The Beginning

Chapter Ⅴ Eirwen

I urged Orion forward. The rope grew taut then went slack. Over and over again. I turned back and found the man walking calmly with a kitten riding his shoulder.

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I woke with the most terrible smell in my nose. I shot up, gaging. Orion came trotting up, which helped as I could smell his coat. Mostly wheat and oats. It helped clean my nose out, a lot. Finally getting the awful scent out I looked around and found the man sitting there. I jumped back which caused him to flinch. I willed myself to be still. I didn't want him to come for me again. Remembering that caused my neck to pulsate in pain making me wince. I brought my hand up to my neck and was met with tender flesh. Orion nuzzled the back of my head. I turned and had started to stroke his nose when I felt a pressure on my shoulder. I whizzed around finding the man with a coil of rope in his hands. He handed me the rope and held his wrists out. I looked at him confusedly. He seemed to notice as he struggled to find the right words.

"I hurt you? She," he pointed at the cat "Hurt Orion."

"How do you know his name?" I asked cautiously, eyeing the rope in his hands. Gently, he placed the rope down and backed away. He looked so small and scared. Litla kanína indeed.

"He told me." he whispered, looking up slightly. Orion pawed the ground harshly. The man quickly looked back down.

"Can you really talk to animals?" I whispered as I came closer to him.

"Yes!" he gasped out as though he was in pain. Taking a closer look at him I noticed he was shaking. Not knowing what else to do I came a little closer and he started gasping. The cat and fox quickly came in front and started growling and hissing at me. Orion came up and brayed at them. The man sank to the ground and covered his ears. He was whimpering. He let out a series of meows and yaps, which caused the cats and fox to come to him. As soon as the little grey one came close he picked it up and cuddled it.

"Litla kanína," I whispered. He groaned. I sighed. I sat down across from him and softly started singing the lullaby my mother would sing to me when I was scared. Slowly he calmed down and let me get close to him. Still singing I gently wrapped his wrists with the rope he tensed but stayed still.

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The man trudged on without complaint, without stopping, without anything really. He was, however, trembling every time Orion would stop or get too close to him. Suddenly Orion started running. I tried futility to pull on the reins to get him to slow down. There was no way that the man could keep up.

"Orion! Stop! Slow down!" I shouted. If anything it made Orion speed up. I turned around and to my surprise found the man running behind. In fact he was running while holding a grey kitten. The cat and fox were also running behind each holding a kitten. We reached camp much sooner thanks to the running. I slowed Orion, who now compiled, as we came into the camp. I didn't realise how many people were out until I heard the man's panicked breathing. I trotted over to the stables and hopped off Orion. I led them inside and found Vale, Jasper and Gareth talking.

"Ah! Welcome back little kitten!" cried Vale once he saw me. I quickly held my hands up to stop him from coming closer.

"Vale, wait!" Jasper grabbed the back of Vales tunic and pulled him to a stop.

"Thank you," Jasper nodded.

"What's going on? Why is Orion so out of breath?" questioned Gareth.

"Well, about that," I said sheepishly as I pulled the man forward. He was shaking and clinging to the grey kitten that he was holding earlier. Gareth came forward and grabbed Orion's reins while I untied the man from the saddle.