Sinking Ships

No Control

Last night was rather lively... it was almost a pain to see the sunlight this morning.

Until Cat had decided that he was going to teach me to hunt today, perturbed with my thoughts, I hadn't noticed him walk up behind me. "Are you finished restringing that?"

I groaned in boredom and he snatched the bow out of my hands. I looked away, studying the trees in front of me, notched with red paint so I could see where I was supposed to aim.

There were just so many things to see..

I knew I wasn't the best student, as evident by the nasty red marks on my arms, but he didn't seem to understand that there was so much I wanted to explore now.. starting with those beautiful butterflies.  

He sighed and gently took my fingers across the bowstring, I knew that he felt I could pay more attention, and usually he would be right but- "Princess.. I made a promise, and I intend to keep it." Barely listening, I just nodded silently, as I see another butterfly float across my vision. "Oooh look, Cat wait! This ones purple!" 

With a steady *thunk*, I gasp slightly and look at the tree, where the beautiful butterfly is plastered to the trunk. In horror, I leap backwards, and turned around to glare at him, but he was gone.

"What the hell?" I feel something hit my ankle, and I stumble, before falling over a blurred form. Breathless, I look over and I see a huge white leopard looking at me.

"Now princess.. are you ready to learn yet, or do you need another demonstration?" I choked on a muffled sob as I felt tears blur behind my eyes. "How dare you hurt that innocent creature? It was only trying to fly away!"

"You must be prepared for these things if you're going to save the kingdom and your people. Do you think you can just look at random things in the middle of battle and chase after them like that?" He chastised me harshly.

"I don't know what you're talking about I don't have people- he said that too! And that doesn't matter- what if there are innocent lives in the middle of fighting? Are we supposed to let them die too?"

None of this was making any sense for me, and I knew he was doing that on purpose. I clutched at the ground, my fists shaking. Getting up, I towered over his form as best I could, the sun blazing in my eyes.

"I will not let you admonish me for something I know nothing about- nothing at this time. You will tell me whether you would like to or not. I'm tired of this. I only just escaped captivity myself- and I have new memories that don't mean anything to me. And they should! I need to know where I'm going- why people are trying to get to me now, when they never tried before."

He walked over to a shady tree and sat down, patiently licking his fur. I must be stronger than I originally thought, because the hits keep coming. Apparently, not only can he change into a coat- but he becomes a feline as well.
A big one, humongous- I'm talking, height of a stallion big.

I'm asking more questions, and receiving little answers.

"Are you going to come over, or are you just going to stare at me?" I narrow my eyes and shuffle forward.

"If you're worried, don't- I'm too lazy to kill you." 

I retorted, "You weren't too lazy to kill that butterfly."

Strangely enough, it looked like he was smiling. "I'm all for teaching you lessons princess, you have to learn somehow."

"I'd be grateful if your lessons weren't to teach me about the pain I will apparently be facing."

His eyes glittered cruelly. "How else are you going to learn? You don't pay attention to anything else, and you're lazy."

"Better lazy than a murderer, or do I have to become one of those now too?" I flick my hair out of my eyes and snarl at him, "For all I know you'r going to try to kill me."

He says nothing, only a small rumbling in his chest lets me know he's tired of the conversation, but his twitching tail tells me he's alert to everything going on around him. Finally, he speaks, "Sleep princess, the more rest you get, the sooner your powers will awaken... "

I scoff and glare at him, but then I feel a light brush against my eyelids, and I fall gently onto a soft surface, everything once more, turning black around me.
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I scan the tall trees around me and see a tall giggling woman, who ran right through me like I wasn't even there. Shocked, I look down at myself, I was transparent. So I was to be an observer.  

"Evie! You get back here right now!" A little girl with black hair ran past me and the woman went through me again.  

Like I wasn't even there. This is a dream. 

"Everline!" I pull in a shuddering breath, no this must be a memory of some kind. 

 

I watched closely as she shouted at the little girl in front of me, this Everline.  

I whip my head around and look at her face. Bronze eyes, with just the hint of silver, like the ones that I see whenever I look into a mirror. I can't deny anything now, she looked just like me, only younger. 

A big white cat was lounging in the trees, watching the scene hungrily.
The woman rushed towards the little girl and I hear her dreamy voice again calling sharply to her, "Everline! Get away from there!"  

One pounce, was all it took. 
A blood curdling scream from the woman, and a happy giggle from the little girl.

I watched in shock as the cat knelt down in front of her and sat on its haunches. "Little one... always so pretty and tiny. Perfect, like a doll."

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"Everline! Everline wake up!" I tried to open my eyes, but they weren't cooperating.

I feel a harsh slap and I gasp, able to see again. I stare into deep blue jewels, blue like cobalt, like sapphire in the sea. Cat.

I feel him stroke my cheek, the tears melting into his palm, his feline form gone in a blink. I close my eyes, leaning into his touch. His hand is so warm.. 

Then he was gone. Backing away from me like I was fire, and he a candle. I shivered, losing his warmth, wanting it back, needing it back. I had no idea why I was feeling this way, or what was happening, but I don't want to think about it anymore. 

What was that? Why do I know it? Why is it so familiar to me? I want to scream, but my voice is racked with sobs and guttural groans.

"W-what the fuck was that," I blearily look up at his grimace, "and why were you there?"

He grunted and said nothing. I lunged for him, wildly scraping the ground where he had just stood. "Tell me right fucking now."

I lifted up my head to look at him. His eyes were glowing with anger, and.. affection? As if reading my thoughts, he blinked, and what I saw, faded away.

He dropped himself down on top of me and I shrieked as he held his teeth over my jugular. 

"I can feel your pulse, hear your blood rushing. Its frantic beat is practically running miles under your skin..."

Small shivers dance a waltz all down my back, his hot breath sending chills to every part of my body. What's wrong with him? Why is he doing this? "I just want answers kitty... that's all." 

He closes his mouth, his soft lips pressing lightly to my vein, "I know.. but don't press too hard Ever, I'm scary when I lose control of him. I may know things but I'm under strict oath not to tell you. I can only teach, you have to figure this out on your own unfortunately.."

And with those strange words, and the empty feeling in my stomach, he leapt out of the tree and mumbled under his breath, "Too many lessons for her to learn.. so little time.."