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Post by Guest on Dec 19, 2010 8:31:53 GMT -5
Thea stood up very slowly, holding out her arms to keep steady, in fear she might fall again. She saw the tail poking out from behind the mattress. She took a couple of steps forward. She had thought of this, of seeing Khei's beastial form. She just hadn't thought of it happening under these circumstances. She wished to approach her, but something inside her prevented her to. Her initial shock and fear was fading which formed into hesitation.
"Khei," she said rather slowly. She paused. "Khei, can you understand me?" All she needed was some sort of sign that the Khei she knew was still before her.
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Post by Khei on Dec 19, 2010 16:42:19 GMT -5
At the sound of Thea's voice the tail jerked behind the mattress while a clawed hand gripped the edge of the mattress and dragged the mattress with it as the thing moved away.
A weak but familiar voice emitted from behind the bedding.
".. Stay.. Stay back.. I can't.. I can't let you see me.. not like this.."
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Post by Ashven on Dec 19, 2010 16:46:41 GMT -5
Ashven wore his signature smirk while he leaned against the door frame, watching the exchange.
Clearly he was proud of his "work".
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Post by Guest on Dec 20, 2010 0:26:15 GMT -5
Thea watched the movement of the mattress. "Khei," she said quietly, "I'm so sorry for my reaction. You can trust me, I swear it."
She sensed Ashven standing behind her and she wondered what was going through his mind. She ignored him though and continued to appeal to Khei.
"Khei, can I see you?"
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Post by Khei on Dec 20, 2010 0:46:31 GMT -5
The mattress didn't move any further back but Khei made no move away from it either.
"I.. I like to think we've become friends.. But I can't bear to risk losing that.. To have you see me.. For what I am.. Not like this.. Not as a beast."
She shut her eyes tightly, unable to believe this was really happening. She wanted so much to look out from behind the mattress to see if Ashven was there so that she could take out her rage and frustration on him for what he'd done to her but she didn't dare reveal herself.
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Post by Guest on Dec 20, 2010 2:54:46 GMT -5
"Khei," she said firmly, "we are friends. I need you to know that. I don't care what you look like..." She briefly considered moving the mattress away from Khei, but she knew that would be the wrong move. "Please."
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Post by Khei on Dec 20, 2010 3:09:10 GMT -5
Khei sighed. There wasn't much else she could do. She knew she couldn't hide behind a tattered mattress forever so why would now be any worse than any later?
With a groan she slowly peeked over the mattress, ears pinned back. Her green eyes now a stark contrast to the grey-blue tinted fur covering her face. With a sullen expression she got to her feet and allowed the mattress to come to rest on the floor.
She wasn't any taller than before and other than her claws, tail, muzzle, ears, and thin covering of fur, she still looked nearly human. She rubbed her arm with the opposite hand as she had done before when she was especially nervous or anxious. It was common for her to fidget with her bracers.. Except.. Her bracers were absent from her forearms.
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Post by Guest on Dec 20, 2010 9:19:28 GMT -5
"Wow," she whispered. It was amazing to get a good view of her. Thea even felt a bit awed. She had never seen anything like Khei before. She remained speechless and just...amazed.
Thea noticed Khei touching her wrists. They were always on Khei. like a constant companion, and now they were missing..."Khei, what happened to your bracers?" she asked, though she already had a feeling it had to do with the man standing behind her.
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Post by Khei on Dec 20, 2010 18:03:36 GMT -5
At the mention of her missing bracers, Khei froze. Her eyes seemed to glaze over as memories of the night before flooded back into her mind. her fur seemed to puff out as a chill ran up her spine and flushed across her face, followed by a wave of anger as her eyes swept across the room to Ashven.
Her muzzle parted, lips curling back to reveal the dagger like teeth you would expect a feline to have. She growled openly at Ashven as her tail began to lash about behind her. Her fears gone for the moment. She answered Thea's question but not directly as her attention was focused on the smug, relaxed man at the door.
"You.. You bastard.. Give me what is mine before I finish ripping your neck out."
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Post by Ashven on Dec 20, 2010 18:15:51 GMT -5
Ashven's smile widened as he stood and even dared to walk forward.
"Oh. Do you mean these old things?"
He gave a pat to the vest pocket he'd put her bracers in.
"I've already told you how this will work. Once you've learned the lesson then, and only then, will I return them."
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Post by Guest on Dec 21, 2010 2:05:42 GMT -5
Thea scooted around to get a good view of the two. She had no idea what Ashven was referring to about Khei's "lesson" she was supposed to learn. Thea crossed her arms, it was a verbal defense mechanism for her which she began to realise.
Thea turned to Ashven. "Ash, Khei has no lessons to be learnt. If anyone should learn their lesson it should be you. You deserve what's coming to you," she said, thinking of the blood-stained sheets.
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Post by Ashven on Dec 21, 2010 2:29:30 GMT -5
Ashven narrowed his eyes toward Thea though his grin seemed to only widen.
"Oh but she does. An important lesson. You may too benefit from it's value."
Khei had tried to take advantage of his attention being drawn to Thea momentarily and lunged at him. He thrust a hand up, as if he knew the attack was coming, and caused Khei to freeze in place, trapped by an unseen force.
"Tsk tsk. Temper Temper.. It's rather rude to interrupt. You wait there. We will be finished in a few moments."
He returned his attention to Thea, passing behind here with a hand on her shoulder.
"As I said before. I cannot change how you feel about me or what you believe. I have told the truth as to my limited knowledge of the men your friend spoke of. They may likely be hunt for me simply for being what I am. As hard as that may be for you to believe."
He gave Thea's shoulder a gentle but firm squeeze, bringing his mouth close to her ear.
"Now I've simply made it possible for her... and perhaps you as well, to see, and learn, that what I speak is the truth."
He walked away from the two, casually making his way to the window, opening it with a wave of his hand. he turned to face them, giving a small bow of his head.
"Now. When you feel you've learned this lesson, and are willing to help me with this.. unexpected situation... Well. I trust you can figure out where to find me. Now.. If you will excuse me. I did promise to leave you this morning and I do believe I've overstayed my welcome for the time being."
Without waiting for a response he jumped out the window and took flight in the form of a large crow, disappearing beyond the roofs of neighboring buildings.
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Post by Khei on Dec 21, 2010 2:31:55 GMT -5
Khei felt herself suddenly released from the grip of Ashven's magic and slump to the ground as a new wave of tears escaped her eyes. She thumped a fist on the floor and cursed under her breath.
"Damn that miserable rat.."
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Post by Guest on Dec 21, 2010 3:30:37 GMT -5
"Good choice of words," Thea approved. Seeing Khei on the floor she ran to Khei's side and crouched down beside her. A concern of before came to her mind. "Khei, there was blood on the sheets before...Are you hurt?"
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Post by Khei on Dec 21, 2010 19:12:41 GMT -5
Khei glanced toward Thea then toward the overturned bedding before nodding.
"I was before.. Before this. It's a long story."
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