Shadow of a Doubt

Warnings:: Language, mild violence. Nothing big.

It was nearly sunset by the time that the mithra reached the towering gates of the small town known as Selbina. The bird that she rode was tired from the run, but she didn't care. Her emotions and body were too shot. She dismounted from the bird, leading it by the reigns through the bustling streets. Despite Selbina being fairly small, it was the only town near the Valkurm Dunes, one of the harshest places in all Vana Diel and so it was quite crowded with travelers and warriors seeking more power and treasure from the sands. Most of them were young and still very weak. This was, in a sense, a sort of rite of passage for all of the inhabitants of the world. If you could survive the Dunes, you could survive anywhere. At least...for a while. With a sigh, the woman fished out a small round object from one of the pouches at her side, it's deep blue coloring glowing faintly in the fading light. She raised the pearl until it was at eye level.

"Oi, Humes! Are you still alive?" She asked roughly. It took a few moments before the pearl pulsed a few times.

"Holy shit! Lady Daaha, is that you?!" Came the yelled response earning a wince from the mithra and several odd looks from the people nearby.

"No, it's yourrr fuckin motherrr! Wherrre arrre you idiots?" She hissed in annoyance. " I want my chocobo back and I have one of yours."

"We are camped on the far side of town near the cliffs with the other parties. I'll send James to flag you down." Another voice responded, this time a female's. " How in Behemoth's name did you survive?" Apparently she was just as shocked as Daaha.

"I'll explain later. " The cat responded simply and pocketed the pearl. She began leading the large bird through the winding streets and around vendors. Her pace was slow and measured, allowing her to compose herself before encountering the party again. It was a short walk to the far end of town past the docks and main vendors to a large encampment that had been set up for the travelers. Music played festively and cooking fires dotted the sandy ground as the mouthwatering scents of roasting meat and stew filled her senses. There really was nothing like a traveler's encampment. She spotted one of the humes that she had fought alongside jumping up and down near a fairly decent sized tent and she shook her head at the sight. Humes were idiots.

"One of you dropped this..." She stated to the estatic young man as she handed him the reigns of the chocobo and strode past him to Gryvvor. The black bird had been tied neatly to one of the rails, and apparently he hadn't been pleased by it. Large chunks of wood were missing and talon markings littered the ground around him. He perked up the moment he spotted her and let out a resounding WARK! Daaha smiled affectionately at the large bird and stroked his beak gently, cooing to him as though he were her child. "Were you a good boy Gryvy?" She asked and his large golden eyes lit up in response.

"That beast is terror on two legs when 'E's upset, I tell ya, lass." An elder looking hume stated while moving over to stand beside her. "Took me a bloody long time ta calm 'im with a bit o' music." Daaha examined him curiously and a smile lit her features.

"Ah, a beast tamerrr arrre you?" She purred, her ears rotating forward.

"Clever girl!" He chuckled warmly and without hesitating, he scratched one of her tawny ears, causing her to tilt her head towards him out of instinct. Beast tamers were one of the few people around that could touch a mithra's ears and survive with their hands still attached to their wrists and not their arse. "Come see me later on, before ye set off 'gain. I have a few questions fer a lass such as yerself." Without awaiting a response, the well weathered old man strolled off, using an old wooden walking stick for support.

"Come one, Mithra! Tell us of what happened!" The younger hume exclaimed, grasping her hand and all but dragginf her inside of the tent. She snarled dangerously at him and he released her quickly with a nervous chuckle. The white mage woman sat neatly before a low table, her blue eyes watching the cat intently and with a bit of disbelief. On a chair nearby sat another of the hume males, picking his teeth absently with a tookpick.

"I am in awe. You are indeed a marvel, Lady Daaha. I am surprised that you are alive after facing the Machulette and even moreso that you have not a scratch on you. How did you manage this feat?" The blonde woman asked and the young hume at her side was practically wriggling from excitement. Daaha folded her arms over her chest casually and tilted her head to the side.

"How long have you five been adventurrring?" She asked curiously, her tail flicking from side to side slowly.

"Near ten years I should say!" The one in the chair replied easily, earning a knowing glare from the unimpressed cat. "Alright alright, only about four months."

"I thought so. You arrre all weak. If I hadn't told you to rrrun, you would have been slaughterrred. Speaking of which, what of the other boy?" She asked, eyes narrowing slightly.

"Eh,he is alright. Although, the mage said that he was very lucky to have survived. Said we all were." The one still near the doorway answered quickly. Daaha nodded slightly and returned her attention to the female.

"You arrre all terrribly inexperrrianced and so it is no surrrprrrise that you do not underrrstand how I escaped with my life. Notorrrious Monsterrrs are highly sought after crrreatures and the firrrst one that we defeated was Drrromas, the black mage shadow. He is usually miles away frrrom his big brrrother, Marchulette, however, it appearrrs that they have a comminication method that allows them to aid one anotherrr. The second NM must have come to assist the firrrst." Daaha began. " He is strrrongerrr then Drrromas and also morrre intellegent. Norrrmally, he would have killed me without too much trrrouble. But, I am no norrrmal Mithrrra. The gods favorrred me this day."

"So...did you kill him?" The hume near the door asked impatiantly. She gave him a dark look.

"No I did not." The Mithra responded simply.

"Why in the hell not!?" The other male exclaimed. Daaha chuckled lightly and shook her head at their foolishness.

"Therrre was no need forrr me to kill him, fool. We had completed the objective and you had all escaped with yourrr lives. I neverrr kill without rrreason." She stated. "That is why I dislike you humes. You mindlessly kill anything that moves simply because you can. It is wastefull and honorless. And you call we mithrrra and galka beasts? I would rrrather be a beast then one of you." Without another word she slipped outside, dropping the blue pearl near the tent's entrance and moving to her mount. Night was in full swing now and the cool air felt wonderful after the scorching heat of the day. She led her mount around the many tents, her nose working to pinpoint the beast tamer's scent. Finally she came to a halt before a tent farthest from the others.

"Come on in, lass! I've bin expectin ya!" The mithra left her mount lying calmly outside and she slipped into the tent curiously. "'Ere then, 'ave a seat! I know that ya haven't ate nothin yet so I 'ave somethin special fer ya if you can give me some infermation." Daaha's stomach chose that moment to rumble angrily and a faint blush colored her cheeks. The grizzly old man laughed heartily and passed her a cup of ale.

"Tell me, lass. What do ye know of a beast god known as Fenrir?" The man asked curiously. Her eyes narrowed slightly as she peered at him over the rim of her mug.

"Fenrrrir? Why would you wish to know of the earrrth wolf?" She asked suspiciously. Her tail slapped against the floor with a soft thump every once in a while as she watched him carefully.

" Ah, so ye do know of 'im, then?" He asked with a knowing gleam in his dark eyes.

"Of course...I've seen him." She answered cautiously. At this, the old man became excited and he rose to his feet, letting out a cry of glee and startling the poor girl.

"Ah, me apollogies, lass. I just get so worked up when anyone 'as heard or see 'im! I am a bit o' a collector you might say an canines an felines 'appen to be what I collect." When she gave him a dirty look, he laughed again. " I am terrible at 'splainin it! I tame canine and feline beasts. They be me specialty! Fenrir is my big goal though! All's I want is to stand befer the big brute and look 'im in the eye."

"I see. Fenrrrir will not just allow such a thing. Not even the summoners can actually get close to the god." Daaha said in response.

"Aye, aye, but tha be the reason fer me tryin it! T'ain't bin done befer! So, I's bin trackin 'im through the world!" The beast tamer exclaimed, bringing a smirk to her lips.

"Well, I have seen him thrrree times. Once, in these god awful caves filled with drrragons. He was standing atop this cliff looking about the place and I had been so caught up in looking at him that one of the lizarrrds snuck up on me. Some grrreat gecko named Jorrrmung-something orrr otherrr. Anyway, beforrre the thing could attack me, Fenrrrir one shotted the thing and vanished." She began and the man seemed to grow even more enthusiastic. "The second time that I saw him was herrre actually, just outside of Selbina. He had been summoned by an elf who wanted to show him off to a grrroup of younglings. Apparrrently, he hadn't liked that too well for he rrran about the arrrea drrrawing in as many mobs as possible back to herrr beforrre vanishing and letting them wail on herrr." Both of them laughed as she said this, sipping ale contently.

" And then this last time..."Daaha became serious, her white eyes taking on a haunted look. "I was out in the forrrests that lay between herrre and Jueno when I saw him. He didn't do anything rrreally, but just stood therrre, still as stone. It had given me a terrrible feeling, one that had everrry hairrr on me standing on end. I am not one to be afrrraid of things. But, when I saw him that time..." She drew in a shuddering breath and hugged her shoulders tightly, her ears laying flat against her skull.

"It had been like death had come up to me and starrred me strrraight in the face. The only thing that I could do was hold still and not brrreathe. I knew that if I moved that I would be dead. And then he looked overrr at me and my hearrrt stopped forrr a second. And then he was gone." She breathed. " I know that something had happened in that forrrest. Something bad. I would have died if I hadn't seen him."

It was several long moments before either of them moved or spoke, only the steady flickering of light from a nearby lantern showing that there was indeed life in the tent.

"It is said that he is a bad omen...You be a very lucky lass indeed, miss kitty." He chuckled and she flinched slightly at the name he had called her. She gave him a forced smile and rose from her seat.

"Forrrgive me, Beast Tamerrr, but I must take my leave. I have some unfinished business to attend to yet. I wish you luck in yourrr quest." She then turned to leave.

"Oh, wait lass! Take this with ya!" He called, tossing her a small bag. She caught it curiously and sniffed at it hesitantly. Her eyes went wide and she fixed him with a brilliant smile.

"You have my thanks!" She giggled happily, hugging the bag to herself. He waved her off as she and Gryvvor strode off into the darkness. He had a feeling that he would meet her again soon.

A dark growl escaped Daaha's lips as she fastened supplies to her mount's saddle before mounting the bird. She would get to the bottom of this elf business. Tonight. A gate guard nearby strode closer to her and bowed at the waist.

"Take care out there tonight, my lady. The darkness has an odd feeling about it...even the monsters are acting far more unpredictable." The elf stated cautiously, his eyes peering out into the inky darkness as if watching the ghouls and goblins.

"Thankyou forrr yourrr warrrning, sirrr, but we shall be just fine." She replied casually before spurring Gryvvor into a steady trot. The bird knew where she wanted to go and he moved without making any unnecisary noises. The bird knew that the undead roamed the dunes at night. The beautiful sky overhead cast the sand into a silvery glow that shifted with the wind and the mithra's white eyes reflected the obnoxious number of stars as she glanced up at it. She adored this sky. Her long mane of almost black hair had freed itself sometime during her run back to Selbina and it now flowed behind her with each large stride of her chocobo. An hour or so passed as the final bend came into view before the small cave that would lead her to Secret Beach. Not many knew of it's hidden entrace and those who could actually make it were even fewer in number. Her mount charged through the cave, scattering several bats from its path. They emerged in a wide stretch of beach that contained most of the dunes' only plant life that encased a cove of impossibly blue water teeming with fish. The mithra dismounted from her chocobo, stroking his feathers gently. The bird remained where he was and watched as she stalked across the sand on all fours, looking evey bit the dangerous preditor. She inhaled the night air, detecting the unmistakable scent of the chilling darkness that constantly surrounded Marchelute. And then she spotted him. He stood motionless facing the ocean, the wind toying with his shoulder length hair. Marchelute turned to face her at the sound of her snarl, mild surprise showing faintly in his eyes. The woman before him looked wild and violent, her glinting nocturnal glare locked on him and causing goose bumps to run up his arms.

Before he could react, she struck. The mithra lauched herself at him and hit him hard in the chest, taking them both to the ground. When he came in contact with the sand, the shadowed elf's cloak of darkness shattered. Daaha strattled the elf's waist, a dagger held tightly against his throat as she leaned in closer.

"You will tell me what is going on, Elf!" She hissed dangerously and a light smile graced the man's lips. Without hesitation, he moved her blade from his neck and cupped her cheek with his free hand.

" I knew you would seek me out again, Kitty." He murmured almost lovingly and she fought off the strong urge to melt into his touch that overcame her. "Remeber me at all?"

The elf gently rubbed one of her large ears, running a nail over the edge of it purposefully and causing a soft gasp to escape her. She could not prevent herself from leaning into him, her eyes closing and a soft, barely noticable purr formed in her throat.

"Mars..." She whimpered quietly and his smile grew, his crimson eyes lighting up. "Mars...my Mars!" The mithra hugged the elf tightly, burying her face in his chest. It had been so obvious. Why hadn't she remembered him? He had been her guardian when she was but a child; when her mother and protectors had perished at his hands after attacking the elf. He had not been heartless enough to kill the child and had kept her as his own. But, she had been taken away from him by a group of nohmads who inhabited the dunes and surrounding regions.

"Where were you!? Why did you let them take me!?" She yelled suddenly, pounding her fists on the man's hard chest angrily. He grabbed her wrists to stop her after a moment, only to have her break down, large tears streaming down her face. Marchelute sighed softly and pulled her into his strong embrace. He stroked her hair soothingly, shushing the sobbing girl.

"Forgive me, Kitty. They were far stronger then I and while I was distracted, they stole you away from me. I am so glad that you are still alive and well." He murmured. He allowed the girl to cry into him until he felt her still and her breathing slow. The elf slowly sat up, knowing that she was asleep, and carried her toward a hidden cave that lay within a small grove of trees. He whistled for her chocobo sharply, the large black bird trotting over without hesitation. Gryvvor laid down neatly within the protection of the folliage and watched silently as the elf stepped through a wall of stone. The wall was an illusion that protected his home from foolish adventurers. His home was surprisingly comfortable, lit by glowing spheres of magic and filled with simple furniture including: A bed, a table and three chairs, bookshelves, and a few chests. The floor was covered with dhamel skins to keep out the dirt. After shifting the weight of the sleeping girl, the elf closed the heavy wooden door behind himself and locked it. He did not want visitors. Mars moved to lay the girl in the large bed, but when he sat her down, she instinctively dug her claws into his forearm to hold him in place, as if afraid that he would leave. He sighed heavily and stroked her hair lightly.

"I won't leave you, Kitty. Just let me take off my armor..." He murmured. She must have been comforted from the sound of his voice, for her grip loosened and she let out a soft moan. A small smile curved his lips and he set about unbuckling his armor, setting it neatly on one of the chests that lined the walls. Next, he removed his thick boots and placed his weapons within reach of the bed, keeping a single dagger strapped to his calf. He slipped off the red tunic and simple white shirt that covered his torso before returning to the bed. Already, Daaha had begun reaching for him in her sleep, trying to find him. Mars pulled back the thick, sheep skin blankets and eased down onto the bed with her. Almost instantly the mithra coiled around him as she had when she was a child, her long tail wrapping around his waist. He wasn't surprised to feel the faint prick of fangs against his neck as she wiggled closer so that she was flush against him and nestled neatly in his arm. She had developed that habit a long time ago. Every night the child would curl up on his chest and clamp her mouth down on his neck or forearm. It was her way of keeping him in place. He could not leave her now without waking her. However, he was acutely aware of the fact that she was not the child from before. He let out a soft groan over the low purr that filled his ears as her breasts pressed tightly against him, causing an interesting heat to move through him. It was not right on so many levels. This was practically his daughter! And yet, the slight suction of her mouth on his neck pulled a hiss from him and his gaze became hazy. This was going to be a long and torturous night.


A/N:: Possible Lemon for next chapter.