houdini

It had been bad enough when anxieties had already festered over coming this way in the first place, now they only increased tenfold as ragged breath jostled from his lungs with each bound. Limbs kicking off the ground in hopes of putting as much distance between himself and those within the markets. Evade any that may have deemed it worthwhile to chase after one falsely accused. If they hadn’t jumped to conclusions a fair trade could have been made or the creature forced to return what had been plucked between her talons. A stone which cast refractions of light to the realm below as attentions briefly flickered to where she soared high above.

“Si vispa wux ti ekess ahfven coi wux pothoc xathi!” (I told you not to take it you stupid bird!) Lyrics calling out as if the creature would find understanding in them, though even if she did, Leslie knew all too well he was not a creature respected. Why should any heed the warnings he had to give? Why should any bother to even listen to a single word he dared to say? In the end, it wouldn’t be worth their while - nor his - to even try. Each left with only fragmented understanding of one another. Maybe, just maybe, if he held a better grasp on languages scarcely known he would not be running like this now. Fleeing from the grasps of proclaimed guard.

The sooner he was out of these walls the better, perhaps any pursuers wouldn’t bother to follow him past the gates? An unlikely outcome but one could cling to ever fleeting hopes. It wasn’t he who had plucked their ‘precious jewels’ and yet a guilty crown still lay upon his skull the moment Junebug perched along his spine. A beak pecking away at that glimmering gem encased with lacing of gold. If he could get his paws on her now he’d… well do nothing, nothing but snatch that trouble causing jewelry from here grasps and be rid of it without a second thought. Though such was an impossible task as the nightjar fluttered overhead. It was no use.

Even should he get thing from her later, there were hardly any plans to return to these lands any time soon. If he could even get out in the first place. Frantic gaze danced over constructs of stone before landing upon decorated fabrics, draping the outreaches of the city in shadows. A good enough place to hide until the coast was clear. One where perfumes wafted in scents unfamiliar and yet, in his mind, it was better to risk this unknown than to face the fangs of the guard. So with another glance thrown over his shoulder, a pale frame dove behind the veil. Hardly registering any who may be within before ducking beneath whatever could be reached first.

Jaws hung open before suddenly snapping shut, hoping to control that huffing breath. Try to calm the rapid beat of his heart and how the thrum of his pulse echoed in his ears, nothing more than a dull hum gleaned from the world outside until a rush of feathers pierced through it all as Junebug carelessly nestled alongside him. The clink of jewelry a faint sound against all else. Ears preened back, Leslie’s voice scarcely above a whisper as a paw coiled about the bird to pull her in. Keep her from darting out should a pursuer or any other come to investigate, “Charis batobot anhew jahus xihuuli coi fekiwvi hofiba.” (Hope that jewel was worth it greedy fool.) He knew it wouldn’t be, for what use was a gemstone other than as glimmering adornment?

(This post was last modified: 08-27-2024, 03:30 PM by Leslie.)

The unexpected entrance of a stranger had initially spooked her, but the woman residing in the makeshift tent of fabric and furs remained perfectly still and silent. Moon had swiftly discovered that the intruder was firstly not focused on her in the slightest.

He had scampered inside and swiftly turning around and peering outward as though ensuring he was concealed away in an impromptu hiding place. Secondly, the brute was miniscule in his stature...she might've mistaken him for a lost child had she not picked up on the maturity of his voice even at a whisper.

And so, she simply relaxed in the many plush pillows that she reclined in, perfectly content to observe and allow the story to unravel. What could possibly have had her guest running and hiding? It was very curious, indeed. Moon waited only a moment longer, before her naturally deep voice addressed him in a smooth, velvety tone, “And to whom do I owe the pleasure for such an intriguing arrival?"

@Leslie

code by claerie

There had been little thought over who or what may lie beyond the veil for in those moments all one cared about was escaping the eyes of aggression. To duck away from the fury of presumed lawmen until they gave up the hunt for a thieving bird no less. One tied to by circumstance, by the way she perched so proudly atop his spine to show off a glimmering prize as jewelry captured refractions of sunlight. Touch sparking the ire of a merchant and the hardly leashed threats which soon laced that venomous tongue.

But in here? Within this perfumed shroud where deeply rooted aromas of incense lingered, there came naught but his own breathing. No thundering steps echoing in his ears yet the hammering rhythm of an anxious heart was quick to take its place. Those panicking beats reaching a crescendo within the pounding confines of his skull as one attempted to swallow back fears. He didn’t want trouble. This day he had not gone looking for it. All Leslie wanted was to hide away, to lay low, evade the realm that awaited just outside that flimsy shield of fabric.

At least for a little while.

And perhaps he would have remained beneath this makeshift cover if it were not for the way nerves slowly steadied, how one gained breath anew; enough to truly capture the interwoven warmth of another. Her aromas all that filtered through the low lit room lain before him. Everything radiating from her, from the slowly weaving tendrils of smoke emanating from their perched sticks. No matter how he may wish to, there was no denying that someone else lay within these chambers. Someone else was here.

Face becoming ever harder to deny when phrases deeper than he could ever dream of mustering rose to break the silence. Though no matter how smoothly they flowed, the words were like garbled nonsense in his ears. Nice to listen to yet impossible to understand. Only bits and pieces making it through the fog of what one knew not. Swallowing back swiftly resurfacing nerves, the marked hound slunk from his hiding spot. Junebug fluttering to perch happily along his shoulders with a glimmering necklace still clutched in her grasps.

It is she who meets this unknown’s amber hues without hesitation while Leslie cannot find it in himself to find her gaze. An eye closing while two remained to stare at the ground beneath his paws. Never daring to flicker over her visage, unable to take in the calmness of her visage nor how there lingered not a trace of anger upon it. Even if he had, it would not have eased the tension gripping at his throat. Boyish tones faltering as he tripped over his own tongues. A name hardly offered in place of how one plead, “Tir… Tir ti qe pazien, petranas.” (Do… do not be mad, please.)

Split muscle flicked over his lips in nervous gesture, each end curling against overgrown teeth before disappearing once more. “Si, si… si.” (I, I… I.) An explanation hard to find despite knowing she was unlikely to understand anything more than the panicked unease which seized hold of him, “Si filki rigluin ekess jutosh, rigluin vi goawy ekess houpe for vi klewar hak... hak si geou jaseve. Coi geou qe hefoc si mi ti tangis tenpiswo kagh nurti jahus.” (I just need to escape, need a place to hide for a moment then... then I will leave. It will be like I am not even here and never was.) And while it lay against his better judgment it is only then that eyes rise to meet hers, heavily framed in pale lashes as all of them fixing upon captivating amber. “Si okros coi.” (I swear it.)