The Regal Rogue

4. Cat Sith

Her dialect obviously was not from here, but then again it seemed as though she hadn't seen or even properly conversed with a person in a long time.
"And you?" She seemed cautious more than anything.
Did I really appear threatening?
"Crimson of GrimShaw." I tried to keep my voice as sweet as I could.

"What business have you here?" She asked, as if she was prepared to defend herself.
"Just passing through," I tell her and make a move to go around her, I noticed she wasn't too trusting with strangers.
She jolts at me with a shank made from bone and has me against a tree, the knife at my throat.
"No one just 'passes' through these woods. If it were normal I would know about it. But you are new. Who are you exactly Crimson of GrimShaw?"

"I am Princess Crimson Kathleen Grimshaw and I am a runaway as of this day." I coward as she slowly pressed the blade's edge tighter.

She seemed to relax on her back foot, but kept me under her weapon.
"So tell me Princess, why would you run from a wonderful life and be in a place like this."
Her speaking seemed to be back fully now. But she didn't speak as properly as she should have.
My voice became thick as I was beginning to cry.
"I'm running for my life!" I explained, the sobs choking me.
Serenity seemed to be enjoying my torment until I said this.
She immediately retreated and had a face of remorse.
"I'm sorry. Explain yourself." It didn't sound like a demand because of her tone, but I knew to answer.
"Well my sister......," I began, but she harshly hushed me.
Patiently I stood, waiting for no evident reason.
Serenity had a look of hard concentration until her eyes widened and she glanced at me.
In a blur, Serenity was yanking me by my wrist and my hip joint started to send a numbing pain down my leg.

We ran, but kept stopping briefly because of my constant trippings.

Soon we were upon a steep divide with a little stream. It was too far to jump, but that's not Serenity had in mind.

She jumped straight down pulling me along with her. My dress was already ruined, but this made it even worse.
Still in her tight grip, Serenity dragged me under an overlapping tree root that was falling into the stream as it grew through the years.

This time we both heard the thump and swish of heavy paws jumping over the divide.
Suddenly my leg gave out and I splashed down in the water.
The steady tread stopped.
Serenity's expression was ghostly. She quickly put her finger to her lips in frustration. Lorcan, she mouthed to me.
I sat still, my hip muscles burning.

I heard snarls and low growls as the unknown large, four pawed creature paced what seemed to be right above us.

Finally, we heard the retreat and Serenity jerked me up out of the water.

"What were you trying to do? Get us mauled!" She kept her voice at a whisper.
She shook my shoulders violently in frustration and let me go.
I couldn't help but fall back in the water.
She looked down at me in realization.

"I'll have to take you to my camp. You'll need to rest that muscle." She told me lifting me up to hold me under her arm.
Just then, I ducked my head when I saw a black shadow flash in front of us.

"Oh don't worry. It's only Fey."
Serenity reassured as a cat as big as a dog traipsed through the water to us.

"It's a.....a...," I couldn't find the word, I was too distracted by looking at it.

"She's a Cat Sith. Now get on her back. We have to get to shelter before the Hellhound makes its night search." Serenity answered, trying to help me up on Fey's back.
I turned to look down at her.
"You mean those are real too?" I asked in the most disbelief.

"Pardon me, Your Highness," She said sarcastically, but then more seriously.
"I would've assumed you knew. Seeing as that he belongs to the castle over yonder."
I just stared at her as if she was mentally ill.
She seemed to not want to carry on the conversation so she had Fey move along.
I kept my eyes on the black satin fur and gently fiddled it with my fingers.
I could feel a slight purr rumble through her as we moved.
"How is she so.......tame?" I found myself asking.