Feline Fiend [Arizae]

[Mali]

This wasn’t good. What was she going to tell him? Mali sat in one of the fail cells, her feet in and her knees to her chest. She hadn’t done anything to land her in the jail cell, it was her past that had caught up with her. She could proudly tell Niko that she hadn’t stolen food for the past week. It was obvious that she wasn’t stealing food, she had been with him most of the time, mooching on his meals just a bit. But she hadn’t stolen today. Her tail thumped against the cell floor, her ears pinned back, eyes downcast. It turns out that the guards in the city had a notice about her. She had stolen enough fish to be reported by enough vendors—multiple times—that they had to do something about it.

One of the guards had spotted her and arrested her. She wasn’t even doing anything wrong! They had come up and taken her to jail. That wasn’t even the worst part about this. Mali had no idea how she was supposed to get out of here. Niko didn’t know that she was here, and she wouldn’t want to burden him with having to pay or anything to get her out of jail. But she needed to tell him where she was. Though she hoped that he wouldn’t have to do anything to get her out, she knew that he would probably have to come get her. The guards wouldn’t willingly let her go. But there was no way of contacting him.

Sighing, Mali looked around her cell. She had no idea what time it was. There weren’t any windows that indicated if it was night or not. She wondered what she should do about this. Maybe Niko would come find her on his own? The thought didn’t hold well with her. She trusted him and considered him her friend, but why would he come and look for her? She didn’t know even know if he considered her his friend. She didn’t even know if Niko liked her!

Lowering her head to rest on top of her knees, she felt really sad. Stupid guards, they just had to go and mess everything up. Sitting there a few more moments, she let out a long, sad mewl, thinking it would do something for her.

[Arizae]

Normally Ilirea did not disappoint. Too many elves however. Humans didn’t seem to care for the place. What with the magic users running about everywhere and the monstrous dragons controlled by elves. At least that must be how the short-lived ones must see it. Here there were many things that could not be understood, couldn’t be explained. How could a human feel comfortable around magic when he could not feel it and yet know in his heart that it could kill him at any second? It was understable that those same humans would not feel comfortable around dragons. Smirking, Xaen had to admit Palancar was on the right track. Humans would lose this continent if they continued as they were…weak, short-lived, and broken.

So how was it that he came to be sitting in the middle of this human run prison? There were several prisons dotting Ilirea, the riders and elves wanted to hold their criminals of course. Naturally the humans would feel threatened if they couldn’t do the same. So they had this pathetic excuse for a jail. Were there wards? Any magic users policing the place? No and no. Anyone with a little bit of skill could easily break the joint. Still, it was very effective for your normal humans. Again he asked himself…how had he ended up here then? There was no chance those guards hands had touched him…he would be able to smell that stench lingering on his coat.

Oh that’s right, he had been following that drunken buffoon to see what would happen. Truly had been a pretty dull night. Suppose he had gotten tired and simply fallen asleep in this cell. It wouldn’t be the first time. And his memory was still sketchy at best. At least the smell of this wretched place hadn’t sunk into him yet. Then again, why would that matter? Slowly he opened his eyes, slits of green just showing above his paws. He uncurled himself and went through his natural stretching routine, when he heard a most curious sound. Was that mewling? It sounded like an old kit. That was definitely no normal cat that was easy enough to tell, that voice belonged to another werecat. How had he not known another of his kind was here? Now that did bother him.

Without further thought he kept back in the shadow of the cell he was in and shifted form. Were there had been a deep black cat before, now sat a young child with wide innocent eyes and eerily glowing eyes. Standing slowly the child went to the front of the bars to peer at the creature that had created the noise. Xaen was attired in his normal vest and baggy pants, and thankfully his dagger was at his side. Now he was never one to be surprised, he had seen everything Alagaesia had to show, but when his eyes landed on this ‘werecat’ his gaze went wide. Quickly reigning himself in he tried to get a feel for the situation and see what in the world was going on. This definitely was a werecat, he could tell by the sound of the mewl and the smell, but those ears and tail on the human form? What had this kit done? Speaking in a child’s tone he leaned on the bars of the cell.

“Please don’t be sad. Jail ain’t so bad. They do feed us every once in awhile.” he smiled, that perfect innocence slightly tarnished by pointed teeth, “What’s your name? They call me Xaen.”

[/blockquote]

[Mali]

Ears twitching, Mali lowered her face again, but still being high enough that she could see who was coming. Tail wrapping around her body, she was prepared to see some big, burly guard but was surprised to see a young boy. Sniffing the air subtly, she wondered when the child had last bathed. He didn’t smell like a clean little boy, that was for sure, and he didn’t smell like an elf either. His clothes looked clean, so she wondered what it was that made him smell so different. The first thing she noticed was his widened eyes. That was it; she didn’t need to watch any more, pressing her face completely into the tops of her knees. Everyone looked at her oddly because of her appearance.

She listened to the boy telling her not to be sad. That only made things worse. She didn’t want to be in jail, she hadn’t done anything wrong this time. Raising her head to get a complete view of the boy, she bit her lip. He had pointed teeth, she wondered what had happened to cause that. Although it was rare to find someone with a perfect smile, she hadn’t seen someone with pointed teeth like that. She peered at him a little closer. He had odd eyes, they had a slit in the black part. She had never met anyone with eyes like that. But those eyes seemed familiar from somewhere. She had seen them once before, but she couldn’t remember where.

Was it safe to tell him her name? Thinking about it, she didn’t think it would matter if she did or not. She was stuck here and giving a child her name wouldn’t do anything. “Mali. What’re you doing here?” Why was there a child here anyways? Maybe he had been brought along to visit an imprisoned family member or something. That’s when she remembered where she had seen those eyes before. She had walked past a vendor once, and he was selling these large shiny objects. When she had stepped in front of the object, she had seen herself. At least, she had thought that it was her. When she would do things like pat her head or make faces when looking in the object, the person would do them too. But she had those eyes! This was lucky, now she knew that her eyes weren’t weird. They just weren’t a common trait people had, like red hair. “You have the same eyes, no one else does”

[Arizae]

What a strange creature this was. Or rather what a sad excuse for a werecat. This was no two year-old kit, she had some years on her. She may still be considered young, but she should not be acting like some kitten at this age. Werecat children, those rare and far between that he had seen, grew up quickly and began manipulating each other by an easy five years of age. At the least they were trying to gather all the information they could and use it for themselves. Xaen didn’t care what the age. A werecat was not supposed to be found mewling locked in a human jail. That was like finding a dragon weeping over some deer it had stepped on…or seeing one collared like a puppy and happy for it. This was a disgrace, and he was sickened by it as the facts came rushing to his head.

She was looking at him curiously, as if she didn’t know what he was. Her ears twitching or lying flat, curled in that position with a protective tail around her. Why didn’t she just break out? Simple locks should not be a barrier to a werecat of her obvious age. Despite himself Xaen frowned. It was not a facial expression he was used to. There were not many times he was not entertained or simply bored. Things in this world did not make him ‘upset’ and pouty. But for the first time in years he could feel his brows furrow and his lips set tight as he tried not to glare. It was as if this werecat had never known what she was, never had the proper lessons or environment to grow. Here she sat, as much a helpless kit as when her parents first set eyes on her. Pathetic. This would hurt his reputation as a werecat if this…thing was found wandering streets and known for what it was. His frown was followed by a grimace as she remarked on his eyes, this…Mali, really had no clue.

Then a different thought occurred to him, and if he had been in his true from his ears would have perked up. Perhaps this was some grand scheme from the parents. They had let the kit off on its own to begin with for curiosity’s sake. Devilish awesome werecats, what an experiment! The frown vanished from his face as if it had never been there. His trademark grin was back as if it had never left. Those pointed teeth appearing menacing within his glee. Xaen’s eyes brightened his pupil going thin as the emerald green spread with an eerie glow. And the thought occurred to him, what other werecats might have done something like this? He could not think of a pair that would be so clever at the moment. Xaen’s own memory of his past was fuzzy. Mainly because he did not care to clear it or remember much past what had happened a few hours ago. Perhaps…he could not remember, but he could see himself contriving such an act and following through without a moment’s hesitation.

Without further thought he moved to the lock on the cell he had chosen to sleep in last night. Xaen did not remove the dagger or any seen lockpick. He simply reached up and used those wickedly pointed nails. There was a click, and the door swung wide as he nudged it with his foot. Child’s play. Walking across the aisle to the front of Mali’s cell he looked directly in her eyes, and for the final time confirmed that she was a werecat. Well best he explain a little bit to her. Or…perhaps he could simply play a game? Tell her something that was not true? Or but the work that would be, and the mewling he would have to endure. Playing games with kits just wasn’t worth it sometimes. Trying to make his smile appear kind he looked down at where she sat.

“You have been lost for a while, haven’t you?” His attempt at a kind compassionate tone came out grating, and even he flinched slightly at the sound. To his ears it seemed he had asked her if she would kindly find herself lost and decapitate herself. Ah well, such were his ways. Xaen would work with what he had. Continuing he looked at her eyes. “I suppose I do have rather…strange eyes…and it would appear you have the same make and color.” He stopped suddenly, appearing pensive for a moment, as if he must think upon this new information. “Does it mean we are related or simply the same type of creature?”

On the word creature he shifted, small pale hands becoming paws as he set them on the ground. Ears growing long and pointed, tail appearing and held high. Long smooth black fur along his entire body, and yet those eyes had merely changed size. Their color and form remained the same. And there was that grin, so eerily close to the one the boy had held moments before. Once more he made sure he had her attention, but his voice did not come from vocal chords this time. No, he spoke as werecats would, straight to her mind.

“As for what I am doing here…I go where I will, when I will, whenever I please. Whether it is the court of a king or the slum pit of a prison. No one can tell me otherwise, for I am a werecat…so I ask, what are you doing here? ….Kit….”

[/i][/color] [/blockquote]

Words: 925
Character: Xaen
Muse: Good on this one, much better than first post
Interaction: Opened his cell, shifted form and spoke with Mali[/size]

[Mali]

This child was different. She sensed something about him that wasn’t right at all. He didn’t just smell odd he acted weird too. Normal children wouldn’t be the apprehensive towards someone like her. They would be interested in why she looked funny, or they would ask questions. This child was too calm and careful about what he said. It was as if he knew something that he held over her; he acted with indifference and superiority. How could a child of his age do this, was what intrigued her. Her tail unwrapped from around her, lying back on the floor peacefully.

She watched him, as he watched her, and wondered what he was thinking. Mali knew that she could speak in others’ minds, but she didn’t think she could listen to other people’s thoughts. So there really wasn’t any way for her to find out, which only made her more curious about the boy. He was frowning. He didn’t look like he frowned often for some reason. It was as if he was emitting this emotion of some kind of distress. The frown didn’t last long though; she wished that he were still frowning instead of what replaced it. The grin on his face wasn’t human, and it wasn’t elf. Mali knew that there were creatures other than humans and elves—she was another—but she didn’t think she had met whatever he was. Maybe he was a troll of some sort.

As he stood at the bars to her cell, staring directly into her eyes, she noticed, as they seemed to glow. He was acting with her. The tone in his voice sounded horribly fake. She didn’t think that he was capable of being nice, since he was so terrible at saying such a simple statement. If it were a regular person, saying something so simple, yet endearing, wouldn’t be that difficult. Yet he seemed to have difficulties with this. Watching his eyes, she wondered what it was that he knew, that he wasn’t telling her. Tilting her head to the side slightly, she had to think of what it was he was trying to do. Was he trying some kind of mind trick, to get information out of her? Maybe the guards had sent him. Whatever that would accomplish, she had no idea.

She hadn’t really been paying attention to him after trying to figure out if he was working for the guards. At his mention of being the same creature, her ears pricked up and her back no longer arched was as straight as it could be. She looked like a deer caught in front of a wagon. Watching as the boy changed into a cat, she practically fainted. She hadn’t actually seen what it looks like before. Now she knew why people were shocked when or if they ever saw her, changing forms. To humans and elves, it could be a very odd sight. However, that was beautiful.

Why was he calling her kit? Did it mean something? He would definitely know the answers to every question she had. She had finally met another werecat. Niko had tried to tell her things, but the only information he knew, she already knew, aside from being capable of their full transformations at a far younger age.

”I stole, a lot, and the guards caught me, put me here.” It would be rude not to answer his question, though, she believed that that wasn’t exactly what he had asked her. Now she could speak with her mind, knowing that he would do the same. ”I’ve never met another werecat before. Why did you call me kit? Where do we come from? Are the many of us? Do all parents leave us with humans? Why did my parents give me to a human family? Is that natural?” Mali asked all of these questions as she moved closer to the cell door. The light from the torches showed more now that she was closer to the door. He was beautiful. She wondered if they all looked like that. ”I’ve never seen what we look like when we change. It was beautiful. Can we do anything else?” She smiled, not sure if she should change yet.[/blockquote][/blockquote]

[Arizae]

Curious. Very curious. Xaen’s ears remained erect and pointed forward, never missing a word. Sounds of the jailhouse made them twitch and swivel at times, the footstep of a guard the floor above, a groan from a nearby prisoner. They twisted quickly, but always flicked back forward towards Mali’s voice. Her looks had been confused before, perhaps scared? He was unsure. It did not matter, the only tone coming from her now was pure curiosity. Curiosity killed the cat…now who had come up with that saying? And what influence had they been under? Cats, and more importantly werecats, thrived on curiosity. True, the dumb ones died from that curiosity, but most of his kind were more intelligent than that. It was why werecats were considered knowledgeable, always there for the important events…a step ahead. Simple curiosity, the need to know and discover. Ferret out the darkest secrets and the best of manipulations, but the less intelligent…

Eh, well they did not seek out answers for themselves. They sat in the middle of a crowded street and shouted why to the world. Expected beings to answer them! Xaen suddenly burst into laughter, though in his true form the sounded came like a contorted purr. A content sound with a mischievous glimmer in his eye. His tail flicked, and curled as he closed his eyes. For a few seconds after Mali spilled all her questions he simply chuckled, the purr coming soft and low in his throat. Someone could take it as simple glee, amusement, and this time, it was. This is what got you killed. This is what drove foolish cats into being pets. Werecats that voiced questions aloud did not last long. Always the ones that watched, waited and learned prospered. Xaen knew it well, did his fair share of hiding within the dark while listening. A cat must watch, keep his ears open. Humans could be dull, thinking his kind lazy while they rolled in the sun or simply slept on a wall.

Look at where the cat positions himself, watch as his ears twitch while he ‘sleeps’ and know that he is always watching, always listening. And above all, always curious. Searching for answers and knew bits of information. Cats were not inquisitive dogs. Sticking their noses where they did not belong and rooting around for scraps like pigs. They were a different breed and a step above when it came to intelligence. Stupid dogs needed to be taught, have things explained, shown how things worked. A werecat needed nothing of the sort. Xaen grinned, eyes still closed, his sharp pointed teeth glinting slightly. He let his purring cease, and snapped his eyes open, catching Mali’s own emerald gaze with his own. There he saw the curiosity in her eyes, the want to know, the need to understand, but she did not have the means. Had not figured out that she must find answers, test them and search them out. And it was at that point that his delight, amusement, and curiosity faded. For once…he sighed, furred chest rising, and then falling.

For a moment Xaen seemed to be preoccupied with expecting a single extended claw, it needed sharpening, had grown a bit too long…and now his mind was wandering. He wrenched it back to the task at hand. It was a task now, a mission. Maybe he could set this werecat straight, killing it would be too easy. And he was up for a challenge today. But he knew at that moment that he would not take the easy way out. There was no way he would simply hand it the answers it wanted! If this Mali wanted to be a claim to be a werecat she would not beg for answers and ask with those innocent eyes. He would teach this pup before him to be a kit before he was done. Leave it to humans to make a cat left in their care a foolish dog.

“Curious…are you?

[/b][/color] he finally spoke, once again his low cracked voice communicating directly to her mind, “Do you know for a fact that you have never seen a werecat before? Or were you not watching? I will answer one of your questions…I call you ‘Kit’ because you act like a child of our kind, kit, short for kitten. Shouldn’t you have discovered this already? Do not tell me it is because you had humans to raise you…or lack of raising. Werecats are not nurturing in the best of situations. You have your curiosity. But you need to answer your own questions if you ever want to be accepted even as a lowly 'cat', much less a werecat.”[/b][/color]

Xaen paused, he was speaking and explaining more than he wanted to. Words were useless at times and he was already trying to curb his tongue in different situations. So he waited a second, let the silence stretch on. Then finally finished his thought.

“You saw me open my cell. Do the same. Or at least attempt it. A 'cat' is never caged.”[/b][/color][/blockquote]

Words : 852
Character : Xaen
Muse : Good this time, though I don’t think I put Xaen’s moodshift quite right
Interaction : Speaking with Mali; he is sitting outside her cell.[/size]

[Mali]

He was laughing at her. Why would he laugh at her? Wasn’t it normal for them to be curious? Maybe he was laughing at her for some other reason. She wondered how old Xaen was. Maybe he thought her foolish and young. Maybe she had done something wrong. She hadn’t offended him, had she? She seemed to offend people by accident often. The laughing stopped and he looked annoyed now. Tilting her head slightly, Mali looked at the werecat oddly. He sure seemed to change his moods quickly and often.

As he spoke to her again, she felt like she was being patronised. What was so wrong with what she had done? She had questions and she asked them. That’s what you’re supposed to do when you want answers. Maybe he was right, maybe she had seen another werecat before. She hadn’t met anyone that smelled as he did, so she didn’t believe that she had, but he was right, how would she know? If they were in feline form, there would be no way to tell. However, if her appearance seemed to bother him this much, if another werecat had come across her, they would have said something, right?

Kit meant kitten and she was considered child-like for their species. It’s understandable that he would say such a thing. She didn’t even know how to properly change her forms. As he continued to speak, she began to get irritated with him. Mali understood that cats watched people and things; taking in information, but that didn’t mean anything. She could ask questions, they couldn’t possibly expect her to answer everything herself. That wouldn’t be accurate information. If she answered everything herself, based on watching, then the answers she would discover are biased. They would be her opinions based on what she saw and how she interpreted it. There is a difference between what she sees and what others see. The way she was raised, her likes and dislikes, everything, would affect the answers she would find herself. Xaen irritated her, telling her that she had to answer her own questions if she wanted to be considered a regular cat. That was an insult. Is it wrong that she wants to find the correct answers to her questions? Just because she asks her questions aloud doesn’t mean she isn’t considered a werecat. If her species did it that way, that’s fine, but the answers and wisdom other werecats have are biased, and she wants the truth.

Irritation growing more, she stood up and fiddled with the lock. It was facing the opposite direction, the lock face pointing towards the opposite cell. Sticking her claws in, she had to admit that she had no idea how to do this. It felt awkward, using her claws for this. The way that the lock resisted her claws, having to fiddle and jiggle about inside was weird and foreign to her. There was a click and the lock undid. Taking it out, she pushed the door open. Xaen was still just outside her door, sitting there as if she was a hassle and bother for him. If he didn’t like her, that was fine. He was right about one thing; she couldn’t assume she had never met another werecat before. However, that didn’t give him right to judge her because she did things differently. Looking back to the cell, she decided that switching forms would be easier. If the guards did a round, then they would surely notice that she had escaped and walking around in her humanoid form would give herself away. If she were feline, they would have no idea it was actually her.

Her arms shortened, bones joining at different angles, paws forming in place of her hands. Her ears shifted, no longer directly on top of her human head, but more towards the sides, her face converting to a furry mask. Her tail shrank and her clothes disappeared, her body changing to fit her feline form. Opening her eyes, she was now staring at even eye level with Xaen. While he was completely black, Mali had tuffs and spots of white: tipped ears, the base of her tail as well as around her paws.

”I know I may not be a werecat to you, but I think answering all my questions isn’t truthful. Those answers are what I decide, not the truth, they are biased.” Her eyes narrowed slightly to the other werecat.[/blockquote][/blockquote]