Thievery and Lies: Prologue
The path itself was dark, not only from the darkening of the world as the sun set, but also due to the shadows casted by the trees along either side of it. It wasn't quite in the woods, though the property line marking them was not too far off either. A large posted sign marked this, reading: " Private Land. Trespassing Prohibited." The post itself appeared very weathered, fissures and cracks in the round, blackened, column of wood told of its age; while the warning sign was metal; the red paint had faded to more a washed out orange. The property here belonged to a family of first class citizens; the person walking along the path had no idea whom, just that the land here wasn't owned by anything less. He stopped on occasion, listening for any sounds or voices, and when he heard none; he moved along.
The impending night was beginning to meld colors into a single spectrum, darkening browns and greens and yellows, and soon the dirt path below his bare feet became black as well, while the sky above him became a changing gradient of reds, oranges, and pinks as the sun shied behind the distant mountains. The only sound was of his heavy panting; he had been running off and on for what seemed like ages. Eventually he found a place to rest, but although he found that lying in the cool dirt felt wonderful, he began cramping rather badly, so he soon rose to his feet again. He sighed, wondering if those pursuing him had given up or had become lost in the brush. He'd been on 'escape' for almost a week now, and either way, he was glad to be done running.
The sun finally disappeared from the horizon entirely, leaving the moon to illuminate the land, aided by the sun as it traversed around the world. By now his breathing had returned to normal, and he was sitting rather comfortably in a space below a nearly dead bush, not too far from the path, but well hidden nonetheless. A soft moan, then a relived sigh escaped him as he stretched, his joints producing various crackles and pops in protest of fatigue. He remained there for quite a while, looking absently skyward to gaze at the moon and stars; or rather thinking of other things.
Sleep soon overtook him, and he rested well into the next day. His eyes eventually opened; the bright daylight felt as though it were burning his eyes. He blinked, and then blinked more until he'd become used to it. "Damn.. Noon. already?" He mumbled, as he looked through the branches of the bush to the sun which was almost directly above him now. His voice was rough from lack of water. He let out another labored groan as he sat, using his elbow for leverage. He sat, his arms resting on his raised knees, and he thought more on the events of the past few days. Shaking these thoughts after a while, he stood and began walking down the same path as before, making a few turns and unmarked shortcuts as he went.
He soon came upon a large building, aside a small area of farmland large enough to feed a family of five or six, he thought. He knocked on the heavy wooden door of the house, wondering if he had found the correct location. Moments passed by with no answer, each dead second giving him the wrong impression. After a moment of pacing about , an eye appeared through the window by the door, which was wrenched open a moment later. "Please; sit, sit." he was instructed, being ushered in rather quickly. Though he couldn't see anything inside, he found his way to a seat just a small distance away from the door.
"You look terrible, hope you found the place decently well." said the silhouette before him, uncertainty in his voice. "did you get them?"
The other laughed, but wound up coughing from the dryness of his throat. "Yeah," He threw a small cloth bag tied with string, and another package wrapped in cloth as well onto the table before him before panting, "I'd love a drink... and a brushing. I feel like I haven't bathed in months.."
"Indeed, I will bring you a cooled drink in a moment." The standing shadow said. "And; We've a hot bath prepared for later on."
"Right..." He said as a sigh escaped his lips; letting his head fall back against the chair backing, his eyes drooping as well. The shadow left, and soon returned with refreshments, a container of cooled water and a small goblet.
During the time he drank two fillings of what he considered the Elixir of Life, his eyes had readjusted to the light (or lack thereof); before him was a wooden table, and surrounding it were a padded couch and sitting chair, identical to the one he was resting in. A window behind and before him would allow light to illuminate the dark room, had they not been covered with a dark fabric. By now he could smell a faint mixture of musk and other scents, which may have come from the furniture, but one was dominant over the rest; it surely came from the lanky cougar before him.
"Sorry.. " he said, "what is your name, cougar?"
The cougar looked to him and remained quiet a moment before giving any reply. "Oh, sorry sir. I only recently was brought in. My name is Khale... I know about the current situation," He said with a hint of enthusiasm, and upon the troubled look given to him, he added "Though I do not know what packages exactly you have brought, ...I do know why you are here. That is all." he smiled nervously afterward, fiddling with his fingers and dark coloured pads.
"Ah.. I see. Alright then, is he here at the time, Khale? Er, your master?" He asked, trying to better see the tan furred male tending him. He noticed a ring worn on his left paw, appearing to be made of silver; or maybe gold perhaps.
"n-No sir. He's away. He instructed me to inform you; but it seems I've been beaten." he half-smiled, as though his humor were a negativity which would weigh down the stiffness of the air further, "anyway; he has just departed to Nieore, no more than a few days ago in fact."
Khale's ear's twitched and lay back slightly when the man chuckled. "Sorry?" He questioned, unsure of the nature of the laugh.
"Nothing, nothing. Just the way you pronounced that. You a southern boy, Khale?" He asked, motioning him to sit aside him.
"Ah.. Ye-yes sir," Khale replied, appearing to relax a little as he sat. "I'm from Malai... I was brought here when I was a young boy." his tail curled and uncurled slowly as he spoke, batting around at the tip.
"Is that so? Very interesting, friend." replied the guest, his own voice sounding softer and less harsh now, he placed the drained goblet back down. He noticed the cougar's still-present nervousness and decided not to press further, so instead he simply smiled when Khale gave him a questioning look.
The cougar rose, taking the serving tray, empty water vessel, and cup along with him upon approval. He insisted his fatigued guest to take a well needed rest in bed, and he would be allowed to do so until dinner were to be brought to him. After settling the guest in his quarters, he returned to the den and sat until he was called to the basements where the cooks had finished the night's course. Khale himself seemed distracted, off in space, one would say. He sat quietly in the straw-stuffed chair until the smell of whatever were for dinner invaded his nostrils. Chicken? He thought, tail twitching idly dispelling his other thoughts; while the guest upstairs slept on.