I Know a Secret

[Darastrix]

After a few moments, a pair of nearly identical golden-eyed felines came slinking out from an alleyway, regarding Nesaeko curiously. Their coats were a mottled combination of gray, black, white, and orange stripes and they appeared to be clean and well-cared for. They didn't have the look of feral or alley cats, nor did they appear to be over-indulged house cats.

~Well, well. What have we here?~ one asked the other.

~Looks like an oversized kitten to me,~ the other replied, rubbing softly against the first as the pair wandered closer.

~What do you want?~ the first asked Nesaeko, sitting just out of arm's reach of the Beast.

[Deleted]

~I've got a little favor I'd like to ask you two, if you don't mind,~ she replied, kneeling down to offer her hand for them to sniff.

[Darastrix]

The first cat twitched her nose slightly in Nesaeko's direction and turned her head to look at her companion. ~What do you think, Mungojerrie?~

~Well, Rumpleteazer, you can't expect a kitten to manage on its own, now can you?~ Mungojerrie paced around his friend and nuzzled her shoulder. ~Just one question, though, yes?~

Both cats turned and looked at Nesaeko. ~What's in it for us?~

[Deleted]

She thought about it for several long moments, frowning. I~I can offer you what little protection you desire, access to my house and anything else that is with in my means to give to you.~

She wasn't certain if this would work, but she thought that it would be worth a try, even if it meant needing to also get them something to curry the favor.

[Darastrix]

Free access to a human's house? If they could, the cats would have smirked.

~I guess that'll do~ said Mungojerrie, flicking his tail. ~So what's this favour?~

[Deleted]

Nesaeko turned and nodded toward the door. ~I just need to get inside here, but the door seems to be locked.~ She gave them a sidelong look, and asked with a doubtful air, ~Do you think you're clever enough to locate, move and hide a piece of jewelry for me?~

[Darastrix]

Rumpleteazer bristled slightly. ~We agree to help you, and you turn right around and insult us?~ she hissed. ~You might have the ears and tail of a cat and be able to speak like one, but you still have the poor manners of a human.~ With that, the she-cat turned and stalked away into the shadows with an affronted air.

Her counterpart watched her leave, twitching the tip of his tail. ~Well, that was right stupid of you,~ he commented mildly. ~I said the payment was acceptable. What's this trinket you want hidden?~

[Deleted]

~Aaah....I did not mean to insult her. I do hope that you would pass on an apology to her for me, if I can't get one to her.~ Nesaeko sighed and stared after Rumpleteazer.

Returning her gaze to the male, she continued, ~It is a faceted oval emerald set in gold, the setting has an appearance of wings curled around the stones edge. I would like it to be hidden within the store-keeps living quarters, if you do not mind.~

[Darastrix]

~Sounds simple enough,~ the cat commented, stretching a bit before moving through the little door. He didn't bother asking the why of the rather odd request, shrugging it off as a human oddity or a prank of sorts. Mungojerrie wasn't quite sure what an emerald looked like compared to other stones, but how many stones wrapped in wings could there be in there?

Quite a few, actually. The cat hopped up on counters and shelves, nosing through the jewelry. The pendents on chains he dismissed because she never mentioned one, though he did bat a few of them around before moving on. He pawed through a tray of loose pendents on display, but found them to be either smooth on top, the wrong shape, or the wings were fanned out, not curled around. Finally, he jumped to a shelf behind the counter, scattering a few of the trinkets as he went. There, he found what he was looking for, an oval with a multi-edged surface and wings curled around it.

Picking it up in his mouth, Mungojerrie hopped back down and carried it out the door. ~Is this the one?~ he asked, setting the green and gold piece down.

[Deleted]

Carefully, she bent down, tucking back a lock of hair, and examining the jeweled item. Nesaeko then nodded, saying, Yeah, that's it, thank you. Now could you take it upstairs to the shop-owners room and hide it?

[Darastrix]

((Communication between a Beast and an animal is verbal, not mental.))

The cat picked the emerald back up and bounced back through the little door, heading for the stairs. After several long minutes, Mungojerrie trotted back downstairs and out the door, looking quite pleased with himself. ~Done and done.~

[Deleted]

Thank you once again, Mungojerrie - you have done me a great favor and I will hold to the promises that I have given to you, Nesaeko said, bending down once again and offering the male cat her hand.

[Darastrix]

~Rather odd favour, if you ask me,~ he commented, brushing very briefly against her hand. ~But now's a silly time to start expecting you humans to make more sense than you ever have. Ta.~

With that, the tom trotted off towards the alleyway and out of sight.

[Deleted]

Nesaeko blinked and watched the alleyway to which he went down for several long minutes before standing up and trotting off in the opposite direction.

Reaching the house of the man, she knocked on the door, three sharp raps.

[Darastrix]

A man, dressed in plain, serviceable clothing, opened the door and raised an eyebrow at Nesaeko.

"May I help you?" he asked frostily. The manservant didn't recognise her, but to his thinking, no woman would come knocking at a man's home late at night unless she's begging for money or selling...something.