Family Troubles

Felix and KuliKuli traded looks and nodded in unison, both raising each cat as high as they could to give them a proper lift. Na'Vi and Emyri stepped over to the edge of the balcony, climbing to the top of the building before looking back down. Felix waved his hand, giving them the signal to move forward. With Emyri following behind, Na'Vi began to make her way through, leaping from store to store with both Felix and KuliKuli in pursuit from tbe ground level.

"You could always change and join em," Felix mentioned, keeping a steady pace with his breathing. "That way they don't slow down for us and you can get to her quicker."

"Shush, a pet never abandons her master." She winked back before focusing back on the two cats high above. Emyri stood perched at a corner where an alley opened up for them, granting access into a more shadowy passage. They followed until reaching a high fence, with Felix interlocking his fingers to hoist KuliKuli over before making the climb himself. Na'Vi meowed to grab their attention before running off, taking the lead once more.

"Are you sure we can get to her first?" KuliKuli asked, slowly beginning to pant in their rush.

Felix nodded, recollecting the memory of their planning earlier. "If Na'Vi is right about the roads then yea, but only if we hurry. Here." He pressed his hands together to hoist her over another fence once more, being careful in where she landed on the other side.

"Gross, lots of trash here. Careful." She saw his hands pop into view, gripping the wooden fence and lifting himself over before landing on his feet. "Not bad." She commented with a smile.

Felix clapped his hands together and shrugged with a cocky smirk before Na'Vi grabbed their attention once more. Right, back to it.

Meanwhile, Syri extracted her claws and dug into the white painted surface, feeling herself be pulled in one direction before gravity shifted focus onto the other. The carriage was making rough turns, making it a bit harder for her to think. Diversion, diversion, how to come up with that?

Peaking over the edge, an idea sprung into view just as her eyes caught wind of the wooden wheel rolling and pushing furiously. But how to undo that, much less brake it? In her kitty form she had little to no strength, given only claws to work with, the likes of which she required to hang on. This would be difficult, but not impossible. With a determined look, she pushed aside her worrying thoughts and let go. Going on pure survival instinct, she managed to hang on tight one the wooden rod connecting both wheels beneath the carriage and found herself upside down, the sound of dirt and rocks roaring loudly beneath her.

Maybe it wasn't the best idea, and she knew the timing was short so their planning was amateur at best. Just distract them, but no specific means as how to approach that. Well, just means I get to be creative, Syri thought to herself. She tightened her grip beneath the carriage and closed her eyes, shifting into her Nekomata form.

"EEP!" She yelped, lifting her tails up as soon as they scraped against the passing dirt floor, coiling them around her waist. Within the carriage, Perdilius looked to his right upon hearing something he would describe as a squeak from beneath him. A mouse perhaps? Looking around his feet he saw no such thing, but noticed the cage he kept beside him rattling and growling. Lifting it to his lap, he slipped within its bars a strange glowing treat to which the small creature devoured with glee. This brought a grin to his face as he petted the cage in return, making oogling sounds to his pet.

Back to the duo, Felix and KuliKuli had climbed over another ill-built fence with KuliKuli wincing at a splinter caught in her paw. Felix quickly plucked it out before being startled by Na'Vi pouncing on his arm. Meowing loudly, she motioned for them to look at her direction before seeing her pawing at the air. No, not the air, she was pawing at where a metal looking shop stood. By this point, the early morning gave rise to early workers being ready to set up shop. Unfortunately with the growing populace, the shop they were looking at now had its curtain being opened up by a lone woman, the owner or the worker? Didn't matter, either way they doubted she would make things easier for them.

"Are you sure, you're certain?" He asked her, with Na'Vi nodding.

"Okay okay, maybe we should have had Janette here since she has the coins."

Felix swallowed, uncertain of their next step. Time was moving fast and they could not be certain of that religious guy showing up after they leave. He looked up to notice a cat sneaking around the saleswoman, pouncing over the counter when she wasn't looking. "Look, that's your mom!"

Venturing into the open doorframe, Emyri kept herself glued against the wall, feeling nervous and cold inside. The place looked foul and weathered, a misty smell of dust and rust in the air which made her feel nauseous. Looking around and poking into one door, she was alarmed to see a familiar figure sitting up in bed and pulling his boots on. A quick scan, no sign of her daughter. Dashing away, she hurried into the other doorway... and after many worried nights, she was delighted to finally find her.

Sat against the cracked wall, knees raised up to hide her face, Dimyri muttered at the feeling of something scratching against her paw. Yuck, another bug. She raised her paw to swipe it away, and found herself frozen in place when she found her mother in cat form instead, meowing back at her. Her mouth ajar with an absence of sound, she stared as her mother transformed into her familiar nurturing form before the two hugged each other tightly. It felt good to feel someone again.

"Y-You found me!"

"Shh, not too loud. We're here, all of us."

"Mom, I... I can't transform." She relayed with a sorrowful look.

Her mother tilted her chin up and smiled. "I know, don't give me that. You're a big girl remember?" She nods and sniffled, with Emyri giving her another warm hug. "I missed you so. Now, let's get you home okay?"

"But, but how?"

"That's... a good question. How." She repeated, looking around. A metal chain kept her daughter in this cage, and no window in sight. Damn, her claws weren't meant for metal so scratch that option out. The bars they could slip through as she did before, in their cat form. But, no cat form for her. "Hey, maybe we can take that magic seal off of you?"

Dimyri looked uncertain. "I tried and tried getting it off with my tails each night but I can't. He put it on me, I think only he can take it off."

Emyri frowned, concentrating on an alternate plan. "Don't worry, we'll get you out soon."

"How do you know?"

Emyri smiled back at her, rubbing her daughters cheek. "Hey, I'm your mother. I should know better after all."

"Did mom just go inside?"

"I think so. Crap, we gotta do-" Felix looked up to see KuliKuli running after the shop without him. "K-Kuli!"

She didn't stop, not until she was catching her breath in front of the saleswoman's presence. The woman did a double take before continuing to sweep around. "Sorry miss, shop don't open 'till later. Come back in a bit 'n I'll have something for you."

"I'm... uhh, are you..." She found herself lost, empty-minded, no clue what to do or say. Crap, this was very very dumb.

Felix had caught up to her and waved at the woman with a sweaty smile. "Hey! Sorry to bother you, we're just... looking for something."

"Ye lost?" She questioned with a raised eye. "What's with the brown spot on your cheek, miss?"

"Birthmark." KuliKuli dismissed it quickly, looking around. "I've uhh, lost... c-can you help?"

The woman turned around and place her broom aside, parting her mouth open to speak.

"Perhaps I may be of assistance." That voice didn't belong to her, someone else was approaching. The sound of boots approaching from behind, before his silver-white hair came into view. His cloak was absent, as was his chest plate armor, only wearing a deep black under armor that looked stretchy and comfortable. KuliKuli swallowed deep, feeling that uneasy warmth inside her once more. Felix and Na'Vi remained behind her, watching over her shoulder as the two were reunited once more with the saleswoman stepping aside.

"Hello, Nityri."

KuliKuli's face seem to flare at the return of his voice saying her old name. "That's him."

Felix looked over at her before she added. "The hunter."