Grave Shift

It had taken more time than they’d care to admit when it came to collecting what remained of their belongings. A study housed within the college nearly emptied in hopes of protecting all they’d recorded in its embrace, and with it ensure at least a portion of their work could be kept close to home. Or rather, what was currently considered such while keeping to the company of a rather intriguing student. One who had offered a place amidst her family’s dwellings, in luxury they were hardly accustomed to.

Arrangements that would no doubt come with whispered corrections, subtle nudges to direct them away from particular acts or phrases while in the presence of ‘superiors’. Nobles who held their crowns ever higher when faced with oddities. Though whether such things may transpire or not - it would hardly deter the doctor from their usual behaviors when granted privacy. One on one encounters with the smoke laced girl or even members of her proclaimed staff.

Beasts who greeted them with eyes both curious and judgmental. No matter what these nameless fools sought of them, never did it halt their roving gaze to take in the peculiarities of their frame. Though no matter what plagued the minds of the desperate - a noble, their superior - had vouched for them. Placed a rat in good standing.

Oh that sickly girl with proclamations upon her tongue.
The title of doctor, of overseeing treatment during their stay.

Yet when such proposition had initially been made, hardly could those extravagant creatures have anticipated one such as they and this alone brought forth a surge of amusement with each passing glance. Each side step when one granted a wider berth while those emboldened came for assistance in their own ailments - recommendations from another’s tongue… and they had promised to behave, so it would be given. Prescriptions, cures - namely rest, some form of herbal tea - for those who overworked and stressed about the tasks assigned to them.

Nothing dreadful, nothing that could easily spell their demise. Nothing fun.

But now? There came no such distractions for them now. None of those wayward souls held their focus and it allowed steps to stray without a sense of guidance. Surely someone would discover them in their wanderings, however, until that moment arose they would snoop. See if one could discover hidden secrets buried beyond ‘off limit’ doors or eavesdrop on the gossiped whispers of careless maids. Talons clicked to crackled flooring as they slunk through the expansive home, mismatched sights scanning all they passed by only to find temporary pause. Weight pressing upon their hind limbs as a fore paw reached to poke toward hanging decorum.

"Speak"

Aurora

Alone with her thoughts was a horrible thing, constantly going to the darker parts of her subconscious and pinning herself against a wall of self loathing and resentment. Why couldn’t she have been more resilient and capable. Free? Her ears twitched gently against the top of her head as her gaze faded into the void of the darkly lit room, attention having long since drifted from her pile of books she had shuffled from the college to entertain her confinement. It would be the gentle flick of a tail not of canine that would draw her attention back to the present, glancing down at the feline that had been gifted to her, finding comfort in her arms and on top of the book that had been open. That would make reading impossible as stripes and fluff blocked her view, inwardly chiding the wildcat despite the truth she hadn’t been reading for an hour or so now. Drawing in a breath, she pressed her nose to the top of its head, seeing if it would be affectionate this time or get nasty again.

Only a little purr would vibrate both her ears and her forearms, making her giggle just a touch, finding it cute when it was being nice and not casting side eye glances at her. The disturbance would make it turn to her, its tail thrashing to smack her on the muzzle in silent demand to stop making noise. A sigh escaped her, instantly deflated by the change in how it reacted to her from a second ago. At least it wasn’t growling, she supposed.

“Must you always be like him and n-n-not like the one that gave you to me?” she murmured, only getting an ear flick in return. It was like having a pet Elias sometimes and it bothered her greatly. That cute face and who she got it from would simmer that upset regularly. Victorian. A shutter of a breath took over her lungs as her tail twitched, having heard that no one had seen him in the return of injured soldiers, and she hadn’t gotten a letter from him in some time now and it had her tail coiling with uncertainty.

Was… Victorian dead?

She swallowed, tears brimming along the lid of her pastel eyes. The idea was horrifying to think he had come to his end, but her fears consumed her thoughts faster than she could chase them away.

What of Gwydion too? She hadn’t seen him since the start of the war when she told him to go home, away from the winery so that he would be safe. Would he be dumb enough to fight? She couldn’t see him as a killer or as one that could really beat anyone in a fight. He was too sweet and foolish, not a soldier at all. Haskell kind of reminded her of him whenever she saw her half siblings to read them stories.

Victorian and Gwydion please be okay.

The thoughts were ice in the back of her mind as she abruptly got up, forgetting the cat had been on her as she rose to all fours. Shaking her head, any tears that had managed to surface would fling into the air but the red within her eyes were not so easy to get rid of. Carefully she would walk around the cat, adjusting her steps so as not to end up stepping on a rattling tail of disapproval that she had ruined its comfort. She was sure the moment she gave it a fish later it would love her again, forgiving all her transgressions she had caused in a matter of seconds.

Glancing toward the feline, she would draw in a breath before holding it in for a few moments, counting to ten and exiting the room before she’d finally release the air she trapped in her lungs. Her tail flicked with annoyance as the guard that was with her now instantly tried to step in line with her, giving them a glare that was growing more and more natural with each passing day. She knew the woman was paid to keep her safe, keep her comfortable but the last thing she wanted was some false worry from a stranger right now and it seemed the woman had taken the hit quickly enough, canceling her steps at the sight of the young noble. “Please, just give me ssspace,” she said with a glance away, feeling bad for letting her anger out at all. “Sorry…I’m just getting some water, no need to f-f-follow” she sighed, as the guard relented and allowed her a solo walk along the corridors of the manor.

It only made her mind fall more to one of those she missed, the one that held that title before and it caused her steps to trail around aimlessly, contemplating leaving the abode altogether to look for them herself. She wanted an out, something that could connect her to those that were far from her reach but there was one not so far away that would give her some direction. Carefully she made it toward the doctor’s guest room, hoping that maybe being around him might clear her head at least some as her ears flicked for some form of nose that might hint that he was awake but soon she would come to see the door to his quarters was left without occupants. Wherever could that chimera have hobbled off to? A brow twitched with yet another bloom of worry, hoping he hadn’t run off to go get something from the college when it sounded like that was where the next fight might be.

Not long did she have to look to locate the pelt more like that of rodent than wolf as she caught sight of black and white meshing in a way no other she knew could compare. Eyes would widen as she saw the patchy small body extent upward, poking around at things. “Dantès!” she squeaked and sounded like the most disappointed mother all in one, ears tilting back with disbelief in his manners. “Are you t-t-trying to get my uncle to remove your paws? I don’t tthhhink e-e-even you have the skills to mend that, doctor,” she shuddered at the thought of what might be done to the chimera if he broke something in the house. Paw removal would be one of the tamer options, she could only guess, while death is the kindest.


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"No amount of sleep in the world could cure the tiredness I feel."

Art © Chemodan, Coding © Plymouth