[IC] The Savage And Subservient (SleepingSilence x KatherinWinter)

[SleepingSilence]

In The Center Of The Largest City Market

A thousand strangers eyes gave fearful glances. A blade leaving a trail of red behind, strapped to the blood covered beast. Carrying a large carcass on his shoulder. He moves through the cobblestone streets. Passing the clamoring crowds from dozens of street vendors peddling their wares, briefly turning silent. Hearing the whispers of his scars and beastfolk stereotypes. He walks straight up to a stocky beastfolk vendor, dropping the carcass down on the table. Waking the sleeping beastfolk vendor, who looks up and lets out a bemused chuckle, rubbing the back of his neck, fishing out a leather bag from a chest he was resting beside and extending his arm toward him. The bloody beast grabbed the bag, it was heavy and the sound of jingling when lightly shaken gave him a brief smile.

“Sounds like the payment is all there. Thank you for doing business with me, it was a tricky creature to track and hunt. But it provided me with quite a good workout.” The beast said turning around, stopping when the vendor did an intentionally loud throat clearing.

“Bastian-you may want to go to the bath house and wash that blood off. You’re making the market goer’s uncomfortable, hell I’ve known you for years and you’re making me uneasy. Last thing I need is scared off customers during the biggest influx of new customers, because of the prisoner slave trade that starts later this morning.” The vendor explained. Bastian glanced back at the vender, eyebrows raised slightly, retaining a solemn expression.

“I suppose so, thanks.” “Though I don’t see why blood is so much of a problem in a city as immoral as this one. Though a prisoner slave trade? Maybe I can find someone there…” Bastian thought before heading straight to the bathhouse. Stepping inside and stripping off the little clothing he had, into a steaming hot bath. Feeling relief from his aching muscles, washing himself off for a moment. Staring at the silver ring around his middle finger than letting out a sigh.

* * *

“Maybe I should've rested after the night hunt.” Bastian thought letting out a yawn, scratching his chest and stretching backward, hearing a loud crack, looking up at the clear morning skies. Stepping through the gathered crowd of aristocrats, a single article of their clothing probably costed more than the bag of coins he carried. The city guards had their weapons drawn, standing on a tall wooden platform, with several rows of people with balls and chains. It was clear that the prisoner slave trade had just begun...

[KatherinWinter]

Elizabeth had been arrested almost a year ago for a ctime she hadn't committed. The person who framed her had done such a good job that no one had even questioned that she was the responsible party. Because she wasn't the type to stand up for herself she had ended up a slave in order to pay off her debt to society. She hadn'the fought or defended herself. She had known she couldn't win against the person who framef her so she had given up.

Every morning she sat in the corner of her cage with her arms wrapped around the legs dreeding the day she was sold. So far she had been overlooked. Which she thought was a good thing. She had heard stories of what happened to young slaves. She didn't dare hope for a good master. She wasn't that lucky. At best she would spend her rest of her life in the cage. She was used to being invisible. The way she saw it things could be worse so why stir the pot?

[SleepingSilence]

The silent anticipation riled up the increasingly large crowd. They debated on how to properly use their slaves, ridiculing them, mostly in hushed whispers between the aristocrats, making Bastian's skin crawl. A pudgy, curly mustache gentleman stepped forward declaring the auction had started. The crowd clapped and cheered. While one by one, a prisoner was thrown forward to be judged how little their entire lives cost them. Bastian glanced at each of them squarely in their eyes, before looking away.

"Maybe this was just a waste of time..." Bastian thought before noticing the second row of prisoners were lead to the front of the stage, he clenched the hilt of his sword. Bastian started elbow checking anyone in his path, knocking several straight on their heads. Leaping up on the stage, receiving many insults and jeers from the audience. The guard's getting in defensive positions, surrounding the pudgy man.

"What the hell is you're problem? No one is allowed on this platform but official members of the-" The pudgy man sneered but fell silent when Bastian completely ignored his shrill voice. Instead, walking up to Elizabeth and raising up his sword into the air and slashing through her ball and chain with an effortless swing. One of the guards hastily grabs the pudgy man's shoulder.

"Sir! Look at the beastfolk's necklace...he's one of the cursed!"

"What? Stand down men! Don't get to close to it!" The man commanded, causing the guards to slowly back away from Bastian. Bastian turned around and tossed the leather bag of coins that dropped directly below the pudgy man's feet.

"That's my bid." Bastian said coldly. "Anyone else challenge my bid? I'll fight to the death for it." Bastian declared with his blade raised to his chest. Answered by the dead silence of the crowd.

[KatherinWinter]

Auction day was the worse day for Liz. They were forced to wear skin tight clothes so that those buying could see everything they had to offer. Not that she had much. She was about as average as a woman could get. Her long blonde hair was pulled into a ponytail but it still reached her waist. Her eyes were a medium blue that was neither light or dark. Her skin was tan but not overly so. She had about the size of a grapefruit. While her waist was smallish it wasn't as small as some.

Liz kept her eyes down as she walked until she heard yelling. She looked up to see who was causing the chaos. She saw a large beastkin heading towards her. She trembled in fear. She prayed to ever god she had ever heard of that this man wouldn't be her new owner. She nearly fainted when he cut her chain. She knew her fate was sealed when the beast tossed a bag at the auctioneer and told the man she was his.

No one spoke when the beast challenged them to try for her. Liz knew no one would. She wasn't interesting enough for someone to try to go against a beastkind. She officially belonged to the scariest being she had ever seen. "SOLD! Take your slave and leave." The auctioneer said moving back as far as the stage would allow him.

[SleepingSilence]

He sighed putting the sword back into its sheath. Turning to Elizabeth, extending his arm and offering her his paw. Watching her and the even other prisoners shake fearfully, but ignored most the words spoken.

"May I hold your hand dear, we're leaving this wretched place." Bastian said softly, yet rather monotone with a serious face. Bastian's ears twitched only listening to the auctioneer's statement, because it was what he wanted to hear. He firmly took hold of her hand, like a father would to a young child. He started casually walking with her down the steps, leading her gently if he had to. The crowd quickly scattered with panic, some even running away as fast as their legs could carry them. Leaving him plenty of room to make his exit.

[KatherinWinter]

Liz nodded mostly because she didn't know what else to do. It wasn't as if she had a choice. She had never had a choice. That was a dream that she had given up when she was arrested for a crime that she didn't commit. She followed the beast. She kept her eyes down. The crowd scared her almost as her new owner did. In a way she was thankful for the crowds reaction to her new owner. She didn't know what to expect. She knew next to nothing about the beastkin. She had heard rumors but she knew that those were not the most reliable source of information.

She could only hope that her new owner wasn't half as bad as the rumors said he would be. He seemed kind. He hadn't hurt her despite her lack of response. Nor had he yelled at her or talked down to her the way some people did. It gave her hope but Liz tried not to let that hope get too big. She had been crushed enough times in her life. She didn't want to be disappointed when she learned that this man was no better than any of the others she had dealt with in her lifetime. She followed him out of the building feeling more like a puppy thank anything.

[SleepingSilence]

Bastian lead Elizabeth to the same beastfolk vendor, having just served several customers that were in the process of leaving. The vendor gave him an odd glare to the both of them, when Bastian came up to him.

"I want work and half my payment in advance. I'll have it done before closing." Bastian stated. The beastfolk vendor sighed, rubbing his mane with his sharp claws.

"You don't listen to a word I say do you? I suppose there's no use arguing with you." The beastfolk vendor half-muttered, going toward his chest, sifting through his pockets to find a key and unlocking it quickly. Bastian simply watches him silently, putting coins into a bag and taking out a scroll, putting both on the table in front of Bastian. Bastian took the scroll, using a claw to open and read it.

"I'm giving you twenty percent. Have a problem, go elsewhere. If you haven't scared them off already." The beastfolk chided shifting his eyes to Elizabeth, slyly smiling. "You didn't pick one with a lot of meat on their bones. Hardly enough for a meal." Bastian gave the beastfolk a glare, before the vendor snickered.

"I don't find that funny and I will not let you scare her." Bastian carried the scroll and small bag of coins in the opposite paw, he faced her. "I'm not going to hurt to you. Let's get you something to eat." Bastian said giving her a slight smile.

[KatherinWinter]

Liz didn't know what to think of her new owner. He said nothing to her as he drug her through the streets. She had the feeling that if they hadn't moved he would have simply plowed them over. Luckily people moved out of his way. She stumbled slightly when he stopped suddenly in front of a vender. This one was one of the few beastkind venders. She did her best not listen while they were talking. It was none of her business what they did.

She was surprised when her master spoke of feeding her. Liz gathered her courage and looked up at him. "But I haven't earned anything yet." She had never had an owner but from what she had been told in the cells. Nothing was free. You had to earn everything. If you wanted to eat you had to do something to earn the food. If you wanted something to wear beyond the super revealing auction outfit you had to work for it. She hadn't done anything accept stumble behind him. She didn't know why he would be offering to feed her.

[SleepingSilence]

"My work consists of long hours of traveling and endurance and since you're accompanying me, you'll need to keep your strength up. I need you to be fully efficient and you look like you haven't eaten for at least a day..." Bastian said.

"Such a softie." The vendor muttered while going back to sitting down beside the chest. Bastian overheard, but ignored his comment. Leading Elizabeth away to an active vendor full of mercenaries, selling various cooked meat on a bone, skewers, other natural produce. The prices weren't cheap but it was far from extravagant. An older gentleman, with a long pointed chin with a stretched and slender body, perpetually hunched over serving each customer quickly with impatient hand gestures, never even looking anyone in the eye.

"What would you like to eat? Choose something you can carry." The vendor approached leering at Elizabeth.

[KatherinWinter]

Liz couldn't argue with that. What he said made since. So she nodded. She studied the table. Her stomach rumbled. Everything looked so good. She considered carefully. While her owner seemed kind but she wasn't going to relax her guard. In her experience men were not kind. She picked the cheapest piece of meat. It would help a lot. She hasn't eaten much in the last couple of days. She watched the beastkind out of the corner of her eye. She didn't know what to expect from him.

She assumed that they were going to be traveling sinced he told her to get something she could carry. She had traveled a lot since she had been sentenced. But she had a feeling this would be different. She she could only hope that she could satisfy the beast. The thought of disappointing him terrified her. He would be harder on her then her father and the slavers. "I am ready to go." She didn't want to keep him too long. She knew that he had a job to do.

[SleepingSilence]

Bastian quickly ordered what Elizabeth selected, along with several mutton skewers. Releasing her, before paying the gentleman and handing her the food. He inhaled the pleasant aroma of the meat, held between his fingers. Facing her, not grabbing her arm again.

"You seem smart enough to not run off. Stay close to me." Bastian said walking off, averting his eyes from her sight, using his twitching ears to focus on his surroundings. If she would've tried to escape, he'd be aware and able to stop her before getting very far. Bastian pulled some meat from the skewer starting to chew and coming to a realization before swallowing. He glanced back. "Do you have a name?"

Regardless of her answer, he didn't speak another word for the remainder of their walk...

* * *

Finishing his meal. Approaching a large stable on the outskirts of town after several minutes, plenty of folks leaving their horses and goods under the owner's protection. Heading toward a horse drawn cart, Bastian stroking the black mare's side. Motioning for Elizabeth to come closer to the back of the cart. He opened a wooden chest and pulled out clean clothes, fitting a woman with a similar frame, though quite baggy for her. Bastian held the clothes out for her to take. "Take those rags off and put these on."

[KatherinWinter]

Even though she was nearly a genius, being smart had nothing to do with Liz not trying to run. She didnt try to escape because she was too afraid. Not only of what her owner would do if he caught her, wbixh she had no diubt he would because he had many advantages over her, but of everything. She had never been on her own. Plus the whole slave mark she had bern give so that everyone would know what she was.

Liz did her best to keep up with her owner. But the beastkind had longer legs than she did and was in much better condition than she was. She was exhausted by the time he stopped. She was surprised to then he let the horse. Animals were good judges of character. Maybe her owner wasn't that bad.

She blushed when he told her to change. The clothes in the trunk were better than what she had but they would be a little big but at least they would cover her. She took out a shirt and pants. She looked for a place to change. She moved behind the wagon. As quickly as she could she stripped off the auction clothes and put on the others.

[SleepingSilence]

Bastian watched Elizabeth go behind the adjacent wagon and began to change, immediately turning away to give her some privacy. Bastian closed and locked the chest. He lightly tapped his foot while waiting, scratching an itch on his chest, loudly clearing his throat.

"Are you dressed?" Bastian asked. "She's still fearful after what happened. Maybe understanding my motivations would be in both our best interests before going further." Bastian turned to face her, once she had finished. Reorganizing his cargo to clear up space, brushing off some of the fallen leaves.

"Sit up here, don't touch anything. Some of these items are incredibly fragile...and I wish to have a discussion, before we head out."

[KatherinWinter]

"Yes." Liz said softly as she stepped out into the open. It was nice to have clothes that covered her again. She didn't care what they looked like. She had never had a say in what she wore she didn't expect that to change now. She kept her eyes down as she made her way back towards him. She wished she knew what to expect from him. But the beastkind were so different from humans. They had their own laws and traditions.

She shook as she climbed up into the wagon. She didn't know what the beast wanted with her. She wasn't anyone special. She had nothing to offer him. She would do whatever he told her because she was a slave and she had no choice. So far his orders had been easy but she knew that wouldn't last. She didn't know how she would deal with it but she would find a way. As far as she could see there was no other choice.

[SleepingSilence]

Bastian watched Elizabeth sit down, looking around checking until nobody else was nearby.

"They say only two types of people survive in this world. The savage and the subservient...You either dominate all below you with an iron fist or you eat out of the palm of your owner's hand. Those that do neither, will die quickly. That ruthless belief permeates throughout these lands..." He sounded bitter. Clearly talking to her, despite looking in a different direction, having a slight scowl on his face. Pausing and clearing his throat, waiting for another noble walking by and leaving in his carriage. Afterwards, looking her square in the eyes.

"I observed everyone on that stage and I saw nothing but emptiness in every prisoner's eye. A chain of cold, defeated souls, hollow shells of their former selves. They couldn't help themselves, let alone be useful to me. But you were different, whether you believe it or not. I saw the spark of desire in your eye. I couldn't let anyone acquire you..." He said candidly. Stopping to nervously scratch the back of his head. "That might have sounded creepier than I anticipated."

"I knew I didn't have the wealth nobility threw around and decided to charge upon the stage and hope my father's old necklace would spook them into conceding with my bid. So, forgive my erratic behavior and my exploitation. I want you to fully understand, that under most circumstances I find the act of slavery abhorrent," His tone changed into anguish, clenching his paws while looking down, "but I've become a desperate man. My son and daughter...they were kidnapped and I haven't seen or heard from them since. I need someone that can go through places I can't access, someone to help me get them back...I'll give you my word, once I track down the ones who kidnapped my children, retrieve them both and bring them safety back home. I will grant you freedom."

[KatherinWinter]

Liz didn't know why the beast looked around. It made her nervous about what he was going to say. She nodded. It was a saying that went through the whole kingdom. The savage would take anything they wanted no matter what it did to other people. She knew he was the savage, in more ways than. She was the submissive. She was weak and had to do whatever it took to survive.

Liz almost looked up at the beast when he said he saw a spark in her. She had no idea what he was talking about. She had given up. There was no way out. She accepted that she would pay for something she didn't do. She tried not to dream since those dreams would never happen now.

She did look up at him when he told her why he had bought her. He needed a human to go into places he couldn't. He needed on he could control completely to make sure that they weren't a threat to his goal. She admired his goal. She would help him as much as she could. The only difference was now she wanted to. "I will help you the best I can."

[SleepingSilence]

Bastian smiled. "Thank you."

The atmosphere changed, his ears perked up hearing a stone whizzing by, barely missing the horse's head. Hearing snickering, feeling something pelting the back of his head. Bastian reacted immediately when the second larger stone was thrown, pulling out his sword to deflect the stone. The giant blade pointed in the direction of two younger men, ducking behind barrels of hay. Bastian movement was swift, already standing above the barrel of hay, clutching his sword. Everyone else around was smart enough to keep their distance.

"Don't have the courage to fight me directly do you? Go amuse yourselves at the pub, drunkards." The two men stood up recoiled, with shaking legs.

"Can't take a simple joke!? That's exactly the problem with beastkind! Using your strength, against us who are weak!" The man sneered. The second one opened his mouth to speak, but a simple snarl coming from Bastian, got both to scram hastily. Bastian sighed sheathing his blade. Walking up toward the horse and getting on. "Those cowards were a second away of hurting my horse." He thought.

"We'll be heading out now..."

The horse started pulling the cart, leaving the stables and heading on the roads, the town getting farther and farther in the distance. Bastian was focused ahead and the future, preparing to fulfill more than the promises he made.

[KatherinWinter]

Liz didn't know why the beast was thanking her. It wasn't like she had a choice. Yes being willing to help him would make things easier but it wasn't essential. She hadn't met a slave that willingly disobeyed their master. The punishments were too harsh. No one wanted to be punished.

She flinched when a rock went buzzing by. She was shocked that anyone would do something so childish and stupid. Especially to a beastkind. The beast could literally eat them for dinner. She had heard alcohol made people stupid. And she had seen a few people acting foolishly under it's influence. But never anything like this.

Liz was glad when they headed out. She figured the further they were from town the better. She didn't want the beastkin angry. There was no telling what he was capable of. While being alone with him scared her she figure that he would be be less dangerous if he was calm. She took the scenery as traveled. She had no idea where they were going. It didn't matter to her. She would try to enjoy the trip as much as she could.

[SleepingSilence]

Continuing an easygoing pace, despite the quicker wagons passing by. Traveling along the dirt road stretching out endlessly, passing several forked paths, endless fields of grassy plains. The air was getting colder, though he hadn't noticed with his thick fur, but crisper once they had left the city behind. Their only obstacle for the entire hour was the occasional bump.

"Wonder how long she's been withdrawn from the outside world. She seemed surprised at what happened back at the stables, I hope she'll be able to react under pressure." Bastian thought, looking to his left, finally spotting a dense wooden area. He pulled off the road and stopped the horse. Jumping down, walking to the back of the cart.

"Do you have any training in combat or self defense?" Bastian questioned crossing his arms, tail lightly swaying. "It's very likely I'll have to train her some basic techniques."

[KatherinWinter]

Liz sat quietly enjoying the trip. It was nice to be in a cage once again. She avoided looking at the Beast. Not because she found him scary the way some people. She didn't mind his appearance at all. But she didn't want him to think she was staring at him.

She was surprised when he stopped the wagon and got out. She looked around both nervous and scared. She thought he might want something. She swallowed trying not to look terrified. She blinked in shock when he asked her if she had any combat training. Even with what he had told her in town the question had caught her off guard.

"Its rare for woman to be allowed to train. And slabes arent encpuraged to fight." She reminded him. Her father would have allowed it. He believed that woman had little purpose then to serve men. She had been taught to be quiet and demear. She only knew how to be gentle and submissive. She had never needed to fight. "I am sorry I don't know anything about combat. I know a lot about healing though."