“I’m no mouse. I’m a man!” I stated. My head head ached and I was very aware that my voice cracked. Velle smirked, clearly enjoying how nervous I felt inside.

“Oh? Then show me how much of a man you are.” She purred seductively.

My eyes danced around her body, devouring every curve in sight. I won’t lie. The prospect was very tempting, even if she wasn’t human. It had been awhile since my last girlfriend had left me. I could become this world’s Neil Armstrong, to venture where no man had gone before and brave new frontiers. She breathed deep, seductive breaths as she lay next to me. I could have given in...but those claws worried me.

“Sorry babe, but the flesh is weak and easily damaged.” I attempted to untangle myself from her embrace but she moved too fast. In the blink of an eye had me pinned. Her tail swayed lazily in the air. The crazy cat was enjoying this! I winced as her claws cut into my shirt as her weight pressed against aching spots I hadn’t had the day before. I struggled to remember what happened yesterday but the current situation was far too distracting. She gave me a toothy smile at my discomfort.

“Worry not little mouse, I’ll try not to treat you too roughly.” She leaned down and licked my neck with a rough tongue, lightly grazing it with her teeth. It was time to go.

“Nope.” I said as I shifted my weight and knocked her legs out from under her. With a quick movement I grabbed her wrists as their pressure against me lessened and I pushed her off of me onto the other side of the straw bed. Not missing a beat I quickly rose and walked to the door. “Nope, nope, nope, nope, nope, nope, nope.” It was too much too soon and I was facing a mental overload.

A light giggle escaped her, “I was wrong. You’re no mouse that runs to hide in its hole. You’re more like a bird, flitting away from at the slightest hint of danger. But this Mikthar always gets her prey.” I could hear the hunger in her words. Velle was a predator in more than one way. I turned to her and winked,

“I may be a bird. But you, my lady, are quite the cougar.”

As I walked out of the room I could faintly hear her remark about enjoying a good chase. With a sigh I closed the door and leaned my back against it to catch my breath. The offer was very tempting, despite the whole different species deal.

“One thing at a time Mark.” I mused as I rubbed the back of my head, wincing as I recognized the room I now found myself in. It was the same room the Matriarch, Petal and I had breakfast in the other day. “Well that makes things simple.” I moved towards the exit to the reception room which would lead me to Shimmer Lake.

“So you’re awake.” As I walked out into the sunlight a familiar voice greeted me. I turned towards the origin of who spoke to me to find Kria leaning against the wall to the Matriarch’s home. She eyed me wearily with her muscles tense, prepared to spring at any second.

I raised my hand in greeting, “Yo Kria, why so tense?” Kria unfolded her arms and relaxed.

“Just making sure, can’t be too careful around you.” She stared at my shoulders with a grin, “So you had a bit of fun at the Matriarch’s I see?”

“Nothing happened.” I quickly responded, “I got out of there like a bat outta hell.” She may not have recognized the expression, but its meaning was clear. 

Kria chuckled and grinned at me, “Shame, if you had given in she’d have lost interest after the initial romp around the bedroom. She’ll pursue you far more actively now. She likes her conquests to have fast feet.”

“Great.” I sighed. Together we started walking through the town.

“If you want you can bunk at the barracks in town. Only a few guards use it, most have homes here already.” She suggested thoughtfully.

“I may just take you up on that offer.” It seemed like a good idea after all.

“Though I of course report directly to the Matriarch so I’d have to tell her you were currently staying with us.” I stopped in my tracks as Kria strode ahead a few steps, turned, and gave me a sly smile.

“DAMNIT KRIA!” I yelled which caused her to roar with laughter. I stormed ahead of her, attempting to outpace her teasing laughter. I’d sleep in my jeep and lock the doors if I had to. My head ached when I thought about my jeep and memories came rushing back.

That damn dwarf had destroyed my sweet Bartholomew. Rage thundered through me once again as I clenched my fists. I was going to kill that bastard when I found him! I was going to-

*Thwack!*

Pain rumpled through the back of my head as I turned to Kria.

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“The hell! My head already hurts enough without you adding to it!”

“You need to calm down Mark, you’re thinking about your carriage being dismantled aren’t you?”

“My jeep, yeah that damn dwarf destroyed it!” I yelled, causing a few townspeople to stare.

“You’ve got it wrong, boy.” The voice of the person I hated most in this world sounded from the crowd. I turned to see the stout man walking through the crowd towards me. “Dismantled, aye. Destroyed, nay. ”

I stepped towards the Dwarf, fuming. But quickly found myself unable to move. Strong arms had been wrapped under my arms, holding me in place. “Not another step Mark.” Kria commanded as she held me back despite my struggle to punch the dwarf in the face.

“Don’t hold me back Kria! This is between me and him!”

“You told me your people use violence only as a last resort. Yet yesterday I saw it was the first thing you resorted to!” I winced, she was right. Memories of me facing the dwarf resurfaced in my mind before I had blacked out in a rage. I took deep breaths in an effort to calm myself and stared at the dwarf.

I still felt the urge to punch him as hard as I could, but the pure, unfiltered rage was gone. Looking closely I could see a black and blue circle around his right eye. The sight made me happy, which I found very unlike myself. I sighed, “Sorry.”

“Think nothin' of it boy.” The dwarf said, “To be fair I deserved every lick I got!” He rumbled with a chuckle, “I got a few hits in me self. Been a long while since I’ve had a good scrap!”

“Mark!” A small voice called from the crowd as a small bundle of white fur raced towards me. Her tail whisked about furiously as she herself was followed by quite a few other small Mikthar children. Kria released me as the small child hugged my leg. “You fight again?” she said pointing towards the holes in my shirt.

“Uhh…no. That was a different matter Petal.” I didn’t want to explain how I was almost cat food not too long ago. Her eyes scrunched in thought before she shrugged.

“Mark strong.” She stated with a nod.

“Eh? Why am I strong?” I questioned, looking towards Kria.

“Well Petal was watching when you and Ovglach were fighting. When I ordered the guards to separate you two it only took one guard to pull him away. But you…well you threw the first one that came for you to the ground without much effort and the next few that were sent met similar fates. It took five of us to hold you down but you wouldn’t quit…soooo…”

I looked at her blankly. “Sooooo…”

She turned away, “I had to knock you out.”

That explained my aching head. Ovglach’s  rumbling laughter made me consciously rub the back of my head in embarrassment.

“Love to have ye at me side at a dwarven bar, boy!” He struck out his hand, “Ovglach, but ye already know that. Sorry fer messing with yer carriage without askin’ first.”

I squeezed his hand as hard as I could which he returned, “Mark. Pleasure.”

“Settle down boys. Or else.” Kria scolded us. We muttered our apologies. Petal and her friends looked a little disappointed. Perhaps they were looking forward to seeing another fight? Nah, couldn’t be. Kids are innocent creatures after all.

“I’ve had your carriage moved into me workshop.” Ovglach explained with a twinkle in his eye. “gotta say, your people’s mastery of technology is impressive.”

“So what are you doing with my jeep now that it’s in pieces?” I asked in an obviously flat tone.

“Rebuilding it of course! With a few improvements of me own design. Most loons here rely on magic a wee too much. But us Dwarves are masters with MagiTech.”

I blinked, “Magic? You people have magic?!” I looked at everyone around me who looked back as if I were lacking common sense.

“Aye, all races on this world have magic.”

“Can I learn how to use magic?” Excitement poured through every vein in my body. I imagined throwing fire balls, soaring through the air like superman, and maybe creating a mountain in the middle of nowhere. Having the powers everyone dreamed of would be...well a dream come true!

My fantasy was shortly squashed by the cute little white Mikthar at my legs who happily responded with a wagging tail.

“Nope!”

Petal, a cute little Mikthar who may enjoy displays of violence. Also a supreme killjoy.