No More Tears [Kasatsu]

[Tigeress]

Her body ached, everywhere, the presence of hunger making itself slowly known though the few pounds of weight which had been lost. She ate when she felt like it, though really... she never felt like it. It wasn't that she'd given up on life, no, this was why she was still wandering, her attention sparked by the scent of familiar beings. A part of her hoped she came across nothing, feeling like a traitor she knew she was not. Her eyes still glimmered in the light, though they held an intence sadness which she couldn't shake, and probably wouldn't for some time.

Sighing heavily, she had to pause to take a break, forcing herself to wiggle through the grass about a metre or so to get to the edge of a small pond. Her throat was still hoarse from crying and screaming, though she had no tears left to shed. Her body felt empty, in all ways possible while still being alive, and it was a painful reminder that very little time had passed though it felt like years of wandering.

She dipped her paws into the pond, reddened and bleeding from carelessly walking over sharp twigs and rocks for the last few weeks. She had tried to stay hidden in forests, taking detours to avoid places that might get her spotted. Why was she giving in now and heading towards these scents instead of away, she didn't know. Something just told her it was time to stop running, her body couldn't take much more of her self torture. Sighing in frustration at herself, she picked her body up shakily and moved on, determined now to come upon something worth finding.

Sore and tired, she forced herself to keep going, and almost passed out when a hill seemed to rise in front of her vision, accompanied by a door, the likes of which was very familiar... She basically fell against it, closing her eyes and hoping for the best.

[Kasatsu]

For some reason, one he could not explain for the life of him, he had been feeling fidgety this evening. Everything was going well with is Burrow. More then perfect, honestly. He had just had two children born to him – both female leverets, something any Jack would be proud of. He had two Does to take care of, and them to take care of his Need, though his ideal number would be that of three. The number of Leverets he had serving under him had just grown recently two.

So after giving up on the idea of being able to pinpoint his feeling of restlessness, he had decided to take a walk. Reaching the entrance of his Burrow he pulled the door open . . .

. . . Only to have someone come tumbling in.

That . . . is not suppose to happen. he thought to himself in passing as he blanking stared down at the Doe who now lay at his feet.

Trying to get a grasp of the situation he took in her appearance. She really was a pretty looking thing, decorated in pretty jewelry . . . though the wings were a little odd. Kneeling down next to her he checked for a pulse. Finding one he gave a sigh of relief.

“Wake up mon cherie.” he said hoping to get a response from her.

[Tigeress]

In the comforting blackness she didn't want to move, it felt warm and dark and safe here. She just liked that feeling, it was one she missed. One she missed rather dearly, enough so that she considered just staying in this place forever. But no, it wouldn't be so easy, it was never so easy as of late. Something began to rouse her, made the darkness flicker with the hazy headache-filled promise of light. She didn't want to go back just yet, just a little while longer...

But suddenly she was awake, and still cold, and lying on someone's floor, looking up to a concerned face... a... Jack?! She started then, her extra long ears going back as she tried to move and found she could not. Shaking helplessly, she couldn't help but cry, suddenly with a moment's rest, the tears were back and her eyes glittered with them, though they normally glittered anyway. It was a weird trait, she had many of them, and it had made her a prized Doe for many years... and those years were now ended...

"I didn't kill him I swear I didn't kill him, I loved him so very much." She began rambling, the hysteric emotions catching up with her, combined with exposure and lack of food and sleep. When she was better, she'd be embarassed for the next millennium at how she was acting, but she couldn't help it. There was nothing worse than loosing your entire world overnight, and having the blame placed wrongfully on yourself. She would know.

[Kasatsu]

He could only stare in horror when she stirred and then looked up at him with tears in her eyes. Though he knew a lot about his Does and their moods he had never been able to grasp that of their tears.

“Mon cherie, mon cherie,” he cooed trying in hopes to calm her down some. “Of course you did not. Everything is okay now.” He continued on as he whipped away her tears with his thumbs, easily falling into his wooing ways even if he did not mean to be in this situation.

“Can you stand mon cherie?” he asked. It would probably be better to get her out of the hallway like this. A comfortable chair, a little warmth, and a good cup of tea would probably do her a bit of good. After helping to her feet he noticed her treating them tenderly and on closer inspection noticed that they were worn and torn.

“Hold on, mon cheri, I am going to carry you okay.” Reaching down he swept her into his arms, being careful of her limbs before heading off to the nearest sitting room.

[Tigeress]

Everything seemed to be happening so fast. She opened her mouth to protest, to say she was being wrong by coming here, she should go back and make sure he had a proper burial... She did freeze up at his touch on her cheeks, mostly because like everywhere else, they were very tender. But also, she hadn't been touched in so long... Despite her terrible state, she was almost dizzy with need, and a small groan escaped her, a mix of pleasure and mostly pain. It almost hurt to want the touch of her Jack now, in fact, it seemed to burn her skin on the inside.

"Ah!" She cried out as she doubled over, breathing heavy but even until he suggested to pick her up. Oh no, that wouldn't be good would it? But... it hurt so very much to move, to breathe, to walk. She nodded her head, shielding her face with her mane in embarassment while she tucked her wings into herself so they wouldn't cause a hassle for the Jack. He lifted her up so very gently, and she found herself trying to fall back into a deep sleep, though now too many feelings had been awakened to let her body heal itself.

"Unnn..." She squeezed her eyes tight, shaking her head at all the emotional turmoil, just trying to focus on the firm grasp the Jack had around her, and the warm air that came from... wherever he was taking her.

"He's really gone... And I should have known that bastard was out to take over his Warren. I hope the girls killed him after I left." She pulled back her lips in anger, settling only when she remembered someone was looking over her, and had been helping her. This was not the time for angry emotional spoutings, she'd done enough of that.

"I'm Anastasia, former Doe of the Jack Amastonde... who are you?" She blinked wide, glittering eyes up at him, though there were no more tears in them, they shone as if at any moment more might appear. Normally, a look of diamonds might have been described, but her pain made them sorrowful instead of beautiful. Describing herself in such a way was surprisingly... empty, she didn't feel anything at the word former, and she didn't even stumble over the name of her previous Jack. She wondered idly if this Jack knew him, probably, Amastonde had known a lot of other Jacks, he liked having them around for chats and tea.

[Kasatsu]

Reaching the sitting room he placed her on one of the couches. Ringing for a Leveret he waited till it arrived before giving orders to find the Healer. Seeing that the Leveret had set off to quickly complete its master’s command Leon turned his attention back to the female.

Moving back in front of her, he kneeled. Meeting her eyes he was glad to see that she seemed at least a little more logical in her thinking now. “It is a pleasure to meet you Anastasia, the name is Remmington though most know me by the name of Leon” He replied with a smile.

Jack Amastonde? He had herd of the Jack but he had never really had the pleasure of meeting him. He had only been a Jack of his own Warren for a few months and thus was still out of a few circles. Former Doe? Had she run away or . . . ? Those were questions to see to after he had the Healer see to her physically.

[Tigeress]

She blinked a bit, coming back to her senses as warmth filled her chilled body. She noticed idly that the Jack had sent someone off, probably to get her something for her many cuts and scrapes and general poor physical state. She'd been trying to take care of herself... but it had been so very hard. Glancing up when Leon introduced himself, she tried to force a social smile over her empty features.

"It is a pleasure to meet you as well, Leon. Thank you for being so understanding, I... I just couldn't live out there any longer on my own. I have no idea where anyone else is or what has happened to them." She shook her head sadly, despite how they'd turned on her on a whim, she still cared for and missed the Does she'd grown used to living with. Strangely enough, she understood their reaction, to need someone to blame, to make sense where there was none just to stop them from going completely mad.

The Doe pawed at an earring nervously, something that had developed into a bit of a habit, the clink of her rings against the hanging baubles strangely comforting. When she looked up again, there were questions in the Jack's eyes, ones she knew deserved to be answered after all his hospitality and kindness. Better to do it now while her emotions were still pleasantly numbed by shock and pain and hunger.

"Amastonde was killed... by a Leveret who everyone had known would soon be a Jack. We just assumed he would move out, move on, but apparently he'd become far too attached to property that wasn't his. One of the does blamed me, because I'd been with our Jack only hours before. He had insomnia, and I liked to make his sleepless hours a little less frustrating... Rennus had brought him warm milk just like every other night, but that night I swear he put something in it. The only thing Amastonde had was sleeping pills, so it must have been that. He was the only Leveret my Ja- Amastonde trusted enough to clean his personal quarters." Her paws had begun to shake with rage and she took a few deep, chest-rattling breaths to try and calm herself, her breathing uneven and showing signs of her distress.

"I ran, on penalty of murder, as after one of the Does saw it fit to say I'd done something, Rennus was quick to place the blame on me as well. Everything was so chaotic, there was so much noise... Oh god, Cassandra! She fainted, she was still in the house when everyone left, to avoid being taken over. At least Rennus' plan backfired entirely, he lost everything, the same way we did." She paused again to let out a slow breath, leaning her head down on herself as tiredness started to take hold again. Poor, poor Cassandra...

"I have been walking for days, miles and, now I've become a burden for you, I apologise. I thought I might die out there if I wandered any more." Her throat was still sore and dry, and she hoped she'd said enough for a while to soothe whatever worries the Jack might have had. Although he might still be suspicious of her, just becausse so many others had blamed her, and there was nobody to confirm or refute her story. Oh well, it was worth a try.

[Kasatsu]

He noted the way she seemed to play with her earring in an absent minded manner. It really was a cute little gesture.

When she started to tell her story he was a little taken aback since he had not wanted to push her in anyway, but apparently it was something that she needed to get off of her chest. Still kneeling in front of her, he listened attentively he remained silent, rubbing one of her knees in circular motions to help calm her and show her that he was there.

“Mon cherie, you are safe. There is nothing to fear here. You simply rest and stay calm the Healer should be here any minute to see to your wounds, okay?”

Just then the Leveret came to the doorway, “Remmington, you called for me?”

“Ah, thank you for coming on short notice.” He replied, pushing himself up and away so that the Healer could have better access to the Doe.

“It was my pleasure, Remmington.” She replied with a small bow before making her way over to the Doe. Se made quick work of cleaning and wrapping any of the serious injuries.

As she worked Leon stood by and fiddled with a book. So Amastonde had been killed? He would have to see into it and see what he could gather from the situation.

[Tigeress]

His words were calming, and now that she had gotten her story out to someone who might genuinely care, a great weight was lifted off her chest, though it was still heavy with woe and the pain of lack of attention she'd been getting lately. She didn't dare fall asleep, though her body wanted to shut down, because she didn't know if she'd keep waking up, so bad was the need that had gone unnoticed for the past month or so.

"T-thank you Leon." She sank back into the seat when he left, closing her eyes and biting down on her lip so as not to make any unladylike cries at the pain of being treated by the healer. She didn't want to be difficult after all he'd gone through, and she was able to keep painfully still under the prodding touch of the Leveret, offering a weak and tired smile when she was done.

Each blink of her eyes became slower, feeling heavier and heavier. She should probably caution the Jack not to let her fall asleep, so scared was she that her body would choose not to start back up due to the neglect she couldn't avoid.

"Leon... could you help me stay awake? I'm afraid each time I go to sleep there is less and less chance of me waking up. I have been very neglected over the past month and my body is starting to shut down." She huddled into herself in fear, and if it had of been possible in this form she might have wrapped her arms around herself just to feel more contact. As it was, she just tried to pretend the need wasn't there. What was she supposed to do, anyway? Ask him to take care of it for her? She wasn't even his, and he probably already had many Does.

Not that she wasn't used to living with many other Does, oh, she was. Amastonde had been a little bit older than most Jacks, but was he ever wealthy because of his years of experience! Quite a few Does were drawn to his money and his very sophisticated appearance and attitude. But he alwas paid special attention to her, sometimes it almost felt as if she was the only one. Oh how she missed that feeling...

[Kasatsu]

Once the Healer had seen to the wounds she whispered a few words to Leon before excusing herself from the room, her task done.

The Jack was very careful to keep his expression smooth as he knelt down besides the Doe. It was very apparent from her appearance that she had been through a difficult time indeed.

"It is alright, mon cherie. The Healer says that you will be okay for the night. Tomorrow, once you are well rested, we can take care of your Need. So be a good Doe and rest your eyes."

He would see that she was take care of, at least until all of her wounds were healed and he was better able to asses the situation.

He petted the Doe's paw soothingly, helping her to fall asleep. Once he had assessed that she was at least dozing he lifted her up into his arms. Her weight was nothing of a concern for him.