The cheetah walked quickly back to the mage’s home past people preparing for the night’s festivities. He sensed there was a matter of urgency that needed his attention but he didn’t know why. The feline entered the man’s house without knocking and practically snuck right up on him.
“Atherlney?”
The mage jumped in his chair, “Son! Don’t you know how to knock, why the stealth?”
“Atherlney.” Someone in the doorway interrupted, “We’ll need you soon to help us with the spells for the show.” The creature looked like some tall grazing animal.
“I’ll be right with you, Offa.” He answered and turned back to the cheetah again.
“What... was that guy?” The cat asked.
“He’s an oryx I believe, why?” The man furrowed his eyebrows.
The cat just thought for a long moment, ‘oryx... my name is Orix... No I hate that name...’ He looked back to the mage again. “What did you say I did just before?”
“That you don’t knock?”
“No! The other thing.” He pestered.
“Ah, why were you using stealth?” Atherlney recited.
The cheetah grinned. “My name is Stealth.”
“That’s your name? ...are you sure?”
“Yes! My name is Stealth! Now where’s my armour?”
Looking perplexed, the man pointed with his quill toward the discarded pile in the corner.
Stealth rushed to the pile and carefully scanned each plate of metal and fabric. He soon found what he was looking for. On a side sheet that would have covered his left fore leg, he could see a clear graze in the metal. “Atherlney! What would cause damage like this?”
The mage got up from his chair and walked over to Stealth. He saw the mark that the cat pointed to and brushed his hand over it. “It looks to be from an arrow.”
The cheetah nodded and closed his eyes, “I remember a barn... a hayloft. There were people below talking.” He looked at the mage, “I think this town is going to be attacked.”
Atherlney raised his eyes and grabbed the cheetah by the shoulders, “When?”
He shook his head sadly, “I don’t know, I think they were scouting out your defences.”
The man nodded, “They tried to stop you...” He brushed his hand on the cheetah’s forehead.
“Is it too late?” Stealth asked with apprehension.
The mage headed to the door, “You haven’t been here that long so perhaps not.” He closed the door behind him and broke out into a run.
For the moment Stealth didn’t know what else to do so he sat there with the armour. He could remember training how to fight with many different people. He hoped he wouldn’t need to remember the lessons...
The otter sat in the fox’s lap. They looked tenderly at each other and occasionally shared a kiss or a lick on the muzzle.
“Mmm.” The otter murmured affectionately and gazed into her love’s gray eyes.
“Oh?” The fox asked innocently.
Caroline blinked, “MMMmm...” She repeated.
“Oh!” Misha grasped, “Mmm.” He answered.
Carol sighed, ‘men’. She nuzzled his muzzle with hers, “You know what I’d like to do?” She asked lustfully.
“Tell me, oh so sweet.” He said, mesmerised by her charms.
The mischievous otteress whispered something into the fox’s ear and he blushed. They shared a small but meaningful kiss-
‘THUD’
The pair blinked at the desk in front of them. A dead animal lay on Misha’s reports. Beyond it, Madog stood reared up against the desk where a visitor would be. The metal fox wagged his tail and looked at the engaged couple.
Neither of them said anything for a long moment but just stared at the metallic fox. “Madog...” Misha eventually said, “What is... this?”
“Food!” He answered happily.
The romantic moment quite gone, Caroline rose from the fox’s lap and stood off to his side where she gawked at the automation and the... ‘Food’ he’d brought. It looked like a ferret with a mangled neck.
“Where did you get this?” Misha asked as he stared at the dead ferret.
“Gift!” Madog answered eagerly, “Gift from sphinx!”
“Who?” Misha scratched his head fur.
Caroline shook her head and looked at Misha while he in turn looked at her in bewilderment.
“Poppa eat?” Madog asked with child like innocence.
At that moment Carol stepped in and picked up the carcass by the tip of it’s tail, “I’ll take care of this...” She offered and held it with her arm out to full length...
“Cook food!” The automation said and watched her.
Caroline flinched and power walked out of the office just as a page ran past her and up to the door.
“The patrol master is here to see you sir!” The boy said.
Misha looked up from Madog at the news, “huh?”
“Sir, I said reports have come in from the south of raiders.” The boy repeated.
Misha blinked. Madog was gone – he didn’t perform a vanishing trick, rather he’d never entered the room and neither had Caroline.
“Oh! What news do they have, what happened?” He asked with concern and forgot about the daydream he’d been having about Madog and his ‘gift’ from a few months ago.
Dusk settled upon the hamlet though none of the festivities begun. The ornaments and the benches were arranged but no one would pay them heed. The people of Terreth barred their doors and windows. Many of them hid while others stood sentinel in the town square and on rooftops with weapons at the ready.
The animal morphs were the first to hear it, galloping off to the west. A large number of galloping horses somewhere in the distance approached ever closer. Bright nocturnal eyes reflected in the torch light as Terrethers looked about with unease and clenched their swords and axes tighter.
“Let’s kill those lights.” The town’s scout leader said in a voice just above a whisper, “I want everyone behind a bench.”
People scattered about and repeated the order to others, dowsing the flames and tipping tables on their sides for cover. Archers on roofs notched their arrows and crouched low against the tiles. Stealth crouched low next to Atherlney and the mayor. The cheetah had donned borrowed armour and a sword though they insisted that he stay with the mage for safety. The cat looked about and noticed that as far as he could tell, everyone had a proper and maintained weapon. Not a one of them was holding a pitchfork or hoe. Metamor must indeed be a dangerous place if people are so organised for war.
Stealth blinked and realised his colour vision began to extinguish with the torchlight, though it was the case for everyone in poor lighting, the rest of his vision remained; the feline could still see quite well despite the encroaching darkness... it seemed normal but something told him it was not so for a normal human.
Suddenly Stealth’s ears twitched and he gazed from the amphibian mayor to the gender morphed mage, “Atherlney...” He whispered, “Over there to the south.”
The man nodded and signalled the scouts and archers. Many of them turned to the area behind the stage while the rest remained watchful over other areas. Atherlney whispered something and threw up his hands, a number of bright blinding spheres appeared over Terreth’s southern alley where three figures on horseback blinked and shielded their eyes.
Stealth flinched at how close the bandits had gotten, at the very least they’d been fooled. Their horses wore thick hide around their hooves to muffle any sound however they made plenty of sound in their retreat.
“Shoot the scouts!” A chinchilla atop a roof ordered. A volley of arrows streamed down toward the fleeing bandits. At that moment several cavalry streamed in from the west, reinforcements from the keep, they moved through the town and along the outer area. One of the fleeing bandits took an arrow in the back and fell in the gutter as the other two caught up with their fellow thieves on the outskirts of the town.
Some of the fleeing bandits were rundown by the pursuing keepers though most rode to safety. Somewhere in the group of the failed raiding party, their mage reflected on the poor luck he’d had earlier that day with that bloody cat. It evaded their arrows and almost got out of range, he didn’t have time to erase the feline’s memory or any such complex spell only cast something over it’s mind.
The bandit mage had faith in his ability however; the cloud would hold despite any interference, he was positive, and they would be able to loot those freaks... they should have... The mage had convinced them as such so they went ahead with the attack. Ah well, he’ll just tell the master thief it wasn’t his idea, he tried to warn them...
Stealth stood among the chaos of soldiers yelling and running about. Combat had been nonexistent and he did NOT complain... The cheetah looked about, he could see men and women on horseback charging south while others were dragging people towards a stone structure. He soon figured that they must be captured bandits.
A black stallion came to a halt near the feline. Stealth rubbed the dust from his eyes and looked up at the rider. She had a small insignia on her cuff comprising of three swords, one facing up, the next down and the last up. They marked her as a sergeant.
The knight dismounted and bowed to the mayor, “Your Grace. I am Sir Alexandra, my commander has gone ahead in pursuit of the raiding party; I will remain here to provide your people with protection.”
“Thank you ma’am. I am mayor Caerwyn and this is our Mage, Atherlney.” The amphibious town leader returned the bow, “It’s frightening just how close we came to ruin but you’ve arrived with upmost haste.”
“We’d never have even suspected a thing if it weren’t for our flighty friend here.” The mage chipped in and placed his hand on Stealth’s shoulder.
Stealth’s ears folded and he blushed with the mention.
The knight turned to the cat, “You warmed these people about the bandits?”
The cheetah blushed more. “Yes Sir... but I didn’t really have much say in the matter, I mean, they knew I heard them so I had to get out of there pretty quickly.”
“How exactly did you come across them?”
“He encountered their scouts in a barn up north.” Atherlney answered for him.
Stealth sighed, “I had a nap there... on the way to making a delivery.” He looked at his feet, feeling a tinge of guilt. “That’s why I found out.”
Mayor Caerwyn laughed, “My town saved by a nap? Then I shall order all my people to have naps!”
Alexandra just looked at the cheetah without emotion, “You may think any warning raised was incidental however that is the very reason your life was in peril and your own personal safety is paramount lest you wouldn’t be able to help anyone.” The woman put a hand to her chin, “I remember you from this morning... I’m glad we gave you a lift after all.”
“I’m sorry, I don’t remember yet.” Stealth said.
“Amnesia cast over him, by the bandits. For all the good it did.” Atherlney explained, answering the woman’s questioning glance.
The cheetah began to feel embarrassed by the mage’s commentary.
Sir Alexandra nodded and turned back to the mayor, “We’ve been patrolling as far as Lorland today and back up, we were on our way back north when the call came in from the signal towers.” She explained, “Many of these troops are tired though we’ve been joined by fresh troops from the keep. The rest of our original patrol continued north.”
“Well you’re all welcome to stay here for the night and relax. Our fair has been postponed up until now but we hope to get it under way.”
“Thank you mayor Caerwyn, Sir Catljin will want to discuss security with you upon her return. We’ll send out a force to deal with any more threats this night though the regiment will stay here for the time.”
That night a large bonfire burned in the town square. The autumn night tried to bite but it couldn’t damper the villagers’ fun as they ate, drank, sung and danced with the soldiers of the keep. They had more reason to be happy this night after driving off the band of thieves. Some of them that didn’t get sent on their way looked on from within the town’s lockup. The next day Andre’s cavalry would take them back to the keep where they would wait until their trial. In that time they would stay in the dungeons while the curse took them...
Stealth looked about the town, just as had been the case a few hours earlier there was a scene of chaos but for a different reason. He tried some wine and beer but blanched at the taste and declined anymore, preferring instead cider as he feasted on roast lamb and caramel treats. A clock in a large tower tolled the late hour to the merriment of the villagers. At one point in the night the mayor interrupted the show on stage to announce that Terreth would have proper defences built in the New Year so their town would never be attacked again. A bold and political statement perhaps though it increased the peoples’ cheer.
As the feline tried to consume one of his treats without spilling too much of it on the grass below, he found a log to sit on. Though the crackling fire and laughter filled the commons, Stealth faintly detected someone’s sulking. He turned his head and saw another feline sitting on the log. It was a young boy recently changed by the curse, he had the form of a domestic cat and sat curled up with his head down.
At first the cheetah tried to pretend he didn’t notice the child but eventually he sighed and looked for something to say.
“Kid... what’s wrong?”
The boy looked up and rubbed his eyes, “I’m a cat.” He whimpered.
“So? What’s wrong with that?” Stealth asked, trying to sound concerned.
The kitten turned his head down and looked at his foot paws, “My sister teases me.” He mumbled.
“Why?” The cheetah asked, starting to actually become concerned.
The boy sniffed back his tears, “I can’t eat apples or berries. I can’t eat my mummy’s pies anymore.”
The cheetah nodded. “Well what did your sister become?”
The kitten looked up at the bonfire and pointed when he heard a hoarse laugh, “That’s my sister.”
Stealth turned his gaze and saw a white horse. She was a few years older then the boy but still a child herself. The adolescent mare stood among boys who looked some years older then her. They laughed and chatted about nothing in particular.
Stealth turned back to the child, “Kid, what’s your name?”
“Alby.” He mumbled.
“Alby, my name is Stealth. I’m a cat too and I can’t eat those things either.” So saying, Stealth hid his pastry from view, “But there’s lots of things you can eat that taste good.”
“But I don’t wanna be a cat.” Alby pouted.
“...well, you know, when I got here I didn’t know who I was. Being a cat felt normal and right.” It still did; memories of being a human were still hazy to the cheetah. “So, you know, it’s not bad, it’s just different.”
“But I’m me. I know who I am. I don’t want to be a house cat.” The child repeated.
“But... you are.” Stealth explained gently, “You can make the most of it though, you might as well. Being gloomy won’t help. Just have fun and try not to worry.”
The kitten’s ears perked when his sister broke out into more hoarse laughter. “I’ll try.”
“Are you okay?” The cheetah asked gently.
“I’m okay.” He said and dried his tears.
Stealth nodded slowly. He wondered if the kid would be okay. He must have been 9, 10ish. From what he recalled, 13 was more towards the age that children in Metamor would be struck by the curse. Alby changed younger then usual, not a rare occurrence but still. Regardless, it was a sad thought; children having to go through a curse. It would be traumatic enough for an adult, but a child?
“Thanks, Stealth. I’ll try to make the most of it.” He said with a creeping grin as he watched his sister.
Before the cheetah’s eyes, Alby shrank into his clothing. After some shuffling about in his knitted top, the kitten emerged in full form and walked toward the fire.
Stealth watched the kitten in confusion as he silently padded up to his sister and grabbed the strands of her tail into his muzzle before he backed up and began to tug.
The boy’s sister stopped suddenly in her jovial banter as her eyes widened in surprise, “...Owww!” She said and looked around at the rascally kitten, “Quit it!”
The child didn’t listen as he moved about to evade his sister’s hoof-like hands, continuing to tug at her tail until a gray paw lifted him up by the scruff. The very young feline mewed loudly in protest as a large female rabbit restrained him.
“What did I tell you about fighting with your sister, young man?” She scolded.
Stealth watched the woman scold the kitten and shook his head; anywhere else but Metamor the sight would be one of lunacy.
The rabbit eventually looked up at Stealth, “I suppose you encouraged him.”
The cheetah’s eyes widened, “What? I just told him to cheer up and make the most of the curse. I didn’t tell him to bite stuff.”
The boy’s mother ignored her son’s continual ‘mews’ of protest, “You told an energetic boy with sharp claws and fangs to make the most of the curse?”
Stealth could only shrug. The kitten eventually settled and seemed to fall asleep in his mother’s soft arms. The rabbit held him tight as he began to purr-snooze. She turned and took him to bed. The woman’s other child looked over her tail and glared at the kitten before she turned back to the fire. The cheetah sighed to himself and went back to his pastry.
Stealth stood a ways behind the mage as he worked silently.
“Thanks for doing this.” He said softly.
“...No problem.” The man answered distractedly.
As Atherlney slowly replenished the feline’s armour suit, Stealth looked about a tad impatiently though he tried to keep quiet and not bother the mage. After the fair, Stealth stayed the night in town along with many of the keep’s cavalry that headed down the previous day.
“And there...” He said, “Its mana is restored and active, you don’t need to wear it but keep it together for the spell to remain active.”
“How do I do that?” The feline cocked his head. The suit currently connected together and folded into itself where possible.
“I’ll bind it together, it can then be tied to the back of a saddle.” The mage answered and looked through his supplies for a suitable bandage wrapping.
“Thank you.” Stealth said again. He then blushed and looked up at Atherlney, “...Ma’am.”
After leaving the mage’s home, the cheetah hefted his pack and bundle, intent on heading to the stables to try and hire a horse. Not far out, Stealth’s ears perked.
“Ho there.”
The cheetah turned to the location of the hail and saw a broad shouldered woman on horse back looking at him.
“I’m sorry I missed you thus far, lad. I am Sir Catljin.”
Stealth bowed to the knight, minding the very large bundle he held. “My name is Stealth, I hope there isn’t a problem, Sir.”
The knight shook her head, “Nay, we’ve finished our sweep of the area and a fresh troop has arrived.” She answered, “We’re heading back to the keep now with our prisoners. I can offer you a ride, and no need to share.”
The cheetah grinned, feeling a wave of relief, “Thank you, Catljin. And I’d like to assure you that this package,” He indicated the large bundle, “Is virtually weightless, albeit bulky.”
“I’m sure it is; you don’t appear to be having much trouble hefting that thing.” The woman pointed out.
“Heh, I could be faking.”
“I can’t be fooled so easily.” Catljin answered, “I’ve seen men hefting swords bigger then them countless times and strain themselves with the load.”
The cheetah nodded and scratched his chin. Was he such a man? Did he deny his form in favour of bulk and strength? Did he hate his curse? Right now his body didn’t sound right but it... felt right.
“We’re about to leave.” The knight said breaking him from his revere, “If you’re ready we have a stallion waiting. Can you ride?”
“Aye I can, but who’s horse is it?” Stealth asked.
“We’ve requisitioned several from the local stables and a carriage to move the prisoners back to the keep. The rest of the horses are drawing the carriage.”
“Oh, good, I am ready to depart. Where is he?”
“By the wagon over yonder.” She pointed off to the back, “After you saddle up I want to discuss what you remember as we head back.”
“I will, Sir, thanks again.” He answered and walked toward the wagon behind the main cavalry.
“You slept in a barn? You must have been very tired.” The knight noted as they headed north.
Stealth regaled her and anyone in earshot of his flight the previous day.
“An island in an empty field, and I was tired.” He sighed. “But there was a warm and soft hayloft, I tried to tune everything else out.”
“Still would have been hard to sleep with all that noise and the smell.” The woman wondered how he did manage to sleep in such a place.
“Oh gods yes!” He chuckled, “I thank the curse I could hear the scouts below me.”
“You should thank the curse you were able to escape...” She pointed out.
Stealth nodded direly.
“You travelled down with one of our departing patrols yesterday?” Catljin asked to make conversation.
“Aye... eventually I managed to.” He grimaced. The start of his journey that day had its difficulties, despite that the troops had a good regard of the cheetah after they’d found out he warned everyone of the bandits.
“Alexandra mentioned something to me, I’m sorry to hear what happened.” She only heard vague details; Catljin’s focus was obviously on the attack at hand.
“Thanks, I almost gave up when they laughed about my client.”
“Who is your client?” The woman asked.
“Misha... Brightleaf.” He recalled.
She nodded slowly.
“What?” Stealth furrowed his ridges at her.
“He’s a friend of the keep’s cavalry commander, André.” The knight answered.
The feline cocked his head, “Don’t you command all these cavalry?”
The human shook her head, “I am in charge in my leader’s stead; he’s still recovering since the assault this past Yule.”
“Oh! I’m sorry.”
Catljin laughed, “No, thank you for the compliment.”
“I’m sure you do him proud.” Stealth said softly as he looked over the horizon. He couldn’t hope to see the keep for some time yet, just the mountains and forests illuminated in the steadily increasing orange radiant of the westerly sun.
She shrugged and didn’t say anything.
Stealth looked at the knight for a moment then scratched his chin.
“Are you okay?”
“Aye, I think I’ve met him once... a wolverine?” The feline recalled.
“Correct.” Catljin answered.
The cheetah nodded. Andre had a wife called Jen, and they both were cursed as wolverines. At the time of the Harvest Festival, Jen was heavily pregnant. They seemed affable enough though Andre didn’t strike Stealth as particularly warm or friendly.
“Who did you travel with? If you remember.” The human suddenly asked.
“...I can’t remember. I guess it’s not important.” Stealth shook his head.
“I suppose not. Your task is done and so is ours. In a few hours we’ll return to the keep.” The female offered and she felt satisfaction in saying it, more to herself.
“Aye, I’ll probably have a long bath after this.” The feline smiled tiredly. Or perhaps he didn’t like water... no, he would likely bathe... Grooming himself didn’t sound too likely.
Stealth shrugged his backpack. It usually felt odd when it contained nothing but he could hear something rattling inside. The cat turned his back to mind the armour that he’d attached behind him as Atherlney suggested. It clashed with and bundled his tail before it but he ignored the discomfort as he removed the pack and looked within for the source of the noise.
Inside he found what looked like stray supplies. There were small sheets of parchment and a stick or two of charcoal as well as a leather canteen and a flint. One sheet of parchment strayed from the rest; Stealth fished it out and found some charcoal smudged on one side. Upon closer inspection the smudge was in fact a message written out probably in his own handwriting.
‘Lyng... Inn... sister... aquatic rodent...’ He read out silently to himself, ‘...Arenet.’ What on earth did any of it mean?
Sir Catljin flinched and turned when the cheetah next to her muzzle pawed and hissed loudly.
“What’s wrong?” She asked in a commanding tone.
“I need to head back.” Stealth answered and replaced his backpack.
“To the village? Why?”
“I forgot something I needed to do there...” He grabbed the reins and turned the horse about, “I’ll be back later!” The feline called out as his horse began to gallop back south.
The courier returned to Long House late that night. He travelled north much slower and more relaxed then he’d done heading south – after he took care of that final errand... When he reached the doors to the Longs’ dominion, the guards having long since come to recognise the cheetah allowed him to pass if only after a few puns about the time it took him to return. Stealth walked the short distance to Misha’s office – he assumed it to be Misha’s office as the memory of the fox appearing from that room returned when he’d reached the Keep. It wasn’t till he reached the Keep that he even remembered his destination to be Long House though he remembered that Metamor itself would lead his way all the same.
The door to the fox scout’s office stood open, the feline peered in and saw him seated behind a desk with a great deal of parchment scattered about. “Misha?”
“Spots!” Misha exclaimed when he looked up, “How are you? Take a seat and tell me what happened down there.”
Stealth gladly took the offered seat and removed a small pouch from his belt, “This is your payment from the watchmaker in Terreth. I hope he didn’t take advantage of me...”
Misha took the pouch and emptied its contents, “Take advantage of you?”
“I don’t know how much he owed you.”
The scout nodded, “Because I didn’t tell you, in fact there wasn’t even time for a proper estimate but the amount here looks fair.”
“There’s more to it then that you see.” He grimaced.
“The bandit attack, aye, I was kept informed, how did you fair?” Misha counted the coins and separated some from the pile. “This is yours.” He said and deposited a fair number of coins into the cheetah’s palm.
Stealth counted the gold then looked up, “I think you miscounted.”
“Oh, too little?” The fox asked.
The cat’s ears flattened in embarrassment, “No! Too much!”
Misha laughed and reached into a basket he kept next to the desk. “You can blame the watchmaker for that, remember he offered a bonus for fast delivery?”
“No... Not really.” The memory of yesterday morning did begin to return but sporadically so.
The Long scout placed two glasses and bottles on the desk, one full of red wine and the other with cider. “Anyhow that is the correct amount and it was quite a task...” He placed some cheese on the desk next to the bottles then poured the drinks. “What happened to you in that town?” He asked again.
Stealth looked at the small sampling of delights placed on the desk, was this for him? His question was answered when the fox placed the glass filled with cider in his hand. “I had a nap in a hayloft on the way. When I stirred some bandits were scoping out the town. It seems I was their first target...”
The fox looked at him, “Did they beat you or something?”
Stealth couldn’t help but laugh, “They tried to kill me! But their shots were poor so they cast a spell on me instead. According to the mages and healers I’ve spoken to I was probably lucky because I must have gotten far enough away.” He shook his head, “I was just a few minutes from the town too. Still, they didn’t have time to do any real damage, just something temporary to silence me.”
“Silence how.” He eyes narrowed.
“Amnesia.” The feline sighed.
“You lost your memory?” The fox asked. Black ink from the parchment on his desk began to stain his wrists though neither of them would notice.
“Aye but I got... most of it back.” He sighed, “I should have regained all my memories by tomorrow morning according to the mage.” He sipped some of the cider Misha poured for him as he nibbled on a small chunk of cheese.
The Long scout nodded, “Sometimes our memories are buried but they return in time... they’re usually not pleasant though.”
“Yeah...” Unpleasant memories were returning too along with some odd ones, “Things are still coming back to me.” He put down the glass and looked down for a moment, “I remember having a dream, only this dream... I remember it to in fact be a memory.”
Misha looked at the cat after taking a sip of his wine, “Oh?”
He nodded, “I remembered a dream which in itself is a returned memory...” He paused and then looked up at the fox for a moment, “I played with Madog.”
“You don’t say!” Misha laughed, “You played fetch with his metal ball, right?”
The cheetah shook his head slowly.
“What’s wrong?” The fox asked confused.
“It’s when I lost my mind.” Stealth answered softly.
“Ah...” He began and drummed his fingers on the desk, “cheer up! It happens and it affects some people worse then others. Besides, Edmund can help you with that.”
Stealth looked up, “‘Edmund’?”
Misha grimaced.
“...oh, right. Ed!” Stealth recalled the memories of his friend and kin.
Misha nodded, he released his breath and poured some more wine. The cat’s memories were returning – slowly. “You know I remember that day well.” He said and sipped the wine. “Before I went out to find you, Carol and me...” He paused and blushed at the cheetah, “We were discussing important intelligence and then a dead ferret dropped in front of us.”
The feline looked up at him in confusion.
“Yeah, that’s how I looked at the time.” He chuckled. “Madog stood up with his paws on the table, near where you’re sitting now.”
“Madog brought you a dead animal?” Stealth asked.
Misha nodded, “Apparently he brought-”
“I bring food!” An eager voice behind them answered.
Stealth jumped in his seat then turned and saw the automation sitting on his haunches.
“Spots back!” Madog said when the cheetah looked.
Misha smiled, “Yes, that’s what he said. I asked him where he got it...”
“Gift!” The automation answered again. “Gift from sphinx!”
The cheetah looked from the organic fox to the metallic. How long had the automation been there?
Misha shook his head, “I never understood that until now. Actually I still don’t know what a ‘sphinx’ is meant to be.”
Stealth began to sit up as his heart rate quickened.
“Stealth? Are you okay?” Misha asked but the cat ignored him and got up from the chair.
The cheetah ignored Madog too as he quickly squeezed past the metal fox and into Long Hall.
“Stealth!” Misha shouted and stood up, “Orix Zachery! Answer me!” The fox ordered harshly.
The feline wandered a short distance and sat on the green carpet. Misha gave up on orders and just followed him. The Long scout kneeled next to Stealth and placed his hand on the cat’s shoulder. It took a few minutes but eventually Stealth found his voice.
“I... it... it was my first hunt with Edmund. When that deer got me.” He said.
Misha nodded, “I heard. You recovered well from it and caught the deer.”
“I didn’t like how I was an animal for my first hunt, running around like a beast. But...” He began then faltered. “That was not my FIRST hunt. I was an animal for my real first hunt too. But not in body, in MIND.” He snarled.
The feline clenched his hands. The toes and claws of his bare feet brushed through the thick rug underneath, he wanted to shred it. “I killed that ferret. Why? Because it moved, because I was a beast, because I was mindless...” He whimpered. “THAT was my first hunt.”
The Long scout patted his back but said nothing. Madog came about the other side and nuzzled the cheetah.
“I have a memory of Three Gates. Not the battle but the spells.” Misha said after a while. “I was a dumb animal, everyone was. But do you know what I did? I hunted too.”
The feline nodded slowly but showed no other outward sign.
“I have a friend who had to leave the keep before you arrived, he’s a rabbit called Phil, have you heard of Phil?” Misha asked. Times were strained back then, they still were but many things weren’t resolved when Phil left for Whales.
The cat shrugged.
“When the counter spells were cast, Phil didn’t ‘come back’.” He sighed, “They put him in a cage for a long time... He never returned to active duty in the field because his instincts are too strong, he can’t even be in the same room with me!”
“Hmm.” Stealth said. Okay, he was starting to become more responsive at least.
“Even now Phil has to sleep in a cage in case he loses himself to the rabbit and he always loses himself to the rabbit, I can tell you... do you know why I’m telling you about my friend Phil?”
“Why?” The feline asked, uninterested, and just looked at the carpet.
“Because at Three Gates I HUNTED him. I think.” The fox pondered, “I chased him about for a bit.”
Stealth finally looked up at the fox, “But you’ve been fine since then?”
Misha shook his head firmly. “Soon after...” He sighed, “I had a tough time in the months after the curse... I had trouble with family then I lived in the wilds of the north for some time but keep that to yourself.” He ordered in a whisper.
“Your brother?” Stealth asked absently.
Misha’s hackles raised and he bared his fangs at the mention, “YES.” He said harshly, “My brother . . .” He answered without explaining any further.
Stealth looked at him with an open gape.
The fox sighed and placed a palm to his forehead, “What happened is nothing for you to worry about.” He mumbled.
“It... It just came to me... I’m sorry.” Stealth said and looked away.
“Thank you.” Misha stuttered.
They both became silent until Madog started nosing about the pair. Misha flinched from the contact and then sighed, “Stealth, please just forget it.” He pat the cheetah’s back again and thought of something to change the subject, “You know... one time I might have gone feral without shifting. Has that ever happened to you?”
“I don’t know.” Stealth mumbled.
The fox nodded, “I lost my temper at a battle last year, you could say I lost my mind and I mean LOST it.” The scout grinned, “Ever wonder why I’m called an Axe Wielding Maniac?”
Stealth began to grin though he tried to hide it.
Misha caught the grin and chuckled. “I even lost my clothes and ran around naked!”
At that point Stealth couldn’t help but break out into a laugh. Misha laughed along with him though Madog remained silent and just watched them.
“Are you okay now?” Misha asked after the laughter died down.
“Aye, thanks Misha.” With a grunt, Stealth rose from the floor. He looked to his side and saw Madog standing there looking up curiously.
Stealth looked at the automation then reached his hand out to pat him. Madog leaned into the patting. The metal felt soft and warm. “Thank you too, Madog.”
“That reminds me,” Misha began, “How did your armour fair?”
“Well it didn’t impede me but nether did it help seeing as it protects my front and flanks, not the rear.” He grimaced, “I should get that fixed too...”
“The biggest threat to a soldier can be their own equipment failing them.” The fox warned direly, “Your speed and agility saved your life. I’m thankful that suit didn’t hinder you.”
“I suppose, and maybe it did protect me; I tried to run on a winding course to evade their arrows... I took a hit to my shoulder. I don’t think I noticed at the time though it left quite a dent.”
“This is its first combat test.” The Long noted, “At least we know your armour works well and Andre’s men have a good opinion of you after you warned the towns’ folk.”
“Hmm,” The cheetah frowned, “I took too long to arrive and then I only found out about the attack because I slept on the job... the way I handled that wasn’t exactly ‘stealthy.’” He looked about and noted they currently stood in the hall after his flight from Misha’s office, “... I’m not all that good at debriefings either.”
“I’m not one for formality.” The fox answered, “You travelled a very long distance, and you did that duty to your best ability. It’s not your responsibility to thwart dangerous thieves.”
The cat nodded without much enthusiasm.
Misha hugged him. “You did very good Spots.”
“Thanks, Misha.” Stealth returned the hug. “I don’t want to disappoint you.”
“Never. You do me and the Longs proud, my friend.” The fox answered vehemently.
Stealth smiled tiredly.
Misha rubbed his chin in thought, “Dumb question, how much do you remember?”
Stealth thought for a moment and shrugged, “I remember the previous day when I set off. I remember being feral one time and frustrating the scouts... I remember bits and pieces of the past week.”
“How have the memories been returning?” Misha asked.
“The memories find their way back on their own but sometimes they need help. It took a lot to remember you...” The cheetah smiled, “But then I remembered... Misha, the ‘foxtaur guy’.”
“Good! Being a taur is good for many things!” The fox answered and wagged his tail.
Stealth cocked his head, “But...”
“Oh? What?”
“My memories aren’t fully restored yet. I remembered that word but Misha... what actually IS a ‘taur’?” Stealth asked curious.
The fox’s jaw dropped, he stared at the cat in a mix of confusion and horror but composed himself, “All right, you’ll remember in time but I’ll help you remember now. I’ll show you a taur!”
The cat nodded, “Oh, good.”
Stealth waited in anticipation and then his eyes widened in fright and confusion as Misha dropped his pants.