Olympia Light and Power Company

Viktor sat near Tumwater Falls and looked at the small hydro plant which powered Olympia's streetcars, and illuminated his mansion. He lit his pipe and pondered the nature of progress and decided it was generally a good thing. The Ventrue looked around at the second growth forest sprouting around him- he remembered when it had been old growth that had been cut for lumber and to clear land for farms, a large rock uncovered during the logging which provided his seat for the moment.  He felt brief moment of melancholia, and for a moment considered summoning the spirit of his old friend Leschi, but he knew the Nisqually leader wouldn't have liked the view at all, so he puffed away at the pipe and kept staring at the falls.

A lanky-legged bob-tailed cat paused at the edge of the new growth, tasting the air. The sharp scent of the burning tobacco caused the cat to shake its head. Dark-lined eyes looked between the back of the man overlooking the falls and the door into the house. It went very still for a long moment, then moved on soft, silent paws toward the house, pausing with ears turning to listen for sound, then nosing its way through the door cautiously.

Viktor glanced up and saw the large cat slipping into his home and chuckled. "Cats" he muttered to himself, before raising his voice and speaking in the language of the Lynx. "Aren't you going to introduce yourself before going into my home?"

The Ventrue was amused, and respected the other predator for what it was, but manners were still a thing, even for cats.

The cat had disappeared inside, so it took a moment before it poked its nose out and peered for the other cat. When it noticed the man looking at it, the cat pulled its nose back inside. It seemed to not make the connection between the man and the call. There was a single high bark-like sound from a bit further inside.

"No mark."

Viktor chuckled again and struggled to his feet with the help of his cane.

Are you hungry friend? he asked while hobbling to the house

There wasn't a response. The reasons could be myriad.

Inside the house, the lynx was greeted by a ragged looking housecat. A common gray tabby, it looked like it had been to hell and back, and knowing the Ventrue, that was a distinct possibility.

It clambered to the top of a tall leather chair and hissed at the newcomer.

My home. Also home of bigger two legged predator who walks the night.

The lynx looked up and sniffed in the little cat's direction, ears forward in interest. Whiskers flicked and the ears turned. Just silent communication.

Is interesting. No hurt.

The smaller cat stared for another moment and then hopped down purring while cautiously approaching the bigger cat. He was willing to be trusting, because he knew Viktor was nearby, and didn't the two legged predator protect everything around here?

Is nice home. Warm, safe fire. Dry even in the rain. I am called Abe. Who are you?

Abe cautiously sniffed at the stranger and twitched his whiskers. Such a large cat, he'd never seen one this size.

She lowered her head to sniff at the smaller cat. The name didn't translate well, so the lynx bypassed the little cat's name for a moment.

Quiet

It seemed a name of sorts.

She scratched her jaw on the arm of the chair.

What is...abe?

Abe came closer and lifted a paw to gently touch the bigger cat while looking inquisitively

Abe is what the bigger predator says when he wants only me to notice him. It is what I am called

Whiskers twitched, and the little stub of the tail did the same.

The two-legs?

She padded toward a bookshelf, sniffing and taking in the scent of the things there. They smelled...fascinating.

The books were... fascinating. Some were very old, and had come from places where incense had been burned, and others just bore the scent of centuries, and some, only bore their scent, and not the scent of any living thing.

Yes, the two legs Viktor said as he hobbled in, and bent over to give Abe ear scritches and pets. A servant came behind him and laid down two plates, one for each cat, with an appropriate sized serving of lightly browned chopped liver with beef gravy.

Abe made a happy sound and started to lap up gravy

Join us friend Viktor said to the Lynx as he sat on a large couch and visibly relaxed as his servant removed the boot and brace from his twisted leg. After the servant left, Viktor all but sprawled on the couch, and let the pain from his twisted body flow away as he became comfortable.

The larger cat arched her back and kept her distance from the two humans. Little cat might trust freely, but she wasn't little cat.

Also, that two legs...

Eyes narrowed in discomfort as she stared at the man on the couch.

You speak.

Viktor chuckled a little and smiled at the lynx, and again at Abe as the smaller housecat buried his nose in the food.

I speak, yes. Does this cause you distress?

Whiskers pulled back in a sort of distaste and ears twisted in uncertainty.

Then they moved forward. Curious. The ears were pointed forward, mostly. They would pause, then rotate to listen for sound before returning to forward for a moment.

Yes

Viktor held out his hand to the large cat and smiled softly

I am sorry, I do not wish to cause you distress.

She didn't move to smell. She, instead, sat down right where she was.

How two speak like four?

Viktor cocked his head and looked at the cat

I am different than other two legs. I am a predator among them- undying and unaging and can do things they cannot

Her ears twitched back briefly.

Two wasteful kills.

Viktor raised an eyebrow

Wasteful kills?

Wasteful.

The cat tilted her head and blinked.

A gentle chuckle escaped Viktor's lips

We raise large beasts for food, in great herds. Bigger than an elk. There are many two legs, and they eat all these beasts we can kill. These kills were not wasted, many people ate from them. These parts here I save for four legged guests.

One might surmise Viktor was comfortable with other forest animals, or perhaps he was just talking about Abe.

Her ears flattened.

Kill. Take fur. Leave to rot. Many places.

Where? Viktor said I do not allow the two legs who live around me to waste kills like that. It is my pact with those who came before the white two legs. Speak to me of those who do this and I will punish them.

Unhappy Ventrue was unhappy looking.