The Adventures of Cat-Boy

[Sasuke]

Now this wouldn't do at all, how on earth had this young child ended up at the opening to the den of monsters? Only six years old and his life was already looking bleak, everyone knew this forest was dangerous, well everyone but the poor little one who was within it now. Why did humans have to be so mean to the halfbreeds? This little one obviously didn't know of what he was, and he had no part in making himself, so how was he to blame for simply being? Couldn't they have simply allowed him to continue on in his trek to nowhere? Why couldn't he have been allowed to simply live on until some fault of his own caused his death? Why strike out against someone so harmless, someone who wanted nothing to do with the death of others. Someone who simply wanted to be..

No, sometimes humans were truly the monsters. With obvious evil intent they took the boy into their 'care', doing their best to befriend him and earn his trust. All the while knowing they would eventually lead him out here, to this forest of death. Yet what surprise would there be in finding that it was teenage males who took the small boy out to the forest? Who wouldn't expect that human males, jealous of the strength that this boy had even though he was barely half their age, would seek to cause his demise? They didn't even give Sasuke a second look, he looked too human at the moment, his cat like features gone as he slowly became fearful of their surroundings.

Something in Sasuke told him not to be here. He felt too many of those things..those people he could sense..This forest was too close to them..And even more so, this forest had it's own evils in it. Panic slowly began to sink into Sasuke's emotions. something about this was all wrong, yet none of it came to his full awareness until they all disappeared. Where had they gone? Why did they leave him here now? Where was he? This place was too big..to foreign for him to know where he was..how to escape. Bitting his bottom lip, Sasuke did his best not to cry out..no..someone might hear him..something he didn't want to hear him..And all he could do was continue to wander..continue to walk around in this wide unknown place.. What were all of these horrid looking plants? And These ghastly looking animals? He didn't want to be afraid..but all of this..all of this was just too much for a six year old.

Slowly Sasuke began to run, to where he didn't know..maybe he would be able to run out of this place if he continued this way..Right? The forest had to end somewhere..right? Wrong wrong wrong, he was simply getting himself deeper into the forest, losing himself more in the large wicked place. If things continued like this, he would either die from starvation, or something would eat him...he really didn't want to be eaten...

[Altair]

Large white paws made a steady thumping sound as Altair walked through the forest. He had so much on his mind, between his losing Nyx's favor and his brother's sudden disappearance, the male was beginning to crack. It was obvious in his human form, quite obvious. His orbs bloodshot, his skin paler than usual. He hadn't fed in days, making him even more tired and worse looking. In fact, part of the reason the male chose this particular place was a hope. He actually hoped to die out here, die a final death. Anything would be better than to live in shame, shame that he had caused his lady so much pain.

Thus, he was making his way to the center of the forest, the only spot sun could enter through, to end his pathetic existence. He knew just his prescense would alert Nyx something was wrong. She would know someone was there once he stepped foot into the clearing. And when she arrived to deal with the intruder, she would find his charred remains. He had a lighter in his pocket and knew between the fire and the sun, he would die finally. But he had to hurry, the sun would be setting soon and if he didn't make it by dusk, he'd have to wait until morning and live through another terrible night of pain and starvation.

And that's when the scent hit him in his massive polar bear form, the scent of humans. A low growl came from the male as he noticed their scent retreated from this point, back towards the entrance. How dare they step foot on these lands? But another scent registered in his mind, a new scent that he had only found on one other. The scent Kanyon held, or a similar one at least. The scent of a dhampir, a young one to be precise. And yet, this dhampir's scent also held the scent of a feline, making him a neko-dhampir, or so Altair assumed. One such as that would certainly be of Xrabrij blood, correct? And then a thought came to Altair, a way to regain his lady's favor.

This child, he would certainly make a nice addition to the house, a wondrous vessel to entertain his lady. To gift her with such would surely allow her to know he was truely hers alone, right? And then, death would be a mere dream, something this male would never have to endure. A wide smile came upon his face as Altair shifted to the form of a wolf. His superior tracking abilities being increased as he followed the neko's scent. It was easy to find the scent, but not so easy to follow it. But soon enough, the male came upon a small child with a strange feline/human scent. Smiling, Altair hid in some bushes and shifted to the form of a small kitten, completely white in color with golden orbs. He mewed slightly as he watched the boy, hoping the child would be courageous enough to help the lost kitten and fall into the trap.

[Sasuke]

That feeling..It was getting worse. Was this what fear was? This feeling? Sasuke couldn't remember any point in time when he had ever been this afraid..well he hadn't lived that many years on this earth, but still he couldn't recall any point in his life when he had thought it would be over..When he thought he was really going to die. No..it couldn't end like this! He couldn't die! He had to go on!! And so he continued to run until he couldn't run anymore. God did this forest go on forever? None of this looked familiar, and there was no point where it looked like he could really be getting anywhere near the exit. He could only find himself bitting even harder onto his bottom lip.

And all the more worse came that feeling of that things growing closer/ something..he didn't know what it was..something big..something more powerful than any of the others things he had felt before. What was it? Was it stalking him> Was it here now to take him away to some place horrible? Or was it here to eat him? Or would it simply just kill him> Oh the possibilities! What on earth could it be? No matter how fast and far he had run, that thing had still been able to keep up with him..and now..now it could be anywhere..And night time was coming soon..It had almost been sunset when he was brought out here, who knew if the sun had set already. How much worse can things get?

Black orbs found themselves looking in all directions as he continued to walk, refusing to stop even for a break. Poor Sasuke nearly had a heart attack the moment he heard the smallest of things. Without realizing it, Sasuke's cat ears and tail popped out, his ears listening hard for the sound again as his tail stood on edge. What was that? And then he heard it again, only this time it was much less frightening, a simple meow. Blinking, Sasuke couldn't help but wonder what a cat was doing in a place like this..Was it lost like him too? Sasuke had always loved cats, and the thought of one being lost and alone in a forest like this was horrible. Listening hard for another soft meow, Sasuke pinpointed where the small cat was.

But something was off..why did it feel like that big powerful thing was where the cat was? Tilting his head, Sasuke cautiously approached the bush. Hmm it was only a small white cat, looking around Sasuke had to wonder how the cat got here..where was it's owner? With a small frown he looked to the cat, going to pick it up. " So I guess we're both lost huh..You think we can find a way out together?" Sasuke asked softly, not expecting an answer out of the cat, but he was more than thankful for the company..even if he did feel the presence of the powerful thing even more..

[Altair]

Seing the ears and tail pop out, Altair was quite intrigued. Since when did dhampir's have that problem? The only dhampir's he ever knew to keep ears and a tail didn't know what they were. In fact, they didn't even know they had ears or a tail until someone showed them. Meowing again, he saw the child come over to him and bend down. Leaping into the child's arms, Altair looked to the boy as he spoke of finding the way out together. He meowed again as he began to purr, chuddling up in the dhampir's arms. His orbs closed, the male vampire began to think of a way to lure this one to the center of the forest. He knew he couldn't turn to his normal form, not without scaring the child off. And forcing him against his will wasn't the right move either. But what if....?

And then it hit the male. Meowing slightly, the kitten leapt from Sasuke's arms and walked around his feet for a second, weaving between his legs and purring. And then, he moved forward, towards the center of the forest. Stopping a few feet away, he looked back to the boy and meowed again. Would Sasuke follow him, or would the elder vampire have to force the boy to the center?

[Sasuke]

Oh how quickly worry could fade away when one found themselves in the presence of another. Suddenly Sasuke was alone and things didn't seem so bad. Sure he still had no idea how to get out, but he wasn't alone and that made all the difference to him. He even allowed his own eyes to close for a moment as he huggled the cat closer to himself. Yes he loved affection, and for some reason cats seemed to be on the same page as him when it came to that. But black colored orbs found themselves opening with question as he felt the cat leap from his arms. Just what was the kitting doing? Was it leaving him?

No the answer to that was found quite quickly as Sasuke felt the cat weaving through his legs. Hmm did he not want to be held? No..that didn't seem to be true, because now the kitting was walking away. The last thing Sasuke wanted to do was be left alone, and when the cat looked back he was more than happy to begin to follow him. "Do you know the way out?" He asked, following after not wanting to be left behind. Lucky for Sasuke he was managing to avoid being taken by force, would likely leave him very much afraid of the vampire he was following. All the while Sasuke's ears and tail remained out, his ears listening to all sounds making sure nothing was coming closer. Yet he continued to remain on edge, where was that large powerful thing?

[Altair]

Seeing the male begin to follow him, Altair smiled on the inside. The child was playing right into his trap. This one would deffinately make his master happy, regain her favor for him. And thus, Altair continued, very slowly, so as to not lose the child, towards the clearing. They weren't that far away now, and Altair could already sense it was dusk, the sun had set.

The thought occured to him to call his Lady mentally, but he assumed she would not come for him, not now. But once they entered the clearing, she would come, if nothing else just to see what was going on and who was in her clearing. The male smiled wider inside as he meowed again and looked back to the child, his tail swaying from side to side.

Soon enough, the light of the moon flooded the area ahead of them and it was obvious there was an opening in the woods. The child would assume it was the exit and happily run towards it. Little did he know, once they got in the clearing, the real trouble would begin. Altair had it planned out, the use of earthen magic to block all escape and then Altair's true form becoming visible. Or maybe the male would be taken as a kitten, to help gain the young ones trust. Who knew but Altair himself?

[Sasuke]

Sasuke could feel the hair begin to stand up on the back of his neck as he continued to walk through the forest following the cat. Why was this place so creepy? Well he was only six years old, and any child would be scared to death to be in a place like this, especially if it was pitch black. The only thing he had going for him was his above average senses, which allowed him to have slightly better vision in the dark. What also made things easier was that this kitten was white, standing out against the night and the dark forest. If Sasuke wasn't so happy to have company and happy to be following the cat to his way out, he would have wondered just what a cat was doing in a forest like this..

The young dhampir's heart nearly leap from his chest at the sight of light coming through the forest. Was he finally going to be able to escape from this place? Running forward, he couldn't wait to be free, away from the scary forest, the creepy trees, the dangerous animals, the scary powerful things. Oh thank god for that cat knowing how to get out!! If he had never found it he would never have been able...Reaching the center of the clearing Sasuke stopped to look around. Oh how his heart fell at that moment. All around the so called escape was forest, and Sasuke had to try hard not to cry at that very moment, and much against his will some tears began to gather.

Looking back to the cat, he began to wipe the tears away. "This isn't a way out..we're still surrounded by the forest." Sasuke said sniffling as his ears and tail fell flat, showing just how disappointed he was. He had been hoping so hard that this would be his way out..After all that, he only had the energy and will to plop right down where he was and continue to sniffle. Teary eyed he looked back to the white cat. "I guess we're going to have to find another way out.."

[Altair]

And sure enough, as soon as the light was seen the little neko child ran ahead of him and out into the clearing. Altair picked up his speed, running clumsily and kinda prancing as a kitten really would. And then he saw the boy sit down and heard his words. Thinking of the earth, he watched as the undergrowth at all the exits from the clearing grew taller and more deadly, surrounding them completely. They were tapped within now, and like a scared kitten, Altair jumped and ran to Sasuke, curling up in his lap. He began to pur contently as he waited for exactly what he knew would happen.

Soon as Sasuke stepped into the clearing, the mental call had sounded to Nyx like a silent alarm. His lady would be here soon and his little gift was ready. Smiling on the inside, he only hoped it would be enough to regain her favor.

[Nyx]

Wings were put to work before the sun had slipped fully beneath the horizon. The light sting of the weak rays of light were ignored, they were not enough to harm her and she fully intended to ignore them the next time the blistering ball of light decided to rise. She had never really fully tested her durability under full light. Not for any long period of time. She contemplated that now though, as she flew North. She didn’t think it would kill her.. there was always a chance though. But her mind as it was now would welcome the chance, the shadow that might fall over her existence, a breeze that might blow and snuff her out.

Wings beat in a steady rhythm, the feathers silent and swift as she rushed forward, as she ran away, trailing snatches of her mood in the currents of air left behind. Away from them all in her depression. North, she whispered to herself. North to the cold waste land, its beauty breathtaking and deadly, and oh so alone. No one would disturb her there. In that bleak land she could burrow down deep, freeze her body and heart and hopefully her mind in the biting ice. Achieve some numbness. If she wasn’t incinerated on the journey.

The sound of intrusion echoed in her mind and the wings faltered for only a moment before picking their rhythm back up. The thought to go back and rend the intruder into small pieces had come to her but she denied it. She had given her house up and all the lands, let them take over and do as they saw fit. She would miss her sanctuary though; there had been solace there, in the memories. Had they already penetrated the forest and taken the place as their own? Where they already tossing the little cottage, changing it to fit their needs? Gifting it to a new mistress?

She shuddered at the thoughts and once more her determined Northward trek faltered. NO, she would not let them defile the lake! Anger, her salve, washed over her. They could have everything else but not that! If she was to sleep or die then that place would sleep or die with her! With a sharp turn she was heading back and picking up speed. She would dispose of the intruders.. Yes, no one to stand in her way out there, and she would seal the place, no one would make it through the forest alive when she was done. Then, then she would continue North to the ice packs that had already settled as a sweet release in her mind.

[Sasuke]

That sinking feeling grew larger and larger in Sasuke's chest. His little heart felt like it was about to burst as dark thoughts began to intrude his mind. What if he would never be able to get out of here? He'd be stuck in the evil dark forest forever..or worse. What if one of those big powerful things came...and ate him! Oh so many horrid possibilities ran through Sasuke's mind as the tears really began to fall from his eyes. He was only a child, he wasn't fit to be alone like this. He should have been at home with his mother, or taken care of by immediate family. Yet he had none to speak of..all he knew was that he was alone in the world..and that no one wanted him..And being stuck in this forest made him feel that loneliness all the more. At least in places with people there was some human contact..he at least knew that someone was there, even if they didn't want anything to do with him. Out here all he had was the white kitty.

As soon as his only companion leap into his lap, Sasuke began to hug the small creature, tears spilling out from his eyes. The poor kitty probably didn't even realize how terrible things were at the moment. Could the kitty even feel the large foreboding power like he could? The hairs on the back of Sasuke's neck began to stand on edge even more as Altair used his abilities to make sure he couldn't leave. All Sasuke could wonder was why that big powerful thing seemed even closer now..Was it chasing him? Did it want to eat him? He didn't want to move..he was too afraid that if he went back out into the forest that thing would get him, and the it'd be all over. He had no way of knowing that the kitten he held was the very thing that was scaring him the most. Nor that what he had done had been all apart of it's plan to get him to this opening.

Yet what Sasuke did begin to notice made all of him shudder. There was something bigger...much more powerful than that first thing coming. All of Sasuke began to tremble, his shaking getting worse the closer the head of Xrabrij house grew. He had never sensed a power like that, and it was more than frightening. Quickly Sasuke began to try and make himself smaller, and hopefully less noticeable by curling into a small ball. If he was lucky, maybe what ever was coming wouldn't see him? "I think we're in trouble" He whispered to the small kitten as he shook. Why did he ever have to be forced into this forest? This would surely be his end and all he could do was shake a the sheer power of his murderer.

[Altair]

Meowing softly, Altair curled up closer to the boy and actually began to tremble. It seemed as if the kitten was more than afraid, he was terrified. And in reality, he was actually trembling with excitement and anxiousness. His lady was getting oh so much closer with each passing second and would be arriving here shortly. His gift was terrified, almost petrified. But would his love be pleased with all the effort he put into bringing this gift here? Would she understand how much she meant to him with this simple gift? Or would she be even more angry that he had stopped her leave and brought her back here for a measly child?

Looking around, Altair saw the little cottage and jumped out of the neko child's lap. Circling him slightly, Altair purred and walked towards the cottage, turning around and meowing for the child to follow. Once there, the child could sleep and Altair could await his lady in his natural form...his true form. Being this kitten was getting tiresome and he needed to stretch out and walk again on two legs. But would taking shelter really be smart? What if his love showed and he didn't have time to give her the boy, his gift? What if she wouldn't listen and banished him from this forest...or killed him first?

Stopping in his tracks, Altair hissed at the cottage and took a few steps back, running to the child and hiding under his feet once more. Surely the boy would stay away from there now. If the kitten was afraid of whatever was there, he would be as well, correct?