Pangaia: Agendas (Year One: Fall)

Chapter Twenty-Five - Cheyenne

Cheyenne awoke to quiet humming.

One wouldn't think it by looking at him, but Akuji Thantos had an amazing voice to listen to. Despite his lack of emotion, it was gentle and pleasing to the ears. Cheyenne had a hard time focusing on his lectures because it lulled her far too easily into a trance. She was captivated. When he sang, the effects of the trance were multiplied. His song was quite possibly the most beautiful sound she'd ever heard.

She didn't know what he was singing. In fact, she wasn't even sure it was a real song. It seemed as though he made up the words as he went to a simple tune. Either way, she wouldn't complain about the lovely awakening. She could even smell some kind of breakfast cooking somewhere off in his kitchenette.

He walked into the den where the girls were resting, holding Shi in his arms.

Cheyenne had a difficult time trying not to stare at him as he was wearing nothing but a pair of blue jeans, socks, and a simple decorated white gold cross necklace which hung low on his chest. She didn't want to see her teacher like this, especially when his body was so perfectly chiseled in form. Even with his pale skin, he wasn't hard on the eyes. Mr. Thantos clearly either did something to stay in good shape despite all of his other strange physical conditions, or he was simply blessed with a perfect body.

"Yes Miss. Loveless? You are staring?" he inquired.

Cheyenne tried hard not to blush and to think of an excuse for why she could have been looking at him so long. "You're holding a cat with your bare hands." That seemed like a good enough reason to her.

"And what would you prefer I hold my pets with? My feet? Even I am not that talented," he said as he took a seat in a nearby chair. His eyes never left Cheyenne, and more specifically her neck wound, which was still bleeding. "Why are you here and not in the infirmary getting your mark examined by a trained professional?"

"It wasn't our idea. I'll go soon, I promise," she somehow managed to say, though even she could barely hear it.

"There is no hurry as all I have planned for the day is grading for all of my classes, however it would be best for you to leave at a reasonable hour." He scratched Shi lightly behind the ears. The cat loved this, extending his head up for affection and purring loudly.

Cheyenne almost wanted to pinch herself because she never would have imagined Mr. Thantos being so tender to a cat, let alone to anything.

"I have already taken care of repairing the wards on your room and strengthening them so you have no more intrusions, and really Miss. Loveless, it is very rude to stare. What is so intriguing about me petting a cat? I thought this was a common thing among you humans," he said.

"It is, I just..." she stammered. She hadn't realized she'd been staring, again. "I didn't think you could touch anything with your bare hands without killing it. I mean, that's what I heard and..." She trailed off, feeling silly. "I guess I didn't think you'd have pets."

His jaw tightened as he listened to her speak. "I see. I am surprised you would take rumors to be so factual. I cannot touch skin. All the animals I have kept over the years have always had a great abundance of fur. I can touch that, just like I could easily touch your hair or your clothing. I would not simply because I have no need to demonstrate the point." He paused and smiled ever so slightly at Shi. "Companionship is not something only humans desire. I should not have to explain further."

"You talk a lot," Halyn mumbled into her pillow with a groan.

"As do you. I have made some food if you decide you are hungry. I would imagine after having been asleep for so long you would be. Since you have missed a meal, I thought it would be kind to provide one. The lunch hour begins in one hour and fifteen minutes however, so you may wait until then as well. Do not bother to clean up after yourselves before you leave."