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 Posted: Tue Sep 07, 2010 2:21 pm
 "What're y'sniffin' at?" he leered as a dignified-looking hound retreated her nose from him, disgust evident in her eyes. Normally this wouldn't mean anything to someone like Hakuro, who lived to spite the hounds in whatever he could do, but unfortunately for him this was a subtle sign for that hulking mate of hers - a thick-set dog with the largest ears he had ever seen - to put him in his place: namely, the dirt. Lots and lots of dirt.
It was a light wallop compared to what the slave had received before, and Hakuro spat blood at the hounds' backs once they left. He could feel a bruise would be forming between his eye and jaw, and a tooth seemed just the smidgest bit loosened. Still, Hakuro felt no blow to his ego from it, and passed on his crooked grin to other bystanding hounds who were also looking for what was on the market.
Clearly not this one. The striped felidae had too much spirit for most, and an attitude bordering suicidal in its rebellion.
Bearing his "wound" proudly, the notch-eared slave went the length of his chain to go cool off in the mudhole near the center of the black market. He passed by several other slaves as he did, most of them chained as he was to a solidly placed panel, though others still sat in the shade of their cages, panting. Hyde was not reliable upon feeding them when he himself was as hot as a dog, and thus the slaves either had to lick themselves thoroughly or wallow in the mud in order to cool off most of the time.
"Aaaah . . ." He sank his toes into the brown gunk, purring.
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Posted: Tue Sep 07, 2010 2:50 pm
 Akil was curled up on himself as he watched the brief interaction between the hound couple who’d reject him a few moments earlier and the feisty slave with mild interest, a curious expression adorning his face. The brown and white cat visibly flinched when he saw the striped slave being hit and he sat up inside his cage, the ground stubbornly filthy despite Akil’s best efforts at keeping it mildly clean. When it was all over here was a hint of concern in his eyes but mostly just confusion.
“Why did you do that?” he asked from his cage perhaps a little louder than he intended. He wanted to make sure the other knew he was being addressed but he’d rather not draw too much attention on himself. “No one will want you if you keep doing that.”
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Posted: Tue Sep 07, 2010 3:22 pm
 Dune lay stretched out in her cage, panting and wishing that she was one of the luckier slaves who had a puddle of shadow to sit miserably in. Hounds of both genders and all social status came and leered at them and only a handful had actually exchanged stones. Her corner of the market had her in direct light and a scant few inches from the mud puddle. If she stretched she could get a paw in. If it wasn't so hot the puddle would have been larger then it was, but she wasn't going to complain.
Complaining only got her a beating, just like back talking had gotten the stripped feline a slap. It was too hot to care about others and she hadn't had a litter yet, so she had no real maternal instincts. The brown and white feline asked the question that buzzed mildly around in her head. She stared at the striped feline awaiting his response. She was kind of curious as to why the other didn't want to go with a hound. A life with a Hound would probably be ten times better then with Hyde. At least then you could sneak food and stretch your legs without too much to worry about.
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Posted: Tue Sep 07, 2010 4:06 pm
 Khalon hadnt given much attention to the interaction of the hound couple with the striped cat untill he heard the resounding slap and of course the following thump of the cat. The whole affair had happened on his blind side, but now he was curious and so turned his head until his muzzle pointed straight at the rebel. This type of behavior was still new to him, he still didnt fully understand why cats hated hounds so much, though with each day here in the market he was learning.
The heat didnt seem to affect him as much as some of the other cats, since he had once been a gardener, albeit a bad one, he was used to long days in the sun. No what was really causing him pain were the meager rations that Hyde deemed worthy for him and his jail mates. His stomach grumbled softly much to his dislike, he sighed unhappily and let his good eye rest on a pretty mottled brown feline not to far from him. Like him she was in the full sun and his need for someone to talk to began to kick in. "Fine weather today isnt it." he asked with a rueful and half sarcastic glint in his eye.
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Posted: Tue Sep 07, 2010 4:06 pm
There were limits, however. The fur between her shoulder blades twitched in a shudder as the mouthy male plunged both front paws into the sucking mud. Mud gave her the heebee-geebees. She'd much rather the dry dust than the awful matter that was neither solid nor liquid. Why, she'd prefer being doused with water herself than to touch mud. So it was to her advantage to have her cage a distance from the mud puddle, safe from the sticky substance.
"I think he's trying to prove himself," she piped in, her voice high and just slightly squeaky. "A hound that would want him would need a fiesty fighter, I'd think," she opined freely. It wasn't as if anyone could do anything to punish her for her speaking her thoughts. Hyde would, if he caught her, but he was busy shmoozing a burly, shaggy hound. For the moment, they were safe in their chatter. That didn't mean he couldn't return at any moment, but Miku preferred to look on the bright side.
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Posted: Tue Sep 07, 2010 7:01 pm
He squished the mud between his toes and relaxed, ears tilting this way and that to catch what comments he could hear nearby; seemed his display had caught some eyes. Good, good . . . He was tired of seeing half of his lot so subservient, they were practically ready to roll over and have their bellies scratched. "Yeah, good weather alright!" Hakuro called, even though the comment wasn't aimed at him. ""Like havin' my butt toasted. Keeps me cozy at night."
Yeah, he just kinda liked to stick his nose in everything, Hakuro. Get cats and hounds riled up equally.
"Ain't a question 'bout who'll want me, kid - or 'bout being a fighter or not, lady," the felidae added with a smug smirk, a tooth hanging out of his lip. "S'about who'll take me on. I ain't gonna just sit here and twiddle my toes 'till I get some sap buyin' me. Hell nah! You all're gonna know my name before I leave, got that? 'Cause this society's broken, and I'm not lettin' it keep me down!"
So said the cat covered in mud and tarnished gold chains with one squinted eye fro ma forming bruise.
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Posted: Tue Sep 07, 2010 8:02 pm
Kid? Akil could respect the authority that came with age but he couldn’t really tell if this slave was that much older than him. He seemed pretty tough though, probably someone with a lot more (bad) experiences than himself. But his struggle felt pointless to Akil who despite all that he’d seen, still believe there were good hounds out there and that one would come to pick him up someday. The world made sense to him.
“But you could be a really good fighter… or a guard. There can’t be that many places worse than this. I can't wait to get out of here.” He looked around and his light orange eyes lingered on the pretty girl who’d said the striped cat was trying to prove himself. He instantly sat a little straighter and smiled at her before his eyes returned to the mud puddle – and the dirty slave in it. “So… what is your name then? I’m Akil.” He hoped the pretty caged kitty would also add her name to the conversation.
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Posted: Wed Sep 08, 2010 12:14 am
"Ya know yer just gunna end up dead if ye keep that up kid."
He retorted with age and wisdom on his maw. He was a old cat past the prime of youth, and half the reason why he ended up back in this sinkhole. He blinked and walked towards the light. He'd been there so long he had empty cages piled around him as if Hyde had just forgotten him. It was rather in his favor as they provided him shade from the scorching sun. But at the same time he gained less of a chance to find a home that he could spend his last years at.
"Take it from me. Have something WORTH fighting for. Pick yer battles wisely. Ye don't want to end up dead before ye can reak some havoc on this here world. Do ye?"
He was rather envious of the new cat. His strength had all but ebbed away. He was just words and wasted talent, no hound ever wanted that. At least the other cat would be good for SOMEBODY to beat. He was just wasted flesh at this point. Nobody wanted a smart old wretch like himself.
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Posted: Wed Sep 08, 2010 6:56 am
"He'd also make a good, if scruffy, fur rug." Dune called out, finally dragging enough energy together to push herself into a sitting position. Her tail curled halfheartedly around her paws and her ears drooped with exhaustion. She wished it was night time already. "As for the weather," Her gray eyes turned towards the one who had put that one forth, "Yes. It is lovely. Not a cloud in sight. We'll be having baked feline for dinner I suppose." She rolled one shoulder and resisted the urge to flop back over.
Her ears and eyes flickered over to the old one, surrounded by the empty cages like some forgotten king. She listened to what he had to say and agreed with him. "A wise feline knows when to pick a fight and when to play the fool huh?" She said, picking up on what he was saying. Dune might be strong, and tough, but those traits wouldn't help her much if she didn't use her brains as well. Especially since she knew she couldn't outrun a hound nor was she flexible enough to do the needed stints to out maneuver a tracker.
But, what was so wrong with wanting to live with a Hound? They could teach you things without them really knowing that they were teaching you. With them you had some form of care and the basic needs for survival. Food, water, shelter. Physical health might be an issue if you acted up a lot, but a Kitty was never killed unless they really pushed the point. A feline was valuable to a hound, that much Dune knew. The more skilled you were, the more valuable you were, and the more dominance the hound received since his or her kitty could do more then someone elses.
She almost let out a sound of distress. It was too hot to be thinking about Hound politics.
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Posted: Wed Sep 08, 2010 9:15 am
Khalon flicked his ears towards the tough looking cat as he answered instead of the young lady. He really didnt know what to say to the tough cat, he had met this type of his kind only once before and briefly. He sighed and look at the tough cat with sad eyes "You shouldn't wish for an opponent to take on in a place like this, someone might just give it to you." Khalon noticed the older cat as he joined in their chat and could only look for a moment. He was younger than the older cat for sure but he was older than most of them here, and he was damaged goods. Damaged in his prime and tossed out once he was just passed it. He couldn't meet the eyes of the old timer, he was to afraid of seeing himself.
All his attention now turned to the young lady, he shook those thoughts away and gave her a simple smile for the dinner plans. "Ah yes, baked feline, you know I tend to prefer it roasted myself, but you know Hyde, just gives us whats around." Khalon laughed softly and involuntarily began to dream of roast duck, with some vegetables....his stomach grumbled once again. "Ah- excuse my manners ma'am" Khalon mentioned with a tinge of embarrassment.
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crayons 4 the color blind
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Posted: Wed Sep 08, 2010 3:47 pm
 Akila watched the proceedings with interest, along with the rudeness of the snaggletoothed striped male. She didn't mind that he was rude to the hounds, but being rude to the other cats wasn't very nice... It was actually a bit uncalled for. Normally she would just keep quiet, keep towards the back of her cage and roll around in the mud every now and then to make herself even more dirty, she must have been the dirtiest cat in here by far. This time though she spoke up.
"Maybe he's scared of being bought." she piped up wickedly and stretched her paws out, coming out of her place in the small shadows of her cage. Her half missing tail flicked back and forth, keeping the flies of the disgusting place at bay. She raised an eyebrow and flicked her good ear forwards as if waiting for a reply, although her expression was one of jest. She looked over at the old one and nodded in acknowledgment, and even respect, if he was that old and still going strong then all the more power to him.
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Posted: Wed Sep 08, 2010 9:08 pm
"Pffffaaaaa!" The snort was almost obnoxious in its volume. He plopped himself right in the mud and let it drip from his chin happily, smirking his usual snaggletooth smirk. "I ain't the one who's afraid, man. Nah, got over that a while back. Who else gotta be afraid but those dogs?" he shot back, turning his head about to eye the group, the . . . "congregation" even. "Think about it! There's twice as many of us than them, more even. All we'd have to do is get ourselves in order and we'd be able to beat them! Only thing stoppin' us is half of youse bein' lil' kittypets."
At this point, Hakuro wasn't one to take advice much, not even from a veteran slave. This much alone could be seen in that he addressed the one who had a torn ear and tail and not the graying felidae first: this slave valued spirit over wisdom. Obviously the old geezer hadn't done enough for his part if he was ready to kick the bucket and still in chains.
"Name's Hakuro! Know it, learn it, remember it~ Not gonna be anyone's damn rug, lady," he added rather snippily, annoyed at the general lack of support he was getting. Was morale really that bad? "I already got someone to fight for, old man, and somethin' too. You like wearing those metal mouths around your legs day in and day out? You like havin' something clamp your neck like a shiny monster? I don't!"
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Posted: Wed Sep 08, 2010 9:53 pm
Flint raised a disgusted eyebrow at the young cat. "But what good is all the fight in the world if yer dead son? Or hell even knocked up so bad to lose all ye power?" He hissed out narrowing his copper eyes threw the bars. "Yer just another punk kid with something stupid to prove. I've seen enough of ye pass threw here. And I've seen enough of ye die for stupidity like that codger ye pulled with that hound. Were ye proving anything to them? Are ye free? Did it get you anything but a bonk on the head and a more watchful eye from the flee bitten hyena?"
"Unless ye are talking to me as a free cat. I suggest ye shut yer mouth because your blowing nothing but air out of it." He huffed and paced back and forth. This was the first time the old male was enraged enough by any other slave to put in more then his two sense.
"You'll do nothing to the slaves in here except convince the hounds to beat us more. You want us to be free- then do it and STOP pulling this STUPID stunts...You- KITTEN." He emitted a low guttural growl from the cages edge.
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Posted: Wed Sep 08, 2010 10:59 pm
Akil's ears dropped a little as the older cat he’d been listening to rather attentively got into a bit of a fight with the rebellious slave outside the cages. Somehow – probably because he’d been the first one to address Hakuro – this felt like it was his fault. He gulped loudly when the silver cat said he’d seen other cats like Hakuro being killed for being disobedient.
He’d wore the cuffs almost since birth so it was strange to hear such bizarre talk from a slave like himself. Honestly, he was quite happy with his status, Akil wouldn’t really know what to do if he didn’t have a master and a task to perform. He lived to see the approving nod of a hound.
“Don’t say that too loud, Hakuro. You’re going to get into some real trouble.” The brown and white cat looked – and sounded – really devastated. He didn’t even want to think about what Hyde would do to the stripped slave if he heard him talk that way. Hakuro’s words were downright mutinous and the punishment for such action would probably be… Akil gulped again unable to finish that train of thought. He moved closer to the door and placed both his front paws on the bars. “They’re bigger than us and we’re all cuffed. We can’t fight them and we might get lucky and find someone who’s not so bad.” Fighting back would earn him a beating and running away from a hound would only get him back on this exact place. Though perhaps running off on a hound was an acceptable attempt to get rid of a really really bad master… not that Akil would ever consider running away of course.
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crayons 4 the color blind
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Posted: Wed Sep 08, 2010 11:27 pm
 Djoser sighed and watched the goings on. It was ridiculous, these cats. The one was timid as hell, another was hard headed and stupid, another was actually giving some good advice but if he kept on like that the old man would probably hurt himself.
He cleared his throat and looked at the cat making such a fuss. It was unnecessary, and with the volume he was using Hyde would be sure to come over and give all of them a good beating. "The old man is right, Hakuro, your headstrong and stupid and what you are doing isn't brave or wise, nor are you impressing anyone in here with your rambling." he said in a stern quiet voice and glanced over his shoulder at Hyde "Unless you want the guilt of everyone being beaten who is within range of your obnoxiously loud voice, I suggest you be quiet."
Well, that wasn't very normal for the sand colored cat, usually he just let people make fools of themselves and stay out of it. But with all those cats, and the chance of a beating on everyone for contributing to Hakuro's defiance, well it wasn't right to just sit and watch things happen.
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