Diana looked around the village, her large curious eyes taking in the sights of a place settled by something other then her.. old species. She didn't really know what to expect from a town created by 'animal people'. Her nose twitched at the new scents There were earthy hues in the air that made her think of a farm, though not 'quite' so mucky. it was closer to nature true, but remarkably cleaner then she imagined it could have been. Maybe it was the cat in her but she found her eyes drawn to scents that didn't quite fit in. The metal woman with the key on her back and the human too. She walked with them quietly, urged on by a desire to find out more about them. She wasn't sure how much to tell them of herself but given what happened last time it might be best to keep a low profile. She didn't want to get sent back...
She studied Tom a little longer, the scent of him mixing with that general 'human' feeling she got that was associated with her step-parents of this world. She didn't really want think she was now in some way prejudiced against humans given she was one once. She knew it was wrong, but her young mind just.. made things 'bigger' the more emotional they were. Leaving the city was at the same time nothing given she didn't actually know them- and yet at the same time she felt like all humans had to be like 'them'. So seeing a human, she couldn't help but feel a mix of very weird feelings.
The human gave a cautious smile. "Hey.. I'm Tom. Thanks for finding that thing and bringing it back. Seems to mean a lot to them." He had his hands on his knees bending down to talk to her in the eye.
Diana blushed a little. She was still being treated like a kid.. the way he looked down at her, trying to make her feel what? Useful? Her tail, always ready to show the wave of her emotions, gave a strange shift between her legs. She held it in her hand behind her annoyed. Fortunately the Mayor turned up. His scent was interesting before she could say anything though another strange animal person turned up. With.. wings? Some kind of sphinx? She couldn't help but gasp.
"Ah, you found it! Many thanks. How did you get it back?"
Sarah gave the case to the Sphinx. "Our friend here found it just outside the village," She said gesturing to Diana. "Though.. She said to keep it hidden for a while though." She glanced to the cat-girl.
"Hmm.. I suppose a bit of caution is warranted. I'll take care of it. Thank you."
As the grown-ups talked, Diana sniffed the air around Tom again. She sensed a lot about him but didn't really understand it all. There was some vague sensation of where he had been before.. the impression of trees and the scent of the metal woman around him. (What smell she did have anyway, it wasn't much) But she could also smell something else Tom was afraid of something... Why? Of.. her? She approached sensing the tension go up exponentially. Something about this amused the cat-girl and she smiled back. Was this a new toy maybe? Her tail began to wiggle excitably, her pupils dilated in anticipation...
Tom looked distinctly uncomfortably at the young neko-kin as she got closer, with her eyes now so black... He didn't know what to say or do. Offer her food? Did she want to be petted? Or maybe she just didn't want anything. He had seen a few of these species before, but never one so young on her own. "I hope you didn't get hurt out there- can be pretty dangerous for one so young," he smoothed his clothes a little casually.
Diana sniffed the air again. The tension and fear was still there. Why was he so afraid of her? It didn't make much sense. "Just glad I could help," she said sincerely.
"Ah Millicent?" Tom suddenly called breaking the tension.
The pregnant fox woman came over, a warm smile on her muzzle. "So, have you decided how long you will be staying with us?"
Sarah gave a thought. "Well we should be trying to get further away from here I think..."
Diana found the fox woman smelled really nice... Inviting. Something about her made her feel so comfortable that she began to purr uncontrollably. She just wanted to.. rub against her leg... She couldn't help it! She flickered her tail along her arm. "Meow.." she called to her...
"Heh, kids," said Tom to Sarah. "She's a playful one isn't she?"
Sarah just smiled unsure what to make of Diana's antics. All the animal folk in this world were odd.. though she was surprised at how the cat-girl acted given how human she looked though. Appearances were so deceiving. She could imagine the kid scratching the sofa but with those big eyes she would likely forgive it every single time.
Millicent scratched the girl's ears briefly but then gave her a little sharp bat on the head with her finger like paws. Somehow this was enough to break the spell. The cat girl looked confused for a moment before looking to her with more clarity. "Hello dear," she chuckled gently and not at all condescending in her demeanour. She glanced quietly after Tom with a shake of her head. "Come shelter at my burrow dear. You look like you could use a meal."
"T-Thank you." Diana quickly stepped beside her following the fox's steps.
"Excuse us for a while dears. I'll prepare dinner while the little one gets some rest."
Diana was glad to get a moment alone with the fox. "I-I'm Di..ana," she quickly said. Honestly was she ever going to get used to saying that name? It just didn't feel right. It never would..
"Mellicent. Come on in, its quite safe. I can tell you are quite close to the Cat Spirit," she gave a wink.
Diana looked inside the warren, her tail shifting between her legs and neutral clothing. "Why was.. that... human afraid of me?" she finally asked.
Millicent looked surprised for a moment and shrugged. "Tom? I don't think he was afraid, some humans just act strange," she said cautiously. "Humans have a rather.. varied history.. when it comes to cats and the cat-folk.. It could be he thinks you are quite pretty and would like to keep you, but you should be used to that by now," she chuckled in a teasing tone.
Diana made a face as she stepped inside the Warren the memory of where she had just run from still in her mind. "Ew- No- I'm not gonna let that happen ever!"
Millicent chuckled again. "I would hope not. But some cat-folk are happy living with a human in.. many capacities. I don't judge. It is hard for them to decide what is best though if they have only ever known a human to live with I'm glad you want to see the wider world. I assume that is why you are roaming?"
Diana sat down on the table. A set meal was present with some kind of meat.. rabbit? 'Oh that smelled so good.' thought the young cat girl but then suddenly paled at the implications. "That's not uh- rabbit folk is it?"
Millicent laughed, a strange gruff one from her muzzled face somehow curling into a smile. "You're the second person, to have that look! Honestly what are they teaching in the City of Steam no that's not Rabbit folk, just rabbit."
Diana sighed in relief, her tail loosening up. She sat on the chair still amazed to have her feet raised so high she couldn't touch the ground. "I'm.. new to uh- all this. I don't know much.. but I'm trying. Can you tell me about.. cat-folk?" Her wide eyes gazed up to her hopefully.
Millicent sat down with the curious child. "Well, I can tell you a lot about cat-folk, but it all depends what type you are. There are many different kinds Do you know about your linage? What work your kin had done? Where they came from?"
Diana groaned in sheer ignorance "No..." her ears flattening one more as she lapped at the rabbit stew.
"An orphan then? I'm so sorry." Millicent lapped up her own food, with far more grace then the cat-girl. She wasn't too sure how much she should tell her, at least from what she could guess by looking at her. Diana was rather young but clearly getting older, and a cat was a curious beast.. "Humans had- what some might call an unhealthy obsession with cat-girls.. many many centuries ago. Though that's hardly the only species they had.. deep relationships with. Many canines too share similar stories. " she cast her eyes downward in thought. "Humans with particular status tended to have cat-girls for.. a variety of needs and tasks. Guarding, Farming, fishing pest control... company. 'Pets' as a said earlier, and sometimes even closer then that, for good or ill" she rubbed her pregnant belly a little. "Cat-folk might have been slightly humanized in the process you certainly look human."
"What do you mean?" Diana gasped a bit. "Does that mean I'm part human?"
"It's possible, but if anything having human ancestry tended to result in rather unpredictable traits. If you do have some human in you, it's a lovely mesh. I'm sure you'll grow up to be very pretty."
Diana huffed. "I don't wanna be pretty.." she muttered.
"Haha, well you probably won't get that choice sweetie, especially if the cat spirits have taken a shine to you. It's nothing to be worried about though." she leaned back softly. "Anyway, Tom.. is a good human from what I've seen. He would take care of you, as well as Sarah. You can trust them. Will you stay with us or continue your roaming? As I understand it, Sarah and Tom will be travelling too..."
Darrin nodded. She could trust him.. and Sarah. "Thanks.. I.. I actually want to travel with them. I need to get away from here.. and.. I I like them I think. I've been invited on a ship an- I need to go there. But I can't go there alone They want to go somewhere else too so that works.." She wanted to press for more details on the cat-folk but well it didn't matter.. She wasn't going to be in this body for long, she could get out of it. She yawned a little with a cute meow.
"Feel free to sleep in the corner there " gestured the fox. "I'll get you some coverings. I suppose a lack of fur must be annoying," she chuckled.
Diana nodded. Maybe she could convince Sarah and Tom to take her to the ship? She hoped so.. she had to get as far away from here as possible. Lying down she almost felt.. like she was back in her normal body. Except for her tail being pressed badly so she started to lay down on her front and the pain was gone. This was better.. now If she closed her eyes.. and forgot about her ears and tail.. yes she was back to her normal human self back to normal
The green witch watched Jon and Maggie interact, wisps of smoke from her cauldron showing the two in an odd shade of grey. The sound had an odd quality to it, produced by the vibration of a multitude of bubbles bursting, echoing in the cauldron. "Hm," She turned to her fairy friend. "What do you think?" She sat down on the chair watching and observing...
Aria looked to sulk a bit on her shoulder. "Personally, I don't get why you didn't just take her memories away." She then fluttered her wings in mid air, crossing her arms. "Its her memories of her old life are the cause of the issue. it would have been so much easier, and I could have been a godmother to her chicks. It would have been fun for a good- oh- hundred years at least."
The green witch smiled. "I know that seems ideal to you dear, but a human mind is surprisingly stubborn to inflict amnesia on It might have only worked a few decades."
"Well- that would have been long enough!" The fairy eyed the two talking. It was hard to tell what they were saying with this spell. "I mean this- this doesn't really offer any guarantees. What if she just decides to be human again?"
The witch chuckled mirthfully. "She won't I know she wont. I was a bit forceful but there is an element of randomness in Jon's life. That has to be preserved otherwise, how could her life be interesting?"
Maggie was having a lot of fun hopping next to Jon. It was just so exciting! She practically danced in front of Jon as they walked together, stepping backwards with glee. "So... two harpies in the big human city! isn't this going to be fun? You could show me some of that human food. Oh- and those shiny things- what are they called- forks? You can show me what humans do with them right?"
"Forks.. what would you do with a fork?" Jon waved her own feathered wing with some disdain. Flying was great but she did miss her hands. Being reminded that she now pretty much ate with her feet was a sure way to depress the harpy-teenager.
"What do I do with forks? I just collect them. I like shiny stuff from humans." Maggie giggled and began to whistle a tune. The song was oddly bird-like from her human face and Jon glanced back in some surprise. Jon was about explain (again) that this was not exciting, that she was trying to get back human but something about that song it resonated within her. She felt like she -wanted- to whistle some of it back so deep the memory of it became engrained into her. Finally she had to ask about it.
"Um What's that song you're singing?" She asked as she brushed away another branch. 'Damn it where is that path?'
"Hm? Oh, my mother used to sing me this song, when I fell out of the nest. I was a bit too eager you see to be on the move" she said with embarrassment stopping for a moment. " The others have all grown up and have migrated so there are not that many harpies about. We're actually not that common around here" she brushed her feet on the forest earth, taking an interest in something on the ground.
Jon glanced to the young harpy. She didn't know much about what harpies did but if it was anything like normal birds, she imagined migration and mating or getting away from cold weathers.. something like that. "So why didn't you go with the other harpies?"
"I'm too Curious about the humans. If I followed the normal cycle I would see less of their shiny things. So my family accepted I had to fly on my own. Besides other harpies think I'm a bit unlucky given I fell out of the nest like that. So they tended to give me my own space." Maggie looked saddened at that a moment.
Jon shook her head. If she were human, this didn't sound right at all. Leaving a kid alone to fend for themselves while you go out and do the 'migration' just didn't sit right with her. But then she was thinking like a human
"Do you have any family?" Asked Maggie suddenly.
Jon blinked at the question. "Oh.. well yes. I lived with my Mom and Dad.. my little sister and brother. Zoe.. and Mikey."
"Hehe.. Mikey. Human names sound funny."
"Isn't Maggie a human name?" asked Jon tilting her head.
"Well yes, but it's short for Magdaliana." Most are happy to call me Maggie though. So, you want to eat some worms today? I found a live one." she gestured to the ground showing it with glee.
Jon practically blanched. "No- urgh- no!"
Maggie looked a bit hurt. She thought Jon would be proud that she had spotted food for their journey and could thus conserve their rations a bit. They also looked really juicy too. She pinched one up with her claw. She offered the best one to her. "I'll give you this one? See? I'm not a burden to you, I can help!"
Jon groaned. "I'm not eating worms! We have rations you know."
"Yeah, but.. rations should be preserved. This you can eat right now, and can't keep it for long. So..." she scooped up the worm in her mouth and ate it like it was pasta. "Your turn! Look I'll get you a nice one. See?" She scooped up a rather juicy looking worm. "You can tell it's a good one because its so wriggly.. so.. huh? You okay? Jon?"
Fazalune stared at the expanse of the desert. "Behold dear, the Sandpool," she gestured ahead.
Karyn stared at it. It was an odd looking flat area of the desert. She could see the sand had taken on strange patterns of circular swirls. However the dunes were all frozen, and unmoving. Occasionally she could see the puff of sand extending into the air, formed by surrounding geysers.
"Watch that plume of dust over there.. I think we will get a cascade in a moment.." Fazalune used her scorpion tail to point.
Karyn watched. Sure enough the sand suddenly pushed outward. There was a mighty eruption happening as the sand-geiser exploded, draining the sands around it as something 'underneath' the vast expanse gave way. Like a plug-hole, the sands were drained. The once frozen swirls moved quickly, rapidly as if they were a liquid. Huge amounts of dust were kicked up.. then just as quickly, it stopped. All was stable once more.
"I'm afraid we will have to cross this terrain.." she carefully looked the area over. "It can be very unpredictable but I know the safest paths."
"What happens if.. we fall in one of those sand pools?" Karyn asked obviously concerned.
Fazalune shook her head. "It is not possible to swim against the sands should they move. If you are inside the worst of it, I'm afraid the desert will.. claim you. Your best chance is to find the edge of each pool, and run towards an inactive one.. and pray It remains inactive for long enough."
Sarah grimaced. "Can't we go over.. or.. around?"
"Of course you can go over. Cast a spell of flight," she chuckled. "We can not go around, The Lady's dwelling lies at the center of this expanse. Just walk as I do, and all will be well." Fazalune knew this was a bit dangerous. Luck was also involved here but she couldn't admit that. She examined the area and picked a careful path, timing the next eruption. "Now!"
Sarah and Fazalune ran across the expanse...
