Page 66 of A Soul to Touch

“Are you sure he can be trusted?”

“Yes. I trust him as much as I trust you.” Which, in reality, could mean very little. Magnar tilted his head, not seeming to care about Orpheus’ hesitation. “Kitty, what are you doing here? You said you never intended to return to the Veil.”

With a snorting huff, a little irritated because of his lingering feelings and his restlessness at having to be here in this forsaken forest, he began to change his form. As the transformation shifted his body into one more appropriate for standing, Faunus lifted onto his bare feet.

“I... have some questions,” Faunus answered, making sure to keep his sight on the closest threat – Orpheus.

He shook his body free of any leaf litter that collected on him once he was no longer in his monstrous form, especially since he was shirtless and wore nothing but his cloak and pants.

Faunus had never really been overly thrilled about wearing clothing, but the Demons he’d once lived near had preferred it. The only piece of clothing he valued was his cloak, and that was because it hid his skull.

“Also,” he started, watching Orpheus more carefully when he approached as well. “My name is no longer Kitty. It’s Faunus now.”

Faunus lowered his hood so as not to be rude.

He hated it, absolutely despised it, when both Orpheus’ and Magnar’s orbs flashed white in his direction. The last thing he wanted was sympathy for the situation he found himself in.

There was nothing that could be done to change or fix it, and he’d rather ignore it altogether than dwell on his lingering doom.

Faunus knew he was avoiding how he was feeling, perhaps in an unhealthy way, but he’d immediately accepted it. There had never been a guarantee that death would befall him, only that there was a high chance of it.

He could enjoy what remained of his life, and if it involved a certain tiny human, he would be overjoyed.

Noticing Orpheus looked rather tense, Faunus eased his muscles. He forced a light-hearted chuckle.

“Don’t appear so concerned,” Faunus said to him, his humour present in his tone. “I apologise for the day I was skulking around your home while you were gone. I was just so curious when I saw a house covered in the scent of my own kind.”

“I would apologise for attacking you, but you deserved it for being on my territory.” Orpheus folded his arms and turned his head to the side. “But I accept your apology as long as you stay away from Reia.”

Faunus tsked. “You’re still as sour as ever. I’m guessing this Reia is your female?”

A soft growl came from the Duskwalker, and Faunus gave another chuckle.Appears he is as territorial about his female as he is about his home.

His orbs brightened in yellow with humour. He turned his sight to Magnar who now had his head tilted to the point it was almost upside down. Just by the action alone, Faunus knew that Magnar still had a while to go before he was at the same developmental level as himself and perhaps Orpheus.

“How are Delora and Fyodor?” Faunus asked.

Neither Duskwalker came closer than a few feet, showing that although they welcomed his presence, he wasn’t truly trusted.

Magnar’s head snapped back into its straight position. “Delora is well. Currently, she is inside with Orpheus’ bride learning to make her own dress. I have no idea how Fyodor is, but I hope they are faring well.”

Faunus’ head reared back suddenly.

“How can you not know how your own youngling is doing?” He found himself looking around the two males to search the yard for the little baby Mavka with a rabbit skull. “Should they not be here with you?”

Slowly, he watched as Magnar’s orbs turned a deep blue before he let out a noticeable sigh. “They are gone.”

A cold burst struck his chest, fearing the worst.

Don’t tell me...Had what happened to Faunus happened to their youngling?

“Gone?” he asked with a tightness clogging his throat. He was thankful he could speak from his mind rather than from his throat, as he was unsure if he would have even been able to utter a single word.

“They suddenly grew,” Orpheus stated with a shake of his head, seeing that Magnar lacked the thought to expand on this. “They ate a deer and obtained not only their horns but also theirsight. They could not stay since they had become an adult and wished to wander.”

“I see,” Faunus responded while cupping the underneath of his feline jaw. Then he tapped the side of it with a foreclaw. “Well, that is disappointing. I was hoping to meet them again.”

From the moment Faunus had met little Fyodor, he’d been rather fond of them and overly curious. Born genderless, without sight or a fully formed body, how could Faunus not be curious? It was how he developed, and he was interested in knowing everything about a time he couldn’t remember anything.

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