#cat!logan

“No, no. Just…” Roman huffed with a shake of his head, “can you just summarize?” 

“Of course, Your Majesty,” Logan nodded. “Virgil and I are young witches. As such, we are required to draw our power from a single source; that source usually being another person. Typically, this other person needs to be a powerful magic user as well, though there are exceptions. Whenever a young witch finds their source, in this case our Lord Noname-”

“Still think that is a horrible name,” Roman grumbled under his breath as Logan continued.

“We are bound to him. Each binding is different. For some, it is nothing more than companionship; a mutual bond with equal gain and loss. For others, it is eternal servitude. In Virgil’s case it is the latter.” Logan explained once more, his frown deepening. 

“And you are bound to this Noname guy too?” Roman added, still trying to follow.

“Yes… and no,” Logan sighed, “It is quite complicated. I was once bound to Noname as well, but he quickly grew tired of me. You see, each witch has their own…” he seemed as if he were searching for the correct word, “Talent.” he supplied. “An area of expertise that they excel at. Virgil is a master of physical manipulation. I-”

“Can read minds!” Roman interjected excitedly. 

“Well, in the most simplistic sense, yes, but I can do far more than that. If I concentrate, I am able to see worlds you have never even attempted to dream of. Places where no man has set foot.” Logan couldn’t help but smile as he explained these visions, his heart beginning to race with elation. “I can see the past and the future, each mingling with one another. I can see stars that are millions of galaxies away, or beasts that crawl far beneath our feet.” 

“Wait…” Roman hummed, brows furrowing in confusion. “What is a galaxy?” The question earned a soft sad huff from the witch who simply shook his head and continued on.

“Never mind. I apologize, I seem to have gotten off topic. Where was I…” he mumbled softly. “Ah, yes: the connection Virgil and I share. Noname wished to use my gift for his own gain. When I refused, punishment ensued. Eventually, after a few years he seemed to have given up hope that I would break. As punishment, he cut off the constant supply of magic I received from him. Unfortunately, once a witch has had a taste of power, they will fade without it.”

“What do you mean, fade?” Roman pressed.

“They will die, Your Majesty. Quite quickly, at that,” Logan provided.

“Oh…. So… What happened then?”

“As I tried to explain before-” Logan offered.

“Not in English,” Roman grumbled under his breath, though if the witch noticed, he gave no indication. 

“Virgil, who had been apprenticing with Noname’s brethren, had found me. Naturally, I attempted to latch onto him as a source. He was not too thrilled at the idea, but slowly came around. You see, he was as eager as I was to get away from our bindings, so eventually he agreed. However, the new bond had unfortunate, and unforeseen, consequences. Virgil’s bond with Lord Noname weakened down to a trickle, which meant that there was not enough magical energy to keep both of our human forms alive and well.” The witch averted his gaze in shame as they continued on. “If I had known…” he paused before shaking his head. “It doesn’t matter. Knowing that we would both perish if we stayed too long in our human forms, I cursed Virgil to take the appearance of the animal that most resembles his personality while I remained human.” 

“So… he has the personality of a… badger?” Roman asked arching a brow as he lifted the creature in his arms high enough to examine. 

“It is a Procyon Raccoon,” Logan corrected with a huff. 

“Whatever,” The Prince shrugged. “That still doesn’t explain the whole cat thing.” 

“It would be cruel to curse someone that had just saved my life in such a way,” Logan pointed out, “So, I cursed myself as well. Only one of us may be human at any given time, lest  we both die.”

“That sounds like a pretty rough existence,” Roman admitted, hugging the still snoring Virgil to his chest. 

“I will admit it is not easy,” Logan confessed. “It is also the reason we are here. We must find new sources if we are to return to the natural order of things.” 

“And you think you can find them here? Why?” Roman asked curiously. 

“Because I have seen it,” Logan answered vaguely. “My visions are cryptic, but they are usually correct. We will both find a new source for our powers here in these woods. I just… need time to figure out what that-”

A roar echoed through the trees, sending droves of birds startling into the air and the still shirtless witch hunching low in the brush. Roman followed a moment later, unsure of what else to do. 

“What the hell was mmph!” he began to snap, just to have Logan’s hand clamp over his mouth. These two witches may be telling the truth about saving him, but they sure didn’t have any concept of respect. 

“Sssh! We’re close.” Logan whispered softly, removing his hand slowly. 

“Close to what?” Roman hissed back. 

“Come on,” Logan urged, inching towards the large vine covered rock face a good ten meters out. 

“Listen,” Roman began to complain as he followed the witch, “I get that you’re on a whole quest thing, but I have a entire kingdom I have to worry ab-”

“Roman, you really need to be quiet.” Logan interrupted.

“Don’t tell me to be quiet you no good, sorr- AH!” Roman snapped, dropping the raccoon in his hands with a loud cry. “It bit me!” 

Virgil plopped on the ground, scrambling to his feet in a hurry. He turned a vicious eye onto the prince and hissed mercilessly at him, saliva dripping from his jowls. Roman reared back in sudden terror of the small monster before him, holding his injured hand to his chest. 

“Virgil,” Logan called softly. He bent low enough to place an upturned hand on the ground, cloak falling open to reveal his still bare chest. The raccoon glanced briefly at his partner, hackles still raised, before shooting another hiss at the prince. He then promptly scampered over to the tall man, using his arm as a ramp to clammer into the backpack.

“I asked him to carry you,” Logan clarified. A small hiss sounded from the bag as two beady eyes seemed to glow just under the flap of the now bulging leather. 

“That thing needs to be muzzled,” Roman growled as he shot Virgil a glare of his own. 

“Virgil!” Logan snapped in a harsh whisper. There had obviously been some telepathic exchange between the two men that Roman obviously wasn’t privy to. “Manners!” 

“What did he say?” Roman pressed, his curiosity overpowering his fear as he moved closer.  

“Nothing that warrants repea-.” Logan started to sigh before another roar interrupted him. 

For a moment, the grey and black fur of Virgil’s snout appeared over Logan’s shoulder, whiskers twitching as he sniffed the air. His small claws fisted against the hood of the cloak wrapped around Logan’s shoulders, giving a snarling growl in response to the monstrous cry.

The sound was not the only thing that pulled their attention this time. Smoke began to billow farther down the cliff face where a large string of fire burst from a cave mouth, torching everything within a stone’s throw from the entrance. In the next moment, Virgil was gone, as quickly as he had appeared. He was back in his bag to hide, vastly aware of his suddenly meager stature. 

Roman’s heart raced, his fear of the bitey minuscule monster that was now nestled against Logan’s back all but forgotten. He had something much larger to worry about now… and apparently it knew that they were there.

“A DRAGON?! REALLY?!” Roman cried.

To be continued...

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