Death and Howls Part Twenty: A Pawfect Meeting!

Felina:

A voice called for me, the age sounding to be about mine. Sensing a dark energy about it, a dirty hand yanked me through an ominous portal. Landing on a cat boy my age, his fluffy jet black cat ears pinned back. Scarlet flushed my cheeks, his shaggy jet black hair needing a trim. Bright green cat eyes darted in my direction, his scarred hands pushing me off. Dusting off my pale blue nightgown, the lack of my boots annoyed me. His fluffy inky black tail jerked  with annoyance, his scowl seeming to be permanent. 

“I am Wistox, my master’s servant.” He growled through gritted teeth, his ragged black shirt and pants not speaking of a good place. “Go back before the port-” Sealing shut with a pop, a huff drew from his lips. My ears bounced around with pure anxiety, the level of fear rising in me bit my heart. 

“You don’t need to be so grumpy!” I hissed vehemently, my eyebrow twitching. “I am Felina and you called me. Did you not!” Digging at the gray dirt with his hole covered boots, dead trees twisted the sky. A lump formed in my throat, his throat clearing of disbelief bringing my attitude back. 

“I wanted Darwin, not you. What is a kid my age going to do?” He spoke concisely, our level of vocabulary matching. “Of course I am the one to get a stupid kid!” Placing my hands on my hips, the jerk was a kid himself. Blowing my bangs up, his hand shoved me behind a tree. A seven foot demon towered over him, the scary man ran his hand through his slicked back scarlet hair. Darting his inky eyes all around the sea of endless trees, his suspicions seemed to be quelled. Snapping his head in Wistox’s direction, the crack of him smacking him made it hard not to respond. Darwin or not, he would be rescued today. Another slap sent a spray of inky blood onto his silky gray suit, my tail twitching with pure rage.

“God damn it, Wistox!” He roared thunderously, a glimpse of a skeleton causing me to jump a few feet into the air. A worn dagger rolled to my feet upon my rough landing, the bastard lifting him up by his throat. Aiming the blade in the center of his palm, a flick of my wrist sent it flying into his hand. Dropping Wistox, a cloud of dirt obscured me whisking him out of the danger zone. Too ashamed to say anything, his boots echoed behind me. Pinning him behind a rock, our lips accidentally touched. Scarlet painted our cheeks, the two of us skidding backwards. Ivory ribbons danced with silky black ribbons, a pair of black and white paw prints glowing to life on the nape  of our neck. His slave mark fizzled out, relief washing over him. Fighting back tears, his fingers dug at the hem of his tattered shirt. 

“All of this is nice but we have to kill him to get out. Realistically,no one else can save us.” He began to panic, a couple of daggers caught my eyes. Kicking them into my hands, confusion contorted his features. Smoke curled from the ground, panic showing in his widened eyes. The darkness of the energy wasn’t far off from Mortimus’, the familiar scent telling me that they were of the same blood. Pushing Wistox out of the way, ash danced in the air with the violent block against his curved smoke blade. Stomping on the ground, a thick tree shot him in the opposite direction. Crouching down to the closest root, a few taps had the trees blossoming to life. Hovering my hand in front of his face, his fingers curled around mine cautiously. Yanking him to his feet, a nod to the healed branches informed him of my next plan. Climbing up the glowing trunk, his nose wiggled about.

“He is to the west of us.” He choked out awkwardly, his eyes tracking me flipping the daggers over my fingers. “Let’s use my nose to survive, I guess?” Scratching at the back of my neck, creaks and groans adjoined our leaps to the next branch. Catching up to him, he paused in front of a looming brick mansion. Letting himself in, one upstairs window was left open. 

“Do you trust me?” I inquired warmly, hoping to capture the gentleness of Darwin’s energy. “We can do this together.” Nodding his head, every part of me wanted him to live and feel the warmth of real kindness. Latching onto my back, a couple of flips had us rolling onto the worn wooden floors. Hitting the wall, his face hovered over me. Not understanding the emotions running through me, his empty footfalls echoing outside the door shut them down. Scurrying into the shadows, his tall form entered through the creaking door. Examining the room, inky blood splattered onto the floor with every step towards the window. Climbing onto the closet shelf, the glass shattering with his wild slam of the window. A storm rumbled to life, the bright flash of the lightning provided me with his location. Torg skidded into the room, Dar leaping off of his back. 

“Where is my daughter!” He demanded vehemently, his chest rising up and down. Fresh inky blood stained his stark white blouse, my jacket hanging out of his leather jacket pocket. Shrugging his shoulder, Torg noticed Wistox, his expression softening. Snapping his head in my direction, he held his finger to his lip. Showing him the two daggers, his mind was moving a mile a minute. Approaching Darwin, his whisper had a sadistic grin dancing across his lips. Fear swallowed me whole, his former master's powers tripling in strength. Where was he getting it from? Hoping my father would hold on for long enough, my escape was barely noticed. Wistox pounded up to my side, his hand grazing mine. Yanking it back, neither of us wanted to acknowledge what we had felt at the same time. Grabbing my hand, our footfalls bounced off the hollow walls. 

“Do you trust me?” He inquired with a friendly smile, my heart skipping a beat. “I’ll take that as a yes. My father smashed into the wall next to us, fresh cuts and bruises covering his exposed skin. Reaching for me, Torg rolling to his feet slowed him down. Hesitation lingered in my eyes, the guy was pulling all this damage with one hand. Ripping my hand away, his former master stepped into view. Pulling my dagger behind my head, tears welled up in my eyes. Vines curled up my legs, flowers bloomed and rotted with my roller coaster of emotions. If I did this, Wistox would know that I was a former assassin. The window was closing, an embrace from behind did little to settle my fraying nerves. 

“I don’t care about your past. Let’s make it out alive.” Wistox whispered with confidence, his finger pointing to his heart. “Strike there.” Tossing my dagger, a wave of ruby water and air tripled its speed. A wet thud announced a perfect strike, his body decaying to ash before he fell forward. Sinking to my knees, the cold voice belonging to the leader of my former assassin’s guild bounced around my head. Cupping the sides of my head, the mental decay in my head matched his realm crumbling away. Horrid memories haunted my head, I pressed my forehead into my knees. A lemon scent wafted up my nose, my wet eyes meeting Wistox’s tear filled  eyes. Joy laced his tears, his freedom looking great on him. Darwin rushing up to my side had him shrinking back, Torg fussed over Wistox, a clear bond forming between him. Clutching me close to his chest, Darwin resting his chin on my head. 

“I am happy you found your forever person but you have to let it blossom.” He uttered with an exhausted tone, his hands cupping my wet cheeks. “The way you met is how Luna and I bonded with each other. Feel free to open up to me.” Seconds from apologizing, his broken expression gave me a solemn pause.

“Don’t apologize. Rescuing your kid is what you are supposed to do.” He assured me with his genuine smile, his thumbs rubbing my cheeks. “Thanks to this, I now know how the hell he is hiding so well. Thank you for discovering it. Those two seem to be getting along.” Shifting our attention to Torg and Wistox, the way he clung onto his hand stole my heart away. 

“I don’t know how to tell him that I killed for a little bit.” I sobbed into his palm, the forest surrounding the capital coming into view. “What if he hates me? I am not worth anything.” Every breath grew shorter, my heart threatening to burst from my chest. Kissing my forehead, the speed of my breathing slowed down. 

“Torg, let’s get them to the kitchen to get them something to eat!”  He shouted jovially with a wink, Torg dusting off his armor. “Things need to be discussed.” Wistox bounced over to my side, a flower spinning in between his fingers. 

“Trying to win me over?” I choked between sniffles, his laughter mixing with mine. Wiping away my last tear, a deep ruby colored my cheeks. Averting my gaze to the loose dirt crunching underneath my feet, shame proved to be all I felt. 

“Torg told me everything you were. None of that matters to me.” He promised me honestly, his hands dropping to his sides. “Who was the one who saved me? As I recalled you delivered the final blow that set me free. How about we start out as friends? Torg is going to raise me and we can hang out all the time. I want to be around you. Please grant me such a treat.” He was as well spoken as me, my eyes flitting up to his. Too stunned to speak, his cat eyes stole my breath away. The different shades of green captivated me, a crooked grin revealed his left fang. Assuming that was his real smile, the pureness in his aura proved that much. Pinning his ears back at Torg yelling for him to move along, his hand snatched mine. Dragging me along with him, the castle’s kitchen was bustling with its workers. Torg excused himself to get new clothes for him. Melda wandered in, the hem of her golden ball gown swinging with every step. Darwin ran up to her, her smile growing wider with every word. Fixing her fancy bun, her golden heels clicked over to us. 

“Felina, are you okay?” She asked in a motherly tone, the softness of her palm had me snuggling into it. “Welcome to the family, Wistox! Feel free to wander around the castle or the market with an adult. In fact, why don’t we go out tomorrow and get him some clothes.” Excitement brought an extra twinkle to his eyes, the feeling of love melting the ice around his heart. Allowing her to dote on him, his tail began to wag with earned bliss. The stool groaned next to me, his hand ruffling the top of my head. Plucking my coat from his pocket, one swift move had it floating over my shoulder. 

“What do you think, kiddo? Do you think you could be friends with him? Please do it for me.” He requested with a hearty chuckle, Melda waving in his direction. “I adore that she is like a grandmother to all the little ones in the castle. Do me a favor and have fun tomorrow. I have to go on a scouting journey. If all goes well, I should be home in a couple of days” His transparency permitted the perfect father-daughter relationship, the truth always passing between us. Silent tears stained my cheeks, every part of me wishing that he didn’t need to go. 

“Promise me that you will come back.” I pleaded desperately, his arm draping around my shoulder. “A broken heart would plague me if you never came back.” Patting my shoulder, his real smile slowed my tears. Relief washed over him at the sight of me calming down, his hands crossed on his lap. 

“Do you think that I would leave my daughter all alone in this world? No, not a chance in Hell.” He returned with hope in his eyes, Torg rushing in with a new black blouse and pants combination of an outfit. “He is coming along. His brother and the rest of them are hitting the road with me. Trust me when I say that the dream team will do anything to help each other.” Mouthing thank you, the darkness from his trauma and stress towered behind him. Climbing onto his lap, the shadowy poison on his aura died down a bit. Til spun in, her eager arms burying Wistox into a bear hug. Melting into the warmth of her embrace, his fingers clung to her simple violet blouse. Yawning groggily, exhaustion weighed down my eyelids. Draping my arms around his neck, his proud smile was the last thing I saw before sweet slumber stole me away. 

Jerking awake, the morning rays blinded me. Tugging on my usual outfit of an ivory blouse and black pants, Luna spun out of the kitchen with a few coins. Pressing them into my palm, her smile refused to leave her lips. Protests fell on deaf ears, her hand cupping mine around them. 

“Use them to get something nice for your new friend. Be good for Melda. She loves to spoil you guys.” She laughed lightly, her dark nightgown floating around her knees. “I mean it. Have the time of your life.” Sliding on my boots on the way out, an eager Wistox smashed into me. Melda fussed with her silky sage gown, her smile growing wider with every step closure to her. Tucking my coins into my pocket, Wistox’s hand snatched mine. Shaking like a leaf, my tightening grip slowed down the shivers coursing through his body. 

“Don’t worry.” I assured him with my own genuine smile, his eyes gazing into mine with a new twinkle. “Let’s have fun, ‘kay! Would you want to see my dragon later?” Perking up at the offer, a low purr rumbled in his throat. Smiling softly to myself, it was time to put what my father and grandmother taught me to use.

“So you can purr.” I teased playfully, Melda leading the way to the royal tailor in the capital. Rolling his eyes, his arms folded across the jet black blouse and pants outfit covering up his layers of bruises dotting his arms. The kind tailor took his measurements, the two adult elves wandering off to the walls of fabrics. Plopping onto the leather chairs by the fire, a distance look came over his face. 

“Do you miss Darwin? I know he had to leave early this morning.” He asked with a busted grin, my silence answering his question. “Fel, I miss Torg as well. Til reminds me of my mother. Rough and tough but loving as all get out. At least she is around.” Laughing together, it was nice of  him to freely admit his issues to me. Growing a glowing lily in my palm, his features brightened visibly upon me placing it in his palm. 

“That is all yours. It will trap all of your nightmares. Well, Darwin says that. I have one by my bed.” I returned with another friendly smile, his fingers tracing each petal. “I will always be there for you if you will for me. I consider you a friend. Friends take care of each other. Don’t worry, ‘kay!” Leaning back into the chair, the silence wasn’t so horrid with him around. Plucking out a deck of cards from his pocket, his offer to play a card game common among the cat people sounded delightful. Card after card boosted his mood, the bond strengthening between us. Melda sauntered over to us, her words fading in and out. Ruffling our heads, the endless stream of thought slowed down enough for me to follow her to the pub. Ordering us breakfast, pure bliss twinkled in her eyes. Wistox and her began to talk, my introverted nature enjoying him learning how nice life could be. Leaning back in my chair, the chaos of the pub made it easy to zone out. A nudge from Wistox whipped me out of it, his hand holding mine. 

“I think you are the best friend a kid could ask for. Don’t get lost in that head of yours.” He sighed sweetly, a deep ruby flushing my cheeks. “I can hear your thoughts after all.” Bowing my head in shame, embarrassment had a deeper red claiming my cheeks. The food came out, his hand dropping an extra piece of bacon onto my plate. Thanking him politely, the words no problem from his lips relaxed my fraying nerves. Basking in the warmth of the moment, the flames of hope burned bright in my heart.