Haven, Arceria, Kaeleer, Saturday [Fandom Time]

[glacial_queen]

The portal had dropped them off in the outskirts of Haven. Portalocity tech was one more thing that Karla could add to the list of information she didn't want most Kaeleerans to have, especially her enemies. But Haven wasn't that far from the Glacian border, which meant it was the ideal staging ground for their reconnaissance missions. They could slip into Glacia without Hobart being the wiser and then move around from there. She knew he was watching the Winds, so they'd stick to roads and private Coaches as much as possible, but they should be able to see much of the Territory while they were here.

It helped, of course, that they'd have a few native guides and a system of safe-houses already prepared. The underground movement had been working overtime lately.

"Morton!"

[NFB and SP]

Comments

[kindrednotkind.livejournal.com]

Kaelas made a rough growly sound. Relax, Jono, it was the closest the large cat could get to purring. *It takes a wise human to realize these. You think like a predator.*

[furnaceface]

"Those who don't think like predators all too often find themselves dying as prey," Jono replied, bowing his head a little. "I have no intention of meeting that fate. I've seen far too many people fall that way already."

And far too many of those people had been ones that he had been proud to consider friends.

[kindrednotkind.livejournal.com]

*Then you are a good male for Lady Karla,* Kaelas decided with a regal sniff. *Also, you smell of another cat and affection. These are good things. You may scratch behind my ears if you like.*

All regal cat-like generosity, really..

[furnaceface]

"That would be Joni you smell," Oh, thank George for Joni. Jono gave Kaelas a little smile at that, and then gave a tentative reach to do just that. "She's a... landen kitten," he was fairly certain he was using that word properly. He'd really only ever heard it as something just shy of a slur before, but it had practical uses as well, so far as he was aware. "But she and I have been taking care of one another for years."

That would be the single largest ear he'd ever scratched behind, right there.

[kindrednotkind.livejournal.com]

And now it was flicking at you, Jono, because you were good at scritches. *An Arcerian kitten?* he asked. *Lady Karla turns into one sometimes.*

[furnaceface]

"Domestic American shorthair, I think," Jono replied, thoughtfully. "She's... much, much smaller than you. Smaller than Karla when she's an Arcerian, as well. She still uses her claws to impressive effect, though."

As could be evidenced, even now, by the tiny cat scratches up his arms that were prone to happening when he and Joni got to playing together. They were quite the pair, roughhousing around the apartment.

"As well she should. She is feline, after all."

Flattering the giant tiger couldn't hurt, right?

[kindrednotkind.livejournal.com]

No, no it could not. There would be even more happy!growling coming Jono's way.

*Do you know Lady Karla's other males?* he asked. *Warren is my friend. I ask him about females sometimes. Lord Morton is kind. He shares blood with Lady Karla. Prince Julian...* He paused for thought. *...He is a stupid pup. He needs to have Mrs. Beale yell at him.*

Yas was fun to play with and train with. Mrs. Beale was terrifying.

[furnaceface]

"I've met them in passing," Jono replied, already deciding that he was going to prefer the company of Kaelas to the other males following them around (or leading them) on this excursion. "Warren, mostly. He and I both went to the same school, right about the same time. It's been quite some time, so far as the other two are concerned."

He didn't much like the look of Julian. But then, so long as he didn't get in Jono's way, he didn't have to.

[kindrednotkind.livejournal.com]

Hey! What was wrong with Morton?!

*What do you think of warren then?* Kaelas asked, sitting down and fixing his golden stare directly on Jono.

[furnaceface]

Nothing was wrong with Morton, really. Jono was simply far more inclined to appreciate the company of cats to the social expectations of the people around him. Of course he'd work with Morton, but unless they managed to really click over the next few weeks, Jono wasn't likely to chum around with him or anything.

"Warren is... He's a good man," Jono answered, honestly enough. "Good for Karla, and he'll be good for Glacia. We've fought alongside one another through some of the worst, in the past."

And right along with all of that, there was that vague taste of jealousy, leading to the slightest bit of resentment. Jono couldn't do away with that, try though he might.

[kindrednotkind.livejournal.com]

*Your psychic scent tells a different story,* Kaelas noted.

Sorry, Jono. Welcome to Kaeleer, where even the cats know how you're feeling.

[furnaceface]

"In a way, he is what I used to be," Jonothon replied, after a moment of silence, just looking down at Kaelas and absorbing the implications of that observation. "Mutant, like I was. I didn't have wings or claws in the same literal sense that he does. I was fire incarnate. Psychic flame. But we were still very much the same, him and I. It's... difficult to be around him, when he still has his claws and I don't."

Granted, Jono hadn't been particularly fond of him before M-Day, either, but that was for reasons that he'd mostly gotten over, since. This Warren wasn't the same as the one back in his own reality that had treated him like the cute team mascot, after all.

[kindrednotkind.livejournal.com]

Yeah, Karla tended to downplay that aspect of her powers for Jon's sake. In Kaeleer, they'd see no reason to, even though Jono would not have the comfort of the same knowledge.

Kaelas was silent for a bit, processing this knowledge in his own kitty mind. For all that he was Blood, he was not human, and thought things through differently. Though Jono's choice of words helped. He seemed far more comfortable around a sentient cat that Julian did, Blood Male or no.

Of course, Kaelas had also had his Offering. Perhaps Julian just didn't like being outranked, outclawed, and outmassed. Heh. *Cats do not waste their time chasing after prey that is long-since gone,* he said finally. *Or resenting those who are better hunters. We learn what we can do within our own strengths and move on.*

Then he headbutted Jono's hand once more and padded over to flop down next to Karla.