The Non-Human Society Chapter 78 - Seventy Seven – Renn - Mansio

This house was empty... but only of people. The building was actually full of furniture, and decorated. There were rugs, paintings, chests and shelves... all full and looking as if a large family lived here. There was a strange scent in the air, but it didn't bother too much and... and honestly, it was a little cold. I needed to start a fire.

Heading down the only hallway, I found the stairs. Then I found the kitchen, and the bathroom just beyond that. The bathroom had another large door, which looked to exit to the backyard. Or whatever one would call the small square type place around it.

Although I wanted to hurry upstairs and look around, I chose to return to Vim. He was standing before a small table near the door.

Stepping up to him, I studied the little open book that lay upon the table. There was an ink pot next to it, with a pen.

"What is it?" I asked him. I recognized most of the letters written on it, but there were so I didn't.

It almost looked like it was just a list of nas and dates...

"A log. The last one to stay here were was Oplar. Seems we missed her by only a few weeks," Vim said, pointing at the bottom of the right page.

"Oh?" I found that interesting. It felt almost like we were following her steps, sohow.

"Want to sign for us?" Vim asked as he picked up the pen.

"Can I?" I asked, and I felt my tail wiggle beneath my pants.

"Hm," he offered the pen and I happily took it.

I couldn't help but smile as I carefully dipped the pen into the ink pot, and found the spot where I could write our nas in.

Before I went to writing I scanned the two open pages.

Vim's na was often written... and usually, except for only a couple tis, was written alone. Oplar's na was also one that ca and went.

I wasn't too surprised that I didn't recognize any of the other nas... but I tried to morize them. I stopped trying, and decided I'd just do so later.

I'd need to write carefully, since I knew people... other society mbers especially, would read it...

"Is it safe to write this stuff?" I asked.

"Why wouldn't it be?" he asked as I wrote his na first.

Trying to copy his own writing, I realized it was nearly impossible. He kind of just scratched it; his na wasn't very long as it was...

After his I wrote my own... and once done, I felt an imasurable joy at seeing the two nas together.

"I uh... don't know the date. Just put before the new year," Vim said as he stepped away, no longer interested.

Although a little disappointing to see him not care much for what was happening, I decided to let just let it be. I was happy over it, and for now that was all that mattered.

Putting the date, I smiled and nodded at my handiwork.

It almost looked like it belonged there.

I placed the pen back down, and went to ask Vim a question.

He was kneeling near a box, and pulling out wood pieces. He was going to start a fire.

"Truthfully this is a little weird. I feel like we're stealing soone's ho," I said as I studied the nearby shelf. There were books and trinkets upon it.

"For as long as we're here, it's our ho. So don't feel weird about it," Vim said as he carried the wood to the nearby fireplace.

It wasn't that big, but it looked made of marble. Based off the location of it, sothing told it ran up to the second floor and into the bedroom.

Bedroom...

While Vim started the fire I went upstairs. Walking up a well made stairwell, I found a small hallway upstairs. One with only three doors.

The first door on the right was the only door on that wall. It was double-door and... sure enough was the main bedroom.

Before stepping in to examine it, I checked the other two doors. Likewise they were also bedrooms, although smaller in size. One of them had three beds within it.

Since the smaller bedrooms were rather bare, except for a few chests and dressers, I went back to the main bedroom.

There was a single bed in the large room, which was a little odd. I had expected this place to have as many beds as possible... but maybe there was never an instance where more beds were needed.

The room slled a little... like a scented candle. As if soone had lit one here not too long ago. Maybe soone ca in and cleaned this place occasionally.

The large bed was big enough for two, and there was a table with two chairs. There was a balcony, which had a large bench, and in one corner of the room there was...

Standing before the large wall mirror, I gulped at my own reflection.

I'd seen mirrors before. But only small ones. Things that fit into one's hand. And even then they hadn't been very...

Raising my hand, I grabbed my hat and slowly removed it. The few pins that held it in place latched away rather easily, and my ears were revealed.

A strange sound filled the empty air as I took a deep breath.

My ears were that big?

Tossing my hat onto the bed, alongside my bag, I hurriedly returned to the mirror. Touching my ears, I studied the way they moved and twitched.

I'd seen myself before. I've seen myself reflected in water. On certain plates and tal... but...

Usually when the images were blurry, or without detail. This mirror was pristine... and looked almost perfect. I could just barely make out a slight alteration near the edges, if I stood too far away from the front my body started morphing in shape. Becoming longer, and taller.

My frowning face distracted as I glared at my huge ears. Why were they so big? They were basically as big as my head! No wonder people always looked at funny...

Lomi's hadn't been half the size... nor had Porka's...

The sll of burning wood filled the air, and for so reason it made my nose itch.

Realizing sothing important, I hurriedly pulled my tail out too.

The mont it slipped free of my pants, I groaned as I realized that was huge too.

Stepping back a step, to try and see my whole fra and the tail as well... I realized it was impossible.

My tail was as long as ...

For a long mont I stood there, staring at myself.

I could ignore the dirt and gri. Vim and I have been on the road for weeks now. Months, if we included even the few baths I've had... like at Rapti's place or with Kaley. I could also ignore the... worn down clothes. Although new, purchased by the man who was downstairs... it seed I had already worn them down. My pants had rips in a few places, my shirt faded.

Going closer to the mirror, I groaned at the sight of my pupils. They were a little... too unshapely. A little too wide in the middle, and thin at the top.

Not human looking at all...

Opening my mouth, I quickly closed it. Putting a finger into my mouth, I felt the familiar teeth and wondered if they were really as sharp as they looked.

"I'm a beast," I whispered.

As I whispered, I realized my fingernails were also very long too.

I'd cut them here.

Other than them... there was nothing I could change, however.

"Renn," Vim called from below, and I noted how gently he had done so... maybe he thought I had laid down to sleep.

"Coming!" I called back so he knew I hadn't fallen asleep.

Stepping away from the mirror, I spared one last glare at myself.

I hadn't realized how... un-coly I looked.

Porka had been beautiful. Lilly had impressed too. Rapti, also was pretty in my head.

Kaley had been the most attractive of them all... but I had thought maybe, just maybe, I was the sa. Maybe not to her level, but...

"Fool," I chastised myself for thinking I was special, just because I wasn't human.

Hurrying out of the room, I made sure to grab my hat just in case Vim wanted to leave.

Maybe we were going to get food.

I was in the mood to eat now. Maybe a good al would make forgive myself for looking so...

Finding Vim sitting at the table, I hesitated as he crossed his arms and looked at oddly.

"What...?" I asked, and looked around. Did sothing happen?

The fire was going strong... but nothing else seed different.

"First thing you do is stare at yourself in the mirror. You really are a cat," he said.

My blood rushed to my face and I stepped back, as if I could actually run away from him. "I couldn't help it! It's... that was the first one I've ever seen like that!" I said, defending myself.

"I'm sure."

Had he actually seen , or did he just hear ? His hearing was as good as mine, if not better, after all.

I grumbled as I walked to the table and sat down across from him. With a huff I crossed my arms, mimicking him.

"Do I get to et Hands now?" I asked.

"Tomorrow. I want to go listen to the nightly sermon first," he said.

"Sermon?" I asked. Really? Vim did?

He nodded.

"You're suddenly religious?" I asked. He hadn't been before.

"No. I want to see if they've changed the way they preach yet," he said with a small frown.

Changed... "Why would they change it?" I asked him.

For the first ti in a long while, I realized I had asked a question Vim didn't want to answer. He suddenly frowned a little harder, and his crossed arms tightened a little.

"Okay. Can I co with you? I like listening to them," I said quickly.

He blinked and relaxed... and his soft smile as he nodded told he was thankful for allowing him to avoid answering that question. "You can. But you'll need to change... upstairs in the dresser should be a clergy outfit, for nuns or sothing. Find one that fits you," he said.

"Oh! Sure," I nodded, that sounded neat. I hadn't been able to wear Nory's. Not only had it not fit at all, she would have ripped it off had I tried to put it on.

"Wait... am I allowed to wear it though?" I asked, hesitating.

"Why couldn't you?" he asked.

"I'm not a nun," I said, obviously.

"You wore robes in Nevi didn't you? You didn't say anything then," Vim said with a tilt of his head.

"That was just a headdress. This would be an entire outfit," I gestured with my arms to get him to understand, but he simply shook his head in indifference. He didn't seem to care, which told I probably shouldn't either.

Yet... I did. For so reason. Why was that?

I decided to ponder it as I got changed. I stood from my seat, and was about to head upstairs.

"It's not right now. It'll start in a few hours. Afterward we'll get sothing to eat too," Vim said, stopping from hurrying upstairs.

"Oh... okay. Is it close?" I asked.

"Near the chronicler," he nodded.

Not far at all... that ant a lot of humans would be nearby soon, which was odd.

My tail tapped the ground, and I glanced at it. It was swaying a little... too much. I got it under control, and wondered if I was simply happy or if I was upset.

Happy, for sure.

Still, I did my best to get it under control.

No matter how happy I was... I didn't want Vim getting upset with . I didn't want him to have to tell to control myself.

I may look beastly, but that didn't an I was one.

"It's okay to be happy, Renn."

For a small mont, I didn't really understand what he had just said.

Looking away from my tail, I studied the man who had uncrossed his arms and placed them onto the table, holding his hands together calmly. He nodded at , "It's okay. Especially here. That's the entire point of this house. Of this place," he said further.

Clenching my jaw, I wondered what to say. How did I respond to this?

"Did you think I'd yell at you for being happy...?" Vim asked softly.

"Well... for good reason..." I answered, just as softly.

Vim shifted in his seat, suddenly looking uncomfortable.

A little ashad at making him feel so, I realized he probably... didn't realize what I thought of him.

Not just my feelings, but what I expected from him. What I expected him to be like.

But... maybe that was my fault. No... it was...

"I figured you'd tell to keep it contained, as to not endanger us once we left," I said.

"Ah... I can see that. I'm many things Renn, but I'd never tell soone not to be happy. That's kind of the entire point of my existence you know? To protect such emotions," he said gently.

The odd tone in his voice told he was being completely genuine. He was hurt. Hurt that I had even implied that he would do such a thing. Not just to , but to anyone. To any of our mbers.

Now that I thought about it... he had always let Lomi do whatever she wished. No matter how loud she had gotten. No matter how silly it had been...

That hadn't been just because she was a child after all.

"I am happy. This is... wonderful. Everything I hoped for, in a way... and I look forward to eting all the other mbers. I counted seventeen nas I didn't recognize on that book," I said and glanced at the logbook near the door. Vim's eyes didn't leave , but I did look around at the house as I continued. "This place is neat. I look forward to staying here for awhile. I look forward to spending ti with you... and I hope I can get used to the crowds and noises by the ti the festival starts, so I can enjoy it." He kept silent as I continued even further, "And that mirror was neat. I can't believe I've gone almost two hundred years without ever actually seeing what I looked like. It's... astonishing. I want to sit in front of that thing for days. Yet, sitting here with you right now is more important I think. Let alone everything out there," I said with a gesture to the door.

"It is a big town, and bigger world, out there," Vim said.

I nodded. "I want to see it all, if I can," I said.

I hadn't before. With Nory... I had been so happy to just stay with her, hidden away...

Now though...

"To be honest... I was a little upset, too," I said to him.

He blinked twice, and then tilted his head. He wanted to explain.

"I'm... a little ugly," I said, and imdiately regretted it.

For the smallest mont I saw Vim's expression change... but I looked away before his thought could be read on his face. I didn't want to see him thinking how stupid I was... Even if it was true, I didn't want to know he thought so. Him of all people especially.

"What makes you say that? What'd you see in the mirror?" he asked.

I gulped, but kept my eyes on the table. Slowly sitting back down in the chair I had been sitting in, I decided to focus even harder on the table. In fact there was a nice little spot, near the center... which had a small gouge in the wood, probably from a knife or sothing long ago. It was perfect to study.

"I'm uh... rather inhuman, if you look closely. My ears and teeth. My eyes too, and my tail is real big," I rambled off the small list I had noticed already. Each thing I spoke of however only made even more embarrassed.

I needed to change the conversation, and fast... before I started to cry.

"Hm..."

After a mont of silence I dared a look up at him. He had rested his head on a curled fist, and was smiling softly at .

"This is where you tell I'm stupid, and I'm actually very beautiful," I said, trying to make the air a little less heavy.

Vim held my gaze, and every mont that passed with him remaining silent... made more and more anxious.

Vim didn't lie.

Which ant...

Tears welled up, and I realized I had dug my own grave. I had willingly put him on the spot, and now...

"Did the chronicler tell you what you are?" Vim then asked.

My breath caught for a mont, and a tiny little crack erupted in my heart. He was going to ignore my statent. He was going to change the conversation for .

Maybe it was for the best...

"A... a uh..." I had to blink, and I felt ridiculous as I wracked my brain. What had she called ? I had heard it clearly. It had been... "A jaguar," I rembered.

"I figured. Do you know what that is?" Vim asked.

I shook my head as my heart started to hurt. Each ti it thumped, and it was thumping quickly, a pain shot through my chest and up my neck.

"They're very beautiful. One of the prettiest cats to walk the planet," Vim said.

My breath caught, and I stared into the man's eyes as he nodded.

"You have spots. Next ti you're in front of the mirror, when it's high noon, open the shutters for the sun and look at your ears and tail in the light. You ever notice them?" he asked .

I nodded. "My parent's spots were... very visible." It was theirs that I rembered the most. Mine were faded and only visible at certain angles.

"Your ears work great. I don't mind your teeth, and I didn't mind it when you rested your tail on either. Though I do suppose I'd like you to be a tad shorter. With your ears you're nearly my height, which would be fine if you didn't look so young. Makes it hard for to pretend to be your father, which ans I have to be your husband."

"What's wrong with pretending to be my husband?" I asked. A little too quickly.

Vim smirked, and it made almost forget the tone I had just used. Almost. "You're too pretty to be my wife. It makes it hard for people to believe the story," he then said.

My tail twisted around the leg of the chair I sat on, and I squird a little.

Vim broke out into a laugh, obviously from seeing the blush that was quickly forming on my face... yet I refused to hide it.

After a few monts of squirming in embarrassnt... I started to laugh too.

His laughter died down, but the mont I began he started to chuckle again.

Laughing at him, who was chuckling at , I couldn't help but admit once again that I loved him.

For a small mont life was perfect.

Which really made happy... but also frightened .

Since at any mont this could end.

And I wasn't sure if my heart was going to be able to survive the day it did.

It was so terrifyingly fragile, after all.