Pretty Things - [Ellion_Eickman]

[Azaria]

Timestamp: 1st of Winter, 512 AV
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The black panther sank her claws into the sands of the White Isle Harbor, watching as her mother's ship, the Darigan, sailed away. It had been her home for just over a year and a half, since the day she was born. Or so she had thought; Natasja, evidently, did not agree. The pirate captain had left Azaria, her Kelvic daughter, to fend for herself upon the shores of Mura.

Well, fine, she thought to herself grumpily, stretching. The Kelvic panther yawned lazily, and lifted her small backpack in her mouth as one would do with her kitten. Natasja Redwood had already taken her daughter through the gates, and had left Azaria within Mura, alone. As if a backpack of supplies would provide the comfort of a warm body to curl up with at night.

Entering the city proper, Azaria slunk along the cobblestones and paved pathways. Her dark, vibrant eyes caught on various artifacts, whether behind windows or laid out on blankets by the Konti artists. One shop in particular, an assortment of stained glass pieces arranged on one such blanket, claimed her interest. The dark feline approached, mesmerized by the colours glinting in the sun, and set her backpack down to observe the artwork. The oranges and reds seemed to depict a setting sun, while variants of blues and brown represented a ship at sea. She nosed closer, intrigued, until....

"You broke it!" The Konti accused. Azaria, startled, back-stepped. With a glance at the pale woman, the Kelvic snatched up her backpack once more and ran, leaping over the water that flooded parts of her way as she escaped from the shop owner.

[Ellion Eickman]

Ellion pulled his cloak around him tight. The cold air from the water cutting deep into his body. I hate winter, he thought groggily to himself. He hadn't had a warm place to stay in seasons. He wandered the Muran streets, admiring the artwork and jewelry laid out by the street vendors. In reality however, Ellion was choosing his targets.

Ellion Eickman had a bad habit of taking things that did not belong to him. The stories he heard in Ravok of the Konti artisans is what brought him to Mura. Looking around he noticed a merchant selling various fruits and vegetables. His stomach growled hungrily at the sight of them and he moved closer to investigate. Everything he saw looked delicious, but Ellion did not have his money on him at the time. Of course, this has never been a problem in the past. All he needed now was something to distract the Konti woman...

"You broke it!" he heard shouted across the narrow street. He turned to see what looked like a large black cat back away from the vendor and take off running.

"If you will excuse me sir," The woman at the grocery booth said as she rushed over to the other woman. A brief glance around told Ellion no one was looking. He quickly grabbed some fruit and stashed them under his cloak.

Ellion then turned and watched the large cat as it darted away. Intrigued, he decided to follow it. Weaving through the crowd he stalked the animal as it darted across its path. Ellion had never seen such an animal, and it frightened him to a degree. But It was because of the cat that he had a meal today. The least he could do was share.

As he got closer, he passed a booth selling glass ornaments and jewelry. Rubbing his hand along the wood as he passed, he palmed the smallest item on the edge of the counter. Another quick glance at the busy saleswoman told him he was in the clear before inspecting his new prize. A small, stain-glass earring. Its blues and greens were truly mesmerizing.

Then, before he knew it, he had caught up with the cat. It was lean and black as night and beautiful. He knelt down to eye level and produced one of the small apples he had stolen thanks to her. He held it out tentatively, pulling his scarf down to reveal his face.

"Hey there girl," He said, "are you hungry? I thought I would share, since you helped me get it."

[Azaria]

Her dark eyes regarded the man with both caution and interest as he approached. She had placed her backpack beneath herself, guarded by her lean forelegs. She checked it with a clawed paw, her eyes never wavering from the man. He smelled like the shipmen, though considerably less foul.

Food. She recognized the fruit, and her pink tongue presented itself brightly against her midnight coloured fur. People who offered food were good, right?

Glancing down, she checked her belongings once more, then slunk along towards the stranger. Azaria circled the man once, rubbing her fur along his sturdy legs, and opened her jaws to receive the apple. It wasn't meat, but it was food, nonetheless. Eating in front of the man, the panther glanced up at him every now and then, watching him. He ate with her, obviously about as grateful for the small meal as she was. Perhaps a bit more.

She finished first, and decided the man was all right. He hadn't hurt her, nor taken her things, nor abandoned her. Not yet, anyway. The Kelvic proceeded to nuzzle against the man, keeping his legs warm in the midst of winter.

[Ellion Eickman]

OOChey, I know its tough, but ya gotta try to refrain from RPing my character as well. The little line in your post that says "He ate with her, obviously about as grateful for the small meal as she was." Ya can't do that. It's cool this time, as I was going to pull out some food myself. But just for future reference okay

Ellion was mesmerized by the grace of the creature before him. Almost as mesmerized as he was scared in fact. She looked a lot smaller before. But now, face to face with the animal he realized that this was no house cat he was feeding. As she approached he trembled slightly. He currently did not have his weapon ready. If she wanted to attack, he was all but defenseless.

He was quite fond of the animals fur as she circled him. It was black as night, and sleek as silk. Occasionally, Ellion thought he saw a hint of blue in her fur as the light reflected off her. Though she was covered in fur, he could still see that the feline was well built. Truly this strange cat was positively enchanting.

Soon after she finished her circle about him, the cat reached out and took the food. As she ate he slowly reached into his cloak to reveal another one for himself. He slowly devoured the apple and thanked her again for her assistance. But before he stood to leave, she did something he did not quite expect.

She moved closer rubbing herself against him. She felt warm. Quite warm actually. First her face, then her body moved against his legs in a small wave of heat. A gasp of visible breath escaped as she did so. She seemed friendly enough, so Ellion reached out a tentative hand and placed it on the cats head behind the ears.

Her fur was just as soft as he had imagined. Soft, like a newborn kitten. With fur this soft, either she is very young, or doesn't get out much. He thought to himself. He slid his hand down her spine, halfway down her back before returning his hand to her head. He moved slightly to get in a better, more comfortable position to pet her, when the earring he had swiped fell from his pocket.

The small piece of jewelry fell onto the rocks. The glass shattered into countless pieces of blue and green. The destruction was both beautiful and saddening to Ellion. His eyes flickered between the broken item and the animal before him. His hand however, never moving from her warmth.

"Damn. And here it was so beautiful too." He said quietly.

[Azaria]

OOCHoly crow. I never do that. I've no idea why I did. Sorry, mate, I didn't mean to do that. Dx


The panther, enjoying the man's petting, purred contently as his hand slid down along her back. She liked the contact, the close proximity of his body heat. On one such down-stroke, she reached upward to nuzzle the man's face in gratification.

Her eyes, however, jerked back down to see the earring fall. It fell and shattered with a high pitched tinkle, spreading across the stone in pretty blues and greens. The panther, curious as a cat, lowered her nose to the vibrantly coloured shards.

Azaria's ears twitched at the man's voice, but she did not look up. The black panther sniffed at the glass.

Suddenly, the Kelvic snorted, back-stepping away from the broken artwork as she swatted at her nose. Angrily, she brought her great forepaw down upon a small chunk of the glass, crushing it to colourful dust beneath the pad of her foot. With the other foreleg, she rubbed at her irritated nose, yowling lightly.

[Ellion Eickman]

Ellion was rather amused by the creatures reaction. Laughing quietly to himself.

"You like that don't you? I could probably get you the other one if you liked." He laughed again. "Look at me. I must be going mad. Here I am in the middle of a market, talking to a giant black cat like some kind of lunatic." He laughed harder now as he reached out to pet her once more.

A cold wind rushed through his cloak as snow began to fall. Quickly, he wrapped his cloak tighter, wishing desperately that the big animal would cuddle against him again.

"Hmm..what should I call you anyway. Blacky? No, no..too...childish. Hm... Shadow? No, that seems to much like a boys name doesn't it girl." He stroked down her back again. "What do you think I should call you eh girl?" He said as he scratched under her chin, peering into her deep blue eyes.

[Azaria]

White stuff began to fall as the Kelvic panther listened to the man. One flake of it fell upon her nose, and she reached out with her pink tongue to taste it. Like frozen water, she thought to herself with a rumble. The feline did not like rain, for it made her fur wet and cold. She shivered, shaking her great, lean body, and circled the man once more, rubbing against him for warmth.

When the man went on about a name, Azaria grumbled over the silly names. Pet names, they were. She was civilized, wasn't she? She ought to have a civilized name, whatever it may be.

With a little lick to the man's chin, she circled him yet again. However, this time, mid-circle, she shifted. She was wound around the man closely, as her feline form had been, and naked, her long hair just covering the darker areas of her breasts.

She touched his hair, tousling the short brown fur, and looked into his lively blue eyes curiously. They were lighter than hers. Much lighter. Their pupils were round, unlike hers, and more like her mother's green ones. He had a pretty face, she found. "Azaria," she purred, handing over her name.

[Ellion Eickman]

Ellion chuckled slightly as the animal licked his chin. Her tongue was warm and rough. As she circled him once more he was rather surprised that it was not a cat that came to view, but a girl.

A rather naked girl at that. Ellion stood abruptly with a gasp as he shielded his eyes. He did not know what to do in these kinds of situations. And he thought it was rather improper to be naked in the middle of a town market.

A gust of cold winter air blew between them, and Ellion realized that the girl must be quite cold. He removed his cloak, a little reluctantly, and handed it to the girl. Azaria, she had said her name was.

As he held out the cloak, he looked around him. Where did that cat go? he thought. He spun around slowly, his eyes searching the crowd. But he saw nothing. Slowly he had turned back to see the girl again. He made a point of only looking at her face. Her hair was black as night and her eyes were...Wait a moment. He thought again

Then realization dawned on him. This girl was the cat! But how!?

When he spoke, his voice was a little shaky. He was still unnerved by her appearance. "W-what are you?" He asked.

[Azaria]

Azaria giggled, amused at the man's reaction. Much as she hated clothing, she took the cloak with gratitude. Winter was cold, after all, and her human flesh did not provide the warmth of fur. She held it around her bare body and snuggled into its warmth. It smelled of him, of musty boy and earth. Something else, too. Something foreign she had once smelled upon the Darigan.

She was somewhat pleased at his unease; Azaria liked to keep those around her on their toes. Her lips twirked upward slightly in a catlike smile as she watched him, standing close for warmth.

She tilted her head to the right with her amused little smile and said, "Surely you've heard of us Kelvics, landsman?"

She giggled once more, watching him as she lifted her backpack. The Kelvic circled him with a kiss to his cheek and slunk away around a corner. There, she removed the man's cloak and replaced it with her light, white dress, covering her shoulders with her own black cloak. Once decent enough for society, Azaria returned to the man, holding his cloak out to him.

"Have you any place to stay, landsman?" she asked, hoping he did. Perhaps he might let her stay the night.

[Ellion Eickman]

His eyes grew wide. Ellions hand went to his cheek where Azaria had kissed him. As an animal, a gentle lick was thought of as just that. Nothing more. But this was no mere animal. This was a girl! Ellion did not know what to think of all this.

"Surely you've heard of us Kelvics, landsman?" she had said. Kelvics! He had heard stories of Kelvics. Animals that turned into people, and vice verse. The other bandits spoke of them often. But having never seen one himself, he dismissed them as myth. But now one of them stood before him. She was quite beautiful in her white dress.

"Have you any place to stay, landsman?" She said, holding out his cloak. He wrapped it back around himself thankfully, staring into her strange eyes.

"N-no, I'm sorry. You see, I have not been here very long, and I do not plan to."

Ellion had been so distracted by the Kelvic that he did not realize the events taking place around him. He did not hear the whispered words of the other vendors, nor see the accusing stares of the jeweler he had stolen from. It was not until the Konti woman approached Azaria and himself that he became aware that he had been caught.

"You there! Boy! My friend here tells me she saw you stealing from my stand. Is that true?!" Her voice was harsh, but her words made him freeze. Had I really been so careless?! He thought to himself. He was unable to answer before the woman noticed the dust at their feet. It did not take long before she recognized that it had once been her own work that now laid shattered on the ground.

"Thief!" She shouted as she drew out a weapon. It was a strange looking thing Ellion had heard called a Suvai. The woman reached out to grab him, but Ellion was fast and stepped back.

"Come on!" he yelled, grabbing Azaria by the forearm and almost dragging her along as he began to make his escape. He ran north, away from Mura and civilization, to the Silverwoods. It was not untill he was sure he had lost the trail that he turned to be sure Azaria was with him.

His breath came sharp and hard, tired from his running. He slowly stretched and laughed from the relief of stress. "Oh my," he said, a smile beaming from his face, "that was fun, wouldn't you say?" Ellion always loved a good escape every now and then.