Private Tales Tip Toe Through The Window

[Bocan]

The small grey cat passed through the now empty house, its inhabitants no longer in residence as they had fled only the day before to the Bocan's dismay. Rubbing its face along the door frame as it came into the bedroom, in case anyone other than the family now lingered in the house and came upon it. A low and rumbling growl of annoyance echoed in the simple wooden structure.

It had been watching them for nigh on a week now, and had missed the opportunity that had presented itself to it. The entire family had been out doing chores when it had been seen by the children, and the little troublemakers had pointed the Bocan out to their parents. It doubted they had what warded him away, if they had chosen to simply run away rather than put out the simple items.

Jumping onto the windowsill, it set about licking its paws as it watched the road from the comfortable spot, wiping its face with a wet paw in the way that regular cats did. The piercing blue eyes always upon the road into the town ahead, watching, waiting for its next prey of choice.

It wasn't strange looking, this simple grey cat that sat idly in a sill around mid morning. The strange feeling was only felt by those travelling the road, suddenly pulling clothes and bags closer to their person, as if the act warded off whatever they felt watching them with ill intent. If it hadn't needed to hold the guise of a cat, it's hollow laughter would have filled the area. As it was, it simply returned to cleaning itself lazily in the light of the sun.

Sapphire

 

[Sapphire]

Sapphire didn’t last long in the tundra.


Hunting in Eretjva had shown the girl just how harsh of an effect a change in biome could have. Animals had to fight harder to survive, which made them stronger and more resilient. She was lucky she didn’t starve to death, though death by frostbite seemed more likely. Just as Faelin had suggested, the people of the tundra were vicious, and reeked of an odor much worse than the dark elf had described. Finally, the suggestions of some of the people she’d met on the boat to the tundra had swayed her into returning home. Tales of mages, alchemists and wizards; perhaps one of them could help lift her cursed abilities.

Her powers were really taking their toll on her now. Sapphire’d managed to break a man’s arm on the boat home by accident, and she had to resort to walking for fear of breaking any steed. She was headed south west of the Spine, aiming for Alliria. While the girl had initially aimed to avoid densely populated regions, she came to the conclusion that she could keep her powers hidden if she was smart and stealthy.

Sapphire didn’t feel all that hopeful, but she certainly felt that she had some sense of direction. Heading for the tundra was a fool’s errand, a reckless destination she set for herself during a time when she was utterly lost. Now, she had some sort of a goal. Not only that, but she’d managed to make a little money in the tundra, managing to buy herself some protective leather gear. While it wouldn’t suppress her powers, the armor would at least slow the effects by about a second, for what it was worth.

She’d been lost in thought when she walked by the house; an old, ramshackle cabin that looked empty. She couldn’t tell why it looked empty, something about the house just gave it a hollow appearance. Her gaze dwelled upon the house for a time, and the girl felt a shiver run up her spine. Something wasn’t right about the house, and she was one to trust her instincts. Sapphire gripped the hilt of her blade, resuming pace down the cobbled road.

Bocan

 

[Bocan]

It's gaze fell upon what looked to be a woman plodding down the road. She hadn't seen it, but she had felt it when the eyes had found focus on the woman, had seen what loomed about her. It's interest caught, the paw stopped mid wipe as it's eyes fixated on her. It flicked an ear before stretching and jumping out of the window and quickly running for the road as to catch the woman.

When it got to the road, it stopped, looking back and forth along the path before seeing the woman again. With a quick step, the grey cat began to follow behind her, it's eyes still fixated on her, the malice dissipating and being replaced with intense curiosity. This woman, she had something about her. Something that brought pain, misery, and grief. The things it played upon to capture prey. The things it enjoyed employing as it hunted, reveled in.

It would follow her for a while, stopping every now and then, before looking around and then back to her. Anytime that she began to walk, it would walk with her.

Sapphire

 

[Sapphire]

About ten paces down the road, Sapphire noticed the sound of steps incongruent to her own. Deciding to keep her cool, she kept pace, glancing over her shoulder to get a brief look at whoever it was that had followed her. Her heart began to beat faster, as she assumed the person had come from the house. However, she came to a halt when her eyes fell on a cat, not too far behind her.
Sapphire smirked, feeling a little foolish for being so paranoid. She'd worried it was one of her pursuers, or that one of the men from the boat had sought after her for what she'd done. Strangely enough, she worried if something more sinister had come from that eerie old house. She'd heard tales of ghosts that felt all too familiar right now.
Alas, her worries appeared unwarranted. Her eyes were met by the cat's own bright blue orbs. It had been walking when she spotted it, but soon came to a halt a few meters away. She wondered what had drawn it after her. Curiosity, perhaps, or hunger. Banking on the latter, the girl fished some bread from her satchel, breaking off a small piece and crouching low, so she was at the cat's level, Sapphire supposed the move was risky; the cat could have been a feral thing. In the moment, however, she decided to take the risk. She'd done harm to a lot of people lately, doing some good would come as a welcome change.

Bocan

 

[Bocan]

When she stopped, it stopped and, watched her. She seemed relieved at spotting it, the feeling of glee requiring most all the power it had to ignore the strong bite of laughter that welled up. Instead, it stepped forward enough to put a tentative nose to the piece of bread, smelling nothing malicious in the offering. It did not have an appetite for mortal food, but what was offered it took a careful bite of and chewed for a moment.

It was the flour stuff that certain mortals made. If it had a flavor to it, the Bocan could not discern what it was meant to taste like. It wasn't the usual sustenance that it liked. But it was offered to it. After swallowing the lump, the Bocan approached the mortal slowly, cautiously, and began to sniff at the person before staying a hand span away. It looked at her without blinking, meeting her gaze and wondering in it's own mind if she had any idea what sat before her.

 

[Sapphire]

Sapphire became wary when the cat brought its nose close. There was but a few inches keeping the cat's skull from being fractured. Edging away from the cat a couple of steps, she observed the specimen as curiously as it watched her. It had only taken a nibble of the bread, which suggested it wasn't all that hungry. And so, the question remained. Why was it following her? She'd seen plenty of cats in her 20 years, and many of them had fled from humans rather than follow them. Deciding she was losing too much time to the feline, the girl turned heel and continued in her path, assuming the cat would turn tail and leave her in due time

Bocan

 

[Bocan]

The mortal took a step back, and then continued walking to the ire of the Bocan. Eyes narrowed at her, and soon she would hear the delicate steps of the cat behind her once more. It was interested in this mortal, and was not about to be outrun by it when a good opportunity presented itself once more. Imitating a regular cats meow, it called after the mortal as a true cat would.

 

[Sapphire]

Sapphire ignored the cat meowing after her. She didn't have the time to figure out where it had come from, or who its owner was. Pressing on, she kept her eyes to the ground in front of her for a time, walking for what felt like hours but was only a few minutes. It was only when she heard more footsteps that she came to a stop.
Two men, of staggeringly varied sizes. One was scrawny; shorter than herself and just as thin. He had the look of a rat to him, someone who'd sell out his mother for a couple of gold pieces. His accomplice towered over him, and was a bulky thing, with huge arms and an ever larger stomach to him. He looked, by all accounts, like an idiot. A somewhat blank face, and a loud, overly aggressive boom of a voice!
"Stop there", the big man demanded, and Sapphire halted in her steps. The scrawny man made his way towards her, drawing a sawtooth blade.
"I'm afraid we're robbing you ma'am". He even sounded like a weasel.
"That's okay", she replied, raising her hands cautiously.
"It... it is?"
"Why yes, I deserve it for walking down such a quiet road all on my lonesome". She was tired, and she'd been through too much to have to deal with scumbags.
"Well, well okay. Bill, take her things". The bulky man made his way towards her, and Sapphire almost felt her heart drop. She knew what she was going to do, and for the first time in a while, she didn't feel so guilty about it. Bill came to her, seizing her arms in his massive hands. The girl looked at him dead in the eye, gripping his arms and digging in with her nails. If he let go of her, perhaps his hands wouldn't shatter. Still, it wasn't going to stop what she was about to do to the bones in his arms.

 

[Bocan]

It followed her as she kept walking, when two other mortals approached. They made their intent to rob her clear, and the Bocan was content to watch the exchange. The large, dumb mortal approached the woman. Taking her arms in his hands, it could feel something start to dance in the air. Her hand dug into the man's arms and the cat walked to the side of them to watch it happen. Irritated that it's view was blocked.

 

[Sapphire]

The man's agonized screams pierced the air, causing Sapphire to flinch and release him. The brute collapsed in pain, his arms a shattered mess. What once would have been a horrified face that bled screams, Sapphire stood over the man, the regret in her eyes almost hidden by the rage in her stance. She stood tall, fists clenched, her eyes drifting from the brute to his scrawny friend. The pathetic man screamed louder than his broken partner, pointing a dainty finger her way.
"You... you fucking witch!", he proclaimed, before turning heel and running back down the road. Sapphire thought of giving chase, but decided against it. She walked past the brawny man, glad she hadn't the guts to look down at him. Strolling down the road once more, the girl controlled her breathing, her heart pounding in her chest

 

[Bocan]

The cats appearance did not change, but the Bocan was pleased by what it saw. When the little mortal ran, the cat twisted and began trotting after him. Once put of sight of the woman, the cat took a darker appearance, it's fur taking a lighter grey the man tried running after hearing something come after him. The Bocan was only a hands span away from the little man when humanesque arms formed out of the front paws before touching the ground again.

Long, slender claws scraped the cobblestone as the skin around the faced peeled away. The transformation from cat to Bocan was quick, but unpleasant. Exposed bone and muscle had the little mortal man gaping up in silence as implacable hands descended, the white eyes unblinking as a scream came from the man.

From the back, a tattered cloak topped with a crown of sticks began to bend down over the man, the air eerily quiet around them now.

 

[Sapphire]

"What the fuck..."
Sapphire didn't have to walk far before the Bocan came into her line of sight. It was unlike anything she'd ever seen. Not once had she ever seen a monster in her life. She'd heard tales, had nightmares... Seeing a monster, a real one, was something else entirely. She drew the blade from her belt, fearing her magic may not have worked on such a beast. This thing was something she did not understand, and she didn't want to risk putting hands to it if she couldn't break its bones. Moving slowly towards the thing, She noticed it was moving about a little, and something was beneath it. Horrifying limbs stretched out before dropping low, and Sapphire heard a sound that stopped her dead in her tracks.

 

[Bocan]

It made quick work of the little mortal, leaving nothing more than a red stain where he had stood. Nothing save for what was dripping off its mouth had been wasted. The meal eased a bit of the hunger it felt, of the exhaustion from holding the cat form as long as it had. After licking it's long talons clean, it twisted around to stare at the mortal it had been following. She looked thoroughly horrified, blade drawn and frozen in place. Turning its head in curiosity, it eyed the blade before staring at her. Then beyond her at the man still lying on the ground.

"Do not run, mortal. I wish to speak, with you, after I have finished with, that one. Wouldn't want, someone telling on, you." a rough voice came from what could be considered a mouth. Almost wheezing the words as if out of breath, its eyes watching her while it stepped around her. Giving her a wide berth and heading for the man she had put to the ground.

It's hooves clacked against the cobblestone while passing by her, eyes never blinking, the slips of paper about its head swaying as it moved slowly, its arms held low and before it when it reached the screaming man. The Bocan cocked its head as it crouched low, a slow laugh as it made short work of this one as well. The woman was to its back, occupied by its current victim.

 

[Sapphire]

Its voice sent goosebumps racing over her skin. Frozen with fear, it took herculean effort to keep a grip on her sword. She tried to keep her eyes off it as it fed, every crunch and tear tempting her to drop the blade and cover her ears. When it had finished its first victim, the Bocan moved around her. The wanderer wasn't sure if she should turn to face the beast, or avert her eyes for fear of seeing something worse than what she heard.
She couldn't risk the beast alerting others to her location. Sapphire was doing a good job of covering her tracks, and the girl could not allow her efforts to end up wasted. So, with a deep breath, she asked in a shaky voice. "What do you want, demon".

When it continued to feed, she turned on her heels to face it, keeping her gaze above ground level. "I asked you a question damn it!", she snarled, the trying to turn her fear into anger. "You wanted to talk, so talk".

 

[Bocan]

When it had finished with the second mortal, it twitched and writhed for a moment, before slowly turning back to her. The girl was mad that she was being ignored, and after it was doing her such a splendid favor. A low grumble of disapproval came from it, it slowly stepped towards hers, remaining out of range of the sword she had in hand.

"I do wish to speak, to you. You should be, grateful. The town will not, know of you, now that they. Have been dealt, with." The Bocan replied carefully. It chuckled, the sound like dead leaves rustling in a breeze. "Wouldn't want, anyone else, learning, of your, gift. Now, would we?" The words were wheezed out, what could be guessed at being a smile adorning the things features.

It could see that air about her, that something clung to her like flies on a long passed body. If it poked this mortal in the right spot, they might give it what it desired.

"Alas, I might, have something. For you, to rein in, your gift. If you should, wish." The fae hissed, the saucer like eyes narrowing at the girl.

 

[Sapphire]

"How?"
Sapphire wanted nothing to do with the Bocan, but she had little choice. There was an utterly unnatural feeling about the beast, and she could only hope that meant it had the means to deal with her curse, an unnatural affliction in itself. That said, this entire conversation reeked of trickery, and Sapphire felt dread crawling into her gut. She knew something horribly wrong was about to happen, and she feared what cost her cure would come with.
"What do you know of my abilities?"

 

[Bocan]

It hunched forward, as if to look at her better, twining it's hand together in a tight grip.

"It would not be, completely gone, but some, measure of, control to gain. Maybe a breaths time, longer with more seasons, perhaps." it hissed, words slowly reaching her. It could never rid her of such a powerful thing, but it could give some kind of control.

She asked what it knew of the curse, and it did it's best to avoid lying.

"I see it causes you grief, and isolation. Fear of, others. Your touch, summons pain, with such graceful, ease. Unless something, greater, than I helps, you. It will never, leave you." It's tongue tingled a little, but that was not something unexpected. "I can offer, a small, reprieve."

There were great and terrible things in the world with far greater powers than the Bocan had. It knew not of what might rid her of it, but the chance to earn a name from this one was worth the risk of meeting such things.

 

[Sapphire]

If it aimed to convince Sapphire, it was doing a good job. A liar might promise complete eradication of the curse. The Bocan spoke of gradual control over her abilities. Again, however, she felt cautious of the thing. It knew too much about her, about what the abilities had been doing to her both physically and mentally. Additionally, she wasn't sure she could trust anyone or anything that described the curse as 'graceful', and there was a question hanging in the air.
"What have you to gain from this?"

 

[Bocan]

It's hands tightened, and might have even seemed painful to the girl before it. A shuddering breath came from it when she asked it a simple question. It held onto the excitement that welled up in it, trying to remain calm as its head canted to one side.

"A simple, thing. A name. I desire a, name. That you, would give, me. In exchange, for my gift, to you." It wheezed, fingers twitching slightly as the contained anticipation threatened to come forth.

 

[Sapphire]

By all accounts, it sounded like a simple request. The poor monstrosity desired to be named, which led her to wonder how it had referred to itself up to this point. Innocent a request it may have seemed, coming from the Bocan it felt downright sinister. Why would it offer her such power for the sentimentality of being named. Surely being named meant something to this beast, so the girl bit her tongue.
"I'm going to have to give that a little thought. Seems a little bit of an unbalanced deal", she replied as a test. Primarily she sought to learn more about why the Bocan wanted a name, but deep down her curiosity had surfaced. If this being was powerful as it claimed, maybe she could get more than was already offered from the creature.

 

[Bocan]

It's teeth clicked once, twice, as it thought on her words. Unbalanced? It stared at the girl intently. Did this one have knowledge of just what it may be? It had not encountered another of it's kind in the wilds around these parts, and hadn't thought a myth could reside here. Perhaps the girl had already encountered fae, and knew of deals.

Or maybe she was just cautious enough to think better of things.

"You may give, thought, to your, answer. I warn you, not too, long, though. If you would, rather walk, we can be, away, from here, mortal child." The bocan offered, its hands spreading out to the surroundings as if to will them away. "Put away, your steel. I won't touch, you."

 

[Sapphire]

The thing's teeth clicked unnaturally, as if it wasn't creepy enough already. She eyed it for a moment, and wondered how long she'd have to look at the beast before it stopped disgusting her. Going by her current mindset, she'd have plenty of time to find out. Sheathing her blade at her belt, the young girl crossed her arms.
"Right. firstly, I am not a child. I'll let you follow me around for a while, so I can learn more about this deal, and what it is you're really after". She glanced down the road once more, then looked at the beast again. "My name is Sapphire, not that names matter a whole pile at the moment". She continued in the way she had been walking before the Bocan found her, though still wasn't sure exactly where she was going. "How long have you been following me?"

Bocan

 

[Bocan]

A hissing breath at the chiding remark, but it had already said no harm to her.

"All are, children, to one, such as I." It whispered. "Sapphire. Blue stone. Pretty, shines in, light. Like a dark, sky."

"Names, everything. Power in, names. You not yet, know. But will." It spoke once more, fingers tapping as the blade was sheathed. "Not follow. Found, just now. No family there. Gone, left. Waiting. Watching. Always hungry. We help each, other."

It clacked along with her, easily keeping pace.

"Would it please, you if, I was the, cat once more?" It could see the disgust in her eyes, and while it was pleasing, it wouldn't make speaking with her any easier.

 

[Sapphire]

Everything this thing said sounded creepy. Between its fixation on names and those damn clicking teeth... Normally she'd welcome a compliment, but coming from this demon, it just felt wrong. Sapphire was beginning to regret her decision, though something told her the Bocan didn't do taksies-backsies. Hands finding her pockets, she turned to face the Bocan, deciding not to show fear. "Appear how you like, beast. But do us a favour and revert to cat form if you spot any people. I'd rather we not kill anyone else today".

She wasn't sure what he meant when he spoke of how she'd learn the power of names. The creature spoke of power in a voice that bled hunger. The Bocan appeared to live to consume. She'd have to be careful to not wind up devoured herself. Still wishing to learn more about the demon, she raised her brow. "Always hungry. That sounds... miserable. If you're capable of fixing my problems, why not fix your own?", she questioned. The Bocan was certainly clever, though she wasn't sure if it was capable of deeper, more philosophical discussion. If it was, maybe their conversations wouldn't bore her to death. If that wasn't the case, perhaps she could find something to laugh at from its misunderstanding.

Bocan

 

[Bocan]

It pondered her words for a brief time, giving a snorting huff as it seemed to melt back into the grey cat it had been when it greeted her first.

"Easier, than shifting, later." It spoke, the rattling teeth silenced but the wheezing still present in it's diminutive voice. "Killing is, so simple, though." The cat licked its feline lips, savoring the two it had just had as it looked to the road ahead.

"It is a, trying, life. Not the, worst though. A name, would, rid me of, the hunger, I feel." The grey fur and blues eyes stared at her as they walked, always keeping it's distance just out of reach of her but still plainly present.

"But yours, first." It whistled, a small giggling laugh like leaves on the wind. "Your's is a, harsh one. To never touch. To never, feel. How lonely, you must be."