Meat and Greet [Kita]

[Nidassasyae]

Fall 57 Nidae hurried through the streets, just restraining herself from breaking out into an all out run. She knew little about human cities, but the humans could sense fear almost as well any predator. The Kelvic girl didn't want them connecting her fear with her running, perhaps assuming that she was making off with someone's possessions. No, her fear was that of a caged animal. Though this cage city was certainly grander and larger than most cages, it was still a cage. By the time she came within sight of the gates, she broke out into a run. Let the humans think that they will, she thought, glaring at those around her. Ever since the Bonding, her feelings towards humans (Except for Nehsmay) had become increasingly hostile. So much so that, at certain times, she felt like carving a bloody path through them. The link between her and the sadistic Dhani's mind let some his emotions flow through to her, and she often mistook them for her own. The guards at the gate looked surprised as the young girl ran straight past them, but as they didn't hear any calls of "Thief!", they didn't follow. All at once, her fear and anger disappeared. Nidae stepped from the road onto the grass, smiling in contentment. The pressure of thousands of tons of stone around her had lifted, making her feel as though she could fly up into the sky, if she so wished. With laugh, Nidae let herself tumble into the fresh and sweet grass, the smell of it keeping her firmly on the ground. After a moment, she sat back up, crossing her legs, and simply looking up at the sky. Nidae wished she could have come out here with Sel, but he was working as a musician at that Swan Inn. She never could remember the proper name, only the fact that it had an animal in it. A very tasty sounding animal at that! She knew she'd have to get up and hunt, that was what she was supposed to be doing in the daytime. But darkness was so much better for such things, when her eyes didn't have to squint to find the tracks of the prey. Nevertheless, it was what she was supposed to be doing while Sel was at his job. With a sigh, Nidae stood up, about to head towards the forest. She needed to find the tree where she had hidden the pieces of the disassembled body sled.

[Kita]

It has been long enough in the forest. Although Kita enjoyed the wonderful environment she liked to go back into the city every once in a while. Although the city was far from being anything like her hometown of Avanthal she liked the feeling of being in the city. The only problem was she was afraid of people. Ever since her brothers got kidnapped by traders she had found it hard to trust others. Adding to the problem, anyone she did trust often left her after a good amount of time. There was no stability. It would have been okay if she still had her brothers to run back to but they were gone. They could have been on the other side of Mizahar by now. The lack of family would not have been an issue if she had a friend but even that did not seem to exist to her. As she walked through the forest she looked up toward the sky. In the times she felt scared and alone she turned to Oriana, the Goddess of Bears. She was well aware how odd it was that she, a fox kelvic, would worship the Goddess of Bears but she had her reasons. It was only natural that a girl with no parents, at least none to speak of, would turn to the very Goddess that stood for motherhood. "I cannot keep hiding out here mother... I need someone." Since the swift boot from her home in Avanthal she had considered Oriana her mother. Besides, Oriana could not leave her right? Often when Kita walked alone she searched for bear tracks. She found it to be a good omen when she could find the traces of her Goddess around her. She did not find them very often but when she did it brought her comfort. As she walked she began to sing. Not to well of course considering she was not too talented in the art. She liked to create odes to Oriana so that she knew how much she loved her. Though I am far from my winter home And in this forest I am clearly alone There is nothing that the mother Goddess cannot do For her eyes are on me and on you An' I simple mortal want only her grace So for one day I will feel her mothering embrace The song was innterupted when Kita heard someone yell "thief". Out of habit she stripped down naked and in a flash she was in her vulpine form. Last time she heard that word yelled she had almost died. Her golden eyes looked around in fear but there was no one around. It was just the forest and... what was that off in the distance? Kita slowly walked closer so see something was rolling around in the grass. She would have been surprised to see such a large animal if she had not been born in Avanthal. "It must be a Talderian Snow Leopard! What is it doing all the way out here?" Although Kita was born in Taldera she had not been graced with the Talderian gene. She was not large like the other animals in the frozen north. She was acutally quite small, although most foxes are. Kita once again inched closer and whipped her tail defensively. She could not communicate with the large cat sadly. She was a different species. Without knowing what else to do Kita let out a small bark in the direction of the cat. It may not have been the smartest thing to do. The cat could crush her with one paw! She was desperate for a friend though and she was very naive.

[Nidassasyae]

Nidassasyae's head whipped towards the sound. A bark? I swear, if it's one of those city bred, pampered lapdogs... she thought, coming up with a number of creative ways to kill a lapdog. She liked quite a few of the ideas, but had no chance to put them to use. The source of the bark turned out to be a fox. If she were human, she would have smiled at the fox. It was in no danger, she was on the lookout for much bigger game, and the thrill of the hunt was not yet coursing through her veins. However, smiling in her leopard form would only result in looking threatening, as any animal who bared their teeth would. Instead, she simply nodded to the fox, and let out a coughing bark, a leopard's equivalent of a greeting. Foxes normally would not try and get her attention. This lead her to believe that perhaps this certain fox was a Kelvic? Her eyes narrowed suddenly. Lelio? Could the stupid boy have possibly come back for more? Did he think that by finding her alone, by the woods, he would have an advantage? No, this wasn't Lelio. This fox was female, and the greeting seemed friendly enough. Nidae shook herself, stood up, and slowly padded closer to the strange fox. The leopard stopped a few meters away, and sat back down again. If the fox was indeed a Kelvic, then perhaps she simply wanted to talk? Obviously Nidae wasn't dealing with a human here, and no hatred showed in her gaze. She seemed simply friendly and curious, and didn't want to be rude by walking all the way up to the fox, letting the other animal have her personal space. Assuming that the fox hadn't fled, Nidae would turn her head, look at the city, then look back towards the fox with a questioning expression, her head cocked to one side in a decidedly cat-like manner. If the fox were indeed a Kelvic, perhaps she would understand that Nidae was trying to communicate.