[Kachi]: 373.The Cat Boy And The Slave.Chapter 2

The Cat Boy And The Slave


Chapter 2


  A sharp cry ahead of both boys brought them both to an abrupt halt - Deiyen because he knew what the cry meant; the little catboy only stopped because everyone else had. Another cry from some point ahead that neither could see, and everyone turned to their left. Deiyen caught hold of the catboy’s shoulder and pulled him around, fearing that he wouldn’t understand precisely why they were turning, and almost pulled the youth from his feet as he did so.
  The boy gave Deiyen a frightened look but, in response to the older slave’s frantic gesture with his head, looked in the same direction as everyone else. His breath escaped his lips in a short gasp.
  Before them, spread out beneath the slave-track, was one of the largest, most lush gardens Deiyen had ever set eyes on. Scattered about the green lawn were white outhouses and a large fountain; beyond that was the house itself, a veritable castle clad in white rendering and topped with tiles a deep, rich red colour.
  Whilst the slaves all stared, wide eyed, at the place that was to be their new home, the traders marched up and down the line. Cold eyes assessed the physical wellbeing of each slave, taking into account damage that might have occurred on the journey that they could be considered liable for. Deiyen kept his eyes fixed on the building, but in his peripheral vision he caught sight of one, a particularly burly, broad shouldered slaver, approaching them. The strong smell of sweat that exuded from the man almost knocked the brown haired youth sideways: it was all he could do not to retch there and then. But even as he struggled with his own reflexes, he realised that the slaver was making a bee-line for the catboy beside him.
  A large and hairy hand grabbed the boy’s delicate chin and hauled his head up so that his eyes met the gaze of the slaver as the other hand pressed against the back of the boy’s head, holding him in place. Deiyen didn’t have to look to know that those green eyes would be holding a look of mortal terror as the large man assessed what the boy would be worth and, for possibly the first time in his life, he felt a kind of outrage burn through his blood. Who were they to treat someone so small, so weak like that?! His fists clenched involuntarily, short nails digging into the hard skin of his palms.
  The thick fingers ran harshly through the boy’s hair, checking for lumps and bumps, and possibly lice. One wrist was dragged into scrutiny, then the other. Then both hands ran up and down that slender body, causing the young catboy to yelp in pain as his ribs were roughly prodded and pushed.
  The yelp had been a mistake, and Deiyen knew that if he didn’t do something quickly, the boy would suffer for the unauthorised noise. Even as the thick-set slaver raised his hand to strike the cat-eared boy around the back of the head, Deiyen closed his eyes and fell forwards, face first, down the stony slope.