Sinking Ships

Off We Go

"It's time to go Everline!" Cat walked towards me in a huff, scowling at me. Things between him and I have been really tense since our fight. I could tell he wanted to leave, but I felt like there was more I needed to find out here- I've lived out at least most of my entire life on the neighboring island, you would think I would want to leave this place just as much as he did. But there's something strangely familiar here....

Anyway, I've been wearing the same thing for almost a week and a half- time for some change I could control. Its too hot. I bend down and pull my little shorts off of my leg and see him stiffen out of the corner of my eye. 

He looked at me, his blue eyes swirling with anger. "What are you doing?" 

"Back off kitty, Its hot, I'm going to take a bath." A strangled sound came from the back of his throat and I narrowed my eyes at him. 

"No you're not, we're leaving!" He grabbed my arm in a vicelike grip and pulled me behind him. I snapped at him, "No one, tells me what to do." I raised myself up to my full height- and glared up at him with all the force of anger that I could muster. I could practically feel myself grow taller under his gaze, I was going to be clean. He looked down at me, with a solid mask of stone, no trace of emotion in his face. I stared back, not blinking, daring him to move a muscle. After a few seconds I started noticing that he was getting closer. Soon enough, his face was so close to mine that our noses were touching. 

His warm breath was caressing my cheeks, and I smiled. 

"We're leaving, now."

Hmm... interesting. He could obviously leave without me, so why wasn't he? Oh well, time to test my theory. 

I smiled demurely at him, and stood up on my tiptoes. I jumped up, lightly into the air, and wrapped my arms around his neck. I brought my lips to his ear, fanning my breath onto his skin. "Either you sit down and be quiet while I take a bath, and I put my clothes aside to wear later so we can leave, or I take off my clothes completely and we stay on this island until I find myself something else to wear. Which is it pussy cat?" 

He choked a little as I wrapped my legs around his waist, ".. Fine. You get an hour." 

"As you wish sir. Remember, you're not the only one who finds it hard to control themselves when angry." His mouth opened and closed like a fish, and he walked away in a huff.

Cheekily I called over my shoulder, "I'd wonder if you were half tea kettle, but if the steam coming from your ears is any indication I'd say I'm right!"

I walked towards the crystal clear water I had spotted a couple hours ago, and took off the rest of my clothes. Stepping into its semi warm depths, I relaxed as I felt the water sooth my aching muscles. We had been walking and climbing our way throughout the island, and while I had never been very big around, I must say that I had what was commonly known as a "food baby" It was gone now, replaced with tight muscle, my stretch marks even brighter against my tan skin.  

As I relax more, I feel myself start to hum, and I make up words as I go along. 

" Three little maidens dancing in a row, one says stop, the other says go; 

two little maidens dancing in a row, one sways to a stop, the other one goes;

One little maiden dancing by herself, her heart locked away on a little glass shelf; 

Puppet master sings while he works, the maidens heart stops and starts. " 

My long black hair is frizzy in the balmy heat, and I can only imagine what it was like for Cat, lounging in his feline form. He must've been so hot.. I really should be a little less annoying to him. 

That didn't mean I was going to be. 

I washed out all the grime and sweat, -Goddess how could he even be near me? I smell awful!- until my hair was clean. I walked out of the pool and stroked my fingers down the strands with some stray petals of a trumpet flower so it would smell nice, and then I took the vial I had hidden in my pocket. It had a separate compartment inside it for anything else I wanted to keep, and I dabbed out some of the fragranced oil I had kept from my last night at the palace. Rubbing it into my skin slowly, I surveyed the area around me and watched as a few birds played around in the air. Looking closer, I laughed under my breath when I saw Kija give the bird next to her an exuberant little chirp.  She was a sweet little companion.. but I'm not so sure I could keep her anymore. I had taken her away, and hadn't even given a thought to how I was going to take care of her.. She looked her at home with the other birds, and among these tall trees. I whistled, and she came down to me, chirping. 

"Kija.. I'm going to leave you here. I'll visit you if you would like." She buried her face into my neck and chirped. 

And then she left.

A voice from in front of me whispered, "Are you done yet doll?" I shrieked and pulled my hair in front of my chest. 

"Its nothing I haven't seen before. Besides, why would I be looking at you?" 

I wrinkled my nose in annoyance and turned my head, my cheeks burning with embarrassment. "I didn't think you were. Besides, I thought I told you not to call me that!" 

"Good, and I thought we were going to leave!" 

"I was just saying goodbye to Kija.. she's not going with us- Hey come to think of it, where are  we going?" 

There was no answer from Cat as he pulled me onto his back and changed forms. "Who knows Everline, adventure is out there!"

And with one thrust of his mighty haunches, we were off.