden and the tiger Kelvic nodded. Yet already he had learned a great deal and understood more then he would have thought possible to know.

by **Kaden Swift** on December 6th, 2013, 4:38 am

So he opened his mouth and finally spoke back, surprising the young human. “Maybe, but It will be worth it. I have someone to make happy.” It was the longest he had ever spoken but when telling Spirit a story, a story he now understood better then when he had told it. Kelvic learned fast; time so short that they were given a gift to remember and so Kaden did. What was more he was a cat and cats never would forget what they wanted to remember. He was not a shallow cat, and he was not just a tiger but also a man and so he would remember what he never strode to remember before. Words and their meaning, actions and their results.

Surely if he was to make Spirit happy he would be forced to find the humanity that made him also a man. This he did not want and did not know if he could ever take that step that would make it so. ‘Wow man, I wish I was a Kelvic, or is this a prank? Can you really talk better just like that?’ Kaden thought about it, could he? It was true it was better but could it be possible that some of his reasoning was he had never wanted to speak? Could it be that he remembered more than he had thought; that he only needed a reason to speak to do so? He did not think that he was suddenly well adverse in the language of a human but he knew even as he sat that he understood more and wanted now more than ever to speak and see his bonded’s eyes glow with happiness.

“No prank, I am just better at remembering then I thought. You teach well.” Still he felt a frown tug his lips for he had learned but still his words did not flow as the males before him did. His words did not sound like the song that made the Vani language and even so carried in common through their lips. Would he speak like that soon, or was it one of Morwen’s many gifts to her children. “Can we meet again? You can teach me more.” The young male made a face Kaden didn’t know but he watched his eyes to see that the human was thinking. ‘I guess I can, nothing better to do. Hey you’re an animal so you know; how do I get a girl to like me?’ This question caught Kaden by surprise.

Never had he thought of it, never did he think it was something someone had to know. “Be nice to them, make them smile.” He thought of Spirit and without his notice he had smiled softly. “They are kind and soft, be gentle and never argue. They win.” This he knew in such a short time, Spirit always won. ‘I am nice to her! She likes this other guy, what does he have that I don’t!’ Kaden was snapped out of thought and looked the young human over. “Humans are different, I do not know. Give her food, hunt for her and protect her.” He shrugged again for he did not know what the male was asking. “Could just ask her,” he said it offhandedly but the young human looked as if he had done something horrid.

‘You can’t just ask them that! You have to, I don’t know just know!’ Kaden growled in annoyance, no he did not know and he didn’t understand why asking would be bad. “If you liked her you could ask.” Kaden brushed the topic away as he no longer felt a need to say more. The young human just growled and mumbled something but Kaden ignored him and looked out of the window. “I have to go, I have to hunt. I will find you again sometime.” He stood and stretched but didn’t wait for the human to answer before walking out already peeling away his clothes so that he could shift and run into the waste. Hunting would be hard this time but he had a goal.

He had given advice to the young human and he wanted to take his own advice. Spirit was to skinny and she couldn’t hunt so he would do so for her. He stuffed his clothing into his bag and shifted as he stood. He picked his bag up in his mouth and started on his way to the cities gate. Many people were there already, leaving and going. They searched for what went wrong with the animals but Kaden did not understand their need to know. It had already happened; knowing wouldn’t prevent what was already done. He hid away his bag and set out at a loping like speed into the waste. It was not so empty now as people trailed around as if by being in the waste they might somehow know the world’s secrets.

Kaden ignored them, leaving the city behind him in a lazy but quick gait that covered ground in a fast stretch of time. The sun was dropping as he continued forward but it was not yet late. In winter the sun would hardly show face but for a time just in the middle of the day then dipping away to hide as if snow scared it. He found that idea funny and wondered what god was the sun that it feared Morwen who he had found kind. She had saved him and set him forward to find his bonded that saved him even now by just being. It was the reminder of her that he now looked across the ground for signs of life and of herds. It was cold but the snow did not bite harshly for he was warm from moving.

by **Kaden Swift** on December 6th, 2013, 4:40 am

The time fell away in a slow fashion and Kaden still found nothing to hunt. It was not until the sun was gone that he saw what he had searched for. There, on the horizon like a smudge of blood was a herd of deer. He could see the herd was large but not the biggest he had ever seen. He did not have Ticker to hunt with him and would need to be close to spring for an attack. He jogged forward and did not bother to check his distance for their eyesight was worse than his. It was ears and nose he had to watch for and the wind favored him well. It was their scent that pushed against him and ruffled his fur. He could smell the scent of blood but it was old by perhaps weeks but still it lingered.

He moved closer and closer, his belly now rubbed across the deepening snow as his weight was no longer evened enough that he walked above the snow but must plow through it. Still he edged closer to the herd and was relieved that snow caked his orange fur to hide the glaring color that he was. Many animals could not see the brightness of his coat but he did not know if deer were such a creature. So he crept ever closer, looking through them to find one that he could take easily. He felt a twinge of remembrance of others looking at him as prey and searching for his weakness.

Now he did so to search out the deer, but it was not in malicious intent. He had to eat, as did his bonded and he would give her a gift that he could. He saw the fawn, its dapple coat a beacon in his gaze. The scent of blood was from birth and the fawn before him was strong but still soft. He looked through the herd and saw it was not one but three fawns and he knew one or two would starve for the largest and strongest of them to live. It would be a kindness to kill one and so he twisted his lips away from his teeth and stalked the herd.

The fawns played now in the snow, unaware that he had them in his sight and in image of his gift. They were beautiful creature’s fawns, their fur soft and shimmering with youth. He crept closer and watched as a stag lifted its head and gave a bark like call that had the herd as a whole lifting their heads to search him out, but it was too late now. He was close enough that even should they run he would catch one of the fawns. He sprung forward and rushed the herd into running; and they flew over the snow. The fawns struggled over the deep piles and he watched with predators gaze as the smallest lagged behind. He chose it and it was almost too easy to catch the creature in his teeth. He bit down and shook.

Oh but he was careful for his teeth did not break the skin or fur for it would ruin the soft and beautiful hide. He shook the small creature and felt soft and supple bones snap and shatter in his mouth before the creature could even cry. It was not a big animal and he did not look to see that the herd had stopped and the doe stared after him as he turned and started home. He had what he wanted and he was not hungry, this was a gift and he would have it be perfect for her. Pleasure of her happiness spurned him forward in a pace faster than he intended. It was late as he reached the city and the humans were sleeping in their homes.

Few were still out talking and laughing which made the Kelvic flinch but determined not to break the fawn’s skin he kept his law lax. He could have brought it to Spirit alive but did not think it wise to bring something like that in a room with a bunch of dogs. He took up his bag and was forced to shift to hold them both. The fawn was cold and limp in his arms as if it were nothing much more than his bag. He walked without care, his shirt still in his bag. He had dragged his pants on only because he did not want to be cold as he walked down the roads and paths. He passed buildings and empty vendors until he reached Spirits home, his home.

She would be asleep he knew, he had taken too long to return but he was still happy for the fawn was proof it was not time wasted. He entered the building and did not look to see who was in the halls. No one mattered but his need to see his bonded asleep and well. He entered Spirits home on the silent feet of a cats clothed in human skin. The dogs did not even look up but he neither looked at them. His amber eyes moved to see Spirit tucked in her bed and he felt a tensed part in his chest relax. Safe. He set his bag down next to hers but he placed the Fawn on the table and silently warned the dogs away. He pulled his pants free but did not shift. Instead he rolled his shoulders as if to shrug then went to his bed and under the blankets to curl much as if he had shifted.

With a soft sigh he fell asleep for once as a human. He would see her awake in the morning and he would talk to her when his eyes open next. With another soft and gentle smile he fell away into dreams as he did not have while a tiger. Soft and gentle things of clouds and of snow, no difference between them that Kaden could see.

Done

by **Una Tanta** on December 19th, 2013, 9:08 pm

~CONGRATULATIONS~

Kaden :

Solo What good comes of knowing