In The Arms Of The Beasts

Rivers of Gold

A few days later
I was currently getting dressed up in the supervisor's estate for a painting. He was going to work with a local catfolk artist and the cat he was supervising, maybe she'd get me up to speed on everything? Kirishima tended to answer my letters more than Bakugo did but we still kept in constant contact.

I was supposed to be getting another one today, I was actually pretty excited to see who answered my last one. The bad thing was that I was getting through my paper like dragons get through treasure, I hated the idea of slowing down but maybe it was best?

"Kitten, another letter came for you" right, the supervisor had resorted to calling me 'kitten' which made me cringe. He put it in my hands and continued his lecture about being 'careful'. "You're a precious creature, kitten. If you have an admirer, maybe you need to consider that they only want you because of your materialistic value?"

I could see him in the mirror behind me watching my tail as a mood indicator "it's not an 'admirer'. I have boyfriend, he's the one sending the letters. To check in on me" I felt the old man's fingers run down my arm. Even if I wanted to, I couldn't explain how wrong it felt.

"Touch me like that and I'll sell your windpipe on the black market. I'm sure the devils have a good use for that stuff" his touch came away "oh hush now, kitten. It was simply a brush was it not?" I spun around "your kind tortured me for a long while, so forgive me if I have trust issues"

A small smile came across his lips as he exited the room twiddling his fingers like a small child. And from that moment on, I didn't even feel remotely safe with this man, and rain seasons and wasn't even nearly over.

Once we were down by the river, I toyed with the envelope thinking whether I should open it now or later on in privacy. I guess privacy didn't really exist now considering I was practically homeless. The rain fell heavily for a few hours then we'd be dragged out here for a painting then it was the run to beat the rain before it began to fall again. I decided I'd open it now just to know it was nothing bad:

To Arisu
Bakugo's off his rockers about you being gone, we're relieved you made it back. We did get the messenger dude you sent but he seemed more thrilled he found you so we barley got the message, I think the gist was that you were doing okay. So what kind of place you got? Any kitty friends yet? It would be awesome to see where you grew up sometime. I know you said you were a stray but there must've been some kind of shelter? Keep the letters coming, they're the highlight of both our days just hear from you! It's so quiet here without you! Come home soon, okay? All the best - Kirishima

I knew that question would come sooner or later, but at least he didn't ask about my dietary which only resorted of the scraps the charity workers brought around. Even though it was greatly appreciated, it wasn't enough to keep my weight up.

The other cats we were joined by were charming and I don't mean that in a sarcastic way, they genuinely were quite flattering towards me. One was young ginger around my age and a male sphinx just a bit younger than my supervisor, both of them were just as cautious around him as I was but he didn't seem to care, not in the slightest.

"You cut quite the figure in that dress if I do say so" we were told to stand looking out over the river "thank you? Sorry I'm out of practice" I didn't miss her awkward side glance "This place threw you out right? what exactly did the humans do to you?"

I looked away not wanting to continue the conversation. Kirishima was the only one I felt comfortable talking to about that topic, not even my own boyfriend. So tell me again, why would I tell a random cat I just met?

"I'd rather not discuss that, if you don't mind" I squeezed my eyes shut as the images came flooding back, they treated me like a damn animal. I still have the nightmares but I'd never told Bakugo what actually happened, and being the sweetheart he was, he never pushed the topic.

"Oh c'mon, it can't be that bad!" Her tone was really getting to me, why couldn't she be charming anymore? She was such a dear before. I kept my mouth shut focusing on the horizon and tree line across the river. The one thing I wanted badly, was for someone from the dragon kingdom to come and rescue me from this situation and pull me away.

"And we're finished! Go get changed. This time next week?" Oh how badly I wanted to say 'no' and leave but he was the only thing keeping me out of jail, and I couldn't afford to be physically trapped again.

I did as I was told while calming myself by singing a lullaby I was taught by the dryads as a kit. The rest of the day wasn't much better, but I did get the satisfaction of replying to Kirishima's letter.

Dear Kirishima
I do have a few things I have to confess - as you mentioned I was a stray, so I am physically on the streets but I do have cardboard boxes so I promise I'm alright! A few of the laws have changed here, some of them restricting whether I can come home at all once this is all over. But I promise, even if I become an outlaw here, I will make it home to you and our dear king. I think about you both all the time and the day I step back into his kingdom where I truly feel I belong, I'll try to keep you up to date, All my love and faith - Arius

My eyes followed the cat after I slipped my letter into his bag, that's when I noticed it. The streets were more crowded today with the helpless than ever before...