“Heard what?” Luna asked.
Triska slowly drew her sword from its sheath, the metallic ring echoing out softly as the group watched the girl tense up.
“That,” she said, then quickly spun around and swung her blade, blocking two katanas that swiped at her from behind the tree. The group watched with surprise as Triska quickly swung and blocked the fast moving swords that slashed repeatedly at her, the clanking of the metal echoing out in the street as the human was glaring at someone behind the large timber.
“What the hell?” Falla shouted out before Triska darted back towards them, with the assailant swiftly following after into view.
“Who is that?” Daniel asked as the group backed up.
The fighter was obviously a monster though she resembled a human woman quite well. She had silver hair that flowed down to her shoulders with white cat ears perked up on her head, eyes that were a dark blue and pronounced canines in her mouth as she bared her teeth at Triska. Around her neck she wore a white collar with black studs while her body was completely nude, covered with very thin beige fur while her breasts and crotch were clad in white. Behind her a long feline tail swayed about, having a darker shade of fur to it with a purple bow ribbon tied at the end with two small bells silently dangling from it. Her hands and feet were more catlike in appearance with her paws and claws, her agility and speed with her strikes showing she was very quick on her feet and precise with her motions. Strapped to a belt around her waist she had two katana sheathes crossed behind her, both being black with purple floral designs on them, while in her hands she held the long blades expertly as she swung them around inversely.
“You dare to show yourself here again?” the cat shouted out with a hiss, swinging her blades around swiftly and relentlessly at Triska.
“What the hell are you talking about?” Triska yelled as she kept blocking each attack while backing up step by step. She had to angle and swing her blade around constantly to merely defend herself, being unable to go on the offensive as the cat allowed no opening in which to strike at.
“You cannot play games with me,” the cat scorned. “All you’ve done is save me the hassle of tracking you down. Now where is she?”
“What? Where is who?” Triska cried out while struggling to defend herself. She tried to swing around at the monster before the assailant quickly deflected the attack away with one blade then followed around with her other. Triska dodged and jumped around while the cat continued to swing at her without slowing down. As she did Triska started to grow more frustrated as she learned one obvious trait to this fighter.
‘Dammit, she’s too fast! I can’t get a single hit in!’
Again she tried to push through and thrust her sword at the cat however the monster quickly struck the girl’s blade from her hand with a loud clank. The monster darted forward and whacked Triska across the face with the flat edge of her sword before spinning around and sweeping the girl’s feet out from under her. Triska promptly fell to the ground with a thump before the cat swung both blades in a crosscut down at her, stopping a hair short on either side of Triska’s neck as the human stared up at her with surprise.
“Triska!” Daniel shouted out as he and the butterfly sisters saw the girl pinned to the ground by the cat monster.
“Where is she?” the monster shouted out.
“Where is who?” Triska asked loudly. “What are you talking about?”
“Stop, don’t hurt her!” Daniel pleaded.
“Please let her go, please!” Luna cried out.
The cat glanced to her then around at the others before glaring down at Triska again.
“You seriously wish to defend those that kidnapped your beloved princess?”
“What? Kidnapped?” Triska repeated.
“The princess is kidnapped?” Luna whimpered with fearful eyes.
“What are you saying?” Falla demanded while stepping forth. “What happened? Where is our princess?”
“Humans stole her,” the cat hissed down at Triska. “They caught her like a little butterfly and took her away. Now tell me where she is, or you will die right here!”
“Wait, we never kidnapped anyone!” Triska pleaded. “We just got here, honest!”
“Liar!”
“She’s telling the truth,” Daniel insisted. “We just arrived at Flairwood a short while ago, we haven’t kidnapped anyone.”
“Please don’t hurt her, she never kidnapped anyone,” Luna begged.
The cat slowly glanced to them while keeping her blades ready to behead Triska.
“How are you sure of that?” she questioned sharply.
“Because we’ve been with them for days,” Falla explained. “We just got here a little while ago like they said. Now would you mind telling us what’s going on here? What happened to the princess?”
The cat hissed and glared down at Triska as the human slowly raised her hands defensively.
“Please,” Triska carefully said. “You’ve got the wrong people. We don’t know anything about what happened to her.”
The group watched as the cat hissed quietly then slowly backed up while sheathing her blades. Triska grabbed hers and got up, watching the monster carefully as the fighter glanced to Luna and Falla with a raised eyebrow.
“Why have you been with these two?” she asked. “Are they keeping you hostage as well?”
“No, they’re not,” Luna defended. “They’re our friends, we were helping them come here to see our monarch.”
“That just raises more questions,” the cat said shaking her head. “However if you are so certain that these two humans are indeed not involved with this incident I suppose I can believe that.” She then glared at Daniel with a look that he swore could kill alone.
“However if I find out that you are responsible and are trying to deceive me, I shall skin you alive. Am I clear?”
“Very clear,” Daniel replied with a nervous smile.
“Why is it you are accompanying these two butterflies like this?”
“They were helping me travel here so I may speak to the monarch about an important matter.”
“Like your demands for the release of the princess?” the cat growled as she grabbed her swords.
“No, no!” Daniel pleaded waving his hands in front of him. “Nothing like that, I swear! We had no idea she was missing, that’s the truth!”
Slowly the cat lowered her stance while watching him carefully, seeming to be on guard as she kept her hands on her swords still.
“I’m watching you two, remember that,” she warned.
“Never mind them,” Falla snapped while walking towards the fighter. “What the hell is going on here? Explain who you are and what you’re doing here.”
The cat promptly grabbed Falla by the throat and lifted her up off the ground with a low hiss. The group watched in surprise as the fighter slid one of her katanas out slowly, just enough to show the stainless steel blade, while glaring at the surprised and choking butterfly girl.
“Do not order me around,” the cat threatened. “I’m already taking orders from your monarch, I do not need to take any from you as well. Understand?”
Falla shakily nodded before the cat dropped her onto the ground, the girl gasping for air while scrambling away from the newcomer. Luna helped her sister stand again while watching the cat with worried eyes.
“Please, where is the princess? She’s my friend, what happened to her?”
“I already told you,” the cat replied while sliding her sword back into its sheath with a click. “Humans have taken her away. I’ve been hired by your monarch to see her safe return.”
“Who are you?” Daniel asked. “Why are you helping the giant butterflies like this?”
“My name is Tabitha,” she replied with a glance and smirk at him. “My swords and expertise are always available to the highest bidder, and the monarch of Flairwood has offered me a handsome reward for returning her daughter safely.”
“You’re a mercenary,” Triska said
sheathing her sword behind her.
“You could say that,” Tabitha reasoned with a shrug. “I prefer adventurer though, sounds less bloodthirsty.”
“Who took the princess?” Luna asked as she ran up to the cat and hopped around anxiously. “Please, you have to find her! Please please please!”
“Calm yourself,” Tabitha ordered as she grabbed the girl by the shoulder and held her in place. “I’m already on the case. I left the royal tree not but ten minutes ago before finding you all walking through town. I thought these two humans were delivering the ransom orders for the princess.”
“How do you know it was a kidnapping?” Falla asked carefully. “Did anyone see her actually get taken?”
“Yes, they did,” Tabitha replied. “Two of her maidens saw the young girl abducted by humans on horseback near the grove a few days ago. They took her away while one shouted out ‘We’re going to be rich’. Surely they expect a large sum for her return.”
“That’s not true,” Triska warned, with the group seeing her shaking her head at the cat. “They may be planning to hold her for ransom from the monarch, but they could also be planning to give her to someone else for a reward. All you know is that they plan on getting money from this, you don’t know who from.”
“Who else would want a little butterfly girl?” Tabitha questioned. “Surely they plan on extorting wealth from the monarch by using her daughter like a bargaining chip. That’s the only reason for anyone wanting to kidnap her.”
“Where did they take her?” Daniel asked, with everyone then turning to him as he looked off towards the exit out of the village. “Do you have any leads as to where she might be?”
“That’s none of your concern,” Tabitha said shaking her head. “I’ll handle this matter, this is a job for a professional.”
“But we can help you. We can help you search and get her back.”
“And just why should I let you come with me and do that?” Tabitha dryly asked.
“It’s a big forest out there,” Daniel mentioned. “Having some help with finding her would be a smart thing, surely you can agree with that.”
“No, I don’t agree with that. I work alone.”
“Please,” Luna begged. “I have to find her, she’s probably so scared and sad right now. Please let me come with and look for her.”
“We came here for a reason,” Triska mentioned. “And helping you find and recover the lost princess would help us with that reason. We’re going with you.”
“I don’t need amateurs getting in my way,” Tabitha scoffed at them.
“You do realize that these humans have stood up to Darker Ones before, right?” Falla spoke up. The group looked to her as she crossed her arms with a slick smile. “I’ve seen it myself. A succubus, a deathmare, even gemini. Hell, that guy right there even walked right up to an alpha witch in her hometown and lived to tell the tale.”
“Bullshit,” Tabitha laughed. “First off gemini are only a myth, they’re not real. Secondly there’s no way such a feeble looking male could have done all that and survived. Now be on your way, I have a job to do.”
“You calling me a liar?” Falla snapped at her. “I’ve never told a lie in my life, how dare you!”
“Now you’re pushing it, Falla,” Triska dryly commented.
“Look,” Falla scoffed while pointing to the cat girl. “If our princess is out there then you’d better damn well find her, and the more help you have the faster you can do that.”
“You really expect me to allow all of you to go with me out there?” Tabitha questioned skeptically.
“No, just them,” Falla said waving her hands in front of her. “They’re the fighters here, not me and my sister.”
“But, Falla,” Luna whined.
“But nothing. Fighting others isn’t our specialty. In fact we’re just terrible at it. We’ll be useless if we come across trouble out there.”
“But I want to go with them and help find her,” Luna pleaded while hopping up and down. “I have to find her, she’s my friend. I can’t just sit back here and do nothing.”
“Yes we can,” Falla insisted with a smile. “Really, that’s the best course of action for all of us.”
“None of you are coming with me,” Tabitha declared with annoyance. “For the last time, I work alone. I don’t care what farfetched stories you come up with as excuses, I don’t work with amateurs.”
“We’re not amateurs,” Triska argued. “We can handle our own just fine out there; we have been all this time.”
“Yes,” Tabitha mocked with a grin at her. “I gathered your fighting prowess rather well when you fell to me in mere seconds.”
“You want a rematch?” Triska yelled out while grabbing her sword’s handle. “Let’s go!”
Tabitha chuckled in amusement at her before Daniel stepped forward with his hands held up to halt the two girls.
“We’re wasting time with this. How about we make a deal?” he offered. Tabitha glanced to him with an amused smirk as he had a curious grin on his face. “If I can take you down then you’ll let us come with you, sound fair?”
“Um, what?” Triska flatly asked.
“You must be mad,” Tabitha chuckled.
“I’m serious,” Daniel calmly said. “If I can detain you all by myself you agree to let us come with you in search of the princess. Surely that would prove that we can handle ourselves in a fight.”
“You’re mad.”
“Daniel?” Triska asked carefully. “What are you doing?”
“I’m not sure that’s such a good idea,” Luna said shaking her head.
“That’s a stupid idea, that’s what it is,” Falla agreed.
“Well?” Daniel taunted with a smirk.
“You’re serious?” Tabitha asked as she turned to face him. “You really think you can take me down so easily? What trickery are you trying to bluff with?”
“Don’t tell me you’re scared,” Daniel laughed.
Tabitha showed a devious smile and purred as she rested her hands on her swords.
“Are you really trying to die right now?”
“Daniel, what are you doing?” Triska asked worriedly.
“Don’t fight her,” Luna pleaded. “She’ll really hurt you.”
“Yeah, this isn’t helping your case, Daniel,” Falla mentioned shaking her head.
“Yes or no, do we have a deal?” Daniel repeated.
Tabitha chuckled and slowly drew her swords out.
“You’re quite the cocky human, aren’t you?”
“Daniel,” Triska nervously spoke up. “Whatever it is you’re planning don’t do it.”
“It’ll be alright, Triska,” he calmly replied.
“No, it won’t,” Triska argued as she got in front of him and grabbed her sword. Before she could pull it out Daniel took hold of her hand and stopped her.
“Triska, stand aside,” he ordered.
“But, Daniel-”
“Stand aside, now,” he firmly ordered.
Triska looked back to him with wonder as he showed a stern expression at her, the girl then slowly stepping off to the side while keeping her hand on her sword.
“Daniel, please don’t do this.”
“I’ll be alright, don’t worry,” he said keeping his focus on Tabitha.
“Will you now?” Tabitha mocked as she drew her blades out and walked towards him, her hips swaying slightly along with her tail. “You’re unarmed and wishing to face me alone. How could you possibly be alright like this?”
She walked right up to him and purred in his face, holding her blades inversely and ready to swipe at the boy in an instant from either side.
“So, what are you going to do now?” she asked softly. “Go on, make a move. I dare you.”
“I don’t have to,” he replied without any fear.
“Oh, no? Then how do you expect me to fall?”
“I’ll just wait for that lycan over there to maul you,” Daniel said glancing to the s
ide of her.
Tabitha gasped then quickly turned around with a loud yowl, tensing up as she kept her blades crossed before her. Her eyes darted around frantically in search of the lycan before Daniel pounced on her from behind. The two fell to the ground with a thump while the girl screamed and dropped her swords, with the others watching with surprise that then turned into shock from seeing something.
“Daniel, what are you doing to her?” Triska cried out.
“I detained her. So I win, right?” Daniel asked up at her.
“Like that?” Triska asked loudly while pointing to something.
Luna and Falla watched with wide eyes as Daniel had indeed pinned down Tabitha, although his method surprised both of them as well as the cat girl herself. Tabitha was staring straight ahead with wide eyes, an open mouth, and was bent forward onto the ground in front of the boy. Her hands were held forcibly behind her back by his while she her rear was pressing against Daniel’s crotch as he was leaning over her while holding the girl down in a very provocative position. Triska and the sisters stared with surprise at seeing Daniel holding Tabitha down while the cat girl was bent over with her chin resting on the ground. Shakily she turned her head to glance back at him with a whimper as he smiled confidently down at her.
“Got you,” he declared.
“Daniel, why did you do that?” Triska demanded.
“What do you mean? I knew she would react that way to hearing of a lycan being nearby, it left her open to attack.”
“How did you know she would react that way?” Luna asked.
“I think a better question here is why did you pose her like you’re going to fuck her in the street?” Falla asked with a raised eyebrow.
“That’s exactly what I’m asking!” Triska cried out.
“Huh?” Daniel said before looking down to seeing Tabitha trembling slightly with a blush on her face as she was held in place against him. After a moment he looked up to Triska with a weak smile and shrugged. “Well, this is a hold that I’ve learned to do rather well with you girls, so…”
Triska blushed and stammered something incoherently while Luna looked at Tabitha curiously. Daniel laughed weakly then froze in place, with the girls watching as he slowly looked down to Tabitha with a slight cringe.
Chronicles of Eden - Act V Page 12