Heartbeats, fast. . .

[Emorossa]

Heartbeats, fast; colors and promises. . .


One beat, two beats, three beats, four.

Pounce.

Her claws dig deep into the fledgling bird's body. It made a small sound, she silenced it with a bite to the neck. Emorossa was a three year old Serval, quite small compared to the other cats in the kingdom around her. Several days had gone by since she had eaten a decent meal. Being a slave was a harsh life. Always looked down upon, always fed last. Although she was a excellent hunter it was difficult to get a good catch without someone taking it from her.

The worst part was, she couldn't do anything about it. She was on the lowest ranking you possibly could be. At times it sucked, at other times it sucked less. Before she could even take a bite she heard footsteps behind her.

Emorossa held her head low to the ground, ears layed back flat on her head to show full submission.


. . . How to be brave, how can I love when I'm afraid?

[veraj]

The sun was out, not a cloud in the sky. Veraj smiled as he slithered through the swamp. This was where a true snake was supposed to be but Veraj was not what someone would call a "true" snake. He was a therapist. What snake do you know that helps others with there problems? Very few, I can tell you that.

The ball python was very rarely outside of the castle but after his little pact with Paxx about getting exercise he decided to try it out. The snake couldn't move quickly but he was trying. That counted for something, right? He would have shrugged but he didn't have any shoulders so Veraj just pretended to shrug.

In the distance he could see a serval, he was unsure if he should go over to it or to keep his distance. Being the good snake that he was, he went over to it. It was in a submissive position, good. The feline knew it's rank. It was a sad day when a ball python had a higher rank than a feline. Veraj knew it too but said nothing. Was that bad?

"Hello kit," His face twisted into a reptilian smile. He was happy to see something to talk to that would respond. Even if it wasn't supposed to.

[Emorossa]

To fall. . .

She breathed out a long sigh. It wasn't a feline, it was a snake. Few she had seen, especially in this territory. The scent on the snake was foreign but all too familiar. It was one of them, one of the members. Emorossa's only born right was that she was lower then everyone else. Which sadly included this snake. Perhaps it wasn't that sad, Emorossa wasn't nearly as large as the other felines in the kingdom, this snake could probably easily strangle her.

So why hadn't she recognized it? Why was this snake so unknown to her? Was her memory flushed from hunger, or was it her little knowledge of the palace?

She bowed to it- nonetheless- placing her right paw in a slight curve under her body and leaning her head low, "Forgive me, but I do not know who you are."

Her head was still bowed, showing the upmost respect.


. . . watching you stand alone.

[veraj]

It seemed nervous. The small cat had every right to, he had a higher rank but since he was only a ball python he couldn't do a whole lot to it. He wasn't venomous or strong. Veraj was the feline therapist, that didn't give you a whole lot of power. He wasn't that important. The snake was more of a behind the scenes role instead of a actor. Veraj liked to think of himself as more of a backbone of the kingdom than a name and a face.

"Oh kit, there is no need to worry. I am Veraj just a simple therapist for the castle. I am out on a stroll. But the real importance is you. Who are you?" He watched the seemingly nervous Serval. Veraj really hated having a higher rank than one of the same species. It was revolting but if he didn't have such a role he probably would have been owl food by now. He was thankful to Loki and Paxx for allowing him to be here but that didn't mean that he couldn't have an opinion.

[Emorossa]

All of my doubt suddenly goes away. . .

She blinked at him. Her? Important?

This had never been said to the serval before. Was it a trick? Emorossa's spotted ears flew back on her head, trying to sense if it was a trick or not. Feline's would trick her all the time with foolish ideas of her being able to become something higher than a servant. They were always messing with her though, always playing with her wishes. Yet this snake smelled of a higher ranking cat. At least those had never lied to her before. Then again. . . she never really had a conversation with one.

The only social interaction Emorossa ever got was the occasional bug that might fly by her. Even young kits would mess with the serval. Toying and tormenting Emorossa's every desire. But what did she have to lose? That was the only good thing about being a servant of the kingdom, you couldn't get any lower then that.


She raised her head to look at him, "Emorossa. Nice to meet you Veraj. What can I do for you?"

. . .somehow one step closer.

[veraj]

Veraj decided then and there that this poor kit would be his charity work that he said he was damned to do. So here it is, his charity. A lost slave that may need some extra guidance. Perfect, he wasn't feeding the hungry, or grooming the sick. He was giving a free therapy session to one that he didn't even think was allowed in the castle.

"Emorossa, the real question is, what can I do for you?" Veraj made himself comfortable on the soft dirt. It was much more comfortable than the concrete or rugs that made up the floor of the castle. They were either too itchy or not itchy enough if you could believe that. What was a snake to do?

His eyes watched the small cat. It wasn't much bigger and that was a shock to him. For everyone that came to him was huge. Tigers, cheetahs, leopards, about any huge cat came to him. And he, being a ball python, just had to get used to it. At least they weren't horses, now those things were huge.

[Emorossa]

I have died, everyday. . .

Studying her paws warily she twitched her whiskers a bit. Trusting someone was one of her downfalls. So many times had she been tricked, so many times had she done things she wasn't proud of to try and become something she never could. It was really a huge risk she was taking. Especially since she never really had met a snake before. A few times she had seen a dead one being tossed around by kits. Other then that snakes were typically something she feared. Her mother had taught her to kill a snake once, but always warned that each and everyone was dangerous.

Emorossa kept her distance from him, "I. . . I don't know. I want to make myself. . . better."

She struggled to find the right words. Never before had she had a conversation with something that was listening. Veraj seemed generally concerned for Emorossa. This scared her, yet was comforting at the same time. If this did work out, he would be the first thing she ever trusted. After her mother died it was just a matter of time before she shut down completely on the world. A few times before she thought about becoming mute, but the fear of being injured for not responding to a higher feline made her lock those thoughts up.

"I just wish I could be more appreciated." she finally confessed.

. . . waiting for you.

[veraj]

She was nervous, there was not a shadow of a doubt in his mind. Emorossa would look down at her paws and twitch her whiskers. It was a funny thing with slaves. They were always nervous. Veraj didn't blame that on them though, in some way they held the entire weight of the kingdom on their backs because someone else didn't want to. Again, a sad thought. It was strange to think that a whole group of felines could be outcasted for having spots when another is held on a podium for having the same spots. Yes, cheetahs were fast and larger but that didn't mean that Servals were meant to be thrown to the dogs (figure of speech)

"Some of us need to realize that the only thing that we can offer to the world is ourselves and that should be good enough for anyone, feline or not. You do not feel appreciated because those who look down on you do not realize your importance." Veraj looked the feline straight in the eye. She needed to know that he was being 100% serious on this matter because it was something that truly was something close to his heart. "Kit, you may know this but unfortunately that will not change. But sometimes the only thing that is worth fighting for is the unknown."

Yes, he agreed the last statement was not one that really matched. At some point a therapist is going to be a little mental, but that is what gave him charm. He was able to connect things that weren't connectable. It seemed to be an easy task but you try connecting the importance of eating with how much force it would take to bring down a horse by yourself. You will soon realize that a task that you once saw as simple turns into a chore.

[Emorossa]

Darling don't, be afraid. . .

Emorossa sat down, still staring at her paws. Every once in awhile she would shuffle them around. Either that or twitch her paws. Slowly her mind turned around what he was saying. It took her awhile to format what exactly she wanted to tell him. Her heart was telling her full on to just turn tail and run. The ideas sounded so good, so. . . harmless. But behind every word was a deeper meaning. So what was he trying to convince her to do? First he was sitting here telling her that she was what was holding up the entire kingdom. Then he told her that her life would never change. And yet again challenging what he had said by saying that it just might.

Whiskers twitching again she looked up at him, her big ears low on her head, "Don't take me for a fool, Veraj."

Standing up now she stood herself tall, even allowing her short tail to stand straight out, "I don't appreciate when animals try and put ideas and hope into my head."

. . . I have loved you.

[veraj]

The Serval wasn't taking his advice. Wasn't one of it's jobs was to do just that? Listen to what things of a higher rank said and take them into account? Or was his mind just getting cloudy?

"Do as you wish, kit." Veraj had nothing more to say to Emorossa but he decided to give her a little rant anyway. "Do not take me for a fool, but I am only trying to help you. I give service to the greatest cats in this kingdom and a simple servant won't even take my advice. I feel hurt almost." It was a sad concept for the poor snake. A simple slave not taking his much acclaimed help. She obviously didn't need it then. Emorossa must have been happy being a slave. She was fed nothing but lies and chores.

The subject really was sad. Slavery. The animals were much smaller too. Why weren't tigers slaves? They have stripes instead of anything remotely like spots. No matter though, he was a snake. How could a reptile change anything in the world of felines? He wasn't going to bring it upon himself to bring the end of slavery. Maybe he would hint it to Loki if he comes to visit him soon. Or maybe he would hint of a slave that wasn't doing it's job. Probably neither... he would do his job and then sleep some more. That's all the snake seemed to do anyway.

[Emorossa]

For a thousand years. . .

Now her ears flew forward in a mixture of confusion or shock. A feeling of dread seeped into her bones. She didn't want to be alone again, or to be a slave anymore either. Quickly she made several circles around him. Almost incapable of sitting still she layed on her stomach in front of him, her head on the ground to look him directly in his eyes. As if to waste time her ears flicked forwards and backwards, forwards and backwards.

"Wait, I mean. . . no. I'm not. . ." once more she struggled with words, "I don't want to be like this anymore."

A slave. . . she finished for herself in her head. Although she couldn't bare herself to actually say it out loud. Shame didn't hold it back in her throat, nor pride either. Just. . . the word wouldn't come out. Perhaps animals would think that she's trying to not be a slave anymore and start a revolt. But that wasn't it at all. Emorossa had been a slave since birth. Having even a piece of something that wasn't slave-like was wonderful. Having someone talk to her that wasn't a slave was even better.

. . . and I'll love you for a thousand more.

[veraj]

Veraj had no clue what to say for once. He never talked to slaves. What was he supposed to say? Could he even use the same vocabulary as he did with the cats of high rank? Could the simple slave understand what he had to offer? Of coarse not, she couldn't understand something she never had contact with. So what was a simple snake to do?

"I will not fill you with unneeded hope so I am going to be as blunt as I can. No sugar coating. Your kind never will be anything of importance. The only thing you can do is make the best of it. Do the best job you can and hope for the best. Veraj paused giving the feline a simple stare. "I know, not the information that you wanted."

The snake wasn't sure. Was that the right thing to do? Should he have sugar coated it for the poor kit? He decided that what he did was going to be the best for Emorossa. Veraj knew that she would get a candy coated answer from everyone else. He knew that he was the only one that will and ever will talk to the feline like she was a person. She had a mind and needed to be treated like she had one but that never happened. A real loss for the world but the snake would do nothing about it and he knew it.

[Emorossa]

Time, stands, still. . .

Emorossa could understand exactly what he was saying. Only problem was that she didn't know how to tell him things. She looked down. The pain of what he said sunk in. Deep down in her heart she knew that above all things she could never be something better then she was. But what else was there to live for? For too long had she been tormented by everyone. Her parents once were regular citizens, who felt that the feline kingdom was corrupted. Emorossa had never thought that.

Until now.

Now everything changed. What had she ever done to make everyone treat her this way? What logical explanation was there that said that she was bad and everyone else was good? Why is it that only certain spots were liked. . . but others weren't? Simple.

Because those felines told others that they were better. That was how everyone got on top originally, right? By just acting like they were better then everyone else. Other felines then sensed the confidence within the cat who said he was better. They respected it, they allowed it. Not even a single question asked. In all honesty the snake had hurt her. Emorossa couldn't even go a day without thinking that she was the least cared about above everyone else.

They didn't even treat her like a living creature. Hell, they treated prey better then her. Everyone else had others to depend on, to help them through. What did Emorossa have? Not even the therapist was willing to help her. Slowly she stood up, still looking down. Placing her front left paw behind her right she backed away, before finally turning and leaving him behind. Emorossa didn't even look back at Veraj.

She didn't even give him a respectful goodbye.

The prey she had tried to hard to catch was still laying next to Veraj. For a moment she contemplated whether or not to go get it, but decided not to. It had been several days since she had a decent meal, it wasn't like she couldn't go several more. After all, when had she ever been given her own food? Never.

. . . beauty in all she is.