Jessie slept soundly on the couch in the cozy den of Cham Cham's. Jaye had gone home to tuck in her weary kits, planning to soon after go hunt.
Razor grinned to Cham, watching Jessie curled up on the couch. "Cham...you've got such a cute visitor..."
In her dreams, Jessie felt more comfortable with her surroundings. And odd presence overwhelmed her, like one of someone familiar. A strange young guy walked up to her, clad in a suit of armor, his face shadowed from her view.
"Please, Jessie...kneel before me," his voice said, strangely soothingly.
She complied, bowing before him upon one knee. "Sir...I do not understand," she noted. She bowed her head before him.
"You will soon," he said with a strong tone, taking his sword from his hilt. Her eyes widened seeing it. She wasn't sure if he were to kill her or knight her. His smile was seen from the shadows, the tip of his sword resting upon her shoulder. "Jessie, I hereby grant you the title of Lady in this realm and second in command. I found your powers astonishing and very noble. I will thank you for your services if you accept my hospitality."
Her eyes widened, studying the form with shaky eyes. "I...I accept!" She trembled with excitement, almost unable to squeak out her words.
The figure smirked, lifting his sword from her shoulder. The kind grin faded from the shadows, leaving a demonic expression as he brought the sword back down upon her...
She flung upwards, sitting up. She rubbed her forehead, shaking her head, reminding herself it was only a dream. She had hoped that since she had pursued this dream, that she wouldn't care to fufill the other. "I hope it doesn't reoccur..." she whispered to herself.
Cham walked into the room from her bedding den, rubbing her eyes. "Are you alright, Jess?" she asked, glancing at her through the night with her emerald eyes.
Jessie nodded calmly, trying to relieve herself of trembling. "I-I'll be fine..." She licked her lips, slouching a bit. Her eyelids still droop from long awaited sleep, only to have her own dreams revolt upon her.
She finally lay back down upon her old spot and wrapped up into the blankets, feeling warm within the comfort of Cham Cham's den. She had that feeling... a strange feeling she had met this soul before. Could she have been in the tavern before? Who else would know her? Jessie's mind was full of questions, her curious mind racing.
"Bah!" she bat at Razor playfully. "It's rude to watch people as they sleep. Let's go outside for a quick spot of coconut milk."
"Very well," Razor said, scooping her up and walking outside with her. He had come home late in the night, bearing a great feast for everyone.
Razor was not a normal specie of Neko-jin, but he was a strong werecat with a firmly muscled structure, with a beautiful coat to match. He was once mistressed and taught well in his acts, showing them off to Jaye, then to Cham Cham. Jaye and Cham Cham would have their gossip time about their neko-toys, until it led into that day Razor and Cham met, Jaye off into other business. Razor had copulated with Cham in sweet unity, making her regret betraying her mate and her best friend for such a sweet sinful act. This anger between Jaye and Cham didn't last long and they became sister-like again.
Cham and Razor sat upon a high treebranch, Cham lying across his lap, gazing at the sunrise. Streaked colors ranging from a fiery red to a brilliant dark indigo patterned the sky, the windows shining brilliantly from the Chrono Mansion...
Many little clawings and struggles to climb up the tree sounded, the mischievious four kits giving their mother her morning greeting.
"Mama! Good mornin'!" Nuka giggled, hopping onto Razor's shoulder. He chewed on Razor's ear, Razor never taking a wince from his already notched felty ear.
"Silly Nuka..." laughed Cham, being pounced on by two other greeters, Chu and Tani.
Ram, the lone wolf of the bunch, arrogantly strutted onto the branch, sitting neatly beside Razor. Ram's crimson bandanna fell around his neck, normally from his rough sleeping habits.
"Mama, I'm hungry..." pleaded Tani, pulling upon her mother's dress.
"Well, kits...Razor went out and got food for us last night. We should have enough for a whole month," she smiled, "But I suppose we must wait until Jessie-chan wakes up."
"Yay!!" bounced Chu merrily. "Chu! Food!" The portly kit lost his balance, catching himself with his claws. Razor scooped him back up, pulling him back into place.
The family climbed back down to the den, finding Jessie sitting up on the couch again, rubbing her eyes. Her neko-jin ears droop from wear, the silver hoop in the left one shining in the faint sunlight from the den windows.
"Ooh! Mama! I wanna earring like Jessie's!" Ram said, a selfish smile spread across his face.
"Not until you get older, Ram... you need to worry more about other things than decorating yourself," Cham said, a wry grin spread across her face.
Razor laughed, his tail wrapping around Cham's leg, allowing Tani to swing from it. Her long white hair fell into her eyes, her merry giggle sounding through the house. Cham took out many steaks from Mantegora, a plentiful animal that graced the world of the realms. Mantegora looked like creatures with lion-like bodies, hooves, and the heads of a wolf, bearing long saber teeth about five inches long.
"Jessie, would you like it raw or cooked?" asked Cham, tilting her head from the kitchen.
"Cooked, please," yawned Jess, stretching as much as she could. She stood from her pallet on the couch and sauntered into the bathroom.
Cham made a single nod, throwing Jessie's morning portion into the oven. She made out small plates, putting the four on the table, Razor gathering the little ones to take their eager attention to their food. Cham placed a large portion steak at the head of the table, motioning for Razor to sit and relax. He did so without a word, joining the young neko in breakfast.
Jessie wobbled out of the bathroom, her expression still weary. "Hey, Cham...do you have any kind of communicating device for semi-long range?" she asked, leaning against the doorframe of the kitchen.
Cham smiled. "We're not that sophisticated yet...we don't have any com wires around here because of the forest. They'd have to be underground because of all of the traffic in the trees," she said, licking her lips. "I'm sorry."
"Shimatta [Drat]...." Razor grinned and reached from his place, his paw resting against Jessie's rear, stroking her tail tauntingly. She bat him, narrowing her eyes. "Don't even! Hentai [Pervert]!"
Cham sighed, shaking her head. "He's always like this...pay no mind to it. He does it to make me jealous," she grinned, her eyes narrowing, taking her tone to a gentle whisper to Jessie, "He'll get what's coming to him...I'm going to get him back."
Jessie giggled, the timer sounding from the oven. Cham took her own portion to the table and came back to retrieve Jessie's steak from the oven.
After they had finished their breakfast, Jessie stood, bringing Cham Cham aside. "Cham, I'm on a journey out of my curiosity, and it's been something I've been wanting to do for a long while," Jessie pleaded with the catgirl, her eyes showing how desperate she was.
Cham nodded slowly, her hair tumbling into her eyes. "I suppose I'll go, as long as this journey isn't too long," she said, her voice a bit shaken from her thoughts. Will the kits be fine? Will Razor take care of them? Should I leave them with Jaye? Her mind raced with many questions. If this was her destiny, she was willing to follow it as the first lost soul.
Razor would take the kits to Jaye to be watched after, eventually having his time alone in the forest. Cham had the feeling of regret built in within herself, a wistful glance back at her kits. She smiled gently, holding her head high. She was going to help the lonely traveller.
The noon sun was high in the sky. Cham had told Razor and the kits to wait for her, and that she'd be back to visit. She gave her farewells and the two were off, hoping to find the Chrono Mansion and the other lost souls of the tri-realms.
