Star-Crossed Paws: Lives Entwined

Chapter 3: Stowaway

Cross lands on dry, barren ground, not a speck of plant growth in sight. The sky above is clouded and dark, as though a storm were on the verge of breaking through. But then again, Cross notes, this is how this world has always appeared since Nightmare began ruling it. Shaking off the staticy feeling of crossing dimensional boundaries, he walks down a path towards a large structure ahead.

Nightmare's castle is menacing as always, the outer walls looming high above him and towers within reaching even greater heights. The gatekeeper glances at him before nodding and turning to signal at someone unseen. Before long the large, the iron gates begin to creak open, and Cross enters the castle grounds without any trouble.

Everyone knows what Cross looks like, and everyone knows that an outsider can only be allowed inside this AU by Nightmare or one of his most trusted followers. If Cross had wanted to, he could have appeared right inside the castle, but there's already been an occurrence of someone unexpected following him through his portals, so he's gotten used to having to show up at the outer gates, lowering the chances of enemies sneaking inside. Not that it matters too much, seeing as Nightmare could very easily sense and take care of any nuisances that weaseled their way into his territory.

Absentmindedly glancing around, Cross zeroes in on a couple soldiers picking on someone of lower rank. He grimaces, but doesn't intervene. Everyone here knows what they signed up for, and Nightmare is indifferent to the brutality within his army. They're all expendable to him, and the extra negativity sparked by it doesn't displease him. For the longest time, ever since he defeated his brother, it's been getting more and more easy to spread negativity, and the army he built started to slowly prove itself as useful to him as a hair brush. They could kill each other like dogs fighting over a bone for all Nightmare cares, as long as they don't get in the way of his plans. Cross is starting to doubt this approach though, figuring they should probably try and whip their band of random, murderous individuals from different AUs into shape. Dream's return will no doubt spark hope, and he suspects they already have cowardly traitors in their midst just from the rumors of the guardian's revival.

Reaching the inner wall, he stops beside the entrance, knocking on the wooden frame to the window of the inner gatekeeper's residence. The window opens, and he's immediately scrutinized by red eyelights and an exasperated scowl with strangely sharp teeth.

"You can literally teleport inside."

Cross narrows his eyes, frown deepening. "Whether I teleport or not, you should always be ready to follow protocol in case someone who can't seeks our Emperor's audience.

Red, in turn, rolls his own eyes. "Yeah, sure, right as soon as you take that huge fucking pole out of your ass. You always fucking do this, like there'd be anyone here out of their mind enough to bother him."

"I'm not the only one who lives within the inner walls."

"Everyone who does can teleport. There's like, 4 people in there at most, what is your fucking problem-"

"Five, including me, reside past these gates. Are you going to open it or not?"

"..." Red slams the window shut, walking away and muttering to himself. A moment later, the gates open, allowing Cross to pass. However, he barely takes four steps before the window opens once more, but Red looks more curious than irritated this time. "By the way, is the cat with you?"

Cross just stares at him. "...Cat?"

Red silently points behind Cross, and the knight turns, some part of him already suspecting but still shocked by what awaits him all the same. That golden cat from earlier is crouched at the stones of the wall, hissing at an armored dog Monster reaching towards it and leaning desperately into the wall as if trying to shrink into it. A plethora of curses shoot through Cross' mind, but he's not about to just let his professional disposition slip that easily. Walking with a swift pace, he steps in front of the cat, glaring at the guard. The canine growls right back, and Cross wonders momentarily why he's shielding the creature who was stupid enough to follow him this far in the first place. He has a feeling this won't be the last time this cat causes trouble for him...