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 Posted: Tue Nov 15, 2005 10:21 am
Snorting softly, Feles let a faint smirk cross his face. "You're nothing like them... weak willed, simpering idiots." He nestled against her, voice growing muffled with each breath as he started to doze. "Love you like you are."
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Posted: Tue Nov 15, 2005 10:36 am
Aranea flushed red, and squirmed a little.
'Mmm,' she mumbled.
'I've always loved you as you are, and who you are.' she said drowsily. Her eyelids grew heavy and she felt herself drift away.
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Posted: Thu Jan 05, 2006 8:15 am
The only true sounds in the room were the soft crackle of a fire starting to burn down in the hearth... and the faint scratching of quill against paper as Feles glanced back and forth between his work and the ancient book he was scribing from. It had started out as simple assistance. Now, however, he had taken it upon himself to go one step farther. Aranea had mentioned that the older script was hard on her eyes... especially when she was focusing on her work.
So, the cat had gone to the library, finding the older books with the faint, spidered writing, and had brought them here to recopy them for his lover. He'd chosen the tomes that he knew she would use... herbology books, texts of compositions of potions and poisons, and the like. It occupied his time, and made it so that he didn't have to worry about aggravating his leg. Even though quite a bit of time had passed, the ache was still present and made worse by the weather that howled past the covered windows of his room. He could feel the draft, but not much. There was an advantage to the thick curtains that shielded him from the outside. At the moment, there was little sun... but with the wind the way it was, he didn't want to bother pulling the fabric aside. He could work just fine by candlelight and the light from the fireplace.
A small brazier sat nearby as well, a bit of embers from the fire resting in the bottom as a sprinkling of herbs smouldered atop them. The smoke was pungent... he'd found a new way to indulge in the herb that took away his aches. The soft tendril of smoke was brushed by the draft, and snaked its way towards the cat with each inhalation. The result was a nearly glazed expression in Feles' eyes... but he was so intent on his work that it wouldn't be noticed.
Youko would likely throw a fit at seeing the sheer amount of catnip the feline went through on a daily basis... but Feles had long ago kicked his Kithain out of the castle and told him to go back to wherever the hell he'd come from.
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Posted: Tue Jan 17, 2006 9:11 am
Majestrix Nox sat in a chair in her chambers, tugging at a braid with a deep frown creasing her brow. She drummed the fingertips of her other hand on the arm of her chair impatiently as she waited for Feles to arrive.
"If that arrogant Cait left without sending for him, I'll make a rug out of her." she muttered.
The 'arrogant Cait' had, indeed, sent for him. In fact, Feles had been so startled by the intrusion into his quarters that he'd spilled the inkwell he'd been working from as he scribed texts for Aranea. The pure white cat now had black hands, and was growling under his breath as he tried to wipe away the offending liquid from his skin on his way to Nox's chambers. The aggravation helped alleviate his inherent fear of the woman... at least until he knocked upon her door.
That's when his anxiety came back and he took a deep breath before pushing the door open. He could only hope that this summons wasn't through any fault of his own. Once inside, he bowed deeply to her, only lifting his gaze to her once he'd straightened up once more. "Your Majesty..." he said in greeting, using every ounce of his will to keep his tail from betraying his state of uneasiness.
Nox raised her head high, prepared to fix the kitty with her usual imperious glare; she loved to watch him squirm. However the sight of his ink stained hands took her by surprised. "Did someone replace your kitty litter with blueberries?" she asked with a lilting smirk on her lips.
His ears flattened slightly, and the cat shot back a reply before he'd even thought about it. "No, someone replaced the normal messenger with some little furred creature that took great pleasure in startling the life from me by banging both back legs against my door as hard as possible." If he ever found that Cait again, he'd shave the little wretch.
"You wished to see me, Your Majesty?" Best to get back on the subject of things before he wound up shoving his own foot into his mouth.
Nox stifled a laugh. Extra treats for Maleficent next time she paid a visit.
"Indeed. That 'little furred creature' brought us some invaluable information today. It appears Cervus has returned from whatever quest he set out on. And he has changed most drastically. I want to know why. And you're going to tell me."
She steepled her fingers with her elbows propped on the chair arms. "I need you to research some sort of fey quest which would result in a physical alteration of a fey to more closely resemble their totem. And which would cost them their wings. I want to know how he did it, and what else it may have granted him besides hooves."
"More closely resemble..." Feles frowned then, his nervousness forgotten as his mind started to work. "I've read something, I know... about growing closer to a totem creature. But I was researching other things, so I paid it little mind. I'll find the text again and see what it tells me..." He looked up then, fixing her with his gaze.
"I may need to speak with that creature again. If she knows what happened, or was witness to it, her memories may be useful. I'd also recommend speaking to your Kithain." The last word was spit out... it was apparent that Feles didn't hold their human descendants in high regard in the slightest. "Don't you share her with the Sun Court King?"
Nox's expression darkened like thunderclouds on the horizon. She spoke through clenched teeth. "I'd rather not speak to my traitorous Kithain. It's a painful enough reminder I'm somehow related to Cervus through her. Besides, she only dealt with me under sorcery. I could cast on her again if need be, but I'd rather save that as a last resort. Cervus has his minions watching her too closely since the last time."
She rubbed a finger along her chin ponderously. "Maleficent was not present for his transformation, and infact only realized it 2 months after he returned. He was gone for half a year according to her, so it wasn't a swift journey by any means. She said he is furred and hooved, his antlers are larger and his hair longer." She thought and moment and added "And as she didn't recognize him beneath a cloak, we can safely assume his scent changed as well."
"Your Kithain may have information we need," he answered softly... but he didn't dare press the issue any more. "Perhaps my own Kithain could prove to be some use in this. He is apparently her friend in their home realm. I'll see what I can arrange without rousing suspicion."
FINALLY, however, his mind had something to wrap around. The tomes of knowledge in the library would have to have some record of this transformation. Surely the Sun Court weren't the only ones that could accomplish this. "I will start immediately, Majesty," he murmured, his eyes already taking on that 'far away' expression as he tried to sort through the books he knew in his mind, and determine which would be useless. "I will require access to all areas of the Castle. There is always the chance that this information was 'written down' before the books... possibly on carvings and such in the older areas. I plan to search everywhere."
Nox nodded slowly, getting a far away expression of her own as she pondered. "I may need for Aranea to begin seeking some answers herself. The woods are encroaching...the creatures within are not...right. We might need to get a sample or two and have her inspect them."
She looked to Feles intently. "See that the young ones don't venture far from the grounds. I'd prefer not to have to identify them by their entrails later."
Feles bristled slightly at the order, but simply nodded in reply. Now he was expected to be a babysitter as well? Wonderful. Their Kithain must be truly inept. "I shall inform Aranea of your desire to speak to her, if you wish."
This news of the forest and the creatures within struck him oddly, though. Too many things were changing all at once, it couldn't be a complete coincidence... even though winter was supposed to know the rule of the Moon Court, it seemed that things weren't right in this time of cold. "I'll also see if there are any records of this strangeness in the past."
Nox nodded curtly. "Very well, that will be all Feles. And do clean up your mess. I'd prefer not to have ink stains all over my castle." She gave a dismissive flick of a hand towards the door as she gazed out the window.
The cat's ears pinned back, but he didn't argue. Instead, he bowed to her once more, his hand clasped tightly to the stick he used to help him walk, and he made his way out the door as gracefully as he could manage. Only when he was out in the hall with the door safely closed behind him did he begin to mutter under his breath, claws digging deeply into the top of the wooden stick with each step he took.
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Posted: Thu Jan 19, 2006 11:08 am
Aranea picked up her personal journal, putting it next to the small pile of books that she was taking with her to Feles's chamber. Rather then constantly be going backwards and forwards between rooms during her stay with him, she had decided to pick up some books, and the research papers she was writing as she had been experimenting with her potions. The actual apparatus for that was all down in her laboratory which would be even colder then up here; she had vetoed any actual practical experiments, and would spend the winter writing things to make when spring rolled around again. It wasnt very that she was taking; a comb, a few hair fastenings and some other personal items along with the sheafs and stacks of paper, and her books on herbs, poisons, and more elemental items. Her teeth chattered slightly, and she tugged on her cloak, wondering where Feles had gotten to..he had said he would help in this.
Feles HAD said he would help. And he meant to.
Truly he did.
Unfortunately, his mind was already working as he moved into the room with her, and he'd immediately veered off towards the shelf of books in the room, examining them with quick eyes and nimble fingers. Nox's summons still rang in his mind, as well as her charge to find out just what the hell had happened to the King of the Sun Court. In that respect, he was looking for information anywhere he could. He pulled a couple of promising tomes from the shelf, setting those aside as well. "May I take these with us?" he asked, peering around the bookshelf at Aranea.
Aranea turned at the sound of her beloved's voice, a an eyebrow raised as she was curious as to just when he had silently padded past her to make a beeline for her bookshelves. She narrowed her eyes a little, but merely nodded;
'Take what you wish..you'll be the one carrying them,' she stated as she piled a few personal affects onto a thick, red coloured cloth, twisting the corners together so that she could carry them in the makeshift bag.
Grinning, Feles added a couple more tomes to the stack, then moved towards Aranea to wind his arms around her middle. As she shoved things into the sack, he leaned in and kissed the back of her neck, the motion shoving the cloak away from her hair. "And what am I carrying for you?" he asked.
She smiled, reaching up and behind with a hand to touch the side of his face, her fingers lightly stroking his cheek.
'Everything..' she teased a little, but knowing that he could only carry things under one arm as the other was needed for his stick, she would never really make him.
'I'll load you up like a faithful pack horse,' Aranea turned in his arms, and bestowed a kiss on the end of his nose.
Feles rolled his eyes, making a pitiful attempt at a whinny before he tilted his head and caught her in a kiss. "Pack horse, eh?" he asked, glancing at the bag she was carrying and the hair bands that were on top of the small pile. "Clothing?" he asked, smirking wryly at her and ducking to the side before he could get smacked.
A soft laugh escaped her lips at his 'impression'.
'My dear Feles,' Aranea said, her voice even.
'Would you want me to wear clothes when I'm staying with you?' she looked sidelong at him.
'I would have thought that the last thing you wanted...me being covered from head to toe in clothes,' she picked up the cloth bundle, and a stack of books, balancing them between the two hands on her left side.
'Okay..let's go.'
"I thought those WERE your clothes," he commented, snickering as he moved to scoop up the books and tuck them beneath one arm. Once they were balanced, he took up the walking stick, making certain he had a good hold on both before taking his first step. "Shall we go then?"
'I swear, I'll wear a shapeless black dress the entire time I'm staying with you,' Aranea said, her voice tinged with amusement and threat.
'Yes, please, before I turn into a frozen statue. I need warming up,' she smiled impishly at him before walking out of her chambers.
Nothing else needed to be said at THAT comment. Feles just fell into step behind her, making a show of closing the door to her quarters... when he was actually just giving himself an excuse to enjoy the view. Once that was done, he caught up to her with little trouble, making his way towards his own quarters on the upper levels.
"There's a fire burning in that fireplace... and I believe there is a lovely fur rug spread out in front of it that's just our size," he murmured, leaning in to nuzzle at her cheek.
'You're trying to make me drop these aren't you?' Aranea said, as when he leaned in to brush against her cheek his hair tickled her a little.
'A fire and a fur rug huh? Sounds like I won't be going anywhere for a while after we get to yours again.' she grinned at him. They would be on their own again, in perfect peace and comfort...and she could speak to him about the thoughts that had been swelling in her mind lately.
"No, because if you drop them, I can't carry them." He held up his own burden, snickering softly. A couple flights of stairs and about ten minutes later, they stood in front of his door, the cat balancing the books as he leaned his staff against the wall and pushed the door open with that hand. "After you," he said, forgoing the effort of a bow. That move would likely wind up with books spilled all over the floor.
Aranea merely huffed at that, walking on until they reached his door. When it was opened, the warm air trapped inside touched her, enticing her inwards and she went inside, putting the stuff she was carrying on a free table, and going over to the fire. She stood on the fur rug, the long, soft hairs cushioning and warming her feet. She discarded her cloak, folding her legs underneath her as she sat down. She looked over her shoulder at Feles, waiting for him to join her as she held two hands, palms facing outwards, towards the warmth of the fire.
Feles set the books carefully down, making sure they were safe before he moved towards the plush rug and curled up alongside Aranea. He was fairly warm-blooded, himself... seemingly radiating his own heat when he was around someone else. He wrapped an arm around his lover, nuzzling her shoulder as he used his own body heat to try and warm her up as well. "You should feel better once the chill is gone," he murmured, kissing her shoulder lightly.
She nestled into Feles, and the combination of the fire, the rug and his wonderfully warm body pressed against hers, did their job of heating her up. She didnt feel half as sluggish as before, and she pulled his hand towards her face, holding it in two of her own, kissing the tips of each of his fingers. Then she put it down, turning a little so that his hand would rest naturally on her bared stomach.
'Feles..' she began softly, not entirely sure how to steer a conversation towards the subject she wanted to discuss, other then just bringing it up out of the blue.
"Hmm?" he asked softly, resting his cheek against her shoulder as the claws of his fingers trailed lightly against her stomach. He liked to 'draw' on her, using just enough pressure from a claw that it would leave a faint reddened mark behind... but not enough to draw blood, nor enough to make the mark last for longer than an hour. His tail wrapped around her waist as he nestled against her, keeping her held close to him as if he were protecting her from the cold.
Aranea let out a soft noise; a little moan of pleasure as the claw moved along her skin, making her belly tighten a little as the touch teased the nerve endings there.
'Feles,' she began again, trying to form coherent words.
'What if..' her eyelids fluttered as the claw continued to move on her stomach.
'...we were to add the Moon Court ourselves? Our bloodline...children.' she whispered.
Children? Feles blinked, looking to Aranea in confusion as he tried to process this idea. "You wish to have children?" he asked, making certain he was hearing her correctly. The cat wasnt' sure about this... he rather liked this peaceful quiet, and last he knew, babies were small, annoying and LOUD. Still, he'd rather die than deny her anything she wanted.
He rested his chin on her shoulder, staring towards the fire for a moment. Well, it wasn't as though they'd taken any precautions in their 'merriment' to warm the evenings. It was possible that the reason she was saying this now was because she already knew something he didn't. If that was the case, there was really no point in objecting... the deed was already done.
"I think that would be a good thing," he began, choosing his words carefully. "The Moon Court needs more children... and I believe we're the only ones capable of providing them at the moment, unless Lupinus has suddenly aquired someone to catch his eye. Feles had yet to meet the reclusive Corvus, so couldn't offer an opinion on that one's willingness in anything.
Aranea frowned a little at his tone..but she knew he liked his solitude, and she had sprung it upon him suddenly;
'I'm not with child yet you know,' she commented, as though reading his thoughts at that moment.
'I know of herbs...but I wanted...,' she sat up then and turned around to look at him.
'Yes the Moon Court needs more children,' she lowered her head. It was true of course, and that was her real reasoning behind wanted to procreate wasnt it? It couldnt be for other sentimental reasons like wanting to bear the children of the one she loved.
Feles slid behind Aranea, letting his legs stretch against the rug as his arms wrapped around her middle. As he kissed along the back of her neck, his hands came to rest on her stomach, pressing lightly against the taut skin. "No herbs," he murmured, lips moving against her skin as he smiled. "And when we have children, I'll beg of the moon that they're just as beautiful as you."
It wasn't TOO bad, really. After all, the children would be raised properly from the start, and he'd make certain they weren't little terrors. "Just pardon me if I lavish attention over you from head to toe beforehand, because I'll likely be frightened to death of hurting you when you're with child."
A smile of joy touched her mouth...not something anyone but Feles would ever see as an expression. She leaned into his kisses, reaching behind to run fingers through his silken hair.
'I love you my Feles,' she said, voice radiating the smugness that being with him, and knowing that she would bear his children bought her.
'You may lavish all the attention you please on me...but first there is another type of attention I require.'
Aranea's voice was husky now, hoping he got what she was alluding towards.
The purr started up almost immediately, Feles tightening his hold as he moved to slide around to her side. "Oh? And just what kind of attention might that be?" Clawed fingers trailed gently through Aranea's hair as he leaned in for a searing kiss, pressing her to lay back against the furs as he demonstrated to her exactly what kind of attention HE was hungry for.
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Posted: Fri Jan 20, 2006 3:02 pm
The Sun and the Moon...
Though his illness was now little more than a memory, Ardea still made an effort to spend some time outside each day. Somehow, since his emergence from his quarters, the out-of-doors called to him a bit more, and, as he was not willing to make himself sick again, the Heron Fey took to reading out in the sun for a few hours during the day.
He had also started to gain an appreciation for walks outside, venturing to wander about the castle grounds with increasing frequency now that his strength was returning to him. And today, in a particular stroke of boldness, Ardea had decided to venture into the forest just outside of Castellum Argentus.
And, of course, the peaceful quiet of the surroundings had drawn the Sun Court scribe deeper into the woods until he lost track of time. One moment, he had just finished lunch and was just stepping out for a bit of wandering, and the next, the shadows of the trees were lengthening around him, and it was beginning to grow darker. Ardea was by no means lost, however; as soon as he realized how late it was getting, he turned around and began to head back the way he had come.
There was another in the forest that day... Feles had taken to heart the Majestrix's warning of the forest... and the strangeness happening out there. Most times, 'odd' happenings would be at night, so he felt no fear in going out during the day, his staff guiding the way for him as the cat stretched his legs and tried to work the limp out of his leg. It had been months since his injury... however, he still found that walking on his own was not a likelihood.
Perhaps the 'workout' would help. He had been poking around, gathering information and samples as best he could. There were strange markings, prints and broken foliage... but nothing that he could confidently attribute to something other than normal wildlife. "Damnit," he murmured, standing up once more from where he'd been crouched to inspect a cracked sapling. "There has to be something here." That was when he heard the sound of something moving nearby and his ears pricked straight up. He curled alongside the tree, suddenly grateful that he wasn't very large. The bulk of the tree itself would provide himi shelter, at least for the time being. If it was that damned archer again, he'd kill the man where he stood.
Ardea paused a moment to stretch and peer skyward, trying to judge how much time he had left before it would be truly dark out. The feathers adorning his shoulders bristled slightly as the Fey thought he picked up maybe the faintest of sounds with his delicately pointed ears, but he dismissed it after a moment as just his imagination. Not that Ardea dismissed outright the possibility of dangerous things in the forest - he just did not feel like worrying about any such thing with so little a reason as having thought he heard something.
Of course, as Ardea started walking again, he was paying a bit more attention to the sounds around him. But he dearly hoped he would remain undisturbed. It had been such a nice walk so far.
It wasn't the archer... this one wasn't one that Feles remembered from his brief stint at the Sun Court. That was a good thing, in his eyes, but he had no intention of winding up a captive again. Still, this one didn't look like he could fight any better than Feles himself.
Which was to say: Not at all.
"You're a bit far from home," he murmured, his voice coming out with a slight growl to the words. Feles stayed where he was, however, half crouched with the long quarterstaff in hand. If needed, he COULD beat someone upside the head long enough to get away.
Ah, so there really had been something there.... Ardea turned towards the voice, one hand straying for the dagger at his side, though he hoped he would not have to use it. Nothing like a fight to ruin the wonderful quiet of a day.
Still, the Heron did not think he had yet encountered a Fey of the Moon Court before. From what he had read, it would be just like one of them to slink through the underbrush like this fellow apparently had. But in spite of the strong bias against them Ardea had gained through reading Sun Court histories, and the nervousness he felt encountering one alone at sunset, the scribe could not help but be a bit intrigued.
"You, as well, I would guess," he replied as coolly as possible. Surely, the other must be frightened of me to some degree as well, if he is still hiding, Ardea assured himself silently.
"Yours don't usually stray out this far," Feles said, noting that this one didn't seem to be armed with anything more than a knife. Not too much danger. Perhaps this was literally one that just wandered too far. From what he'd seen, the Sun Court tended towards either being fighters... or those who couldn't figure out which end of a sword was the business end. Then again, he wasn't much better.
He used the staff to push himself to his feet, keeping his weight off of the leg with the old injury. Leaning against the tree, he kept the staff planted in front of him still, both hands wrapped around it.
"I guess I just got lost in thought, and before I knew it, ended up here," Ardea said with a light shrug; he was still not quite used to the way the feathers on his shoulders rustled at the movement.
The Heron glanced quickly at the Moon Court Fey's legs, and the way he appeared to try to keep his weight off of one leg. Ardea also took note of the length of the staff, though, and made a mental note to keep out of its range. He did not want any violence, but then he was also not about to turn his back so he could run. It would definitely be best to keep his eyes on this one.
Feles let his gaze rake over Ardea, nodding softly at the declaration. "You're not like some of the others," he murmured, one brow lifted. "You're not a fighter." Normally, he would have been smirking in glee at having such an easy target. However, it wasn't long after that particular thought that his mind provided the proverbial 'pot and kettle' comment. NEITHER of them had any business being out this far.
"Do your books always bring you out nearly to the Moon Court?" he asked, curiosity taking over. Perhaps this one knew something of the information Majestrix Nox had charged him to find.
The Heron glanced around a moment, murmuring, "Did I really come out so far?" before his gaze returned to the other Fey. Then he responded to the Cat, "No, not usually. I have just been taking longer and longer walks, and happened to find myself here today."
This one did not seem to want to cause Ardea trouble, but he dearly hoped that there were not other Moon Court Fey lurking about in the bushes or something. After a moment, though, he ventured to ask, "Are you also a scholar then?"
This one was a scholar as well? Feles blinked then, nodding softly as he watched Ardea carefully. It seemed harmless enough... but what if he wasn't alone? "These woods are dangerous," he murmured, slitted eyes staying locked to the heron. "Before the sun goes down, I recommend that you be back in your castle. I intend to be."
If he was truly a scholar... well, that would remain to be seen.
Fingering a lock of hair thoughtfully, Ardea nodded and replied, "I know, I planned on returning before nightfall. So I should not linger here much longer." He was a touch disapointed about this, though the feeling likely did not carry through very clearly in his tone.
There was a deep curiousity that was gradually replacing the aprehension in Ardea's mind. Not that Ardea had completely dismissed the possibility of scholars existing in the Moon Court, but he had still not quite expected to find anyone but a fighter roaming about. So long as the two were able to maintain a diplomatic distance between them, the Heron thought he might not mind asking the Moon Court Fey a few questions. Just... about his work, and what he studied.
Feles, however, saw no point in subtlety... nor did he see any particular reason to not go after what he wanted so desperately to find out. "How is your King upon his return?" he asked softly, making sure to keep his voice steady and his gaze on the sky. He didn't seem to wish any harm upon the King...
Nor would he. Not until he found out what had been required for this changed appearance he'd heard about, anyway. "I've heard he's been missing for quite some time. It must be a relief to your Court to have him back."
"Truth be told, I have not yet met with him myself," Ardea admitted; there did not seem to be any reason to hide this fact. After a moment, he added, "I am sure he is well, and glad to be back among us. We are all pleased that he has finally returned."
The scribe smiled to himself and murmured, "I am quite eager to hear and record whatever tales His Majesty may have to tell."
Smiling, Feles nodded. "I'm certain your tales will serve him well. Perhaps I could hear them when you're finished writing? I believe nothing should go unrecorded, and am trying to make certain that we have a full record of events, just in case something like the curse happens again." Feles scowled faintly then, tightening his hold on the staff in his hands. "The curse depleted both courts... it's a wonder that any of us survived."
Ardea considered a moment, then nodded a little. "I will see what I can do. I must agree, incomplete records are frustrating." The spread and preservation of knowledge was important, but the Heron figured it best not to commit to share everything with the Moon Court, necessarily. Still, a bit of exchange of information could not hurt.
"I suppose we have our Kithain to thank, that we are now free of the curse and able to start again," the scribe sighed, going on. "Still, it is a bit lonely to read past accounts of banquets and festivals and other times when the whole castle was bustling with life and activity."
"Yes," Feles answered, hoping his fur didn't fluff out too much at the mention of Kithain. "The human descendants were our saviours, I suppose." Forget the fact that he hated his own meddling Kithain... best not to mention that. The Sun Court seemed to cherish theirs.
Feles had to admit though... the other scholar was correct in one thing at least. He nodded, the pale pink eyes growing somber. "I remember some of the older days... before the curse. I can't say my time then was much enjoyable, nor did I get to partake of any festivities. Still, reading about what happened when I was locked away brings back a bit of fondness, and I wish I could have been allowed to enjoy it."
Best not to mention that Ardea had not seen his own Kithain in quite some time. He did not want to think about the phantom pain left behind.
But at the mention of the old days before the curse.... The Heron closed his eyes a moment, smiling sadly. "I was allowed to do little but study and read before I was trapped, but I suppose in retrospect, it prepared well me to pick up where my father left off, in spite of all the time that has passed. So, if nothing else, at least we will still be able to remember the past."
"I don't wish to remember the past..." Feles whispered, his tail curling around himself lightly as he glanced away. "Four brick walls and a caretaker that I only saw twice a day to feed me. No thank you." The cat scowled softly, fingers digging into his arms where they were crossed. "At least now, I'm needed around there... and left to my own devices instead of being subjected to my parents any longer."
Seeing that he had hit a sore spot with the other scholar, Ardea decided to change the subject; one quick glance at the rapidly-darkening sky told him that he should not be speaking of anything but departing now, though.
"I suppose it would be best if I left very soon, since I have a bit of a walk back to my castle," he said with a sigh. Then, after a moment, the Heron added, "Perhaps... we can meet again sometime?"
While Feles' mind told him that meeting with the Sun Court was wrong, this one couldn't cause him any true damage. Hesitantly, he responded with a nod, his hand tightening on the staff at his side as he pushed himself away from the tree to stand on his own. "We will need to take precautions," he murmured, glancing from one castle to the other. "I daresay our kin wouldn't appreciate our meetings much. But there is much our kinds don't know of each other... and in times like these, it's what you don't know that will kill you. The forest is growing dangerous, and we need to be on our guard."
Pale eyes flicked back to Ardea for a moment. "When we return, I'll bring what I can. If you find out anything about these creatures in the forest, please advise me of it? A week's time should be enough for us to at least have some idea of what's happening."
Ardea nodded slowly in agreement. "These problems in the forest would be a common enemy between us, it seems, so there is no reason we should not work together to figure it out. I shall see what I can find in a week."
He then took a step towards the other Fey, and asked, "May I have your name, scholar of the Moon Court?" Though he could not fully rid himself of waryness, Ardea did find it calming to know that he and the Cat had some common ground. The Heron held out his open hand. "My name is Ardea."
The cat watched him in apprehension for a moment before apparently coming to the same conclusion the other scholar had. If the two of them had a bit of a truce... albeit shaky... it would benefit them both. "Feles," he answered, finally reaching out with one pale, clawed hand and clasping Ardea's.
There was, however, one thing he had to make clear to the other man. "I was captured by your Court not long ago... the injury I have no will stay with me for the rest of my life... it was given to me by one of yours. If you value whatever this tentative agreement is that we've come to, you will not mention me to the one called Laniger."
Ah, so that was the explanation behind Feles' need for the staff. The Heron peered into the other scholar's eyes and nodded. "I do not believe I have met this Laniger, but if I encounter him, I know nothing."
Once they had shaken hands, Ardea stepped back and started to turn to go. "It has been nice meeting you, Feles," he said, smiling a little. "I shall see you in a week, somewhere around here? Perhaps a bit earlier in the evening, too, so we are not quite so pressed for time?"
"I shall come in the morning," he promised, nodding once and turning back towards the dark castle that loomed on the other side of the forest. "Watch your back in the trees... and get back to your castle as quickly as you can." As if following his own advice, Feles started off, at a slower pace than the Heron, but not slow enough to be considered a hinderance.
He would speak of this to no one... his own hide depended upon that.
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Posted: Thu Jan 26, 2006 8:54 am
Dear Diary,
Children.
Aranea has expressed an interest in having children, and I'm still not completely certain where I stand on this concept. Heavens know I've got what is likely the most skewed perception of parenthood out of all the Moon Court. My parents didn't deal with me... they locked me away and left me in the care of an idiot who only made certain I got meals.
I don't know what it's like to BE a parent, but I'm pretty certain that my own failed that particular concept. I don't want to be like them... although I have no reservations as to the fact that if I WAS like that, Aranea would skin me alive. She'll be a good mother. I only hope I can live up to expectations as a father.
In other news... I've met what could be an ally in gathering information. I will speak no more of it here, but this could very well lead to the discovery and understanding of what happened to the Sun Court king. Nox has entrusted me to find out this information... as well as warning me about the current state of the forest. There has to be some advantage to having knowledge from both sides of the Court. We'll see if this pans out.
Feles
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Posted: Wed Feb 08, 2006 11:28 am
Good lord, it's happened... 
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Posted: Tue Feb 21, 2006 6:48 am
"Damnit..." Feles growled again, slamming a hand down on his desk as he pored over the ancient texts once more. There should have been SOMETHING here to give him leads towards at least one task he had. Thusfar, however, he'd come up with nothing and even MORE nothing, in regards to each. Perhaps the Sun Court scholar had come up with something more, or had information for him. As it stood, his luck was being horrid as he tried to find clues to Cervus' transformation, or to the strange creatures in the forest. No one had apparently written down any information on anything like this happen in the past.
More than once, he'd wanted to give up. But this was not an option. He HAD to find more...
Aranea walked, slammed the door. There he was; her gaoler, the one who had put her in this hellish prison of heaving her stomach up every single morning. And he was just working away... she slammed the water jug down on a table, running a hand over her stomach. Bloody seed within...damn her emotional side!
Worse then the sickness though were the cravings. And she didnt know what she wanted to eat because things were making her so sick. She reclined on the bed, a little, waiting for him to turn around whilst sending dagger-looks at the back of his head.
As if they were little miniature mood indicators, Feles' ears gradually started to drop, even as he continued to examine the texts. By the time he finally lifted his head, his ears were pinned flat against his hair... as if making sure they wouldn't get hit. "Is there a particular reason that you're wishing my death?" he asked, staring straight ahead towards the wall for a moment before finally turning and draping an arm over the back of the chair as he looked to her with a scowl.
Aranea snatched a pillow up, her nail scything into the material as she clenched it hard. She flung it at him;
'You..your seed!' she shrieked, her voice shrill to her ears. She hated the way she sounded but her moods...were uncontrollable these days.
'It's making me sick, sick to my stomach,' she drooped, swallowing thickly, a hand on her belly again. Then she found herself crying, great heaving sobs that welled up from within like a natural geyser. And she didnt know why she was doing that either.
"And yours," he reminded, sighing as he left the books behind and got to his feet. Well, he was either going to help, or get killed for this. Padding to the bed, Feles moved to curl up alongside Aranea, trying to wrap his arms around her to hold her gently. "I believe we're both to blame for this. Can you think of anything that might help the sickness?" She was the potion crafter, after all. And perhaps, if he could get her to focus her mind on something, it would help take her mind off of the fact that her body seemed to be betraying her at every turn.
Aranea flinched, recoiling a little from his touch, then hated herself for doing so.
'If I could concentrate you don't think I would have made something?' she hissed, clawing at the bed some more.
'Nothing works, and worse is that I want to eat...something and I dont know what it is.' she gritted her teeth.
'I'm having a demon child...' she whimpered.
'Am I being punished? Is this even normal?' she slid away from him a little, his scent was either making her nauseous or appealing to that craving she had, and she couldnt sort out which.
"I don't believe you're being punished," he began, scooting back towards her and nuzzling the nape of her neck. Anyone who doesn't understand the concept of 'oblivious persistance' has never tried to shove a cat off their lap when they're being snuggly. "But I have no idea if this is normal or not. I've never been around anyone with child before."
My child, his mind supplied, and he felt a little thrill at the thought. Maybe he WAS starting to get used to this idea. "Is there anything written down anywhere?" he asked, sliding an arm around Aranea's waist to rest a hand on her stomach. "I can find it and make the potion for you."
'I don't know,' she held her breath as he tried to curl into her. Aranea dropped her head, hair falling around her face in a curtain.
'I hate this..I can't think clearly, I don't remember what my food looks like because I only remember what it looks like on the way back out,' her stomach lurched at this thought and she had to pause a moment.
'I've slept in the last few weeks more then you do,' she huffed.
'And I'm on your bed whining like some Sun Court woman, and if this is pregnancy then I have months to go,' she turned.
'I'll be fat...and you'll run off with another woman.'
Feles fought the urge to laugh at that. Somehow, his survival instinct had kicked in long enough for him to control that particular reaction. Laughing at a woman was NEVER a good idea. Laughing at a pregnant woman would, more than likely, ensure there were never future generations from the cat.
Ever.
Feles slid around from behind her, crawling to lay in front of her with his hands resting at either hip. "I will not run off with another woman," he murmured, leaning in first to kiss the centre of the hourglass mark on her stomach... then slid up to leave a soft kiss on her lips, if she'd allow it. "There is no other woman that could ever compare to you. There is also a far cry between being fat and being pregnant. You are not, and likely never WILL be fat."
'Mioaw..' she breathed softly, showing a trace of good humour for the first time since she entered his room. Aranea hovered her hand over his head, running it between ears, through his hair as he moved up to kiss her lips. At his words though her mood shifted again and tears ran down her cheeks.
'Sorry,' she managed, turning into the drip again.
'I don't know why this keeps happening,' she gestured helplessly with a free hand, the one still in his hair moving to rest on his shoulder.
'Anyone sees me like this,' she sniffed, wiping her eyes.
'And I won't be able to scare anyone again!'
"You still intimidate the hell out of me," he murmured, smirking faintly as he curled up on the bed and watched her with a gentle gaze. One hand reached up to brush through Aranea's hair as he rested his head on the pillow. "I love you..." he murmured, even though the words still sounded foreign to him. He knew they were true... it was just that he'd never really had anything to compare love to before.
"And no matter what happens through this, I'll still love you."
'I do?' Aranea scared him?
'Why?' she asked, ignoring the hand in her hair, his words of love. The nausea her pregnancy caused was nothing to the discomfort she felt at his declaring that she 'intimidated him'...everyone else yes, that was what she wanted. But never, not never Feles.
Nuzzling against her, Feles sighed. "I don't know. I just... I want to see you happy. And I've seen your anger directed at others, and never want it to be directed at me." He glanced to her then, frowning faintly. "Nox scares the hell out of me. It's different with you... I'm not afraid of you, but I don't want to give you any reason to leave."
'My poor Feles,' she pulled him to her properly, speaking her words in between nuzzles, and planting of kisses.
'You make me happy..you are my only happiness. The pregnancy...its a thing I have to control,' she frowned a little.
'But it is what I wanted,' Aranea stroked his ears, pushing the velvety softness of them down under her palm.
'And I'm not going anywhere,' she said.
'You get to be with me through this whole thing,' she smiled wickedly, her old self showing a little.
'I love you that much.'
"I believe I should be frightened now," he chuckled, winding around her lithe form and nuzzling her throat. "Because from what I hear of pregnancy mood swings, I'm going to get the brunt of this." Still... he'd be more than willing to run to the kitchen for her in the wee hours of the morning. After all, this WAS half his doing as well... and since he was graced with not having to carry the child, he could at least help HER with the ordeal.
'If the last week has been any indication, then yes,' Aranea buried her face in his long, soft hair.
'Maybe frightened is a good state to be in.' her nails lightly grazed his back, as she twirled them in meaningless patterns. She pulled her face from his hair again as the thought occurred.
'Nox...Majestrix Nox..what if she is displeased with me, us, for this?' her face paled a little.
Feles reached up then, cupping Aranea's cheek and making her look towards him. "She will not be displeased with us," he murmured, beliving that to be implicitly true. "We are helping the Moon Court by bringing life into this castle, and regardless of the timing of the issue, even she will see that this is a good thing. Don't worry yourself over this, alright?"
'Okay,' she murmured back, outwardly mollified but inwardly she would continue to fret until speaking to their Majestrix.
'A child,' she whispered, laying back on the bed, her eyes closing a litte as fatigue swept her once more.
'Are we ready?' she asked, looking at Feles under heavy lids.
"No," he answered, smiling as he reached to let his claws trace lightly over her brow. The motion was designed to soothe her, and perhaps lull her into the sleep she seemed to desperately need. "But by the time the child is born, I hope we will be." After all, they had time to get ready for this... it wasn't like the baby was going to spring from Aranea's loins the next day or anything. While he had little hope that they were ready for the addition at the moment, he knew that with time, they'd be ready.
'Always know what to say..' she mumbled, words barely audible as her eyes slid shut. Aranea only let her guard down in one place, here, and she lay for once in gentle repose. She stirred a little;
'Love you Feles..' she managed, shifting a little, a hand reaching and grazing his side before she settled again, breathing even.
"Love you too," he whispered, leaning in and kissing her forehead gently. The cat settled down beside her then, curling around her almost protectively. The research could wait... he was needed here right now.
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Posted: Fri Mar 24, 2006 9:49 am
The weather was warming, but that hadn't meant that Aranea had left Feles' chambers just yet. In fact, he'd been adamant about her remaining there, and offered to make certain that she had whatever she needed. This also included occasional trips to her quarters for things, or down to her lab. It was the former that he found himself in now, picking out clothing for her changing form.
Feles knew that she was self conscious right now, and had all but accused him of looking at everyone EXCEPT her in her 'fat phase'. He made every effort to reassure her, but he knew very well that actions spoke louder than words. That was part of the reason that he wanted more than anything to get the things she needed and get back to her as quickly as he could.
That was when he saw the mirror.
Broken glass lay scattered around the room, as well as a mauled chair that looked like it had seen better days. This was likely the result of her latest trend towards self-loathing. Sighing inwardly, Feles moved to clean up the mess, and decided that he simply wouldn't mention it to her at all. He'd simply have to show her that he still loved her... and ONLY her.
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