Vox had come to the city in search of just a bit more gold coins. The innkeeper he’d found to stay at outside the walls was starting to get bored with his halting speech, even if did mean that cows and horses cooperated perfectly. Standing on the edge of the road, he ran his fingers through his hair and stared. Many, many people-shapes were running around and, as always, a few horse-shapes standing to the side and a runaway dog-shape off in the corner that was shouting for its owner. Even the cat-shape above his head was yelling loudly, wondering why no one would give her fish. Vox bit his lip and took step forward before jumping back when someone came charging through. He’d grown used to the small town and the few animals.
He hadn’t had the money for laundry that morning, he innkeeper’s wife unwilling to give him anything for his explanation of the fact that their dog didn’t protect them because he didn’t like them very much. His clothing was a bit ratty, the bright colors dulled just enough that he’d grabbed a yellow shirt instead of a red one and hadn’t noticed until the innkeeper had mentioned that he looked like a giant lemon with glowing eyes. He had managed to borrow a bit of soap form the stable boy who was eternally grateful for him convincing the oldest horse to stop kicking him
“Anyone need animal talk?� He spoke a bit quieter than he should have, scrunching and wiggling his nose as he looked around the street. It was obvious no one had heard him, which he had almost expected. “Animal talk!� That was yell, one he was proud of at that. “I talk animals, can speak! Make words for them make sense and for you!� He jumped up and waved his arms, startling the cat by repeating the same phrase is her language before following it up with one for the dog. “I talk animals, I talk people! Help make sense of both!�
After a few more shouts he stepped back and waited. People often came as he waited, especially when they saw him speaking with the cat above his head. She was very friendly, although hungry. Vox had to promise her some fish with the money he had leftover to keep her from running away. Soon the cat had curled up on his shoulder and was talking about the winding alleyways of the city while her tail tickled his ear. Vox let himself relax into her self-involved monologue.
But when someone approached him, she leapt off his shoulder and ran. Before the customer could get a word our, Vox went after the poor kitty. “Kitty!� She spoke her name in cat and called out what he hoped most people would be able to identify her as. “Kitty, here come! Back!� Dodging through people and ducking, he continued shouting in common and cat. “Kitty! Kitty!� But she disappeared around a corner and he couldn’t follow the sound of her meows or the faint shape that had been running ahead of him. “Kitty?� He looked around at the people-shapes surrounding him. “Anyone here see kitty? She small and have cat-name only. See her run by, anyone?�
((Yes, his eyes glow. In case someone would notice that. I hope this gave people something to respond to!))
