Dreaming Old Dreams [Finished]

[seraaches]

”I do not fear the Lowlanders,” the equine’s voice was harder than before and if George could recognize hate, it would be easily identifiable now. Still, the Jack was unwilling to pursue that topic for now.

George’s own fear of the Lowlanders, however, came as a pleasant twist, though Rai felt a twinge at his happiness to know that the young boy didn’t like the creatures. At least the Four knew the truth of the despicable beings young and at less of a cost than wot the horse had learned it for. He filed away the information given then: an untrustworthy Lowland rat. Rai would love to take care of that problem; his teeth bared subconsciously, though the expression was currently still hidden from his ‘guest’.

Shinrai’s ears came up in surprise at the question, twisting back towards the boy before his head followed suit. Well, it did make sense for the Club to want to disappear. Still, he inspected the child carefully, giving weight to the seriousness of the question and of his answer. ”When I want to disappear, I return home,” the horse said gravely. ”My home is beautiful, but she hides many more secrets than her lovely exterior hints at.”

[Nathalia]

"Oh..." George murmured, though he felt he should have expected that response. This man, Whip, looked as though he feared nothing.

He wasn't sure what to do, he still anted to run away and now it seemed as though Whip was thinking about helping him... He had never been so confused, this man made him feel as though he had been tossed into a whirlwind.

The next statement made him close his eyes, so that he could avoid the other man's stare. He could never go home again.

"I can't go back home to disappear...c-could I go to your home then? I...I'm assuming that you mean the Marshes... You're... You're not going to turn me in?"

That thin sliver of hope was all that was keeping him going at this point. He was afraid of Whip, but he also needed him...he wasn't like Osias...and yet, he was.

He wished Uncle Nathaniel were here, or better yet, Uncle Varestes... They would know what to do.

George shivered.

"I've dreamed about disappearing before, where you become someone else and make friends like nothing's ever happened. I know that's not how it really goes though...and I don't want to forget everyone. When you disappear, where do you go...who are you?"

[seraaches]

Shinrai give a purely mental sigh; that –was- the question, wasn’t it? For now he seemed to be leaning towards no, he was not going to turn the boy in. But that invited an equally large number of questions, especially if he decided to actually aid the other. Rai’s ears went back again as he thought.

Taking the child to Josiggy wasn’t actually a bad idea; he would be well-hidden, especially from such undesirables as Lowlanders. It didn’t sound as though the Four had any connections to the place, so it wasn’t, from an insider’s point of view, a logical choice to make, especially since, without a guide, it was easy to get lost in the land’s treacherous beauty. She had hidden pitfalls and her own monsters. Yes, the more the thought rested there, the wiser it seemed.

The problem, however, was Rai’s own ambition. He wouldn’t get the introduction into the Court he needed from the Marsh, yet he was reluctant to leave the child alone in a hostile territory; even more so if he took George to his cabin out there. He didn’t live near a town. His only neighbour was Elias and the old dog’s actual place was a few miles away. Then there was the fact that it would take them both out of the pulse of the city; it would be difficult to tell how events were unfolding if they were both stuck in Josiggy Marsh. A conundrum, indeed.

George’s continued speech surprised a small laugh out of the horse and he sent the boy a dry look. ”When I become someone else, I come here. When I disappear, I return home.” Not nearly as amusing for the boy, perhaps, but the horse known as Rai and Whip found it highly so. Nevertheless, his face didn’t reflect much more than the initial response.

He came suddenly to his decision, perhaps influenced by the boy’s last whimsical (despite himself) question. ”I can take you to Josiggy Marsh,” the horse announced quietly. ”But for your safety and mine, you’ll have to do as I say.” Wait a minute… had he just collected a ward? Oh, blast. ”Would it be safe to get a message to your mother or someone else to let them know you got away and where you’ll be staying?” Since the horse didn’t know much about the situation, he had to rely on the child’s view. Light, wot had he come to? Taking information from a mere child? His tail twitched against his hindlegs in personal aggravation. Why was he doing this again?

[Nathalia]

George shifted uncomfortably, unsure of what to say. He didn't understand quite what the man had meant from his statement about how he disappeared, and wasn't sure why he had laughed...it made him uncomfortable...as though he had been left out of a joke. One he should be getting.

George also wasn't sure what to do now. Whip was offering to hide him...or so it seemed. But going with him would get him in trouble...possibly killed if he was found hiding him.

"No, if I can;t even tell you who my mother is...then I can't send a message to her." He whispered, regretfully. He wished nothing more than to tell his mother that he was ok, to tell her to say that he was gone forever so that father wouldn't hurt her.

He wished she were here with him.

"I'll go with you...and I'll do as you say. Thank you for your kindness..."

He wasn't sure if he would be able to, though. If it started to look dangerous, he would have to bolt. It wasn't worth endangering this man if someone were to find them.

He put his tea cup down and looked at his Bander, curled around his chair leg, looking comfortable, paws tucked under his tiny green body.

"If anything finds us though...I will have to leave...say that you were bringing me in...and help them. You shouldn't fall because of me."

His mother ha taught him that, never take your friends down with you...it hurt too much to lose them. He knew...he knew that sometimes she wished it had been her instead of Uncle Nathaniel...

He wouldn't let this man die because of him.

[seraaches]

There were personal overtones to the boy’s words, and Shinrai felt another bolt of kinship with the strange child. He suppressed them swiftly: he would not see himself or Shin in this kid. The Four was just a random child, nothing special to him, and he was just helping because he was a good guy. Really. He also contained a groan. He was getting in over his head.

”Don’t worry about me,” Rai answered flatly. ”I can take care of myself.” An ironic way to attempt to comfort a child, but George wasn’t exactly a normal kid. He didn’t answer the last part; noble reasoning on either of their parts wouldn’t change how they would end up reacting if they were found. They had more important things to focus on now. First of all was how to get George out of the Capital.

”George, I need you to tell me about your escape,” the horse finally said thoughtfully. That would determine when and how they would leave. Rai would like to pick up a few supplies and perhaps even a cloak or something to hide George’s peculiar form. The Club –would- be remembered: a human child? Too strange to not be noticed. He didn’t really have anything that would likely fit without looking odd. No, everything hinged on wot he could learn from George now.

[Nathalia]

George looked at the floor, not voicing what it was that he thought, judging by the other's prior reactions, he would most likely take offense to it.

I have to worry about you...if I don't who will? No one knows you're with me.

He looked thoughtful at the next statement...

"N-no one saw me leave, the rat took me out the back...very few know I even exist...my mother went to great pains to hide me from the knowledge of others...nearby."

Goodness, this was difficult! He couldn't tell Whip that he had lived in the Palace of Spades! What was he supposed to say?

"I-I got through the first town and the surrounding area without being seen but when O-...when the rat left me, I was seen by three people, though they didn't know who I was...if they're questioned the people following me will know."

He was distinctly uncomfortable...he wasn't lying, but he wasn't saying everything, and he couldn't...it felt like lying...

He looked up into Whip's face, expression set and sad.

"We should go now, if we're going at all...they're coming."

[seraaches]

The problem kept going right back to the same thing over and over again: George was very noticeable. There had to be a way for them to circumspectly make their exit from the Capital City, but without a stop at the marketplace he wasn’t certain how to pull it off. He would have just trotted quickly off, but it was the middle of the night. The only wares he could likely be able to find right now were prostitute and alcohol related, neither of which seemed overly useful.

So now he needed to improvise. He’d had to do that enough times on the trail; he could do that here. Without a word to George, the horse strode quietly into the back room. There was the soft rustling of noises as the stallion sorted through the items he had brought from the Marsh. Really, he’d been spare at home and he was spare here. He finally found a cloak, however, and it would certainly swallow the child. It was the best he could do, though; his size and George’s were exceedingly different.

He tossed it carefully to carry back into the living room where the kid was waiting. With a quick, near expert toss, Rai dropped the deep, blue cloth over George’s head. He kept on to the kitchen, pulling open the pantry so he could pull out some foodstuffs and pack them quickly away in a nearby bag. He really didn’t have much in the way of foods; he rarely ate here. All they needed to do, however, was get out of the city and back home. Once they got to Josiggy, he could figure out wot exactly the child did eat and work from there.

Wot else to do? Rai’s ears tilted back briefly in thought. Right. The horse went to his desk, scribbling out a quick note. There; something to drop off at the landlord’s door on their way out. It would explain that he had to return home indefinitely for an emergency, but that he would still be paying th rent on his suite. He knew he could trust the ferret, as distracted as the Seven could be by shiny objects.

Alright, besides that, Rai couldn’t think of anything else to take care of. With a brief nod, he turned to check on the child. ”Ready?” Other than the cloak, which wasn’t the best disguise in the world, the horse had no idea exactly how he was going to smuggle the Club out of the city. But he couldn’t afford to be seen with the child, and George simply couldn’t afford to be seen again.

[Nathalia]

George let out a small yelp of surprise when the cloak engulfed him. He had been preoccupied with Merlin, who had finally decided to try his paw at chair-chewing. George had pried him off just as the Equine reappeared in the room and tossed the fabric over him.

Once he had emerged from the veritable ocean of blueish cloak, he gazed questioningly at it, then at Whip.

"W-we're going now?" He looked much happier at the prospect, staying in the same place for too long was terrifying, he knew if he didn't keep moving they would find him.

"Yes, yes sir." He hopped out of his chair and scurried over to stand behind the Equine, nearly tripping on the cloak and trying to wrap it more securely about his thin form.

"Merlin!" He hissed, holding a side of the cloak off the ground and waiting for the Bander to crawl under, huffing its displeasure.

George turned to look up at Whip...he felt ready.

He'd found a friend.

[seraaches]

Rai’s ears flicked back in almost amusement at George’s voice and expression. It seemed strange the child should be so pleased and excited about moving, but he could well understand a peculiar childhood and the odd things that one could take comfort in. But now wasn’t the time. The stallion retrieved the bag with their supplies, and worked his way through the strap. A small half-rear slid the bag and strap into place; the action, like his others of preparation, was very precise and bespoke long practice.

Shinrai inspected the child again before carefully reaching out to pull the hood of the cloak a little further over the human face. It was a very poor disguise, but they had no choice. ”Let’s go, then.”

The horse led the way to the door, pausing only to pick up his letter, ears flicking up as he listened carefully for sounds of movement or traffic out in the street beyond. Only when he was certain it was clear did he cautiously poke his head out, ears moving one direction then the other quickly as he took the same care to look for danger as well. No movements. No sounds. Rai moved out, waiting for George to follow him out so the door could be closed and locked.

A short detour to slip the note under his landlord’s door then he checked on the boy one more time. He nodded. They just had to get out of the city now. His ears flicked back. The “easy” part. His mind was still looking for explanations and ideas in case they were stopped.

[Nathalia]

George nodded silently, eyes wide as the Equine ushered him out the door...it felt odd not to be running...he wanted to instinctually. Wanted to get as much distance as quickly as possible. Where he would go though...maybe the Marsh was a good idea? Who would think of it?

He tried to hurry after the lithe green form, the cloak was far beyond overlong and tripped him, but he held the edges up and tried his best to keep pace, staying on the far side of the Equine, away from the main side of the street.

The jog down the street seemed to go over fairly well, people didn't seem to want to try to stop Whip...no one even looked their way.

He didn't dare speak, just focused on keeping himself hidden and making his way forward without tripping, Merlin trotting along at his heels, snorting every now and then at passers by.

He wondered what would happen to him when he got to the Marshes, would Whip just dump him there as the rat had done to him at the edge of the Capital? Or would Whip assist him further, help him to hide away from the world until he had been forgotten...grown a little, changed...