He'd been away for a long while. Days perhaps, the curious feline had been absent his side. The little beast had never been a fan of bloodshed, an ill fitting position in office he held. The savagery of Dunmeath had begun the final stages of suppression. The dogs driven from their lands or dealt with accordingly. Mortals toiled in the fields, rebuilding the damages wrought by the war, or they were delivered to the other settlements. Their tasks were unclear, though he need not have an imagination to know what became or what would become of them.

He would keep the order of the newly claimed land with an iron fist - a necessary evil to avoid further casualty. However, such a cold mind set did not apply to Osmanthus, and his mentality was probably the better for it, he would decide. Using the bond between them, he would track his movements, following his surroundings to judge where it was the little imp was traveling to. Only when it became clear he had no intent on turning back in a timely manner had the warden finally settled upon the option of fetching him.

So it was that his footsteps had brought him to the edge of a small town, one nestled within the evergreens and far from the borders of the civilized world. A true discovery that left a bittersweet nuance within his mouth. A secret he would keep for the time being, having no true motive to expose the small slice of sanctuary from the chaos of the outside world. Darkness had long since fallen upon his arrival, and the few faces still out were unapologetically bewildered at his sudden appearance. 'Simply looking for my cat,' he would assure the unease, his reasoning only seeming to stir further unrest. 'A pallid girl, small, delicate looking, with pink eyes. Could you tell me where to find her?' Many were disinclined to submit to his requests, but eventually, one would point him in the direction. Apparently her family was well to do in the community, and it was easy enough to gather the bearings based off the terse directions given.

His approach was announced by the subtle creak of leather and the rattle of Nef's bridle as he dismounted from the steed at the end of the drive leading to the estate. From there, he would pace by foot, finding the windows to be dark and empty, void of movement. It wasn't until he looked through Os's eyes again that he found them, and with a sigh he would round the corner, his vocals low so as to.avoid stirring a commotion. "Forgive me for showing up unannounced - and so late - I was simply looking for Osmanthus." His intonation belied his hint of annoyance, though he would bend into a polite bow of greeting. "I hope you've been keeping well."

 
“Oh, good evening Theodred.” Her greeting bid him to dip his head once more. "Miss Avarice." Despite the airs she put on, the obvious ailment within her vocals was more than enough of a dead give away that she had certainly come down with something. The soft, stifled sniffles that further accented the brief quiet broken only by they and their immediate company of Os and Envy. The later of the duo hung limply within the young woman's arms, his weight and length draped contently within the manner she cradled him, only the sharp turn of his head and the chatter of his teeth in greeting showed interest in his bound partner's arrival. The end of his tail coiling and constricting comfortably. A traitor.

He regarded the feline coolly, knowing full well the little imp knew he had punished those under his regime for far less acts of betrayal. Desertion. That's what this was. All for what? The promise of salmon fillets? He couldn't believe his familiar would so easily be swayed away from his favor. In truth, it was nearly enough to wound him. He certainly wouldn't be getting any treats when they made it back to their current home. He had never wandered too far before, and thus he had not assumed this time would be any different until it was. The different variable was certainly her, but what, exactly, was it?

Cold, scrutinizing gaze would narrow upon her, sliding like the honed edge of a dagger over the whole of her countenance before dragging along the rest of her. All he could determine, in the end, was that she looked ill, a droll observation that had the curve of his index finger curling thoughtfully under his chin before he shot Os another accusatory look. Was it truly that she had better snacks? Was it salmon the little ingrate wanted? He would make him sick of salmon. “Ah,” she would serve to sever the irritancy he silently tried to convey to the oblivious feline. One who began to purr loudly, perhaps he had obtained the message after all, and this was his spiteful arrogance. “He just arrived but he seems well.” He sighed, his shoulders relaxing in somewhat of a defeat as one hand rose slightly, the other resting idly onto the pommel of his blade. "He's made quite the journey. I'll admit, I didn't think he had it in him."“I was going to offer him a salmon filet inside if it is to his liking.” Another side long glance he would give to the feline, one answered by the flick of his ears and the lap of his tongue across his lips as his toes flexed in anticipation.

“Have you been keeping well too sir?” He offered a nod. "Things have been going well, thought it would seem you've a bit of a cold since last we met. I do hope the worst is over?" The stiffness further left his person, though the tight lipped general still did not relinquish the hand near his hip, the comfort of his weapon seeming almost warm through the leather of his concealing glove. The other thoughtlessly pulled down the sleeve that had ridden up near the lip of the veil, ensuring the cuffs were tighter in his tidy habit. "Have you not visited a healer yet? A simple bit of magic should remedy such a small illness." He supposed that was one small convinience of his curse. No longer did he fall prey to the dreaded common cold.

 “Oh, I suppose you should rest then too, hm?” Ah, she would spoil the little lord. The thought rolled through his mind as if he didn't already pamper the beast. That was, in fact, what had made it such a surprise to him to find that the feline had made such a journey, and on what ideal was it? Had he followed her familiar scent? Or had he truly recalled the route and followed it from times past? It was a strange occurrence, as the general knew beyond doubt that he had never traversed this deeply into the mountain passes before. There had never been a need and - especially in recent days - his coven had ensured to claim almost the full extent of his time. The next big coup, the next segment of the machine called war to roll out over the Red Queen's abyssal enemies. Their conniving schemes were unending, and he held little faith that his position, or his life for that matter, would never end up on the chipping block of their concoctions.

Would they attempt such a treason?
He wondered.

“Ah, I’ve overstepped, Osmanthus you should seek permission from your companion first—” The faint quirk of a smile would ghost over his lips. Silver gaze would lance upon the cat as she allowed him to melt into a puddle at her feet as if he had no bones within his lanky body. "No need. I'm quite sure he would impose upon you either way." He would assure, kneeling slightly as he offered out his hand. Almost begrudgingly, Os would half heartedly rise before slinking towards him in effort to brush his cheek against the outstretched fingers. He would sigh then, running his fingers under his familiar's chin. "Besides, you've already offered him food. He's content to stay for at least awhile." His expression would slowly fade, melting away as if it had never been present to begin with as he once again rose to his full height.

His gaze would instead turn to her. “I am fine.” The insistence would be met with a bout of indifference. He had no reason to doubt her, and after all, it was her body. She should know it better than any other would the effects of the little affliction. It had been many a long year since he'd been ill himself, being robbed of mortality had seen to that, but last he recalled, a simple cold was not usually life threatening. "As you say." Her further objection, and the reason behind it, however did stir a small sluice of curiosity. “Magic does not bode well with me. Perhaps it is because my father says I am an Omen, but..” An omen? What had the man meant by that, he wondered. Had some great catastrophe occurred on the day of her birth? Perhaps her mother had died bringing her into the world, but all he could do was speculate until she would clarify. If she was willing. "An omen?" He would repeat, his head inclined faintly towards her. “My mother is a physician, but she’s disappeared since he died, Ira-Gula sent for a physician in the morning but I do not wish for their company.” Ah, so it was her father who perished, and maybe his interesting concept of superstition with him.

"Well, I know a good deal about omens, sayings, and baseless accusations. My homeland was rife with them. I know enough that I don't believe in them." Nothing had stood as a warning against his true misfortunes, nor any of his kinfolk's. Though he had had a sickening amount of them in his childhood and well into adulthood. The bastard child and second prince of his father's empire. A witch said to be his mother, for how else could one have dark hair if not a harlot to devils? Back in his youth and humanity, he would have snorted at the ridiculousness of it all. Especially once he left the isle of the Lumen empire and broadened his knowledge. Outside of his home, many people from many walks of life had had dark hair. Every color imaginable to be quite honest. The man who slaughtered them in their beds, however, had fair hair. Like starlight, he remembered. Like the silver he had been caged in until he swore obedience. Not dark hair. Not like the son of a witch.

“If Osmanthus has journeyed far, then perhaps you have too, sir? Would you like to rest here for a while?” He would give her a sidelong glance before turning to face her in full. A slight click of his tongue. "Forgive me, but I should not." His vocals were softer, a bit more quiet than before as he allowed his head to bow in slight apology. "I appreciate your offer, however."

Jahi - imagine the eyes are silver pls until i get home to change them uwu

Jahi

Jahi - imagine the eyes are silver pls until i get home to change them uwu