A/N: This is just for you, MadameShannon, welcome back! :D But any other reviews for our favorite kitty and human would be greatly appreciated, too! -DL
Chapter 8
"Come on, come on, Beyshan," Twitchear coaxed. "No one will hurt you."
The no-hair(err, human, that's what Beythan called his people) walked tentatively beside him toward the communal cooking pit, practically hugging Twitchear's side. His head kept turning from side-to-side, and his eyes were huge. While he trusted Twitchear, to be surrounded by lots of large, ferocious-looking cat people was obviously another story altogether.
Twitchear understood, but he knew that it was time to introduce Beythan to his tribe. Their curiosity about his no-hair 'pet' was becoming overwhelming. Better that he let them get to know the human and vice versa, so Beythan wouldn't be so nervous and scared, and his own folk's curiosity would be satisfied at the same time.
Beythan was hugging himself. Twitchear touched his shoulders reassuringly. "Don't be scared, Beyshan," he said. "I won't let anyone hurt you, I promise."
The human conjured up one of those strange teeth-barings that were apparently their version of a smile. Twitchear was glad that he'd learned to speak the human's language so well that he could speak complete sentences now. "Thank you, Twitchear," he replied.
There was a small crowd around the fire pit, and Beythan stiffened at the sight of so many of them altogether in one place. He was trembling a little. But he also stiffened his spine and lifted his chin at the same time, showing the courage he possessed underneath his fear. Twitchear firmly drew him forward. "Everyone!" he called, making many sets of ears turn to him. "I would all like you to meet the no-hair that I have been taking care of. His name is Beyshan. Beyshan," he added, changing into the human tongue, "These are my people."
Many sets of golden or green(or both) eyes were staring at him. The human trembled but stood his ground, his own blue eyes wide. Fortunately for him, there was no surge of curious cat people toward him. They all seemed to sense his terror, and knew to stand still so as not to spook him any more.
Finally, one of them stepped toward them. Beythan saw that this particular cat bore a strong resemblance to Twitchear, although he was even larger and more muscular. Twitchear said to him: "Beyshan. This is my brother, BroadPaw."
The hunter spoke as well. Beythan, who had been learning to understand the cap folk's language even if he couldn’t speak it, heard: "So you've nursed the no-hair back to health, kitten? If its well again, shouldn’t you send it back to its people?"
Fear rushed through him, and he gasped aloud. He didn't want to go back! If he went back, they'd make him a slave again! Thoughts of the leather collar and leash, of the lash falling on his back, of the brutal rapes...his head began to whirl, and he fell to the ground in a dead faint.
Twitchear was horrified when Beythan’s face went pale at his brother's words, and the human swayed in place. Then he fell down on the ground, sprawling in a heap. He knelt down next to the human, glaring up at his brother. "Why did you say that?!" he cried.
BroadPaw’s ears were lying back on his head. "Say what? What’s wrong with the no-hair?" he demanded.
Twitchear ran his finger pads over Beythan's face, making sure that the human was just unconscious and not injured. "He understands our language, brother," he snapped. "I've been learning his, and he has been learning ours. He can't speak it, but he understands it. He knew what you said, and you frightened him! The other no-hairs treated him so terribly...did such awful things to him...of course he's terrified of being sent back to them!"
"Well, I didn’t know," his brother pointed out uneasily. "Is he all right?"
"I think so," Twitchear said anxiously.
Beythan moaned fragilely, his head moving from side-to-side. Twitchear lightly patted his cheeks. "Come on, Beyshan, wake up," he urged.
The human moaned, and his eyes flickered slowly open. He stared up at Twitchear in confusion for a moment, then remembrance made fear surge up in his blue eyes. He whimpered. "Please don't be scared, Beyshan," Twitchear begged. "I'm not going to send you back to those other horrible no-hairs. I swear it. You can stay here among us for as long as you want. Right, BroadPaw?" he went on, glaring at his brother.
The other cat person shrugged helplessly. "Sure, kitten. You can keep the no-hair if you want."
Beythan blinked up at him. "Really?" he asked in s small voice. "I can stay?"
"Yes," Twitchear told him. "I'll take care of you, Beyshan. I promise."
The human shuddered, but reached out and took his paw-hand. "You have my thanks and eternal gratitude, Twitchear," he said, his voice hoarse. "You have been so very kind to me. You saved my life."
Twitchear felt a rush of warmth flow through him. But before he could say anything else, a high young voice piped up: "Is it really a no-hair?"
Beythan's head turned, and he saw a young cat person crouched nearby, staring intently at him. The creature was adorable, with huge green eyes and outsized paw-hands for its size. The child was obviously fascinated by him. He felt his lips lift a little in a small smile at the child's innocent curiosity and enthusiasm.
"Yes, Springer, this is a no-hair," Twitchear told the child. "His name is Beyshan. His people live beyond the Plains. He has been staying with me because he was hurt. If you talk to him, he can understand our tongue."
"Oh," the child considered this, then turned his green gaze on Beythan. "Why don't you have any hair?" he demanded, his eyes roaming over Beythan's naked body in avid curiosity.
Beythan blinked. "Umm," he began uncertainly. "I don't know. Humans have a little hair," he lifted his arm to display the small patch of dark fuzz at his armpit. "Just not all-over hair, like you."
Twitchear translated what he said to the child. The creature shuffled closer, to peer intently at the dark hair under his arm. Fascinated, he reached out. "Can I touch it?" he asked.
Beythan found himself smiling, his fear all but evaporated in the face of the child's cuteness. "Yes, you may," he said, and Twitchear passed what he'd said along.
The child reached out delicately and touched the armpit hair lightly with his finger pads. "It's rough," he remarked. His eyes settled on the hair atop Beythan's head. "Is that rough, too?" he asked.
"Touch it and find out," Beythan said, his lips quivering a little.
The child reached out and stroked the hair atop his head. "That’s not rough," he said, sounding surprised. "It feels like my pelt."
The child leaned closer, and wrinkled his nose. "You smell," he said.
Twitchear started to rebuke him, but Beythan held up a staying hand. "It's all right, Twitchear. I do stink, I'd bet. We humans have to bathe often to keep from smelling bad."
"Bathe? Like licking yourself? Why don't you?" Twitchear asked.
Beythan laughed softly. "No. We bathe in water. We can't lick ourselves all over."
"You submerge yourself in water?!" BroadPaw said in horror. "You no-hairs are crazy!"
Twitchear threw his brother a reproachful look. "They are simply different than us, BroadPaw," he chided. He turned back to Beythan. "There is a stream close by where we get our drinking water from. We also fish in it. You could submerge yourself in it, if you want. And bathe yourself."
A look of delight spread over Beythan’s face. "A bath would be wonderful!" he cried happily.
Twitchear felt pleased at his reaction. "Let me take you there," he said, helping Beythan up from the ground. "You can meet more of my people later."
He led Beythan away from the communal cook pit, and the cat people watched them go. None of them had made any threatening moves, and Beythan felt far less scared of them than he had before. Besides, he was so excited at the thought of being able to bathe properly for the first time in many months that he forgot all about his apprehension anyway. To be clean again! It was a miracle!
The large stream meandered through the grass near the camp. It was one of the reasons that the camp was situated where it was, in fact. Because it meant that the tribe had an abundant source of drinking water, as well as fresh fish for the cook pit(or eaten raw) to supplement their meat stores. Twitchear led Beythan to the bank of the stream.
The human sighed in pleasure. He stuck out a toe and dipped it in the stream, then shivered when he felt how cold the water was. Maybe it wouldn't be a good idea to immerse himself in it, he thought sadly. He'd likely freeze to death afterward. He sighed.
Twitchear looked at him when he sighed. "What’s the matter, Beyshan?" he asked anxiously.
The human shook his head. "I can't submerge myself in this water," he explained miserably. "It's too cold. I don't have a pelt of hair to protect me and keep me warm," he continued, reaching out to lightly pet Twitchear's fur. "Only my bare skin."
"Oh," Twitchear said in understanding. "Wait here!" he added, then loped off quickly toward the camp.
Beythan wondered where he'd gone. He didn't have to wonder long, though, as Twitchear reappeared with one of the heavier skins from his bed draped over his shoulder. "You can wrap yourself in this," he said eagerly. "So you won’t be cold. Yes?"
"Yes!" he replied, his face lighting up. "What a good idea! All right, here goes," he waded into the stream, making small noises at how cold it was. He shivered, but kept going. He wanted to be clean so badly!
Beythan took the plunge and crouched down, groaning as the cold water lapped at his chest. He hurriedly washed himself, shivering, his teeth chattering. He plunged his head under the water, then came up for air with a loud gasp. "So cold!" he wailed.
"Come out, Beyshan!" Twitchear called worriedly from the bank.
He waded out of the water, so cold he was almost turning blue. Twitchear threw the skin over his shivering body, wrapping him in it until only his face was visible. Then he picked a startled Beythan up, and began to carry the fur-wrapped bundle of him back toward the camp. He might have protested, but since he didn't want any of his bare skin in contact with the air right now, he was content to be carried like a furry rug in Twitchear's strong arms.
The cat man carried him back to the tent and deposited him on the bed, and Beythan was happy to burrow under all of the covers and create a warm cocoon for himself. After a bit, Twitchear crouched down by the bed and reached out to stroke his damp curls lightly with his finger pads. That touch was so sweet and gentle that it made Beythan drowsy. He fell fast asleep with the sound of Twitchear’s rumbling purr in his ears, feeling warm and clean and wonderfully taken care of...
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Chapter 8
"Come on, come on, Beyshan," Twitchear coaxed. "No one will hurt you."
The no-hair(err, human, that's what Beythan called his people) walked tentatively beside him toward the communal cooking pit, practically hugging Twitchear's side. His head kept turning from side-to-side, and his eyes were huge. While he trusted Twitchear, to be surrounded by lots of large, ferocious-looking cat people was obviously another story altogether.
Twitchear understood, but he knew that it was time to introduce Beythan to his tribe. Their curiosity about his no-hair 'pet' was becoming overwhelming. Better that he let them get to know the human and vice versa, so Beythan wouldn't be so nervous and scared, and his own folk's curiosity would be satisfied at the same time.
Beythan was hugging himself. Twitchear touched his shoulders reassuringly. "Don't be scared, Beyshan," he said. "I won't let anyone hurt you, I promise."
The human conjured up one of those strange teeth-barings that were apparently their version of a smile. Twitchear was glad that he'd learned to speak the human's language so well that he could speak complete sentences now. "Thank you, Twitchear," he replied.
There was a small crowd around the fire pit, and Beythan stiffened at the sight of so many of them altogether in one place. He was trembling a little. But he also stiffened his spine and lifted his chin at the same time, showing the courage he possessed underneath his fear. Twitchear firmly drew him forward. "Everyone!" he called, making many sets of ears turn to him. "I would all like you to meet the no-hair that I have been taking care of. His name is Beyshan. Beyshan," he added, changing into the human tongue, "These are my people."
Many sets of golden or green(or both) eyes were staring at him. The human trembled but stood his ground, his own blue eyes wide. Fortunately for him, there was no surge of curious cat people toward him. They all seemed to sense his terror, and knew to stand still so as not to spook him any more.
Finally, one of them stepped toward them. Beythan saw that this particular cat bore a strong resemblance to Twitchear, although he was even larger and more muscular. Twitchear said to him: "Beyshan. This is my brother, BroadPaw."
The hunter spoke as well. Beythan, who had been learning to understand the cap folk's language even if he couldn’t speak it, heard: "So you've nursed the no-hair back to health, kitten? If its well again, shouldn’t you send it back to its people?"
Fear rushed through him, and he gasped aloud. He didn't want to go back! If he went back, they'd make him a slave again! Thoughts of the leather collar and leash, of the lash falling on his back, of the brutal rapes...his head began to whirl, and he fell to the ground in a dead faint.
Twitchear was horrified when Beythan’s face went pale at his brother's words, and the human swayed in place. Then he fell down on the ground, sprawling in a heap. He knelt down next to the human, glaring up at his brother. "Why did you say that?!" he cried.
BroadPaw’s ears were lying back on his head. "Say what? What’s wrong with the no-hair?" he demanded.
Twitchear ran his finger pads over Beythan's face, making sure that the human was just unconscious and not injured. "He understands our language, brother," he snapped. "I've been learning his, and he has been learning ours. He can't speak it, but he understands it. He knew what you said, and you frightened him! The other no-hairs treated him so terribly...did such awful things to him...of course he's terrified of being sent back to them!"
"Well, I didn’t know," his brother pointed out uneasily. "Is he all right?"
"I think so," Twitchear said anxiously.
Beythan moaned fragilely, his head moving from side-to-side. Twitchear lightly patted his cheeks. "Come on, Beyshan, wake up," he urged.
The human moaned, and his eyes flickered slowly open. He stared up at Twitchear in confusion for a moment, then remembrance made fear surge up in his blue eyes. He whimpered. "Please don't be scared, Beyshan," Twitchear begged. "I'm not going to send you back to those other horrible no-hairs. I swear it. You can stay here among us for as long as you want. Right, BroadPaw?" he went on, glaring at his brother.
The other cat person shrugged helplessly. "Sure, kitten. You can keep the no-hair if you want."
Beythan blinked up at him. "Really?" he asked in s small voice. "I can stay?"
"Yes," Twitchear told him. "I'll take care of you, Beyshan. I promise."
The human shuddered, but reached out and took his paw-hand. "You have my thanks and eternal gratitude, Twitchear," he said, his voice hoarse. "You have been so very kind to me. You saved my life."
Twitchear felt a rush of warmth flow through him. But before he could say anything else, a high young voice piped up: "Is it really a no-hair?"
Beythan's head turned, and he saw a young cat person crouched nearby, staring intently at him. The creature was adorable, with huge green eyes and outsized paw-hands for its size. The child was obviously fascinated by him. He felt his lips lift a little in a small smile at the child's innocent curiosity and enthusiasm.
"Yes, Springer, this is a no-hair," Twitchear told the child. "His name is Beyshan. His people live beyond the Plains. He has been staying with me because he was hurt. If you talk to him, he can understand our tongue."
"Oh," the child considered this, then turned his green gaze on Beythan. "Why don't you have any hair?" he demanded, his eyes roaming over Beythan's naked body in avid curiosity.
Beythan blinked. "Umm," he began uncertainly. "I don't know. Humans have a little hair," he lifted his arm to display the small patch of dark fuzz at his armpit. "Just not all-over hair, like you."
Twitchear translated what he said to the child. The creature shuffled closer, to peer intently at the dark hair under his arm. Fascinated, he reached out. "Can I touch it?" he asked.
Beythan found himself smiling, his fear all but evaporated in the face of the child's cuteness. "Yes, you may," he said, and Twitchear passed what he'd said along.
The child reached out delicately and touched the armpit hair lightly with his finger pads. "It's rough," he remarked. His eyes settled on the hair atop Beythan's head. "Is that rough, too?" he asked.
"Touch it and find out," Beythan said, his lips quivering a little.
The child reached out and stroked the hair atop his head. "That’s not rough," he said, sounding surprised. "It feels like my pelt."
The child leaned closer, and wrinkled his nose. "You smell," he said.
Twitchear started to rebuke him, but Beythan held up a staying hand. "It's all right, Twitchear. I do stink, I'd bet. We humans have to bathe often to keep from smelling bad."
"Bathe? Like licking yourself? Why don't you?" Twitchear asked.
Beythan laughed softly. "No. We bathe in water. We can't lick ourselves all over."
"You submerge yourself in water?!" BroadPaw said in horror. "You no-hairs are crazy!"
Twitchear threw his brother a reproachful look. "They are simply different than us, BroadPaw," he chided. He turned back to Beythan. "There is a stream close by where we get our drinking water from. We also fish in it. You could submerge yourself in it, if you want. And bathe yourself."
A look of delight spread over Beythan’s face. "A bath would be wonderful!" he cried happily.
Twitchear felt pleased at his reaction. "Let me take you there," he said, helping Beythan up from the ground. "You can meet more of my people later."
He led Beythan away from the communal cook pit, and the cat people watched them go. None of them had made any threatening moves, and Beythan felt far less scared of them than he had before. Besides, he was so excited at the thought of being able to bathe properly for the first time in many months that he forgot all about his apprehension anyway. To be clean again! It was a miracle!
The large stream meandered through the grass near the camp. It was one of the reasons that the camp was situated where it was, in fact. Because it meant that the tribe had an abundant source of drinking water, as well as fresh fish for the cook pit(or eaten raw) to supplement their meat stores. Twitchear led Beythan to the bank of the stream.
The human sighed in pleasure. He stuck out a toe and dipped it in the stream, then shivered when he felt how cold the water was. Maybe it wouldn't be a good idea to immerse himself in it, he thought sadly. He'd likely freeze to death afterward. He sighed.
Twitchear looked at him when he sighed. "What’s the matter, Beyshan?" he asked anxiously.
The human shook his head. "I can't submerge myself in this water," he explained miserably. "It's too cold. I don't have a pelt of hair to protect me and keep me warm," he continued, reaching out to lightly pet Twitchear's fur. "Only my bare skin."
"Oh," Twitchear said in understanding. "Wait here!" he added, then loped off quickly toward the camp.
Beythan wondered where he'd gone. He didn't have to wonder long, though, as Twitchear reappeared with one of the heavier skins from his bed draped over his shoulder. "You can wrap yourself in this," he said eagerly. "So you won’t be cold. Yes?"
"Yes!" he replied, his face lighting up. "What a good idea! All right, here goes," he waded into the stream, making small noises at how cold it was. He shivered, but kept going. He wanted to be clean so badly!
Beythan took the plunge and crouched down, groaning as the cold water lapped at his chest. He hurriedly washed himself, shivering, his teeth chattering. He plunged his head under the water, then came up for air with a loud gasp. "So cold!" he wailed.
"Come out, Beyshan!" Twitchear called worriedly from the bank.
He waded out of the water, so cold he was almost turning blue. Twitchear threw the skin over his shivering body, wrapping him in it until only his face was visible. Then he picked a startled Beythan up, and began to carry the fur-wrapped bundle of him back toward the camp. He might have protested, but since he didn't want any of his bare skin in contact with the air right now, he was content to be carried like a furry rug in Twitchear's strong arms.
The cat man carried him back to the tent and deposited him on the bed, and Beythan was happy to burrow under all of the covers and create a warm cocoon for himself. After a bit, Twitchear crouched down by the bed and reached out to stroke his damp curls lightly with his finger pads. That touch was so sweet and gentle that it made Beythan drowsy. He fell fast asleep with the sound of Twitchear’s rumbling purr in his ears, feeling warm and clean and wonderfully taken care of...
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