Tails Of The Catrai

By: Darkfang Magus

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Kalista

2

Kalista sinks her claws straight through the palm of her left paw, all the way to the outside of the wrist and feels the sharp black claws scraping against bone. The howl she lets loose as nerves get sliced, is sickening. Even so, she manages to cut the straps wrapped around her wrists and relishes the freedom.

***

Sitting at the tavern, Kalista now views her left paw. It looks terrible. She still can't seem to extend her claws very well and the pain is just an endless reminder. Trapped and alone, she had been forced to slice into her own hands to undo the binding that held her. Not that she needs that as the rest of her body hurts just about as much. So much suffering for no good reason. The leopardess glares angrily at a couple of humans passing her table. She absently wonders if humans are doing so well for themselves because they all secretly like suffering.

Kalista is tired, she supposes it would be a good idea to find a place to sleep. That is another thing about this place which bothers her. You have to pay money to sleep. If you sleep outdoors the guards will spend all night waking you up and asking you to move along. Having meager funds, Kalista got permission to sleep in a nearby stable if she would clean up the tavern tables at night.

After gathering all the dishes, zombie-like she walks to the stable. In a corner of the stable is a broken stall where they cannot store horses for the time being. This is her bed. But, she is nervous about sleeping in such an easily approached area. Therefor, when the lights go out, she silently climbs up into the rafters and fades out of sight.

The next day, Kalista wakes tiredly, and prepares to walk the town. The young leopardess steps outside and glares at the sunshine. All she did was walk across the street and Kalista has already gathered some funny looks. She eventually tracks down a store that sells clothing, and goes inside.

The place is dingy, much like every building around here. After a quick search she finds what she is looking for, a full cloak. Oddly enough it is well made, and feels close-knit cotton. Being short, Kalista tries it on to find that the thing drags on the floor somewhat. Before she can take it off, a presence nears her.

"You plan on buying that after shedding all over it?" An aged woman asks. Kalista has to fight another urge to go completely crazy with rage.

"Yes. I do." Without further speech, she goes to the counter and purchases the cloak. It does seem awfully expensive, but Kalista has not the patience to haggle. While walking out of the store, she checks her funds. Only three silver pieces left. Kalista's next trip around town feels better, as the cloak manages to hide her from most everyone. Just another human now. It is beyond the young leopardess how humans do not notice her scent.

Later, Kalista sits in the tavern again. She had hoped to catch something useful from the local conversations, but they all seem dim-witted fools talking about their nothing lives. After nearly giving up, she notices a slim man walk into the tavern. He is covered in dust from the road, and has a foreign look to his face. She waits patiently, studying him. It seems that he only came to eat though, as nobody arrives to meet him. Suspicious, Kalista tracks him after he leaves.

She trails the man to the local hotel, and is stuck. She has not the money to rent a room, which means sneaking in is the only option. Quietly, she stands outside the building for a minute, studying what she can see. There is a front and a back entrance to the two-story structure. Satisfied she can get in, Kalista goes back to the stable and waits until the deep of night.

Walking the streets is difficult, as patrolling guards might thwart her, so she stays careful. After making it to the hotel, she looks around quickly and begins scaling the darkest side. Once on the roof she disrobes and looks around some more. She stores her vestments in the satchel and searches for an entrance to the building. A hatch on the roof is not even locked. Silent as the cat she is, Kalista slides into the building. The halls are dark, but she can see just fine. She moves slowly through the building, trying to avoid creaky floorboards, until she finds the stranger's scent. He is near. Unfortunately, the scent is quite weak, muddled by all the other humans around.

Now all about the hunt, Kalista creeps from door to door, trying to track the faint scent. When she finds what must have been his room, the leopardess listens intently to be sure that he is not awake. She hears the breathing, of one fast asleep. With dexterous hands Kalista pulls out a small pick, and procedes to quietly aligns the tumblers. She opens the door just a crack to peek in where the stranger is lying on his bed.

Heart racing, Kalista enters the room, and cautiosly shuts the door behind her. Staying to the shadows, she looks for his belongings. Strangely, they are not spread about. Apparently he had put everything in the drawers; Must be planning to stay for a while. Making sure that the stranger does not wake, she slides a drawer open.

What is inside nearly terrifies the young leopardess. It is just clothes, but they don't smell right. Matter of fact, this whole room has a wrong smell to it. She takes a closer look at the figure on the bed and notices a long curl of hair peeking from the covers. This whole place smells like a female. Kalista hides beside the dresser and tries to reason the facts. The stranger had been here, of that she is certain. Apparently, he had only come to meet somebody, then left.

Back in control of the situation, Kalista decides to find out what she can about this person. From all the supplies stored away, she had been in town for a while, likely waiting for the stranger to come. Even so, from the woman's belongings Kalista finds little of interest. Getting further discouraged, she resolves to try and find the woman in the morning and question her. Carefully, Kalista creeps over to the bed, curios to get a look at this person.

Unfortunately, the woman had manged to pull the covers up over her head. Worried about waking the human, Kalista gently pulls the blanket back. Just as she gets it past the woman's nose, there is a movement. With a sleepy groan, the woman reaches out with her arm. Kalista panics and pulls back, but the claws on her left paw do not fully disengage, and there is a ripping sound as she pulls the blanket aside. Caught, Kalista quickly covers the woman's mouth to quell any screams.

"Don't make a sound, or you are dead." Kalista warns, baring her fangs. The woman struggles a bit, but seems to get the hint. Now that Kalista has a chance to get a good look, she is surprised to find the woman is actually young, not more than thirty years of age. It is not strange that she is terrified, but the woman has a deeper look of fearfulness that Kalista can't identify yet. Almost as if she expected to be attacked in the middle of the night. The leopardess notices offhandedly that the female has wet the bed in her surprise. Weak, fearful humans.

"I will let you breathe, but no noises. Got it?" In response the woman nods slowly. With great care, Kalista freeds her paws and watches the woman take a well needed breath. Whispering, Kalista begins to interrogate the female.

"Who are you?"

"I... my name is Gertrude."

"Do you know of lands past these? I seek Warrington Castle."

"That I have not heard of, but I do know of the Valtersgate Castle"

"That is of little use to me." Kalista growls.

"I don't understand, are you not here to kill me?"

"What?" Kalista is unsure how to answer this question. "No, not you"

"Oh, I just thought..."

Kalista is the one to be confused now. "Why would somebody want to kill you?" She asks. In her mind the leopardess knows that it is best not to delve into such affairs, but her curiosity has been piqued.

"My inheritance. If I die it will go to my cousin. That is why I am hiding here."

"Even so, you are taking very well to being threatened."

"This is not entirely new to me."

Kalista takes another moment to think, then releases her claws from the woman.

"I have no need to take your life. As long as you swear on your honor to never mention this meeting. If you fail that, I will find you and fulfill your honor debt."

The woman does not seem to understand entirely but she agrees.

"Okay, not like it matters anyway. I am as good as dead."

"What about that man who came here?"

"Oh" The woman hesitates. "He is supposed to be protecting me, but I fear he has turned sides. He threatened to hand me over if I do not increase his pay." Again, the girl balks. "But you see, I have little left to give, my inheritance will not come to me until I return to the castle and lay my claim."

"You leave something out" Kalista notes.

"It matters little. But I have been reduced to serving his carnal needs to keep him on my side."

Kalista registers this, and does denote the scent of semen on the girl's mouth. Somehow, the leopardess nearly feels pity. Nevertheless, this is hardly Kalista's affair. Unless she can make use of it.

"How much money do you have left?"

Again, the woman is slow to answer. "Just thirty-five silver pieces and some coppers"

Kalista knows it is unwise to take a side job while in the middle of a contract, but she is low on funds, and lost in this strange land on top of that. "I will offer you a deal. I do not ask you to trust me, but rather my fortitude to do as bid. If you wish it, I could remove your cousin from existence. You would not be blamed."

"But... wouldn't that make me as bad as him?"

"Not on your honor, he was the one to begin the rivalry and you have a right to return it to him. Alone, or with the champion of your choice."

The woman seems puzzled. "I must think about this"

"Don't tarry long. I shall be leaving this town in two moons. You can find me at the stables tomorrow night. Same time as now." With that, Kalista slinks from the room and disappears.

*

Kalista waited, and the woman did indeed appear the following night having decided to go through with the offer. They speak for nearly half an hour and Kalista gets all the information she needs to locate Valtersgate Castle. For the trip, she receives twenty-five silver pieces. On completion of the mission, she will get a larger sum out of the treasury. But this is fine for now.

Business complete, Kalista bids the woman goodbye.

"May the moon light your path." The leopardess offers as they part.

The trip is mostly uneventful, and Kalista is concerned to find that the castle isn't very far away. It seems that whoever is protecting Gertrude does not want to go through the trouble of traveling much. It only takes Kalista a day and a half to reach the place.

The castle itself is built of a common granite, but the walls seem to be ordinary brick. She studies from the forest, and waits until nightfall. Gertrude had told her of a hidden entrance into the castle, but it is inside the actual walls. Seems like time to climb.

After making sure nobody is guarding the wall, she starts her ascent. Luck is with her, as there are still no guards in sight. In a few minutes, she is on the ground within the walls. There is a patrol in the distance, but they will never see her. Swift as she can be without making a noise, Kalista heads to the grain shed.

Inside, there is the squeak of mice. She has never seen so many in one place, but forces herself to not be distracted. Under some bags of seed, she locates a part of the floor that does not quite match. Gripping her claws around the edges, she is just able to lift it.

Still silent, the leopardess lowers herself into the passage. It is dark, and even her cat's eyes are struggling to navigate. Luckily, there is only one turn and that goes downwards. She is headed up. It is not long before her fur is covered in cobwebs, and her toes are wet with moist mildewed earth. Kalista has to suppress the urge to growl with displeasure. At the top, she finally finds a bit of light. A slight crack in the wall.

Listening intently, she hears a person talking on the other side. Patience will be her friend for now, and she waits two hours until the lights are extinguished. All is quiet. Kalista focuses on breathing and slowly pushes the wall open.

Inside is a hallway of sorts. A quick look shows none in sight. Like black ink on the walls, she is one with the shadows. Senses alert, and heart pounding with excitement. She was born for this, the thrill of the hunt. The challenge to stay invisible and silent at every moment. This is truly her element. The black cat stalks her prey.

Kalista balks. There is somebody up ahead. Quickly, she dives into a nearby room. The room is empty and seems to be an access to the murder holes. She waits patiently, and watches a guard walk past without even checking inside. When he is far away, Kalista starts moving on. Gertrude had given her excellent instructions, and she finds the target's room easily. After unlocking the door. She slips inside. It is a nice room, and even has a bath in the corner. While surveying, she denotes the target sleeping in his large bed. As a cat, she creeps closer. Peeking over the edge of the bed, she studies his face which matches Gertrude's description. Time for the kill, Kalista slowly licks her lips. Her tail sways back and forth slightly, judging the balance of her next move. Eyes completely dilated, Kalista zeros in.

She pounces, hitting hard, and perfectly catching his throat in her jaws as she grapples with her claws. He twitches and kicks a little, but soon lies still. Kalista lifts her head for a moment to stretch her neck, then methodically begins licking the scarlet fluid from her paws. The leopardess does fear that she might be enjoying the taste too much.

"May you recover honor in death," she whispers while pushing his eyelids down. Mission complete, the leopardess prepares to exit the chambers. She is just stepping out into the hall when she is spotted.

Down the hall stands an intimidating Kanin. She is a strong red and black fox. The vixen's green eyes narrow at Kalista and she gets ready to flee.

Hard as Kalsita tries, she can not turn away from the vixen's gaze.

"Where are you going pet?" the dark woman coos.

"I... um," the leopardess feels intoxicated and can hardly think enough to speak. She is sure this is magic, but the knowledge doesn't help much. The vixen walks closer and stands face to face with her. Kalista cringes as the woman looks into the nearby room. There is no talking her way out of this now.

"So, you have chosen to kill my benefactor? I only wonder for which crime..." The vixen's eyes are so very dark and Kalista feels herself falling deeper into their spell.

"What is your name, little killer?"

"Ka.... Kalista Melantha, I... I mean, Melentara," the young leopardess slurs.

"Pretty name for a pretty girl, though you look hurt. Got in a fight earlier too? I know that the dead man in that room did not do this to you," the vixen says while pointedly inspecting Kalista's crippled paw.

"This will heal in time though, but... I wonder why I should let you live? You have done me a service and caused me trouble at the same time. Choices choices..."

As the vixen ponders, Kalista feels a new sensation. Whatever the witch is using to hold her captive, it has also aroused her body. Kalista can feel a certain wetness between her legs, and with trembling legs she fall upon her kness.

"I suppose you have helped me more than hindered. I need to leave this place anyway. Though I fear Pardus will not be expecting me so soon."

Kalista has no idea what the vixen is talking about, but she doesn't notice too much any more. She is too enraptured in the lust that has overcome her body. With a soft mewl the leopardess tries to think of some way to clear her mind, but no, the vixen's charm is too strong.

"I wonder..." the Kanin begins. "What is an easterner such as you is doing here in civilization anyhow. Would you mind fulfilling my curiosity?" The vixen kneels down to look into Kalista's eyes.

Kalista cannot turn away, she can't even control her own thoughts any more. Her tongue hangs out of her mouth as she pants feverishly. Worse yet, thick streams of moisture are dripping from her pussy and running down the inside of her thighs.

"I..." Kalista has to pause and catch her breath again. "I am here... find Amura..." Kalista's lips begin to tremble too much to speak as she puts her paws between her knees to keep from falling over.

"Very good little cat. Now let me help you with that."

Unable to resist, Kalista lets the vixen take hold of her trembling right paw. The leopardess's paw is guided between her legs and she lets out another mewl when a digit is pressed against her slit. Kalista's head is fuzzy as if in a dream, but she is very aware of how exiting it feels to touch herself.

Under the vixen's guidance, Kalista begins stroking in short motions, somehow making herself even wetter. Her pussy is so hot that is is almost burning to the touch, and her chest is starting to heave with struggled breaths. A deep purr starts in her throat and Kalista smiles druggedly, letting a stream of drool leak from the corner of her mouth. All the time, though, the vixen stares into her eyes with a perfect intensity.

The leopardess's left paw is guided to her petite breast, and as the erect nipple is tweaked she begins to hyperventilate and hump her hips forward.

"You like that little Melantha? Then try this."

Before Kalista can wonder what the woman is speaking of, it happens. The vixen directs her and she begins stroking her tingling clitoris. The first orgasm of the leopardess's life come with the intensity of a tsunami, and she arches her back like a bow while letting out a bestial scream somewhere between a caterwaul and a roar.

She cannot look away from the vixens piercing green eyes, and continues humping against her paw in a seemingly unending orgasm. The vixen smiles and wipes a sticky black paw over Kalista's lips. The leopardess can taste her own pussy juices and is surprising excited by the flavor. With an added shock, the vixen licks Kalista's lips clean with her smooth vulpine tongue and gives a coy smile

"Okay, I will let you go. Of course, you had better hurry. I am sure somebody is bound to check on this mess pretty soon. If we meet again, I promise to help you in any way I can. Any way you desire..." With that the vixen licks her lips hungrily.

Suddenly, Kalista can move of her own free will. She stumbles and falls to the ground. Looking up, the vixen offers a hand. Kalista ignores the help and stands to trembling legs on her own.

"Touchy aren't we? At any rate, if we should meet again my name is Elvira."

Barely hearing the words, Kalista flees back to the secret stairwell. Her crotch is still slick with sex and her mind is possessed by the enticingly musky scent of the fox femme. The little leopardess is so full of mixed emotions that she doesn't know what to think. All she knows is that she needs to flee. She needs to get away. No matter how much she tells herself those bits of advice, it does not remove the offending desire to go back and see what the vixen's cunt tastes like.

Kalista runs down the stairs, and is just pushing the hatch up in the grain shed, when suddenly a loud bell begins to ring. She silently gives a curse, it would have been much better if they had waited another twenty minutes to check on the target's chambers. Absently she wonders if that witch Elvira had called the alarm for fun. Nothing to do about it, she speeds across the courtyard. At the wall, she climbs hurriedly. There is little time for delicacy now.

She has just lifted her form over the edge, when she is spotted. A guard patrolling the wall, she had not noticed him earlier.

"Halt you!" He cries.

Not taking time to think, she runs to the opposite edge and leaps into a void of darkness. Twenty feet down she falls. The leopardess had hoped to catch a limb, but the trees were too far away. As it is she lands in a thicket of brambles. Breath knocked out of her, she takes a moment to recover.

Torches are being lit, and she has to hurry. Kalista tries to stand but her satchel is caught up in the bushes. Angrily, she slices the strap with her claws and squirms free.

Running now, forcing her way through thorns and sticks, Kalista flees. Her left paw hurts even worse than ever and she fears that the injuries have be greatly increased by her recent fall. Her paw has developed an odd numb feeling, and is dripping a flow of blood that makes her traceable. She has also lost her satchel. Lost everything, money, clothes and equipment. For now, she is merely a fleeing animal. She runs until she is deep in the woods. Unless they have dogs, she will not be easy to locate. Then again, humans always seemed to have dogs to do their bidding. Kalista growls, and traverses deeper into the thick of the forest.

*

Moving one step at a time, and resting often, Kalista does not travel very fast. She has to stay off the road, and only by following the general direction of the town is she able to make it back. It takes three days, and she doesn't manage to hunt any food to sate her hunger for blood. She is weakening by the hour, and too injured to feed herself. Kalista has become what her people would call a blinded warrior. It means that she has all the skills she needs but could not use them because of misfortune. It is considered a peril worse that simple death and honorable execution is offered to those in such a predicament. Kalista is not ready to die though. Not to mention that dying so while doing a simple job for money is an ill note as well. There is no dishonor in the job itself, but there is in that she has neglected her duties in performing the contract requested of her by her elders. It matters little that she has not the means to do her contract yet.

Kalista sits outside of town and ponders. At least she had completed the mission for the woman Gertrude. A success more or less, and for a good cause. That she can at least be sure of. There is always commendation and honor for helping the meek. For the meek are what is needed to keep the peace. Good and evil? Kalista has no strong opinion on either. There is strong and weak, bold and meek, just and unjust. All this time with humans though, and she is starting to understand evil a little better.

Still, as she sits injured and bleeding, the leopardess knows she is not yet strong enough. She can not prove herself if she is able to be so easily beaten down. Humans, they are so numerous. She could never defend herself against so many. She needs something more. She needs allies.

In shadow, the leopardess moves through town. It does not take her long to get to the hotel. At the door to Gertrude's room, she stops. There is a strange smell. With great care, she turns the doorknob. It is not locked. Kalista peeks into the room, but doesn't see anyone about. Not wanting to be seen, she slips inside. A quick look through the room and she again smells the wrongness of it all. Kalista feels an urge to turn back, but she can not stop now. The woman is not in sight.

Kalista steps slowly. All is dark. The bed is disheveled and there are clothes carelessly tossed on the floor. She had remembered the woman to be more neat than that. Pine floorboards creak under the leopardess's feet. A quick look in the dresser shows the same clothes as before. A new person was not staying here...

Not wanting to know, Kalista opens the armoire. Crumpled inside the cabinet is the woman Gertrude's pale body. Lifeless, and cold. Kalista shakes her fists in rage. The smell of death now fills the air. The woman has been dead since at least the day before.

Still raging, Kalista bares her teeth and hisses at the room. This was not supposed to happen. Obsessed with the need to understand, she searches around. Here and there, scents, clues. And on the floor, a stocking. It does not belong to the girl. It belongs to the stranger. The man she had followed here originally.

Kalista sits on the floor and studies the scene. There is no doubt he had done it. There are only three recent scents in this room. Gertrude, Kalista's own scent, and that of the thin stranger.

She knows what had happened here. Still, that does not undo it. Perhaps she would meet the man one day and make him pay. Right now she is naked and hurt though. Kalista goes around the room and finds the little bag of money Gertrude had left. Ten silver pieces and some coppers. It will have to do. She has been reduced to stealing from the dead. Things are not looking up.

Kalista is ready to leave, but has to wait because she hears somebody out in the hall. Then it happens. The dead woman's body falls from the cupboard and thumps heavily on the wooden floor. Kalista freezes. She can only hope that the being outside had either not heard the noise or doesn't care. Footsteps near. She hears the clink of chainmail.

"Is everything okay in there?"

Kalista remains silent, afraid to even so much as breathe. The doorknob turns. The leopardess does not know what to do. She is caught, no way around it. Worst of all the man who peeks into the room is a city guard. He takes maybe a second to notice Kalista and the dead woman before unsheathing his sword.

"Hold on you!" He demands. Kalista feels her fur stand on end. She can't be captured. No Slayer could every stand the shame. Neither does she have just cause to kill this innocent human. The leopardess bares her teeth and growls. Then, the man does something she doesn't expect. He swings his sword. No calling for help, no judging the situation. He just simply attacks. Humans are not entirely bright after all. In a reflex she deflects the blow using the claws of her right paw. A little bit shocked, the man swings again, from the opposite angle.

Kalista has to reach out with her left paw to block the sword. It deflects nicely off her claws, but due to earlier injury, only her first two claws extend. With an odd wet noise, she feels the blade cut between her two smallest fingers. Pain, more pain. Before the man has even followed through on his attack, Kalista is upon his throat. She tears savagely. More in anger than anything else.

When she resumes coherent thought, the leopardess looks at what she has done. The guard is dead. She has killed an innocent. Certainly in self defense, but this does not bode well at all. She is so hungry, she can't help lapping up the widening pool of blood. As the leopardess does so, she looks at her left paw. The smallest finger had been neatly removed and a pulse of lifeblood is leaving her own body.

There are more noises outside. Someone has certainly heard the sounds of mortal combat within the room. No more time to lose, Kalista wraps a cloth around her left paw as tightly as she can and heads for the rooftops.

At this point, there is no way out of town without being seen. A couple of guards see her and call out. It is not time to plead mercy, the leopardess flees. The city guards chase after the leopardess intent on stopping her any way necessary. Kalista runs as fast as she can, but she is injured and tired. She can't outrun the humans.

Just as she reaches the edge of the woods, Kalista hears the sound of an arrow hitting the tree beside her. She turns and roars dominately. She would fight rather than be shot in the back. Both guards stand, one with a bow and one with a sword. She is ready to face them and fight to the death. Then, she hears another sound. From the side, a third guard fires his bow. There is no time to react. The arrow goes right behind Kalista's jaw and penetrates all the way out the opposite side of her face. She can't breathe, and falls over choking on blood.

When at last she is still, they check her body.

"Looks dead to me.

"Yeah, good shot Don, but she breaths yet."