Never Trust Appearances

[Fyra]

This was a new experience, riding on somebody's shoulders. But, warmed by his body and protected from sight by the cowl of his cloak, Fyra felt relatively secure. Her claws dug in a little when he bumped into people, which he seemed to do a lot. Always richer looking folks, too. She shook her small head. Was it on purpose then? He did say he was a thief-Oh! Her ears flattened. Was she aiding him simply because she was not revealing a pickpocket to the guards?

She was glad that he bought food, honestly, rather than stealing it, and then the city was all awhirl again as he moved through crowds, people, and then dodged into an alley. He hissed at her to not be seen, and she shied away from his hand, retreating farther into his cloak, until she was naught but a shadow in a shadow. She watched him knock in a strange pattern that didn't stick in her mind, and shivered a little as she saw the man who answered. He dragged Kaleb, and she blinked as her recently made friend shifted his hair to cover her even more, if that were possible.

Banter. Banter. She didn't bother to listen, until she saw what Kaleb pulled from his pouch, and then her eyes went wide. She was barely able to not shoot straight up and out of his hood. He really was a thief! A gods-honest thief! Oh no... not even just a pick pocket... nobody carries around jewels like that! Again, bantering went by, bartering. It was Kaleb's last offer that made her head shoot up under his hood, bumping his ear. Did he just- really?! Half of the money he might have earned was gone, traded for a scrap of paper with a list of names.

And then they were walking away from the semi-insane man. I'm thinking Kaleb is not so crazy. Not in comparison to that guy. He's... creepy. Kaleb is just... troubled. As they came out into the alleyway once more, Fyra shifted, stepping so that she was balancing on his shoulder with her front paws, and twisting to look at Kaleb with inquiry in her eyes. Why? Who were they? And why would he make that last offer?! He barely knows me. Doesn't know who I am, or if I'm faking it... She squeaked at him to make sure she had his attention, tilting her head and wishing she was able to speak to get all of the questions out.

[Kaleb Morrington]

Kaleb had felt the bump and hoped to the changers Lox hadn't seen. Once safely in the alley, Kaleb turned his head to meet a set of bewildered dark eyes. He grinned and winked.

"No one deserves to be stuck, love, especially in a position where it keeps them reliant on others. I don't mind, don't get me wrong. But I doubt if you like it." With that he began to move through the crowds again, this time going to an old house he knew to be abandoned. Sliding through the door he'd fixed so only he could get in, Kaleb stepped inside his "home".

He dropped his hood and looked around. "Home sweet home... not all that grand, but hey, it's mine... sort of." He grinned down at her as he moved to the furniture, flopping on it happily.

[Fyra]

She ducked back into his hood as he moved through crowds and went to one particular house. Once he had flopped down onto a couch, divan. Whatever. She moved, swiftly. Her small feet went shoulders and onto his chest in a single bound, and Fyra rubbed against him. Had she been human, she probably would have kissed him. As it was, rubbing her body against his neck and jaw and bouncing across his chest from excitement would have to do.

She dodged any attempts to grab her by then dropping from his chest onto the cushion next to him. Sitting there, she balanced on her hindquarters and looked at him for a moment. After deciding that he was quite handsome, in a roguish sort of way, she padded forward and started searching along his pouches for whichever one might contain the parchment of names. She didn't have thumbs, but her paws were clever enough to open pouches if not tied.

It was only a few seconds of movement alongside him before she froze, and then back pedaled. What will I find with those names though? Will they be people that enjoy magic, that think it should be freely used? Will they be damned? Will I know them?! It hadn't occurred to her that she might have known shifters without knowing what they were.

[Kaleb Morrington]

Laughing at her happy antics, Kaleb playfully tried, and failed to catch her. Maybe giving up all that Bishani wasn't soo bad. He felt her dig into his pockets, and held still sportingly, cocking an eyebrow when she drew back and sat on her haunches. Sitting up carefully and leaning on his forearms, Kaleb eyed the small polecat as a shadow crossed her eyes. Or at least so it looked to Kaleb, and Amyrea when he looked at her questioningly.

"Something amiss love? Just nod or shake your head." He coaxed. "You can even chatter and I'll try to understand." He smiled winningly for her. "Poor girl doesn't stand a chance..." Murmured Amyrea, amused, sitting in midair.

[Fyra]

Fyra blinked up at the man, taking in the details of his looks fully for the first time. Bright green eyes, black hair falling into them, shaggy, and his shadow of a beard that left him a little scruffy. Lean, but muscular enough. His voice was smooth, tenor tones that made her ears twitch a little, wanting to drink in the sound. But she hesitated still to allow him in. And that smile... gosh, if I had met him a year or two back, I would've been in love. As would half of everyone I knew. His grin was what did it for her, and slowly she nodded her head.

But she couldn't talk, to tell her the worries that plagued her, all of the what if questions that were pouring into her mind. She shifted uncomfortably back and forth. What if none of them can help me? And if I get stuck like this forever? She looked at him and sighed. There was no way he could understand, and she had no way to make him drag it out of her by asking yes and no questions.

But he'd help if he knew! She settled and lifted her front paws to pull them over her face. Fyra twitched her whiskers at him, looking as worried as a polecat could, and feeling hopeless, again. Theogios... why is this my path to walk? What gain did you get by cursing me? Her ears turned sideways.

[Kaleb Morrington]

He reached over and scooped the polecat up, cradling her on his chest. "Ahhhh don't worry about it, love, you'll sort it out." There was a confidence in his voice that startled even him. Not letting it show he grinned and dug into his pocket for the fruits (appricots), bread and cheese. A quick movement had his knife in hand, another had him cutting the bread and cheese into small enough chunks that Fyra wouldn't choke on them should she forget to chew. That done he rested the food on his chest, nibbling on a slice of cheese himself.

"Eat up love, you're going to need your strength when we go to find your shifter teachers." He encouraged, nibbling some bread.

[Fyra]

Scooped up easily, Fyra allowed him to cradle her for a moment, appreciating to comfort, before twisting away from his chest to land in his lap. Gotta stop letting him treat me like a pet. He can't just go about grabbing me! But part of her didn't mind. She kinda liked how he was spontaneously sweet.

He cut up bread and cheese, and she looked oddly at the fruit he'd pulled out as well. He hadn't bought that. He's a thief. No use scolding him. But even as she picked up one of the chunks of cheese that he had cut for her, she sat up a little straighter and chittered at him. You know, you can't just assume all of these people will just be ready for a shifter student. This is Marn. People don't really like people like us. She took nibbled down on the cheese swiftly, glad in part that it took much less to fill her stomach in this form. As she ate, she bobbed her head, thinking at him as loud as she possibly could. Which, of course, didn't matter. And you've got to stop just picking me up and tossing me about! I'm human, despite this body! I'm not a pet. And I'm certainly not your pet! Neither am I your love! So, stop calling me that! My name is Safyra!

Her chewing was the same pattern that she'd had when he'd found her the night before, a rodent's pattern, chewing in an almost circular motion with the jaw, and pausing. Though the say she was doing so, made it look like she was pausing to speak. You are a special person, Kaleb. I don't know you, and I shouldn't trust you. But you've done nothing but good so far, even if you can see ghosts! Her stomach rumbled happily as she stuffed it full, eating slowly enough that she wouldn't make her starving body protest. And really, are you sure we can trust that guy? What if he just wrote down names of people you dont' know? Or- She froze, eyes wide. What if he turns both of us in?! She stared at him over the chunk of bread in her paws.

[Kaleb Morrington]

It didn't take a genius to guess roughly what the chastising chatter was about. Though the bobbing of the head was something he couldn't decipher. She looked more content as she ate though, not that this surprised Kaleb, but something about her seemed wistful. Then up popped the panic and Kaleb raised an eyebrow. Another thought that was easy to decipher.

"Now, judging from all that; you don't like to be manhandled, that or my thieving habits, or both." He mused after a moment. He nibbled on the cheese. "Then you sorta looked kinda happy and off in fantasy land... then ya look all scared, which I'm assuming has something to do with Lox. Guessing you're new to thieving, you're worried he's gonna rat us out." Kaleb winked

"I'll cool it on the manhandling, I steal for a living, and Lox couldn't report me without getting locked up for life."

[Fyra]

Turning her attention to Kaleb rather than her thoughts, she finished the pieces of bread, and brushed crumbs from her whiskers. He winked at her, and another crack of chipped into the armor she had painstakingly tried to build against trusting people so easily. He was just, so... Nonchalant. Reckless. Adorably so, but reckless! She chittered at him shortly in a burst of sound, glaring as she picked up the second piece of cheese he had cut for her, and stuffing it in her mouth, stalked off of his lap and made her way to sit on the back of the couch. How could he be so nonchalant about it all?!

Her short tail flipped irritably as she sat, and began to nibble slowly at the piece of cheese, pointedly ignoring him for the moment. How dare he just... assume things! It's not so easy, when you can't talk! I can't say a word, so I try to communicate, but I can't even play a decent game of charades, not like this. She looked a bit like she was sulking as she ate. And it's not like I know this Lox guy. He's just some guy. A bit crazy about shiny things. And who did those jewels come from anyways? They must've been from somebody powerful for revealing them to be an instant arrest. She glanced down at him, unable to keep her attention away when he was so close, and so arrogant in some ways, but attractively so.

[Kaleb Morrington]

"You've done it now." Grinned Amyrea as she floated directly in front of Safyra. Kaleb cocked an eyebrow at Amyrea. "Anything I can do to fix my chances?" He asked the girl, ignoring Fyra for the moment. Amyrea flipped on her back to look into Fyra's eyes.

"Think you should just find a way to make her human again, let's go check out some of those shifters." Kaleb rolled his eyes at the ghost, watching her movements. "Well obviously." Amyrea ghosted a hand through Kaleb's hair, gently moving the strands, even if it was on a minute level. "I'll help you!" She decided suddenly, gasping in her excitement. "You may not allow us to be together now, but in death-!" Kaleb looked at Amyrea, his eyes bewildered as she shot happily away.

"The bloody hell was she on about?" Kaleb wondered aloud before looking back to the polecat. "Amyrea tells me I've fucked up." He says matter-of-factly. "Dunno how, but I'm sorry for whatever I've fucked up." He smiled, trying to look sincere, but the glint in his eyes made it seem mischievous.

[Fyra]

She pointedly ignored him. Or tried to. He seemed to be talking to his ghosts again. Amyrea? Whatever her name was... Is she still about then? As Kaleb turned to her, saying that the ghost had scolded him, she turned her head, glared, and let out a rapid chitter. It seemed get the point across. He apologized with a smile. I don't believe you! She growled, but despite that he was less sincere and more mischievous, was still charmed by it.

Fyra pushed the last bit of cheese into her mouth, rubbing her whiskers again as she looked over at Kaleb. Cheeky fellow... Theogios knows... he surely knows that he's charming. Uses it all to his advantage. Thieves! She wrinkled her nose, not snarling, but it pulled her lips back to show the tips of her teeth anyways. The motion of rubbing her face was soothing, settling her temper. So she did it again. Then, with a deep breath, for a polecat, she sat up, and gravely nodded acceptance at his apology.

Now to business. Where is that list? She moved towards him carefully looking towards his pockets. The list was surely there somewhere. Amyrea certainly couldn't have stolen it. Her movements were not excited but rather deliberate. Sitting on the back of the couch, now even with where his pockets were, the polecat looked towards Kaleb's face and let out a chirp.

[Kaleb Morrington]

Green eyes surveyed the polecat who was no chirping at him, looking pointedly at his pockets. Seemed the women were in agreement and not knowing it. With a sigh he stretched and dug into his pocket, producing the list. He offered it to the polecat.

"I can't read overly well, but Amyrea can. When she gets back, she can read it for me and we'll go see them." He told the her, watching as she accepted the list. "You know, even in this form you'd be handy. As a thief I mean, if it didn't go against your code or morals or whatever."

[Fyra]

She accepted the list, taking a corner in her mouth and placing it before her on the cushions. Her eyes scanned over the list. She could read well enough, but the half a dozen names that were listed were all unknown by her. Even if he knew them, she had no way to read them for him. With a huff that was swiftly becoming an obvious sign of irritation, she nudged the list back towards him. It took her a moment to register his last sentence.

No, really, moron? I'd be useful?! I never would have guessed that having a small body that can contort into all sorts of weird positions would be useful for thieving! She sat up and squeaked at him loudly, her ears flattening with the burst of temper. If it didn't go against my code or morals. Of course it does! I was raised a law-abiding citizen, you dirty, little rat! Even in this last year I've only stolen when I was on the edge of not being able to survive! Screw you! I am not just some tool to be used because I'm there! Her teeth snapped together with a last squeak, and she bounced down to the cushions, and then to the floor, planning on slipping underneath the furniture where he wouldn't be able to follow.

[Kaleb Morrington]

Right, even a blind fool could see Kaleb upset the little polecat. Knowing she likely was about to bite him, Kaleb moved quickly and with the ease of someone who was used to catching falling coin purses.

"Now hang on a sec there love. Look, I'm sorry I upset ya, clearly you're not the thieving sort, but, it's all I know." He caressed her fur, trying to get her to understand. "Look, I only steal from dolts who have it coming. Those who spit on beggars and take money that people can't afford to give. Then I buy from those who need money, I drop purses on laps." He held her at eye level.

"Yeah I'm a thief, no I don't abide by the law, but I don't believe that assholes who do and step on the heads of the poor deserve to stay rich. So I bend a few laws to make a few things even."

[Fyra]

She felt him move. Fingers curled gently around her ribs and she twisted but couldn't get herself free from his steady hand. Put me down! She twisted around again, unable to break free of his grip. His second hand moved lightly over her fur, and she felt a rumbling in her chest and throat. It took several seconds for her realize that she was growling. I don't care if you steal from the rich and give to the poor! I don't care what you do! I will not be used!

Her teeth were showing along with her growl, and she wanted to bite him. But she hesitated. Would her biting him spread her curse, her disease? Would he tthen be a shifter as well? She didn't dare find out. Frustrated with her inability to get away easily, she glared at his bright eyes and kicked with her back paws at his fingers. Down! I will not be manhandled!