Down the bumpy roads of the forest came an old cart, drove by a rather elderly looking man. The horse that drew the carriage was slump backed and bore the harness with a slight effort. It’s shaggy fur long been unattended. The wagon was a basic cart with an open back and no canvas top and a seat for the driver with a back to it and a front so that one didn’t fall backwards or forwards.

The old man held tight to the reins in one old mangled hand and in the other he held what looked like a dragon’s bone cane, the top of it held a bright amber. The bone looked like it had been whittled down from its once large size of a rib bone. The hand held at its middle seemed not only to clutch it from ownership but for steadiness as well. His head was covered in shaggy old gray wiry looking hair and a cap sat atop his head. A patch over his right eye and his face riddled with scares. His one eye was a deep ugly brown green. And his cloths tattered, torn and scorched.

He lifted the reins to rest in his hand holding the bone cane and with that hand dug into one of his pockets and brought out an old scarf. Coughing into it he quickly replaced it as the Bandit Village came into view he took careful hold of his reins before halting in the black market area. He pulled the horse to a stop and then stepped down with delicate persision. Holding his bone cane he leaned on it gently as he walked. Moving to the back of the wagon where a large cage sat. A cloth cover over it, he went to pull the cage down. The cage suddenly rattled and shook. The old man laughed. “Now Now lil one…. Jak not gonna hurt yeh…Unless of course yeh give me reason te’h” He said pulling the cat again he pulled it down and set it there he stepped back and smiled “Have any of yeh brutes heard of a Crystal Lynx?” He called loudly over the crowd. He waited his one scraggily brow raised he smiled as some looked towards him. He suddenly stepped back and thrusting his cane back some the cane seemed to be attached to the cover over the cage for it flew off and suddenly the area was filled with glittering prism rainbows.

Within the cage stood a very beautiful creature indeed. Its body coverd in translucent silver fur and its fur had gems forming on it everywhere. Its short tail and frame showed almost like a lynx. But its eyes seemed pale white gray cat slit pupils and black rims with white iris’s. The cat hissed and stepped back its saber fangs were diamond. “This My friend would be a Crystal Lynx, a Prized pet. Don’t mind How I found it…Will start the bidding now. “ He said sitting in the cage though Adriell Lotus Delesangre felt severly stupid. WHY OH WHY DID SHE DO IT. She whimpered silently.

Adriell had been wanting to try out a new form so, of course…she had morphed a new creature, never fearing being stuck in a form, for she had done it all her life. She didn’t even know if her humanistic form was her true form or not, or if she even had one. She shivered some now wishing she hadn’t morphed the crystal lynx. She had been up in the mountains when this old coot with magic sprung upon her and paralized her in an instant with some sort of magic he willed in the cane. And then she had woke up in a cage…and now she was here…wherever here was. She growled again and his hissed, her cats cry sounded like a lynx screamed. What was she gonna do now, she couldn’t just shift….not unless she wanted everyone to know she was a shape shifter…the last of her kind.

The wagon’s approach was very well noticeable; almost seeming like the man driving it was arrogant enough to tread tracks upon their soil without having a little mayhem. However, the man had seemed familiar, a commoner they would label him, due to his ragged looks and the fact of him stopping at the camp every so often to bring his, ‘latest and most shocking find’ and then try and auction it off to the bandits for a price. Surely the bandits had been the most prosperous men and women in the entire land, due to their conniving ways in order to swindle simple folk out of their money and with their ability to steal almost unnoticed, it seemed that life was too easy up in these parts. The ordinary people were nothing, but buffoons who had no idea that they were being robbed until the moment they went to reach for their bag of coins. The people….His people were low lives, of course. It had been a given, but they also held hearts and only wanted what was best for them. Sure it may seem slightly selfish, but in life, that’s the only way you could survive.

Tenrio allowed his right arm to rest upon the knee of his propped right leg, as he sat upon the tree branch that stretched out over the tent bellow him. His jet-black hair wavered slightly in the near still night wind. Metallic hues probed the illuminated camp, eyeing the fire in the center before tracing outwards and to the cart again. The people gathered and crowded the cart in hopes of seeing something of extraordinary beauty or charm, whether it be both. An exhausted sigh passed his parted lips, before bringing his right hand behind him and planting itself upon the trunk of the massive tree. Swinging his legs over the edge he pushed off from the tree, sending him a few feet forward in decent to the ground. Landing in a crouched position, he took a second to glance up to make sure he wasn’t drawing attention to himself. Pushing himself to an erect stance, he pressed forward towards the wagon’s general location. Upon reaching it, his hands drifted up to the shoulders of others, giving them a light shove to the side hoping to draw them out of his way. Metallic hues darted frantically across the wagon, eyeing its wooden exterior and rickety build before falling upon the creature inside of the cage. Crouching down so he was eye level with the creature, he stared blankly, eyeing its majestic beauty for a moment; however, his attention was drawn to the old man who was currently sitting upon the cage and the man who was trying to reach into the cage, before the old man planted the blunt end of his cane against the young man’s forehead and pushed him backwards, wavering a finger as he did, “Tut tut, no touching.” With a flurry the young man made a lunge at the old man, before being head off by Tenrio. Tenrio’s right hand drifted down to his sternum, driving the flat of his palm into it to knock the wind from him. Tenrio watched as the young man staggered back scowling under what breath he had left, “You atrocious…And despicable mistake of a human being, you’ll pay for that…”

Straightening his back, he folded his arms over his chest, tilting his head to the side at the man before him, “Say what you wish, but you shant bring disgrace upon us by beating up an old man over a simple request not to touch the animal. You’re a loose cannon who shouldn’t even have a place in the ranks, you should have actually been banished from this place a long time ago. You should have no rights to call me atrocious.” The man huffed at Tenrio in protest, “You fail to see what would happen if I left. All of you would be dead, trust me.” Tenrio shook his head as he turned to face the cage again, dropping down into a crouch again, “What are you asking for this thing, anyway?” Contently he stared at the creature, noticing its discomfort in the cage. His right hand lifted to one of the bars on the cage, coiling his digits tightly around its thickness, using it to stabilize himself, “I take it you want to get out….I Don’t blame you.”

Lotus looked up seeing how many people had gathered about the cage, the elder man Ja'k was now situating himself above the others atop her cage. A lowly growl came from her and she started to prowl the bottom of the cage hissing all the while. She swiped at one man who went to reach for the cage her crystaline claws making the sound of nails down a calk board. Men groaned in protest to the noise. Lotus glared though at Ja'k on the top of her cage. She lept at the side and made the cage tilt some. But to no avail...the cage was heavy bottomed and built well if his cart was not. Lotus then crouched and leaped agian this time though she sprange off the side and higher trying to reach Ja'k but as she found the side this time she clung to the bars of the cage and then finally released them dropping to the cage floor again. She growled deviantly and then continued to prowl about the cage.

A man though again attempted to reach into the cage and touch her. She backed away as far as she could from the man's reach her growls coming in torrents like a ravenous wild dog. She arched her back and shoulders loosened then tightened getting ready to strike when suddenly her Captor swung his Dragon Bone cane at the man knocking him silly across the head. “Tut tut, no touching.” He said his voice a rasping old croak that made Lotus want to rip him to shreds. But then the man who had been beaned over the head lunged. Lotus jumped skittish as suddenly a whirl of motion and there stood another man in the first man's direct path. She calmed and began to prowl about again as the two exchanged words and finally the first left.

But as Tenrio turned to examin her she snarled again his eye to eye level with her ice white eyes and gray pupils black rims to his metalic ones seemed more intelligent then the cat was letting on to be... Something was also off about this cat...She was acting rather different. She held his gaze many moments before finally turning to prowl the cage again...a normal cat would have lunged at the cage biting and ripping trying to seize his flesh and render it shreds. But she had turned away and continued her growling prowling protest.

Ja'k looked down at Tenrio.... "I would be asking a fair price...actually a rare creature such as this deserves anywhere between 400 to 600 gold... But seeing as she is Untrained and vicious ....." He stoped rubbing part of his arm where he had made the mistake of ventureing to close to her. "I would only ask one of the Bandit Guilds 100" He said his one brow perking. "Seeing as I myself use to live around here and was part of the guild and had been spared many times from their Raids." He says his one eye glittering. "But I must warn yeh Sir.... She never sleeps. I have heard that the Crystal Lynx's are actually quite intelligent and can even form bonds with those who own them...But this one is beyond Intelligent...she seems to be caculating you all the time. I one thought her to be asleep....Reached in the cage with a peice of food for her and set it down. Before I could move my hand free the cool person had taken my arm and shredded it with those sharp claws... I believe them to be Diamond... Found tiny shards in my skin from them. Are you sure you want to undertake this beauty for such a hazard?" He asked

Bellow him though Lotus snarled hissing -OY- her voice enterd Tenrio's head. But it was only a slight buzz in his mind. Nether the less he had heard her and she was unaware. She was infuriated by him calling her a cool person retorting silently -Female Cat- And she was also mad that he was only selling her for so cheap. She hissed and leaped at the cage again and snaping and snarling she dinted one of the bars. Lotus then turned to look at Tenrio. What was she doing this could be her ticket out of this stupid tiny cage. She growled inwardly not liking what she was about to do. She sighed outward though and lay down on the floor and began to purr VERY softly almost inaudible. She turned her eyes to Lock onto Tenrio's gaze again though. Her ears flicked back and her look all together Meek and temid.

Tenrio pulled himself to an erect position using the bars to do so, “Aye, 100…I think I can muster that.” Metallic hues shifted to their immediate right only to cock a quizzical brow at the man holding a pouch of gold out to the old man. Without warning his right hand drifted up to the bag in his hand, snatching it from his grasp, before offering it to the old man. The man with the bag shouted out in stifled protest at Tenrio’s action. A grin danced across his slender lips as he eyed the man for a moment before turning his attention back to the old coot in front of him, “I think I can handle it. Afterall…I do live here, I don’t care what the creature did to you. What it did to you, it won’t be able to accomplish such a feat against me. Besides…What’s wrong with a little challenge, right? I mean, if life went on without anything to challenge you, would it be as fun?” Tenrio continued playing on the old man in his little game. Tenrio never intended to keep the cat, but to set it free upon the purchase. He knew exactly how it felt to be captured and held against his will, seeing as it’s all he knew around these parts.

With a simple flick of the wrist he tossed the bag to the old man, “Here…Open the cage…Now!” His eyes drifted back to the cage at his left flank and back to the old man in front of him, before initially turning to face the cage. Dropping to one knee, he eyed the cat for a moment, quirking a brow in slight confusion at its behavior. It was rather odd how it changed in its attitude, ranging from incredibly annoyed and vicious to meek and timid like it had. For a moment he studied the cat, pondering its sudden change, “Animal’s are intelligent, never underestimate them. What you did with the food was foolish and shouldn’t have been done. If I were you and thank god that I’m not, I would have simply tossed it in there, not just set it in there. You could have saved yourself some arm problems, but how you do it is your own business, not mine. Another thing, when you cage an animal, they never act nice. Lets say I put you in a cage, would you treat me like a pal? No, that’s my point. That’s two reasons why you should have never stuck your hand in that cage.” A faint noise reigned throughout his head, which caused him to rock back to a standing position. Tenrio eyed his surroundings, taking in and absorbing each and every object and its placement, remembering it to be the same way previously, “…False alarm.” Was all he muttered before turning his head to the far right, bringing his attention to the guy he stole the gold from as he burst out with anger, “That’s my cat! It’s not yours, Tenrio, don’t even think it is, it was my gold, not yours.” Tenrio shook his head slowly, “May have been your gold, but I stole it fair and square, so….Technically it was mine….Now old man, no stalling, open it.” As soon as the old man would open the cage, Tenrio stepped aside of the cage, allowing the cat open space, “Well, Barcius. It’s ‘Your’ cat, so you say. So how about you go and pet the kitty…Show her you’re friendly, I’m sure she’ll show you how friendly she is in return. Oh and if she starts shredding you into little bits and pieces, we’ll sweep you up into a nice little container and ship you out to the middle of a sea on a burning ship. Sound good? Unless you give the cat a big hug, it will be mine. So have at it.” Tenrio motioned his right hand towards the cat, awaiting the man to even make a move towards it. Barcius wavered a hand and took a few steps back, “Nah, that’s quite alright. You can have the cat, actually…I guess I don’t really need it.” Tenrio laughed half heartedly, before turning his attention back to the cat, “Come on out…Oh and guys…If the cat even attempts to attack anyone, you have my permission to deal with it in any means you see fit.” Tenrio dropped to a crouch, offering his right hand to the cat, as he kept his gaze locked on it, awaiting any false or sudden movements so he could reel back and out of the way, “I’m not going to hurt you unless you try to hurt me.”

Lotus watched the men and growled lowly when Ja'k approached the gate. When he unlocked it one of her ears flicked forward and then flicked back....She seemed a tad confused...but also she seemed to be playing it as well. Ja'k ran and jumped back atop the cage and watched. Lotus stood and watched as Tenrio backed away and the other man came into view. Her ears flicked out and she raised her head up looking around at the large group of men. She then lowerd her head and purred slightly before taking one paw step then another... She halted at the cage door. Her eyes coming to lock with Tenrio....she steped closer again and then lowerd her head even more as if a warning. But after a moment she steped closer to him and with gentle soft slow moving paws she batted at his one knee trying to get him to move. She looked like a playfull kitten. She rubed against him her fur those scatterd with gems felt wonderfully soft. She then flopped over makinga hollow thud and turned her stomache to him purring all the while...

Tenrio and the others might find this amusing then as another came closer to the cage though she was suddenly on all four paws in a flash leaping she landed directly on top of the man and started to go for a death bite to the throat hissing the man pushed ehr back. The mass of muscles the made up her form was a finely built one. She came to all fours again and began to prowl around the man he watched her wide eyes and scared. She hissed and lashed at him catching his leg around the knee. His leg buckled and before he hit the ground he quickly fled. Lotus looking around at the others ears flicked back in protest and discust. Then she purred some and sneezed before trotting back over to Tenrio and purring again only this time she lay on one side and waited. Ja'k looked astonished.

Tenrio eyed the cat wearily as it made its move towards him, but in slow bounding steps. His eyes followed the movement of her paw as it bounced off the metallic plates that lay segmented across half his leg, ending slightly above the knee. A faint chuckle emitted from his larynx as he simply shook his head at the cat. Lightly he patted the cats stomach before turning his attention to the man that strayed too close for the cats liking. Without warning the cat took a swipe and the man almost dropped before taking off. Tenrio’s eyes narrowed at the cats approach, studying it for a few moments, before petting its fur, “There ya go….Nothing to worry about…” He patted the cats chest a few times, before pushing himself to an erect stance, “Well, cat. You’re free if you want to go…It’s up to you, really.” Slowly his eyes moved to the old man again, studying him for a few moments, noticing the expression on his face, “What’s wrong, cat got your tongue, eh old man?” A smug smile crossed his lips, as he tilted his head to the side in question.

Barcius strode forward, eyeing Tenrio with a spite filled rage, “Tenrio, wait till the boss hears about this. Releasing anything that can prove a danger in the confines of the camp will get you expelled and worse. You do realize you can be forced to relinquish and become stripped of all your honors and rank, right? I’m warning you, the cat better behave or you better find another place to live. Just because the Boss took pity upon your for your previous misfortune gives you no right to do what you want around here without consequences. You’re putting our lives in danger because of that!” Tenrio’s eyes snapped wide for a moment. Digits of his right hand coiled inwardly, as his teeth gnashed together, “You—You worthless bastard…How dare you…” Taking a few steps towards Barcius, his hand jutted for the collar of his shirt, pulling him towards him to bring his face close to Barcius’s, “You’re lucky I don’t kill you where you stand.” Barcius tried to reel back from the hand but was a few moments too late, “T-Tenrio, I didn’t mean it. It’s just that…Things haven’t been going good lately and you haven’t helped at all. It’s starting to get under all of our skins. All of us also have begun to question your sanity. How can someone be so stupid to even let a wild cat loose in the camp?” Tenrio shook the man before shoving him backwards, “Forget this….I don’t need to put up with this. I’ll be gone soon enough so why should I even care?” Tenrio shook his head, as his head quickly moved down and to the side, causing a few strands of his jet-black hair to fall before his eyes. Turning on the balls of his feet he headed towards the center of the camp, leaving the cat, old man, and Barcius where they were, nearest to the outskirts of the camp.

Tenrio’s eyes darted from passerby to passerby, studying each of their familiar faces, as they bowed their heads in simple greetings to him. He hadn’t sent the same greeting back though. Upon reaching the center of the camp, his metallic eyes scanned across the roaring bonfire that illuminated its surroundings with an orange contrast of colors. The flames danced and entwined with one another, as they stretched upwards, higher and higher, breaking off into little splinters of light the higher they got before being swallowed by the overbearing darkness that shrouded the small camp. Coming to a halt he was now stationed nearly ten feet from the fire; however, he could feel the immense heat that it radiated, warmer those who stayed close to the fire for the night. Folding his arms over his chest, his head turned to face the fire fully. Features of his face highlighted from the orange glow, while most features remained shadowed. It had been a long time since he found himself this mad about what went on, but it had been the first time he was reminded about the heartbreak of the past. The past was nothing but a mere extension of the sub-conscience and it was something he most certainly didn’t wish to revisit. A slight sigh passed through his nostrils, as he glanced down to the side, watching for the cat should it happen to follow him even after offering it freedom.

Lotus watched the happenings of the camp in curiousity, -You know what they say about cats- She thought inwardly as watched Tenrio and Barius in their slight scuffle. Then seeing Tenrio stalk off she stood again and stretched flexing her diamond claws out and yawning to show her deadly saber fangs. The men all steped back and Ja'k glared and watched as Lotus walked away. He was going to re -capture that damned feline later.

Lotus followed Tenrio at a distance and watched those who nodded to him. Taking in the scents and sights of the camp and watched the fire she never really liked Fire to much, only to play with of course on her own. She tilted her head and watched Tenrio sitting on haunches and growling ever so lightly she purred some afterwards. This man intruged her and she felt intruged equals interesting... Equals ....She stoped the trend of thought and shiverd.... There was something coming. She looked at Tenrio then sent the mental message -Man...thank you for releasing me, But I must go now before I bring more trouble to this camp...- She turned to look towards the southern direction and hissed loudly before sprinting past Tenrio and letting her velvet fur brush against Tenrio's legs. She leaped up a tree and whisperd back to him as if someone was listening in -Follow if you wish Vain creature- She continued into the forest before halting in a clearing and glancing around the signals of what were coming for her were in every direction except back into camp. She growled lightly and sighed gathering up her engery she had no way of Morphing now she was too weak. She growled again she needed to feed on something and sup before she could shap shift again.

Her only hope was outrunning them or finding a sanctuarialy place...