Perfect Pet: Nose of a Bloodhound

Day two as following Alleyne's outbreak the evening before things had calmed down for both the elf and her Mistress, Sonico. Over the night they had slept as they had napped, with Sonico resting over her small bed curled up into a ball while Alleyne found a comfortable enough spot along the floor her eyes trailing over the thick chain leash still attached to her even thicker collar.

Now was the first full day for them together and it began with a visit from one of the rabbit girls' friends from down in the forest. The same rabbit that had nearly been taken away the day before by a small group of slavers. Even now she still appears shaky over the experience as she sips at her coffee listening to her little ones playing well within the line of sight for both. Alongside Sonico's home was a carriage packed and ready with a couple of horses at the front of it, something that had drawn the were-rabbit's attention most of this trip.

“So you're really leaving the woods?” Sonico inquires as her friend nods.

“Yes. It's no longer safe out here. My sister said she'd take me in while I looked for a job. You should leave the forest as well before slavers travel this far in.”

“I'll be fine. Besides, I could never afford a place in town. Besides, I have Alleyne.”

“Alleyne?”

“Mmhm. My pet, I bought her yesterday. Alleyne?” Sonico looks around not seeing her elf anywhere. Sighing, she follows the chain down by her feet to see it going back inside the trunk. Reaching down, she takes hold of it giving it a generous tug. “Alleyne, come out here.”

The other rabbit watches curiously waiting for this Alleyne to come out but nothing happens so Sonico comes up.

“She's probably shy.”

Sonico gives her friend a smile and goes back inside the home coming back out shortly after with a grip of the annoyed Alleyne's collar. Seeing her now, the rabbit gasps recognizing her instantly as the elf who had saved both herself and her children.

“Alleyne, when I ask you to come outside you need to come out.”

“That's...that's her!” Sonico and Alleyne both look over at the exclamation. “She's the one who saved us!”

“Huh?” Sonico looks to Alleyne who continues to eye the second rabbit woman still seated at the outdoor table.

“I never got to properly thank you.” The woman says looking back up at the silent elf growing confused. “Does...she not speak?”

“She speaks, but only in her native tongue. I want to train her but I don't really know how.”

“You could take her to the library.” The rabbit answers as Sonico takes a seat back across from her. “In town, the nice big one.”

Sonico tries to remember it as the young rabbit daughter comes up to Alleyne looking straight up at her. Once noticed, Alleyne looks down at the girl swaying about clutching a plush rabbit doll close to her tiny frame.

“Guess that could work. It'd give us a good start in understanding one another. If it doesn't teach Alleyne anything, maybe I can learn a little of her language.”

“And as a proper thank you, you can come into town with us.” The rabbit smiles looking down into her cup almost solemnly now. “Though...even without the thank you I still would have suggested it.”

“Traveling in a bigger group does sound better.” Sonico agrees before turning to Alleyne still distracted by the child. “What do you think, Alleyne? Wanna go to the library?”

Alleyne only looks up at the call of her name.

“Sina hin naa too close. Ask i' atara a' instruct he` a' vano n'alaquel.” Alleyne says rather coldly looking directly to Sonico who turns back to the rabbit shrugging her shoulders.

“I think that's a yes.”

In the back of the carriage, Alleyne looks across from her almost suspiciously toward the two children looking back at her. The girl still clutching her toy while the boy tilts his head.

“Why are your ears down like that?” He inquires.

“She's an elf.” The mother replies from the front of the cart glancing back. “Not a rabbit like us. So her ears might be as long but they aren't in the same place.”

“Mankoi must lle keep starien ie' amin, hin?” Alleyne mutters into the inside of her collar prompting the girl to giggle.

“Her voice sounds nice.”

“Doesn't it?” Sonico agrees. “No clue what she's saying but I like hearing her when she does talk. That's why we're coming along so we can learn about one another.”

“What's this for?” The boy asks lifting up Alleyne's chain and dropping it to the floor of the cart as up front both Sonico and the mother exchange glances.

“Um...” Begins Sonico.

“Fashion.” The mother answers back quickly as she looks over thankful for the sight of her sisters farm coming into view. “We're almost there.”

The boy stands to look as the girl comes closer toward Alleyne.

“Mani?” She asks as the girl holds the rabbit out for Alleyne. “Amin uma il- merna sina.”

The girl only giggles resting the rabbit in Alleyne's lap as the carriage comes to a halt. The boy quickly hops out as the girl follows with Alleyne holding out the rabbit.

“Amin nyare lle...” Alleyne sighs and spots a basket along the corner and stuffs the rabbit in there before coming out from the back where Sonico takes hold of the chain.

“This is where we go on foot. It's not much further though.” Sonico says waving to her friend before leading Alleyne down the trail. “Kurousagi told me about what you did the other day. I know you didn't understand her when she told you and you most likely don't understand my telling you of this but...thank you. Really.”

Sonico looks back with a smile, which was something that appears to catch Alleyne off guard as she looks away uncertain how to react.

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“Answer amin sina question, edhel!” An elderly man shouts from across the table at Alleyne.

They've arrived in the library and already Sonico looks uncertain of this decision as she watches Alleyne just glare across at the echidna constantly shouting at her between his tongue flicks.

“Edhel! lle naa property! lle lasta a' mani naa said!” He once more shouts as Sonico steps in.

“Do you have to shout at her?”

“She is not answering the question.”

“Maybe if I try. What was it you were asking her again?” Sonico asks seeing Alleyne furrowing her brow at the snake-man across from her writing something down.

“This.” He says handing the note over to Sonico who looks it over with some confusion.

“What does it, um, mean?”

“It is elven for “Who do you belong to?”” The echidna answers crossing his arms only glaring right back at Alleyne.

“Okay. Um...Alleyne?” She begins hoping Alleyne will look over at her. It works as she does, but her demeanor hasn't lightened up any causing a nervous reaction from the were-rabbit. “Um...um...Ya. uma lle. belong. A'?”

“Amin belong a' i' forests ar' i' mountains. I' salque ar' i' rocks. Amin naa property en' i' night ar' i' re ar' nothien eile.” Alleyne swiftly answers almost as if having memorized it off a script.

“What...was that good?” Sonico asks as the echidna sighs.

“Your elf is stubborn. She will not learn.”

“Can...I at least?”

The echidna looks from Sonico back to Alleyne before shaking his head.

“I do not see a point.”

~<:<<<<<>

“Well that was a bust.” Sonico groans walking back along the trail with a still annoyed Alleyne following in behind staring off into the woods. “I can't believe he wouldn't teach either of us. So much for “A kind word can attract even the snake from his nest.”. Right, Alleyne?”

Still being used to receiving some form of response to a question, Sonico checks behind her noticing Alleyne has come to a complete stop.

“What? What is--”

Sonico stops when she notices what has drawn Alleyne's attention. In the dirt was a plush rabbit very similar to the one the girl was holding earlier. Alleyne crouches down for a closer inspection noting the handmade clothe of the dress confirming it as the childs doll when Kurousagi comes rushing up toward them.

“Have either of you seen Alice? She just went running off toward town. I...I didn't even notice.” Kurousagi manages out through her worry as she looks around.

“No, I'm sorry. But we'll help you look. That's hers, right?” Sonico inquires pointing out the rabbit in Alleyne's hand.

“Yes! That's Vert, Alice is never without her! Where could she have gone?”

“Don't worry, if it wasn't that long ago we'll find her. Alice? Alice!” Sonico calls out soon joined by Kurousagi as Alleyne looks down at the rabbit realizing why the girl had chased after them in the first place.

She grips the doll tightly then drops down where she begins to shuffle about the leaves quickly as though looking for something. Clues perhaps.

“Alleyne?” Soncio asks noticing her pets actions.

Soon enough, Alleyne seems to find something leading deeper into the forest. She races ahead only to be stopped by her chain. Although only for as long as it takes until she can rip it from Sonico's grip sending the were-rabbit face first into the leaves.

“Alleyne!” Sonico calls out watching the elf rush off. Kurousagi helps her up and Sonico immediately chases after her pet. “Head back to your sisters farm, Kurousagi, we should be able to handle this!”

After giving chase for minutes, Sonico manages to spot Alleyne crouched in behind a few bushes.

“Alleyne?” Sonico whispers joining the elf in peeking over finding a small band of slavers similar to the ones Alleyne had dealt with the day before as well as Alice wrapped up in ropes lying on the ground sobbing.

“Please, I want my mommy.” She cries out.

“She'll be joining you soon enough.” One slaver spits out as the other shrugs his shoulders.

“At least we know it knows how to beg.” He jokes getting a laugh from his partner. “How's your head?”

“It'll be better than that elf bitch's if I ever see her again.”

Sonico looks toward Alleyne seeing she's already gone. “Alleyne?” She calls out too loud.

“Someone there?”

One slaver asks jumping up from his seat as from above Alleyne tackles down on his back knocking him out. She's about to pounce upon the other but, unfortunately for her, the chain from her collar is once more caught up behind her. This time in the tree she had climbed for her leverage. This allows for the second slaver to grab hold of the shrieking Alice drawing Alleyne's attention.

“Heh. Well, what do you know? Guess I didn't have to wait long after all. Listen here, elf, because this is how it's gonna go. You're gonna kneel down and cross your arms above your head. Then I'm gonna bind them up and take you and this little rabbit here to the boss and I'm gonna walk out a rich ma—UGH!”

The slaver falls forward dropping Alice to the ground as in behind Sonico stands with a broken log.

“Was that before or after I knock you out with this log?” Sonico laughs and comes down untying Alice as Alleyne watches.

Once freed, Alice first hugs Sonico and then rushes over to hug a startled Alleyne.

“I'm glad she got to you.” She says about the doll as Sonico smiles over the happy scene.

Later, Sonico and Alleyne watch as Kurousagi embraces her returning daughter back at the farm. Kurousagi and Alice look over waving to the two as Sonico returns the gesture. Alleyne, still holding Vert, notices Alice's warm smile and after a bit...returns the gesture.