The First Day of Spring (Feel free to join in!)

"I-Ice!" Vate stammered, catching her before she could hit the freezing round.
The Commander looked back, eyes widening.

Vate scooped the unconsioucs girl in his arms and motioned to the infirmary with his head.
The Commander nodded his approval, he sent Celestial scampering after them.

"What's wrong with her?" Celestial asked.

"Did she ever tell you what had happened when she came here?" Vate asked as they entered the infirmary.

"Do you mean when she passed out when she had just got here?" Celestial asked and Vate nodded. He laid her on a bed.

"It looks like it has happened again," Vate said. "Last time she awoke pretty quickly, but it may not happen so quickly this time."

*************************************

It was a few hours later when Ice finally woke up. She felt chilled and feverish. As she woke up more and more, she found out her back was itching. Then she remembered what had happened and groaned. "Why does this always happen to me?" she asked herself.

Celestial came into view as she opened her eyes. "Oh, she's up!" the older girl exclaimed.

Vate nodded quickly and grabbed more of the slave.
"Need this?" he said with soft smile.

Ice nodded thankfully and took the gel.
"How long was I out?"

"At least four hours, possibly more." Celestial replied quietly.

"Oh, that's lovely," Ice said. She put the gel on her ever growing wings. They had started to change color now, but they were still a very awkward shape. Long blood veins shown threw the wings and they had a bit of dried blood on them.

"Those look painful," observed Celestial.

"They are," Ice replied. "But I can't wait until they grow back, even if it is a long process." She looked at Vate, "Thanks." She said, returning his smile. "I guess you caught me when I blacked out?"

He nodded, "How did you know?"

"No bruises," she laughed. The door opened to the infirmary and The Circus Master and The Commander walked in.

The Commander nodded once to Vate and Celestial before turning to Ice.
"It issss good to sssee you awake, Misss Ice."

"Thank you." She replied, already focused on The Circus Master's distracted expression.
"Is everything alright?"

The Circus Master shrugged, green eyes darkening.
"We will see in time, our little guest has caused quite a commotion. . "

"I'm sorry about that," Ice said. "What has he done?"

"For one, he tried to get away from the guards who were escorting him to his cell," The Circus Master replied.

"Really?" Ice asked.

"Da," she nodded. "Shadowstep gave him a nasty bruise for it."

"Serves him right," Ice muttered. "He cut off my wings."

"Tell usss everything you remember about him," The Commander said.

Ice looked at Vate who nodded and said, "At least if you faint again, you won't fall this time."

Ice laughed and went on to tell The Commander and The Circus Master all she could remember. "We were falling through a portal together and my wings caught on fire for some reason. We landed in a wood between the worlds and he put them out and put his arms around me. Then... I felt the sharp sting of a blade rip through my wings and I pushed him away. The momentum cause both myself and him to fall into separate portals. Next thing I knew, I woke up here, but you know the rest of that story."

The Commander looked off for a moment then nodded.
"I sssee. The Circuss Massster and I sshall discussss hiss fate, Ice."

The Circus Master nodded her agreement. "Rest assurd you will be safe," she added. Her green eyes narrowed, darkening.
"Not outsider comes and disrupts MY family. . ."

"Okay," Ice agreed, her eyes moistening.
She wasn't going to cry, not in front of everyone.
"I want to talk to him," she said her voice shaky, "I want to know why he cut off my wings."

"Are you sure?" The Circus Master clarified.

Ice nodded. "Positive."

The Commander motioned for her to follow. "Come with me, then."
Vate stepped forward. "Wait! May. . Come also?"

"Yes," Ice nodded, speaking gently. "I'd be happy to have you come." The three started out the door of the infirmary and down to where the prisoners were kept. The Commander led the way to Joss's cell.

"Alice, oh, have you come to let me out?" Joss asked, seeing Ice stand before the cell with Vate and The Commander.

"Depends," Ice answered. "When you cut off my wings and I fell onto this world, I got amnesia. I want to know why. Why you cut off my wings, why we were traveling through the portal and my wings started burning, where we were going."

"Ice, are you sure you want to know all that?" Vate asked. "It could trigger a reaction so big, you may end up in a coma instead of just fainting again."

"I'm sure," Ice looked him straight in the eyes. "No matter what happens, I want to know." She turned back to Joss, "Well?"

Joss sighed and sat against the wall on the floor of the cell. "Alice, a few things you have already figured out. For one, you had wings and I did cut them off. But only because we were supposed to be coming to this world and people would look at you strangely. We are from a world called Desrin, a country called Silesia and a city called Flores. And as for why we were coming here... you're father is the reason. He was the King of Silesia. Alice, we were engaged... we are engaged." Joss was up against the bars now, standing this his face pressed in between them.

Ice's face was emotionless as she went to stand up next to the bars. "Alice, I love you," he continued. "If you get them to let me go, I'll, I'll..." Ice had grabbed his shirt through the bar and had her face close up to his. To anyone, it would have looked like she was about to kiss him.

"Do you really mean that? We were engaged and that you love me?" Ice asked, keeping her whole outer being emotionless.

"Yes," he said, closing his eyes and waiting for her to kiss him.

Instead, Ice punched him as hard as she could through the bars and sent him flying back into the cement wall. He hit is with a sickening thud.

"YOU LIAR!" she yelled. He looked at her, scared. She turned to The Commander and Vate. "Do what you will with him," she said, a sob caught in her throat. Tears started to run down her face as she turned towards the door of the jail.

Vate's eyes widened and he caught Ice gently by her arm.
"Ice. . . Please. . ."
He started to lead her away against Joss' protest.
"I need you to calm down. ." The Neko boy continued slowly.

The Commander stood, staring down at the captive. After a long moment, he just sat.
Sat in front of Joss' cell, his unnerving silver eyes boring into the prisoner.

"Alice, Alice, please!" Joss cried. Ice turned around and looked at him.

"I would never be engaged a man such as you, let alone be married," Ice said slowly, each word dripping poison as her tears coursed down her cheeks. She turned back around and allowed herself to be led out by Vate.

Outside, she tried to regain her composure but failed. Her sobs worsened and she couldn't stop crying.

Vate's cat ears drooped nearly flat.
"Oh Ice. . ." he mumbeled, trying to think of a way to calm her.
He, slightly awkwardly, lay his arm on her shoulders.
"It will be alright, Ice-Chan. . . The Circus Master won't let him harm you again. . I won't let him harm you again. . ."

~{*}~
Back in the prison block, The Commander remained watching the prisoner.
"I am unaware who you are, or what your intent isss. . ." the blond leader began. "But I do not appriciate you barging in and caussseing emotional harm to Milday Massster'sss newessst recruit. . ."

Ice turned in toward him and basically cried on his shoulder. It was quite a few minutes before she stopped, but in the end, she did stop. "Thank you, Vate," she said, drawing a handkerchief she had made and embroidered herself from her pocket. "I think... No, I know I am done with it now. Shall we go elsewhere?"

***********************

"Newest recruit!?" Joss asked, shocked. "She... you recruited her? My fiance?"

"Assss ssshe sssaid," The Commander said coldly, "sshe iss not your fiance."

"Yes she is!" Joss yelled. "And she will end up destroying all of you to get back to me!"

Vate nodded, his features taking on a gentle smile.
"Of course, why don't we go down to the practice tent? I believe the tight-rope walkers, fire-breathers, and teleporters are rehersing!"

~{*}~

The Commander laughed, a bit bitterly.
"Many a being have attempted to dessstroy usss, Boy." he spat. "But I hardly doubt Missss Ice shall be one of them!"

((I am literally trembling with excitement.. and cold.))

"Let's go," Ice answered with a smile of her own. The two made their way to the practice tent. Sure enough the other circus acts were practicing.
"Do you do any acts Vate?" Ice asked, curious.

************************************

"She will! She will destroy you!" Joss was now manic. "That's what we came here to do. Destroy the freaks of this world and you all will be the first to go."

(( xDD As am I~! ShadowStep is sitting next to meeeee~. Being all Shadow like~!!! ))

Ice nodded, smiling slightly. "Celestial and Stratos have decided to take me into their acrobatics."
Vate's ears perked up and his eyes widened, clearly impressed.
"Whoa, you are that good already? I'm almost Jealous!"

~{*}~
Suddenly, Joss was cut off.
He could barely breathe, it felt like something was constricting around his neck.
A snake.

All he had done was meet The Commader's gaze and this?
He tried to cry out but before he could, The Commander morphed before his very eyes.
Turning into a long, silver serpent and swiftly making his way into the cell. Once infront of Joss he morphed back, eyes narrowed.

"Let me tell you sssomthing, child. You sshall not come to my realm and threaten my Circussss. Let me make one other thing clear, boy. When you threaten the Circusss, you threaten Milady Massster." His silver eyes were blazing now, his voice lethal.

"And That isss sssomthing I will never forgive. . ."

((Lol! Umm... I'm all confuzzled now. Ice had asked the question to Vate about if he was in an act. But since you posted for Ice, I'll have Ice ask Vate again. XD))

"How about you?" Ice asked Vate. "Are you in any acts?"

*******************************************

"I- I..." he trailed off, still unable to breath. The Commander waited until the man had his voice back.
The Joss continued, "You don't know what you're dealing with. So maybe I lied in saying she was my fiance, but you really don't know what you are dealing with!"
He took a deep breath, "It's the real reason she left her world. It's her power and skill."

(( X3 Sorry, I read your turn wrong!!! The Master needs sleep. . . >_< ))

Vate laughed. "Not really. I play feild medic and I assist some of the Magicians, but that is all, really."
He smiled warmly. "I don't mind at all though."

~{*}~

The Commander didn't move, his forked tounge flicked out of his mouth.
"Perhapsss you are telling the truth, even ssso, I trussst Ice."
He turned on his heels, morphing once again and slithering out of the cell.

"But I would watch your tounge, boy. . . "

((Sleep? What is this sleep you speak of? We're both at sleepovers!))

"Oh, okay. Tell me, where does the circus usually travel to? Just around Russia or other places as well?" She paused then added, "If it just around Russia, I need someone to teach me Russian!"

*******************************

Joss fell to his knees and hands. "You... don't know what she's like," he coughed.
Then he fell to the ground exhausted.

"We usually just stay within Russia, but, we have traveled to Berlin, Germany, Osaka-Shi, Japan, and Somewhere in Isreal!"
The cat boy replied. "I am sure we will travel again."

~{*}~

"Maybe ssso," The Commander breathed as he walked away. "But I am beginning to underssstand you. . ."
As he left the prison block he stopped.
A few feet away The Circus Master stood speaking with some of the youngest Circus Children, all no older than nine.
His gaze softened and he went to join her.

"Is that where you're from?" Ice asked.
Vate looked surprised by this question, so Ice rephrased it.
"I mean, how did you join the Circus?" she asked gently and quickly added, "You don't have to tell me if you don't want to. I just seem to be more curious than a cat since I landed on this world."

"Oh, don't worry!" he rushed. "Many here do not like to talk about their past, but I don't mind."
He paused for a moment, considering how to tell her.
"I was born in Kyoto, Japan." he said with a bit of pride.
"But I was born in the year of the cat, my parents believe the spirit of the cat cursed me and took my form. They were never cruel to me, but I always knew they were ashamed."
He looked up into the sky, eyes slightly closed.
"So one day, when I was walking home from school I ran into the Circus Master. Literally, ran into her at full force. She was running from the authorities for 'disrupting the peace'. I just trusted her immediatly and got her to safety. The Commander was not far behind."
He paused to take a breath, running a hand through his hair.
"They both had sustained various wounds and I did what I knew. Treated them. . . I never went back to my family after that, even though they tried to convince me too. ."

((Oh my goodness! Nova's/Dawn's lights have been going crazy! They keep flickering... and she says her lamp NEVER flickers.))

"Oh," Ice said. "That's how you joined the circus. I'm sorry about your parents, but I think it is amazing that you were born like you are. I mean, cat ears and a tail! How many other people have those?"

"Not many," Vate replied.

"Exactly!" Ice smiled. "And... well, you're healing abilities are amazing. I might be suffering from more fainting spells and my back would still be itching if it wasn't for you." She bit her lip and asked, "I have a very odd question, but it has been bugging me since I met you. May I touch your ears?"

Vate gave her a slightly surprised look, then laughed.

"That is an odd question, but of course!" he leaned down for her to pet him.