Chapter 0 - Fight or Flight

The Westend sun was subdued behind a huge mass of white clouds, but no rain fell on the realm. All across the realm, in farms and fishing boats alike, people were working, preferring the lack of brightness to the sun shining in their eyes from every reflective surface. Walking along a well-worn path was a cow warrior and a black feline. 

The cow, Tina Olliedottir, was predominantly white with a few brown spots along her muscular figure. No hair sat on her head, and two light brown eyes scanned the road they walked along. Her steel armour was simple, but it was polished to a sheen and well cared for. A simple sword sat in it's sheath, hanging from her waist.

The cat, known only as Jamie, was short and slim. Covered in black fur that matched a black tunic with dark grey pants and shoes, only his yellow eyes and the white tip of his long tail provided any colour to his image. He gripped his left arm with his right hand, looking around nervously.

The two were inseperable. Since Jamie had run away from his childhood slavers and met her, Miss Tina had kept him safe. Protected him. Fed him. All the things he wasn't able to do himself. In return, he'd dedicated himself to following her example. Learning from her. Studying how to buy things in a shop, how to speak to people, how to do all the things he'd missed out while growing up in a slaver camp.

The two began to come up on a mage walking the other direction. Jamie moved in front of Miss Tina like she'd taught him to and kept walking, not looking at the mage. For all Jamie knew, he was a slaver. Miss Tina placed a hand on his shoulder and he mewled gently in thanks.

"Hey there, pretty. You mind if I grab a handful of those milkers?" the mage leered as they passed him.

Miss Tina ignored the man, letting only an annoyed sigh in answer. She then muttered something under her breath that Jamie didn't quite catch. He was used to that, though.

A huge black tentacle, as thick as Jamie's torso, suddenly swung at them from above. The cat ducked out of the way and moved to the side as Miss Tina drew her sword. Another one swung at Jamie, but he dodged it and dove into a bush.

The mage, his brow furrowed, pointed a finger and more tentacles spawned from various portals, getting ready to attack "I asked you a question." he told her, sounding almost offended.

"You want an answer? How about "Fuck you"?" Miss Tina spat back. Jamie stifled a chuckle.

"Wonderful idea!" The mage answered. 

He pointed, and a dozen or so tentacles dove at Miss Tina. The cow warrior swung her sword and cut one of the tentacles off, leaving it writhing pathetically on the floor. Another swing and another tendril was severed.

But Miss Tina quickly became overwhelmed by the mass of black tentacles. She couldn't fight them all off, and they smacked away her sword before ensnaring her arms and legs, immobilizing her. The now-smirking mage lifted up his hand and Miss Tina was lifted into the air.

"You-you bastard!"

A tendril forced itself into Miss Tina's mouth, silencing her. Meanwhile, the tentacles wrapped around her legs forced them apart. She struggled and squirmed in an attempt to get free, but even her immense strength couldn't break the bonds. The tendrils went to work, callously pulling off her armour.

Jamie was terrified, but this mage-this man-was going to violate Miss Tina. He felt something bubbling up inside him, forcing his fear to the side. He suddenly noticed that his teeth were bared, and his claws were out. 

For the first time, he felt anger, strong enough to boil the blood in his veins. This was no time to run. This was no time for fear. This was a time to act. 

He stepped out from the bush and shouted "St-st-stay away from Miss Tina!"

The mage turned around to face him, a tentacle about to penetrate the cow warrior pausing in it's tracks "Hah. Or what? Harmless little kitty going to try to hurt the big bad-ARGH! FUCK!" the mage staggered backwards as Jamie lunged, scratching across his face. The mage was knocked over, but he was able to launch Jamie over himself, before getting to his feet.

"This k-kitty has cl-CLAWS!" Jamie told him, assuming a fighting stance for the first time in memory. 

The mage, growling with anger, summoned two more tentacles to attack. But Jamie, with reflexes befitting his nature, dodged their attacks. He dove to the side of the mage as another tentacle tried to ensnare him before swinging his claw and hitting the mage's face again. 

He lunged again but his swipe missed. He felt the mage's boot connect with his stomach and he was sent a few meters away.

"Mm-mmm!" His guardian cried out, struggling harder, the tentacles still holding her in place. 

Don't worry Miss Tina... I'll save you...

With a loud cry of defiant anger, Jamie dodged the mage's next attack. Another tentacle swung for his head but he grabbed it and sank his claws into it. But the mage was unphased-with a flick of his wrist Jamie was hit around the face, but he jumped over the attempted sweep. He landed on his hands and kicked the mage in the face, springing forwards and attempting a swipe, only to narrowly miss.

Jamie ducked the tentacles swinging for his head and lifted his leg up, kicking the mage between the legs. Getting back on his feet, Jamie pounced into the mage, tackling him to the ground. With a strangled cry of anger, Jamie straddled the mage's chest and started slashing wildly at the mage's face. Left, right, left, up, right, left, down-he didn't care. He just wanted to make this mage let Miss Tina go.

The mage suddenly let loose a burst of energy and Jamie was forced back. Jamie caught a glimpse of his face. What wasn't covered in scratch marks or blood showed utter terror. Jamie found himself strangely satisfied as he readied himself to pounce again, but the mage swatted him away with a tentacle.

When Jamie turned to look, the mage was running away pell-mell, leaving a thin cloud of dust behind him. Tina fell to the floor as the tentacles released her, before getting up and brushing herself off.

"AND D-DON'T C-C-COME BACK!" Jamie screamed at the mage. He winced, realizing he'd balled his hands into fists before retracting his claws. The feline turned and ran into Miss Tina, wrapping his arms around her waist and squeezing as hard as he could.

He felt Miss Tina's hand softly pet his head. "I... I never knew you were..."

"Sorr-r-rry... I made a m-m-mess of that, d-didn't I?" Jamie asked, chuckling weakly. He felt exhausted. His knees were in agony.

"You did wonderful, Jamie." She stroked his head softly "You have no idea how to fight, so he had no idea how to fight you. And that look of fear on his face... I feel like you've given him a permanent fear of cats now. If not a few scars for him to remember us by."

"I... I didn't w-want him to... to..." But Jamie couldn't finish the sentence.

"I know. And you were very brave. I was worried for you, but I had no reason to be once I saw how fast you were. He barely landed a hit on you at all."

"I love you, Miss Tina. When... whenever I need to, I... I'll protect you. Just like you're always protecting me." Jamie spoke with a determination in his voice that surprised even him, breaking away from the hug.

"Try not to make it a habit." the cow smiled. "Now, how about we go find an inn, and you can have a nice long drink of milk as a reward?"

"That sounds w-wonderful." Jamie smiled back.