A Feline Guide

More meowings follow. We are surrounded by a dozen cats, of all colours and kinds of fur. Some are sitting, others standing on their four paws, but each of them has their glowing eyes focused on us.

“Cats…” I muse, confused by the number of petting targets.

“What are all these cats doing here?” Tyffeon wonders.

    Crawling forward, I’m already reaching my hand towards a cat with a splendid golden-orange fluffy fur. The latter eyes me with a sceptical look when a feminine voice rises from the entrance of the cave.

“This is where we live.”

    As we turn our heads towards the entrance, all the cats do the same, angling their heads so they can see better.

   The silhouette which emerges from the darkness with an elegant gait is none other than the one of the cat which stood near the entrance. Her furry tail brushes the air in slow motions, as if painting darkness behind her.

“We are the guardians of this cave.”

“The guardians?” Tyffeon echoes.

“Indeed. It is our task to keep an eye on everything that enters and leaves this place.”

    A few meows rise, the other cats focused on their leader. Some of them remain purely staring though, silent. The black cat’s ears twitch slightly.

“It seems that you have an important message to deliver.” She pauses, her emerald eyes focusing on me, stepping forward. “You are the Saintess?”

    Turning to face her properly, I sit back.

“That’s right. I am, and this is Tyffeon.” I add, waving in his direction.

“Ohh? It’s peculiar to see a Daoine Sidhe near this cave.” She notes, briefly gazing at him.

“You… won’t oust us from here, right?” I wonder.

    Come to think of that, we entered their territory without asking for their permission. But it’s not like it is required, in the game. Is it, now?

“To oust the Saintess?” She repeats, what resembles a smile forming under her whiskers. “What a curious idea. I like to believe that we are less savage than the Two Paws.”

    Amused by her words, I glance at Tyffeon.

“Fair enough.”

“What is this supposed to mean?” He frowns, holding my gaze.

“A cat never lies.” I shrug.

“Dare to call me savage when you exist. You’d better focus on the route we’ll take to leave Tír-nan-cnocc if you have so much energy to spend on idle talk.” He says, tracing in the earth a rough map of the area with the edge of his giant match. “We have to join that place.” He adds a mark not far from the frontier. “That’s where the Rulers are used to gather.”

“Oh, but I already made my choice!” I reply enthusiastically, reaching out a finger towards the makeshift map. “We’ll go straight to the north and go along the outskirts of the Kingdom.”

“This area isn’t safe, it’s inhabited by goblins.”

“So what? We should take the shortest path? It’s exactly what they expect us to do.”

“I don’t deny it, but you can’t fight nor use magic. You’re just-”

“A Saintess?” I cut him off.

    He remains silent for a short while, the cats following our exchange with curiosity.

“What I’m trying to say is that it’s far too reckless. I can protect myself, though I can’t guarantee I’ll manage to protect you as well.”

    As I bring the back of my hand to my lips, a laugh escapes my lips.

“May I know what makes you laugh?” Tyffeon asks grumpily.

“Sorry,” I begin, my shoulders still shaking a bit, “it’s just that, you know, we’re not in Rathard any more. You no longer have to obey Erlkœnig. Who, actually, would prefer me dead.”

“And?”

“There’s nothing forcing you to protect me.” I genuinely conclude with a smile.

    He parts his lips as if to answer, but the words don’t seem to come.

    It is obvious, though, nobody helps someone without having a reason for it. It’s true for friends who only do so as long as you entertain them, and it’s even more true for two persons who have nothing really tying them to one another.

“I’ll learn to use my benediction and… oh! I know! A bow. I’ve always dreamt of using a bow and arrows!”

    Anyway, it’s not like I can allow myself to stay skill-less. I have to be able to cope on my own.

“As for the route until the outskirts,” the voice of the cat leader chimes in, reminding us of her presence, “I will accompany you myself. If you follow my lead, nothing bad will happen to you.”

“You would really do that? But… doesn’t your duty bind you to this place?” I ask, curious.

    In Kingdoms of Sin, these cats already exist. As she said, they are the guardians of Oweynagat.

    When, in autumn, swarms of monsters escape the cave, they are the ones showing them the path. But, ordinarily, they don’t really interact with the Player. Apart from a side quest, unrelated though to her current proposition.

“My duty is to guide, and as I said we keep an eye on everything that enters and leaves this place.” She explains in a measured tone, her fluffy tail brushing the air ever so slightly. “I can’t allow myself to let the Saintess fail to accomplish her role. Duxie is my name, and that is what I am.”

    Duxie. Dux. The guide.

    Sometimes, a name suits a creature even more than you’d expect it to.

“In this case, we’ll be glad to let you lead the way! See, Tyffeon, we might have a better chance than you think to make it through.”

    As no reply follows, I take a gaze at him, only to notice his serious expression.

“Tyffeon?”

“I’ll teach you.”

“Huhh?”

“I’ll teach you how to use your benediction.”

    Why? Is he ill? Unless Erlkœnig knocking him against a tree trunk earlier nuked a handful of brain cells in the process…

    I observe him intently, keeping a smile upon my features. I can’t understand what can possibly motivate this suspicious proposition, and this frightens me. Which is a reminder that there’s still an important question left unanswered. The flow of events has been so hectic that I didn’t even find the right opportunity to ask him.

“Back at Rathard, you warned me, you told me to flee. I guess your King has asked you to kill me. Otherwise, you wouldn’t have known he planned to. So, why? Why didn’t you simply do as he told? Even if the situation hadn’t degenerated, even if I had achieved to quit the village, Erlkœnig would have blamed you for that.”

    He narrows his eyes at the question, as if reluctant to answer.

    My eyes dart to the braid on the side of his head. He didn’t undo it. Reaching out, I take it in my grasp, my thumb brushing his hair in a slow gesture. I smirk.

“Unless you’ve taken a liking to me? Mmm?”

    The mere thought seems to make him wince.

“No.”

    He narrows his eyes, leaning back. Oh dear, embarrassed, aren’t you?

“Then?” I probe.

“I just wanted to prove you were wrong.”

“About what?”

    A sigh.

“I can’t stand it when someone pretends to know what I will do. The last to betray you, huh? Don’t decide for yourself.”

    At his words, my eyes widen. I almost forgot that he overheard what I said when we were on the ramparts. So what? He acted the opposite he should have simply… out of pride? I mean, he has a misplaced pride. That is true. But…

“How childish.” I comment, letting go of his braid as I lean back.

“Haah?!”

    As he frowns, a slight hue colours his cheeks.

    Around us, the cats haven’t missed a piece of what became their nocturnal distraction.

    The story may unfold in a different way, Tyffeon may have not betrayed me this time, I may have nothing in common with the Saintess. This said, I’m not enough of a fool to believe that I can rely on him. There’s nobody to stay by your side ‘til the very end. That’s what my friends learnt me in my previous life.

    I cast a sidelong glance at Tyffeon.

“And you, when will you betray me?”