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At was a normal day down in The Commons, people trying to survive, children starving more dead bodies to gather and shove off into the dark alleys to try and avoid getting sick. For the most part it was the average fun filled day in The Commons; even in the northern quarter where the nobility fomr High Rise drop their left over scraps. By far the most dangerous area in the commons, anything from High Rise was sure to be a fine treat, clothing, food, even medicine was dropped off as if they were just throwing the stuff away; which was most likely the case.

Here would be the toughest of the tough in The Commons, here would be Jo back to back with Rey; the two toughest there was in the commons and on an average day such as this, they were brutally beating other scroungers away from the High Rise scrap.

Fist to flesh, the sound of bones giving way as groans of pain and screams of agony rang out, the normal sounds near the scrap hill. Always like this when the scrap was dropped, once a month or so and every time there would be blood for anything that could be found. Jo, a tall pale skinned human with tattoos down both of his arms with scrappy brown hair showed his complicity for this situation as he hoisted an old beggar over his head only to throw him into a nearby stone wall which easily gave way to the impact. Mortar was for fancy people with wealth, probably something some children had made or maybe it was once a home, the tale of it was long since past. Rey however would be driving his left elbow straight down into the muzzle of a fellow feline anthro, the orange tabby cat looking to have mange with his fur matted and sticking together looking nothing like his well groomed feral counter parts.

It would go on this way for near another hour before they could finally take some time to dig through the pile, food being their goal. Both were healthy for the most part while clothing would be nice, Rey wearing some nobal mans leggins that had been made into shorts while Jo wore a leather vest and some guard pants that puffed out around the thighs. All in all they made the best of their lives here, digging through the left overs of people better off than themselves. An average day.

That was until shouting echoed through the ally ways, not that of a beggar or someone that had gone mad from sickness; no this was powerful and commanding. Someone that was well kept, their throat clear and well watered. Everyone froze as it was clear the guardsman had come down to The Commons; the enforcers of High Rise and known to be none to merciful to anyone outside of that area.

Prime, proper, a blue uniform with golden sash wrapped about his waist and golden fringe hanging from his shoulders this black panther was a sight to be feared as he stomped through the ally and stood before the scrap pile. Joined by nearly a dozen other Guardsman all armed with those fancy curved blades that had been known to slice a Common in half should they not get out of the way fast enough. So it was that Jo and Rey were now in the way, trapped by these sheathed blades just waiting to chop them up.

The panther clearly the lead of this small group stared with hardened yellow eyes, seeming furious and determined yet calm and well collected; a true statue of everything a Guardsman was...and everything Jo and Rey resented. The two Commons stared defiantly not willing to just be tossed aside from the very scraps the nobility didn't even want.

"We are here for Mistress Mariana's son, we believe he was named Joseph..." the panther Guardsman would say, his eyes glaring upon the two before him easily getting a puzzled look from the human, his eyes hidden behind shaggy hair though Rey glancing to his friend was all the acknowledgement the partner needed. 'Take him' were the next words, a gesture of his hand and the dozen guards made quick work of forcing Jo into submission, Rey being left upon the ground with the hilt of a sword being driven into his stomach. Unable to help his friend or even defend himself as the guardsman left him to the commons that he had just got done beaten for rights to the scrap hill.

Forced into shackles, then into a bull drawn carriage between two guardsman while the panther sat across with a young anthro canine, some kind of well groom doberman type or perhaps a rottweiler. It was hard to tell the difference especially when dragged from your home, stuffed into a carriage and now being dragged off to who knows where; probably your own execution if the rumors were true. A rumor in The Commons was that noble families would sometimes send the Guardsman down to gather up some of the commons and drag them off to The Rise in order to make them slaves or sometimes to execute them for their amusement. That thought made Jo start to contemplate how to get out of this situation, he was strong and had been fighting for as long as he needed food, growing up in the commons he could definitely take these guards in their fancy uniforms.

He felt himself tensing as he readied himself to make his move only to hesitate as he glanced out the window. High Rise. It didn't take long to get from the Northern Commons to High Rise, being right next to one another so they had already crossed into noble lands which caused Jo to pause. The clean streets made from actual stone, people wearing complete out fits, dresses without holes or stains on them, the sky was actually clear and grass was green. The Common's was the completely opposite with crumbling buildings, grass was a rarity and never lasted long, and High Rise actually had fountains just spraying water for no real reason and people weren't jumping into it trying to gulp down as much as they could.

From the scrap hill to this in less than an hour was just too much and Jo slumped back into his seat seeming completely over taken by the difference. The female doberman glancing to the human before up to the larger panther who merely returned the glance as the carriage turned onto a long paved road that lead to a large hill that a massive mansion resided in the distance. It took nearly ten minutes to simply make it to the mansion as well as passing three gated walls and Jo at this point had recovered; who ever this was had to be very powerful and execution or not he no longer wanted to be here. All this waste, this grass was starting to turn his stomach just at the thought of being plucked up and dragged her as if someone had the right to do so. He was ready this time for sure.

As the carriage drew to a stop the guardsman on Jo's right would open the door and step out, allowing the panther to move first followed by the doberman and then it was Jo's turn; in which he shifted forward only to slam his elbow back into the throat of the canine guardsman that remained in the carriage with him. Hacking and grasping at his throat from the sudden lack of air Jo moved fast to stand in the carriage as the second guardsman climbed up the step to re-enter only to be kicked out with Jo landing right on top of him, knee buried in the young humans chest.

Jo snarled like a beast while glaring up at the panther who had stepped between him and the doberman who seemed rather interested in what was happening, peeking around the larger male with perked ears and curiosity on her face.

"Stand down boy, I will not hesitate to strike you down!" the panther would snarl, Jo standing up with arms still shackled, a mere foot of play between the steel chains but he was feeling confident now. All this clean air perhaps made him cocky, but if he was to be some plaything or some show off execution he wasn't going to just walk in happily.

The panthers hand found the hilt of his sword, Jo crouching slightly while pulling the chain taunt only for the tense air between them to be broken by the distant sound of clapping. A glance over the panthers shoulder showed the source, a very elderly canine, possibly another doberman residing in a chair that was moved by automated wheels.

Jo had heard of such wonders before, things operated by moving metal parts, round things that were apparently pushed by hot air or something, much complicated for him to really understand but still seeing a man seated and moving about was a sight to see. The panther would take a split second to glance over his shoulder

"Lord Bernadad, I do apologies for this sudden out burst but I'm afraid the situation calls for the use of violence. You will have to forgive me for drawing my blade." The panther did begin to unsheathe his weapon however was stopped by a raised paw of the elderly canine,

"Now I do not believe there is any need for that, Emilia" the canine shifting his attention to the female doberman who nodded and stepped around. The pather watching the young woman with an uneasy glare that was directed to Jo.

The female stepped forward without fear, moving right to the human who was actually shorter than herself by nearly three inches. Jo hadn't taken notice of the red dress she wore, it was neat and tidy, sleeve going to mid bicep while the lower dress stopped just after her knees and unlike many she did not have digitigrade legs like his friend Rey.

"My name is Emiliy Seracand Bernadad, first daughter and third born of the Bernadad Bloodline and main speaker for his Lord Escand Bernadad the Fifth."

Each word was like a puzzle and they confused Jo to which he opened expressed, his mouth parting a bit and even though his eyes were hidden by his hair one could just picture his brows being raised. A clear 'Uh, what' plastered upon his face as he stared blankly at the female.

Clearing her throat seeming very proper as she even raised a hand to muzzle "We have brought you here to discuss something very serious, if you would please accompany us into the manor to which we might speak in private?" The offer even being gestured by an open air presenting a path to the manor, that was resting before them though the walk itself seemed like it would take another ten minutes as with a stone path, carved statues and two more damned fountains on either side of it with more of that grass! Just the thought of walking down it made Jo uncomfortable but he had to voice his complaint.

Closing his lips to try and figure out exactly how to take all of this in and make sense of it, parting and a raspy harsh voice came forth trying to form the word 'What' only to be cut short at the first sound. Talking wasn't something Jo was good at, trying to save what water he could form in his mouth to keep his throat wet was a daily goal and talking dried his mouth too fast. Even the female had to lower her ears at the harsh sound as Jo lowered his head to try and muster enough spit into his mouth to keep from cracking his throat any more.

"What is it..." still harsh yet understandable tone "That you want from me?" just that small sentence strained Jo's throat to the point that he hand to swallow three times after it just to try and push the pain away.

"My boy do not strain yourself. Captain Leacon, you may return to your position at High Rise castle you're presence was welcome and I do hope to see you again soon" the elderly doberman would state, the panther placing his left hand to his right shoulder and bowing while taking a few steps back, saying some manner of great thank you.

The elder then turning to the human once more "You need not worry for yourself as you are a guest here not a prisoner, come inside and we will see about fetching you some water for that throat of yours."

Just the thought of water was enough to have Jo sprinting toward the manors doors but he was far too on edge to be sprinting, the encouraging smile from the female however as well as that open gesture forward and Jo was walking. The elder spun around that chair it seeming to move without much effort and Jo was once again fascinated by how it worked yet he had no more strength to speak so just silently walked.

Once inside the manor Jo would stare up wondering exactly how they put the ceiling on such a place without it collapsing, the manor being decorated elegantly as one would expect. Blue drapery, rugs, polished marble flooring and pillars, not a spec of dust anywhere except for all of Jo. The human was so busy looking up that he didn't notice till the female doberman Emily cleared her throat that a servant girl, a human was standing before him with a silver trey held out and a large glass of water resting upon it. It even had clear cubes that looked like water in it! Jo took it and could immediately feel how cold it was through the glass and that was all he needed as he quickly tilted the glass to his lips and gulped it down, water running down the sides of his cheeks and down his chin. It was so clean and pure, nothing like the water in The Commons, dingy and dirty, muddy water was a blessing if it didn't have piss or a dead feral rat laying in it.

Seconds and the water was empty the glass being tall and fancy for what it was but Jo wanted the water and nothing else, blinking as he caught one of the cubes in his mouth, holding onto the cup rather than placing it back on the tray as he pushed the block around in his mouth, finding it to taste just like water only hard.

Much to the amusement it seemed of Emily and the elder doberman as Jo bite into the ice cube and swallowed the small pieces as they quickly melted in his mouth.

"Now then, to the reason of why you are here..." Jo's attention now fixated upon the elder as he spoke, "You're mother, Mariana. What do you know of her?" the elders tone was serious now seemingly testing in a way that caused Jo to go back onto edge. He didn't speak, merely shook his head showing that he did not know much if anything, the elder nodding.

"I see. Mariana was a Mistress of mine some time ago, not an uncommon practice here in the noble quarter especilly for one of my status, she was one of several but a dedicated woman none the less. Now you know little of the ways up here but a Mistress is simply a bedfellow, if you know what that means or not is irrelevant..."

Jo being lost already, seeming to have the attention span of a bird as he blankly stared at the elder who continued to speak.

"I myself unlike many here am a rarity with by blood, I am able to cross breed, it is something uncommon and frowned upon but one thing I have embraced in passing onto my children. Now you might have already made a connection from that statement but you must let me finish..."

Jo on the other hand seemed to be wondering about that wheel chair once more, Emily seeming to take noticce at Jo's distract and waving her hand to garner his attention and turn it back toward the elder who was still speaking.

"Your mother, my Mistress came to me with news of your conception a long while ago, naturally I felt no need to hide nor even deny such a thing however your mother was worried that the other Mistress' might harm you or her and so decided to hide the fact. She asked me to keep it hidden as well and I agreed." The elder seemed to tail off, his posture slouching, his muzzle tilted down as if he dragged memories to the surface that were never meant to be remembered.

"She kept it secret for as long as she could, but eventually it couldn't be hidden anymore and so she decided that she would go to The Common's to finilize her birth, I told her not to, ordered her even but she left. It didn't take long and she disappeared completely without word..."

Jo wasn't distracted this time, he couldn't just dance around this as this elders story seemed to dig at him, the few memories of his mother that he had surfacing themselves. How she tended to him, how she acted, she always looked down on the commons around her yet dealt with them in a fair manner. She always looked up to High Rise longingly yet with a sense of disdain that Jo could never place. Then she fell ill, death came soon after leaving Jo barely older than four and since that day hell reigned over him till he met Rey.

Rey. That's right his friend had been left back there, for all Jo knew he was left half dead to the commons that would be sure to get their revenge on him! Jo quickly started to look around, he couldn't stay but the words 'You are my son' caused him to freeze.

Looking down at the elder who sat several feet away, "I know it might be hard to understand but I did search for your mother and you, The Common's was never a place I wished for either of you to linger. It took some time, too much time perhaps but I did find you and now I wish to welcome you back here, as a son. Joseph Seracand Bernadad, Mariana never did like the thought of continuing to Bernadad the Sixth." The doberman smirking as Jo continued to stare, slightly slack jawed while Emily stared seeming indifferent to the situation that had just taken place.