Welcome to Gaia! ::

Majestrix Nox paced to and fro in the courtyard of Castellum Umbra with a greedy gleam in her twilight eyes. "Another is coming...another shall be freed. Truly this has been a strong time for the Moon Court, two of the children grown, and Spina awakened, now if Sajhiri is correct, the cat shall prowl our halls again, even though he never quite lived up to the expectations of his parents." Her words reached no ears save those of a few crows which were perched atop the courtyard wall, stretching their wings as they settled down for the night.

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Meanwhile...in Gaia...Sajhiri waited at the main door of the Silva Regia Tower nestled in a forest in the wilds far from her first home of Barton Town. She had sent a missive and directions on travelling to the strange structure to a gentleman she had stumbled upon in the lineage of a fey called 'Feles'. "Latin for Cat..." she muttered to herself, her eyes glowing red in the dim evening light. Somewhere deep within her the larger part of her psyche was surpressed and desperately struggling, but the powers of Majestrix Nox were too strong for the Seraph's consciousness to break free and subdue her dark side.

Sajhiri had seen the stained glass window in the library of the dark castle depicting a white furred, pink eyed feline. Nox had explained to her that the boy was somewhat shunned by his kin, though she never explained why. She scanned over her genealogy notes once more as she awaited Youko's arrival.

Looking to the note in his hand, Youko moved towards the tower, his free hand brushing aside the hanging leaves that still clung to the trees int he hope of lasting until spring. A futile gesture, he noted idly, watching one spiral down towards the frost-covered ground. The note itself had sparked his curiosity, and he found his eyes drawn to it repeatedly as he followed the directions that had been laid out in the missive. He wasn't certain exactly what to expect, but his curiosity had been piqued.

Stepping into a clearing, he brought up his hand to shield the sun form his fair skin, finally catching sight of a bit of colour in the drab landscape. The tower was there... and the woman that he'd been looking for. The only clue he had was that she was a geneologist of some sort, and that she'd found an relative of his in some fashion. It wasn't TOO hard to believe, really.

Stepping up towards her, he gave a faint smile and nodded politely. "Greetings," he said simply as he inclined his head towards her. "You must be Dr. Jihaar. I received your letter, and I have to admit, it got my attention. How can I be of help?"

Sajhiri smiled and extended her hand in a gesture of welcome. "A pleasure to meet you, Youko. It took quite a bit of research to track you down, and I'm most grateful you came to see me. I do hope you've a bit of an open mind, though, as what I'm going to tell you might come across as somewhat unbelievable or even fantastical."

The ebon-haired woman opened the tower door and gestured the man inside, leading him to a study bordered by shelved walls which brimmed with books. The space was dominated by a mahogany desk covered in papers and computer equipment, and comfortable furnishings that screamed "antique". Gesturing for her guest to sit in a leather armchair beside a small table, Sajhiri sank into an identical one across from it.

"I don't suppose you've ever heard of the myths and legends of Tir Nan Og and the fairy folk who called it home?" she queried as she lifted a teapot over a pair of delicate china cups. "Would you like some tea?" She added cordially.

"Tir Nan..." Youko blinked as he sank into the leather chair and heard the slight creak, despite his slight weight. He felt a bit uneasy in a place such as this. It reminded him far too much of places he'd been kicked out of as a child. "You mean the Sidhe?"

Everyone had their own historical references to the Fae, be it the kelpies that swam through the waters or the slender regal fairies that most people immediately brought to mind. Youko was no different, even he had heard the tales here and there. "I'm not certain what this has to do with a relative of mine," he began, then nodded softly at the offer of tea. "Please."

Sajhiri smiled as she poured the tea and offered the cup on a saucer to Youko. A tray with spoons, cream, sugar, honey, and lemon on it was set on the table between them. "Sidhe, Tuatha de Danaan, Tylwyth Teg, Bediadari, Fae, Fairies, Good People, Green Children, Wee Folk...they've been known by many names, and many faces over the centuries. What is the important thing to know however, is not their name but that they exist. And if my research has not mislead me, their blood runs through your veins."

She sat back in her chair and watched the man for his reaction, sipping from her teacup and peering over it with a curious, and almost amused, expression on her face.

He was in the process of spooning a bit of honey into the tea when she said that, and proceeded to freeze in place, one silver brow rising up nearly to his hairline as he flicked his gaze towards the woman. Youko watched her for a long, silent moment, then cleared his throat faintly upon seeing her expression. "Despite the fact that you seem to be waiting for me to drop this cup, I take it that you're quite serious about this?"

Indeed, the cup clattered slightly against the saucer as he stirred it and took a calming sip of the amber liquid. It was a bit of a revelation, really. Then again, the kitsune had heard stranger over the years and found himself contemplating it, despite himself. "How did you come to this conclusion, if I may ask?"

Sajhiri set her teacup aside and pushed the papers she had been holding at the door across the table to the man. "Research. Long and thorough genological research mixed with a bit of magic and a touch of oracular ability. I hope it isn't too unbelievable to a gentleman with ears and a tail, hm?" She grinned impishly, gesturing for him to look over the papers which outlined a family tree several thousand years old, the branch structure coming to an end at his name.

"I've been tasked with finding the blood kin of the Fey as they are currently under a dread curse, and have been for over a thousand years. A millenia ago a sorcerer cursed the children of the Silva Regia...or Forest Court... trapping them in stained glass windows until such time as one not a fey, but bearing their blood, would come to Tir Nan Og to release them. Breaking the curse is not quite as simple as that of course."

She stood and moved to a bookshelf, drawing out a tome with strange runes emblazoned on the leather spine. "This very tower was once used as a mundane meeting place for the leaders of both sides of the court, the Sun Court and the Moon Court. So it was not unusual to have a fey mingle with a native or resident of Gaia itself. That is how the bloodlines passed to non-faeries."

One claw tapped against the papers, Youko's gaze flicking over them as she spoke. "And I have the blood of one of them?" he asked, despite the fact that it seemed to be a moot question. if he was here and she'd gone through all of this trouble, then it HAD to be true. Setting the papers onto the desk, he took the cup in both hands, thinking in silence for a moment. "What would I need to do to release this ancestor of mine... and what sort of obligation are we talking about afterward? I assume that this is far more than me just whispering a spell and going on my merry way."

"You're very perceptive. This is the part where I typically expect a kithain to go running out the door, but much to my surprise none have yet. I suppose the blood carries with it a sense of honor or duty. I myself am Kithain and have made the sacrifice twice over to break the curse for my fey relations."

Sajhiri sat back down again, setting the book on the table open to a page with strange text on it, and an ornate illumination depicting a stained glass window with a pale-furred cat molded into the design.

"When one crosses into Tir Nan Og, a Kithain is drawn to the resting place of their cursed blood relative. Then the spell which entrapped that fey gives them the choice. To free the child within, a Kithain must sacrifice a small portion of both their soul and their life essence. Only such an enormous sacrifice can dismantle the black magics that trapped them." Sajhiri's expression became serious as she explained the curse. Her finger traced the feline in the illustration. "This is the child I believe you are related to. His name is Feles...indicative of the totem he is bound to by the nature of the Fey. Once he is freed, the two of you will be connected by your soul and life spark that has been shared. He will have to remain in your care at least until he grows up, which is usually not very long due to a side effect of the curse. The children don't age normally now, instead they make sudden, painful leaps in age to adolescence then adulthood. They seem to resume normal life at this point, which I've discovered is the age they would be now if they'd not been cursed."

A cat? Youko frowned then, tilting his head tot he side. "I'd have thought it would be a fox," he murmured softly, reaching to let his fingers trace over the image. "So if you're wrong about this, I won't feel any pull whatsoever?" His mind was digesting all of this, filing it away for when he was a bit more relaxed and could sort through it at his liesure. For now, however, it seemed that action was needed. "Well, let's not waste your time or mine, then, hmm?" Draining the last of the tea from his cup, Youko got to his feet and stretched, a wry grin crossing his features. "After all, I'd hate to think I made you come all the way out here for nothing."

Sajhiri closed the book with a nod and gestured towards the study door. "Please follow me. We'll actually know quite quickly if I'm correct or wrong, as if you are not Kithain, you won't be able to activate the Faerie Ring and cross into Tir Nan Og."

The earth-bound Seraph moved through the tower's passages, heading ever closer to it's center. There she pushed open a heavy door banded in iron to reveal a circular open air space filled with grass and wildflowers. At it center was a strange circle of large mushrooms, with colorful spots and strangely glowing gills beneath their caps.

"If you would be so kind as to step into the ring, Youko. If you are truly fey blooded, you will find yourself in the Meadow in Tir Nan Og. I will follow behind you, but pay me no mind, just follow the pulling sensation you feel. It will lead you to where you are needed." She stepped aside to let the kitsune pass.

He paused for a moment, taking int he sight as a strange flutter formed in his chest. Nerves? The kitsune could count on one hand the number of times in his entire existance that he'd been nervous. Why would he be so now? Probably just wondering if this is for real or not, he said to himself softly, finally moving to take a step forward. The moment his foot touched grass in the centre of the ring, however, he vanished to Sajhiri's eyes... but to his own, the landscape was drastically changed.

Adjusting quickly, the kitsune let his ears p***k up, gold eyes narrowing as he took in his surroundings. It wasn't a worry that he would let Sajhiri interfere... almost immediately he turned away from the bright castle to his right and turned to the left, towards the darker castle set in the forest. His steps moved a bit more quickly, as though something was calling him in that direction, his gaze locked to a single setting of stained glass that flickered vaguely in the castle wall.

Sajhiri followed the kitsune through the portal and kept pace a few feet in his wake. Her smile had grown into a full fledged grin as she felt the swell of excitement from Nox through their bond.

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In the courtyard, Nox stopped her pacing, sensing the return of her Kithain. "It is time..." She murmured. A pale hand smoothed her braids as she stood by the entrance to the castle proper, awaiting Youko.

High above her, in the wall of the castle library, the moonlight struck a window where a pale cat was embedded in the lines of lead and fused glass.

So intent was he on his goal that Youko nearly ran into the fae, stopping short when his gaze finally lowered from the window above to the one standing directly in front of him. "Forgive me, I seem to have had my head in the clouds," he said softly, giving a polite bow to the woman that awaited him. Without thinking, his gaze flicked upward again, narrowing for a moment as he tried to make out the image embedded in the glass.

So it really IS a cat... Envy will never let me live this down.

Sajhiri scrambled behind Youko and fell to her knees, prostrating herself before the strange winged woman. "Majestrix, your servant has returned with Youko, blood of Feles."

The Fey woman looked over the kitsune with an imperious glance, her jaw in a stern set. It softened for a moment as she forced herself to smile faintly at the distracted Kithain.

"You are welcome here, blood of the Fey. Follow your soul to the child who calls to you, and free them if you are strong enough. I shall await you both here when the deed is done."

One thing that kitsune aren't really known for: Protocol.

Youko took the dismissal at face value and darted into the castle, already fixated once more on the strange tugging that was coming from somewhere IN there. Part of his mind registered that he probably should have shown a bit more decorum, but it was overshadowed by the insane curiosity that fueled each step he took. Later, he would make his apologies, but for now, he HAD to find the source.

He moved up stairs, through doorways, peering here and there as the pull continued to drive him onward. Once or twice, he swore he was lost and at a dead end, only to have the call bring him into a different direction and ever onward. Finally, he stepped through the door to what seemed to be a large library... but he had little interest in the books on the shelves. Moving between two of the large structures, he stopped dead, staring up at the stained glass window that was tucked against the wall at hte end of the row, a pair of pale pink eyes seeming to gaze into nothingness.

In that instant, however, he felt as though they were boring straight through him.

The moonlight streamed through the window, making the cat almost seem to glow, and sending waves of longing out from it, as if begging to be touched. The tugging was almost painful now, as if the soul was trying to leap of its own free will out of the kitsune's body and into the window.

How to get up there...

Youko pulled a chair from the side, sending a cascade of dust and cobwebs to the ground, but he paid it no mind. He was intent on that glass, and climbed up so that he was within range. His fingers dusted lightly over the curve that marked the cat's back, almost as if he was stroking living fur, and he felt as if a shock had passed through his body. She was right. Swallowing hard, he stared at the window, gold eyes meeting pale red as he whispered softly, only loud enough for himself to truly hear. "What do I have to do?"

As Youko's fingers touched the glass and he voiced his question, within his head a strange, genderless voice spoke.

"Do you, Youko, give freely of your spirit and essence, to free Feles, son of Caneo and Chorda, of his dread curse?"

The words seemed to ripple in space, hanging between the kitsune and the window in a net of power, linking the man's answer to the magic tying the child to his prison.

The furred ears pinned back against his hair, the kitsune suddenly trying to make himself as small as possible in the face of this... voice... that was inside his mind. "I do," he answered after barely a moment's thought, nothing seeming more important to him in that moment other than releasing the spirit that was crying out to him so incessantly.

The moonlight pulsed through the catform in the window, and it began to bleed off it's color onto the floor in sickly seeming rivulets. The streams of bloodlike white ichor pooled beneath Youko's chair and ran out into the center of the library floor where it puddled in a writhing, seemingly alive wash of paleness. It grow in size and shape, blindingly bright until it was painful to look upon it.

Then the light faded suddenly, leaving in it's place a child as pale and colorless as the glass that held it, save for the faint tattoes marking his face and right leg.

Youko found himself frozen in place as he watched the transformation with a mixture of anticipation and dread. Part of him was wondering just what the hell he'd gotten into... the other part, however, was what took over and propelled him off of the chair to the form laying huddled on the ground. He scooped up the pale figure, dropping to his knees on the cool stone as he looked over the boy carefully.

"Mwrh..." came the soft protest, clawed hands pressing against Youko's chest weakly for a moment before Feles realised that it was warmer here than down there. It was also more comfortable. Curling into a small ball, he let his tail wash over him like a blanket, closing his eyes as he nestled into the kitsune's grasp.

Albino. That was the first thought that went through Youko's mind. He'd have to be VERY careful of this one and the light, he realised, remembering the near disaster that had blinded another of the same affliction. "You're safe," he whispered, using one arm to free himself of his jacket and wrap it around the huddled form carefully.

Sajhiri stepped into the Library with a quiet tread. "The Majestrix welcomes Feles back to the realm of the Moon. A room has been prepared for him here in the castle, one without windows to cater to his condition. If you follow me, Youko, I shall lead you there. When he is well enough for an audience, the Majestrix will greet him herself."

Nodding softly, Youko kept his arms around the boy gently, cradling him close as he carried the still dazed boy out of the library. He followed Sajhiri mostly out of instinct, his gaze continuing to peer at the shock of white hair that fell out of the confines of his jacket.

If Feles was bothered by the method of transport, he didn't bother to make it known. He stayed curled up, inhaling the scent of leather from the jacket as he let his claws hook intot he lining as he felt himself moved. Youko didn't realise it yet, but he'd have a hell of a time getting it BACK from the boy.

Feles slunk down the hall slowly, tail twitching behind himself as he moved. He didn't make a sound, bare feet padding over the stone floor in complete silence as he traversed the upper floors of Castellum Umbra. Youko had been asleep when he woke, and while the cat was a bit more at ease around the fox than he had been previously, he still didn't like the idea of someone holding onto him. He'd slipped out shortly after and had begun prowling around.

Now he stood at the library doors, peering inside. This place was familiar... the scent reminded him of that he'd encountered when he'd first woken. Before the bedroom, he remembered it from when Youko had picked him up and wrapped him in the jacket. This must have been where he'd been trapped all this time. Stepping into the room, he moved slowly, looking around with ears pricked up.

Aranea shifted on the ornate wooden chair, trying to get comfortable as she leafed through the pages of an old tome on usage of herbs. The book smelt musty and the pages crackled, and as she flicked over another page she yawned. Pushing her chair back, she stood to go fetch another one and glanced towards the doors. She blinked; another Fey? She moved over quietly, two hands behind her back.

One pointed white ear swivelled towards Aranea the moment she moved, Feles' eyes following suit a moment later. It was a girl... an older girl, from the looks of her, and she was walking towards him. It didn't take much for him to realise that she was one of his own kind, and he stood his ground, ears flattening slightly against his hair. With Youko, he'd run... with another Fey, he'd at least give them the benefit of the doubt.

At the beginning.

The boy was small, appearing to be little more th an a toddler really, although he seemed to move well enough. As Aranea approached, he looked up at her with a mix of curiosity and nervousness.

She smiled benignly; why, he was only a child - he looked even younger then she remembered being when she was freed. She flicked a her hair back, and knelt before him, folding hand on top of hand as she looked at him. 'Greetings,' she said formally, looking him over.

Putting herself on his level seemed to make him more at ease, the boy's ears starting to lift as he clasped his hands behind his back and grabbed hold of his tail. Tails were wonderful things, he realised. Mood indicators, pillows, legwarmers... and security blankets.

"H'lo," he said softly, the word spoken as best he could manage.

Aranea held out a hand, it strayed towards his ears and head involuntarily - such a strange little Fey, she mused, watching as the boy clutched to his tail. She bought her hand back though, not wanting at this time to scare him away. 'You have a name ?' she asked, pointing to herself. 'I am Aranea.'

'Fes?' she repeated, tilting her head a little. That was a peculiar name. 'Umm Aranea actually,' she said, sounding out the syllables. She grinned and went closer, one finger near her lips. 'But you can call me 'Nea',' she poked her tongue out at him. She wondered if Lupinus had seen this new Fey - but then would that be a good thing? What with him being of a canine totem, and this one obviously feline. She felt something tickle her, and touching her hand to her shoulder a spider crawled onto her hand. She moved her hand to show 'Fes', and it cleaned its two front legs as it sat on her hand.

"Nea..." he repeated softly, nodding. He sighed a bit, not quite sure just how he could pronounce that whole big name. Maybe he'd be able to after a bit of practice. At the sight of the spider, however, he stopped dead, ears pricking up fully as his eyes widened. He leaned forward until he was nearly nose-to-legs with the spider, staring at it with rapt curiosity. "Wha?" he asked, looking up at her again and pointing to the spider.

'Its a spider,' she said. 'Its my totem,' she explained. The spider lifted its front two legs up now and tickled Feles on the nose. Aranea laughed, her wings fluttering a little.

The pale pink eyes crossed until they were looking at the spider directly, the boy's nose wrinkling as it was tickled by the tiny legs. He smiled then, just faintly, but enough to be seen. This was alright, he thought to himself. This little thing wasn't bad. It also didn't try to hug him when he wasn't expecting it. He was still a bit wary of the girl, but the spider didn't seem to be worried about her, so she must be okay.

The spider crawled right onto Feles's nose, waving its legs as it went. Aranea grinned; 'Well I guess my spiders like you - so I should like you. Of course if you hurt the spiders..' she left the sentence hanging, settling her wings back down. She yawned a little, covering her mouth with a hand. 'Do you have a Kithain somewhere here?' she asked.

Feles looked up at her in confusion. Why would he want to hurt it? He was about to protest, then paused as he heard her question and nodded. "Fox," he said simply, not knowing what Youko's name was yet. He pointed upward then, behind Aranea to what was now a blank pane of stained glass that had, up until that day, housed an image of a white cat. "Dere," he said, then pointed to himself again.

'Your Kithain is a fox?' more oddities, she thought. Hers was human - well she thought anyways. Not that she really cared either way. She looked in the direction that he pointed to. 'You came from the window? I did too. Mine was hidden away in a gloomier place though,' she folded her arms, and tapped her chin thoughtfully as she watched the spider continue to explore the young Fey.

Nodding again, Feles let his tail swish behind him as he listened to her and tried to watch the spider on his nose. As it worked its way up along one eyebrow, he snickered softly and let his ears fall to the sides. As Aranea spoke of her own window, however, he grew curious and glanced back to her. "Where?"

'Down below,' she pointed, a finger touching the stone floor. 'In the laboratory.' she watched the spider again, as it began to idly spin a web from one of his ears. She grinned, finally tickling between his ears with one hand. He probably wouldnt like it, but he was pretty - she liked pretty things.

As predicted, the boy immediately ducked out of the way of the touch, eyes narrowing slightly. The motion jarred the spider slightly, and he immediately froze, hoping that it wouldn't go away. The spider was a lot like him, he realised. It couldn't talk either, but it knew enough to know who it did and didn't trust. And it DID seem to trust the girl. Finally, Feles seemed to relax a bit and looked guiltily up at Aranea. "Sowwy Nea..."

The spider dangled from a line, then scurried back up when Feles stopped moving. Aranea shrugged; what was it that she liked about this little guy? When he shrunk away she felt - bad? Her forehead wrinkled - maybe it was because he wasnt demanding affection of her like her stupid Kithain. A tiny scowl passed over her face, marring her beauty for a moment. It went again as she looked at Feles. 'Its okay - It takes me alot to trust people too,' she gave a faint smile.

That made the cat smile. She understood!! While he definately didn't mind being cuddled or petted, he DID require that it be on his own terms. If HE wanted the attention, he'd go seeking it... maybe that crazy fox would get the hint eventually and quit trying to grab him for a hug. The ear that the spider was on stayed pricked up, the boy making the effort so that he wouldn't disturb the web-spinning again. Something like that looked like it took a lot of work and it would be a shame for it to go to waste.

"What dat?" he asked suddenly, his attention taken by the books that lay open on the table that Aranea had been sitting at. Like his totem, this particular Fey seemed to have a fleeting attention span when something caught his eye.

Aranea stood, stretching her legs where they had fallen asleep from kneeling on the cold floor, and walked to the table. 'This is what I am studying. So that the Moon Court can be powerful,' she pulled a chair out for Feles to scramble on if he wanted a closer look.

He did so, crawling up onto the chair and kneeling on it as he leaned against the table and looked at the book. He let his tail drape over the arm of hte chair as he puzzled at the book, frowning softly. He SHOULD remember this... part of him realised that the books were familiar, as was the language they were written in... but he couldn't quite manage to make them make sense. His gaze was drawn to the alchemical symbols and he let a claw tap against the page for a moment. "Dat..." he said softly, a tap against one of the symbols indicating which he was speaking of. He then looked to two others on the page and motioned to them as well. "An' dose... bad."

After that gem of insight, the boy turned his attention back to the spider, watching it dangle from his ear.

'You are right,' she said, chuckling. 'Not something you want to be touching - or putting in there,' and she pointed to his mouth. 'But these would be very handy for the Sun Court,' and her crimson eyes flashed with malice.

At the mention of the Sun Court, Feles turned quickly and scowled. Oh he remembered THEM... and a low growl came from his throat as he looked back to the books. He'd learn... and he'd learn everything he could to help Nea with this. If she wanted to cause them pain, he'd be MORE than willing to do whatever was needed. "I help," he whispered solemnly, not at all the tone one would expect from a toddler.

She looked a little surprised, but smiled in appreciation. 'Well - I wouldnt know how you could help yet. I'm waiting on Lupinus to report back on the effect of some toxins I gave him to test.' she got carried away in the explanations of her work, but then thought that she might be talking about things Fes had no inkling of.

He brought a hand up to his head, tapping the side gently. "I 'member," he said, smiling almost ferally, the cat's fangs showing slightly. Motioning to the books around them, Feles let his gaze sweep the room before coming back to Aranea. "No good, fight. Fes read." He frowned then, sighing as he slumped back into the chair. "No good now."

'That's okay,' she said. She wasnt too fond of blundering warriors who thought that all problems could be solved with a flex of their muscles. Her potions were far more effective, and all the more dangerous. After all - someone with a sword was an obvious danger. Poisoned food and drink - that was something hidden and unexpected. A tiny spider, that they thought harmless, that she had changed so that its venom sacs held a toxin more deadly then it was meant to have...a wicked smile broke on her face and she shook herself. 'You would be far more valuable to me if you were to help me read and find the help I need. I try and split my time between experimenting and researching. But if you could help me..'

Nodding, Feles grinned. He could do that! He was sure th at with a bit of practice, the texts would come back to him... that he'd be able to understand them just as easily as he had before. He knew without even thinking about it that he wouldn't be able to write... he hadn't even begun to master that before. But that would take practice as well. Something like this just didn't go away, not when he remembered the books. "Yes!" he exclaimed, tail lashing behind him in excitement.

'I am guessing you need to..practice a little to read this ?' she said. It had taken her a while to learn as she recalled. Then she giggled, noticing that the spider had completed its web and now sat in the middle, the web itself stretching from his pointed ear to the middle of his head.

"Yesh," came the mumbled reply as he stared at the books. Dammit, the text was supposed to make SENSE. He barely noted the spider, but somehow managed to keep that one ear still as the other twitched nervously. "Fes help," he said stubbornly, glaring at the book as if willing it to make sense. A word here and there jumped out at him and he knew it would only take some time and work to make the rest do it too.

'I know you want to help,' she smiled again, reassuring him. 'But you will only make lines here,' and she pointed at his head, 'if you squint to make the words make sense.'

He brought up his gaze, looking at her finger and sighing softly before nodding. "Fes learn," he said, offering the girl a genuine smile for the first time. He WOULD help... he just had to keep trying.

'I know you will,' she closed the books for now, piling them up. 'But there is time I think before we make our move against the Sun Court.' and she returned his smile, wondering if he wasnt turning her soft.

Nodding, the boy leaned against the table again, reaching for one of the books and pulling it closer to inspect the cover. "Kifain help Fes learn." It seemed reasonable. The fox had to be good for SOMETHING, after all. And if he didn't want to help, Feles would MAKE him help.

'You make your Kithain help you,' she poked her tongue out at him. 'Thats what they are there for. They are our slaves.' and she smirked.

"Yesh," he agreed, the pale eyes locking onto Aranea as the slitted pupils narrowed. "Fes make him help." He giggled faintly then, sticking out his tongue back at her and accidentally jarring the spider. It scampered back up to his ear and as he felt the legs in his fur, he seemed to remember the tiny creature again. Looking up as far as he could, he huffed faintly. "Sowwy."

The spider moved back down, as Aranea looked at it. Back down his head and then onto his nose, dropping from it on a thread and dancing a little. 'I think it likes you,' she chuckled.

"Fes like," he said, cupping his hands beneath the spider and grinning at it. He lifted his palms, letting the spider land on them, then held them out towards Aranea again. "Pretty."

'You can keep it if you like,' she said, as it waved its legs before scuttling back up Feles's arm.

While he'd love to, he already remembered his Kithain's first reaction to seeing a bug in the room. "Kifain squish," he said sadly, frowning as he tried to catch the spider and nearly wound up spinning himself around in the chair to do it. "No like bugs."

'This is not a bug,' she said, as the spider flew off the spinning child and landed on Aranea again. 'Spiders are arachnids, they have eight legs. Insects or 'bugs' as your Kithain calls them have six legs.' she frowned. 'But yes, if he will do that then it is safer with me. You can come visit my spiders at any time, they live safely in my room.'

"Acknid," Feles tried to say, watching the spider's motions. "Where room?" He was kneeling in the chair again, half leaning on the table as he watched the tiny creature crawl over the girl.

'Probably somewhere near yours. I think our chambers are all in one section of the Castle.' she drummed her sharp nails idly on the wood of the table, as the spider vanished into her web like hair.

"K..." Feles smiled then, resting his chin on the table and watched her fingers idly. "Fes like," he said idly, flicking his gaze up to her. "I come see soon." Next time, he promised himself, he'd have something to offer as well. Even if he had to drag books back to his room to teach HIMSELF how to read them. He was determined that he wouldn't be useless for much longer.

'If I'm not in my room I am in the basement,' she said. 'You can always visit me there too.'

Nodding, Feles grinned. He slid from the chair then and stretched, tail uncurling from around his leg. "I find," he replied, making a mental note of that. The basement would be easy enough to find... just keep taking stairs that went down. "Fank you."

'Well,' she said, standing and gathering up a few of the books to take down to the lab. 'I really need to get going again. My potions beckon me.' she knelt down to Feles and looked at him. 'And if you ever need to send your Kithain into a long sleep,' and she winked, smirked and stood again. 'Just let me know.'

Snickering softly, Feles determined that he LIKED this girl. Taking his leave then, he darted towards the door, leaving with as little sound as that which he'd arrived with. He paused just outside the door, waving to her. "Bye!" he called, tail swishing behind him as he disappeared from view.

She waved with a hand, whilst clutching her books with two others. Well, it seemed she had gained an eager little assistant, and she left the library with a light step.

Youko startled awake as he heard the door slam, and Feles could see the fox sit bolt upright on the bed, staring towards him. Gods, not NOW, he murmured to himself, rubbing his eyes firecely and trying to stop the hiccoughing gasps that were coming from him. Feles was furious with himself... not only was he nearly useless, he also made a fool of himself in front of one of the adults. Just what he did NOT need.

Once the door was closed and he leaned against it, Feles felt the dam break within him and let out a wail that brought his Kithain running across the room. He wanted nothing to do with it at the moment, and tried to shove away the arms that wrapped around him... but Youko wasn't taking no for an answer and the cat felt himself being lifted into the kisune's grasp.

"NO!" Claws sank into flesh as Feles tried to worm loose, but Youko was having none of it. With barely a wince, he carried Feles towards the bed and curled up with him. Hissing, spitting and trying to push away, Feles just got more and more worked up, until he was nearly screaming through the tears that streamed down his face. Didn't this person know ANYTHING?! He didn't WANT to be held, he wanted to be able to TALK! Tiny fists beat against Youko's chest and shoulders as Feles tried to get loose, then settled for throwing himself into a heap on the coverlet and sobbing uncontrollably.

Youko had been waiting for that point... and with one hand, he reached to the small backpack he usually carried around. A brush was brought from inside, and Youko moved to pull Feles into his lap, rubbing the boy's back gently with one hand as the other moved the brush through the silver-white hair with long, steady strokes. He began to hum softly... the tune a nonsense one, really, but one that he'd learned in childhood himself.

Feles wasn't certain just when he'd started to calm... but before long the sobs were traded for a low purr that came from his throat, and he sniffled softly as his eyes slipped closed. The brush worked through his hair, then through his tail as well, all the while he could feel Youko's claws gently through the fabric that covered his back. Before long, even the purr settled into silence as the boy slipped off into sleep.

It was only when he was completely still that Youko finally let his motions stop and moved to lay alongside the boy. He was suddenly very grateful that he'd dealt with temper tantrums from toddlers before... and knew how to sidetrack it relatively well. Now what had the fox curious was what had CAUSED this particular breakdown.

There would be time to find out later, he supposed. Getting up from the bed, Youko set the brush aside and moved to sort out some method of acquiring food for Feles.

Aranea walked slowly down the corridor, and stopped outside Feles's chambers. The door was shut tight, and she listened before rapping on the wood. She could not hear an answer, or any signs of movement after she knocked; maybe the feline Fey was asleep? She adjusted the label that she had put on her gift for him, just in case he had not been there, placed it on the floor by the door and turned to leave..

Feles' Masquerade Costume

Snarling to himself, Feles came back along the halls of the castle, claws ripping at the cloth that entrapped him. He was now firmly convinced that anything even remotely rainbow-coloured had to come from Hell itself. If he had to hear one more cooing, sycophantic 'Oh how CUTE!', he was going to shred something.

Preferably this costume.

By the time he reached his room, the cat had torn away most of the trappings and decoration, pausing to try and yank the horn off of his head. That was when he realised something very, very important. Spirit Gum requires remover.

Youko sat bolt upright with the shriek of pain, then ran to Feles as he tried to rip at hte horn on his head. "Stop, STOP!! Hang on, I told you not to try and get that off without me, remember?" After two failed attempts to stop the rambunctious cat, and winding up clawed for it, Youko wrapped his arm tightly around the boy, pinning Feles' arms to his sides. "STOP! Let me get the remover, and it'll be off. But if you try to pull it, you're going to lose skin!"

Growling, Feles glared up at Youko, his tail fluffed out to three times its normal size as he waited as patiently as he could (read: not at all) for his Kithain to get this blasted thing off of him.

The fox set Feles on his lap, applying hte remover with a small brush and gently working the formed horn away from Feles' skin. Even with the care taken, there was already a reddening mark where Feles had tried to yank the horn off. Sighing, Youko reached for a cloth to wipe away the remnants of the gum and wondered if there was anything resembling Bactine in the castle. "You're going to be sore for a day or so... you pulled pretty hard at the skin."

"YOUR fault!" Feles hissed, taking a swipe at the fox and sliding off of his lap to land on his feet. "No more dress up... no more let YOU do this!"

The cat was nearly sputtering as he tried to find the words that would tell Youko exactly where to go, and give explicit directions, but he was too angry. Tail lashing behind him, Feles stalked out of the room, determined to find some coherent company, at least until he calmed down.

Youko didn't have the heart to tell him that his hair and tail were still rainbowed...

Aranea crossed the grounds, a stone bowl in two of her arms. She had run out of fresh water, and fresh air after a combination had gone slightly awry, and as she neared the stream she happened to catch a glimpse of white fur out of the corner of her eye. Her lips curved into a smile, and she looked over properly. What was he doing to that tree? She put the bowl down by the stream and walked over to the Fey.

She silently watched as Feles attacked the tree. She understood frustration - and wanting to release it. She normally just poisoned something small and furry herself however. She walked right over to him;
'Hello Feles,' she said softly, looking down as he stretched out on the ground.