Context: Don't know where are. Isn't where was. Don't like. Mean people, strange people. Glowy, like stars. Now here comes big, silver wolfy man. Don't like it... Maybe like him a little, though. Has food.

Setting: The Mystic Market

Tags:[MM4A][Strangers to ?][Cruel Slaver Speaker][Fatherly Wolf Lord Speaker][Feral Child Neko Listener][Angst][Sad Implications][Adoption][Fatherly][Kind][Mentions of Kami][Sengoku Era][Carrying][CW: Mentions of Slavery/Trafficking/Food Insecurity/Abuse]

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[H] = Haku, your slaver

[W] = The Wolf Lord, too cool for a name

[Scene opens within the mystical market]

[SFX: Market ambiance/cage rattling violently]

[You sit in a cage that’s far too small in a market that’s far too pretty. Kami wander about with their servants while you rot in a cage by a very annoyed seller]

[H] “Will you PLEASE calm down in there, Neko? You aren’t getting out of that cage, no matter how you rage, spit, and hiss!”

[SFX: Raging, spitting, and hissing, probably]

[H] “Hey! Don’t make me get the stick again, cat! Alright, that’s it…”

[SFX: A stick banging against metal bars]

[He swacks the stick against the metal bars of the cage and you instinctively claw at your ears and curl in a ball]

[H] “Hmph… Good cat. Curl in a ball and behave yourself. The more you do that, the higher chance you have of being bought as some Kami’s pet or servant. It’s the best treatment you’re going to get as a scrappy little mutt of a cat. Understood?”

[Pause]

[H] “Oh, don’t whine at me. The old biddy keeping you orphans was the one that sold you off, not me, so stop your crying.”

[...]

[H] “Oh shit, that’s the Wolf Lord approaching…! He’s said to be one of the strongest of the Kami! Behave yourself, cat, or I swear I will make any shame you bring me weigh more heavily on you than you can stomach!”

[The slaver clears his throat and bows to the wolf as he approaches]

[H] “My lord! How pleasant to see you again. Your coat is looking quite nice this summer.”

[The wolf lord chuckles pleasantly]

[W] “Now, now, Haku, there’s no need for flattery. What creatures do you have today? I’d love a Chinese Lung, if you have them in… again… Is that a child, Haku?”

[H, nervously] “Yes, an older woman sold some of the monsters she’d taken in off, and I’m doing my best to find homes for the poor little tykes. This one is feral, unfortunately. Simply not fit for adoption, but certainly scrappy enough to be a cleaner. Or a collared pet, I suppose.”

[Pause!]

[The resplendent Lord looks down upon you. You do the only thing that’s kept you alive thus far]

[SFX: The Listener hissing(if desired)]

[W] “Haha! Look at the spirit on this one! That little hiss! Those glaring eyes, those tiny little fangs, and claws. Where is this one destined for, Haku?”

[H] “Well, with that attitude, more than likely in the employ of less-kind sellers.”

[Pause!]

[H, annoyed] “Oh, calm down, you. You could’ve been a perfectly well-behaved child, but no. You had to hiss and spit and bite, and now you’re going to live the life of a servant for it. You did this to yourself!”

[SFX: Him rapping the cage again with the stick]

[Pause!!]

[W, stern] “That’s enough, Haku. They are a child. Children are rowdy, and you should remember your place here in our markets.”

[H] “I… Yes, my lord, forgive me. May I be of any further service to you?”

[...]

[The Wolf Lord’s eyes are on you as you shake and rub your ears to clear the awful ringing sound]

[W] “...I’ll take the Neko. And I’d think it’d be best if you surrendered anything they were found with because, quite frankly, if I find out you stole an orphaned child’s toys, my opinion of you is going to drop dangerously low.”

[Pause!!]

[H] “...Fine. The parcel to the side is theirs. They cost three moon shards if you’d be so kind.”

[SFX: Coins(?) being exchanged and the cage being unlocked]

[Haku unlocks your cage and you scramble into the robes of the Wolf Lord, things clutched to your chest]

[W] “There we are. Oop! Ran under my robes, have you? I suppose that is in a cat’s nature. Come now, you’re alright… No more cages, I promise. C’mon, I just need to run a few errands and then we can go home…”

[He pauses as you shake against his legs]

[...]

[W, gentle] “Alright… We’ll go home now, shh… Here, ride on my back, not my leg. I’m a good deal bigger than you and I don’t want to accidentally kick you across a field.”

[...]

[W] “Hmhm, that was a little giggle. One of those that get a kick out of violence, do you? Adorable. Let us be off. Oh, and, Haku?”

[H] “...yes, my lord?”

[W] “Be better.”

[H, sounding as if he’d been slapped by a fatherly hand] “...yes, my lord.”

[H] “Good boy. Now, let’s see… Come on, up you get.”

[SFX: Him picking the Listener up and setting them on his shoulders]

[W] “There we go… Oh, those are definitely fleas… Well, that’s alright, I need a good bath, too. We both have fur, so I’m sure you know the struggles of trying to keep it clean. The humans? One bath and they’re set! What kind of ridiculous malarkey is that?”

[Pause!!]

[He lets out a laugh]

[W] “Ohohoho! And they have a spicy tongue! Hmhm, we’ll work on that. As much as I like it, I can’t have you cursing in front of esteemed guests.”

[Pause?]

[W] “Why not? Some people don’t like hearing shouting. Or mean words.”

[...]

[W] “...You’re hardly, what, seven? How were you meant to know that those words are mean? Those are words you’ve probably heard screamed at you before… Right?”

[...]

[W, heartbroken] “Oh, child… You thought they were just how you talked? I will never yell at you like that, or say such hurtful things. I’m just sorry that you’ve had to suffer so much.”

[...Pause?]

[W] “Why? Empathy, mostly. In my old life, I was treated poorly, too. Maybe we can talk about that when you’re a bit older.”

[Pause?!]

[W] “Why not now?”

[Pause]

[W] “Because it’s a sad thing to talk about, and too much sadness in one day makes it so the happiness we welcome in doesn’t feel as rewarding. You deserve some breathing room to feel safe. You’ll have to get a bath in, but then you can have all the food you want-”.

[Pause!]

[W] “You can eat what you want, child. I know you’ll no doubt feel like you need to hide some away, and that’s alright. Just tell me and we’ll get you some food that won’t perish quickly.”

[...]

[He pauses for a moment then continues to walk as you begin to cry]

[W] “Oh, child… Shh, it’s OK. You go ahead and curl up in the pockets of my robe and find your peace. Sleep if you’d prefer. We will be home in an hour or so, alright?”

[Pause…]

[SFX: The Wolf Lord marching off into the mystical woods. Towards what? You hope home]

[W] “We’ll be home, soon. I promise.”

[To be continued]