Look Around the Cart

The outside is cold, and you don't want to be cold. The decision process is as simple as that. For a moment you pause, you didn't used to be so comfort oriented, and you're equally surprised that you'd prioritize feeling comfortable over possible regaining your freedom. You sigh. You probably wouldn't be able to defy mistresses orders anyway. It's best to bide and prepare for any future opportunities... Your resignation helps you put aside your concern for the moment, so you light an oil lantern and close the door.

You're still nervous about your circumstance, but that doesn't mean you can't enjoy snooping about for the night. Your curiosity is positively burning, and already drowning out the more ominous foreboding of your recent enslavement. You grab some jerky from the pantry, and start nibbling as you carefully, quietly open the first drawer of many. You paw your way through boxes and bags with funny smells coming from them. You sniff at them, catching the scent of a saccharin grass, and then of a pungent licorice, and next a bright but spicy herb that reminds you of a mix of table pepper and ginger. You tease the idea of opening them up and sampling them, but you have no way of telling if they're meant as seasonings, or alchemy ingredients and decide against it.

The next drawer is filled to bursting with jewelry. You give a shake to your own arms, and scowl again as it rings and rattles. However you spy something familiar and snatch it up quickly. The flask! The flask from the first night. You open it and peer inside, seeing that it's just under half full, before re-corking it. Didn't your mistress want you to finish it last night? Yet she hadn't ordered you too.

Kerchunk!

The sound startles you and you hold the flask tightly to your chest. You hear another kerchunk! and some scraping noises. You hold stock still for a few seconds longer and slowly start to close the drawer, when the door flies open.

"Rrawwrrk!" A voice screams out. You respond with an "eyyaaAA!" of your own. The scratchy squawk quickly become a cackling fit of laughter. You heart beats loudly in your ears as the flask clatters to the floor. The laughter continues, like the barking of a crow, and you realize quickly that you're not too far off in that assessment.

Before you is the bowed silhouette of a youthful woman, with round black eyes, and a strong bridged nose. Her hair flows back in a bristled mane of shiny black feathers layered over soft plumes. Splayed out behind her is a fan of tail feathers equally dark. She speaks again in a sharp voice.

"Startled you good, I did. It's the least I should do after boarding your horse for you. Lazy girl." She smacks you lightly on your forehead with a bundle of rope. You turn bright red, and you decide not to correct her on your sex. She spies your flushed cheeks and barks in laughter again. "The least I should expect from a kitten like you. I bet you slept all day too."

You purse your lips and look away, you tail twitching in annoyance. You hadn't even thought to do that. Mistress would be.... You shake your head rebelliously. It doesn't matter what "mistress would be."

"Who are you?" You finally ask.

She eyes you fiercely with those all black eyes before responding.