AN: This one is killing me because this is my first section writing Misha. Oh God...
Patrol VI Nemo had for the last few days explored the city, looking for potential sources of income for when he transformed. Today though he had stayed at our home with a feeling of...something off. Just something off the entire time. "Am I changing?" He held up his hands. "I...I think I am but...maybe not. I won't change right away..." I walked in and found Nemo still examining his hands. "Yes they're dirty and need to be washed." I said. "The problem is we can't get clean here and this city smells like animal shit." "I can manage to stay clean." Nemo said. "You're dirty because you haven't changed your dress in a week." I rolled my eyes. "You have a hatchet?" "I ran into...someone I met before." I said. "She, or is it he, let me borrow it. She said we could always use a hatchet." I shuddered at the thought of needing it. "Uh, I gotta return it after we get back..." I sighed. "Am I betraying Isenport?" Nemo raised an eye-brow. "Okay of all the things I expected you to ask, that was not on the list. No I don't think you are." "Am I becoming a part of Metamor Keep by going on patrol?" I asked. "I don't want to. I don't want to give in to living here. I really don't want to accept it." Nemo rolled his eyes. "James, we're living here now. You don't have to like it, but they've agreed to shelter us. You can afford to repay them for their kindness. They're not asking for much James." I sighed. "Yeah I guess. I don't want to do this though." I retreated into my room before Nemo could say anything. "I don't want to repay them..." I closed my eyes and sank to the floor against my door. "I don't want to die here. I don't want to die." With my eyes closed I could still see perfectly. Only now I could see my death in the forest. My burial here, I'd die forgotten in a city of monsters. "Maybe if I keep my eyes closed time won't move on." I knew that wasn't going to happen, but I kept hoping anyway. I waited with dread for night. That gnawing sensation that makes each minute turn into a stone in your stomach. When night finally came Nemo had to drag me from the confinement of my room. He carried his glaive Qual, I carried Aaryn's hatchet. The sun hung low and the air felt cool. "You could have left me behind." I grimaced. "Everyone in Metamor Keep must do some kind of mandatory service. Besides you've been on that bed for so long you're in danger of merging with it." I rolled my eyes at this. When you're in the Long Scouts, you get the Long Hall to stay in. You get a band of people to support you. You take respect and praise away from the harder working and deeply under appreciated Watch (at least according to someone close to me). When you go on a mandatory patrol, you get a day notice and a location to meet a group of total strangers you'll be stuck with for the next day. In my case I was told to meet my party by a gate (damned if I can remember which one) and to bring food and a weapon. At least I think that's what I was told. This is not the part of the story I remember. No what I remember was coming up. As we arrived at our destination I was greeted by four figures of varying species standing together. Nemo informed me that six of us would be on this stupid Patrol, four people who had never been before and two Long Scouts. This was before I knew who the Long Scout were. Now of the four people there, one was a meerkat looking completely uncomfortable holding a bow. One was a brown and black canine...thing, female and with breasts desperately trying to escape her top. One was an older human male who didn't talk at all. Then came the fourth one. This was the one leading our patrol and the only one with any experience. He was a fox. I've hunted enough of them to recognize one from a mile away. He wore black; he carried an impractical looking axe. Or was he carrying a bow? Meh, I'll say both. Misha always seems like a walking armory to me. I still remember what he looked like when he saw me. His face was scared and his eyes cold as stone. They focused on the two of us as we approached. I should mention before I continue, my friend, that Misha Brightleaf was well known in the Keep, or at least it seemed that way. He was well respected. People liked him. To all those people I warn you to stop reading now. Oh Misha Brightleaf. Oh how you annoy me. In Isenport there is a red wax stamp merchants use called the Mister Nasty stamp. They put it on jars to let illiterate customers know this jar holds deadly poison that should be stayed away from. Misha if I had my way, you'd wear one on your forehead. For now all Misha did was cock his head at my guise. He scratched his muzzle in confusion. "Uh you are here for the patrol right?" Why else would we be here twit. Misha's eyes weren't on Nemo, just on me. You'd think he'd never seen a man in a dress before. "We don't have to be." I said. "We could turn around and leave right now." "Yes we are." Nemo said over my protests. "I am Nemo and this is my charge, James of Isenport." He said it automatically in his usual professional way. He'd said those words a thousand times but he left a few words out. I'm just James of Isenport. My stomach dropped. Not future Lord of Isenport. Already this and the stupid patrol put me in a bad mood. "Okay..." Misha said. "I was told to expect two men." "I am a man!" I snarled at them, "I ain't lost my dick yet!" Nemo actually facepalmed at this. Misha looked bemused. "What!?" "Well we're going to be going into the woods north of the Keep and you're wearing what looks like a big dress. That's going to rip, I'd go put on pants." "It's not a damn dress! It's a sarong!" I shouted at him. "I am not changing a thing!" "Hey!" Misha snapped back. "Don't you yell at me. You want to wear a dress in the woods? Fine, you'll pay for it." I rolled my eyes. Misha I noticed visibly clenched "We're leaving now. I gave you a chance." I took a chance to examine my two anthro-companions for this forced death march. The one closest to me was a meerkat. He had tan colored fur badly tangled with twigs and dirt streaked throughout. His eyes were orange and playful. His cloak was a tattered forest green, also streaked with dirt. It only went down to his knees, his legs extended past the hem of his pants by a few inches. The meerkat had a crossbow in his hands that he rubbed occasionally. Peaking out from over his shoulder was a quiver half empty. I hoped I wouldn't see him have to use the bow tonight. He seemed ready for anything. His name was Bos. The female canine only came up to his chest. Her fur was smooth, freshly combed and a red-honey color. Her eyes were dark blue and her lips held in a small smile. Her hands were clasped behind her back and her shoulders were stiff. She wore dark leather armor with a short sword tied to her waste. Her name was Shema. Bos and Shema, like Aaryn, would be in my life for years to come. They would be two of my most stalwart companions. More importantly they would be two of my best friends. And thus they met me saying the only appropriate thing at the time. "Are you a dog or some shit?" I asked the female. She laughed. "I had to do some research but I am a dhole." She extended a clawed hand. "My name is Shema." I raised my hand but dropped it before they could see my new claws. "uh, this is my first patrol. I believe everyone except our vulpine leader is here for the first time." "I guess." I said. "I don't want to be here." "Ah yoo'll geh ussed to eeeh-t!" The meerkat said, slapping me on the back and almost causing me to fall over. I don't know what surprised me more, the slap or that accent. I did a double take. "Excuse me?" "Ih'll be fun tonight." The meerkat smiled. "Ah'm Bos. Yoo?" What accent is that? This was a man no matter where he was on Earth, he'd always be foreign. "My names is James, future Lord of Isenport." I said. "You may address me as James or better yet, not at all." Both of my companions frowned. It's the belief of nobles that people are happy to put up with their crap just for the chance to bask in their presence. This idea is wrong. "You two are armed as well, are we going to be in danger?" "I was attacked the day I got here." Shema said. "I think that's reason enough to be armed." "Besise scale-tail" Bos said with a grin, "Ihs fun shoo-in arrows!" He made a mock archery stance to emphasize the point. The sound of clapping interrupted us. "Hey, we're leaving." Misha said.
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