The Beast Within Us

Chapter 22: ⑄ Chala

 ⑄ Chala sat up as Yara explained her intentions, to which she blinked in understanding, rising to her paws. She trekked the length of the branch back to its trunk and jumped down, landing gracefully on her pads with a muffled thump. Yara was already on her way toward the village, so Chala loped a bit to catch up before shifting, following along with a hand on her hip. The tigress fell into step easily beside the warden, casting a side glance at the other woman, such was their dynamic when not on horseback.

"I wonder if they'd be more intimidated by a tigress or a hewan?" she mused aloud, in a small attempt to pull forth another of Yara's almost-smiles. It was an amusing pastime of hers when the two were comfortably alone, and she felt they both enjoyed it even if the other half of their pair would never admit it. Darryn had even gotten in on the game when the three of them were together, and up against the two of them, their warden stood no chance at all.

The two meandered casually into town, Yara looking poised and stoic as ever while Chala had adopted a more relaxed posture initially, despite her surroundings. As per usual, those of her race were regarded with disdain and unwelcome at best, though she was surprised to catch a few lecherous side-eyes. Mostly from drunks and desperate old men however. She ignored them for the most part, still keeping a watchful eye for any with less than pure intentions that had the gall to act them out, but mostly focusing following her warden to their destination.

'Her warden.'

The tigress wasn't sure when she'd begun thinking of the other woman in such a possessive way. The habit had snuck up and ingrained itself, and now it was simply too hard to shake. The endearment wasn't entirely unwelcome, but it was embarrassing to say the least.

They finally reached the apothecary's just as Chala was growing impatient, the subtle hostility of the town putting her on edge. It'd made her tail twitch, and she tensed almost imperceptibly at every quick movement in her peripheral vision. Perhaps if she'd been alone, something might have happened, but not together with the warden. While she might not be in her best clothes, Yara still had a commanding presence about her that told anyone with eyes she was of high birth and title - the effect was increased tenfold with her banners parked just outside of the village outskirts.

The tigress entered after her companion, scanning the area one last time before turning her back. One would think they were doing something much more important than going on a medicine run. Realizing her frazzled nerves and twitchy behavior (though only Yara and Darryn would be able to truly notice - the tigress kept a confident composure to her at almost all times), she calmed herself and relaxed her muscles to a more appropriate state.

Despite it being midday, the apothecary was rather low-lit and quiet, with only the occasional tinkling of glass or soft bubbling of a tonic as it's accompaniment. The counter was empty, though cluttered with all sorts of potions and elixirs. There was, however, a small bronze bell that Chala stepped forward to ring. The sound echoed throughout the space for a few moments, rather eerily in its emptiness. It's call was answered soon after.

An old, grizzled cat leapt up onto the counter by the bell, releasing a meow that sounded more like an elderly man groaning. There were bits of elongated fur at the edges of its muzzle that made it look as though the feline had a mustache and beard. It peered at them curiously, Chala peered back, and then it jumped down, retreating back to wherever it'd come from. A man stepped around the corner then, from some hidden hallway behind the counter where the cat had gone, and greeted them easily. His skin was the color of oak wood and easily just as weathered. He was bald, but sported a nicely trimmed beard and mustache, both black as ink with little splashes of white here and there. The man was obviously well on in his years but still rather handsome. ⑄