Many thanks to my raters, reviewers and my beta Cassiopeia!
On a little side note, because I was asked this. Sorr'an is 1,65m which is 5 feet and 6 inches. Just for your information.
This chapter isn't packed with lots of action but I like it nonetheless. But enough babbling, enjoy!
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Towards the Mountains
Two days went by. Two days since I've met Sorr'an. Two days of fleeing without knowing if we were actually being followed. This was nerve-wracking because if you're on a "real" escape you put your whole being into getting away from your pursuers. Adrenaline is overriding your exhaustion, your mind is set on the one thing; get out of there. You don't question every effort you take because you know; when they get you, you're in deep shit. But when you don't know if you're being followed then there is this nagging voice in the back of your head. It whispers, that perhaps no one comes after you, that the endeavor to hide your tracks is unnecessary, that you're being paranoid. It can be easily pushed away, but it preys on your mind and then you find yourself thinking, for example, that the river is too cold to walk in for so many hours.
But there was something too heavy to ignore. And heavy was the keyword here. Sorr'an's condition worsened during these two days. After the first night I had problems waking him up; it took me a few minutes of shaking to get him back to reality. His fever stayed and perhaps even went up, his eyes were clouded and he randomly talked in his foreign tongue -- well at least I thought it was random. His strength was fading, too. Yesterday he could walk on his own feet, his movements not exactly fluid and graceful but at least steady. But today his condition spiraled further downwards. I had to lightly slap his face to get him open his eyes in the morning, but he was able to stand on his feet. Well, till noon when he tripped and fell into the water of a river we were crossing. Some of his reflexes kicked in because he stood faster then the splashes could hit the surface, and yelped. Afterwards he needed my assistance; a helping hand here and there to keep from stumbling. And now he was leaning against my side. Heavily.
He might not be that tall and wasn't overly heavy for his statue and height, but with time the constant extra weight got wearisome. My right shoulder already hurt and my neck was strained by his arm around it. I tried to talk to him, murmuring encouraging words but he showed no reaction. I was glad I decided the first night to go to the cave. I looked up at the horizon and could see mountains. Calculating the distance I estimated that it would take us another day to reach our destination. A short glance at my catboy let me doubt that we would make it on four feet. Well, two feet and two paws, though his feet look pretty normal to me. I sighed soundlessly and dragged us forward for another two hours, till exhaustion got to me and I stopped at a small clearing.
I didn't think I would find a better place to rest because there was a small rivulet nearby and enough loose wood to make a small fire. I didn't make one the last two nights because I feared we could be found but this night I needed one -- the voice in my head had won. I wanted a source of warmth for the evening, the early summer still made the nights chilly especially in the forest. I also wanted a decent meal, not berries and mushrooms. I fucking hate mushrooms, their taste and texture make my stomach heave. But it's either them or an empty stomach, so yeah. Perhaps I can catch some fish today and have a warm meal. Or a rabbit. My mouth watered with the thought of sizzling flesh, its odor and flavor.
I lowered Sorr'an to the ground and leaned him against a tree. He instantly hugged his knees, trying to keep his slightly trembling form warm. He was already wearing my vest and cape - both a little big on him -, but he obviously still felt cold. Absentmindedly I petted his hair and then got up, choosing the easier alternative and going to the creek to fish. I was lucky because there was a pond a few meters down the stream and lots of trout lazily swimming in it.
I fixed a big one with my eyes and connected. I made it swim to me and jump on the bank and then I ended its life with a quick hit between his head and body with a stick I found on the ground. I smiled, remembering the days when I was a child and spent days, even weeks in the forest, fishing and hunting.
Trout number two committed suicide against its will.
The fun had lasted until another group of boys found me and accused me of cheating. 'Hey, everybody with their given gifts, right?' Well, afterwards my fortune in hunting vanished because they followed me around noisily and threw stones at every pond and scrub that possibly had an animal in it, driving them away. Okay, they didn't necessarily just aim at bushes and water; I was a popular target, too. Kids can be so cruel.
Trout number three hopped to my feet. I watched it and then took his life fast.
Another smile appeared on my face as I remembered what happened after I returned to the outskirts of the city I lived in. The leader of this little gang was bitten quite viciously by his favorite dog. Another boy got scratched in his face by a cat and a third one was kissed the dust when the boar of their pig breeding tackled him -- I think he broke a rib. All incidents were of course accidents and it was just pure coincidence that I was there to watch every of them.
Trout number four decided to keep company with the other three.
Yeah, kids can be cruel -- and I was a kid with body and soul.
Four trout should be enough. Two for this evening; if I get Sorr'an to eat something; and two for breakfast. Hopefully, if things go as planned, we won't need to worry about dinner tomorrow. I refilled my water bottle in the clear rivulet and did so with Sorr'an's that I brought with me and dampened some strips of cloth.
I returned to the glade and laid one cloth on the boy's forehead and wrapped the others around his thighs. He hissed and tried to wriggle away from the coolness but I held him still. "Stop it Sorr'an. We need to lower your fever or at least try to keep it steady." His eyelids fluttered when I spoke his name and his fidgeting stopped, though he was still trembling. I collected firewood and built a campfire. After I piled up wood I let a drop of magic fire drip on the stack, the liquid blaze sibilantly eating its way through the limber.
I got up, returned to the stream and disemboweled the trout, throwing the guts into the stream so they won't lure carnivores to us. After scaling the fishes I made my way back to our camp and sat in front of the fire, spearing the flesh on sticks but stopped after a moment. 'Cats eat their fish raw, right? How would a cat-human like it?' I took one filet and kneeled besides Sorr'an, holding it his nose. I could see him taking a sniff but then he tilted his head away. 'Okay, seems to be more human than cat.'
Roasting the fish I watched the catboy. His skin showed a pale color to it, a stark contrast to the bronzed tone it had when I saw him first. His eyes were closed, exhaustion written on his sweat stamped face, his trembling body curled into a fetal position and his tail motionless besides him. He looked like a person on the threshold of death.
I sighed and while the trout fried I gathered dry moss and built a bed near the fire. I sat down beside Sorr'an, feeling his hot forehead and then held up a water bottle against his lips. "Sorr'an, drink!", I urged him. He opened his eyes and then lips and I carefully poured some of the liquid into his mouth. "Come on, Sorr'an, lay down on the moss!" I point my index finger to the self made bed but the boy stared at me with an unfocused gaze and his eyelids fluttered shut after a moment. 'Okay, then the other way...' I rose to my feet and picked him up bridal style. His eyes shot open, his look fixed on me and he relaxed a little. I laid him down on the moss bed near the fire and he immediately turned towards the source of heat. Moments later his trembling died down. 'Good!'
I returned watching the fish fry, examining the herbs on the clearing. I only knew two or three and they aren't edible so I reached into my vest that clung to Sorr'an's lithe body and put forth a pouch with a spice mixture. He didn't even realize all the rummaging through his -- well, my -- clothes. I applied the herbal mixture on the trout sparingly. It's one of my most valued treasures; salt, different herbs and even some pepper making it very special and precious.
When I thought the flesh well done, I took a bite. 'Delicious!' I devoured half a trout then took another half from the fire, turned to Sorr'an, offering it. "Sorr'an. Food! Fish! Yum, yum!" I made munching noises and gently pressed a piece of fish against his lips. "Hey kitten, it's made with my special mixture. You've never tasted something like this. Some bites, please?" He watched me through half lidded eyes and opened his mouth just a bit; enough for me. I slid the morsel in and he chewed. "Good, kitten boy! Some more, you need to get something in your stomach." I fed him three other small pieces before he started to cough and turns his head away from me. 'Well, not enough, but at least a little bit.' I opened the cap of my water bottle and moisten his lips. "You know, under any other circumstances I would have taken offense. I mean, most small cats I know eat a freaking whole fish and you stop after four bites..."
"Muerr'ide...", was the tired answer. I blinked but then smiled and let him have his peace.
