The Sacred Eggs

Chapter 1

Skipping after my master, I hummed tavern songs softly. Being only 5'3 made me very hard to keep track of in crowds so my master ordered I remain in my jester outfit at all times. Oh! Don't get it all wrong, I'm willingly staying with my master...infact! He hates it when I address him by that. It's just a natural instinct of nekos. You see, after we hit 18, we split off from our mother and fathers to find a master. The only reason why is because very few of us can make it alone considering how curious we get alone. In fact! Funny story, a friend of mine fell into an active volcano cause she got too curious about the lava boiling within!....Ok, not so funny, but it's a story! We also stick with a master cause we're terrible hunters so we risk starvation if we go alone.

"Ladle!" My master's sharp voice rang out, making my ears perk up. I quickly caught up with him and smiled up at him. "Yes Master?" I asked as my tail flicked happily behind me. "C'mon. We're heading into the main city to get more supplies." He said while grabbing my waist and hoisting onto one of his three horses, a grey mare named Stormy. "Yay! Ok!" I squealed as I pet her neck. She snorted in response, content with the sudden affection. He grabbed her reins and mounted a black stallion he named Voidrush. He started at a steady trot to keep both of the horses steady.

"So how long till we reach the city?" I asked while gently untangling Stormy's mane. "Not long. You should know this by now." He said, not once glancing at me. "Ok!" I said joyfully before looking up at the clear blue sky. My ears flattened as a giant shadow flew over us and away. "D-did you see that?" I asked my master while shaking slightly. "I'm sure it was just your imagination." He responded before nodding to another passer by. "If you say so..." I whined as my ears slowly swiveled and perked up again. I didn't do much the rest of the ride except watch the sky.

After we reached the city, I lead the horses to the nearby stable and put them in stalls before paying the stable hand using my master's coin and running back to him. "So! What are we shopping for?" I asked with a slight bounce. "Nothing much. Just a few food items and healing potions." He said as my eyes wandered. I saw beautiful harpys purchasing various fruits and meats, elves buying new mushrooms and leaves that they couldn't grow, skeletons browsing armor, and Kitsunes buying various books.

Without realizing it, I drifted off into the crowd and found a three tailed kitsune boy watching everyone and talking to a naga boy. "Hi! I'm Ladle!" I said with a smile, introducing myself. "Hey...I'm Matsu. This is Cobra." The kitsune said, introducing himself and his friend. "Nice to meet you, my dear." Cobra said before gently kissing my hand. He had vibrant orange eyes and a black snake body with black hair to match. He wore a golden amulet with a emerald jewel in the middle. Matsu wore commoner clothes, had creme colored hair, and green eyes.

"So what brings you here, Ladle? I know how curious nekos can be." Matsu said while putting his hands in his pockets. "Oh, I forgot. My master is around somewhere so he'll call me if he needs me." I said with a shrug, making the bells ring on my hat. "Does your master treat you well? I've heard a few haven't been being nice to their neko companions." Cobra asked while crossing his arms. "Oh, yeah! My master is really nice and keeps me fed and away from danger." I said as my tail slowly flicked behind me. "Wonderful to hear. If he ever does turn on you, please don't hesitate to let someone know despite how scary it may be." He said with a small smile. "Okie! I doubt that'll happen though." I giggled. "Say! Do you wanna play a game?" I asked happily with a head tilt. "Sure." Matsu said with a shrug. "I suppose we could." Cobra said while smiling at how happy I suddenly became. "Ok! Let's play tag! Matsu's it!" I yelled before running with a giggle.

Cobra swiftly and skillfully slithered off weaving around people. "Oh, you're gonna pay for that Ladle!" I heard the kitsune yell before he floated above the crowd and soared after me. I giggled and slid under a hole in the wall, entering a restaurant. I wasted no time in running out of there however as I knew Matsu was hot on my tail. I jumped out an open window and ran down an ally way before accidentally bumping into an elven girl. She almost dropped a basket of varied raw meats until I caught it. "I'm sorry! Please don't tell my master! Gotta go!" I said while giving her basket back and running again.

I quickly hid in a shadow and quietly giggled as Matsu blindly flew past me. I snickered and ran off the opposite direction, finding Cobra hiding behind a blacksmith. He smiled at me and waved me over to him. I quickly ran over and stood next to him. "You lost him?" He whispered to me. "Yep! I had hid from him and he completely missed me." I giggled before noticing a red naga slither over. He had green eyes and brown hair. "There you are Cobra. Oh, and I see you found lunch." The naga hissed before going to grab me until Cobra stopped him. "No. Not lunch. She's a friend, Jova." Cobra hissed back in a deadly tone of voice. "Oh come on! She'd be really tasty seasoned with a bit of parsley and sage with a few carrots and potatoes." Jova whined but Cobra glared at him. "No. Neko's are not food, Jova. They are our neighbors and friends."

Jova huffed and rolled his eyes. "Whatever. Say, where's that kitsune guy?" He asked while looking around. "We have decided to play tag to pass the time. This way Ladle can be distracted and Matsu can lose some of his energy so he can sleep tonight." Cobra replied before gently tugging me to his side. "That's stupid." Jova said with an eyeroll. I had noticed he had a rattle on his tail that occasionally twitched when he spoke and it distracted me. I ignored their conversation and suddenly pounced on his tail rattle, startling him. Right before Jova could grab me, Matsu yanked me into the air and placed me next to Cobra. "Found ya!" He said with a laugh. I giggled and adjusted my hat. "Matsu wins!" I said while throwing my hands up in the air. Cobra chuckled and pat my head. My ears perked as I heard my master call out for me. "Awww I gotta go....you think we can play again some day?" I asked Cobra and Matsu, ignoring Jova's angry glare. "One day. For now, head on home. It was wonderful meeting you, darling." Cobra said with a slight bow. "Next time I won't lose you!" Matsu said as he hugged me. "You're on, foxy!" I laughed with a wave before running back to the stalls to find my master.

After finding my master, we left the city together and headed back home riding the horses. I yawned suddenly, catching me by surprise. "I presume you had fun?" My master asked while cocking an eyebrow. "Yeah! I met a three tailed kitsune named Matsu and a naga named Cobra! We had played tag." I said with a smile. "Ladle, do you mind if I ask you a question?" My master asked while looking back at me. "What's up?" I responded with a head tilt. "Even though you're 24, why do you act like a child?" He questioned as the song of crickets was drowned out by the steady hoofs tapping on the cobblestone path. "Because acting like a kitten is really fun! Besides, you never leave your childish spirit behind, just conceal it." I said with a shrug before looking into the forest. I for a split second saw big blue eyes looking back at me but after I blinked they were gone. I shook it off as my imagination running wild and jumped off Stormy as we rode onto our property. I ran inside and up to my room before flopping on my cotton filled bed and falling asleep.