Another Lost Soul

Chapter 7

Alenor shoved me down on one knee and grabbed me by the hair, tilting my head up toward the animal. "Distract him"

"Distract-"

He disappeared, leaving the large cat confused and glancing around for him. I watched as people were forced out of the arena by armored men, flinching when Alenor reappeared at the creatures ankle.

"H-hey..." I shrank into myself as it bent down to me, sniffing at my hair.

I'm on my knee, so I don't seem like a pose any threat. Good job, Alenor. But the chains around his ankle are bigger than Alenor himself. Even if he tries, I know he won't be able to break it.

"You idiots, get out of there!" I can hear Jalaiah now that it's gone quieter, but I make no move.

The animal's breath is enough to blow the hair out of my face and nearly knock me over, but he seems to feel safe with my hands at the ground. "Are you okay?" I asked.

He jumped when Alenor grabbed his chains and yanked them off quickly. I expected the mountain of fur to attack me for it, but he only turned around to see what happened. Once seeing his ankle was free, he stomped it down a few times and grabbed Alenor by the ankle with his mouth.

"Alenor!"

He placed Alenor on his back and bent down to me. Jalaiah ran up to me, guards chasing after gums "Just grab the thing!" He grasped the animals leg firmly and motioned for me to do the same. I quickly did, following his lead as he began to climb upwards to its back. "He's gonna make a run for it now that he's free. He'll be fine, but we have to make sure Al doesn't fall. He's lost a lot of blood."

"You're gonna get fired for this!" Alenor called down to us, reaching his arm down to help up the general.

"Im in charge. If anything, they'll get fired."

The animal took off, tearing up the arena's seats in the process. He headed away from the city, which made all of us relax a bit.

Jalaiah pushed his hair back and sighed. "You two are morons."

"I got the job done though." Alenor laid down and stared at the sky. "Maybe if I'm lucky, he'll return the favor one day."

"Alenor, we need to talk."

"About what?"

"The arena."

The hair on his arms rose, eyes diverting. "No thanks."

"Alenor-"

"You're looking at me like you don't know who I am." He wiped the blood from his face. It only smeared. "So I know what you're going fo ask. I refuse to answer any of your questions. Please don't make this difficult."

"It's important. If-"

He stood up, not losing balance on the moving creature as he pinched the wound on his stomach shut with his fingers. "I can explain myself later. For now, we're being followed so let me take care of it."

"I think you've been injured enough today." Jalaiah shook his head. "Sit down, I'll handle it."

Alenor glared at him. "I have a few questions for you two as well, you know?" He crouched down and met eyes with the python of a general. Jalaiah's pupils straightened, fixating themselves on him. "Why are you with my apprentice?"

"He was going to be killed."

"He can protect himself. Don't grant yourself the opportunity to be alone with him as if you have such rights."

Apprentice? I don't want to interrupt the tension between their glowing eyes, but when the general's teeth began to grow what looked like dripping fangs, I quickly crawled between them. "Let's not fight."

"There you go." Alenor shoved me aside. "You want to show him how dangerous you are? I'm sure he'd love to be alone with you then."

"What's with you? It's not like I want to eat him!"

"Of course not." Alenor gently traced his fingers underneath Jalaiah's chin, his body relaxing as his eyes fell natural and his mouth slammed itself shut. His hissing tone disappeared to that of content silence. "Not when I feed you just fine."

"Context." I shuddered a bit.

Alenor laughed a bit. "The general is actually my friend."

"More context."

"He's my familiar. A python."

"You're an animal?" I pointed at Jalaiah. He sat up straighter and shoved Alenor's comforting hand away.

"Ahem." He coughed nervously, embarrassed of his behavior I assume. "Yes and no."

"Do you eat rats?"

"Yes."

"Do you eat-"

"I eat whatever Alenor feeds me."

"Never leave my sight again. And definitely don't let me catch you alone with my apprentice." Alenor sat down and crossed his arms.

"About the apprentice thing-" I started to ask, but Alenor only glared at me. I quickly shut my mouth.