Snippet #2768256

Nellie looked on as the big cat broke down into tears, shock keeping her from being more sympathetic. She had not been aware that others in the Royal Family had been dealt with. It made sense given the coup, and she would have probably come to that disturbing revelation once she had a moment to think on the train, but it was quite heavy hearing the news from a beast who was actually there. Wherever Lord Corvus had the rest of his family locked up, they would have to be found. With any hope a good tradesman could do the job.

While glad that Jana had taken up the role of comforting the distraught gentry, Nellie struggled to strike up the quite urgent instruction that they needed to continue moving. Trying to find a balance between addressing the prince as the royalty he was, and coaxing him onward like she would do for her little brother when he scrapped his knee on the way back to the house, turned out to be rather difficult. But the fact remained that a big sniveling tiger made quite an unusual spectacle in a not-quite-side-enough side alley.

"So here is where my train ticket as run off to then," a low voice said, cutting through the bustle heard from the main street. The grip of nerves that had struck Nellie quickly melted into grateful recognition. She turned to see a shadowy feline, standing on the lee side of the alleyway. The creamy fur of the clouded leopard was visible only around the figures face, as he was otherwise completely covered up in surprisingly rugged finery. The only thing that suggested he had more trouble than a mere walk over here was a torn hem at the bottom of the shirt, mostly concealed by the way he had tucked it.

"Mister Kosovo!" Nellie exclaimed, despite herself. The cheetah knew her boss had an odd twick about not liking to hearing his name used in conversations if it was already clear he was being addressed.

"You have gotten far, and picked up an accomplice, but we need to keep going. Your highness, will you move? You will move with us, or will be moved by the mob, it is your choice," the leopard said with an urgent sternness. His eyes were fixed on the young prince, seemingly unperturbed by the city racket that echoed through the alley.