Pine and parchment. Ashes and smoke.
“MEOW!” I cried loudly, scampering after the scents of my Faylinn and her general. They grew stronger closer to the last closed door, and I promptly stuck my nose to the crack at the bottom of the door and inhaled.
I was flooded with the scents of my girl—strong and sure.
Definitely not dead.
“Meow, meow, meow,” I called to her as I scratched against the door.
Useless paws! I cannot grasp and pull the handle!
I paused my distressed wails, waiting for her to answer the door. My despair only grew with each passing second with no movement from the room beyond.
My Faylinn is trapped inside and needs help!
Without second thought, I bounded away from the door, back the way I came. I slid beneath the jagged edge of the rock and shot out of the space back toward Ben and the woman.
“MEOW MEOW MEOW!” I screamed as loud as I could before launching myself at Ben.
Their heated conversation paused just as my outstretched paws and unsheathed claws met the meaty part of Ben’s back. The woman’s eyes widened comically when Ben yelped in pain before twirling around, swatting at me with his extra-large hands.
“WHAT THE FUCK! What is it?! Get it off, get it off, get it off!” He squealed the last part, which would have been comical if I weren’t spinning at an alarming speed, the motion threatening to dislodge my claws from his side.
I must not fail. Faylinn needs me.
“Ben, Ben. Stop. Hold on,” Asha said between choked laughs as she stopped her Bonded from spinning. “Come here, you poor thing,” she cooed to me, gently petting my head.
I purred at the attention and acknowledgment.
Yes, Iwasa poor thing. My Faylinn was trapped, and I hadn’t had any of that orange meat in days.
I told her such as my claws instinctively retracted, leaving small dots of blood on Ben’s tattered tunic.
“What the fuck,” he muttered as he looked over his shoulder, assessing the damage I inflicted. Asha pushed her nose into my fur as her fingers massaged the skin at my back.
Oh, this is nice. She has nice fingers.
I momentarily forgot my panic as her magic fingers lulled me into a sense of peace and security. My purrs ratcheted higher as I pushed my head into her arm. She gave in to my desires for head scratches with a tinkling giggle, one that cut off when Ben realized who I was.
“Cotton?” he muttered, plucking me from Asha’s warm embrace to hold me aloft with both of his hands. My feet dangled down, and I grumpily meowed at him for holding me in such an undignified position.
“What are you doing out of Faylinn’s room?” he mused, brow furrowed. At the mention of my girl’s name, the sense of urgency came rushing back, and I pawed aggressively at his hold with a string of strangled mewls.
“Oh, what the fuck. Ow!” he exclaimed as my claws scraped across his forearms, leaving red scratches in their wake. He dropped me with a hiss and muttered curse.
“MEOW,” I grumbled, swishing my tail through the dust as I gazed at the giant man who once loved my Faylinn.
“I . . . is he trying to tell us something?” the other woman asked, and I turned around, showing Ben my back, to regard her. I cocked my head before giving her a small meow of confirmation. Her eyebrows furrowed in thought, but it was Asha who spoke.
“Take us to Faylinn, Cotton.” Her voice was quiet but strong, and I flicked my tail in excitement.
Finally,finally,someone understands.
I bounded from my spot, scampering back over debris and around the legs of soldiers, the thundering, hapless pursuit of Ben and Asha following behind.
Hold on, Faylinn. I am coming!
Chapter Three
