A sigh slipped Mer's lips as he placed the parchment down; so light, yet its contents so heavy.

Step

step

step

Stop

A mournful whimper, tinged with a wild thrum of barely contained power, slipped from beyond.

With a hand that trembled faintly beneath its worn glove, Mer opened the door. Moonlight spilled into the darkened room, and like garnets aflame, four eyes fixed upon him. There was fear but also a defiant intelligence. Sleek obsidian fur rippled, revealing the lean strength of the beast within. Feathered wings, immense and as dark as a moonless midnight, hinted at flight. Six-fingered dextrous hands concealed retractable claws capable of rending steel. But perhaps most unnerving was its powerful beak, a cruel curve studded with needle-sharp fangs.

After only a brief glimpse, Mer stealthy closed the door again.

*Some good luck at last*

'How is this good luck… it's illegal for a commoner to own a Morsatra. I can barely feed myself. How the fuck do you expect me to feed that.'

*Surely it can hunt for itself?*

'Ah yes, let the incredibly rare and illegal creature roam freely around the city. If someone reports it to the Barron, he'll seize it and our necks.'

The narrative has been taken without permission. Report any sightings.

*Moratras are smart and stealthy. Such hunt would likely go unseen… but as you are a coward, it would also make a generous offering to the Barron*

'That it would. We'll need to devise a convincing explanation of how we wound up with it. One that doesn't incriminate us for murder. Until then... let's see if it's as vicious as it looks."

Taking a deep breath, Mer pushed the door open. This time, he let himself gaze without flinching.

"Hey there, you adorable little thing. Mum, uh, went on a trip, so I will have to look after you for a while."

The Morsatra did not launch itself forward like some ravenous monster; it merely cocked its head, its ruby eyes narrowed. From deep within its throat, a sound bubbled up... was it a growl or the beginning of a purr? It took a few hesitant steps forward, its beak half-opened.

An unsettling transformation struck the beast. Its vast wings, a moment ago so formidable, began to... shrink. In the space of a few heartbeats, they folded in with a rustling akin to dry leaves, merging seamlessly with the dark fur upon their backs. The beak, too, receded, almost blending into a face – still strange, still predatory, but with a muzzle not unlike a wolf's.

With grace, it padded closer, then lowered its head almost... submissively?

'Is this normal?'

*I don't think so… maybe it holds some Versipellis blood, or it could have learnt basic polymorph magic. I'm not too sure, but this is certainly useful. We'll no longer need to fear for our necks, at least.*

'Hmmm'

Taking off a glove Mer extended his hand, palm up, only the faintest tremble betrayed him. "Here. It's okay..." His words were gentle, soothing both himself and, he desperately hoped, the Morsatra.

The red eyes widened in a strangely inquisitive manner. A rough sandpaper sensation slid across Mer's knuckles as the creature sniffed at his fingertips. A hesitant tongue. His fear did not entirely dissipate, yet something else shimmered into being somewhere beneath the dread. Something fragile and almost... hopeful.