In The Arms Of The Beasts

Fall of crown, of the Queen

The next day
It pained me to pack up and leave without a word knowing what I was leaving behind. Bakugo wasn't usually the understanding type but honestly, what choice did I have? If I said anything, I'd be going against my heritage, traditions and my morals however if I didn't, he could leave me or even throw me out for dishonesty.

On the bright side, the two lords were planning on something for a few days so at least it wouldn't be so awkward if I wasn't here. After fighting with myself over what to do, I resorted to leaving a note on the bed. Bakugo usually came back here in his break between being king and dictating the future of his lands. The letter was as apologetic as I could make it in such a short amount of time but I didn't think it would buy me my stay here:

My King
It's tradition that those around you get no warning when a catfolk leaves for rain season, part of me hoped this day would never come but I know you'll be okay without me, i mean you and Kirishima handled things pretty well before, right? I'm gonna miss you but I don't have a choice.

I was conflicted at first but then I realised you'd done this for centuries without me, so why worry? I'll return at the end of the season if you'll let me?
All my love, the mangy cat -
Arisu

I made my way through the halls trailing my claws against the stone as if it were the last time I'd ever walk those corridors. Knowing how Bakugo could be, it wasn't likely I'd be back here and if I was - I'd be in the dungeons or kitchens, not in this part of the castle.

"You weren't even going to say goodbye?" Those words stung more than anything as I crossed the courtyard towards the gate. I knew that voice anywhere, I shared a bedroom with that voice! But why of all times did he have to break my heart?

"It's one of the rules of rain season, the one I despise the most actually. That letter was breaking the rules if I'm honest, but yea. Catfolk temporarily migrate back to their home village and aren't allowed to say anything about it. It's pretty much where we get our bad reputation so I understand if you hate me now"

I figured he'd be gone if I gave him the quickest explanation possible, more so if I didn't look at him. "Last time I checked, you were a petty outcast to those animals. Why follow their rules now?"

I couldn't help but glance back at him with tear stained cheeks "what choice do I have?" His fingers trailed across my jawline and under my chin "you could stay? I'll let you stay out of the rain for the season? Kirishima and I-""will be fine. You never needed me desperately, and I'll be back before you know it!"

He sighed in defeat knowing he couldn't convince me to stay "How long?" At first, I bit my tongue. The truth was, I didn't know how long I would be away for. Rainy seasons were unpredictable, it would at least be a month and walking distance from here would be 28 days.

"Two months at least. 4 weeks of that will be travel time" his eyes lit up at the opportunity "let me take you!" I gave a sad smile "I wish you could. I really do! But dragons specifically terrorised my lands for eons now, their first move would be to kill you and put me in some kind of psychological therapy, and that wouldn't be good for either of us"

I embraced him before I felt more tears make their way down my drenched cheeks and onto his shoulder. "You really wanna stay, don't you?" I nodded snuggling into his neck "I do! I really do! I hate it there! But I grew up with this stupid tradition and no matter how hard I try, I can't break it! I'm so sorry!"

I inhaled as much of his scent as I possibly could. I felt his hand slip under my hood and rub my ears gently "I'll send letters, every opportunity I get, I promise!" I wasn't about to tell him I'd be a street cat again, he'd hold me captive just at the thought.

"I want one everyday, you got that?! Every single day! You're not missing one! And if you run out of paper, give me a freaking piece of bark or someone's shoe! You guys wear shoes, right?!" He pulled away to look at my feet noticing that I was always barefoot.

"Only the richest members of society could afford them. I both chose not to and couldn't afford them anyway, embarrassing I know" i attempted to hide my feet under my legs by shuffling backwards only to be pulled back into him "if you're going to be gone for months, I'm holding onto you now for as long as possible"

He pinned me to his chest memorising how I felt against him, everything that made me...well me. It was known fact that the king hated catfolk, each and every single one...except me. Somehow I'd managed to get him to see past the ears and fluffy tail, past my materialistic value, past my defences to know me as another being equal to himself.

He stuffed paper into my bag to use for writing letters, it was kind of sweet to see him care so much. "You got enough food? Water? You're gonna freeze!" He searched around frantically for someone to get me better equipped "I can hunt, streams will be close all the way. I'm gonna be okay, so are you, and so will Kirishima"

An arm swung around my shoulders "someone called? Ooh we going somewhere?! Where we headed?" Kirishima seemed so excited, I'd hate to tell him the news but he deserved to know the truth.

"It's just me going. Rainy season traditions for catfolk" his expression fell shattering my heart into a million pieces "it's just for the season, then I'll be back! I swear! We've already agreed to write letters everyday. You'll be okay!"

I hugged him tightly as he cried into my shoulder. Kirishima and I had built a strong inseparable relationship since I came here, he knew my past like no one else. Not even Bakugo knew the things he knew. Some things could only be brought up once.

"You better come back like you said!" I let him hold me as long as he needed to, Kirishima was known to be very sensitive when it came to me, or anything remotely related to me. I was a 'teacup' and Kiri was my 'bubble wrap' figuratively speaking.

God knows I hated leaving my boys but that's why I had to do it! If I didn't leave now, I'd never leave.

I slowly pulled away once Kiri had stopped crying giving both boys a weak smile showing them this was the right thing to do. I took a few steps back "you better keep your word, dumbass!" I nodded "everyday. And I'll be back the second it stops raining!"

I knew I was giving them false hope but it was better than dying and saying 'we will see what the future holds'. It's an unpopular opinion but I'd rather the possible last time they saw me was full of optimism and hope, maybe even a few promises I knew I wouldn't be able to keep?

Just as I was about to step outside the gate, I was whipped around and a passionate yet aggressive kiss was pressed to my lips "I swear, if you don't make it back..." I cupped the king's face sweetly hoping he'd keep the kind side of him on display. I also wanted him to remember my touch even if it wasn't much.

"Don't think like that! I'll be back in your arms before you know it, what's the worst that could happen? They torture me again?!" His expression showed that my suggestion was indeed his worst fear "it's already happened once, I can endure it again. And this time, I'll know what's waiting for me! But for now...you need to let me go, focus on your kingdom, on being the best king you can be! The one I know! Focus on...Kiri"

I turned to the red knight with a sweet grin "take care of him for me, and yourself. I do actually need my home to still be standing in order to return to it" he saluted affirming my wishes as I stepped beyond the kingdom gate with a small wave "Stay safe! I'll be back before the year is up!"

And before they could chase after me, I set out on all fours running into the maze of trees not to be seen again for a long while.