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Via found her in the bushes.
She was surprised she didn't attack Via at all. She knelt down to look into the brush. Her fingers pulled back the leaves, quiet and slow, as not to frighten the creature. Bright yellow eyes shone, glistening in the darkness.
All Via could think of was one thing. She tightened her free fist into the dirt, fingernails stained in the earth. The cat watched her silently, content to watch Via suffer her internal turmoil. Those eyes… they were so, so shiny. Oh, how Via loved shiny things.
The cat then meowed, breaking the avian girl from her thoughts. She could feel a slight buzz in her head when it did. It made her brow furrow. Via had felt that buzz before. She didn't know how she felt about it, other than a slight annoyance when she tried to focus. Being alone and far from other avians made it hard to distinguish what emotions meant to her, making.
She inched closer to Via, one black paw in front of the other. The dirt-stained fist unfurled and slowly inched towards her pocket, where Via knew she had some berries stashed away. Via tried berries once. They made her sick, and she hadn't been able to find a way to rid herself of them. She placed a few in front of her, the cat watching her with intrigue in her eyes. With only slight hesitation, the cat sniffed at the berries before eating them. Via has to hold back her gasp of excitement as the cat comes close, giving a small lick to Via’s chin.
She releases the bushes and takes the cat in her hands, holding her close. “Let's go home, Kitty,” she says, giving the creature a smile. “I have better treats there.”
The walk to her home wasn’t far, a small tree house off the side of a mountain. The neighboring trees almost hid the home from view, if it weren’t for the faint lamplight that emitted through the leaves. Once inside, Via places the cat on her bed, fluffing pillows and shaking out a blanket for her to lie on, which the cat accepts.
Via peaks out an opening in the tree, a gust of wind blowing her bangs back. She frowns as she retreats into her home and towards her furnace. She pulls some food items from a nearby cupboard and begins to cook them. The tree is filled with the smell of roasting fish, mixing with the smell of coming rain from outdoors. Via could see the cat perk up at the smell, making her giggle at the reaction.
She pulls the fish off the furnace and walks to where the cat sits, offering the meal. When she eats, Via grabs a small loaf of bread and finds a glass bottle of honey, stowed in the depths of her cupboard. Her honeyed bread is sweet, a contrast to the cat’s savory meal. They eat together, the unusual duo, content in each other's presence. Via looks to the window. The cat copies, curiosity in her eyes. Via breaks the silence.
“I do hope it doesn’t rain.”
It didn’t just rain. It poured. The heavens are assaulting the earth with water. Via didn’t mind the rain. She loved how the earth smelled afterwards, as well as the water for drinking. What she didn’t like was how loud the noise could be. Especially when it thundered. The noise was like roaring in Via’s ears. It made her tremble, her wings shuddering along her back, and filling her head with panic.
Via couldn't help feeling childish in her fear, hidden under her blanket tucked away in her bed. It reminded her of how they would leave her alone. It reminded her of her first time hearing a thunderstorm. Her parents never wanted anything to do with her, which meant Via was left alone far too often as a young avian. Monsoon seasons were the hardest; when thunder and wind were ruthless, the rain pounded on the roof like a mob. Via’s parents are nowhere to be found. No one to tell her that the thunder was just noise, that it couldn’t hurt her.
The tickle of fur under her nose startled her. Via’s eyes widen as she comes face-to-face with the cat. The little thing seemed unaffected by the noise roaring outside. She tucks herself into Via’s arms, making herself comfortable in the nook under her chin. As she settles, a reverberating purr fills Via’s ears. The sound is soothing, drowning the sounds of the storm. She pulls the cat closer. “Thank you,” she sniffles. It’s the greatest comfort she’s ever known.
.
This… was not how Dii expected her week to go.
She had felt her magic waning; it was painful and tiring. The exhaustion was hanging off her bones and making her eyes droop under the pressure. She went home to sleep it off. Only when she awoke was it to a surprise.
She was a pure cat, all in its feline glory. Paws, ears, whiskers… it was all there. Dii couldn't have hit herself with how stupid she had been. In all her plotting and prepping and planning, Dii's hypocrisy had caught up to her. Her magic was low; therefore, it made Dii revert to a form that allowed her to function while also regaining her magic.
A cat.
It wasn't all that bad. Dii could easily roam the Origins community without someone so much as batting an eye. Random cats and birds were known to randomly show up. It was how Flor got their cat. How Div got her sheep (and chickens, which just hopped into her fence, apparently), strays of all kinds were warmly welcomed and treated as such.
Turns out that went for Kittii as well(get it? Kitty and Dii? Kittii? never mind).
It was jarring, seeing Via form the new angel. One of the smaller. She now understands Via's hesitation with those taller. Around herself! When in her human form, Via comes up to her hip. How easily could she be crushed… torn down and destroyed? The thought brought a chill up her spine. But of course, Via would do anything but that to Dii. The same goes for the random "Kitty" she has found and decidedly taken home with her.
Dii was warmed and fed, and it wasn't long before the two were fast asleep in their respective beds. Dii didn't mind the floor. Via made sure to give her an old bundle, one with a hole and the drawstring removed, so that Dii could sleep comfortably. It was like a miniature sleeping bag.
With the rain lulling them to sleep, Dii couldn't help the blissful contentment she felt. It was safe and surprisingly warm in Via's tree, the fireplace crackling close by. She could hear Via's breath as she slept, small warbles leaving her as she exhaled.
It was so-
Lightning flashed and thunder clapped. The rain seemed to fall harder, sounding like the march of an army in the night. The noise had Dii jolting in her bed, and Via waking with a gasp.
Dii spent that night comforting the avian, snuggling up close and hoping that her assurances came across, despite the lack of words. Via's arms wrapped around the furry body and held close, her grip trembling yet firm in fear. Dii wanted to do more, but this would have to do for now.
Dii stayed close to the days that followed, keeping Via company as she did small tasks in her tree and later in the community farms. She didn't sleep well for a few days. Waking up with a start and covered in a layer of sweat. Oh, how Dii wished she could take the terrors that plagued the younger and take them far, far away from her, or better yet, destroy whatever caused them. Unfortunately, she couldn't destroy the thunder, which was far above her skill set.
By day three, Dii's magic had returned in full, and Via's tremors had decreased enough for her to wave Kitty goodbye.
.
"Dii!"
The faeline turned to face the avian, her hair whipping in the wind as she did. Back was her human disguise, her fea and feline features carefully hidden away behind the strong curtain of magic.
"Hello skybird!" Dii greeted, pleased how the nickname still made the avian flush. "How have you been? It has been a while since we've talked."
"It has," Via replied, "we will have to get together sometime. until then-"
Dii blinked. Until then?
"I will be running a small errand, I won't be gone long, just a few days max-"
If it weren't for her self-control, Dii would have physically wilted. Via just never stopped, did she. For a creature that couldn't survive without community, the bird always seemed to be off on her own.
"-Is that okay?"
Dii snapped herself back to eh conversation, "Hm? I'm so sorry, Skybird, I might have zoned out there a bit. What do you need?"
Via chuckled, "I understand. I was asking if you could keep an eye out for my cat!"
Her… her cat?
"Your cat?"
"Yeah!" Via grinned. "I found her a few days ago, right before that big storm that came by. She is so sweet! She answers to Kitty, so the name should be easy. I have plenty of food in my home for her, but she isn't too picky. Oh! she loves berries and-"
Dii is clutching the sides of her tunic, her eyes wide as she realizes with a start who exactly Kitty is.
"I haven't seen her in a minute and I'm sure she's fine," Vias continues, oblivious to Diis's amusement at the situation. "I just want to make sure that she will be okay. And that she's well fed and-"
Dii places a hand on Via's shoulder, stopping her rambles. "Don't worry, Via. I will make sure your Kitty will be fed and well taken care of. I promise."
Via's eyes lighten at the words, her shoulders relaxing at the subtle command. "Thank you so much, Dii. I owe-"
"You owe me nothing," Dii interrupts, not wanting Via to get herself wrapped up in fae promises. "Just stay safe. For my sake and for Kitty's."
Via nods and runs off in the direction of her home, presumably to retrieve her belongings before she goes. Dii begins to walk, meaning to get back to her projects, when her eyes widen, realizing…
Dii… made a deal. She made a deal with Via.
one to make sure that Kitty was taken care of… Kitty, who was also Dii.
Dii had just made a deal with Via that she would make sure she took care of herself. And from how Via spoke, she hadn't the slightest idea what she had just done.
She wanted to laugh at her own foolishness when her stomach growled…
The faeline sighed. Time to get Kitty fed.