"Each being has a place in this corrupt hierarchy. Remember yours well."

Their hotel was a luxurious place, with a golden interior and more tables than Sol thought was necessary. Immediately, his Master deposited him on an uncomfortably cool, glass table and began to rummage through their already unpacked luggage, sifting loudly through a drawer. Sol tilted his head, watching the handsome man with curious lavender eyes. A few minutes later, his Master drew back from the drawer, a long black ribbon-like accessory dangling from his fingers.

Sol blinked at his Master in question as the man lifted the lace material up to his eyes, wrapping it expertly behind his head and tying it in place. His heart missed a beat, the sudden limiting of his sight putting Sol's nerves on edge. A warm hand set on his head, fingers gliding gently through Sol's fluffy hair as his Master lifted him back into his arms. Then he was off, exiting their hotel and into the outer city.

His Master guided them through the complex arrangement of buildings, easily navigating the way to a massive warehouseꓸ The building could have rivaled Cadence, the ship and warehouse equal in sizeꓸ Sol tapped his head lightly against his Master’s hard chest muscleꓸ

“Whereꓸꓸꓸ”

The fingers that had been absentmindedly rubbing his scalp stilledꓸ

“This is where the new produce that belongs to Earth is storedꓸ” His Master rumbled the answer, pushing one of the door’s open with one handꓸ

A rush of dry, foul air greeted them, loud noises of anxious chittering echoing through the spaceꓸ Sol wrinkled his nose, recoiling from the animals that watched them from the shadows of their cagesꓸ His body trembled, fear rolling over him, bringing tears to his eyesꓸ

I don’t want to be locked up again-

Lips brushed against Sol’s forehead, snapping him from the brief shove down memory lane, calming himꓸ Shaking, Sol inclined his head backwards, reaching up needily for a kiss, pressing his wet lips against his Master’sꓸ He was meant with a warm force – mouth patiently moving against his own, a sweet taste intoxicating Sol into a helpless state of serenityꓸ

“Good boy,” His Master stroked the back of Sol’s head, enveloping his pet in a protective embraceꓸ

Someone cleared their throat, heels clicking against the stone floor, drawing their attention to the beautiful creature that stood in front of the two.

“Bǫlverkr representative.” His Master noted dryly, “This is Earth’s storage area. State your business here.”

The emerald alien hissed, drawing itself to it’s full height, towering over Sol’s Master.

“I am inspecting Earth’s products,” The Bǫlverkr growled, eyes flickering over Sol with the sentence.

His Master shifted his bronze arm over Sol, blocking the small boy’s body from view.

“That is the job of the Supervisor, you have no authority to enter this area without my permission.” Sol’s Master may have been smaller than the alien, but the difference in size did not deter the man. His Master was a powerful being and he knew how to wield it with deadly accuracy.

The Bǫlverkr emitted a beast-like snarl, striding forwards to tower fully over his annoying prey.

“Need I remind you that Earth nothing but childsplay compared to the might of the Bǫlverkrian Armada,” The threat turned the hostile atmosphere icy.

Sol’s Master did not miss a beat.

“And yet Earth has more valuable products than you.”

Sol flinched, knowing fully well that those words were referring to him. He was, after all, the only known cat-human hybrid in the entire galaxy. His value was probably more than Earth’s own.

“Do not be so arrogant, human, your planet lost once and so it will rightfully lose again.” With those words, the alien stalked off, shoving past Sol and his Master.

Sol glanced up, eyes going wide at the sinister smirk on his owner’s face.

“It is your arrogance that you must beware, Bǫlverkr.”