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Chapter Four

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Argos had not expected this. Truthfully, he wasn’t sure what he expected. He didn’t know if the cat would be grateful or angry, frightened or embarrassed. Were Argos in the cheetah’s place, he would have embarrassed to learn of his own naivety, but then also furious with the person who’d tricked him. The coyote was prepared for screaming and rage, for confusion and gratitude, for embarrassed mutterings and admittances of foolishness. But he wasn’t ready for this. Not for the cat to break down completely. Not for the cheetah to excoriate himself. Not for him to collapse into an inconsolable, sobbing heap.

Helplessness smothered the coyote. It was a rare feeling for him. Given the life he lived, and the ways he was raised, and trained, Argos had scarcely faced a situation he could not find a way through. Every problem had a solution, even if that solution was not always easy to find. But this? This mentally broken, emotionally anguished feline, crying his eyes out in an empty restaurant aboard an airship, so very far from wherever he called home?

Argos simply did not know what to do for him.

He thought to offer comfort, best he could, but that only made things worse. Why, he did not understand. Argos had guesses, but that was all they were. The coyote scooted his chair closer, till he was nearly bumping up against the sobbing cheetah. He put a hand on the feline’s shaking shoulders, gently squeezing. The cat did not pull away, but nor did he really seem to acknowledge Argos’ proximity. Instead, the feline took the purple hat that was scrunched up in his hands, and pulled it over his head, as if trying to hide himself from Argos’s gaze.

“How could…” The cheetah’s voice was muffled against the table as he wrenched his hat down across his eyes, all the way to his muzzle. “We be so stupid, Rivi? It should have been…” He wrapped his arms around his head. “So obvious! Of course he didn’t really want to help! Why would anyone help us!”

Argos went back to rubbing the cheetah’s back. At this point, he doubted there was anything he could do or say to ease the cat’s pain. “It’s alright, cat. Just let it out. You cry it all out, I won’t tell nobody. Hell, you can tell people you scared the wolf off yourself before I got here, if you want. I don’t care.”

A long, tortured sob escaped the feline. “We must look…” He rubbed his muzzle through his hat. “So pathetic!”

The coyote sighed. He leaned back in his chair, his hand still gently rubbing the cheetah’s shoulder. “Not really the word I’d use.” At least, Argos thought, not to the cat’s face. “Overwhelmed, more like. But, honestly…” Argos shrugged. “Who cares how you look?”

The cheetah lifted his head, just enough to rest his half-hidden muzzle against his arm. “Everyone. I’m…I’m supposed to represent…” He sniffled, draping his other arm out across the table. “The Church. But I’m just…” He whimpered, balling his hands up into fists. “Worthless! Useless! Pathetic! Too naïve and stupid to-”

“Hey!” Argos snarled and snatched the cheetah’s hat off his head. “That’s enough.”

The cat jerked his head up from his arm, his eyes wide. For the first time, Argos had a good look at the cat’s face. Behind his thick, brass-rimmed spectacles, the cheetah’s bleary, tear-filled eyes shone a brilliant reddish gold. His golden-beige fur stuck out at odd angles. A myriad of tiny black spots mottled his face. Ebony tear streaks ran from the inside of his eyes down along the back of his blunt, feline muzzle, eventually vanishing into the paler fur of his throat. Smaller tear marks started from the outside corners of his eyes, trailing off into mottled markings across his cheeks. The cat stared at him, his sobs quieted into pained whimpers. Argos couldn’t tell if the cheetah had just been startled into silence, or if he feared he was about to be slapped across the muzzle.

Argos’s heart sank. He hadn’t meant to scare the poor feline worse. He just didn’t want the damn cat to keep badmouthing himself for something that wasn’t his fault. Was the cheetah too naïve for his own good? Obviously. But did he deserve to keep suffering for it, to keep belittling himself, to drag his own heart through a field of broken glass? Well, actually, Argos didn’t know what the cat deserved. But the cheetah sure as hell didn’t seem like he’d earned all the extra pain he was putting himself through.

“I didn’t mean to scare you.” Argos held his hand up. “I’m sorry if I did. But listen, Cat. I might not know shit about you, I’ll admit. But it seems to me…” He shook the cheetah’s hat at him. “That your problem is you’re just cursed with too kind a heart.”

The cheetah blinked at him. He lifted a trembling hand, wiping at the wet fur beneath his spectacles. “What do you mean?”

Argos grimaced, wondering how best to explain that. He kneaded the cat’s damp hat between his hands. He hoped the wetness was just melted snow, and not tears and cat drool. “You know why you let that wolf take you here? It wasn’t because you were stupid.”

Slowly, the cat straightened up. Another little sob wracked him. He undid the band wrapped around the back of his head, and pulled his glasses off to rub his eyes. “It wasn’t?”

“Nah, Cat.” Argos shook his head. “You let him bring you here, because you thought you saw goodness in him. Because you wanted to see goodness in him. Because, somewhere in that scrawny little chest…” He lightly slapped the lilac hat against the feline’s chest. “You got a heart that must be overflowing with kindness. So much of it, that’s all you can see in everyone else. He offered you help, and your heart smiled, to think there was someone good out there, trying to do right.”

The feline rubbed his chest, swallowing. His voice was breathy, and wounded, but the sobs were easing, at least. “It did seem miraculous, at first. Even once something seemed off, I…I wanted to believe he was just trying to help me.” He looked away, his ears drooping. Pain and bitterness crept back into his voice. “We’re so stupid, Rivi.”

“You ain’t stupid.” Argos tossed the cat’s hat down on the table. “Quit sayin’ that.” He folded his arms, grimacing. “You’re naïve as hell, that I’ll grant you. But that don’t make you stupid. It makes you…” Argos grit his teeth, staring across the room. His tail lashed twice. “A better fuckin’ person that me, at least. I knew that wolf was looking to do you harm from the moment I spotted him. I just…” Argos shrugged. “I saw the darkness, in him. But I see that in a lotta people. My line of work, it’s hard not to. But you?” He turned his eyes back towards the cat. “You looked at someone who meant you only harm, and you thought you saw the goodness in him. That ain’t stupidity, cat. That’s optimism. That’s the goodness in you, trying to see the same in everyone else.” Argos splayed his ears, heaving a sigh. “Shit, Cat. I wish more only saw the good, in others. World would be a better fuckin’ place.”

The cheetah slowly reached out and collected his hat, pulling it back to clutch it to his chest. “You really don’t think I’m…” He sniffed a few times, his ears lifted. “Stupid? Or pathetic?”

“Nah.” Argos shrugged. “Just hopeful, and kind, I guess. To a fault, for sure, but not stupid. That kinda sweet-hearted naivety might get you killed, but it sure as hell ain’t worth being ashamed of. If anything, you oughta be proud of it.”

“You really think so?” The cheetah wiped his eyes again. “My father used to say I was too…” His muzzle scrunched. “Tender-hearted.” For the first time, something ever so slightly bitter crept into the feline’s voice. “Like it was a bad thing. He thought the Pilgrimage would…” The cat glanced down. “Nevermind.”

Argos held his hands up. “You don’t gotta say nothing you don’t want to. And I don’t care what your father told you. I say you oughta be proud After all, as a total stranger, my opinions are far more valid.” He smirked. “That’s a joke, cat.”

The feline glanced up, a hint of a smile crossing his muzzle. “I know.”

“Look, Cat,” the coyote said. “The point is, there’s way too many goddamn cold hearts out there in the world.” He splayed his ears, glancing away. “Mine included. But I get the feeling yours is like a warm hearth. It’s bright, and comforting, and it’s inviting to everyone, good intentioned and bad alike. And that might be dangerous to you, but I still think it’s worth being proud of.”

The cheetah wrung his hands, his smile ever so slightly growing. “Alright. Thank you, Mister Security Guard.”

Argos barked laughter, the sound echoing around the empty room. “I ain’t a security guard, Cat. I’m working security on this voyage, but only as a volunteer.”

“Oh…” The feline’s eyes drifted down towards Argos’s vest. “But, you have a badge inside your waistcoat.”

“It’s a vest,” Argos said, his ears flattening. “But yes, I do have a badge. Not a security badge, though. It’s different.”

“Actually, a vest wouldn’t have…” The feline trailed off, licking his nose. “I shouldn’t argue with you. May I ask what your badge is? Are you a police officer?”

The coyote drummed his fingers against the table, then offered the feline an easygoing smile. “Something like that.”

The cheetah scratched at one of his ears. “That wolf called you…” His muzzle scrunched up in thought. “A ghost, I think?”

Argos nodded once. “He did.” If the cheetah didn’t what that meant, he sure as hell wasn’t about to tell him the truth now. Not when he was only just recovering from a breakdown. “That mean anything to you?”

“Not really.” The cheetah set his hands back in his lap. “Are you some kind of special services officer? Like…” He lowered his voice to a whisper. “Like the secret police?”

Argos merely shrugged. “Again, something like that. Suffice it to say, people like that wolf see a badge like mine, and know I ain’t someone to fuck with. Better when I can just scare ‘em off, instead of getting violent.”

The cat tilted his head. “Do you think you should have arrested him? What if he tries to rob someone else?”

The coyote held his hands up. “Again, I ain’t the police. At least, not like you’re thinking. Let’s say, more a private security contractor. Since the ship’s so crowded, I volunteered to help out. Normally, I’d just point out the troublemakers to the guards, but since Mister Wolf whisked you off so fast, I figured I better just handle things myself.” He leaned forward, putting his hand on the cheetah’s shoulder, giving it a gentle squeeze. “Enough about me. Your name’s Rivi, right?”

“That’s right.” The cheetah gaze down at his golden-gloved hands. “It’s short for Rivimiralous.”

Argos grunted, his ears splayed. “I better stick with Rivi, so I don’t butcher that.”

“Most people outside the Church do.” Rivi rubbed one hand with the other. “I suppose you heard the way I talk to myself, then.”

Argos chuckled. “I noticed, yeah.” He crooked an arm over the back of his chair. “Don’t worry about it.”

“You don’t think I’m weird, for…” Rivi glanced up again. “Talking…the way I do, sometimes?”

“Who the hell cares how you talk?” The coyote splayed his ears.

“Lots of people, apparently.” Rivi huffed, throwing up a gloved hand. “This fox kept calling me weird, in line earlier today.”

Argos sneered. “Fuck ‘em.”

Rivi managed a giggle, an ever so slightly mischievous sound. “He wasn’t particularly my type.”

The coyote laughed with him. “See? There you go. Feeling a little better?”

The cheetah rubbed his muzzle. “A little, I suppose.” He dropped his hand back down. “You certainly use a lot of harsh language, Mr. Security Guard, Secret Policeman, Sir.”

“Yup.” Argos idly waved a tan-furred hand. “I sure do. You talk how you talk, I talk how I talk. And my name is Argos, by the way.”

Rivi smiled again, nodding once. “That’s fair, Mister Argos, Sir.”

Argos held a hand up. “Just Argos. I ain’t your boss.”

“Just Argos, then.” Rivi smoothed down the fur across his head. “I’ll try to remember that, but no promises.” The cheetah took slow, deep breath. He held it, then let it out in a long sigh, looking around the empty café. “I…I should thank, formally.”

Argos shook his head. “Nah, you don’t need to do that.”

“Yes, I do. It’s important, to me.” The cheetah pulled at his gold-dyed leather gloves, loosening them up a finger at a time before removing them. Rivi tossed his gloves onto the table, then worked his black-spotted hands, curling his fingers into fists a few times. “By the divines, I’ve had those things on since before the sun rose!” Rivi rubbed the black pads of his palms and fingers together, then splayed out his hands, and curled his fingers. Sharp, curved white claws sprang free, and he wriggled his fingers a bit. “That’s so much better.”

The coyote glanced down at Rivi’s hands. “Hey, those look like fun in a fight. Wish my claws did that.” He held up his own hand, pretending to show off his own dull claw tips.

Rivi retracted his claws, then looked towards the outlines of Argos’s sidearms beneath his vest. “I daresay your weaponry is bigger than mine, anyway.”

A wry grin parted Argos’s muzzle. “Well, they do say canines are bigger than felines.”

Rivi gave him a blank look. “Bigger what?” He tilted his head. “Guns?”

Argos snorted, still grinning. “Never mind, Cat.”

The cheetah shrugged. “Very well.” He straightened up, turned his chair towards Argos, then held an arm out towards the coyote. “May I hold your hand?”

Argos blinked, his ears splaying. “Do what now?”

“It’s a ritual of gratitude.” The cheetah looked from his own hand to Argos’s face, then back down. “An exchange of intimate contact, so you know I speak the truth, when I offer you my thanks.”

“Not sure shaking hands is exactly what I’d call intimate, but, yeah, alright.” Argos set his hand atop the cheetah’s. The cheetah’s palm pad was soft, and pleasantly warm against his own. “Like that?”

“The intentional touching of pads is generally considered intimate, for strangers.” Rivi put his other hand atop Argos’s, enclosing the coyote’s fingers in warmth. Then, holding Argos’s hand firmly between his own, Rivi took a deliberate breath. He bowed his head deeply, till his muzzle hovered not far from their arms. “Thank you, Mister Argos, for saving my life. I offer you my deepest, sincerest, most heartfelt gratitude. May the Divine Weavers bless you with fortunes, keep you safe from harm, and weave for you a beautiful life, from this moment forward. Thank you, Mister Argos. Thank you.”

Argos shifted his weight. It was a touching gesture for the cat to make, if slightly uncomfortable for someone like Argos. But it was also clearly important to the feline, and so Argos was happy to let him offer it. When Rivi kept his head down, Argos finally cleared his throat, and forced himself to respond. “Yeah, well, uh, you’re welcome.”

Rivi slowly lifted his head, smiling. “I know you’re unlikely to ascribe to my beliefs, and likely unfamiliar with our ways. So I thank you as well for allowing me to express my gratitude properly.” He slowly withdrew his hands. “And now, with formalities aside, I shall attempt to refer to you only as Argos.” Rivi looked at his hands, turning them over a few times as if expecting to them changed somehow after making contact with the coyote.

Argos hooked his arm over the back of his chair, grinning. “I ain’t got fleas, yanno.”

Rivi jerked his head up, his eyes wide. “Oh! N-no, of course not. I didn’t think you did! I was just…never really touched a canine, before. At least, not like that. Your pads were nowhere near as coarse as I’d heard.”

Argos perked an ear, chuckling. “You really know how to charm someone, don’t you.”

“No,” Rivi said, shaking his head. “I’m afraid I don’t. I’m actually quite bad at interpersonal interactions.”

The coyote’s smile grew. “You don’t say.”

“I’m afraid it’s true.” Rivi picked his gloves back up, but then simply held them between his hands. “This is probably the longest conversation I’ve had in weeks without someone getting annoyed with me, or calling me weird, or…” He wrinkled his nose, ears back. “Trying to rob me. Honestly, the fact he was being so nice to me without being visibly annoyed should have been my first clue.”

“Nah,” Argos said. “Your first clue should have been the fact he didn’t show up offering to help till you started flashing your money around.”

Rivi leaned back in his chair, hands in his lap. “I hadn’t realized I was flashing anything around. I just wanted to explain that if there was any possible monetary solution to my housing difficulties, I was happy to pay whatever was required.”

The coyote eased forward, giving the feline a hard look. “Then you do so quietly, without announcing to half the ship that you got a giant banking account, just begging to be emptied, or flashing a stack of money around.” He waggled a finger at Rivi. “And if someone you don’t know does offer to help, don’t let them walk you away from the guards and the concierge, no matter how believable a reason they give you.”

“That makes perfect sense, of course…” Rivi twisted his gloves back and forth. “It really was incredibly foolish of me to think-”

“Don’t start that again.” Argos pushed himself up out of the chair. “Just learn from it, alright?”

Rivi offered him a little smile. “I’ll do my best. Are you leaving?”

Argos tucked his hands into the pockets of his trousers. “Not until you’re ready. I’ll walk you back to the check in lounge.” He swished his tail. The coyote feared if he left the cheetah unsupervised now, he’d be just as likely to get himself in more trouble as he would to find his way back to the boarding area. “I dunno what the problem was in the first place, but I’ll make sure you’re taken care of.”

“That’s very kind of you.” Rivi stood, his legs wobbling a little. The cheetah smoothed back the fur on his face. “Don’t you have duties to return to, though?”

“I got someone covering for me.” Argos glanced at the cheetah’s purple hat and golden gloves. “Don’t forget your stuff.”

“Right, thank you.” Rivi picked up his hat, staring at it. After a moment’s consideration, he folded it up and tucked it into one of the squarish, exterior pockets of his indigo overcoat. He did the same with his gloves, slipping them into another pocket. “Suppose I can go without those, for now.”

Argos chuckled. “I’m surprised you didn’t take them off, earlier. Ain’t you hot in that coat?”

Rivi shrugged, straightening his overcoat. “I’m a little warm, but I spent all morning freezing my…” He trailed off, rubbing his muzzle. “Well, everything off. I don’t mind being a little too warm right now.”

“Suit yourself.” Argos pulled a hand from his pocket, then swept it towards the crimson doors that led back to the hallway. “Shall we?”

“Yes, thank you.” Rivi took two steps, only to stop again. “Let me just…” He pulled his documents pouch out of his coat, and quickly surveyed its contents. “It’s alright, Rivi, we’ve got everything.” He tucked his bag away again, took two more steps, and then froze once more. “Oh, no!” Rivi’s eyes widened, his ears jolting upright. “I left my whole cart back by the concierge! That wolf might have snatched my goods on his way out! I have so many valuable things-”

“Hey!” Argos held his hand up, silencing the feline. “Spots McPanic Attack. You’re stuff’s fine. I got someone watching it for you. So take a deep breath.”

“Oh, thank the…wait, that’s not my name.” Rivi blinked at the coyote, confusion whirling in his reddish gold eyes. “Oh, of course it’s not. You’re teasing me.” His ears drooped, and he looked away, shoulders sagging. “I’m sorry. I just…” He worked his muzzle wordlessly, until a sigh escaped him. “I worry. All the time, really.”

The cat’s wounded expression was a cold feline claw, deep in Argos’s heart. He stepped closer, and gently put his hand on the cheetah’s arm. “Sorry, Rivi. I didn’t mean nothin’ by it. Just something I do. Meant it playfully enough. But if hurt you, then I apologize.”

The cheetah glanced down at Argos’s hand, giving it a quizzical look. His ears lifted, only to splay back, as if the cheetah struggled to parse the meaning of so soft a touch. “It’s alright. I know you didn’t mean it cruelly. And you’re right. I do panic too easily, and…” He tilted his head. “Is there a reason you’re touching me?”

Argos pulled his hand back, then held them both up in acquiescence. “Right, you cats from the Weaver Church don’t like being touched.” Argos scratched at the thick fur around his neck. “Guess I’m sorry about that, too. Hope you didn’t mind me rubbing your back, earlier. Was just trying to comfort you. Ain’t really used to trying to console people. Let alone people who don’t want to be touched.”

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“No, I…” Rivi shifted his weight, wringing his hands. “I didn’t mind it. It…” He glanced from his own arm, back to Argos’s hands. “It was nice, in fact. I’m just not used to it. We don’t often even do things like hug others outside of our direct family, or dearest friends. I’m still growing accustomed to how things are done, elsewhere.”

“Nothing wrong with that, Cat.” Argos pushed his hands back into his pockets. “I’ll try to keep my hands to myself, then.”

Rivi smiled, a small, shy smile. “You don’t have to.” The cheetah’s smile was gone as quickly as it had appeared. “That sounds weird, Rivi, stop saying weird things.”

“Ain’t weird.” Argos took a few steps towards the door again, then waited for Rivi to follow him. “I knew what you meant. And I’ll try to watch what I say, at least. You’ve been through enough today without me kicking your emotions in the balls, too.”

The cheetah giggled, just a little. His ears lifted slightly. “That’s quite the expression. You’re just filled with colorful language, aren’t you.”

Argos pushed the door open, then held it for the cheetah. “That I am. After you, Mister Rivimiralous.”

Rivi’s jaw dropped. He stared at Argos in silence, then a grin spread across his muzzle, much larger than before. “That’s right!” He slipped through the door, and waited in the hallway. “Your pronunciation was incredibly accurate. Most people from outside my homeland struggle to enunciate the correct syllables. I thought you were afraid you’d butcher it?

“I may have exaggerated.” Argos followed the cheetah. “Let’s just say, I’ve spent a little time down where you’re from.” He pulled the door closed behind them. “Hopefully that makes up for calling you Spots McSo-and-So.”

“It does!” Rivi kept smiling at him, his spotted tail swishing. “And it was Spots McPanic Attack, not…” Rivi blinked. “Oh, you were trying to avoid saying it again, weren’t you.”

Argos chuckles, walking down the empty corridor. He strolled along at an easy pace, making sure the cheetah kept up. “I was, yeah. I tend to give people nicknames, in my head. Sometimes they bleed out onto my tongue, too. Probably shouldn’t be calling you Cat, either.”

Rivi looked away, fidgeting with his coat buttons. “Well, I would prefer to be called by my name. But, if you must ascribe me some other playful moniker, I suppose I could think of several possibilities.”

Argos stopped when Rivi turned the wrong way down an adjoining corridor. The cheetah kept walking off on his own, listing a number of possible variations of his own name and titles. Riv. Mira. That Rivi Cheetah. The Scholar. Scholar Rivi. Argos watched the cat watch further and further away, still muttering to himself. He wasn’t entirely sure the cheetah understood the purpose of a nickname. Eventually, Rivi reached an dead end intersection, and Rivi turned onto another hallway, inadvertently following the signs that led to a public latrine.

“Hey, Rivi!” Argos called after him, his voice echoing down the mostly empty, dark wooden hallway. When the cheetah didn’t seem to hear, he lifted his voice. “Rivi!” Again, the cheetah did not return. Argos cupped his hands around his muzzle. “Rivimiralous!”

Finally, the cheetah reemerged, looking around in confusion. “Have I gone the wrong way?”

“Yeah, Spots.” Argos pointed out the nearby signs, illuminated beneath a blue-white light. “Unless you gotta take a piss. In which case, have at it. I’ll wait here.”

“N-no, I don’t need the washroom.” Rivi hurried back towards the coyote. “I’m sorry, I was just thinking about nicknames, and…” He stopped in front of Argos. “You keep calling me Spots.”

“You’re right.” The coyote held his hands up. “Sorry, I’ll drop it.”

Rivi pushed his spectacles further up his muzzle. “Actually, I don’t hate that one, by itself. It seems a friendly enough sort of nickname. Certainly better than some of the things the other students called me when I was in school.” He stretched his arms out, looking at his own spotted hands. “And I do have spots on my fur.” Rivi gave the coyote a sidelong glance. “Honestly, it’s better than Cat.”

“I’ll keep that in mind.” Argos ushered Rivi back down the correct direction. “So, listen Spots.” He watched the cheetah out of the corner of his eye, trying to gauge his reaction. The cat didn’t grimace or pin his ears. If anything, he looked vaguely pleased with the nickname. “You got an awful lot of luggage. Who are you traveling with, and where were they when you needed help?”

“I’m not traveling with anyone,” Rivi said. “I had a porter, but…” The cheetah scrunched up his muzzle. “He abandoned me, after the volcano erupted. And the unrest started. And the snows set in.”

Argos’s fur bristled. A grow escaped him, unbidden. “That fucker.”

The coyote bared his fangs, his ears pinned. Anger gripped him, a visceral, spiteful sort of thing. Whoever the cheetah’s porter had been was a real sleazy piece of shit, he thought. While Argos could only imagine how frustrating the cheetah might be as a travel partner, that was no excuse. A porter’s very responsibility was to get their client safely to their destination. He had to have noticed how naïve and unprepared for the world Rivi was, and yet he’d still chosen to leave the cheetah to fend for himself.

Rivi swallowed, capturing his tail in his hands. “Yes, that was about how I felt about him, too. Well, after the initial panic and terror-nausea faded. After that, I was of half a mind to punch him right in the snout! Not that I’m ever going to see him again.” He dropped his tail. “Or be able to stop him from pummeling me right after. But for those five seconds or so beforehand, I’d feel quite the victorious, satisfied thrill, I’m certain.”

Argos barked laughter, a little of his sudden fury melting away. “Tell you what, Rivi. You tell me who he is, and if I ever see him, I’ll punch him for you.”

“Yes, I’ll certainly give you his information.” Rivi tugged at his coat sleeves. “Anyway, all the luggage I’m carrying is mine.”

“That’s a hell of a lot of shit to haul around, even for a trip across The Sundered Seas.” Argos smoothed his hands back over his ears. That cat’s porter was lucky Argos had business elsewhere. “You moving, or something?”

“No, I’m…” The cheetah’s eyes lit up. Pride flooded his voice. “I’m undertaking the Scholar’s Pilgrimage.”

“Oh yeah?” The coyote perked a single ear. “What’s that?”

Rivi tilted his head, making a thoughtful, mewling sound. “The simplest way to explain it is that I’m traveling around the world, documenting everything I see, and experience. It’s actually a very prestigious position at the Church.”

“You’re going around the whole world?” Argos’s other ear shot up to join its tan-furred sibling. He gave a low, slightly worried whining. “That’s a pretty serious journey for…” Argos trailed off. He’d almost said, someone like you. But the last thing he wanted to do right now was further batter whatever might have remained of the cat’s nebulous self-confidence. “For anyone to undertake, let alone someone who got ditched by their porter.”

“Yes, it’s…” Rivi scratched his muzzle, chirping to himself. “Significantly more arduous a journey than it was intended to be. And it wasn’t meant to be easy, to begin with.”

Argos gestured for Rivi to turn down another hall. There were more people around them now. The din of voices from the overcrowded lobby area was soon smothering the buzzing of all the electric lights. “I can’t help but think that seems like the kind of expedition you shouldn’t be taking with just a porter, anyway. Seems to me your Church shoulda sent dozens of people with you.”

Rivi licked his nose. “If only! Unfortunately, that would be against both the spirit, and the purpose of the Scholar’s Pilgrimage.” The cheetah’s ears shifted back against his head as entered the lobby. He raised his voice to compete with the noise. “It’s a rather complicated undertaking, actually. But, I’d be delighted to tell you more about it sometime! That is, if…” The cheetah’s voice slowly grew quieter and quieter, and his eyes shifted, lingering anywhere but on Argos. “You have time, and we can find one another again, and, you don’t think I’m too terribly annoying to converse with…” He swallowed hard, glancing at his own boots. “I do realize you’re just babysitting me, but…if you did want to talk…”

“You asking me out for a drink, Spots?” Argos flashed the cheetah a playful smile.

The cheetah lifted his eyes again, confusion etched across his face. “Well, I am allowed to consume alcohol, though I’m not terribly experienced at doing so. I thought perhaps a quiet café might be a better place for conversation, but…” He tapped a finger to his muzzle. “I’m not against the idea of discussions taking place over libations.”

Argos swept a hand over his head. “And there it goes.”

Rivi blinked at him. “There what goes?”

The coyote just laughed. “Nevermind.” He guided Rivi through the crowd, gently moving people aside as needed. “Yeah, I’d be alright with having a drink with you, sometime.”

If nothing else, Argos thought, it might give him a chance to give the cat some pointers to help keep him safe. Argos also got the feeling that Rivi wasn’t exactly likely to make many friends, on this trip. Getting to spend a night or two chatting with someone who wasn’t calling him weird might go a long way to making the lonely trip a little less lonely. Besides, it wasn’t as if he was gonna be stuck babysitting the cheetah the whole voyage.

As they made their way through the crowds, Argos kept Rivi close. The cheetah stared at everyone with wide eyes, his ears splayed at odd angles. Argos wasn’t sure if he was more awed, or overwhelmed. Either way, he wasn’t watching where he was going. Nor was he keeping an eye on anyone else who might seek to slip a hand into his pockets, or otherwise do him harm. So, Argos kept watch for him. Now and then he gave the feline a gentle push in the right direction, or a little tug on his coat sleeves. When they finally neared the concierge area, long lines still stretched out the boarding doors.

“Oh, dear.” Rivi rubbed his arms, as if just being near the doors left him chilly again. “We’re not going to have to get back in line, are we?”

“I’ll take care of it.” Argos gestured at the feline’s coat. “Get your ticket and identification out. And only that.”

While Rivi dug for his things, Argos turned his gaze upward, towards the lounge. Iosa remained in roughly the same place he’d left. The gray-furred vixen leaned over the railing, staring down at him. She made a shrugging, questioning gesture. Argos flashed her a few quick hand signals. Interdict. Threat. Save. Cat. He glanced at Rivi, then back at Iosa, adding a few more. Baby. Help. Cat.

Iosa splayed her ears. Baby. Help. Cat?

Argos scowled. He wasn’t sure how to say ‘babysit’. He tapped his chest, then flashed a few more hand signals. I. Help. Cat.

Iosa nodded, replying with a few more gestures. Yes. Argos. Baby.

The coyote made one last, particularly rude hand signal before turning his attention back to the feline. “What exactly was your problem, earlier?”

Rivi held his documents in one hand, tucking his pouch back into his coat with the other. “They don’t have my cabin! Or, anywhere for me to sleep! Or store my things.” He shook a letter at the coyote. “Even though I have a signed attestation!”

Argos held a hand out. “Let me see that.”

Rivi looked at his things. “The attestation or the ticket? Because, the ticket was for the previous flight, aboard The Bridgehead! But as I told you, I was abandoned by the porter who was supposed to get me here on time! It’s honestly quite miraculous that I made it here in time for ship, all on my own. I went to the local Black Star Intercontinental office, and explained myself.” He held the letter out to the coyote. “And they promised me that under the circumstances, they’d honor my first-class reservation with similar accommodations on this vessel! But when I got here-”

Argos held up a hand, silencing the cat. He took the letter, and quickly skimmed through it. As he read, the coyote’s scowl deepened. “Rivi, this doesn’t say you’ll get matching accommodations. It just says they’ll let you aboard without a new ticket.”

The feline quickly shook his head. “No, look at the third paragraph.”

“I did.” Argos scrunched his muzzle, turning the letter towards the cat. He pointed to the statement in question. “It says, boarding will be allowed without further ticketing, and that matching accommodations will be made available, if circumstances allow.” He swept a hand around at the crowds, then glanced out the distant doors. Snow swirled in through them. Long lines and restless crowds still lingered deep into the plaza. “Does this look like circumstances are going to allow them to find you a first-class cabin?”

The cheetah’s ears fell. His shoulders slumped. “No.” He slowly shook his head. “That’s what the concierge told me, too. So, I was offering to pay someone to share their cabin, or even just hire some storage space!” The cheetah gave a half-hearted wave towards his luggage. “I have very expensive things with me. I…” He swallowed, his tail flicking. “I could survive a journey spent sleeping on the floor, but what stops someone from walking off with my photography equipment if I’ve no where to stow it?”

Argos grit his teeth. He wasn’t sure what the concierge actually told Rivi, but sleeping on the floor didn’t sound promising. “Lemme see what I can do. Give me the rest of your papers. I’m going to take them to the concierge, and see if we can figure something out for you.”

Rivi started to offer his ticket, and his identity booklet, then paused, his hands hovering between the two of them. “Is this a trick question? If I give them to you, are you going to whack me on the head with my identification, and tell me not to give important things to strangers?”

A smirk tugged at the coyote’s lips. “That’s good thinking, Spots. Maybe you can be taught. If I hadn’t just saved you, you’d be rightly suspicious. And if you’re not comfortable handing them over, then you can come up to the counter with me. That’s totally fine.” He rubbed his neck. “I just thought it might be easier for me to do all the talking. Yanno, by myself. You were looking pretty worked up earlier, even before the wolf showed up.”

“No, that’s…” Rivi glanced between his documents, and the coyote. “That’s fair. I’m not exactly an experienced traveler, yet. I’m more likely to get in my own way, than contribute anything helpful.” He offered his things to the coyote. “If you can make any progress on my behalf, I’d be ever so grateful. Should I wait here?”

Argos took the paperwork, then gestured with it towards Rivi’s luggage cart. “Why don’t you wait over there, by your stuff?” Then he pointed to the upper level balcony, where Iosa was keeping an eye on things. “See her? That’s my friend Iosa. She’s been making sure no one messes with your belongings.”

Rivi looked up, and waved a hand up over his head when Iosa looked there way. “Thank you!”

Iosa waved back, and then offered an exaggerated bow.

“It’s hard to hear anyone over the crowd, but I’d say she heard you.” Argos slapped the papers against his palm. “I’m gonna go see if I can straighten anything out.” Then he lightly tapped Rivi’s nose with the identity booklet. “Do not wander off. Wait right next to your cart, no matter who asks you to go where. Got it?”

Rivi nodded. “Yes, Mister Argos.”

“Good.” Argos ignored the title. “I’ll send one of the gnolls over to make sure no one else messes with you. I’ll come get you when I’m done.”

Argos watched Rivi long enough to make sure the cheetah successfully made it through the crowd and reached his luggage. Then he turned away, and approached one of the nearby guards. He opened his vest far enough to show the guard his badge, and then explain the situation. The gnoll ushered him to the head of the line, and then waved him up to the counter where the same concierge who attended Rivi was working. Then the guard followed after the cheetah, positioning himself nearby to Rivi.

Argos walked up to the counter. Though the guard had allowed him to skip the line, the concierge was still busy with another passenger. Argos decided not to interrupt. While he waited, he flipped through Rivi’s identity booklet, glancing at his travel permit information. These days, the Church that ran Rivi’s nation maintained tight control over which of their people got to travel where. It was rare for someone Rivi’s age to be given such freedom, even for the pilgrimage he purported to be on. Then again, given the classifications he saw listed, Rivi must have been well connected to the Church’s hierarchy.

Argos glanced at the feline. Rivi was busy manually inspecting his bags, as if worried someone had opened them up and rifled through his things, despite Iosa’s watchful eye. When a kobold worker walked by, Rivi paused to stare at them, wide-eyed. Argos snorted. If the cat was especially well connected, it was probably through a family member. Rivi struck Argos as the sort of blindly optimistic, and impressively sheltered sort who probably didn’t even realize he was so well off, let alone that there were multitudes in his country toiling in poverty while their beloved rulers in the Church-

“Can I help you, Sir?” The concierge’s voice drew Argos from his thoughts.

The coyote turned towards the human. It was the man that had attended Iosa and him when the first boarded. He’d helped set up their special status and accommodations. Argos liked him, as he seemed honest, and genuinely helpful. Now, he just hoped he could find some way to help out the cheetah. Well-to-do Church cat or not, Rivi wasn’t likely to do well on this voyage without someone looking out for him.

“Hello, Sir.” Argos flashed the human his friendliest, most charming smile.

At least, the coyote hoped it looked friendly. His teeth were a lot sharper and more threatening than a human’s. Argos was never quite sure if the humans appreciated it when the toothier races smiled at them, or if it put them ill-at-ease. Then again, he imagined working on a ship like this meant the concierge had long since learned all the various body language cues and expressions of the world’s many speaking peoples.

“Ah, Mister Argos!” The human offered a matching smile. “My apologies for not recognizing you sooner. How may I help you?”

“Hey, I’m just happy you remembered me at all.” Argos swished his tail in a single, happy wag. “I know you get a lot of customers with gray fur, coyotes and otherwise.”

“That we do.” The concierge leaned forward, grinning. “But it’s hard to forget someone of your status. While I’d love to regale you with tales of my ability to remember each and every guest, I’m sure you already know why I remember you and your vixen friend in particular.”

The coyote chuckled, patting his badge through his vest. “Imagine it’s got something to do with this.”

“Indeed.” The human nodded. “It’s rather important the ship’s staff remember the names and likenesses of our esteemed Guild member guests. So, how can I help you? Are your lodgings to your liking? Is there anything else we can do to make your stay more pleasant?”

“Everything’s great, thanks.” Argos turned and pointed to Rivi. “I’m actually here about him.” Rivi was busy digging through another suitcase. “The cheetah that was making a fuss up here a little while ago.”

“Ah, him.” The human’s smile twisted into a frown. “I hope he’s alright. Something about the suspiciously timed arrival of his companion put me off, but I couldn’t get through to him before they’d vanished into the crowd.”

“Your instincts were right.” Argos turned back to the human. “That wolf was definitely not his companion. I dealt with the situation, but if I hadn’t have gotten there when I did?” He jerked his thumb at Rivi. “Some poor kitchen worker might have found that cat’s body in a sandwich shop meat locker. If you see that particular wolf again, have him arrested. Otherwise…” Argos gave an angry little snarl. “If I happen to see him again, I’m likely as not to throw him off the ship. Literally. Especially if we’re in the air at the time.”

“Understood, sir.” The concierge scribbled down a note. He waved over one of the kobold spotters, then passed it to the little lizard. “Take that to Master-of-Arms Ravga. He’ll want to disseminate it among his people.”

The kobold nodded. “On it.”

Argos watched the smaller security worker scurry off. “Probably won’t be an issue. I showed him my Guild badge, and he got the hell out of there pretty quick. But, never hurts, just in case.”

“Agreed.” The concierge scribbled down another note, then stashed it inside a folder nearby. He turned his attention back to the coyote. “Moving on, you’re here on the cheetah’s behalf now?” He watched for a moment. “Remind me of his name?”

“Rivi.” Argos passed the human all of Rivi’s documents. “Possibly booked under Rivimiralous.” He held a hand up. “Just don’t ask me to spell it. Pronouncing it was hard enough.”

“Yes, that was it.” The concierge glanced through Rivi’s information again, then retrieved another document from a set of leather-bound folders. “I did take everything down, after he left with the wolf. What is it you’d like me to do for him?”

“Give him somewhere to sleep that ain’t the floor, for starters.” Argos leaned against the corner, his ears slightly back. “I’m guessing that means you told him he’d be in steerage, yeah?”

The human pulled out a few charts, skimming them. “I’m afraid so.” He made a show of cross-referencing a list of reservations, with charts showing the ship’s myriad cabins in each class. Argos could already the human knew he wasn’t going to find anything available. He knew the concierge was only even looking again because of who was asking. “There’s definitely nothing available in first class. I’ll look through second, and third, but-”

“I don’t need the performance.” Argos tapped a single finger against the counter. “If you say its full, then it’s full. You don’t got any reason to lie to me, of all people.” He tilted his head, his eyes boring holes into the man’s skull. Something sharp and dangerous crept into his voice, like a bullet slowly being chambered. “Right?”

The human’s face paled. “C-certainly, Mister Argos. If I had anything at all available, I’d happily offer it to your friend.” He swallowed, reaching for the first-class chart again. He lifted it up with shaking hands. “Perhaps we could see about offering monetary compensation in return for giving the cheetah their reservation. We could evict someone, but we’d have to pay for them to spend the winter here.”

Argos sighed, hanging his head. “No, I don’t want anyone else kicked out.” He licked his muzzle, and then offered the human an apologetic smile, his ears half raised. “I’m sorry, I didn’t mean to scare. I shouldn’t do that, just…” Argos shrugged, tail swishing. “A bad habit. Comes with the territory.”

The human set the chart back down, forcing a smile back to his face. “I understand, Sir. For whatever it’s worth, I would genuinely like to help the cheetah.” He glanced at Rivi again, his countenance darkening. “He does not strike me as the sort person who would do particularly well being relegated to steerage under normal circumstances.”

“No.” Argos watched the cat for a moment. “He does not. He’s as liable to say the wrong thing to the wrong person and get his muzzle busted as he is to get shanked for whatever fancy, expensive thing he flashes around next.” Argos blinked as the cat retrieved a personal camera from within one of his bags. The coyote recognized the black leather and shining silver design immediately. “Speak of the devil. That’s a Crystal Colormaster 7-5! That thing’s worth more than my sidearms!” He glanced at the human. “He could buy stakes in your company with that.”

The human gave a long, put upon sigh. “He could, if no one takes it from. Somehow, I doubt you’re the only person to recognize it’s value.”

As they both watched, Rivi took several photos of the immense crowd filling the lobby area. Between each, he adjusted a few knobs and dials, and wound the film forward. He leaned back, and snapped a photo of the balcony lounge as viewed from below. Iosa casually turned away just beforehand, keeping her face out of the photo. Then Rivi looked around, and spotted a calico-furred rabbit wearing a thick, green coat. He stared at her, as if he’d never seen a person without sharp teeth before. Then he took her picture. If she noticed, she was polite enough not to react. He twisted a few knobs, then approached her and offered her the camera.

Argos rubbed his muzzle, groaning. “And now he’s handing his incredibly expensive, delicate photography equipment to a complete stranger.”

Rivi showed her how to hold the camera, and what to push to take the photo. Then he backed up and stood alongside his baggage. He smiled, and lifted his hand as if waving to the camera, then posed that way while the rabbit took his photograph. When it was done, he took the camera back, offered her a bow, and then looked around. When he saw Argos, he lifted the camera again, pointing it towards the coyote.

Argos turned away, leaning sideways on the counter. Much like Iosa, he had reasons for not wanting to appear in any color photographs that might tie him to this particular ship, at this particular time. But he didn’t want to hurt Rivi’s feelings, either, so he simply pretended he hadn’t noticed. After a few moments, the concierge informed him that Rivi had put the camera away.

The coyote turned back towards the human. “You can’t put him in steerage. Not on a trip as crowded as this. He’ll be lucky if the only thing he loses is that camera.”

“I agree, Sir.” The human scowled at his assortment of charts, and passenger manifests. “Unfortunately, as I told him, it’s simply a question of space. I cannot make room for him without evicting someone else.”

“What about double booking someone?” Argos stretched up onto his tip toes, peering over the counter. “The cat could pay ‘em for the room.”

The concierge turned a cabin chart towards the coyote. Already, many of the rooms shown had multiple names ascribed to them. “I suggested as much. However, by the time he reached, most of our cabins had already been double-booked, and there was a long waiting list for the rest, pending contact with those passengers. And even if I moved him to the top of the list…” He lifted his hands palms up, a helpless gesture. “There’s no guarantee I could get anyone who would be willing to…” He pursed his lips. “Well, you know.”

Argos grunted, glancing at Rivi again. He circled a finger in the air as if drawing an invisible line around the cat. “No one who’s still got space is gonna deal with all of that, even for money.”

“That’s my estimation, yes.” He tapped the charts. “Plus, consider that I’m but one of dozens of staffers working across multiple boarding lobbies. At this point, it’s entirely likely that all remaining passengers across all classes that hadn’t been double booked, have already been made an offer by someone else.”

The coyote sighed, running his hands back across his ears. “So, there’s literally nowhere else for him to go, but down into the depths.”

“I’m afraid not, sir.” He pushed aside his manifests, then retrieved a small, thin, black folder. Silver lines edged it, with a silver clasp holding it shot. He undid the clasp, then pulled out a document marked with the Black Star Intercontinental log, and several stamps indicating secrecy. “I hesitate to say this, but…” The human swallowed. “We do still have a few cabins with space available for an additional occupant. They’re set aside for our passengers of special status, like yourself. Thus, they are not offered to the general public, even for emergency use. However…” The human trailed off, clearing his throat.

“However,” Argos said, his shoulders sagging. His tail drooped. “I can make the call myself.”

“That’s correct, Sir.” The human glanced from the coyote down to his document, then back again. “At this time, I cannot see any other way to room him anywhere but steerage, short of physically evicting another passenger.”

Argos put his elbows on the counter, then dropped his head into his hands. He groaned, ears going flat. “Oh, goddamn it. This is a nightmare.”

The human opened the folder, sliding the document back into it. “Forget I brought it up, Sir. Perhaps he could hire a team of bodyguards to keep him and his belongings safe, down in steerage.”

Argos turned his head, watching Rivi for a moment. The cat paced back and forth, talking to himself. Other, nearby passengers stared at him. Some of them muttered about him to each other. When Rivi turned back towards him, he noticed Argos watching him. The cheetah’s face brightened immediately; his expression lit up by a bright smile. His ears perked. He gave Argos an exaggerated wave, the gesture comically exuberant. It was if the Cheetah was overwhelmingly excited just to have someone genuinely trying to help him. It almost seemed like Rivi thought they were friends, already.

Maybe in the cheetah’s mind, they were. He wondered, if only for a moment, how many people had taken advantage of the cheetah’s kindness already. How many people had used him for their own ends? How many people down in steerage would try to hurt him, or rob him, or twist him around their fingers and wring everything they could out of him?

How many real friends had Rivi ever had?

Argos sighed, straightening up. “Alright, fuck it. I know I’m gonna regret this, but…” He waved at the black and silver manifest folder. “Go ahead and do it.”

The human retrieved the document again, smiling. “For legal purposes, I need you to be specific.”

Argos folded his arms, grimacing. “Just put the damn cheetah in my room.”