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“Drop your weapon and release him!”

Sekhet grits his fangs and holds his position. Namely a tight hold on the merchant Elnin in front of him and the small dagger he was currently poking him with in the back. The other Elnin facing across from him in the deserted alley carefully adjusts their grip on their much larger and more powerful sword.

When Sekhet had pounced on the unsuspecting merchant, who’d seemed new to Bejali and had wandered into one of the rougher parts of the sandy city, he hadn’t anticipated them to be accompanied by a trained member of the Hunter’s Guild! Or possibly even a knight? This was supposed to be an easy shove and grab, but instead it had turned into a stand-off between himself and the armed-protection, with the merchant being used as a shield and bargaining chip. Not exactly the position he wanted to be in! But with some careful negotiations (namely threats) he might still come out on top. So long as no one did anything stupid...

“Toss me your coin purse and I’ll trade you for your friend!” He shoots back, making the merchant squeak.

“I’m not-!!”

But something else catches his eye at that moment. A small familiar figure with spotted brown and green fur creeping around the corner behind the knight. Kesi, his kittom, to be precise.

What on Eyre?!! He’d told her to stay put in their current hiding spot, well away from his ‘work’! Yet there she was, looking like... Yggdrasil forbid... she’s going to try pick-pocketing the much larger and dangerous Elnin!

“Kes!!” Involuntarily he yelps his alarm but the knight, alerted to the supposed ‘sneak attack’ coming up behind them, whirls around in anticipation. The blade of their sword flashes in the harsh sunlight.

Time seems to slow and Sekhet feels sluggish as he pushes the merchant forward, sending them sprawling on their front. The knight jerks back, shocked and dismaed at realizing it was just a kittom. Sekhet pays them no mind though as he leaps at Kesi, any caution about the dangerous knight forgotten.

It feels like he’s moving through treacle as he grabs Kesi’s scruff in his mouth and picks up her small form. Thankfully she’s light and his momentum continues to carry them as he dashes away from the confrontation.

Is she hurt?! Did the sword connect?? Is she...

He has no idea and daren’t stop yet until he’s put some distance between them. He darts through dusty archways towards the nearest market square, knowing he’ll lose them in the crowd. Racing around the wooden stalls selling their spices and silks, under the flapping shade-cloths, until he’s out the other side and diving inside one of his hidden hovels.

He stops, not sure if he’s panting from the running or worry, and puts the kittom down.

“Oww daaad...” Kesi whines.

Thank the Eldertree... Sekhet bites back the other uncouth words he was about to sigh in relief. She couldn’t be too hurt if she was complaining. Nevertheless he shushes her and begins to check her over for injuries. Thankfully there’s just a small cut on her paw, which he washes with some water from his gourd flask and bandages with a stolen hanky from one of his pouches.

“What were you thinking?!”

“That their back was turned. That's perfect opportunity, you said.” She replies huffily.

“What I SAID was to wait for me out of the way!”

“You were stuck and I could have gotten their gold!”

“What you almost got was a bite of their steel! You’re lucky it was just a cut, it could have been much worse!” He growls.

“I knew what I was doing-“

“No, you don’t! You’re not a bandit, you’re a kittom!!”

Kesi puffs her tiny cheeks and glares at him before turning away and curling up in the corner on their makeshift bed.

Sekhet sighs exasperatedly and slips out from under the cloth hiding the entrance of their ‘home’. He needed some air.... and time to think.

More like revisit some old thoughts that had been niggling at his mind for a while now. Taking one of his kittoms under his wing and teaching her the tricks of his thieving trade had seemed like fun at the time. Someone to pass on his skills to. But... he looks at the deserted backstreet around him, sand from the surrounding desert piling up in the corners, broken pottery to hide his ill-gotten goods... it was hardly a fun place for a kittom to live. And as this narrow escape had proven, it wasn’t a safe life for a kittom either.

If she had been seriously hurt, or worse, it wouldn’t have been her fault for not listening to him. Not really. It would be his fault for bringing her here. Bejali was a large city, but a harsh one. And being close to Vahl D’Sari meant there were more dubious characters around and the risk of wandering monsters near the boarder. It was dangerous.

Really, it was obvious it was a bad idea to bring her here. But he couldn’t help admitting he’d grown fond of his daughter... She was a bold one, feisty, and more than a little sassy. She had a spirit in her that he knew she’d gotten from him and that had stirred up some new and unusual feelings in the bandit elnin. A curious sort of pride for one, and yes, a growing fondness.

If she had been hurt... he wasn’t sure he would be able to forgive himself.

He sighs again but this time it’s a resigned sound. He knows what he has to do. Something he’s known for a while but has selfishly been putting it off. For once in his law-breaking life he’s going to have to do the responsible thing. The RIGHT thing. Ugh.

Taking her back to her siblings and mother... she wouldn’t become his little protege but she would grow up with friends her age, with regular and ample meals. And in safety. That was the main thing.

As much as he would miss her...

Shaking his head and steeling himself, he goes back inside their hideaway. Kesi lifts her head to look at him but stays quiet. Her little face pouts.

“I’m sorry I yelled at you.” Sekhet mutters, coming closer and sitting down on his haunches. “I was just... upset you got hurt.”

“It doesn’t hurt that much. I’ll be sneakier next time.”

Sekhet opens his mouth to reply and then shuts it again, cutting off the remark about there not going to be a ‘next time’. “That’s good. I have a few coins hidden away, let’s go see about buying some ointment.”

“Eww noooo that stuff’s sticky!”

“If we don’t put it on, your foot might fall off. And you’ll need it.”

“What? No it won’t! ....Will it?”

“You can never be too careful. And we’re going to have a lot of walking to do and I’m not carrying you the whole way.”

“Walking? Where?”

“We’re going to take a trip. Someplace greener. You’ll like it. Might even meet some other kittoms.”

“Sounds fun! But I don’t need other kittoms, I have you!”

Sekhet bites his tongue again, but it’s something deeper in his chest that feels the pang. This was going to be harder than any highway robbery he’d previously planned, but he hopes she will understand one day.

Description
“Drop your weapon and release him!”

Sekhet grits his fangs and holds his position. Namely a tight hold on the merchant Elnin in front of him and the small dagger he was currently poking him with in the back. The other Elnin facing across from him in the deserted alley carefully adjusts their grip on their much larger and more powerful sword.

When Sekhet had pounced on the unsuspecting merchant, who’d seemed new to Bejali and had wandered into one of the rougher parts of the sandy city, he hadn’t anticipated them to be accompanied by a trained member of the Hunter’s Guild! Or possibly even a knight? This was supposed to be an easy shove and grab, but instead it had turned into a stand-off between himself and the armed-protection, with the merchant being used as a shield and bargaining chip. Not exactly the position he wanted to be in! But with some careful negotiations (namely threats) he might still come out on top. So long as no one did anything stupid...

“Toss me your coin purse and I’ll trade you for your friend!” He shoots back, making the merchant squeak.

“I’m not-!!”

But something else catches his eye at that moment. A small familiar figure with spotted brown and green fur creeping around the corner behind the knight. Kesi, his kittom, to be precise.

What on Eyre?!! He’d told her to stay put in their current hiding spot, well away from his ‘work’! Yet there she was, looking like... Yggdrasil forbid... she’s going to try pick-pocketing the much larger and dangerous Elnin!

“Kes!!” Involuntarily he yelps his alarm but the knight, alerted to the supposed ‘sneak attack’ coming up behind them, whirls around in anticipation. The blade of their sword flashes in the harsh sunlight.

Time seems to slow and Sekhet feels sluggish as he pushes the merchant forward, sending them sprawling on their front. The knight jerks back, shocked and dismaed at realizing it was just a kittom. Sekhet pays them no mind though as he leaps at Kesi, any caution about the dangerous knight forgotten.

It feels like he’s moving through treacle as he grabs Kesi’s scruff in his mouth and picks up her small form. Thankfully she’s light and his momentum continues to carry them as he dashes away from the confrontation.

Is she hurt?! Did the sword connect?? Is she...

He has no idea and daren’t stop yet until he’s put some distance between them. He darts through dusty archways towards the nearest market square, knowing he’ll lose them in the crowd. Racing around the wooden stalls selling their spices and silks, under the flapping shade-cloths, until he’s out the other side and diving inside one of his hidden hovels.

He stops, not sure if he’s panting from the running or worry, and puts the kittom down.

“Oww daaad...” Kesi whines.

Thank the Eldertree... Sekhet bites back the other uncouth words he was about to sigh in relief. She couldn’t be too hurt if she was complaining. Nevertheless he shushes her and begins to check her over for injuries. Thankfully there’s just a small cut on her paw, which he washes with some water from his gourd flask and bandages with a stolen hanky from one of his pouches.

“What were you thinking?!”

“That their back was turned. That's perfect opportunity, you said.” She replies huffily.

“What I SAID was to wait for me out of the way!”

“You were stuck and I could have gotten their gold!”

“What you almost got was a bite of their steel! You’re lucky it was just a cut, it could have been much worse!” He growls.

“I knew what I was doing-“

“No, you don’t! You’re not a bandit, you’re a kittom!!”

Kesi puffs her tiny cheeks and glares at him before turning away and curling up in the corner on their makeshift bed.

Sekhet sighs exasperatedly and slips out from under the cloth hiding the entrance of their ‘home’. He needed some air.... and time to think.

More like revisit some old thoughts that had been niggling at his mind for a while now. Taking one of his kittoms under his wing and teaching her the tricks of his thieving trade had seemed like fun at the time. Someone to pass on his skills to. But... he looks at the deserted backstreet around him, sand from the surrounding desert piling up in the corners, broken pottery to hide his ill-gotten goods... it was hardly a fun place for a kittom to live. And as this narrow escape had proven, it wasn’t a safe life for a kittom either.

If she had been seriously hurt, or worse, it wouldn’t have been her fault for not listening to him. Not really. It would be his fault for bringing her here. Bejali was a large city, but a harsh one. And being close to Vahl D’Sari meant there were more dubious characters around and the risk of wandering monsters near the boarder. It was dangerous.

Really, it was obvious it was a bad idea to bring her here. But he couldn’t help admitting he’d grown fond of his daughter... She was a bold one, feisty, and more than a little sassy. She had a spirit in her that he knew she’d gotten from him and that had stirred up some new and unusual feelings in the bandit elnin. A curious sort of pride for one, and yes, a growing fondness.

If she had been hurt... he wasn’t sure he would be able to forgive himself.

He sighs again but this time it’s a resigned sound. He knows what he has to do. Something he’s known for a while but has selfishly been putting it off. For once in his law-breaking life he’s going to have to do the responsible thing. The RIGHT thing. Ugh.

Taking her back to her siblings and mother... she wouldn’t become his little protege but she would grow up with friends her age, with regular and ample meals. And in safety. That was the main thing.

As much as he would miss her...

Shaking his head and steeling himself, he goes back inside their hideaway. Kesi lifts her head to look at him but stays quiet. Her little face pouts.

“I’m sorry I yelled at you.” Sekhet mutters, coming closer and sitting down on his haunches. “I was just... upset you got hurt.”

“It doesn’t hurt that much. I’ll be sneakier next time.”

Sekhet opens his mouth to reply and then shuts it again, cutting off the remark about there not going to be a ‘next time’. “That’s good. I have a few coins hidden away, let’s go see about buying some ointment.”

“Eww noooo that stuff’s sticky!”

“If we don’t put it on, your foot might fall off. And you’ll need it.”

“What? No it won’t! ....Will it?”

“You can never be too careful. And we’re going to have a lot of walking to do and I’m not carrying you the whole way.”

“Walking? Where?”

“We’re going to take a trip. Someplace greener. You’ll like it. Might even meet some other kittoms.”

“Sounds fun! But I don’t need other kittoms, I have you!”

Sekhet bites his tongue again, but it’s something deeper in his chest that feels the pang. This was going to be harder than any highway robbery he’d previously planned, but he hopes she will understand one day.