[Elata x Roro]

[kiroro]

His bare feet barely made a sound as he ran across the cold and wet ground. His breathe was visible and showed as white puffs in the air in front of his face. It was dark now, the streets were empty, so he was less likely to be seen, which was good for him, if he was to be seen that would mean he would be punished.
He had to be fast, he had to be silent, he had to be invisible, this was his only opportunity to get away from this place and finally be free. It's heartbreaking when a child has to think like this.

'Father. Mother,' he was thinking, 'I hope we meet in Rahu.'
Rahu, it was the place his father had told him stories about when he was younger, when they were all still together. It's been six years since he's seen is parents and the story was a little foggy in his head, but he still remembered parts of it. His father always told him, if he ever lost his way he should meet them in Rahu, that his story would show him the way.

He was thirteen now and as he ran he kept trying to remember the next part of the story in his head, it was getting harder and harder to remember the next few lines, he didn't feel like stopping in fear of resting for too long and then being caught, but if also continued to run aimlessly, he may wind up running into trouble also. He slowed down, thinking, his ears listening for any sounds. It was dead silent besides the drops of water dripping from off of different objects and structures; it had rained earlier that evening.

He crossed his arms, the cold was starting to get to him now, maybe slowing down really was a bad thing, running had at least kept him warm. His clothes weren't the best to wear out in the cold, they were thin, a little too small for him and had holes and patches everywhere. Not only did he not have decent clothes, he also had barely any food for himself, his rations would last him at least two days, three if he could manage to stretch it out that long. He had a small bag with him, it held his food and some paper, a pencil and a small blanket, and a knife. He reached into it and pulled out the small blanket, and it looked just as ragged and dirty as he was. He looked around and then decided to duck into an alleyway and hide somewhere in there while he tried to get his thoughts together, he sat behind a garbage can and then pulled out one of the sheets of paper and the pencil, he wanted to try and map out the story on paper.
He wrote and thought for a while, he bit down on his pencil, his sharp, long teeth sinking into it. His stomach growled and he let out a silent sigh, he couldn't eat tonight or tomorrow morning, he'd run out of food too quickly. 'Hopefully I can get out of this city quickly and maybe I'll find some food out in the forest or something...'

He tensed up when he heard something make a rustling sound close to him. He didn't want to move, but he had to. He looked over, slowly, to his right... He let out a sigh of relief and brought up his hand to his chest to try and calm his pounding heart. It was just a kitten, and it was looking right at him, he smiled at it and motioned for it to come to him, "Hello kitty," he said quietly, "Come here," he could really use the company.
It was hesitant at first, but it did eventually come to him when he coaxed it a little more. It was small, Grey, and he picked it up and sat it in his lap after he put his papers back into his bag, "Oh, hello kitty," he pet it and it purred, sounding like a low hum, "I guess I'm like you now huh? A lost stray?" It replied by rubbing it's head into his gut and purred a little louder. "Shh, shh, you have to be quiet, alright?"

[ElataDiscordia]

The sound of foot steps echoed through the night as a well-dressed woman walked from the palace and towards her home. The prince was finally asleep, and she could leave. She made a face at the memory of the younger man's flatulence from the moment he slipped to dreams. Disgusting.

Her long cloak disguised her figure, and a hood protected her ears from the cold, though her nose felt the bite. A shawl aided the cloak in warding off the chill of the night... Fall was a bitter season in these parts. She waved to a man lighting street lanterns and greeted him cheerily, then continued on her way after making it clear to him how chilled she wanted him to believe she was by rubbing her arms. She was in no mood to chat over much. Painted red lips pouted, hiding the purple they were turning, and kohl framed her eyes, giving them a warmer, more intense appearance. A curled bunch of hair fell into her face gracefully, and a small painted dot accentuated her cheek bone.

Looking into an alley at the sound of purring, she smiled. Cats had always been her soft spot. She had her chef feed them... Of course, the pudgy man didn't like it, but that was just too bad. She paid him, he would do those silly little things she liked. Her heeled boots walked into the alley, where she saw a small child. He was likely a beggar. "Little boy, doesn't the guild offer you shelter?" she asked. The alley was too dark for her to see his inhuman features. "Or... Perhaps you are lost? I can show you the way to the home of the guild if you wish. I'm sure Josia would take you in and teach you some new tricks."

[kiroro]

He was too busy playing with the cat now to notice the sound of clicking boots as they walked down the street toward the alley he was in. He smiled at the cat and rubbed it behind its ears, it was nice having something appreciate you for once.

The clicking stopped and a voice broke the silence. He froze, afraid to look up at the voice that was talking to him now. It sounded like a woman, she sounded nice enough, but he knew that as soon as she saw him she wouldn't be so kind anymore, maybe find a solider and bring him over to take him away.

He held the kitten closer to him, it had stopped purring once he had stopped petting it and it faced in the direction of the woman, looking up at her. He was looking in the opposite direction now, he was glad it was dark, that way she couldn't see him too well. 'What do I say? What do I do?' he tried to keep himself calm, but it wasn't working too well. He could only do one thing since he was too tired to run anymore.

"T-the guild?" His voice cracked a little and then he cleared his throat, "Um, it's fine. I know where I'm supposed to be going," which in a way was the truth, he was supposed to be going to Rahu to be with his family again. "S-so, yea."

[ElataDiscordia]

The woman walked next to him and knelt, touching his small shoulder. "You're cold to the touch... Here. This ought to help." A moment later, her shawl was unfolded and placed around him. Because of his small size, it was the right size to be a blanket for him. She lightly rubbed his upper arms to help warm him, then paused.


"Wait... Your voice..." she frowned. It sounded like the little one had something in the way of his tongue. Gently, she cupped a silk-gloved hand on his cheek and turned his head to face her, squinting. Ah. That explained it. He was one of those being hunted down. "Oh dear..." She frowned. He was one of those people... What was it that was the reason? They were plotting to cause the downfall of the kingdom, that's right. She heard it every day.

"You look far too young to be plotting the downfall of an entire kingdom. The only thing someone your age could plot the downfall of is a jar of cookies..." The woman shook her head. She had been told countless times that if she ever finds one of his kind, she needed to turn him in to the guard. He was too little, though. He was surely innocent of the supposed crimes of his race. "Listen to me, little scared child, I am going to take you home with me tonight. It's too cold for you to be out here, and I doubt that you have any hand in plotting against the kingdom." she told him quietly, then edged between him and the street as the lantern-lighter walked by on his rounds.

The man, with his long stick and his own lantern, looked in to see the whore of the nobility crouched down. "It's too cold ta be playn' with cats, yer ladyship." he commented. "No disrespec' meant."

[kiroro]

He flinched a little as she draped this blanket type thing around his shoulders and rubbed his arms. What was she doing? Couldn't she just leave him alone? He still didn't look at her, but then he was forced to once she made him face her. His eyes grew wide as she examined his face, now she knew. What was he to do? Then she started to speak again.

As he heard her say 'Oh dear,' he tensed up a little, uncertain of what to do. Should he run now? Was she going to take him and turn him in? Then what? Was he going to be killed? He may have been a child but he wasn't ignorant of what was going on in the world around him, to his own kind. 'Maybe that'd--No!' he bit his lower lip before his thoughts turned for the worse, he couldn't give up now, not now, he had to make it to his family.

He held the kitten a little closer to him, and it mewed. He was squeezing it tightly now. He loosened his grip and just continued to look up at the woman. She was now offering him a place to stay? "W-what?" he wasn't sure if he had heard her right, and then his ear began to twitch, he heard footsteps comming up the street and the woman blocked the way toward the street in front of him, hiding him behind her. 'She couldn't be serious, could she?'

He then heard a man's voice start to talk to her and he remained quiet, he wasa even too nervous to breathe. 'Ladyship? Wha?' Who was this woman?

[ElataDiscordia]

"I'm fine, Edwards. Please, continue your work." she requested, the faint lantern lights making her silhouette visible, as well as lighting up the sides of her face. She gave the boy a conspiratorial wink.

The man tipped his cap and made his way off, lighting lanterns as he did. He walked slowly, and it was a many long minutes before his footsteps faded into the night, leaving behind bright lanterns, flickering in the night. The sight of the stars was gone in that light.

The woman offered the boy a hand. "Bring your kitten and come with me. We should hurry before the guards start patrols soon." she urged. "They tend to check alleys very carefully in the night, unless bribed, which I doubt you would be able to do." Absently, she brushed the stray bang from her face and gave him a smile. She had a well-kept face, and age had been kind to the thirty-two year old woman.

"I think I still remember the routes from when I was a street prostitute." She gave him a wink. She had bribed her way to the top of the whoring food chain, so to speak. It had been hard, but it was paying off.

[kiroro]

He relaxed once she had sent the man away. He thought she wasa funny woman, but he wasn't complaining, especially if she hadn't given him away.

He looked at the cat in his hands and it looked right back up at him, "Do you want to come with me?" He asked it, and it replied by purring and rubbing itself up against him again and he smiled then looked back up at the woman. He reached his hand toward hers, though hesitant at first, but took it in the end and pulled himself up. "Alright," he said quietly, but at least his voice was stable now. He took the blanket that was around his shoulder and draped it over his head, it kept him warmer, and it also helped in covering his ears. He sniffled. "Um, thank you," he looked up at the woman, keeping the blanket wrapped arounghim tightly with one hand and held the kitten in the other.

He listened to her and she winked at him again. 'A prostitute?' he wasn't too sure what that was, but at least she knew her way around and he didn't think it was like a spy of the queen that would want to kill later on. At least, he hoped not.

[ElataDiscordia]

The woman closed his hand in hers. Her fingers were cool, fading to less cold at her palm. Her hands were smooth, though hints of hardness indicated that she did some things herself despite seeming to be of high station. Warm red lips curved into a smile. "This way." she told him, pointing to the other end of the alley that she had not entered from.

Carefully, she led him through. A change in elevation indicated that they were heading towards the wealthier side of town. She didn't normally take such a direct route, but she did find it cold, and she had a small child who needed to be kept hidden. Pausing, she glanced down. "If you pretend to be a little girl if we meet any guards, then I can figure something out." she murmured. A little boy with the lisp of one of the 'enemy' would be a dead giveaway, but she was known for taking in little girls overnight, most of them hurt. So a little girl with a slight lisp would be the norm.

[kiroro]

He hands were warm and comforting and he nodded then let her lead him away, returning to her a very shy smile.

They were walking out in the open and he looked around, nervous. Where were they headed? He looked ahead and things started to look better and better with each building and street lamp, at least it seemed that way. He guesssed that this woman that was taking him away must be a rather rich woamn. He swallowed. Was she takinghim home to make him her servant or something? He cursed himself, feeling foolish for falling for something like that. 'Of course she is. How could I have been so stupid? Who would want to help me if they knew what I was?' He looked at the ground in front of him, walking silently still holding the kitten close to him. He ran away from being one other person's servant and ran into being anothers, that was just his luck.

He almost jumped when she spoke again, asking him if he could pretend to be a girl. "A, girl?" He asked confused. How could he do that? "I-I'll try?"

[ElataDiscordia]

"Thank you." she said with a nod. "I don't want to have to answer uncomfortable questions." With that, they finally arrived at a walled home. A servant on the inside opened the gate for her, and another opened the door. Both shook their heads sympathetically at the child she walked with, unaware that he was one of the enemy.

"Should I bring some porridge for the lil'un?" a maid asked once the two were inside. The maid had rich cherrywood-colored hair and a friendly smile. She was fourteen and had a wedding band on her finger.

"Please, but take it to my room. She's very timid." the woman instructed. "Also, some milk and bacon. please." came the woman's request, followed by a nod as the woman gently led the small child up some stairs. "My name is Louise." she introduced.

[kiroro]

He kept his head down the entire time as they walked forward, nodding in reply to her thank-you.

They came to this walled-in building, but he didn't look up to get a good look at it because there were people there that had to open the gate for them, two of them were there.

She they got farther inside the gate, his heart beat faster and he became even more nervous. As they walked into the door the floors, they shined and then this woman had her own servants? This had to be bad. He didn't look up when one of them asked if they should go and make some porridge. He half-expected this woman to say something like, 'No! Crust and water will be good enough for him!' and then, do something, maybe throw him on the floor and have the others drag him away and lock him in a small room somewhere or something. She didn't, instead she asked for a little more food, and that they should take it to her room. He was a bit relieved but he didn't completely relax.

He was lead up the stairs and then she finally gave him her name. Louise. Louise?
He looked up at her and replied, "Ty."

[ElataDiscordia]

Louise nodded. "It's nice to meet you, Ty." she told him as she held his hand to lead him up, pausing. "Watch your step here, there's a loose stair." she warned gently before continuing, stepping over one of the steps. Once they arrived at her room after walking through a hallway, she opened the door. Everything was clean. Soft carpet cushioned the boy's feet once she ushered him in. A soft bed was visible, so plush it bulged fluffily. Beautiful drapes framed the windows, and some candles were lit on either side of the door, waiting for the entry of their mistress.

A fire roared in the fire place of the room, and a few chairs haloed it. "Go ahead and sit over there." she urged. "I'll have someone prepare a bath for you and help you wash up after you eat... unless you would prefer to bathe first." She smiled. In her life, she'd found bathing first made the food taste better because she was happier.

[kiroro]

He walked over to the chairs Louise had said he could go and sit on, but instead of sitting Ty stood on the carpet for a while, enjoying the way it felt underneath his feet and also the warmth of the fire. The kitten in Ty's hand begged to be put down and it pushed against him to try and get free, "Ah, stop, stop," he said, but in the end the kitten won and landed on the carpet, on its feet of course, and it seemed to also enjoy the feel of the carpet underneath its paws. He looked over at Louise and then back at the grey kitten, it had curled into a small ball and layed even closer to the fire. Ty smiled at it.

He looked back at Louise when she had told him what to happen, but he wasn't sure what hhe should do first. Bathe or eat? His stomach growled, but he also felt disgusting, he wondered if he cold do it at the same time, but he decided it would be best that he shouldn't get too greedy or comfortable and ask something like that. "Um, I guess... c-can I take a bath first?" he decided. it took a while for food to be prepared, didn't it?

[ElataDiscordia]

The woman smiled at both him and the kitten. "I'll call a maid to prepare a bath, then." she told him, walking to the bed and pulling a gold-colored cord. A bell tingled and echoed prettily throughout the relatively small manor. A few moments later, the same maid peeked in.

"Yes, Lady?" she asked, tilting her head. "The cooks're workin at the food right now." The young woman nodded.

"Could you fill a medium-hot bath for her?" she asked. "She's filthy, and it's hard to enjoy good food when one is covered in grime."

The maid nodded "Yes'm!" she agreed perkily before fetching a large tub and three large kettles. Each Kettle was sent down by way of a dumb waiter and brought up the same way after a few long moments, full of hot water, which was poured into the large metal tub, which waited on an area of floor that wasn't carpetted.

[kiroro]

Ty kept looking at the kitten as another woman came in and asked what it was Louise needed, he didn't want her to see his face or anything else just in case she could tell what he really was. Louise was still passing him off as a girl and everything.

She had gotten the tub and water for his bath very quickly and once she had left he turned and looked at it, even the kitten had raised its head to take a gander at the tub in the middle of the floor. He looked from the tub, to Louise, and back to the tub again, unsure of what to do. Should he just jump in? Was she going to watch him?
"Um," he started to wringe his hands, "Do I, um..." He was feeling a litle embaressed with how he was acting, but he wasn't sure what he was supposed to do at that moment.