7 Chapter 7

-UNEDITED-

As the smile drops from Embers' and Peles' faces as they realize what could have meant. Ember begins having a panic attack as Pele attempts to cut the bondages with her under developed claws. Ember could feel the world close in around her as she felt another person slip out of her grasp because of something she did. She could feel the tears welling up in her eyes as she watched Pele struggle to undo the bondages before looking over at the knife.

Ember nodded as Pele picked them up and began to cut away the restraints holding down Ember. Once Ember was free, she stood up, still in her training clothing and she runs out, Pele following closely behind her. Ember's breathing was hard and fast, her lungs felt like they were aflame but she refused. She couldn't let herself stop, she had to save time in case she had to hunt him down.

She followed Rosco's scent all over the palace. It was dark and candles were her only light source but her night vision never let her down. She could hear everything around her as her panic only heightened her senses, the slapping of her bare feet against the ground and the heavy breathing from Pele behind her. The clinking of amour from several walls away.

Her ears twitched as Ember stopped for a second, gathering information around her as she turned side to side, frantic in her search. She took off to the left and sprinted down the hallway, Pele almost tripping from the sudden burst of speed her body was unprepared for. Ember barely avoided the walls around her as she turned sharply and quickly around tight corners. Her mind racing faster then her actual body, her heart pounding against her chest as her lungs frantically pumped air in and out to keep Ember running.

Ember clinched her hands into fists, feeling the sweat on her palms and if she had to guess, her face was flushed as well as her sprinting only continued to speed up the closer and closer to Rosco scents she could smell. Her hearing picking up him whimpers and the laughing of a female. The idea of Decion and Fabiola torturing Rosco for kicks pushed itself into Embers mind causing tears to quickly well up and fall from her earthy brown eyes.

She refused to let her dog pay for her actions. It was her fault, all of this, if she had contained her rage for just a little bit longer, she could have rip apart whatever she was going to train on. But at the same time, she was proud of herself to standing up to Wilbur, a man almost twice as tall as she was. Her tail and ears fluffed up as she prepared for herself to go and attack the people who dared to hurt Rosco.

Pele saw the signs of Ember preparing to fight and swallowed, she had no idea how to defend herself but she kept following Ember. If she wasn't there, she knew that whoever took Embers puppy would gravely hurt or maybe even kill Ember without remorse if they had the stomach to torture an innocent puppy. As they rounded another corner, they came upon an entrance, compared to the dimly lit halls that was somehow warm, this open passage contained cold air that flooded the hallway that it opened up to.

Ember's earth eyes met Pele's night sky ones and they both stepped down, Ember's feet getting assulated from the cold but Ember pressed on. She would bare the pain as she waited for Pele to get down the stairs before she took off running again. She could see her hot breath against the ice cold air. Ember wondered what made this place so cold compared to the summer heat to the outside world that engulfed the world at this time of year. She pushed the invading thought out of her head as she continued down the stone hallway. When she looked around the hallway her thought when to dungen. It was somehow colder then the rest of the castle and completely unkept.

She pushed on, towards the crying and whimpering of her puppy as she peered around the corner she saw the Queen standing there over the animal. "I know what you are. You seemed too mentally aware of everything around to be just a stupid mutt that girl brought with her." She sneered.

"Reveal your true form before I bring in someone more powerful then myself to force you to. You can't avoid this fate forever," she threatened. "she'll find out any day, she has to be questioning why you seem so intelligent. And I'll give you credit, you are very cunning compared to the rest of your race but its stupid to continue to hide from me." The queen pressured. 

Ember was immeditately confused, what was going on? Did the queen finally loose her last marble was now accusing a puppy of treason or something? What did she mean by true form.

Pele looked at Ember in her confusion, "She's accusing him of being a shifter, a wolf-person." She whispered.

"That makes no sense, he's just a dog."

"Hush and listen."

"I know you fear her leaving you just as your tribe left you behind. You could be a great asset to me, bring me information. We could break a deal, you spy on Ember, tell me her deepest secrets. Things I can use against the rebellious neko, and I'll provide you with food and shelter. Wouldn't you like that? Finally being able to walk around in your true form, instead of this degrading one." The queen compelled.

Ember held back a growl as her ears picked up on the bone crunching and she peeked around the corner again and saw a male with black hair and fluffer ears then herself and a wolf tail. Ember blushed out of embarssment, this male has seen her near naked before and he's said nothing. She felt her ears become hot from embarssment.

"Are you happy?" He snapped, his voice rough and deep. "I will never bring you information on Ember you complete astion." He insulted.

The queen took a step back, "Whats your name?" She demanded.

"Its Atherton." He answered, "And out of no respect, why did you think I would give up information on the one person who loved me despite the fact she couldn't give a lot. I will stick by Ember's side as her mutt for rest of my natural days on this world." He growled, his sharp canies becoming visible and the queen took another step back.

"You're making a big mistake," she warned, "you are giving up on a chance of a life time."

"I'd rather give up on this chance then be a traitor." Atherton smirked, "And I'm sure Ember would agree with me, wouldn't you Ember?" He asked and Ember froze and so did the queen.

Ember took a deep breath, she was about face the person who has seen her naked many times before. Ember's face was a bright red as she stepped around the corner and Pele appeared beside Ember.

"How did you get out of your restraints?" She asked before she had noticed Pele, "Oh, of course, she would." She growled and Pele stood proud.

"Of course I helped her, she defended herself against her trainer. She protected her honor." Pele grinned. "Which is more then most of us Nekos have had the guts to do in centuries."

Ember smiled at Pele, something she hadn't done in a little while towards anyone here. The queen growled at both of them, "You don't know what who you're messing with." She snapped.

"Of course we do, some human who's only gift is the fact she can somewhat manage a country and even then, I've seen feral tribes do better then you have in running this country." Ember teased.

The queen ran out, anger running through her veins, feeling her face becoming hot. Ember turned to Atherton, "You have explaning to do mister Atherton." She demanded and pointed straight at the half naked male and he rubbed the back of his neck with a nervous chuckle.

She turned to Pele, "Thanks for helping me, I'm sorry for dragging you all the way here for some," she turned to the male, "troublesome puppy!" She shouted and turned back to Pele, "But I do hope you understand." She smiled.

"Of course, sorry about slowing you down if I did."

"You didn't slow me down at all, I'm surprised you kept up with me, considering how young you are." Ember teased.

"Ember, we should get going." Atherton said as the cracking of bones filled the room once more.

"Hush now Atherton, I'm talking. I'll talk to you later." Ember growled and Atherton walked up next to Ember with puppy dog eyes as Ember looked down at him with a glare. "Puppy eyes will no longer work on me little puppy." She said and began on her way back.