ioduanlogs | Blood is Running Deep

Entry tags:

Blood is Running Deep

Characters: Valdis and closed with some open
Date: October
Location: Throughout Aifaran
Situation: Various
Warnings/Rating: In headers

After a somewhat traumatizing nightmare inflicted by the some aspect of the Dreaming, Valdis spent plenty of time looking over her shoulder. Much as she hated to admit it, her paranoia had increased and she still didn’t know how to deal with what she had seen or what she had almost done. She was lucky Miles had been nearby or she’d have made a mess of the sand. The rest of the month had been slow, though teasing Rutile from the shadows had been beyond entertaining, if unkind. Her meeting with Pepper had given her some direction, but she still had a long way to go.

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

If the recent developments with the spirits and ghosts and the Dreaming weren’t enough, Valdis currently tracked her cat through the city. A slightly sketchy merchant had complained that a fluffy, white animal had stolen one of his bat-cat things. Valdis was fairly certain he wasn’t supposed to have the animals, but her cat stealing one of the kits was not good news. Anani clearly wasn’t interested in eating the tiny creature, because there were reports of him carrying it in his mouth through the city. His trail led to a small antique store, and sure enough, she saw his fluffy white tail vanish inside. She walked after him, hoping he hadn’t left the small kit somewhere she wouldn’t be able to recover it.

It was Trahearne's first day back at work after being out with the Dreaming Sickness, and he honestly hadn't been sure if Anani would come to visit. He should've known better - Anani kept such a good schedule that the cat seemed to know the days of the week more accurately than the often-distracted sylvari did.

A customer had just left the store after taking a look at the two clocks they had on display, the door open long enough to let in an intrepid cat. Trahearne looked up from the counter, eyes widening at the sight of Anani trotting down one of the aisles with a small creature in his mouth. "Oh my, what's this...?" He promptly circled around the counter, kneeling down to get a better look. Hanging from the cat's mouth was a kitten sporting bat's wings, with fluffed-up black fur and wide golden eyes. The bat-cat made a squeaky 'meep!' as he reached out, leaving Trahearne regarding it with pure awe as he made an attempt to gently take it from Anani.

Anani gently released his burden to Trahearne, purring madly, eyes closed with what could be contentment. He turned, mewing when Valdis opened the door and his tail fluffed up.

"You little weasel," she sighed, scooping him up when he trotted over, "That kit wasn't yours.

Anani tipped his head, releasing a little chirp as if he disagreed, then wiggled out of her arms and jumped up on the counter to sniff at a clock.

"Good day, Trahearne," Valdis said, smiling in amusement, "I see my cat has made you an accessory to theft."

"Hello, Valdis," Trahearne greeted her as she came into the shop. He was half distracted by the little bundle of fluff in his hands, who was making more high-pitched noises as he gently rubbed under her chin - yes, he was fairly certain it was a girl now that he had a closer look.

"If Anani is taking up a life of crime, he seems quite happy with his choices. Does that mean you're here on official business?" Trahearne slowly rose to his feet, holding up the cat-bat so that she could be more clearly seen. "I heard the creatures they found in the Shunt were felines of some kind, but I didn't imagine the resemblance would be so close. Look at those big ears! And her wings!" He was delighted. Trahearne hadn't so much as seen a kitten in well over half a year, but finding one with such unique features was even better than he could've imagined.

"He's a cat, laws don't apply to him," she commented, her eyes soft as she eyed the tiny kit.

The little female squeaked and rubbed her chin against Trahearne's hand in return. The creature's cuteness couldn't be denied and the treeman seemed beyond delighted, his words filled with a sort of joy that came from cute animals. Anani walked over, reaching out to touch noses with the kitten, purring loudly.

Valdis sighed, "I was told that a white creature stole one of the kits that the merchant was selling, but I'm pretty sure he's not supposed to be selling them anyway."

Trahearne smiled softly at the way Anani interacted with the kit. It was clear that the cat had already become quite taken with his charge, and Trahearne had to wonder if that was the reason that Anani had whisked her away, or if he had the sense that something suspicious was going on.

"Did you hear that, Anani? You're getting off easy." He said it rather jokingly, though he was soon back to a more serious tone as he looked back to Valdis, "That sounds like a complicated situation. What does the Sentry usually do when this happens? Are these creatures considered contraband, or are they his if he was in possession of the mother?"

Trahearne set the restless bat-kitten down on the counter, but kept an eye on her, not intending on letting her wander too far away or too close to the edge. Was the kit already capable of flying? He didn't have the faintest clue.

Valdis shrugged, watching Anani start to groom the kitten when Trahearne set it down, still purring. The gentleness the cat expressed must have made the kit feel safe, because she mewed and snuggled up to him.

"I'm not officially on duty," she replied, "I just thought I'd look into it since there aren't many white, fluffy and small animals around. Not that the Sentry would arrest my cat on kidnapping charges.

"But, seeing as how the kit is quite happy here, I don't see a reason to return her, legal or not. Besides, I doubt the seller will make an official report."

Trahearne was starting to suspect that the little catbat had roused Anani's parenting instincts, and the result was absolutely adorable. He's fairly certain that he could watch the two of them all day, though of course he'd have to keep an eye on the store, too. He thought he might be able to get away with that.

"If the merchant was quite that shady, it's probably for the best. You know, Valdis, I'd be happy to look after her. Perhaps even permanently. I'm confident I could figure out what she eats, and... this is probably the first time I've been in one place long enough to have a pet at all." Even the cats that kept him company at Fort Trinity hadn't actually belonged to him. Trahearne had spent most of his life traveling around Tyria, busy with his work, but he didn't have to worry about any of that here.

Valdis had the same thought as Trahearne, Anani seemed quite enamored with the kit, he currently groomed her wings, careful and soft. Valdis couldn't help but smile at them.

"I'm not great with animals," she told Trahearne, "Anani is very self-sufficient, which is good because sometimes my mind is elsewhere when it comes to food."

No comment on how much of a thief her cat had become in the meantime.

"If you can take her, that would be best," she continued, "Anani probably brought her to you on purpose...he's quite in tune with people for a mere animal."

"Thank you, Valdis," Trahearne said with utter sincerity. "Taking care of a winged kitten will make for a wonderful distraction. I've always appreciated that cats know when to give you space or when to ask for attention, and with any luck, this little one will be the same way once she's older." And in the meantime, she was bound to have the kind of energy that would keep him from dwelling on his own thoughts, which was even better.

The little batcat certainly seemed happy, her squeaky chirps and mews soft and contented now that she was getting a bath. She wasn't going anywhere for the moment.

Trahearne added, "As for Anani, I can't call him a 'mere' animal. He has a rare intelligence that I don't think I've ever seen in a house cat. The only thing I could compare it to are wild animals that bond with their owners on a level that could very well have subtle magic involved."

Valdis smiled, she couldn't think of a better home for the kitten. Trahaerne may have issues with certain parties, but he had always been attentive and gentle with Anani. The fluffy white cat still purred, happy to have the little kit in his care. He paused and looked up at her when Trahearne spoke of magic, blinking slowly.

Valdis arched a brow at him, "He is definitely not normal. My brother never explained it to me, but I'd agree there's some kind of magic at work."

Anani mewed at her and then returned his attention to the kit, flicking his tail in her face as he tried to initiate play.

Though wobbly on her feet with the uncoordinated grace of an animal still getting used to her legs, it didn't take much to entice the batcat into letting out some energy. She swatted at Anani's tail each time it passed near her face, until she overbalanced and flopped onto her side, though that hardly stopped her from trying to catch it.

"I wish I could tell you more, but that sort of natural magic isn't my realm of expertise. All I can say is that it's possible. There must be some way of figuring out what exactly has been done to Amani, even here in Aifaran." Chuckling at the two cats, Trahearne reached over to smooth out the batcat's wing, though she didn't seem particularly bothered by half-lying on her opposite wing as she was now.

Valdis tipped her head, never having considered looking into the magic that set Anani apart from other cats. He'd been different since he showed up in Konryu all those years ago and who would have thought he'd come here too. He seemed to know he was the subject of the conversation, because he paused in his play to look at her, blinking slowly.

"I don't know if you could call it 'natural' magic," she replied, "But then again, I don't know the definition of it from your world. Magic on my world is based on two elements."

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

Blood is Running Deep

Trahearne | Commerce 3 | CW: None

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject