Tell me a Story

"At your positions!"

Emyri could hear them shouting outside, with their door opened for an unwelcomed Perdilius to enter in, quickly getting comfortable in his seat. Well, it was nice to have a bit of alone time during the night while it lasted, without the constant stares from those guards and the clanking of their heavy metal. Her paw was brushing KuliKuli's hair as she laid on her lap dozing off, at the back of the seats Dimyri had curled up beside her sister's cage, her eyes half closed in a somber state. Reta was beginning to wake up, with Na'Vi still on her side. Looking out through the locked window, she could see the frost begin to form around the corners of the glass. Winter was on the horizon, it seems.

Emyri's ears twitched and rose up when she heard someone grunting and limping towards them. Her hand shot up to her mouth when Leone had returned with a change of appearance. His tall stature, the intimidation in his strength and the clinking of his many poisons, medication and magic tucked into his two belts were now competing with the included and stained bandages hugging his chest and shoulder. His face looked wounded, his eyes lacking the strength for another battle.

Father Perdilius placed a hand on his shoulder before Leone stepped in. "Raz, come into the carriage with us."

Leone understood, stepping back and allowing Raz to step off from the front reins and climb aboard the interior of the fancy white carriage with the rest. Stepping inside, he glanced at the prisoners they kept inside as he careful sat beside Perdilius, facing Emyri with KuliKuli laying on her. Father whistled for Leone to enter next, who struggled to go up the steps as movement added weight to the wound he still held beneath those wrappings. His foot slipped and he felt his weight slipping behind, only to feel someone grab his arm to keep him from falling. He was pulled forward with Perdilius now laughing with glee. Looking over to thank Raz, he realized it was Emyri unwrapping her tail from his harm and slipping it around KuliKuli in a cradling manner, her eyes dropping once he looked her way. Leone felt his spirits slip as he sat beside his employer, with Raz looking at both hunter and monster with interest.

Perdilius slapped Raz's leg. "Put those saucers back into your head boy, you look like a fool. Tell them we are free to go."

"Ah, yes sir!" He opened his door and shouted, "Let's get moving men, onward!"

Na'Vi felt Reta kick her tail away. "Get off me, those damn things feel like snakes around my thighs."

"Sorry." She grumbled, with Dimyri leaning over the seats beside her mother. Raz sat back down and locked eyes with her before looking away.

"Your kind never fail to amuse me, you know? Monster or not, a mother's sense of caring was always something to admire." Perdilius mentioned, his voice trailing off momentarily.

"Father?" Perdilius blinked and turned his head, "Why do we not have any of the guards with us?"

He snorted and waved his hand over the Nekomata's. "Why, you think they will attempt to escape us? Because the chains can slip away should they transform, is that what troubles you?"

Raz nodded, turning to look at Dimyri.

Perdilius shook his head. "You needn't worry yourself, Raz. We have the youngest one under lock and key. Unless they choose to risk her life, I doubt they would decide to chance another escape. Besides, we have their very own kind to bring them back for us. Should another get out of line and cause us more trouble, they will be disciplined."

Dimyri growled. "You let your men attack her like a pack of wild dogs, and you call that discipline?"

Perdilius leaned back and took a deep breath. "Well, it was what I was taught to be discipline, child."

"Stop calling me child, and stop praising your own actions. You're no priest, just a pretentious hypocrite."

He grinned, nudging the hunter's side. "This one has quite the temper, you should have taught her the meaning of manners."

Emyri raised an eye with Perdilius glancing at her with a smirk. "Pardon my excitement, mother. But I have fantasized for this scenario long enough to believe it to be fictional. Now that we are here well, I appear to be under nerves."

"Good, any more excitement and he'll be having a heart attack!" Reta shouted from the back. KuliKuli and Dimyri stifled a short chuckle under her remark.

"Charming. Tell me mother, what do you think of the state our hunter is left in?"

Now Dimyri and Raz were left with intrigue, with Emyri blinking in return to the abrupt attention. Her eyes darted to Leone, he too seemed clueless to where this question came from. However, his narrowing eyes signaled that he didn't like this direction.

"I... I suppose I feel he has suffered enough for his persistence and nefarious means directed to my family." She felt that answer should suffice, but he was left unimpressed.

"I see, and are you perhaps disappointed to see him beside me, alive and well?"

What is he asking for here, what is the intention? Leone couldn't offer any help, only return her confusion back.

She answered, "Do you want me to answer yes?"

"I want you to answer honestly."

"Father-" He pushed Raz's hand away, his eyes still locked with Emyri. KuliKuli lifted her head, feeling alert.

"Be patient Raz, you are about to experience the humor of the Gods. Emyri yes, is that how you say your name?"

She nodded, brushing her daughters hair to calm her down.

"Raz, have you wondered why time and time again neither hunter nor monster have killed the other to end their struggle and be rid of this ongoing chase?" Raz traded looks from Leone to Emyri before slowly sitting back and nodding.

"Now Emyri, this will be quite a days long journey. That will leave us with plenty of time to share amongst each other. Mother, why not tell us a story to make this more entertaining?"

"Mother," Dimyri began, with her mother's tail stroking her human hand in reassurance. Emyri had begun to figure out what his aim was, with Leone's lip twitching in addition to her feelings of spiked adrenaline and nervousness. Damn him, he figured it out.

"What story do you want to hear?" She asked, knowing what his answer will be. She gave him the opening, awaiting for the confirmation to her suspicions. He did not disappoint with that accomplished look on his face.

"Tell us how you came to meet your mate. What is the fate of the father of these dear children of yours, and their is only one father am I correct?"

"You are."

"Splendid! Children, children, gather around now. Mom is going to tell us a wonderful little story." He beamed, with Dimyri pulling Syri's cage in close and Reta and Na'Vi keeping quiet.

Fine, you want a story? You want me to play into this, then I will play into it with my head up high.

She hung her head and smiled. "I'm sorry," she whispered to him before lifting her head up high to meet their eyes.

"Let me tell you all about how I first met him, your father, my beloved, and why... why I am so so sorry for keeping him secret to you girls."