Furs in Steam Chapter 3
In a former life he had known the sensation, the warmth and comfort, of waking with arms wrapped round another holding tightly just next to smothering however in Lesus' body it had been a first and overall a first time for it being Leopard beside him. Sephera was still snoozing quietly the throw blanket she had been wrapped in amid talks the night prior discarded and replaced with the heavy comforter Razien found himself beneath. There was cause for much relief as he found the two of them still clothed, for all his memory could draw of going to sleep he may as well have been drugged. Looking over to the chair he could only see one wide ear sticking up from the floor, raising himself on an elbow he found the Lynx faced to the embers of in the hearth, the slow rise and fall of his chest indicating sleep. His curtained windows gave a very brief glimpse on the skyline but from all the Wolf could tell it was still before dawn, dark yet not the absolute pitch of night, for all he knew his parents, Lesus' parents, had thought him asleep and hadn't discovered the two non-canines in his chambers. For a moment he breathed a sigh of relief falling back into the sheets and throwing his arm over the Leopard to pull her close. Though certainly out Sephera gave off a sort of receptiveness, her paw clasped his that pressed against her exposed midsection and her tail slipped between his legs to wrap about one calf. Lightly Razien rubbed his muzzle into the nape of her neck, pressing aside the pale grey locks of excess hair that hung past her shoulders, for all the world he could believe that she still had that lovely reek of dahlia in her fur. Then again for all he had seen and known of this world and those beyond it was still so surreal to have her beside him again albeit in fur not her own however she seemed to at home in the body of a Leopard it was hard to imagine her as Badger. She would be again, once the dancer's body gave way, once she returned to the other side and moved as a spirit across that empty landscape. Thinking of that place, Karhan' Dharian, Razien had to wonder if any of the Lords had stayed or if they had all emptied out once the seal was broken in an effort to stem the chaos that the Bloodkin and Vile-Souled and all else that had been put away for that span of nearly two centuries. Lost in thought the Wolf lingered somewhere between wakefulness and sleep until the sun began to push into the sky and the door cracked open even so quietly.
That warm maternal voice that could encourage and comfort was no stranger to scolding and calling down the young man when he was out of line. Shera leaned in close to whisper in Razien's ear, the low volume of her words being no buffer to the disdain to them, "You are quite lucky your father drank himself well under the table last night young master and that your mother had no mind to check on you when they returned. Now I don't mind your comings and goings so long as they don't wind you facing the wrong end the master's belt or don't end in the finger being pointed at me so best you wake your little friends and bid them farewell for now." "Thank you Shera, I'll wake them and we will be on our way for the day, I appreciate you looking out for us," Razien said turning over to face the full-figured Fox who worked to clear her paw pads off on her apron. Her muzzle was set with distaste though not absolute abhorrence in the sight, "Yes well it would be your tail as much mine were I to tell your father and well certain if either he or your mother found you like this I'd be lucky to only be out a job and you would have to thank Mother Sirius you didn't wind up in the military school your father attended." "Right, it's not as it appears though. I fell asleep and..." he trailed off trying to think of anything to explain away the sight of the Leopard lying snuggled so close to him in bed. With a humble smile she shook her head, "No need to explain to me Lesus, you're a grown boy and you have those thoughts I'm sure, just certainly glad to see her and in your bed rather than him. Now make sure you let me know when you're leaving, I'd like to make sure there's nothing left to give your father any indication you had guests." "Sure thing Shera, thanks again," Razien sat watching the Fox exit, almost not acknowledging the three steaming bowls among other breakfast items left on the tray beside the door. Moments such as this gave Razien a sharp prickling in his stomach, he had so many of these times where Shera had looked out for him as a mother but all the while she was carrying for someone long and replaced with another. 'Would it break her heart were she to know the truth or would she care all the same for the boy that was once Lesus Altara? Certainly if it were kept quiet she would have to but deep inside would you she resent the knowledge that Lesus has been gone for cycles and instead a man who personally knew her god instead wore his fur?'
Gingerly as he could manage Razien shook Sephera awake, revealing those twin turquoise stones tinged with their characteristic hint of silver that always seemed to halt the Wolf's heart for a breath. Even with all his knowledge of souls, of how to take possess a body, or how to manifest oneself as only a formless entity Razien had yet to understand why the eyes were always the tell. A very soothed look cross her muzzle and her lids half concealed those sparkling jewels, "A bit early don't you think or were you holding something else in mind." "It's not early, nearly too late, we'll be lucky if we slip out of here before the Altaras wake," he responded flatly, certain of what she had in mind and just as assured how horrible an idea it would be for him at that moment. Putting a paw to his back she lifted himself using him as an anchor, "Oh you're no fun sometimes you know that Razi." "Well better he be no fun right now, I'm not to interested in pretending to sleep while you to... anyhow he's right we should be off, should have gone last night if someone could have stayed awake," Torqariyan cut in already up and dusting himself off from all the ash that had fallen on him in the night. Glaring at the man and his less than warranted interruption Razien replied curtly, "I didn't intend to fall asleep and how long have you been awake for?" "Long enough to hear the old girl give you a talking to that's for sure, you see these ears aren't just for show," the Lynx raised the edges of his muzzle wanly as he made to sit once more in the chair he held during the night. Biting back a more gruff tone the Wolf returned, "She's not just some old girl, Shera's one of the kindest women I've known and cared enough not only to save all our hides from Master Altara but went to the trouble of leaving us breakfast." "She's like the mother I never had or perhaps did, I'm not certain this one had a mother, all the same it will be nice to have a meal other than rice and whatever the other dancer could scrounge from their little pay," Sephera spoke fondly lifting herself to her feet and stepping delicately over Razien heading towards the tray. The Wolf shot her a glance not of frustration but of curiosity, "I'd figure your troupe would make plenty or certainly you would with all your talents." "That's a laugh," she retorted through a muzzle full of warm creamy oats and berry, "We get whatever tips we can scrape up and a few meager shards worth maybe one admission to the show. They give us rice, make sure we don't starve or put on weight but beyond all that we are on our own." "Burn my tail but that might be worse than even you deserve Sephera," Torqariyan admitted with a shake of his ears. The Leopard gave a wry closed mouth grin, swallowing he food before speaking, "Hardly Tor, that was my childhood and most of my life until I become the Grand Master, but for those old girls... Well can't fix everyone's problems can we."
Having finished breakfast in a hurry, leaving more for his friends than taking for himself, Razien quickly and quietly lead the two down stairs to the entry. The Leopard and Lynx remained by the door waiting in silence as the Wolf sought out the maid who he could only figure would be busy in the kitchen. However as he passed through the sitting room Razien was a little taken off guard to find the old Fox sitting in the corner chair with her sewing basket beside her. For a moment Shera didn't seem to notice him until Razien leaned in and moved to nudge her, "Child I may be getting long in the tooth but I've not grown so ancient I need a nap every other hour." "Oh you know I don't think that of you Shera, we are leaving now, I came to tell you as you asked. I'll be gone for a couple of days, we were going to travel up to Herrus, my friend's family lives up there," the Wolf whispered as the maid's moderate tone still stirred an echo in the silent house. Her ever present soothing smile faltered a moment yet returned only a breath later, "I do suppose you are a grown boy now, you're liable to wander off now and then. But it is a cold one this morning, I took the liberty of drying out your coat and hat." "Thank you Shera, you didn't have to worry of it though I'd have been fine if a little wet," Razien said with a smile as he helped her up. Reaching under her basket the Fox lifted something of cloth the Wolf could not distinguish, "It wouldn't do to have you catching a cold on my account Lesus, I mended and dried that old rag your friend left at the door but I couldn't find anything else, did your female friend arrive in only what she had on?" "Unfortunately, to be honest I don't think she has much beyond what she's got on. That's why we were going into a more mixed city, might find a tailor or secondhand shop to acquire something more descent for her," Razien knew he was giving away more than he should but he could trust Shera with at least some of the truth. Beaming her wide grin at the Wolf she shared the expression with the Leopard and Lynx, "Then it would appear I am about right on the mark, though it might be a tad shorter than would be proper, not as though I'd expect you'd be much upset about it child."
In that the Fox was right, the gown wasn't the right length but certainly almost perfectly tailored the Leopard's figure. Overall the dress was nothing special, an ash sage green with sleeves that reached only to the elbows, the only significance in design were the tailored flowers around the upper end of the bodice and the thin slits that ran through the ripples of the dress that came down just past her knees. Additionally the Fox had attempted to tailor one of her old coats which must have been intended to be paired with the outfit, it was of an similar hue and material that though compliment Sephera's borrowed fur was a far cry from what would suit her. Nonetheless she was grateful for something warm and less scandalous to wear, "Oh my, Miss Shera thank you, I haven't anyway to repay you though." "Needn't you worry child, it hasn't fit my since I was your age and its not as though I have a daughter to give it to and try as I might Master Altara won't take it off my paws," the Fox snickered glancing at the Wolf who could have gone red at the suggestion of it, "However there is something the three of you can do for me." "What's that?" Torqariyan asked as he inspected his cloak, noting the lack of tears and holes that had been ever present since he could recollect. Seeing the Lynx examining his clothing Shera smiled fondly, "Not a one of you says a word of this, no reason for anyone to get in trouble for all this but mark my words Master Altara would be furious about this should he find out." "Don't worry Shera, we haven't the slightest plan in going on about this, it's our secret," with a soft peck on the cheek they began out the door, "Thank you for everything Shera, I'll be seeing you in a few days." "Be sure you do young master, if you're gone for too long then I truly will be seeing the fullest of your father's anger," she said still with her soft motherly demeanor as she carefully shut the door.