Karacopyright protection271ＰＥＮＡＮＡa8Lgx55Qbc
Taria walked out of the front door. The door closed softly behind her. Her parents sat at the table looking at the door. Both of them looked concerned by neither stood to follow her. It was clear that Taria would need time to think. She had heard a lot tonight and it was quite a lot to take in. The story that her parents had told me was the same as what Great Owl had told me. He had spoken more though of what happened to me then Taria though. Great Owl hadn’t known what had happened to Taria, only that she had been hidden from the Queen.copyright protection271ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1vfACYqwHK
I moved towards the door and wondered if I should simply sit beside Taria, give her some sort of comfort but I didn't know if that was what she needed. In a normal relationship between human and familiar at our age we would be able to simply tell what the other was thinking just by looking at them. Not growing up together would make things more difficult for us.copyright protection271ＰＥＮＡＮＡc48W8LxkGE
Taria’s mother stood from the table and smiled at me. I could see questions in her eyes but I would need to speak through Taria to answer anything she wanted to know. She gestured with her hand to follow her so I did. She led me from the front room and up some old stairs to the second floor. The home was cool and gaps in the old house allowed the cool evening breeze to slip through. It sent shivers down my spine. Taria’s mother opened a door, and said, “My name is Lia, by the way, and my husband’s name is Daniel. And this is Taria’s room. You can sleep in here tonight. I can grab some spare pillows to make a bed if you would like?”copyright protection271ＰＥＮＡＮＡZQML7kQdb1
I wanted to say yes please and hope she would understand but it was impossible. The only ones who could understand me were other familiars. I simply nodded, instead.copyright protection271ＰＥＮＡＮＡpcxFMaDdGl
Lia smiled and walked out of the room, leaving the door slightly ajar. I looked around Taria’s room and found it simple. Many familiars I had met had told me that you could tell a lot about anyone from the way they spoke and held themselves, but a room filled with personal belongings could tell a story.copyright protection271ＰＥＮＡＮＡXSq6OyRmTx
The room was a simple layout with a small bed, only big enough for one person; a set of draws, that no doubt held her clothing; beside that was multiple sets of boots, some were covered in mud while others were buffed and shined to perfection. Above the draws sat pieces of paper, all held images of arrows and bow designs. I didn't know much of human art but the images were neat and clear. Beside the only window of the room sat a large stack of books. All of them different sizes and colours, but all appeared to be well read.copyright protection271ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1SoOEw8vJj
I reached my front paws up onto the window seal and peered out. Beyond the fields of the farm was a clear view of the woods, the same part where Taria had found me locked in a cage. Before Taria even knew what I was to her she had saved my life, out of care for animals or curiosity, I didn't know, but I already owed her my life.copyright protection271ＰＥＮＡＮＡx9w4OjfswV
The door opened again. Lia entered with four pillows and a blanket in her arm. Beside Taria’s bed she laid out the blanket and then placed the pillows together. It looked rather comfortable, and just looking at it made me realise how tired I was. I smiled at Lia, but I doubt it looked like one. To her everything about me simply appeared like a normal animal reactions. Only Taria would understand if I was smiling or frowning.copyright protection271ＰＥＮＡＮＡOuOeADNsZG
I closed my eyes and bowed my head to Lia, hoping she would understand it as a thank you. She smiled at me and left the room, closing the door behind her.copyright protection271ＰＥＮＡＮＡ00zoPdVXIE
I sat down on the pillows and found it rather comfortable. The soft pillows reminded me of my den back in the White Woods. Warm and comfortable. I tucked my legs beneath me and curled into a ball. It didn't take me long to drift off.copyright protection271ＰＥＮＡＮＡhfOOkD7z5D
***copyright protection271ＰＥＮＡＮＡvU8j8JWWbW
I woke to the creaking of the door. Blinking, I opened my eyes to find the bright morning sun flowing into the room and a small boy peaking his head in and looking at me. His brown hair was messy and his cheeks flushed red. It was clear he had only just awoken himself. He gazed at me with wide eyes, no doubt wanting to know why a big black cat was in his house and in his sister’s room.copyright protection271ＰＥＮＡＮＡCbXcAMqvJ8
“Gean! Get out!”copyright protection271ＰＥＮＡＮＡa1oYPJBWiH
I snapped my head towards the bed. Taria was sitting up, her red hair everywhere and her grey eyes filled with fury.copyright protection271ＰＥＮＡＮＡANBI7Kr3GD
“But I wanted to see the—”copyright protection271ＰＥＮＡＮＡZjPWvpJVVs
“I don’t care. Get out!” Taria threw the covers off and marched to the door. She gripped the wood and forced it shut. Gean groaned in protest from the other side but he walked away. Taria sighed and slid to the floor. “He is such a nosy little shit.”copyright protection271ＰＥＮＡＮＡ46ut4jcGgv
“Boys will be boys,” I said.copyright protection271ＰＥＮＡＮＡoRiZAqK2tq
Taria gasped and looked up. She placed her hand over her heart and smiled. “Kara, you scared me.”copyright protection271ＰＥＮＡＮＡFtJuqfU9bQ
I smiled. It was rare I scared anyone. “Did you forget I was here?”copyright protection271ＰＥＮＡＮＡCfW6J1qVIG
“For a moment, yes.” She returned my smile.copyright protection271ＰＥＮＡＮＡq6yJ689QaD
“Did you sleep well?”copyright protection271ＰＥＮＡＮＡhQ71kxgfHs
She frowned. “Not really. Lot happening up here.” She tapped her forehead.copyright protection271ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5kI1qr2QmK
“I can imagine.”copyright protection271ＰＥＮＡＮＡxNR5wXeGOo
Taria stood from the floor and walked over to the draws. She pulled out a shirt and pants and grabbed a pair of dirty boots. “I’m going to clean up and get dressed. I will meet you downstairs.”copyright protection271ＰＥＮＡＮＡk5fr6AZnPH
I nodded as she walked out.copyright protection271ＰＥＮＡＮＡPU1xWsZZjl
I stretched from my comfortable position in the pillows and headed to the kitchen. As I reached the main room, Daniel sat at the table loading a weapon. He spotted me and smiled. “Morning Kara.”copyright protection271ＰＥＮＡＮＡKQ9BWFzbmn
I bowed my head as a response and moved to the kitchen. I hoped they had something for me to eat. I was starving. In the small kitchen, Lia and Gean were cooking. Gean was placing ingredients into a bowl for his mother at her instruction. Gean spotted me and smiled. “Ma, does Taria have a new pet?”copyright protection271ＰＥＮＡＮＡAGsP8zp8Xe
Lia looked at me and thought for a moment. “Yes.”copyright protection271ＰＥＮＡＮＡPN9Ql6jk5C
Gean frowned. “Why don’t I have one? Can I have one?”copyright protection271ＰＥＮＡＮＡFPtOrpu0BR
“No,” Daniel shouted.copyright protection271ＰＥＮＡＮＡobyQ0GqqPn
Gean pouted and jumped off the stool on which he stood. He walked towards me and reached out his hand. I held still. I wasn't use to being around so many humans at once. I knew how unpredictable they could be. But Gean was still a boy. He gently placed his hand on my back and stroked me. It felt rather nice. I purred at the attention and he smiled. “It likes me.”copyright protection271ＰＥＮＡＮＡFEbPvwVOQ1
“She is a she, not an “it” and she has a name.” Taria entered the kitchen, dressed and ready for a day of work.copyright protection271ＰＥＮＡＮＡqwRTlijQjU
“Well, what is her name?” said Gean.copyright protection271ＰＥＮＡＮＡHH6fy7WZxL
“Kara.” Taria took Gean’s place beside their mother and began helping.copyright protection271ＰＥＮＡＮＡndqy2V4XKV
Gean frowned. “That’s what you named her?”copyright protection271ＰＥＮＡＮＡZbrQ4M9oDs
I glared at the boy. What was wrong with my name? I liked my name. My mother had picked it for me. I growled slightly and Taria frowned at me. What did she expect? If I get offended I’m going to show my offence.copyright protection271ＰＥＮＡＮＡikapAJwxI4
Gean huffed and said, “Well, if you were my pet I would have named you something like Shadow or...” He placed his finger on his chin and thought.copyright protection271ＰＥＮＡＮＡj5hKDjGIhq
“You wouldn’t be naming anything. You have the same imagination as your father.” Lia tapped Gean’s head.copyright protection271ＰＥＮＡＮＡDgB57GSg4v
Gean looked confused. “What’s wrong with that?”copyright protection271ＰＥＮＡＮＡInQTMrCiYk
“What Ma means is that you have no imagination.”copyright protection271ＰＥＮＡＮＡmiqE24XIMf
“I do so have an imagination,” Daniel yelled from the main room.copyright protection271ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9qwKvDqoTu
“And so do I,” said Gean.copyright protection271ＰＥＮＡＮＡTCRJwEb8Xa
The girls looked at one another and laughed. Taria looked to me, she said, “Are you hungry?”copyright protection271ＰＥＮＡＮＡtjsTYvXWeK
I nodded. “Do you have any raw meat? I can go hunting if you don’t.”copyright protection271ＰＥＮＡＮＡbnaI7Gmy4g
“Yeah, I have some rabbits out the back.” Taria walked towards the front door. “Well, that’s if Pa didn't feed them to the dogs.”copyright protection271ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3YSVHozTxw
“I didn’t,” Daniel called as she walked out the door.copyright protection271ＰＥＮＡＮＡ30QwTO1QKf
Taria and her family was a close nit of humans. You could hear the love and caring in the way they spoke to each, and they way they acted. Even though Taria called Gean annoying and nosy, she would walk past him and ruffle his hair. He would frown at her but his eyes showed happiness at the display of affection. And you wouldn’t think that Taria was adopted. She acts just like her mother. They have the same quirks and reactions. While Taria has no physical similarities no one could ever doubt that she was their daughter.copyright protection271ＰＥＮＡＮＡAWDLEKr0jw
Taria returned with a dead rabbit which had been skinned. My stomach sung in delight. Taria held it out to me and I took it in my mouth. I looked around and decided it would be polite for me to eat outside. Humans didn't need to watch a panther rip into a dead animal. Taria held the door for me. She said, “Just scratch at the door when you’re done, and I’ll let you in.”copyright protection271ＰＥＮＡＮＡgmu9hcyR55
“Will do,” I mumbled over the mouthful of rabbit.copyright protection271ＰＥＮＡＮＡn86eEZ2GQN
The morning sun was warm as I stepped off the porch. It was clear that the day’s heat would be fierce and deadly for some. I followed one of the dirt paths that led to the dog kennel. Inside were the two dogs. They eyed me and the carcass of the rabbit and stood forward. I growled and they stopped. I moved past them and into a small gathering of trees. I placed the rabbit on the ground and ripped into.copyright protection271ＰＥＮＡＮＡWrJzcnkEoD
The soft flesh ripped easily as my sharp teeth torn off pieces. The rabbit was a day or two old, so it wasn't the freshes meal I had ever had, but it was satisfying none the less.copyright protection271ＰＥＮＡＮＡaFZEOhRm8W
I made my way lazily back to the house. No need to rush the human’s into finishing their breakfast. A loud bang startled me. Taria came racing out of the house. Her boot covered feet pounded on the dirt ground. She spotted me and stopped. “A truck is on the way. You may want to get inside and hide.”copyright protection271ＰＥＮＡＮＡsw5yKKyMqo
I frowned. “How do you know?”copyright protection271ＰＥＮＡＮＡznQjW3HhH5
“Can’t you smell it?” She gestured to the air.copyright protection271ＰＥＮＡＮＡUSKUxzboVk
I lifted my nose to the air and breathed in. Taria was right. The horrible stench from the day before had returned and was getting stronger quickly. The smell and taste of the rabbit had clearly overwhelmed my nose.copyright protection271ＰＥＮＡＮＡkoQqXAavnA
“What kind of truck?”copyright protection271ＰＥＮＡＮＡUXXKgUOXbv
Taria walked closer to me, hands in her pockets. “Did you see the one that was here yesterday?”copyright protection271ＰＥＮＡＮＡ36oN0Wmcki
I nodded.copyright protection271ＰＥＮＡＮＡxFHn5EYfam
“Same kind.” She stopped in front of me. “They are coming to collect the rest of the cattle.”copyright protection271ＰＥＮＡＮＡQ4jOPAJDxU
“Why do I need to hide? They couldn’t mistake me for a cow.”copyright protection271ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9A1xo1uLeO
Taria smiled. “No, but the drivers are guards from the capital.”copyright protection271ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3LuL9zp8Pz
“Oh.” Fear flickered in my belly. I had never seen a guard but I knew if a familiar was wise, then they would avoid anyone from the capital. “Fair enough.”copyright protection271ＰＥＮＡＮＡuGEOutoe6W
“Ma, will show you a good place to bunker down until they are gone.”copyright protection271ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8gxaOVciGq
I nodded.copyright protection271ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7KcBvmbVv0
Inside the house Gean and Lia were cleaning up from breakfast. Daniel had past me as I made my way in. He patted my head for a mere second. He didn’t seem to register that it was me. Most likely it was a response for the dogs. Whenever they would walk past he would pat them.copyright protection271ＰＥＮＡＮＡuZH9OcCcqJ
Lia spotted me. “Taria tell you what is going on?”copyright protection271ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9zZGJOBV6i
I nodded.copyright protection271ＰＥＮＡＮＡld3yOyU0up
“Well, follow me.”copyright protection271ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1ZpI8eULrk
“Ma, can she understand you?”copyright protection271ＰＥＮＡＮＡuATugDiSyp
“Um...” Lia looked torn.copyright protection271ＰＥＮＡＮＡbUDessNnsh
They should simply tell Gean the truth but there seemed to be more. It’s not like I could speak up and say I am a magical animal that can talk because I can’t, Taria needs to do that.copyright protection271ＰＥＮＡＮＡNthdbpr6aS
“No.”copyright protection271ＰＥＮＡＮＡrFtkaKXsCw
Gean looked at Lia. Disbelief in his eyes. “Then why did you speak to her like she could?”copyright protection271ＰＥＮＡＮＡSOqv2TXQgp
“Don’t question me. I’m your mother. I can do what I like.” Lia patted his head and walked out the kitchen. I followed Lia but noticed Gean roll his eyes.copyright protection271ＰＥＮＡＮＡ84Tph5PJbZ
Lia lead me to a door and inside was a simply storage cupboard. The amount of space in the cupboard wouldn’t even fit a newborn cub. There was no way I would fit. Lia didn’t notice my frown. She leant forward and touched something. The cupboard made a loud click and the back swung open. Lia pulled out a box.copyright protection271ＰＥＮＡＮＡCCF5XPPVis
“There is a room behind there. I already put some pillows and water in there. Taria will come and let you out when they are gone.”copyright protection271ＰＥＮＡＮＡragRFjKD91
I looked at the small room with concern. I wasn't a fan of being locked in small places that didn't have windows. It was like being trapped in a cage. There was no choice though. Taria and her family were trying to keep me safe, and I didn't want to cause any more trouble. I stepped into the small room and Lia smiled at me.copyright protection271ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3i5WHn1w7c
She said, “It shouldn’t be too long.”copyright protection271ＰＥＮＡＮＡwJPbPM0FHj
I nodded. I hoped it wouldn’t be.copyright protection271ＰＥＮＡＮＡ79to09HLMR
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