|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
 Posted: Sat Aug 30, 2025 9:57 am
This apartment shows the subtle conflicts Torr experiences almost daily. His parents had smuggled his sister out only two days before the attack. Then they were offered a chance to escape. Bags were packed. He was delivered to escape location then left with three bags instead of just his own. His parents had decided to stay behind as a distraction. As a sacrifice.
He had all the family paintings, the family history, family keepsakes, his parent's weapons...
But the escape had aged him to about 35... He still had a Guardian that stopped in from time to time but he'd gotten all of his training pushed into the three weeks they'd been here. He had the apartment to himself most of the time but he still had an extra room.
One room was made up for himself, though he'd only unpacked enough to say that he lived here. One room was for his Guardian. And the spare room had been decorated in Forest style. He'd painted it himself, surprised at the unexpected talent.
There was talking about giving him a painting studio but he'd declined it so far. For now, he painted in his living room. Only his Guardian came to visit him anyway so he didn't have to worry about seating anyone.
|
 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Sat Aug 30, 2025 10:07 am
Torr carried the girl into his spare room and sealed up the injury to her thigh. Injuries were something the Hylarr learned to take care of early. They were training with live steel as early as five, after all. He should have just been hitting about 15 by now. Instead, he was about twenty years older. He was almost an adult, by Hylarr standards. Most of the kids had been aged to varying degrees during their escape. Cassarria hadn't explained it yet but Torr had a feeling that it had something to do with the one that had saved them. He still remembered hearing her say something about, "damned crying brats." He shook his head and focused back on his work here. He applied healing ointment and bandaged her thigh, then added another ointment to her bruises before wrapping her ribcage. He'd recognized that kind of hit from experience. If they weren't cracked, they were at least bruised. He finally tucked her under the blanket and put a robe at the foot of the bed before he left her be and went into the living room. He looked at the painting he was working on briefly then moved to wash his hands and packed away the medical kit. That kit had been his mother's. He still used her recipes for his ointments. He shook his head again and moved to the unfinished paintings in the living room. There were two. Two images he couldn't get out of his head. One was his parents as they'd left him behind, turning to look at him over their shoulders. The village was easily painted around them, though the dwellings almost blended in with the forest around it. The other was of Bast, his sister, when she'd left. Similar in most of the details. But she was a Black Puma, the rest of them were Iberian Lynx. He'd still loved her. There were times that he envied her long tail, though... He had her in his mind right now so he got back to work on filling in details: the way the filtering light hit the hood of her cloak, the brightness of her chartreuse eyes, the hint of defiance in her expression... The colors of the leaves wasn't quite right... Wolfgang behind her, encouraging her to move, the worried look on his face... The village around them and Clan watching her leave... He'd been at this for hours and got lost in it until he heard a sound, making him turn to see his guest. He looked at her for a moment, then put down the paint brush and moved to get the cup of tea he'd left on a warmer. He brought it over to her and offered it to her, "It tastes like crap, but it will help with the pain," he told her honestly then frowned at her suspicious expression. At least, he thought it was suspicious, "It's willow bark tea, with some honey to help with the bitterness," he explained. He'd gotten a bit of paint in various places while he'd been working, but he usually showered after painting so it didn't stick to his fur too badly. Still, the bit of green along his cheek had to be entertaining... He'd recognized Vivian from seeing her a few times, but he hadn't actually met her yet. That reminded him that he hadn't used his manners yet, "Sorry... I'm Torr... Forgot to introduce myself," he said it a bit quickly, almost like a kid forgetting manners. He licked his lips when she didn't take the cup from him yet, "I found you in the alley. Recognized you from around the Club and brought you here. I patched you up," he started to explain then hurried up a bit more, "I didn't do anything inappropriate. I promise. I patched you up, applied some ointment to the bruises, then I covered you up. I didn't do anything else. Promise," he hurried with that explanation, not wanting her to get the wrong idea. He wouldn't have known that Bast would have explained to her the harsh penalties a Hylarr male faced for inappropriate touching, so she would probably understand his worry a bit more than others. Honestly, as far as her virtue, she couldn't have been safer with anyone else than a Hylarr male. Of course, he wouldn't know of her connection to his sister. So he wouldn't know that the painting he'd been working on might be her distraction... Or the fact that she woke up in a room that smelled of soothing sandalwood instead of the dirty alley... There was also the fact that the Hylarr were NOT supposed to leave the Club. EVER. And he had to have been outside to get her....
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Sat Aug 30, 2025 11:04 pm
 ❃❃❃❃❃❃❃❃❃❃❃❃❃❃❃❃❃❃❃❃❃❃❃❃❃
It was the scent that came to her first, a soft smell that briefly confused her senses and pulled her mind into a comforted memory. This was close to the smell in her room at Bast's... For the kindest of moments the girl really thought she was home, only a vague hint of unease teasing her sleepy mind as if a nightmare were fading away and nothing more. This sweet relief came crashing down however as, in a innocent stretch, every inch of Viv's body screeched in protest at the movement. Pain snapped the girl to full lucidity and she tensed, the jewel-like pink of her gaze flickering open and swiftly taking stock of the room around her. It smelled like home but.. it wasn't. At least, not her corner of it.. Ultimately it wasn't what she saw but what she didn't see that soothed the immediate panic building in her chest; There was no trace of the Hunter or her weird energy in this place and that was enough to reassure her that the female was gone. Sitting up gingerly Viv flinched as her ribcage twinged, the girl biting her lip as she stubbornly sat up anyway... Then immediately squeaked as the blanket slid down to expose her bare form underneath. Heat flared across her cheeks as Vivian yanked the blankets back up and folded her arms over her chest protectively. Movement nearby alerted her to her host's presence and reflexively the girl froze, only her gaze sliding to the side to track the strange male's movements cautiously. It wasn't until he came to her side with tea that the girl really got a look at him and, noticably, her slender frame relaxed a little. Not human... thank goodness. Raising her knees the girl leaned forward and slid her arms around them, her protective layer of blankets secured in place comfortably, before she gently allowed her chin to rest on her intertwined arms. It was a defensive position, the girl couldn't help curling up at least to this degree, but... To be honest her fear was fading as she allowed herself to register the saturation of Hylarr energy that filled the room. It wasn't a intimately familiar texture of essence but... It wasn't unknown to her either. Hylarr were a people respected and protected by Lady Cass... And Bast had long ago taught her that the noble clan didn't betray their strict etiquette so it was at least somewhat safe to think this man hadn't done anything more than apply the bandages she could feel on her wounds. . Still the girl didn't take the tea offered to her.. her wide pink stare fixated on the paint that stained his cheek as her fingers nervously curled and uncurled against the blanket covering her legs. When her braid had come undone Viv didn't know but she was grateful for the warmth the dark strands offered as they rippled down her back and pooled on the bed around her hips; the wealth of locks gave her a tiny sense of feeling hidden. Her throat hurt.. There were dozens of questions racing through her mind about what had happened and why.. but it was the painting of her friend that finally drew her attention away from the man and compelled her scratchy voice to whisper from her bruised lower lip. " ... Thank you... Torr."
Viv knew this male. Like she knew most of their staff, at least... Glimpses in passing and even on those sneaky occasions she'd noticed him leaving the Club despite the no-exit orders on the Hylarr tribe. She hadn't known the male was familiar with Bast but... Then again she had always tried not to make her friend talk about the past because it had seemed painful for her. Inhaling slowly, wincing as her sides ached with the deep breath, Viv let the air out in a sigh that threatened tears.. but the girl refused to let them fall as her eyes watered and she shakily reached up to finally accept the drink Torr had patiently offered to her. Still... She didn't drink it yet. Instead the girl brought the cup down to rest on top of her blanketed feet; Vivian staring at her worn out reflection in the dark liquid as her concerns and worries fought with exhaustion and pain for her attention. " .. I.." What did one say in this situation? Apologize for causing trouble? Ask for information? Beg him to make sure the door was locked? Vivian wasn't a warrior, she wasn't brave or powerful, and every fiber of her being was pleading with her to find the smallest place to curl up and hide until this gut wrenching terror faded away.. but this didn't concern just her anymore. Torr had found her, what if that Hunter had noticed him? The girl's lips pressed together into a stressed frown and, carefully holding her tea steady with one hand, she reached up grasp Torr's velvety arm in a surprisingly firm grip as she looked up at him trembling. " I won't tell Cass you were outside, but.. you can't go back there. If that Hunter saw you she could-- kek." Overtaxed, her abused throat rebelled and the girl shuddered with a small coughing fit.. her face burying into the crook of her arms as she tried to suppress the noise. She had to warn him, especially since he seemed to know Bast.. There was something very off about that Hunter and her eerie strength.
❃❃❃❃❃❃❃❃❃❃❃❃❃❃❃❃❃❃❃❃❃❃❃❃❃
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Sun Aug 31, 2025 12:45 am
Torr shook his head with a small smile, "I don't get noticed if I don't want to be. Here in the Club I don't worry about it as much but...." he paused, not sure how to explain it... But he finally realized that she was uncomfortable and felt the fur on his face puff up before he turned to the closet and pulled out a gown she could easily slide over her head and laid it at her feet without looking at her, "Sorry... I didn't think... Hylarr are different about..." he stopped there and headed for the door to the room, pulling the door to behind him. He headed into the living room and rubbed at his face a bit. How could he have forgotten about the nudity taboos?! His father had told him over and over and over about those that lived without fur... He should have remembered it! He was such an idiot.... What should he do?! He looked at the painting of his sister and thought about what she would do. Yeah... He moved into the kitchen and started up some more of the willow bark tea. If he couldn't do anything about his screw up, he could at least help her with her pain when she came out of the bedroom... Now that his mind was thinking about it, though, he had to admit that she was really pretty... Not as pretty as his sister, but he might be biased on that one...
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Sun Aug 31, 2025 6:34 pm
❃❃❃❃❃❃❃❃❃❃❃❃❃❃❃❃❃❃❃❃❃❃❃❃❃
The man scampered from the room before Viv could react, the girl's breath catching not pain for once but rather... Suppressed laughter. For as intimidating and mature as the male had seemed at first, the personality inside that body seemed very boyish in his reactions and it was a little disarming. Even Bast had seemed mature when they met, years ago now, and so in comparison it made Vivian feel like she had just unintentionally teased a friend's baby brother with how awkwardly he'd retreated. Ignorance was bliss, given that was exactly what the oblivious girl had just done... Still, it was nice to have something to focus on other than what had happened to her and despite her typically cautious nature Vivian found herself wanting to at least 'try' to humor the flustered man's good intentions. 'Why' he helped her was unknown yet but.. he didn't seem to have bad motives so she'd let herself owe him this much. Looking down at the cup still cradled in her hand Viv recalled his warning about the taste; The girl's face twisting into a faint grimace at the idea of drinking something bitter before she resolutely lifted the cup and knocked it back like a shot glass. The lukewarm liquid did feel nice on her damaged throat, that relief alone made it more bearable, but the foul flavor hit the sweets-loving girl like a sledge hammer and for a long moment the Sniffer actually had to struggle to keep the liquid down with a heavy swallow. Medicine.. Gods there was no doubt, that tasted like medicine for sure.. It made her want to cry for a entirely new reason.
Placing her cup to the side Vivian turned her attention to the gown he'd placed on the bed for her, her fingers gently stroking the soft golden hues of the sundress-like clothing. Getting the item on took a moment; The girl's body didn't quite want to listen to her but after a brief struggle the whisper-fine fabric slid over her slender frame and the youth sighed in relief. At times like this she could only think about how Ice once told her that clothing could be armor, it certainly felt like she was protected even if just by a pretty little dress that barely passed her knees. It was a little daunting to think about what state her own clothing would be in, given how roughed up she'd been--- Oh! The girl's hand flexed on impulse as a hazy memory came to her. The ring... Had that been real?
Realization, and a degree of urgency, encouraged the girl to wobble to her feet like a newborn fawn as her thigh jolted in denial and her ribs ached.. Her steps far from graceful as she navigated her way to the door and eased out of the room in search of her host. If anyone knew it would be him, she had to ask. Quiet steps, even injured the girl was naturally prone to stealth, carried her towards the male's back as she lifted her hand to tap his shoulder softly. Only... that tap missed as her leg gave out and her balance faltered; Viv's hand instead going past the male's side and instinctively wrapping around his ribs as the girl tottered face-first into his back with a surprised ooomph. In a normal situation this would be more than enough to send the girl into a embarrassed retreat but two things kept her in place: One, she couldn't flee even if she wanted to.. and Two, she had to find out what had happened to her ring. It was precious to her.. Ignoring the faint sting of her nose from their collision Vivian struggled for a moment, surprised at how soft his fur felt against her cheek even as the girl stubbornly pulled herself away to try and stand on her own again.. her lips pursed in a tell-tale hint of her determination as she kept her grip on his side and tapped him there for his attention. " A ring, did you find a ring with me? I know this is random but I think that woman gave it back before.." Shaking her head Vivian was grateful for that bitter drink as her throat squeezed but didn't stop her from speaking as it had earlier. Medicine worked... Swallowing the girl, for the first time, tilted her head up and looked at Torr steadily despite the small tremor that shook her fingers against his side. He'd already proven he wasn't going to hurt her, it might be awkward but she didn't feel uncomfortable with the male. He kind of looked like Bast... though obviously the color pallet of his fur was quite different there was something in the shape of his eyes and the tilt of his jaw that reminded her of her friend. So.. a degree of that trust shifted to him naturally. " Sorry, I know it is a long shot but it was a gift from my Mother. Can you remember seeing one?" At least, that is how she thought of Cass. It was childish to ask something like this of the guy who'd helped her and she knew that but.. she had to try.
❃❃❃❃❃❃❃❃❃❃❃❃❃❃❃❃❃❃❃❃❃❃❃❃❃
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Sun Aug 31, 2025 9:41 pm
Torr simply held still as she used him to catch herself when her leg gave out. Then he gently placed his hands under her forearms and helped her over to the table to sit down. That was only half of a mess. Or controlled chaos, depending on how one looked at it. He used the table to mix and store his paints, keeping only enough room to eat at half of it. Once she was sitting he moved back into the spare bedroom and collected the ring from the top of the dresser and returned with it, offering it up easily, "It fell out of your hand when I put you on the bed earlier. I just put it on the chest to get it out of the way," he said simply then returned to the kitchen. From the table, one could see both of the paintings he was working on in more detail. There were other paintings within sight that showed a much younger Torr with his parents and a Bast that seemed older than him. Some paintings showed the village as he'd seen it: cubs playing or at lessons, couples walking or sitting together, a female getting ready to got a Mating Run, the Elders sitting around a fire, families eating together. There were also a few of Bast playing with others her own age in the village. It was very obvious that this male knew Bast very well. The paintings also showed her that the Hylarr, among themselves, didn't wear very much. They didn't need to since they had fur. Their style was still distinctive: shorts and chest harness for the males, shorts with halter tops or different dresses for the females. Their fighting clothes were different though. They wore Fighting Leathers in different variations depending on what weapons they used. The leather protected while allowing freedom of movement. One painting showed a young Torr learning to fight with dual shortswords and daggers. Another showed his father sparring with his battle-ax against his mother with her dual-bladed staff. He had both weapons leaning in a corner of the living room right now. His own blades were kept on a specialized wall rack by the main door of the apartment and obviously well cared for. While the paintings of his parents showed that he'd gotten the leaner build of his mother and sister, he had still put on plenty of muscle since he'd been here. He'd never be as muscled as his father but he wasn't weak by any means. But he and Bast had the shape of their dad's eyes, mum's cheekbones, and a mix of their noses. He'd gotten his mother's eye color, a sharp cobalt blue. His father's eyes had been more turquoise. Bast had been unique with her chartreuse eyes and dark fur. He finally came back to the table with a bowl and a glass for her, "More of the tea is brewing, but I've got this for now. It should help with the taste," he offered as he placed the items on the table in front of her. A bowl of soft and sweet chocolate pudding and a glass of peach flavored tea. "I know the flavors obviously don't seem like they'd work but my mum always gave me both when I had to drink some willow tea. I always hated it but it works fast and really does help," he added, as he sat down in the other chair at the table. Thankfully, his guardian had left some clothes here so he had something to let her wear other than something of his. That might have been more awkward. "I've had cracked ribs a couple of times before so I can say with certainty that the tea really does help. Also broke be arm once when my sister pushed me out of a tree. I lived off the nasty stuff until that one healed up," he couldn't resist glancing at the painting of Bast he was working on now when he mentioned her. Sometimes it hurt to think about her, he missed her so much. His parents as well, but he and his sister had been so close until- He gave a soft sigh and changed the direction of his thoughts before going down that set of memories. He still hadn't fully adjusted to being alone yet. Cassarria had told him that Bast was alive, but he wasn't sure when he'd see her again. He was considering going to Vampire Island when he was released from his Guardian. Maybe he'd get to see her there... He shook his head and focused on his guest, "I thought the pudding would be easier on your throat, same with the peach tea. I put some of my mum's ointment on the bruises," he slid the small jar closer to her so she could check it, "Cassarria gave me some scent herb to add to the recipes in mum's remedy book so I've been experimenting a bit. I did rosemary and a little bit of cinnamon with some clove in this one. Mum said they all help with pain and bruises," his voice trailed off there, showing that he wasn't very confident at the moment. He was really hoping that he'd done the right thing. He wasn't sure if he should have contacted someone about her but... He licked his lips a bit and continued nervously, "I haven't told anyone else you're here yet... Last time I saw you, you were arguing with Wayne. Seemed pretty intense... My guardian isn't supposed to visit until next week..." he looked down and considered the possibilities for her, "I suppose I could get Elder Rain, but he's been busy lately. I'm not sure who else you would trust," he added, very clearly trying to figure out someone she would trust. That was about it. He only knew about the injuries he'd treated. If she didn't feel safe here with him after her attack, he was more than willing to help her contact someone else she would trust while she was healing. And he wasn't hiding the fact that no one else knew she was here. With any other race, there might be issues with her reputation. But with a Hylarr male, she was as safe as if she was with Ice. He would have listed other people, but he had been kept pretty isolated since they'd gotten here. Mainly to help him adjust to the advanced aging he'd gone through on top of the loss of his entire family. It had been a difficult adjustment for him but he'd made a lot of progress so he'd been getting more and more time to himself. His painting helped. It didn't feel like such a bad loss if he could save the memories. It still ached, but it didn't feel like his heart had been torn out.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Reply
