***Tirnanog, Mount Aerie***
***Scratchpaw***
Scratchpaw purred in utter satisfaction while allowing the small human to pet his belly. He would have been completely content with the world if it weren’t for the ntal influence of his brothers and sisters, who proved to be constant distractions from his alone ti with his human.
A second mber of the pride was resting on a nearby shelf while watching the scene curiously. Nibblingdeath, who was called Lilly by the humans, wasn’t interested in being touched by anyone but the female adult. She was a feisty one and often complained when she felt that Scratchpaw got too close to soone other than ‘his’ human. Although Sratchpaw had no complaints, no matter who was doing the petting.
After all, there were only so many humans available to lay claim to. Outsiders who didn’t belong to the creator’s family were not eligible to be adopted mbers of the pride.
Whether it was this or that, there was always sothing for the pride to argue about. Since they were new to the world, they could spend days in silent contemplation about the most agre of things.
For example, there had been an argunt about whether the pride should accept their creator-given nas. It took over a week until they finally ca to the conclusion that the creators’ lack of abilities in ntal communication didn’t allow them to fully grasp the advantages of taking on one’s true na. So the pride simply accepted their creator-given nas as an opportune addition to their true nas, while referring to each other with their true nas.
Just like the so-called drakes did. Scratchpaw had only had one very short opportunity to communicate with the large flying creatures. They were lowly plant-eaters, but they seed like the pride could get along with them. Scratchpaw felt a strange kinship with the large creatures while they had been together.
Scratchpaw stretched while lying on his back to give the small human better access to his belly.
Through their ntal connection, he knew that Anklebiter was prowling the corridors outside, hoping to find sothing they could hunt together. It would be a feast if they could take down one of the large, tasty-slling animals which were pulling the human carriages.
The other pride mbers were sowhere around the living area, either sleeping or cleaning themselves.
It was one of those slow days when only the little humans were around, although they also had been absent for most of the day. Anklebiter often wanted to find out what they were doing when they were gone, but in the end, he was always too lazy to follow them when one of the caretakers ca to take them away.
After all, the pride was there to guard the ho territory, and that was all there was to it.
Scratchpaw relaxed, blissfully enjoying the massage session thoroughly. So of the others weren’t convinced that this was the correct relationship between the pride and their creators.
But hadn’t one of the creators claid them to be ‘purrfect’? So, even if the pride owed the creators so degree of deference, at least so petting had to be on the paw! Right?
***Tirnanog, The Kingdom***
***Astra***
“I believe I will get the rest done without your… help,” Vanya voiced her decision carefully.
“Are you sure?” I replied, wondering where the sudden change of opinion had co from. Maybe the kingdom’s unusually violent and uncooperative response to our appearance had rattled her a bit. If Magnus hadn’t been there, that crossbow bolt could have injured her gravely.
“Yes. It might be best if you make sure that Magnus is far, far away from this kingdom,” the matriarch clarified hastily. “Before any of those news reporters out there gathers the courage to request an interview on how he slew their king.”
“Ahem…” I cleared my throat. “You might be right.”
“Of course!” Vanya exclaid quickly. “Was there ever an instance where I was not?”
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I pursed my lips. “Well, there were certainly cases-”
“Tatata!” she interrupted quickly. “Let’s not argue over details and keep the big picture in mind. I will be able to do a much better diplomatic job without Magnus complicating everything! Seriously, how could he just go out there and claim that we would take over the entire kingdom? So, please take him away!”
“Take him away?” I asked, outraged. “He isn’t so guard dog who cos all-inclusive with the Astra package!”
Vanya sighed. “But if we send just him back, while keeping you here, won’t he ask questions?”
I tilted my head, wondering. “I don’t know. Could be that he will be just fine with it and return to his little SMD project.”
“Best to make sure he does,” Vanya affird. “Besides, shouldn’t you learn to use those devices too? They seem awfully convenient. A perfect addition to your already outrageous abilities.”
I allowed my displeasure to show on my face and glared at Vanya with narrowed eyes. “Are you saying I fell behind my partner in power?”
The girl’s face remained carefully neutral. “Just a little.”
I clenched my teeth. “Fine. I will accompany him back. If you truly think you won’t need us any longer.”
“I have a whole loadout of powerful people at my side, and the kingdom has shown itself to be inferior, even if they have the advantage in numbers,” Vanya affird. She continued haltingly, carefully considering her words, “I think, I hope, sorting out the kingdom’s affairs should be only a matter of weeks after Magnus killed their head of state. Maybe months. I hope it won’t take years.”
Then the girl groaned and ruffled her hair, startling the two kittens who were hanging off her shoulders. She always had the two small buggers around since Magnus gifted them to her. “We were supposed to go in, grab our people, and be gone. Who cares whether there are other groups of humans on other continents? It’s not like they can reach us without wormgates!”
One of Vanya’s people approached from the side and cleared his throat.
“What!?” The girl turned to him.
“I… have a ssage from HQ,” the man replied quickly. “They are saying that most of the kingdom’s prisoners are ready for transfer.”
Vanya raised an annoyed eyebrow, quickly catching onto the qualifier in that sentence. “Most?”
“Their leader, the one who was allowed to check out Aerie’s main settlent so he would serve as a witness, refuses to return to the kingdom.”
Vanya glared at the ssenger with the sa blank expression she put on against just a few monts earlier. “Why should I care? He is a prisoner. He has, per the definition of his status, no say in the matter. Go and get him.”
The guard winced, then said quickly, “He hooked up with so civilian at a Church of Gaia. They are-”
“Are you kidding !?” Vanya suddenly scread at the guard. “Didn’t I tell you to have him watched and keep him out of trouble!? And you let him go and nail so random civi? Which idiot let him enter one of those dating houses!? No, scratch that! How could anyone who was just taken prisoner conclude that hooking up with soone from the enemy faction was a bright idea? Didn’t anyone explain to him that it would most likely be permanent!? What the fuck is wrong with you adults!? Does your brain switch off when there is an opportunity to fuck!?”
She went on, calling the poor ssenger so very inappropriate things as she tried to rationalise just how such a colossal fuck up was even possible.
I slowly stepped away from her. For so reason, Vanya was on fire today.
As the matriarch got ever more inventive with her curses, I turned and quickly walked away to find Magnus.
He was easy to find, since he was sitting in a ditative position right in the middle of the compound’s courtyard.
“Magnus, co, we are being reassigned,” I inford him.
He opened his eyes and easily rose to his feet without using his hands. “Reassigned?”
“Yes. Vanya believes that if we remain here, it would cause more complications than it would help.” I shrugged.
“Perfect!” He approached and linked arms with . “That’s exactly what I have been after. Everyone is happy with , and I am being left alone.”
I coughed. “I wouldn’t exactly say that Vanya is happy. Apparently, there have been problems with the prisoners from the kingdom.”
“Well, but that has nothing to do with , does it?” Magnus replied cheerfully.
I shook my head.
“Then let’s go!” He pointed towards the spot where our people had begun the construction of another wormgate.
As soon as the need for one had beco apparent, Gilbert’s people began shipping one over in pieces. It was no small investnt in terms of resources, since each wormgate needed the resources of a whole worm from Mount Aerie, a creature which wasn’t easily slain, but the situation demanded it. Thankfully, Aerie had built up the necessary resources for a handful of devices, though their placent had to be considered carefully nonetheless.
Due to the ongoing construction work, an almost permanent connection between Aerie and the kingdom was currently open, allowing us to return quickly.
Once we were back at the moonbase, Magnus looked back at the wormhole in wonder. “You know, Gilbert’s people have always been quick, but it feels like they are outdoing themselves with that new wormgate. I an, taking apart one of those things to transport it through a wormhole and then putting it back together on the other side is no small project.”
I cleared my throat. “You should probably take a look at the automated manufacturing facility he is working on. I bet that’s why his people are suddenly so efficient. As far as I understand, it already works for small projects.”
Magnus suddenly stopped walking, and I turned around to find out why he was delaying.
Then he threw up his hands. “Does that an I could have done all the prototyping I did with that new machine instead of self-flagellating myself by handcrafting everything!?”
I pursed my lips. “Probably?”
“No wonder Gilbert gave up his old workshop so readily!” Magnus started walking again, almost running down the corridor. “Where is that machine?”
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