Before I knew what was happening I was dragged to one of the worst dive bars I've ever been to. The sign outside the establishment said this place was called the runny eye. Just then as me alison and zackary enter the dismissal watering hole, all eyes turn and face … alison.
She cleared her throat and said in a deeper voice than her usual tone, "I was told there was a strong booze to be held…"
before any other word could be said a short man with an alarming amount of missing fingers shouts, "ITZZ A KNIGHT!! GETTHER!"
A big fight broke out and I was somehow shoved away from my protectors. a man wielding a knife charged at me and seconds before i could be shanked, a weird yet strong man in a red coat came and sucker punched the man away from me.
he had white hair that he had in a loose braid and surpisingly enough for me was the two cat like ears that sat atop his head the looked way too real to be fake, he held a hand out to me and said, "come with me if you value your life…"
I took his outstretched hand and immediately got pulled into an alleyway behind the building in which the brawl was taking place. I looked at my savior and realized he is a pantherian judging by the cat-like features of ears and a tail that swished behind him. I could still hear the bar fight going on as his golden eyes skimmed over me before settling on my face.
he gives a small smile at me before saying, "my what a cute little kitten i found."
his feline ears swivel towards the direction of howl of laughter could be heard coming our way as he says, "you should hide."
I looked up and down the bare alley, "where exactly?"
mischief lights his face as a wicked grin spreads across his face showing the fangs he had, "i have an idea but please… don't take this the wrong way."
In three quick steps I was backed against a wall and his right arm was bracing against the wall near my head. understanding his plan i decide to go along but his bare chest under his open coat was kinda hard to ignore. A faint blush spread across my cheeks as he tilted my face up to look into his golden irises.
"My eyes are up here, kitten." the way he practically purred the line had my stomach in knots, "don't worry i can be your shield if need be."
The laughter stops when a group of rough looking men stumble our way, one of them wolf whistles as he says, "Oie! sage is that you ya old dog? wanna help the bar beat up a knight, we could use the muscle. that is if you're not too busy necking."
more laughter was heard as Sage looked their way, "you got the coin? ya know i don't roll over for less than ten silver."
"I hear ya would warm any bed for half of that!" The laughter increased.
Sage let out a low feral growl as his eyes glowed with a bright red light, "I can always kick ya asses for free… hows that for a deal?"
the laughter stops and the men run away. Sage's eyes turn gold once more as he then turns his gaze towards me. His eyes softened as he most likely saw my hesitation.
"y-your sage?" I asked cautiously.
he smirks and says, "you know my name but i havent the pleasure of knowing your name yet… care to fix that or shall we cut to the chase about why you were in the middle of that bar fight?"
I swallowed the lump that was forming in my throat as I responded, "I was looking for you with Alison and Zackary."
He blinked a few times before it looked as if he recognized the names, "Zack and Ally… are looking for me? tch, idiots."
"I take it you guys are not on good terms?" I asked hesitantly.
he looks to the side as his ears flattened against his head, "It's…. complicated."
He began to walk away and I followed close behind him and tried desperately to match his long strides. suddenly he stops and turns to me, "you ok kid?"
"kid?! I'm twenty-four years old!" I barked at him in frustration.
he chuckles and says, "Easy kitten, i just was worried that you might have been too scared to make decent conversation but now that i get a good look at you…" He eyed me up and down with those beautiful amber eyes, "There is something about you that is so… delectable."
The way he purred the last word got my stomach in knots as his gorgeous tan skin was so close to me. He leaned in as our faces were but inches apart from each other. I felt my face heat up as I was not versed in the ways of romance since if sage does what he's implicating then that would be my first kiss… like ever. My pulse raced as he leaned closed then turned his head at the last second and licked my earlobe in a teasing manner which made a delicious chill run up my spine.
He buries his nose in my hair, takes a deep breath, and pulls back enough to look me in the eye, "oh, how i would love to indulge in your scent longer, yet i must see why those two idiots came looking for me."
he pulled away from me reluctantly and cold air filled the space between us as he walked fast into the Runny Eye. Inside the worst looking bar I've ever been to, Zackary was sitting at the bar with a glass of wine and Alison was picking at a suspicious looking spot on the bar table. Sage clears his throat and in turn gains the attention of both Zackary and Alison.
Alison smiles brightly as she addresses sage, "Oh, you found Gwen."
"Tch, more like she found me." sages' ears were laying flat against his scalp, "What are ya doing here alison? Don't you have an entire order of moonstone knights to command?"
aliso gave an aggravated sigh as she then said, "we are here because, once Zackary, as much as a genius he is, has frelled up so bad during a spell that this woman before you was pulled from an alternate dimension to our world."
Sage gave me a quizzical look, all I could do was shrug and say, "I'm still skeptical of the concept of magic but I am one hundred percent certain that I'm not from this world."
sage shrugs too and says, "I think I understand, but what exactly does this have to do with me?"
"I think the subject would be better told in a more private setting." Zackary said, "one where no one has a chance to overhear our topic of conversation."