I N F I N I T E S

Wide Eyes And Orange Ears

"Are you ok? You look a bit scared."
The voice was very quiet and gentle.
    If butterflies made a sound it would be this voice.
A hand lightly touched Brite's shoulder. Bright turned to face the source of the gentle voice. He was met with two large beautiful light blue eyes. They had two large oval like pupils. What little light that the lanterns in the area gave off was reflected in their eyes as a shimmering starlight.
    He looked at the rest of their body and found that they were covered by a brown cloak with tattered ends. A hood was over their head and they wore a mask covering their mouth. Two white cat ears poked out from holes made in the hood.
    They drew back their hand as soon as Brite turned around. Another figure in dressed in the same attire stood behind them. This one was different though. They had a stronger more broad shouldered figure, and they were taller than the other one. They too had cat ears but  their ears were orange and larger unlike the other's.
    This figure stood with its back turned to Brite and the other figure.
    "We really shouldn't try to stay here."
    The orange eared figure said to the other.
Their voice was much different than the other. Instead of being soft and quiet, it was burning with fiery youth.
    "We got what we need from here. We need to go."
    The orange eared figure moved and faced Brite. Their eyes were yet another contrast from the two of them. They were a were more slanted and less large. They too had oval like pupils, but they were surrounded by an iris of blazing orange.
    The wide eyed figure looked back at the orange eared one.
    "But he looks scared."
    "Yeah and he also looks like he shouldn'tve wandered into here."
    The orange eared one glared with irritation at the wide eyed one. He did not want to be there any longer than he had to be, and he clearly expressed it.
    "At least let me try to find out what's wrong."
    The orange eared figure turned his head away from the wide eyed figure, and looked at the ground. After a second of contemplation he did a quick nod.
    The wide eyed figure turned back to Brite.
    "Can you tell me what's wrong?"
    Brite looked back with no understanding in his eyes. The wide eyed figure acknowledged this and tried another question.
    "Can you speak common?"
    Brite didn't grasp any of the words that were said. He just stood there looking into the figure's eyes. The orange eared figure looked down at Brite.
    "Maybe he's in shock."
    The wide eyed figure posed yet another question.
    "Can you speak at all?"
    Brite knew that the wide eyed figure wanted him to say something, but he didn't know what to say. He didn't speak any language, yet he knew that the people around him had been communicating using words. He wanted to know how to speak.
    Brite touched a hand over his chest as if to reference himself.
    "Brite."
    He said to them with a shimmer in his eyes.
    The wide eyed figure cocked their head sideways and looked at Brite for a moment then spoke.
    "Is that your name, Brite?"
    Brite simply answered by tapping his hand on his chest again.
    The orange eared figure did a quick scan over the area and then stopped keeping his eyes on one area.
    "Ugh we don't have time for this. C'mon we need to leave NOW."
    The wide eyed figure looked at Brite then the other figure, then back at Brite.
    "Then we're taking him with us!"
    The wide eyed figure took Brite's hand and clasped it in his own.
    The orange eared figure looked at the two of them.
    "Ugh, fine. Just make sure he isn't lagging behind."
    The wide eyed figure nodded and spoke to Brite.
     "I'm going to need you to follow me, ok."
    The figures then started moving down out of the row.
    The figures moved with fluid motion making sure to move away from shady characters and hop over the occasional passed out drunk. They seemed to glide across the row with a sort of practiced ease.
The orange eared one kept watch looking out for anything coming their way.
Brite managed to keep up using the footwork he learned in the forest. His pace matched that of their's so he was always following behind. They had reached the end of the row and it was blocked off by a wall.
    It was then that they adjusted to the left and went down an alleyway. The alleyway was dark but Brite could see well enough. The orange eared figure took out an unlit lantern from underneath their cloak.  Brite saw that their where black spots covering over the arm of the orange eared figure. They opened up the lantern and held out their other hand to the lantern. Brite looked closer at their hands and realized they had long black nails.
    They began to slide their nails across each other in quick snapping motions.
    "I thought you said you wanted to leave here as soon as possible."
    The wide eyed figure remarked.
    "Yeah yeah I'm workin on it."
    The orange eared figure responded back.
    Then orange sparks flew from their nails and lit the lantern.
    "Got it!"
    The figures then continued to move along.
    The wide eyed figure had continued to hold Brite's hand this entire time. They walked to the end of the alley past a few sleeping men with large brimmed hats over their faces. There they were met by a wooden door with iron bolting and hinges.
    The orange eared figure then went and unlocked many of the locks holding the door closed. He then carefully opened up the door with a wooden squeal. They all stepped through the door and out the other side.
    They were now outside of the round market and were facing a forest of great trees. The orange eared figure now spoke directly to him.
    "Ok Brite, I hope you're ready to go fast, cuz we ain't stoppin."
    The figures then started to run to the Forrest at a higher speed. Brite kept with their pace focused on following the movements of the wide eyed figure. They ran in through a gap in between the trees.
    They were practically having to dodge the trees like they were incoming arrows with how fast they were moving. Fireflies flew about the forest and flickered their lights.
    Brite had thought they were pretty, but he didn't really get a chance to stop and look at them. The three of them weaves through the trees and over rocks. Brite didn't quite know where they were going, but he didn't sense any form of bad intent from the figures. He trusted them.
    They started to slow, but it was not out of tiredness. They were reaching their destination. They came to a small circular clearing in the trees. There was a campfire ring with fresh firewood set up. There were also a few supplies there like a pitched tent and filled with drying salts, papers and ink, bandages, and two iron daggers.
    Brite slowed to a stop along with the figures. The orange eared figure strode over to the campfire with the lantern. He kneeled down and used his nails to light the wood aflame.
    "Welcome to our humble camp."
    The orange eared figure said still keeping his eyes on the fire.
    The wide eyed figure noticed they were still holding Brite's hand even though they stopped running. They quickly took their hand away and looked down at the ground with embarrassment.
    The orange eared figure then stood up and introduced the two of them.
    "I'm Fern and this is my little brother Frost."