The Prince

No Name To Go By

He had meant it when he had said he wouldn't be mad. He already knew that it was more than likely to happen. Some people were just sick like that and enjoyed seeing others being put down or harmed. What were a couple more bruises anyway? He started blankly into the darkness. He wasn't part feline and couldn't see in the dark.

He held his hands out, wrists together, prepared for what he expected next once the coat was taken back, but it never came and he was surprised. Every other being had jumped at the chance to bind him and have their fun, but Ashiya had not even tried such a thing. Reid found himself feeling more grateful every moment the other helped him. Like most land things, he wasn't familiar with the inn. He didn't know the purpose of it as he had never been in or heard of one. He remained seated on the bed, only having moved to pull the cloak over his shoulders before the whispered word reached his ears. He was so used to orders after having been enslaved that he didn't even think about it.

He stood on unsteady legs and carefully made his way across the room. It was too dark for him to see anything and he had to go slowly to feel his way around. It was difficult but he eventually found the door and the creaking of the floorboards seemed loud in the silence. He didn't know what a bar was or why there would be patrons in it at a late hour, all that mattered was that there was no one in it currently. He knew the hallway was there but not the stairs. In fact, he had never used stairs, so when the ground suddenly dropped out from under his foot, he jerked back and fell to the floor.

Emerald eyes searched the darkness for anything but he couldn't see and he carefully reached out a foot from where he sat, and it happened again. The floor was there, and then it wasn't. His heart started to beat faster. What if he lost Ashiya? He would be in trouble then. He could still hear the other moving though, so there had to be some way down. He scooted carefully to the edge of the floor and braced himself for just about anything. He reached one hand forward slowly until it reached the edge of the floor and then he felt over it. Maybe there was some sort of trick.. and then his fingers brushed the top of the next step. It was surprisingly close and he reached a foot down next and set it on the step. It seemed sturdy.

Every step was like that. He reached over the edge of it to find the next step with his fingers and then he put his feet on it and slid down to sit on that step and reached to find the next. It was slow, but he did it until he reached the bottom of the stairs and the floor was flat once more. He slowly got to his feet and felt for a wall or something steady himself as well as hold him up and guide him until his eyes adjusted to the moonlight filtering through the windows and he could finally make out the shapes of the things in the room. He finally stepped outside and was immediately chilled by the cold air, but he didn't complain. Goosebumps rose along his skin and he pulled the cloak closer. That was the most walking he had done since he had been brought to land and it was far more exhausting than he thought. Any transportation he had undergone had been in chains or in a cage.

He was grateful for the pause once outside and he looked up at Ashiya and frowned. He immediately felt bad for not properly introducing himself but he thought better of it. If Ashiya didn't know his name yet, then he wouldn't be able to slip up. If they were caught, the less he knew, the better. He gazed at the man. "Right now I am either 'pet' or 'slave'. If we were to get caught, it would be better for you to not know my name. I have already put you in danger by telling you where it is that I am from. If we make it safely to whatever lies beyond what you call the city, then I shall tell you my name. If we are discovered and captured, you not knowing who I am may save your life. It is the only way that I can help you right now."

It was a bit harsh, especially since Ashiya was helping him, but not knowing his name could potentially keep him safe. There was no way he could slip up and call him by name in front of someone either that way. He had been referred to as slave and pet since his capture, being called such a bit longer would not hurt anyone, though, part of him was sure that Ashiya wouldn't be too happy with his answer.