Conley Brothers

"We wait" she repeated "to be with animals you must be patient and quiet. Let them decide" she said, speaking in a soothing tone
 
"That is why the unicorns always liked Vladimir better," Kaz said with a shrug. He sat down and took a slow breath to calm himself. He could be quiet. He could be still. Actually, he could be both of those things, but usually when he spaced out. It probably wasn't okay to space out around animals, especially not tigers. At least Adanya meant he was not instantly going to be hurt. She was nice. And pretty. And hurt as badly as that poor fellow in the cage. It was sad. And... Wait, had he zoned out? Yes. And he was sitting staring at the tiger's stripes.
 
After several minutes of calm silence Adanya spoke again "He is ok...only bruised but nothing is broken" she had Strikers front leg in her lap stroking gently "he is very old. He would die in the wild...." she explained "perhaps a warm blanket to ease his sore joints..yes..."
 
Kazimir tried to force himself to pay attention to her. A warm blanket? Oh! He could help with that, at least a little. He unbuttoned his unconventional coat and shrugged out of it before holding it out to Adanya. It was a heavy, patchwork thing that looked handmade. There were frays and tatters and some looked intentional, but others not so much, and while all the colors were muted, no two patches were the same color, texture, shape, or pattern. "Here, this is warm from being on me.
 
Adanya too the coat and smiled a little before she laid it over the tigers leg and shoulder "I like your coat...so does Striker"
 
Kazimir brightened at her comment. "It belonged to my Tată. Ehm, father. It was made for him by my bunical. Grandfather. It has always been a good, warm coat. I think my bunical would be honored to see it used for a great beast as this Striker."
 
She smiled a little and continued to scratch the tigers ears as he laid his head on her knee "it is good to have something of home and family" she said quietly "memory is all there is when they are gone"
 
Kazimir nodded. "I still have Vladimir while he will have me. This is very good." He glanced at her. "The tiger, is it ready to go home and rest? Then you might rest, too. This thing that happened, it must not have been good for you."
 
"It wasn't good" she said, glancing over at him "I think I am not strong enough to get inside. We can stay here. The ground is not so bad here" she ifyen slept along side Striker, she didn't bother with a bed anyway finding it too soft
 
"It is cold out here. You might get sick. Or sicker." Kazimir considered then offered, "May I carry you back? I can come back and help Stricker. Or the other way around so you are both safe in some place of protection."
 
"Striker is too big to lift" she pointed out and looked back at the tiger a moment "he will follow if you help me" she said with a little nod "you can help me"
 
Kazimir focused on not showing how pleased he was that she'd accepted his help, but he did allow a smile. Then he reached down and carefully gathered Adanya into his arms, grunting as he picked her up. He shifted her weight a little and got her into a better position then started walking toward the wagon. "Come along, Striker!" he called in a soft, sing-song tone. "I will find you treats once we get there. What sorts of treats do Tigers like?"
 
"Tigers eat meat" she answered simply, surpeiaed to find she was ok with him lifting her like this, normally she would be stiff and anxious

Striker slowly got up to his feet to folliw
 
Kazimir decided not to tell her how annoyed Vladimir had been that he'd given the other cats so many of his sausages. "Then I will find meat to give them!" he promised them both. "Striker, you are a lovely tiger."
 
She smiled a little "you don't need to. I have food for them" she said.

She didn't normally let anyone into her wagon, but given the circumstances..she allowed it this time.

Inside the walls were covered in plants, her bed more of a nest of blankets on the floor.

She had a trunk in there where she kept her clothes and things but mostly, it just looked and felt like a jungle in there
 
Kazimir paused inside the doorway for a moment and smiled. "This is a happy place," he said softly then carried her over to her nest. He laid her down with great care then placed a blanket over her. "Where are..." His voice faded as he looked around.

Standing, he wandered over to one side and started cooing softly. These flowers were so beautiful! He spotted an especially shiny green leaf and leaned over to study it.
 
"It is as much like home as I could make" she said, watching him.

Striker let himself in and laid protectively next to Adanya and let her settle in with him, using him as a pillow and personal heater
 
"This is a beautiful place! My mother always said you can make any place your home with the right kind of fabric," Kazimir said cheerfully. He paused and turned to look at her with a suddenly serious frown. "You remind me a lot of Him. Very much the same, but very much different." Then he caught sight of Striker. "Oh! I am to bring him meat! Where do I find it?"
 
She tilted her head a little "remind you of who?" She pressed for a bit more detail on what he was talking about, glancing at Striker "it is time for him to rest not to eat" she added
 
"Of him," Kazimir said as if it was obvious, but not in a condesending way. He really thought she should know who he was talking about. He looked at Striker wistfully. "May I touch him?"
 
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