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Post by tybalt arcturus on Jul 27, 2011 17:33:59 GMT -8
Tybalt Arcturus
Glancing around, eyes in that awkward stage of turning from blue to yellow, with thier muddy brown hue flicked around nervously. None of this felt right, he hated being on exhibit like some exhibition pice. The oddly colored tiger sat in the far left corner of his cage, long tail curled along the side of his body ready to hiss or whatever necessary to keep buyers from him. The male was still rather small for his age of six months, perhaps the size of a four month old. His pelt was thick with cub fluff, the odd markings being his only stand-out feature, with his light ginger pelt and darker, almost burnt orange markings covering what would have been black stripes. White was along more of his body than other tigers. The sides of his muzzle, beneath his chin, underbelly, most of his forelegs, some of his hind legs and even along his face, melding with the orange hues. Tybalt loved and yet loathed his odd pelt, he had not seen another that looked like him, he was sure they were there. He feared it would draw attention to him, bring a buyer, yet he also feared mockery and teasing because he looked different.
The others appeared indifferent around him, cages lined with animals all awaiting the same fate he was. He had heard of kind masters, those that took care of their slaves, and those that saw them as nothing more than entertainment or a stress reliever to smack around.
His mother was going to earn the money to buy him, then he could go home. He just knew it. She had promised she would and a mother would never break her promise. Flicking his long tail the cat wondered why he feared anything, he was of some rank. His name gave that alone, he had refused to drop his last name like some, he was above that. He was an Arcturus. Bending his head, tongue flicked out giving himself a groom, always needing to be presentable should his mother arrive or someone he knows see him. Tybalt reminded himself the importance of keeping appearances as taught. Glancing down the hallway round ears flicked, the white dots spied for only a moment as he heard the sound of another slave being purchased. He did not understand the joy some cats got over owning another, having power to control something that breathed and in theory may have the same rank as them if fate had not dealed them the black jack. Is that all he was dealt, the black jack? The cursed card that would send him to a fate he felt was not meant for him. He was no criminal or animal that had money to pay, it was his father's fault. All that idiotic cats, why his mother did not just leave him was beyond him. She had been beautiful, she could find another mate. Assuming she even wanted to, truth be told Tybalt had not seen his mother in some moons, only remembering her through scent, his memory fading. |
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Post by Fenris Arei on Jul 27, 2011 18:23:22 GMT -8
The great king Fenris reguarly wandered around the slave markets. He wanted to pick up any promising slave as his own. He had plans of building a huge personal harem of slaves who all rushed to his bidding no matter what. Servals were useless heathens in his mind. He forced the few serval slaves he had to do the grunt of the work and often, the hardest and most arduous work. The few caracals and other cats he kept around were more for show and as personal pets. Their loyalty was questionable, however. Caracals were ideal servants. Those cats were low enough on the totem pole to be acceptable, but not so low that it was demeaning. He purred at the thought of having a brand new punching bag to take home. A new kitty that had to do his bidding and could live in the conditions Fenris forced his personal harem to live in. His pets got slightly better accomodations because they were after all, there for show. He wanted his collection to be gleaming.
Fenris' treatment of slaves could be pure torture. They received the worst cuts of meat, the worst places to sleep, worked the longest hours, and were treated as pawns if not worse. Fenris had dragged along a rather healthy looking, but extremely disloyal serval to use as a bargaining chip if need be. Killing the creature would be too merciful. No, a life in slavery for eternity was what that cat deserved. Before leaving the palace, Fenris had given this serval a good nip on the back of the neck for good measure. His mind whirred with memories of beating servals within an inch of their sorry lives and watching them grovel and beg for mercy. He imagined the bloody scenes of killing the miscreant cats and watching the very life drain out of them. If there was only one thing Fenris could excel at, it was brutality. He loved every moment of it. Every life was in his paws. Yes, that was perfect.
As he walked throughout the rows of cowering and pathetic looking slaves, he made a silent note of the prospects. He looked through the slaves like one would look through fruits on a farmer's market. He paused at the cage of an oddly colored tiger cub. The thing was pathetic--barely even a snack. The scrap of fur could be prettied up some and make for a new pet for the collection. Even better, this morsel could be twisted into the most perfect servant Fenris could have. Ah, young minds were so weak, so prone to corruption. As a father to healthy cubs, Fenris knew all about being a father. Besides, he could play the game, too. He could pretend to care for and love the cub with a bigger plan or corrupting and brainwashing the slave's mind to do his bidding with eternal loyalty. He could see things coming from the dirty tiger cub in the cage.
Fenris bent down to get a better look at the tiger. He put on an expression of pity to seem like he deeply cared for the child's welfare. "Hey, there. You're certainly in a sorry state for one so young and innocent. Little boy, where are you parents? What's your name?"
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Post by tybalt arcturus on Jul 27, 2011 18:55:52 GMT -8
He had been lost in his own thoughts, a memory, the things he usually wandered back to. He was back home, the marbled floors, cool to the touch, playing hunter and prey with his mother, pouncing on her back. It all interrupted when a cool voice glided over his ears, flicking them he looked up, noticing the large snow leopard gazing at him. Swallowing nervously he felt the fur along his spine rise, trying to force it flat to no avail. Something about the cat felt odd, wrong, but he sounded so polite. He could not be all bad, right? Swallowing nervously he finally lifted his gaze to meet the others, the muddy brown hue watching. Most likely he was crossing some boundary, yet Tybalt himself was of rank, and who was this cat? Knowing he must answer the question Tybalt thought carefully over his words, finally allowing himself a moment to speak.
"My name is Tybalt, Tybalt Arcturus,"
He said avoiding any mention of his family, he did not wish to shame them or his own name anymore than it was. The name itself may give him away, but oh well. He had to remind himself he could not help the situation he was in. And this cat, this leopard seemed nice, respectable. He already had another with him, a serval by the scent, although it smelled awful, almost rank. Shaking his muzzle at the smell he rose, taking a few steps until he could glance at the other slave, wondering what was wrong with it. Surely this other could not have done that, he seemed too polite and caring. Flicking his tail the cats pelt felt like it needed a grooming, particularly around a cat of rank. Turning he backed up, feeling leery of turning his back on any, even with bars separating them. Making his way to the water dish, his nose wrinkled at the putrid looking water, yet opening his mouth he lapped up two gulps, his throat dry from nervousness. Once finished his head shook, trying to get rid of the disgusting taste. Finally turning back to the leopard, he sat, his gaze not leaving the others, curiosity singing through him.
Opening his mouth he thought of dare asking a question, yet a glance from the serval told him no. Yes, he did not know this cat. Best not make himself look like a bad commodity, perhaps if purchased the other could even help him find his mother. The prospect brightened his mood slightly. An ear flicked, hearing a guard speaking to another buyer about a slave, things were certainly busy today. Normally things were quiet, happily quiet so he was left to his own thoughts. Thoughts... his eyes narrowed momentarily as he glanced over the snow leopards body, he had to be of some high nobility, all the snow leopards were, but which he did not know. That meant they had books, his paws itched with the thought of pages and pages to read, to escape to.
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Post by Fenris Arei on Jul 27, 2011 19:23:13 GMT -8
Fenris felt that he was playing a good game. He pretended to genuinely care about the tiger regardless of any more sadistic thoughts of using the boy. The serval was looking in at the cub too, though the serval had emotions mixed of fear and sorrow. That serval was useless and deserved every beating it got. It wasn't innocent like the boy. That serval was disgusting. The king shot his slave a harsh glance and the heathen retreated respectfully, sulking in the leopard's shadow. That was better. The serval was where it belonged, crouching, cowering, waiting in the shadow of its superior master.
When the boy stated his name as 'Arcturus' the leopard was reminded of some recent trials that involved a gambler who had lost everything and refused to give it up. Gylfard Arcturus was thrown in jail until he could pay his debts. His mate lost all face and all his property was stipped from him. There were rumors later on that in order to make money, Arcturus had sold his only son into slavery. This Tybalt Arcturus might be the criminal's son. How likely was that? King Fenris had presided over all court cases as king and gave a final verdict to everything. His word was law.
"Mister Tybalt, do you know me? I know both your parents. You were a noble's son, weren't you. It's a sad day when such a high born cub is sold as a slave. Tybalt, would you like to be a noble again? I can do anything. I know where your mother is, Mister Tybalt."
He kept his voice as soft and gentle as possible for the cub. The last bit was a lie. That tiger cub would amount to nothing but a pet, maybe even a servant. Besides, the most Fenris knew about the Lady Arcturus was that she had lost all credit and fled far from the high courts. The Lord Arcturus was in jail and to meet the death penalty if he didn't pay. He didn't care at all about those tigers. They were a thing of the past. Fenris could lie and to a child so young, what wasn't there to trust? A friendly face, a promise of something better, that kid had nothing to distrust, or so the king believed.
The snow leopard pressed one great against the side of the cage. He could feel the stiff bars between his pads and kept up his ruse of pity. His own children had been this innocent once. Now, they were grown up and some were almost ready to claim kingship. Hah, as if that would happen. Over his dead body. The tiger cub was something different. He would be brought up differently than his own children. The tiger would be brought up as a slave--Fenris' personal slave. That was something no one could say 'no' to.
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Post by tybalt arcturus on Jul 27, 2011 20:05:44 GMT -8
Did he know him? No. All Tybalt knew is that snow leopards were royalty, always connected to that family in some way. Glancing at the cats pelt, he could see the lushness in it, how well kept it was. Could his own coat look like that? For not it was patchy and dreary in appearance. It could be as glossy, he thought, how it used to look after his swimming sessions.
Muddy colored gaze noticed the Serval slinking behind the leopard, what was he so afraid of? Returning to reality and the question asked, he shook his head to the first question.
"No, I do not know who you are,"
He said in pure honesty, the innocence flowing off him like a waterfall.
"You... you knew my parents?"
His ears perked up, rising as he walked closer towards the front of the cage.
"Yes, I was... you know my mother? Where is she?"
Tybalt asked, his original statement leaving his thoughts as he darted towards the front of the cage, his claws slipping out in excitement. Where was she? Was she close? His tail lashed wanting to know. If only he were larger, he could have broken out of this cage and found her himself. Yet with his current size he felt he would never grow to be anything. Glancing around at his body he sighed with near defeat.
Dare he ask it, as a thought crept into his mind.. yes, one of the few things he craves.
"Sir, do... do you have books I could read?" he asked.
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Post by Fenris Arei on Jul 27, 2011 20:28:27 GMT -8
So, the little cub didn't know his king. From a slave, such things were to be expected. Fenris smiled kindly on the boy. Such young things were so innocent. They didn't know what was really out there. The youth of today were the makers of tomorrow. It was up to him, the king, to ensure that young subs didn't make mistakes. "My dear boy, I am the king. My name is Fenris Arei. Your mother is on the outskirts of town. She is close, about a day's walk into the forest. When you are bigger and look like a noble again, I can take you to see her. Would you like that? If it puts your mind at ease, your father is in a place where he will never hurt you again."
The boy's father was soon to be sentenced to death. The child didn't need to know that. The boy Tybalt didn't need to know that his father was regularly beaten and starved, sometimes at the king's own paws. The boy didn't need to know that his mother had lost all her dignity and was so shamed that she never showed herself in public. Fenris could keep on lying to the cub if only to win over the tiger's loyalty. And then the young slave asked a rather peculiar thing. He wanted to read books. As king, Fenris had a whole library filled with books. Some of them were books on politics, history, old myths and legends, guide books, everything. He had even written a few books that were kept in the library. "Tybalt, I have a whole room filled with books for you to read. I have books from when I was teaching my own children how to read--about your age, too. You look like an intelligent child. I have books written by all the great minds known to cats. You might like some of those once you're a bit older. I can teach you how to read and write. When we go to see your mother, you can show her all your skills in reading and writing."
In reality, Fenris had no desires to teach the boy to read anything above the simplist of books. He didn't want a scholar or an educated slave. The educated heathens were dangerous. They were more likely to start a rebellion. For now, the child would learn only the basics. As an adult, if he proved his devout loyalty to the king time and time again, then, his education might improve further. Somehow, Fenris doubted that would ever happen. The king looked more closely at the tiger he would soon call his own. Underneath the thick mat of fur and cub-fuzz was a starved and dehydrated baby. "Tybalt, are you hungry, thirsty? Life in that cage must be miserable. If you come home with me, I can prepare you a feast. You can eat at the royal table with the best food and drink Dulce has to offer. I'm sure you want a better place to sleep than that hard floor. I can arrange for you to have a bed made of soft furs. Would you like to live a comfortable life without worry?"
[Short, but filled with lies and truth.]
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Post by tybalt arcturus on Aug 1, 2011 12:07:21 GMT -8
The king? Tybalt knew there was a royal family but he had never seen or met them, his father had mentioned it, promised to take him to the palace to see them one day. Instinctively his head dipped in respect to the one with higher status. So, this was the king? He certainly seemed king-like, his royally well groomed fur, the slave by his side, a symbol of wealth and status. He was about to ask more about the royal life, but his mother was mentioned. Flicking his ears up, his gaze perked up as well, his mother was close? "I would like that sir, I would love to see her again," he said the tip of his tail flicking in excitement. His mother was close, King Fenris could lead him there. "Please, if you could make me look as I should I would like to impress her with how much I've grown," he said hoping he would at least grow more. He was much smaller than other cubs his age, he would always be small in stature the cub felt, a weakling that could not gain back his status.
And then the king brought on another happy moment, books. His great passion, a library. The cub had only ever read books his father or mother got him as a present. "Could we go now?" he asked bouncing forward like a cub should, with excitement blazing from him like a fire. His claws slide out, scraping the metal floor in glee. Was he more excited about the books than his mother? Quite possibly. The next couple of questions made him flick an ear and nod, "I am hungry and thirsty, they don't feed us well here," he mumbled the last part, incase Fenris did not buy him and a slave guard overheard, they could take away some of his food ration for being ungrateful. "I would like to go with you sir, I want what you can teach me, and I want to read more, learn to hunt and fight, be a tiger worth something," he said being careful not to mention his father. He knew the tiger had made mistakes, selling his own son, he would not do that. He wanted to prove himself and felt the king could lead him there. To his destiny.
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Post by Fenris Arei on Aug 1, 2011 13:19:56 GMT -8
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King Fenris forced a weak smile at the cub's attempt at a bow. His eyes flicked towards the cat selling the young tiger and noted the oath of fealty mumbled along with a more definite bow. Normally, Fenris would have scolded anyone who didn't bow properly, but the seller was doing just fine and the cub still needed to believe that Fenris was a good of a cat as the lies implied. His new slave was so gullible. The boy even believed that he could be groomed into a noble again. What the cub didn't know couldn't hurt him...much. Fenris intended on treating the tiger to the life of his dreams for awhile, but in the end, changes had to made. The cub would sacrifice much including his own freedom and free will, but that was all part of the plan. "Tybalt, trust me. You'll grow to be a big tiger and your mother will be most impressed by your education."
The cub was so happy. The act was cute. A prince one day, a slave the next. Fenris planned on grooming the cub into a bodyguard and maybe even a top class servant in the royal palace. One thing that would never change was his dwelling. Fenris planned on treating the cub to his own room beside the king's. The space would be just big enough to allow a full grown tiger to turn around and lay down and stand up. There would no extra room for concealing weapons or poison. The cub's diet would be good enough to ensure that he grew to his full potential. Everything would be calculated and planned to make the most of the slave labor. Fenris turned to the seller, still bowing.
"Rise, citizen. Take the serval as payment. It's a good worker and healthy." The lynx accepted the serval without out question. He fumbled around with a ring of keys, trying several to unlock the cage the tiger cub was in. Fenris's tail flicked irritably at the lynx's poor work. He resisted the urge to lunge at the seller since that would only scare the boy. Fenris wanted the tiger to believe that he was a good king, not a tyrant. Once the door was open, the lynx turned his back on the tiger and roughly shoved the serval inside an adjacent cage and locked the door. The serval hissed but quieted down once its fate was sealed.
Fenris sealed the exchange through a signature. Even as king, he still obeyed the rule of signing off on all transactions to prove that the sale was legal and that neither party could bring the matter to court on charges of theft. "The palace isn't a very far walk from here. Stay close to me and if you get tired, I'll carry you."
"Talk!"
Thought!
Words: 470
Tags: Bracken
Status: Complete
Notes: I'm not quiet sure how much more we need to post in this thread. It seems to be wrapping up nicely.
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