Blood is Running Deep

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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.

Comments

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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."

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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.

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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."

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"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."

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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.

[necrocabbage]

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.

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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."