Cats and dogs|Sensatiamens, Sensatia

[Northen Light36]

Flame slipped out of her home with ease. Her father was busy with work and her mother and sister had gone to Fira to prepare the clan to move. She wasn't sure where Libre was and didn't really care right now. She was still somewhat put out over having to stay behind, even if she did love going for walks with her father each afternoon and she understood that moving the clan would be busy and messy at first, and that Tres would send someone to pick her up right before the move, when everything was ready to go.

Understanding that didn't help with the restless sense of being left out of something exciting though. And Thelon's instruction to stay indoors unless with him was beginning to be hard for the little girl to tolerate. Like most Fira children, she was used to running about all day outside and being cooped up indoors was difficult for her. I'm just gonna be outside for a little while, she reminded herself. And I'm not gonna go outside the garden, that's part of the house, right?

Playing in the tiny yard wasn't much of a subsitute for Fira, but it would still allow her to feel the sun on her skin. It was so uncomfortably cold inside, and she wasn't allowed to make the fires burn as hot as she wanted to do. So, with a last uneasy glance back at the house, Flame run out into the yard...

Only to nearly run into a very large, and very angry blink dog. As the beast snarled, Flame let out a terrified yelp and tried to run back to the door - only to find the blink dog in front of her, lunging for her.

Flame screamed, out loud and mentally, in terror. Something redish and black leapt out of a scrubby looking bush, landing on the dog's face. Flame just had time to realise it was a cat before the blink dog threw the feline into the wall of the house. For a moment it paused, looking between Flame and the cat and seeming to struggle to decide who to go after first.

[Kender Bard]

Thelon had jerked out of his work as sharply as if he'd been struck by a physical blow when he heard Flame's scream. He mentally groped out and felt her presence nearby and teleported to where she was. Seeing the blink dog, Thelon touched his signs and uttered a hasty chant before mentally assaulting the creature. He wasn't entirely sure if they could teleport out of a telekinetic grip and he wasn't going to risk it. Hopefully he'd kill its mind or chase it off.

[Northen Light36]

The blink dog staggered and growled at Thelon, but it didn't make a move towards him or Flame. After a moment the beast clearly decided this was too much effort for a meal and teleported away to find easier prey.

Flame, shaking with fear, picked up the stunned cat and looked up at her father with tear-filled eyes. "She helped me, daddy," she told her father, her voice shaking as much as her body. "I thought it would be okay to just sit in the yard, I wasn't going any farther I promise. And the dog was there and it was going to bite me but the cat jumped on it."

Aerith lifted her head weakly and licked at Flame's tears. ~You needed help little one,~ she spoke softly. The child needed comfort and Aerith was too sore to bother about keeping secrets. Particularly since she'd found her new chosen human, someone she sensed needed her. And by the Lady, she needed to be needed again.

[Kender Bard]

Since when could I hear cat-thoughts? Thelon wondered, a little wide-eyed. No, he'd deal with that later. Flame first. Gathering his daughter into his arms, he hastened her back inside. "This is why I said not to go outside without me," he murmured, turning her around with a worried look. "Are you hurt, dear?"

[Northen Light36]

Flame shook her head. "No Daddy. I'm sorry, Daddy. I didn't mean to be naughty, really." She looked at the cat and murmured, "You can talk kitty?"

Areith purred weakly and nuzzled Flame's chin. ~When I chose to, yes. It was a gift, given to my mother and passed on to my littermates and I.~ She turned her head, looked at Thelon and then shifted - clearly painfully - in Flame's arms so that her mind sign can be seen more clearly.

[Kender Bard]

"I know you didn't," Thelon murmured at Flame's statement of naughtiness, touching her cheek. When the cat spoke again, he gave a little jump, then stared in complete shock at the Mind sign on the cat. "Forces above..." He looked at the cat carefully. "Well you saved my daughter's life, little cat." He felt completely stupid, talking to an animal. "The least I can do is make sure you're comfortable. Flame, take the cat to your room. I'll be right back." He touched his sign and teleported.

[Northen Light36]

Flame carried Areith to her room, laying her down on the bed and covering her with a doll blanket. "There, that'll keep you warm. What's your name?"

~I was once called Areith, but I'd prefer not to use that name anymore,~ Areith replied. ~You may give me a new one, if you'd like, since I will be staying with you. What is your name, little human?~ Areith paused, then added, ~I would prefer no one outside your family knew of my gift.~

"Okay," Flame agreed easily. "But can I tell my best friend, Amneris? She's my cousin."

~Very well,~ Areith agreed.

"I'm Flame," Flame added, answering the earlier question. "And, if I gotta keep you a secret, how about we call you that? Secret."

~I like that,~ the newly re-named Secret replied. ~Very well, Flame.~ She reached out to lick the little girl's hand.

[Kender Bard]

Thelon returned not long after. He'd spent the money on buying an extra vial of healing water and poured its contents into a saucer, then brought that to Flame's room. "Here we are," he announced. "I got some healing water for the cat." He set the saucer carefully near Secret's head. "Drink up, kitty."

[Northen Light36]

~Thank you, but my name is Secret,~ Secret replied, lapping eagerly at the healing water as she spoke. When it was finished, she gave a little purr of pleasure and stood up to rub against Flame. ~That feels much better. Thank you, again.

"Can she stay, Daddy?" Flame asked. "Please? She said she wants to stay and be my friend."

[Kender Bard]

"I don't see why not," Thelon answered as he picked up the saucer. A rare treasure like a cat with an elemental sign... No he didn't want that getting away. He had a lot of questions for the animal, in fact. But it could wait. "But she's your responsibility now, Flame."

[Northen Light36]

Flame grinned and nodded. "I don't mind. I'll take good care of you, Secret."

~I'm sure you will, little one,~ Secret replied, nuzzling Flame again. ~And I'll take good care of you as well. It seems to me that you might need someone to keep you out of trouble,~ she added with a hint of humour and affection in her 'voice'.

"Come on, you can meet my brother, Libre," Flame told the cat, picking her up and running off to find her brother. "Libre! Libre!" she shouted, unable to touch her sign with the cat in her arms.

[Kender Bard]

~What is it, Flame?~ Libre asked. He was in his room, sitting on his bed with a book and a sheaf of parchment next to himself. A few pieces were crumpled up and tossed into a corner. When she entered, he glanced over and lowered his book in surprise. "Hey, a cat!"

[Northen Light36]

"Her name's Secret," Flame told her brother. "She saved my life." Quickly she explained to her brother what had happened with the blink dog and how Secret had leapt out to attack it and distract it from Flame. "And then she told Daddy and me that she wanted to stay here."

[Kender Bard]

Libre smiled, assuming Flame meant that the cat had rubbed against them or meowed loudly or something to that affect. "I hope father said you could keep her. If he did, I bet mother would."

[Northen Light36]

"Yep," Flame agreed happily. "But I have to look after her, cause she's my friend. And she's going to look after me too, so I don't get in trouble again. Right Secret?"

~Well, I'm going to try anyway,~ Secret laughed, waiting for Libre's reaction in amusement.