Private Tales New Places, New Faces

[Kir]

The beast stayed in the corner, watching, waiting.

No reason stuck to it. Eyes flickered between the guards even as Neveah began to whisper to them, it's tongue slowly drawing from it's maw as it watched the tension flicker through them. Claws gently unfurled, drawing fully into what they were.

Blood already dripped from his teeth, stained his fur.

There was no doubt that he had torn the Vizier apart. No doubt that he was the monster who had saved the Princess.

Yet they still looked at him as though he was an utter monster. Something to be feared, terrified of, and the truth was they were right. Kir was a monster. A creature of death and terror. He had accepted that a long time ago.

So had the beast.

Yet despite that it stayed there. Remained in the corner. Watched, waited. Peering at the Guards as Neveah picked herself up off the floor and begged for his reprieve.

 

[Neveah]

One of the guards stepped forward, despite what the healer said. And Neveah squeezed past them all. With an even gait that befitted a royal, her shoulders back, she stopped in front of Kir.

"Princess," one of the guards hissed, hand falling to the hilt of his sword to draw the weapon with a slide of metal.

"No," she commanded, holding Kir's gaze for a moment as she tilted her head upward. The blood. The gore on his maw. His size. Those wild eyes of his. None of it scared her. Perhaps it was because she was an animal shifter herself. She knew the way others looked at you and could only see the beast ou presented.

Or perhaps it was because after everything that happened?

She was beginning to view Kir more like the friend he was becoming. Even if the coin was the real reason he chose to stick around her. A slight nod up at him as she turned, her back to her friend. Steely-golden gaze fell on the rest of them.

"I command you to get back and to leave us."

"But Princ-," a guard stammered.

"Immediately," she cut him off. "The second in command of the guard and the Vizier betrayed me tonight. Betrayed all of you. You are to keep all workers in the palace under lockdown. I want everyone interviewed by the King and Queen. You are dismissed. And don't think about leaving the palace. Any of you."

They looked around warily, then finally saluted. Or perhaps they were just going to go take their complaints to the king and queen.

 

[Kir]

The Werebear stood in the corner of the room.

It watched.

Waited.

A part of it almost dared one of the Guardsmen to step forward. It craved more blood, more violence. That was what sat at the core of it. The need and lust for the hunt. The beast could not help it even now, and the thunder within his heart wished for the men to attack.

Yet Neveah's words were like a lash. The whip casting out over the the Guardsmen sent them scurrying out of the room.

A low growl echoed from the Werebear's throat, his head slowly turning as he peered down at the little Princess. Bright beady yellow eyes stared at her, like a hunter looking at it's prey. Jowls pulled back in a low growl, but he did not step forward.

Did not move to tear her apart.

 

[Neveah]

She didn't turn until everyone had left. The healer gave her a silent nod. Chin tilted, looking up at the werebear. Honestly, she was impressed no one had shit their pants seeing him.

“I’m okay now,” she said quietly. “It’s okay.” Her hand reached forward. Slowly, palm up toward him. And she waited for him to go the rest of the way. If he wanted to.

It was clear she’d wait with him however long he needed. She wasn’t going anywhere. And this time, she’d protect him.

 

[Kir]

The werebear sniffed the air, but didn't make a move towards Neveah as she outstretched her palm towards him.

Little doubt remained between the two of them that he could tear her apart within seconds if she chose to do so. The massive beast stood three heads taller than she did on her tip toes, it would take seconds for him to kill her.

Yet he did not.

Neither however, did he change back.

The toll on his body was one which he could not pay. Not so quickly, not this time. There was only so much strain that his form could take, and this time it would be hours before Kir transformed back into that familiar human form.

Eventually though, when Neveah was passed out on the floor and the early hours of dawn touched the castle Kir changed back. A hand clutching at one of the stone counter tops, his chest heaving in slow, ragged breaths.

A cough racked his lungs, hands coming to his tongue to peel off some fur still remaining there.

 

[Neveah]

She’d barely slept. Remaining in a half-awake state. Every so often she’d rouse to check on him. Dried blood was still on her neck from earlier. Limbs were stiff from being on the terra-cotta floor.

So it didnt take much as she heard his bones shifting and changing. The cough behind her. A when pushed dark, wiry curls away from her face. She sat up.

She thought about asking if he was okay, instead. “What do you need?” A quiet question. Tentative.

 

[Kir]

"A drink." Kir said immediately, taking in another violent breath as he leaned against the counter.

Changing was never easy. Changing this quickly in so many days? That sucked even more. It was all he could do to keep the contents of his stomach down. It didn't help that the beast hadn't fed, that he'd needed to keep it at bay both times.

That took far too much will. "Next time."

He said quietly. "I'll need to-"

Kir's jaw snapped shut, no, better not to mention that to the Princess. Not right now, not after that had happened. The Bear hadn't eaten the Vizier, just mangled him. Too disgusted with the sod of a corpse to even digest him.

"Nevermind." He told her. "Just need a drink."

Maybe twelve.

 

[Neveah]

A quick, nod. She pushed herself off the kitchen tiles and went to the tap. Taking a mug, she filled it up with beer. Getting a second cup, she filled it with water then walked back to him. Keeping her eyes well trained on his face and not his nakedness, she offered both up to Kir.

"Someone is coming with a set of clothes from your house."

Not that it really mattered right now.

"You said you'll need to...what?" Dark braids, shifted on her brown skin as her head remained tilted up to look at his face.

 

[Kir]

"Eat." Kir said flatly, though the more accurate word for it would be 'hunt'.

He was not a werewolf, no, but the bear was of a similar cut. It did not like cities, and it most certainly did not like being denied the trapping of it's heart. We're it for the creatures heart they never would have left the wilds. They never would have left Neus.

Kir had made a pact, in a way. A line drawn in the sand and an offer made.

Control of transformation, save for the sway of the stars at certain times. For that he gifted the beast within time to be itself. Time to wander. Time to hunt. Time to feast on the prey that it found. There hadn't been much opportunity for that lately, and Kir knew that soon it would come to a breaking point.

"Not a worry now." He contended. "Just later."

Hopefully, anyway. "What happened to the guard with the vizier?"

He asked.

 

[Neveah]

She slid onto one of the island stools and frowned at Kir's question. The room was still splattered with blood. Some gore. She hadn't allowed anyone in with Kir still in his werebear form. Part of the guard who'd been with the Vizier was scattered on the back wall. And Kir had done that when he'd still been human.

She pointed slowly.

"There." A knock sounded at the door and a young boy held a bundle of clothing. Neveah stood from the stool and motioned for him to come in. He walked over cautiously and handed Kir the clothes before scurrying out as quickly as he could.

Neveah stopped him gently at the door and offered him some coin and whispered in his ear that he could send for the cleaning staff. The smell in here...was starting to ooze of rotting flesh.

 

[Kir]

"Ah." Kir said with a slight frown, as if he were confused. "Could've sworn I left that one alive."

The Neusian did not seem upset, more annoyed really.

In an ideal world at least one of the conspirators would have been left alive. There was clearly something going on within the palace, someone making deals. There was no telling who now, or if anyone else was left behind the Vizier.

Kir let out a small grunt of thanks as the boy handed him his clothes. Somehow, thankfully, they managed to fit. He pulled them on over his head, covering the myriad of scars that decorated his body. "You'll want all your guards assessed."

He remarked quietly.

"And your father may want to look into his advisors." Kir was no stranger to betrayal and backstabbing. The court of the Duma played as many games as the Houses in Vel Anir. Every noble seeking to get a leg up on the next.

A problem that this city did not yet seem familiar with.

 

[Neveah]

She pinched the bridge of her nose and yawned. Though she'd closed her eyes and waited for Kir to change back, she hadn't slept. Not since the night before. And she was tired.

"Mother and Father are interviewing the guards one-by-one now. I trust their opinion. As for their advisors, I'll get started on that." Fingers dragged down her face pushing thick, dark wiry hair away from her tired eyes. She looked down and stared at the remains of the Vizier.

"He killed her," she said numbly.

She'd been right. Her sister hadn't killed herself like most of the rest of the palace was lead to believe.

"I'm not sure how safe it will be here." Until she could figure out who else had sided with the Vizier. Who had been pulling the man's strings because she had no doubt there was someone else.

 

[Kir]

Well, that was something they agreed on at the very least. The palace was most likely not very safe at all, in fact he was pretty sure it would all but a death trap at this point. A better man than him might have offered her a lie of reassurance.

Kir wasn't that man. "Yeah."

The Neusian said simply, gruffly. He was in no mood to bandy words. "They did."

It was a harsh reality, finding out what had really happened to someone so close. But right now wasn't the time to ignore the truth. Right now wasn't the time to get stuck in grief and loss, no matter how much she might have wanted to.

"You and your family need to leave." The werebear said firmly. "If only for a little while."

He added quietly.

 

[Neveah]

Neveah looked up at him. A tired look in her eyes that went beyond physical fatigue. “I’m not sure they will. Where would we go? Who would rule while we were away and what’s to stop the…whoever they are from taking over?”

A shrug of her shoulders.

“They won’t leave,” she said quietly. Her gaze sharpened in his direction. “You need rest.” The pot calling the kettle. “And…food?”

 

[Kir]

Kir pinched the bridge of his nose.

Neveah was utterly right of course. No King or Queen would abandon their city, at least any Royal of worth. That didn't make any of this easier. A long sigh escaped from the old soldiers lips, and he shook his head. "Nothing's ever easy."

He remarked bitterly.

Kir could count on one hand just how many times people had actually done the sensible thing around him. More often than not they preferred honor, appearance, respect. It was, as always, annoying as all hell.

Commendable, but still fucking annoying.

"Yes." He finally agreed, shaking his head. "Food."

Rest could come later. Food first. "Then we figure out what the hell we're going to do."

Because he sure as fuck wasn't just going to sit around.

 

[Neveah]

"Alright," she slipped off her stool. "Does this mean you'll let me out of the palace now?" A crooked grin up at her bodyguard. She walked over to the massive pantry and began opening drawers and cabinets.

"What do you want to eat?"

He hadn't said it was to hunt, so Neveah didn't know.

"I can make you some chumbaba stew? Or we have some smoked fish. Roasted vegetables...?"

 

[Kir]

Kir had to consider the question for a moment, mostly because everything that Neveah listed sounded exceptionally good in that moment. ”All of it.”

He said finally.

Even outside of his transformation, he’d always had more than a large enough appetite. Probably stemming from the fact that he was the size of two ordinary men put together. That and…well he was a werebear after all.

”Everything.” He repeated. ”Just, let me stuff my face please.”

A hand rubbed gently through his hair. ”And…”

He considered her first question for a moment, letting out a long sigh. ”Maybe.”

Though that all depended on where she wanted to go.

 

[Neveah]

Neveah began pulling out the food. Pot went on the fire. Ingredients were layed out and she began chopping. Ingredients began getting mixed. Pulling out a loaf fresh from a few hours ago, she set it in front of Kir with a chunk of butter.

Neveah was a Princess but she was also a damn good cook.

It didn't take too long. Eventually Kir would find a plate filled with roasted vegetables, fresh fish, and the stew steaming in front of him. "Have at it," she replied and took a seat across from him.

 

[Kir]

Kir didn’t really need much encouragement. In fact it seemed he was all too willing to eat like the beast that hid inside of him.

The bread she had handed him first was gone almost instantly, and as she began to pile dishes in front of him the werebear began to seemingly endlessly consume. Utter and complete hunger drove him, but more than that…it was just good food.

He ate so voraciously that one might have mistaken him for a man who had been starving in the desert for weeks.

”Fank you.” He said with a mouth full of food, not leaving enough time between bites to even really speak clearly. The transformations took a lot out of him, and food, food helped more than he could say.

By the time he was done every crumb was eaten, bones picked clean, and plates stack half a hand high.

 

[Neveah]

Neveah watched him eat for a bit, her head cradled by an upturned hand and elbow propped on the kitchen island. She'd spent over twenty-four hours awake. Stayed on watch until Kir had transformed back into his human-ish self. Just cooked up a whole bunch of food. Had almost had her throat slit by one of the palace's most trustworthy Vizier's.

So, it was no surprise that her head fell to the kitchen island and she found herself drifting off to sleep admist the sounds of Kir's happy consumption noises. "Welcome," she muttered as she left the waking world behind.

 

[Kir]

Kir managed to finish stuffing his face eventually, though it took a few hours.

When he did actually finish and the stack of plates and bowls in front of him was nearly towering to the height of a small child the werebear let out a burp. He gave a self satisfied smile, and then glanced over towards the Princess who had fallen asleep.

His eyebrow rose for a moment, and then he let out a long sigh.

He knew that the day hadn't been much easier for her than it had for him. Finding out that those close to you had killed your sister wasn't...wasn't exactly easy. A frown pulled at the former Royal Guardsmen's lips, and then slowly he stood.

As gently as he could the giant of a man picked up Neveah, and then began to take her back to her room.

The day was hard, the ones coming would be even harder.

 

[Neveah]

In her sleep, she curled in more tightly to his chest and the natural warmth he provided. And for once, she felt safe. Like she didn’t need to be the only one to protect herself because he got her. Someone had her back who she could trust.

After he set her down in her bed, she slept for hours. A subconscious and disgruntled move of her arm at the empty space if he left. But she was out. Her body recovering from the physical and emotional trauma of the last few days. Weeks even.

It would be hours until her eyes moved and then opened.

 

[Kir]

Kir decided that it was probably for the best that he did not go back to his own room.

It would have been the proper thing to do, but it wasn't 'right'. He knew that, and he knew quite well that Neveah would be in more danger if he was not at her side. Thus when Neveah slept, Kir threw himself down in a large reading chair.

It was comfortable enough, and the werebear soon found himself falling into a deep sleep. It wasn't the best sleep he'd ever gotten, but it was good enough.

When dawn game, his eyes flickered open.

Kir didn't jump up, didn't panic. Just lazily looked around the room. Touching a vague hope that perhaps today would be even a little less chaotic. A dream that he knew he would not be allowed to fulfill.

 

[Neveah]

Golden eyes glanced about the room. She hid her surprise as they landed on Kir in the chair where she and her sister used to snuggle up together to read stories before being chased into bed by their parents or older brother. He’d…stayed?

“You’re still here,” she said quietly.

And it was clear it went behind him staying the night. He hadn’t resigned his position.

 

[Kir]

Kir nodded his head. "I am."

Despite his better judgment. A part of him still felt like it was better to just walk away and put an end to all of this. It most certainly would have made his life easier. Not to mention it might also mean that he would actually get to live another few years.

At the rate this place was trying to kill him he'd be dead by the end of the freaking week.

"We'll need to talk to your father." Kir said as he rubbed his face, trying his best to take some of the sleep out of his eyes. Exhaustion still clung to him, but he looked better than he had the night before. His muscles still ached, bones objected to him standing, but it was nothing he couldn't push through.

At least until he transformed again.

When that happened it would be days of discomfort. Hell, it might even be easier just to stay fucking transformed. At least then he wouldn't have to deal with the pain. "Figure out a next step."

Kir said with a grumble.