To Cut Me
Your Tongue Must Be Sharper Than the Thick Skin You Made
Silence had been her companion in the days following her return. Secrets, all of, that which transpired upon the hellish return from Dunmeath. For to bely on was the endanger the rest that may slip from the cradle of her mouth. Her time was spent outside, the gates to the garden opening their arms after the hardships of winter had passed. "Vutris." The adolescent whelp would lift his head, a light snort coming from his nose as he blew the dirt from his nostrils. He was coming along nicely with his training, she would admit, a slight smile tracing the curve of her mouth as she held up her hand. Without even needing the command, he would trot along to her, pressing the cool, wet tip of his snout to her finger tips.
Movement along the wrought iron that lead to the main street caught her attention as she gave him his treat. The soft, feather light tread of footsteps was nearly completely masked by the sound of the wolf's tail brushing over the newly risen grass. The soft plumes of budding dandelions and soft petals of butter cups colored the stretch of lawn. The flowers within the beds had yet to flourish and those that grew wild were the only things yet to sense that it was safe for them to bloom. A vital lesson.
"Sed," the command left her, her tone purposely even and at the same volume that his name had previously spoken in. With only a brief resistance and hesitance, the pup obeyed, relinquishing a slight whine when no treat came for his ravenous jaws to snap onto. Steps carried her to the fencing that separated their private land from the sidewalk, inquisitive gaze cautious in lesson learned that there was at least one thing Lord and Lady Beleveron had been truthful of. However, the apparition that greeted her was one of vague familiarity instead of some hidden assassin. Though he seemed to have just as much reason to stay hushed, if his posture had anything to say about it. She tilted her head, lips quirking into a light simper. "What are you doing?"
Not much time had passed since his return to these lands and yet there was little need for readjustment. It was already familiar territory. Grounds Huian had already discovered a spot of trouble within as paces hurried down the side streets, ducking out of sight from curious eyes in hopes to evade capture. While this city may have been known like the back of his hand, it came with temptations hard to ignore. Especially when so many painted such pretty targets upon their backs for slippery folk like himself. Those rich types seemingly obsessed with flaunting just who had money around here.
Fanciful décor, privacy fencing, hell some even held stationed guard upon the most affluential homes. And while he hadn’t been looking to tangle with anyone’s personal assistance, one who chased him now had caught a glimpse of retreat. Issued proclamation of thief, scoundrel, trespasser. Callings he could hardly claim as lies though there lingered hope a pursuer would lose interest. Be unable to chase a trail through shadows as digits toyed with stolen goods. Jewelry and a fanciful blade tucked away while other pieces glinted alongside all else already worn.
Ears swiveled atop his crown, straining to pick up on the sounds of pursuit. And it is not until the steady thump of those heavy feet passed him by and the clink of armor grew quiet that a figure began to relax. Slowly pulling away from the wall as attentions wandered, it was best to lay low for awhile until the heat died down for good. Fixation found upon the fencing that loomed overhead and framed the walk way as if to blot out whatever household lay behind it cold embrace. He’d scaled up into windows, hoisted himself over walls and fences before, this would be like taking a stroll down the road.
Just get in and out again. It would be easy. It was all something done before.
Fingers lacing against barred pickets only to find pause the moment a presence made itself readily known. Calling out to and rapidly drawing that vibrant stare before lips parted into an easy grin. Play it off.“Oh you know, just having a private party in the alley,” phrase that could hold multiple meanings and yet it was clear the man was alone. The flick of a knife pressed further into clothing before the hand which darted to it could find temptation to yank it free. “Ever tried it before? Hell of a time,” yet even as he spoke the gleam of those cat-like eyes flickered.
Dancing over the tops of the fence line once more before briefly passing over the features of a dejected pup. One which seemed to huff and puff over something yet remained in place. Hopefully it stayed there for a woman and her fuzzy little pooch weren’t enough to stop planned action. Digits refusing to relinquish their hold as instead limbs spurred him upward to slither his way into the gardens at another’s side. The faint clink of jewelry against iron the only announcement one would have been given should they not have already stared directly at him.
Yet even know trouble found him and while the jolt was not enough to bring the feline to his knees it did bring temporary pause before swiftly launching away from the fence line. The fur of a tail frizzed and puffed as it lashed behind him the moment feet touched solid ground. Lyrics accusatory as a light hiss tinted spoken phrase, nerves on alert as if expecting the static to leap out and bite him again, “Wanna tell me why your damn garden is electrified.”
At least up there. It seemed relatively safe where he stood now even as an unpleasant tingle still radiated against flesh. The feeling of being punched slowly ebbing without that pulsing shock coursing through muscle. While this wasn’t the first time feeling such sensation - and it certainly wouldn’t be the last - Huian had hardly anticipated a magically secured perimeter. There was no crackle, no rhythmic pop to signal it’s presence. No. All was silent… until it was touched.
To Cut Me
Your Tongue Must Be Sharper Than the Thick Skin You Made
The stranger seemed vexed by the big man in armor. His posture relaxing if but just barely as she watched the fiasco from between the cracks in decorative stone and iron. A delicate cage, one that she supposed she could escape fairly easily, and yet such intention had bled from her veins, leaving behind only lingering acceptance. Acceptance and grief.
A low hum left her as her head tilted slightly, thoughtful, observant. He certainly seemed to be bad news, though he didn't hold the same threatening apparition of the assassins that had sought to dispatch her prior. He was too... flashy. Too golden in the warmth of the fresh spring sunlight. Her elbow rested against the smooth, cool press of the hewn rock, cheek supported upon the cusp of her palm. Her lips pursed slightly at the uncomfortable twinge within her shoulder, a lingering reminder of the savagery that came with being labeled as an aristocrat. If it wasn't for her betrothal, she was certain that any member of her family name would be a point of interest for the commoners who struggled fiercely to merely support themselves during this difficult time.
There would be anarchy soon if the king did nothing.
“Oh you know, just having a private party in the alley,” Came the jovial tone of teasing sarcasm as it dripped from pointed fang. Atop his crown was fixed the swivel of attentive feline ears that matched the light twist and writhe of the tail writhing about his hips. Despite his additional features, she saw no other. "I think you're m-missing your guest of honor. Shall I call him back?" Her gaze drifted in the direction the heavily armed man had pursued his shadow, but despite her threat, there was only mirth within her intonation.
“Ever tried it before? Hell of a time.” She would only shake her head in decline. Even if it were a serious inquiry, she didn't fancy the idea of a party. The upcoming celebration of her supposed wedding announced within the local papers was a looming shroud of gloom over her inclinations. She didn't miss the mark of mischief that claimed his countenance however, before he would affix his intent upon the barrier between them. A path she followed. Another sound purred within the back of her throat as he began to scale it, agile as - well - a cat. Dark humor being the only description one could give as her lips curled into a simper. "I wouldn't." She warned, albeit it came too late as she heard the tell-tale snap and crackle of the enchantment being set off.
A soft giggle fled her lips as he landed, his tail bristled from perhaps a combination of irritancy and the staying static. Her feet would draw backwards, putting a bit of distance betwixt them and drawing closer to Vutris. “Wanna tell me why your damn garden is electrified.” Her fingers interlocked behind her as she remained. "To keep me in," gaze drifted slowly from him to where he had come from, but her peripherals would still remain on him. She could trust none here, after all. A nest of liars. Out of what they viewed as necessity or otherwise. "And to alert the guard, I'm s-sure." Hers or otherwise, it mattered not to her. "Why come in?
Tail waved lazily behind him as if it would banish the nerves which rose over the potential of a guards return. Steps which still echoed down the path though - much to his relief - seemed to drift ever further from the trail chased. A short huff of laughter fled his lungs, chasing the initial pang of worry that she truly would announce his hide away. Until he’d caught a glimpse of that smile, took in the very way that promised ‘threat’ was spoken, “He’ll get his chance to see me again.” Whether in passing or when the feline inevitably found himself behind those walls once more, this particular game of cat and mouse not unfamiliar. “If he really wanted to catch me he’d learn to get quicker.”
Faster at spotting a thief, swifter on his feet despite the clang of armor and weaponry.
Yet he hardly intended to wait around and see if such a man could find a new lead to catch his tail. Attentions fixating upon the fencing that served as a barrier between housing and the world just outside it. The start of a warning ignored, phrases hardly even registering as such until after the short tick sounded to send a pulse throughout his frame. A feeling he tried to shake off despite the way after shock seemed to trail against muscle. Bringing involuntary twitch though not enough of a haze to stop hissed phrase. Watchful of the way she withdrew ever closer to a hound’s side.
Smoothing out that bristled fur, Huian’s stare never drifted from features he swore had been beheld before. Probably just another face passed by within the depths of the city. Nothing he should seek to complicate with useless ponderings, however, her question would not go unanswered. “Got a hot date waitin’ for me inside,” with something shiny, though she needn’t know the specifics, “And it’d be rude if I kept ‘im waitin’ don’t you think?” Surely this place had something of value to steal away under the guise of ‘visitation’. There was no way she lived here alone.
Paces attempted to round on her then, get further away from the streets now barred off by something more shocking than he truly wished to feel again. For all he knew it had only been a passing charge, a dulled warning given of all else which lurked beneath smoothed surfaces. No matter. Surely there were other ways out that didn’t involve strolling out the front gates or being towed away by guards. Such beings he intended to avoid by stepping within the confines of this garden. Though he would not attempt to retreat within a structure’s walls just yet no matter how he drifted closer.
Vibrant gaze eyeing the youthful pooch as if it may attempt to stomp him before shimmering emerald would flicker back to the woman. “Why keep you in?” An odd remark he’d not forgotten she made, typically such measures would be placed on forbidding entry. On keeping creatures like himself out of pristine, well tended abodes, “Would’ve thought it was to keep someone like me out. Not the first time I’ve climbed in you know.” At least when it came to other fences sharing similar structure to her own… it wasn’t quite a lie. Nothing that brought lingering amusement to fall from his visage, the cat choosing to stick to proclaimed stories. Fabrications left to the imagination when it came down to it.
