Caidoz

Chapter 23

   I headed out up the stairs to the now closed wall. Yes, a new doorman was hired for he would be operating the owls, the door, and other similar things. My owl flew up the nearest hole and I waited for the wall to slid open. It didn't. I growled in frustration. The new man had chosen today of all days to pretend he wasn't there and play a joke on Questors. Which was why he should leave me alone. I WAS NOT A QUESTOR. I touch my goggles for a second. Only a gift. Nothing more to me. They had sentimental value. If they didn't, I wouldn't had ripped, shredded, clawed, burned, and then finally thrown the ashes down a waterfall. The door refused to open. I knew to be silent. It was worse to put fire on an already burning fire. Best to wait. Finally, it did. I came out of the large opening and saw the new man sitting in the seat. He was a small man with a clean shaven beard but shriveled hairy arms. No wonder the serevials didn't take him. He was seen as much too weak looking for a proper man of the severial choice. When he saw my face, he broke out into laughter as if I was the funniest thing he ever saw. "You enjoy that? Being stuck behind a wall with nothing to do but wait on me? I did!" He continued to jeer at me. "Look at this." He got out of his chair behind the counter and stood in front of me. He was only slightly taller. He seemed to think this wonderful. He pulled strands of my hair hard. I clenched my canines in pain. "All you addled Questors are all so strange, I mean look at you! You got GREY HAIR! How odd, how unsual. I bet you somehow found a way to do that just so you could be different." I ducked my head lower. No, I didn't enjoy it. Would be to speak to be wrong. I should have transformed. At least I wouldn't be humiliated. My hair was naturally grey, even before I transformed. I thought it was just the friendly reminder the dog was always there. But the man didn't seem to think so. He then laughed at my bag. "See here? You even wear a purse like a woman." I had to kill my growls. It was a satchel. Many males wore them and they didn't look the least feminine. I started to walk away when he decided to play one last trick. He pulled his leg out in front of me. I snapped. I couldn't take it anymore. I had a battle to win for Cancer and he wasn't going to hurt me before the beast did. I stopped myself before I tripped. I let my inner dog shine through just for a moment. My face was probably hideous to see. Canines snapping, throat growling, all my grey hair on end. Wild eyes snarling their anger. He backed away as I drew my daggers.
   "I am NOT a Questor and thus you best remember. Chew out the next person who comes up those iron steps which should really have railings. Many people have acrophobia you know! Not to mention thus treatment which I find myself given. Leave me be to walk alone, OR I will make you see the sharp side of my daggers!" He then shoved me backward and I fell on the hard ground. He ran and hid under the counter. My dog laugh released from my mouth. "Herherher." He was too weak to be a real threat like normal doormen. The problems of being strong was being drafted, but the it was the strength of the weak. It was also their problem when they wanted to be harsh to others. I got up and avoided eye contact with him as I walked out the door. I already gave away much of my Constellarmation identity. He could think me a werewolf like the shop keeper and inform the Lycan hunters. They say a silver bullet could kill a lycanthrope. But couldn't a bullet, metal or silver, kill anyone? They would then have my pelt on their shop's display wall for all to see. I shuddered. The fears of being me.

I breathed in the fresh air of the outdoor world. The humidity was moist and warm and looking at the sky, I saw it to be grey as millions of clouds were filling it. A storm is brewing. The electric tension was everywhere and it made a chill rocket down my spine. I decided even if it did rain, thus wouldn't be too much of a bother. I disliked storms. Their thunderous booming always making my fur stand on end in worry and my body to shake horribly in fear. I suppose it would be my pathological fear. That and water of course. If Cancer could be held in suspense by heights, mine would be the roaring of the clouds as they brawled for dominance. I hurried down the busy lane, rushing to be on time for my appointment with the strong man. I knew I shouldn't give any excuse for him to keep his silence about the Great Bears. Boötes would take any scraps thrown to him to escape me, I knew. I pushed past hundreds of Questors all on the same dream. A foolish and childish dream. A hope for the impossible. A mad thing really. The lights of the bar came into view and my mental alarm clock was ticking its last seconds. I pushed the door open with hurried force and it slammed into the wall. I froze as all eyes turned to me. Beggars, Questors, business men and women, shop keepers, pirates, and many other types of the average living thing called a human. I cast my eyes down, but my hands shot to my daggers at my waist. I squeezed the handles briefly, then leaving my hands to drop to my side. The people turned back to their previous activities. This act I had taken meant a message to all and everyone knew it. It was the symbol of the cornered black rat. It told all I was backed against the wall and would fight to the death if anyone provoked me. The people in the bar left me be because they also knew though it symbolized weakness, it meant I wouldn't wish a fight of anyone. I scanned the busy bar, filled with those drowning their sorrows in the strong, powerful ale which was created here. The bar was practically famous for it. Boötes appeared not to have moved a muscle since over last meeting and I stumbled into the chair which I preoccupied previously. "You forgot to pay last night boy." The growl was low and unexpectant. I scratched my hair, thinking. Oh dog it, I did. I completely forgotten to give the waitress my fine. The blond haired man turned to me, brown eyes flashing angrily. "After all I told you, you made me pay for the meal which you so greedily swallowed and your girl," he paused. "Friend barely touched."Well at least he dropped that subject . I sustained a loud growl.
   "I'm really sorry about that-"
   "I'm sure you want to beg your way out of thus situation, but I won't be deceived." Boötes gripped the deadly staff with a firm hand.
   "How much do I owe you?" I asked quietly. There was a pause in which all that could be heard was the rumbling of the full bar and its occupants. He's probably going make pay more in some way... Oh no, what if he makes me sign up for another event?! I waited in the monotone.
   "Forget it, boy. I already paid it, all fifteen nenos of it." I flinched at the rather large sum. I loathed Boötes in every way, but that was actually quite generous of him. "You can repay me by fighting today. And winning as well. No one likes a boring brawl." The brown eyes suddenly dart around the space surrounding me, narrowing. "Say, where's your princess?" Argh, he didn't drop the subject!
   "She's not my princess!" I said, turning crimson under the bridge of my nose and under my eyes. He shrugs but continues to search. "She's... a bit tied up at the moment." Her furious, struggling face flashed before my view and I shakes my head to rid myself of the image. The strong man leans back in surprise.
   "I expected her to see the event. She seemed adventurous for being so young."
   "Ali can't make it." I said flatly. His eyes found me and the blond eyebrows rose at my firmness.
   "Oh, did you force something to occur so she cannot make it?" He asked. I averted my eyes from his massive form.
   "Perhaps." He let out a booming laughter that seemed to shake the walls and floor. I gripped my chair with white knuckles.
   "Bwhahaha! I'll let what happens between you and your lady friend to stay between the two of you." Gwah! Was he deaf so he could not hear me!? The large man stopped suddenly and looked seriously at me. "Truelly though, what did you do to that girl?" Can he not take a hint!?
   "It's complicated." I kept my mouth sealed. He leaned in, eager for more. "Oh no, I can't tell you specifics. What more of thus event?" He groaned dramatically.
   "You keep your silence rather well boy," Boötes said. "Any way, the event will happen in a hour or so, I just needed you to be here sooner so we can walk there. It isn't too dreadfully far and you will know when you see it. We best get started." He rose from his chair. His height astounded me and when I got up, Boötes towered over me. The large man pointed his staff toward the door and we started off in that direction.
   "Why so silent about that female?" The blond haired man asked again. I growled in slight frustration. Wasn't he the prying type?
   "Why do you have a beard?" I shot back. He laughed again loudly as we exited the bar. He led me down the street at a fast pace, past the people walking on about their own business. It was easier to walk in his shadow, I soon saw for the wave of people seemed to give him a good path to move about without anyone crowding him.
   "I'm only concerned about fibs in this case, which I suspect she did to me." Cancer  lied? About what? I don't recall anything of the sort. "That and her welfare." I wasn't too sure why he kept asking me all these questions. Perhaps he really was concerned. Not that I would tell him anyway.
   "Listen, just drop thus please. Cancer is fine, a bit inflamed in rage, but... ummm... I would think good." He finally shrugged.
   "Very well. Ah. Look over there boy, and tell me what you see." I peered around his form and gasped at the sight I saw. A giant circle building made from iron pipes and turning mechanical gears. Millions of people streamed into it and thousands were already seated in the seats which piled up, slanted, into the sky from what I could see of their far away faces.
   "Wow." I breathed. Boötes beamed at me.
   "Wonderful isn't it? Can you feel the tension in the air? The excitement of thus match which makes your blood boil for a memorial fight?!" I closed my eyes. I really could. The eagerness of the people. The frenzy of nerves fizzing in my veins. The smell of dirt and rust. I opened my eyes to see Boötes nodding his head. Yes, I found he told the truth here. I WANTED to fight. For Cancer? Who cared for that sick little alien? For myself? Hahaha, most definitely for me. I shot a pleasured growl at the large man and started off running. Boötes threw his staff into the air and caught it. He then followed me in my sprint. I shoved past the people, throwing a small boy to the ground crying. Whatever. I need to get to that event. I need to lose myself in the brawl. But something clicked inside of me. What was I doing?! This was exactly the kind of person who I was. Who I had been forced to become. Who Boötes was. This wasn't me. This wasn't a friendly dog. This wasn't the person whom Cancer named to be in front of. This wasn't Procyon. I stopped in my tracks. Turning, I saw the crying boy on the ground.
   "Oh dog it, I'm really sorry." The small child only continued to whine louder. I wished I could flatten my ears. I knelt down to his sobing face.
   "You're... really really.... m-mean m-mister." He continued to cry. I came closer and licked his forehead. He stopped his crying to stare at me in shock. I smiled at him. "Gaaahhhh!" He screamed loudly. What did I do?! I thought you licked people when they needed encouragement or when you wanted to show affection.
   "Whatever I did to scare you, just remember I am really sorry about thus." I pulled him to him to his feet. He seemed too surprised to move. I didn't know what to do next. Was I supposed to leave him here? A voice suddenly shrieked a name loudly. The little boy straighter to attention and ran off towards it. I saw him distantly running into a hug with his. I stopped myself. No. I can't look. I can't see thus. A hard thump on my back brought me back to reality.