Wastes and Wilds Kyo 1.2

Justice is what those in power tell those beneath them it is.

-City Lord’s Mantra, First Line

Kyo pulled herself from the Dump pit and took a wary look around. The streets of any Waste city were unsafe according to chatter in the Bazaar. However, there were probably none but the most insane or desperate that would take up haunting the Dump pit’s surroundings. Most factories poured their contents into the pit through pipes. Any liquid burned off during the day, leaving the solid pit of waste she’d just pulled herself out of.

It wasn’t pleasant, but at least Kyo was alive.

The first order of business was using Perfume on the plant matter within the gunk on her body. Kyo felt a wave of ecstatic relief as the stench turned into a light scent of mint. Even though it would make her more suspicious it kept her from retching at her own scent. Focusing she saw the inside of her stomach with a green tint. After concentrating she was able to make the bits of plant matter in her stomach ‘hold’ the ring. The stomach plant grew into a small patch that would prevent her from excreting the ring by accident.

It wouldn’t do to die on the water toilet at home. Kyo thought with a grimace. I would never live that down, literally.

While she wasn’t familiar with exactly where she was, that wasn’t a problem. The city lord’s giant phallic symbol, as a merchant in the Bazaar called the Tower, cut a slice out of the night giving clear direction. Judging where she was by what side of the tower she could see, and how many lights were visible, along with the number of balconies on the side she could see was easy. A quick glance at the skyline to locate the wall, and she knew exactly where she was, at least in relation to her own tiny home.

Kyo’s ears and tails drooped at the knowledge she was in Fluffy Dog territory. Dogs were the worst, and the regular patrols would be a problem. Staring at a nearby brick-clay wall, she looked at her own talon-tipped hand before a smile flickered on her face. Moving to the wall she placed her hand on it. Moss grew on her hand like living clothing from the bits that had clung to her as she climbed out of the Dump. At first slowly, and then faster, the moss-covered her tanned skin. One hand, then arm, then shoulder, and soon her entire body. With a final twist of effort, she managed to shade the fake fur into the color of the surrounding clay.

That was…tough. Kyo thought panting at the effort involved. She felt extremely tired, and alarm bells rang through her mind. There’s no way I can get home like this.

Panic gave her strength pushing her to create a stimulant bit of moss on the back of her hand. Catnipwas a tightly controlled substance in Lion’s territory. Kyo had been given some once by accident when young by the daily food distributor of the gang mistook her age. She knew it would provide a boost and the memory was bright enough for Plant Manipulation IV to mimic it with moss.

Chewing on the fake-catnip moss-bud she managed to create, Kyo felt strength flood into her limbs. Her mind grew bright and clear, allowing her to understand how bad the situation really was. Movement through the alleys and streets would be impossible. She glanced up turning thought into action by climbing up the clay-brick building near the Dump until she reached the roof.

I will have to burn everything in a dash to Cat rooftop territory. Kyo thought as her mind firmed. No pain, no gain.

She bent down to the rooftop taking a deep breath before she sprinted to the edge of the building and leaped to the nearest one. The crunch of gravel as she landed shot pains through her bare feet but Kyo packed the pain away behind her Still Mind technique. The pain didn’t vanish, but it dulled enough to keep moving. She knew she would be leaving a blood trail that any competent person could scent and track. In a burst of inspiration, she sprinkled a bit of moss on her tracks removing the blood but leaving the minty scent of her current odor behind.

Kyo shrugged, she didn’t have time to do much more.

Ten rooftops later the first howl rang out in the night causing Kyo’s blood to race. The ringing sound was joined by more baying howls as a pack slowly gathered to track her down. She ignored the fear with the Still Mind technique running and focused only on making each leap. Her speed was slowly building, but it was still a significant lead. An inexperienced kitten might have glanced back, but she didn’t.

Kyo knew she would either make it or not.

Each jump increased the strain on her body and she was forced to take another burst of stimulant to keep going. Even though she knew it wasn’t healthy, overdosing could be solved only if she lived to do it. From behind the howling of the dog pack hunting her grew louder.

Kyo’s eyes blurred as she checked her position realizing she was closing in on the far left portion of Lion’s turf. Only three more leaps and she would be back in friendly territory. She made the first without issue, but on the second her ankle gave out. Staring out at the two rooftops in the distance she could see Cats already moving to examine the disturbance.

I can’t make another jump. Kyo thought. Regeneration won’t heal me fast enough.

Her mind flickered through options before her eyes narrowed. She would need to take a gamble to reach safety. In a lightning-fast movement, she shed her coating of moss letting the winds take it. Dropping down to the alley beneath her exacerbated her ankle injury but it also gave Kyo precious time to use Plant Manipulation IV to create a painkiller. Since she didn’t know exactly how to make the drug, it took a hefty chunk of power for the ability to substitute the ‘knowledge’ required. She suspected that if her Patron wasn’t a super plant, it wouldn’t even have worked.

With the pain from her ankle gone, Kyo sprinted through the alleys towards Lion territory. She was tired, so very tired, but safety was almost in reach. Only a single street from reaching Cat turf and she was forced to fling herself into the shadows of an alley. From the shadows of the alley, she could see a team of Fluffy Dogs confronting a group of Cat enforcers. While the enforcers for the Lion would have no qualms throwing down if she reached Cat territory it was another story if she didn’t make it.

The Lion kept to his borders, it was a known fact.

Kyo struggled to breathe as her vision darkened. There was no way for a ten-year-old kitten to make it through the ranks of Dog enforcers in front of her. She struggled to keep conscious searching for a solution. Even as she attempted to find a way through anger accompanied despair.

So close if only those filthy mutts weren’t in the way. Kyo thought as her anger built. Anger gave her strength keeping her from falling unconscious as it built further until a light haze of red-tinted her vision. If only I had a way through…

Kyo narrowed her eyes until they were almost closed before she opened them wide in sudden surprise. She had been treating this like she was fighting alone, but she wasn’t alone. She had a Patron, someone older, wiser, and perhaps powerful enough to help. Pulling a bit of the moss remains in her hair, Kyo focused on activating her Blessing. Even as the plant matter exchanged into meat buns she focused deeper on the faint sensation of her Patron, Kudzu.

One moment she was trying to feel her Patron, and the next the connection was like a woven steel-thread vine.

“You require assistance.” the shrub said peering out through her mind and eyes to see the problem.

I just need to get past them. Kyo replied in halting mind-speech.

“No. You need to eliminate those who see you. What do you think will happen if the Dogs realize a powerful new player has appeared?” Kudzu countered. It was cold logic, the kind of calculations Kyo would make in the ancient cities. She turned over the possibility in her mind and found reluctant agreement.

Powerful new players either rose or died quickly.

I don’t know-how. Kyo said as her strength began to fade.

“That is fine. I do. I will require repayment of this favor in the form of three unique seeds from your world. Do you agree?” Kudzu said.

Y-yes? Kyo replied.

“Then rest. I will handle everything.” Kudzu said as Kyo’s mind faded into unconsciousness.

Once she was completely asleep Kudzu took control of the Warlock’s body. Under his superior skills, Plant Manipulation IV turned from a bare-bones ability into a titan of terror. Moss was pulled into existence with casual ease before being converted into spores. The alleyway filled with a massive spore cloud thick enough to make sight impossible. When he piloted Kyo’s body out from behind the alley’s cover, the thick soup of spores continued multiplying without stopping.

Although he had kept his emotions in check so as not to hurt his Warlock while communicating, Kudzu was nonetheless royally pissed.

Our first effective chance to wake Eve up from the damage of crossing the Void and a crowd of mangy weaklings interferes. Kudzu thought looking at the surprised faces of his Warlock’s enemies. Since they desire to see so badly, I will let them witness the might of the Green.

Spores flooded the street, the alleys, and the rooftops with savage fury. Barks turned into howling and howling turned into screaming. A moment later silence reigned once more in the surrounding area broken only by the rapid breathing of the Cat enforcers. While the scent of terror was on their fur, Kudzu was impressed they hadn’t broken or fled.

Pulsing the power of Regeneration with an exquisite skill he fixed the injuries to his Warlock with ease utilizing the surrounding spores as fuel. He kept the rucksack filled with Earth Essence rats because it was clearly important enough to his Warlock to attempt escaping with. Satisfied after a short minute that everything was in order, Kudzu pulled the spores back to his Warlock’s body. He crafted clothing in line with one of Eve’s more common combat outfits taking care to watch the Cats nearby. It wasn’t hard to cloth the little kitten’s body, since she was quite short.

A few of them grew nervous but a soft growl quieted them down as a titanic figure appeared from the alley behind them.

Kudzu watched as the group of Cats made way for a Beast-man of the Lion race. A full two and a half meters in height, the Lion was old and grizzled with grey fur tufts on his stoic face-framing fearless purple eyes. He moved his sleeping Warlock’s body forward slowly while tinting her eyes glowing Green. It was a small trick but one that clearly denoted his Possession. While her body couldn’t even come up to Lion’s knees, the massive Cat still showed respect by picking up her body to meet his eye level.

“Greetings, to what do I owe this visitation.” the Lion said without fear.

Kudzu looked at the Lion and used his Warlock’s voice to speak, “Greetings. The memories of my Warlock have great respect for you. I was forced to intervene to save my sole worshipper.”

The Lion’s eyes flickered briefly before growing calm again.

“I have cleaned up the area removing all pursuers or anyone that could trace her. I will Bargain for her safety and care if you desire?” Kudzu asked.

“We don’t barter kittens. I will take care of her and see her safely back.” the Lion said swiftly coming to a prompt decision.

“See that you do,” Kudzu said flaring his power for a few precious seconds before he was forced to relinquish his hold on his Warlock’s body.

The last sight he had before being pushed back into the ring was of the Cat enforcers forming ranks around their leader, the Lion, as he withdrew back into his territory.

Kyo found herself waking up in a clearly expensive room. Even without opening her eyes, she could feel the quality of the fluff-filled mattress beneath her form. The real give away though was the incense she could scent in the room. Someone had given her treatment, which clearly included a bath. Flickering open an emerald green iris she beheld a massive Lion seated directly in front of her turned head.

Whatever medicine they gave me is inducing hallucinations. Kyo thought. I’m seeing the Lion sitting in front of me with a patient expression on his face. Strong stuff. Closing her eye and opening it again didn’t clear the effect. Hazily she waved a hand at the figure only to have the Lion wave back at her, hold her hand, and pat it. As an older beast, he had mastered the human transformation method and looked like a refined older gentleman with minor bestial features. The most distinct feature that altered was the change of ears from fluffy masterpieces into round human flappy things.

Kyo blinked.

The old Lion smiled a grin filled with schadenfreude.

Kyo blinked again and chose the lesser evil of going back to sleep.

I’ll deal with it tomorrow. Kyo decided. At least I’m safe now.