Conley Brothers

"You're worried Starnacht won't be able to find you again?" She guessed "how about I bring him over tonight and we can all have dinner together?" She was sure Vlad wouldn't mind "then he will know where to visit you"
 
Claudius didn't know if the little star creature wanted to visit him again. The first time had been an accident, and a rather frightening one, at that, but maybe the little one would come again or need a place to hide from that other creature again.

"Yes," he whispered to Camilla then drew back away from the horses. He knew it was pointless since he was in a box, but he still wanted distance from these pray animals. He blinked. Uh, beasts. That he did not feel a compulsion to chase. At all.
 
Camilla nodded. She would set it up then "alright then" she glanced at the horses "it's not a far way to go, just around the back. I'll see you in a few minutes" and with that, she pulled the tarp back down

As promised it didn't take long before they came to a stop again, the light creeping in from thin gaps in the tarp all but disappeared.

Then they stopped and he heard the horses being lead off again.

When Camilla lifted the tarp they were inside a big tent. Not huge but big wnough to get the wagon in and have some space where a tarp and a rug had been put down and a table set up and a cot put out as well as a trunk that stood open with more pillows and blankets "I had this set up for you..in case you want to come out"
 
Claudius braced himself as the cart moved, unaccustomed to the jostle but not minding it. When the cart stopped, he peered out curiously, taking everything in as he tried to comprehend. Then Camilla's words registered.

"Out?" he said, still uneasy at the prospect. It was not as terrifying here in the tent. The tent was like a really big tarp around a really big cage. Maybe it wouldn't be so bad, but it was still so roomy!
 
She nodded "when you're ready. I won't make you" she lifted the latch for him but didn't open the door. That was up to him

"And..." she walked over to one side of the tent and knocked on the wood on the other side "that's my wagon..I'll hear if you knock..as long as I'm home.."
 
He stood in his new - bigger - pants and watched her, cocking his head at the sound. Right at her back door... He crouched down, watching her quietly. "Why?" he asked. "Why do you trust me?"
 
She looked back at him "why shouldn't I?" She asked "you don't want to hurt me" she walked back to the cage "right?"
 
He tipped his head. "Hurt others," he said, still not certain of her intentions. "Will hurt many others, probably. Have before. Not always when I mean to."
 
"Can I ask you why? What made you hurt people?" She grabbed a stool she had brought out and pulled it up to sit by his cage, not worried
 
Claudius crouched down comfortably and flexed his fingers. "That thing that came before. Hurt it for chasing the little thing. Hurt others when they startled me. Hurt the master a long time ago." He shifted reflexively, remembering what happened after.
 
"So only in defence and reflex. For yourself, for Star. Not because you're bad" she said "and I'm not goong to hurt you so I have no reason not to trust you" she surmised "and we can work on your instinct to lash put when startled so you don't accidentally hurt people"
 
"I can't speak for everyone. But I think so" she said "my brother wouldn't have asked me to look after you if he thought you were dangerous to me" she reasoned "and we can show anyone who might not think that way that you are good
 
"Then we will work on that together" she said softly, feeling she was finally getting somewhere "So. I will bring you food three times a day and I'll have a tub brought in three times a week of you want to bathe...how does that sound?"
 
Claudius felt suddenly insecure with all the changes. Good changes, but changes nonetheless. Moodily, he retreated farther back into the cage and sat with his back to her, the spines now looking very defensive as they arched over his back.
 
He didn't know how to answer that. He didn't want to make her sad, but he did not understand his own feelings. So he curled up tighter and said nothing.
 
She decided maybe it was best to leave him for now, let everything sink in "alright well...I need to tend to some other things so..I'll be back later ok?" She got up

-

When vlad got back to his wagon Felix was outside idly watching the unicorns. He had a contract to work out for Star
 
"Later," Claudius murmured in acknowledgment.

~~

Vlad took a slight breath in, stiffening a little when he saw Felix. Then he was smiling pleasantly. When they got closer, he bowed slightly. "Good morning, sir! Out watching the unicorns?"
 
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