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lake-archive · 5 months

Text

Lab Cat

CATZ Discography - AO3 Link

Content Warnings ahead!

Hurt (& Comfort)

Implied Animal Abuse (nothing explicit but heavily implied)

Angst

If you have a hard time handling these topics or they just make you uncomfortable, I advise you to not proceed!

Fandom: Hypnosis Mic

Characters: Ann Wolff (OC), Ole (OC), Ramuda Amemura

Synposis: Being a cat is said to be easy... However, not with the life Ole has lived until recently. Beccause if it had not been for them... Who knows where he would be now.

Tags: Original Character(s), Origin Story, Backstory, Cats, Angst, Fluff and Angst, Light Angst, Hurt/Comfort, Minor Original Character(s), Major Original Character(s), POV Original Character, Animals, POV Animal, Implied/Referenced Abuse, POV Third Person, POV Third Person Limited, Original Character-centric, Dark Amemura Ramuda, Mentioned Amemura Ramuda

Words: 2,822

AO3 Link

It has been a good year ever since that day but to Ole it felt as if it had just taken place yesterday. Then again, the moment where he felt the sweet embrace of freedom was something he did not expect to long for. After all, ever since little he knew nothing but a cage.

He had been one of eight siblings, not to mention he was the youngest. Back then he was a very naive and childish cat, just wanting to pounce and play around. However, those days would end, given his first owner. Said owner was a scientist, obsessed with one thing and one alone… Overthrowing a government. Not for a great cause nor anything noble, not as far as he knew, but for selfish reasons. Jealousy, nothing more, and being power hungry. She enjoyed control, he learnt that during his first few years. And yet, back then he thought this was normal… That his sisters would all be thrown out and only he remained. And why is that? Well, to quote her directly: “Finally, everything seems to be in place. I found the perfect one to modify. And it only took me five attempts too. You stay boy, the rest can go to hell for all I care. I just need you and no one else.”

A normal life? The one of a cat? He had never gotten it. The details were something he wanted to forget and usually did. But it would creep up in his dreams once in a while. Her wide grin, how she opened the cage and just grabbed the young cat, putting him through whatever she had in mind next. He would get enough food and water to survive but there was not much else he could do. The wide grin terrified him, it always did and will. There was no ounce of humanity left inside her body. She was moving like a machine, speaking in such a monotone voice usually yet got some twisted joy out of it. And yet, that was his life. He lasted longer than expected, though maybe she had something to do with it, so that he may live longer. Ole couldn’t tell and honestly, he didn’t even want to know. In fact, only from the windows was he able to tell for a long time when this all would end. He feared the sun rising yet would be at ease when it settles down, the only moments where he was able to rest and sleep in peace. The life of a young kitten… He doesn’t know it. He will never know in fact. He missed out, all because of the circumstances. All he knew back then was fear and terror, even when he got older. Sure, he got something out of it. He was more aware of his surroundings over the years and eventually was fully able to comprehend human language. In fact, he seemed to have reached a level of intelligence thanks to the experiments that he was able to withstand and even use a hypnosis mic. But was that worth it in the end? No, he wouldn’t say that. Given that he was only pushed and pushed for one purpose alone…

He tried to disobey before yet that would do nothing. She did not react to scratches or bites, this scientist didn’t care. She was cold through and through, conducting her experiments as she pleased. He wondered for a while… Why him? Why a cat? Why did it have to be him? The answer was eventually simple – No one would suspect a cat infiltrating, snatching a Hypnosis Microphone which was the real deal and mastering it. At least that was her intention. How did she gain this intel? She was part of the Chuohku for some time, only to spy on them and rat them out for her own purposes. Hence why she even had her hands on one of those microphones to begin with and was studying them… All while making sure to adjust Ole’s tests so that he would learn how to use one, communicate with one in fact. It succeeded in the end but… He would trade this life.

Maybe others would be fascinated, admiring it even.

Perhaps some cats on the streets would admire him for it but it was torture in its own right. He could never lay down and just enjoy a nice nap or his food in peace. No, he was plagued with so many thoughts… His sole purpose even. He was an old man by now and honestly, he may as well have lived his life. He was about to throw the towel even, not having the energy to keep up with this insane woman. He just wanted this to end so badly… It was hell, he wanted to scream. Back then he wanted to survive but he was probably four or five years older than his expected life span by then. If he was to give in now he would not even raise any suspicion… And if it had not been for them, this may as well have become his fate.

It was about to be like any other day and honestly, Ole was already halfway there. The scientist had grumbled and yelled at him all morning, acting up because he still did not touch his food. He didn’t listen though, only turning around and getting himself somewhat comfortable in this tiny space. She could yell all she wanted, he would not listen and take even a bite. No more, this was it! He has had enough! It will be better this way any—

“Halt! Stay where you are!” A loud voice would silence everything, making even this cat perk up his ears and wag them curiously. What was going on? Who was there!? Actually, he thought other people were just a myth! He never had seen anyone else! And yet, when he took a turn and looked past the back of the scientist he saw… Two people, two figures.

One of them was taller than the other. In fact, the taller one had a similar build to Ole’s owner which made him cautious for a moment, almost wanting to hide. And yet, this figure’s attention was not on him. He did not see any colors, how could he, yet he could make out shapes. Long, somewhat messy hair, one eye covered up and the mouth having even a mask over it. A hat, jacket, shirt (maybe, it was hard to tell for Ole) and a skirt.

Next to her was a figure with a build he had never seen before. It looked so different from what this cat’s eyes were used to, he didn’t know what to make of it at first. It was confusing. No assets whatsoever, may as well be a board. And yet, he stood there with an off putting smile, all while something was in his mouth. The clothes were also unlike anything Ole had seen. He later learned it was some oversized hoodie, a shirt and jeans. Oh, and the bowtie as well, do not forget that. That didn’t change the unusual presence this guy had given off, making Ole all the more curious for a moment.

Regardless, the conversation continued, with him just being in the cage and watching it going down, listening to it even.

“Hah!? What the— The Executioner!? How did you find this base!?” The scientist asked, trying to sound innocent yet the frustration had been written all in her voice. “A… And even bringing one of those cute clones~ A present?”

“Please stop joking around. Which sane individual would give you anything?” The so called ‘Executioner’ sighed, shaking her head.

“Oh, you think I’m cute? Thank you Onee–San~” The other figure said awfully cheery, which only earned him a glare in return from the taller figure.

“Amemura, this is not the time.”

“Eh? You’re cold y’know!” He pouted. “Are you a party pooper or are you just jealous? Be–”

“I don’t have time for your shit.” She interrupted in an awfully harsh tone, making just about anyone flinch. Even Ole did for a moment, ready to turn to stone at any moment.

However, the other figure only stared at her for a few moments before shifting his own gaze, becoming colder from one moment to the next. “You’re a real pain in the ass to work with, you know.” He responded, the voice having suddenly gone deeper, way deeper. Yeah, this cat knew something was up here. This didn’t feel right… “Why the hell am I even supposed to be here? Ah wait, I know why. So they don’t dispose of their precious weapon. Gimme a fucking break.”

Instead of responding The Executioner just decided to ignore that remark and turn back to the scientist, facing her yet again. Just when she was going to try to make a run for it. “It wasn’t that difficult to locate your whereabouts. Eager to return to your secret base in Osaka, aren’t you?” She even scoffed while stepping inside closer, the other figure following her close behind. “Huh, talk ‘bout the amount of toys you have.”

“T… Toys? That–” Ole’s owner was trying to counter yet Executioner didn’t give her the time to begin with.

“I don’t really care. I just want this job to be done with. You’ll come with us, whether you like it or not.”

“Hah!? Over my dead body! You can’t make me!”

“Heh, bet we can.” The third said, the grin becoming even more evident as he was grabbing into the inside of his jacket. However, before he could pull anything out he was suddenly grabbed by one of the shoulders by the taller figure and shoved to the side, almost crashing into something. It had caught him off guard, his own eyes widening for a short moment. “What the— Hey, this isn’t–”

“Just stay back, we’re not gonna need this thing.”

“Hah!? The hell are you—”

“Just stay the fuck back. I handle this my way.” Before anyone could even say a thing The Executioner pulled out a microphone of her own, it being obvious what microphone it was. A Hypnosis Microphone, what else would it be?

The next moments would be a spectacle of their own, the cat memorizing it clearly. He didn’t remember each word, he didn’t need to though. It was something else. The moment the woman’s words would echo through this microphone he had to roll his ears together so that he would not feel any pain coming from it. All while the scientist was wobbling on her knees quickly before falling right onto them, screaming in pain from the top of her very own lungs. She looked as if she was begging and yet there would be no mercy. One verse after the other seemed to bring her pain, so much so that she was in utter agony. It was visible and anyone would feel at least a shred of sympathy… If it had not been for years being stuck with her this cat would but it was too late now, he was not feeling the slightest bit of pity for this woman and he never will at this rate.

It was only a short lived moment to be honest yet a sight Ole will never forget. It was almost as if she had it coming to be honest and he couldn’t be happier… Though perhaps this was twisted to think. She was soon knocked out on the floor, The Executioner not paying the other woman any other mind. She may as well have been an insect at this point. She even sighed while mumbling to herself. “If you wanna trick the Chuohku, you gotta do it better than this. The big bosses have seen through your facade in no time.”

All while she came… Closer? It took a bit to process but this Executioner… Came closer. It made Ole nearly back away in his tiny cage but the closer she came the… More he felt at ease? That is odd. Despite her figure looking like the scientist’s… He didn’t feel like running. In fact, The Executioner’s scent was… Not even close to that of the other woman’s. She didn’t even smell like one… Or something… Ole couldn’t put it into words but the scent threw him off for some reason and made him stay oddly calm. Should that even be possible? As she got closer however she and the other person in the room talked.

“What was that for? I was supposed to–” He wanted to say but got interrupted.

“So what? They may as well save their resources and not waste it on some piece of garbage.”

“Someone’s got a big mouth I see… I don’t get it. Why the hell would you not let me do my thing? Anyone else would’ve.”

“Amemura, is my name ‘Anyone Else’?”

“Tch, that answer. Classic.” A quick click from his tongue, he seemed agitated, to the point he put something out of the inner pocket, this time with success. It was some package of— Wait, Ole saw it before. Those sticks which stink like hell. He had to endure it with this scientist before. And yet his nose would not be saved, smelling the smoke even from the distance they were in and spotting the guy inhaling and then exhaling, as if taking a deep breath.

“Can’t you do that outside?” The Executioner asked, slightly annoyed.

“Who cares? No one else is here.”

“I am.”

“So what?”

“Hah, nevermind.”

“You still didn’t answer my question… Why did you stop me? If it’s for this so called ‘my sake’ then–”

“No, not really. It was less for your sake and more for my own.” She interrupted, having stepped as close as possible towards Ole now and reaching her hand out. He was confused if he should yet he tapped closer eventually, even if slowly, sniffing her hand to remember her scent.

“Hah? The hell does that mean?”

“I know what I said.”

As they spoke he kept on sniffing. Ole didn’t dislike the scent, came to like it fairly quickly in fact. Was this it? Was he saved? Was she responsible for that? He eyed her for a moment, though not being able to make much out of her face. And yet he felt at ease. Was she smiling beneath that mask perhaps? It was hard to say. He hoped so at least. She was anything but hostile after all. Even when she had opened the cage and picked him up, it was more as if he was embraced. It felt warm yet unusual, something he didn’t expect nor had ever felt. But… He didn’t hate it. Not at all. It was a nice feeling, making the cat nuzzle slightly against the person. He felt… Safe. As if the worst was over now.

“I think that thing should stay there.”

“I’m not going to leave a cat in that small space. Who knows for how long he’s been in there.”

“Ugh… You care too much y’know. It’s kinda annoying.”

“Don’t worry, I will request to never go on a mission with ‘Amemura 001’ again.”

“You…”

“Besides, not like they’ll let me handle one of you on my own ever again after this.”

“Tch, so you’re aware…”

“But that’s fine. The others are even more of a pain to deal with.”

“Tch, whatever…”

That was the day Ole had seen her for the first time… No… Them. That was when he and Ann met, though the cat did not know it at first. If it had not been for them, he would probably not even be here. They saved him, this old man of a cat. He quickly learnt what had been going down in this family, how their mother did a sudden 180 and is no longer herself… Their Dad being kicked out and the climate becoming more and more strained… To the point even Ann was thrown out. Ole had seen the pain, or at least parts of it. So, if he can put his cursed skills to use, he will. For their sake, to repay them. After all, he owed them for freeing him, didn’t he?

Yeah. So until this has been resolved he will not pass on. He will make sure of it!

And besides, he soon had two youngsters to take care off. And he cannot leave them. At least not until their mission has been completed. CATZ needs Ole and it is the only reason he will use his cursed existence for the better. Just hold out a little longer… He can make it until then at least. For their sake… Ann’s and Eli’s. Yeah, their sake, and no one else's. He will make sure they succeed, grow and will be in good hands. Then he might be able to move on peacefully.

#Deep Waters #fanfiction #fanfic #fic #oneshot #one shot #hypnosis mic #hypmic #hypnosis mic oc #hypmic oc #ramuda amemura #amemura ramuda #hypmic ramuda #tw implied animal abuse #cw implied animal abuse

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ikeromantic · 2 years

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Hi, I like your rescue the mc for Mitsuhide story so can you do something similar for Chevalier or Licht?

So this one took me a bit to put together. I chose to write for Licht (Chev has a rescue scene already that will be posted as part of the route re-write). So, here goes! Approx. 2000 words of Licht rescuing his beloved Belle. TW for implied animal abuse and off-screen animal death, and for violence.

Licht glanced at the edge of crimson sun as it slid below the horizon. The hour was late, and there was no sign of Emma yet. He felt a flicker of annoyance, with worry quick on its heels. She should be back to her rooms by now, but it was just him and a pile of books.

He waited past sunset and into full dark. Still no sign of the Belle, though a servant had come by to turn down her sheets and fluff her pillows.

Was there some event today, he wondered. Perhaps a dinner or an outing Sariel failed to inform him of. That scenario seemed unlikely. Both for the idea Sariel would forget anything and that even if he had, Rio would be here waiting with him.

Licht tired of waiting and set off to find Sariel. He promised himself if the councilor was at fault, he was going to quit this job. Guarding the Belle was simply too much to ask, especially when she disappeared on him like this and made him worry.

Sariel was in his office as usual. When Licht asked about Belle’s location, the councilor’s eyebrow twitched before he answered. Even the devil has tells, the prince thought. “Perhaps she ran into one of your brothers. I’ll send a servant to inquire,” Sariel told him.

“Do that.” Licht was already turning to leave.

“Are you going back to her room?”

“No.” Licht did not elaborate. He readied a horse and rode out from the palace, thoughts churning. He knew Sariel didn’t believe the Belle was with his brothers. He trusted the councilor would search the palace high and low for her, but Licht had a feeling she was not there.

It was that vague sense of guilt that crept into his chest like a cold fog when he knew he’d brought someone more misfortune. He’d warned her so many times to stay clear of him, but she never listened. Licht could see her in his mind’s eye, lips lifted in a sweet smile. Her voice calling to him, telling him how much she adored him. Ignoring the danger to herself every moment he was near.

That was why he knew she couldn’t just be somewhere in the palace. No. His ill-fortune was not so kind to those close to him.

The first place he checked in town was the bookstore. When he woke the owner, Licht learned that she had been there and left with an armful of books, Rio in tow. But he didn’t know where she went after that.

Licht checked the cafes and bakeries. Yes, she was sighted, and no . . . no one knew where she went. He was almost mad with not knowing. His Belle was gone and he feared he might never find her. That she would be gone, never knowing that he . . . that he . . .

“M-mister?”

The prince glanced down to find a scrawny street urchin huddled in the alley beside the bakery he’d just left. He couldn’t tell how old the kid was, or much else. The child wore oversized clothes more patched than whole, and probably held together by the layers of grime that coated them, skin, hair, and fabric alike.

“Yes?” Licht squatted down to look the kid in the eye.

“Are you looking for the nice l-lady?”

He tilted his head, studying the child. “I am. Did you see her? Do you know where she went when she left here?”

The kid bit their lip nervously. “I . . . I . . .”

“There is a reward if you tell me.”

“I don’t want no reward.” The kid huffed. “Just, you gotta tell me mister. Are you her friend?”

Licht considered. Technically, he was her bodyguard right now. But he didn’t want to explain to this child the complicated nuance of their relationship.”Yes.”

“Alright. She gave me some bread and then she went that way.” The kid pointed. “But some men stopped her. They said they was taking her to a special place. And if she didn’t go, they was gonna hurt her other friend. The blonde one.”

Licht felt his chest still, a frozen pond that made him brittle and cold all over. “Where is this special place? Did you see the blonde friend again?” He tried to keep his voice gentle, but knew it came out flat.

“I don’t know about the blonde guy. Maybe they got him too? But they said where they were going with the nice lady,” the kid swallowed, “they took her to the basement of that tavern. The bad one.”

“The bad one?” Licht wasn’t sure what the child meant. There were a number of disreputable spots in town, places where criminals gathered and illegal activities were housed. “Which? What does it look like?”

“It’s got the two dogs on the sign. Fighting.”

The prince knew immediately which one that was. Sariel shut it down several times on complaints of animal cruelty and other petty crimes. Nothing like kidnapping or - or worse. “Thank you.” He gave the kid a tense smile and then tossed him a gold coin. “Go and find the nearest guardsman. Tell him Prince Licht is rescuing the - ah - a noble lady from Contest. Can you do that?”

“Uh. Yeah. Ok.” The kid pocketed the coin.

Licht didn’t wait for more. He ran.

The tavern came into sight at the end of a narrow dirt lane. The houses along this street slumped on their lots, upper stories leaning out over the road on rotted beams and peeling boards. The windows here had no glass. Some had bars or shutters barely hanging from their hinges. None had lights inside, not even the flicker of a burning candle. That made Contest stand out.

It was a beacon of warm light and raucous laughter, filled to the brim with men of questionable disposition and ladies with eyes as hard as granite. The smell of it wafted on the night’s breeze, liquor and piss and vomit, the sweat of unwashed bodies. Licht could not imagine his delicate Belle in such a place.

He considered going through the front door. It was guarded by two large men who wore leather saps at their belt and likely carried knives under their coats. Licht knew he could take them, probably before either called for help. But then he’d have to pass through the whole common room to find the basement entry and while he fought forward, anything might happen to the Belle in the rooms below.

Risking her safety was not acceptable. Not when it was his fault she was here.

Licht carefully crept around to a side alley and slipped behind the tavern. The space back here was littered with garbage and the corpses of small animals. It seemed they still held dog fights here, and other even uglier spectacles. He ignored the queasy sights and focused on finding a rear entrance.

There was a backdoor here that likely led into a storeroom or kitchen, but he passed it hoping for some better option. It seemed he had some good luck for that at least. On the left side of the tavern, in a narrow gap between buildings, he spotted a pair of cellar doors.

The wood of them was rotted enough for light to pour through a myriad of cracks and tiny holes. Someone had thought to set a padlock on it, but the black iron of the lock was set into the soft boards.

He listened outside the door for a moment. There were voices inside, but fewer than the crowd in the common room. Licht could not make out what they were saying, but he gauged around five men. There could be more if some were silent. A wiser course of action would be to wait and assess. To get backup. But he couldn’t let Belle linger there another moment. He would die first.

Licht crashed through the door and landed on the stairs below. His entrance drew every eye in the room. There were far more than five men. There were twenty at least. More than any sane swordsman would take on alone. Not that these men looked keen to try. He took a breath, trying to quickly analyze the situation.

Most of the people down here were sitting in chairs, hands curled around little paddles with numbers on them. They did not appear to be armed though a few carried ostentatious decorative canes or thin dueling swords. The danger came from the five men on the stage.

One stood at the head as if addressing the seated audience. Two held a struggling woman between them. She had a sign around her neck that read, ‘Jadedite Beauty’. Two other men stood beside a line of chained women, each with signs hanging from their necks. There were cages too, and in them, bound men. Rio was one, his eyes swollen shut, his face and body bruised. The men were clearly guards, and carried saps and riding crops at their hips.

Licht’s eyes sought his Belle of their own accord. And she was there. Standing shackled beside one of the guards. Her arms were bruised and her lips were split and swollen. The sign on her neck read, ‘Plaything of Princes’. Her eyes met his and Licht saw in them a flash of desperate hope.

That was the last thing he really saw before his vision turned crimson, a red fog that pulsed in time with his heartbeat. He did not consciously think to draw his sword, but found it in his hands. His body was moving, pulled forward by an incandescent rage at seeing her treated like this. That it would happen to any woman was a horror but his Belle, his kind, pure-hearted Belle . . .

The next minutes were a blur. Blood and shrieking voices, the hot sting of his own pain and the smell of copper. When Licht came back to himself, he was kneeling in front of her, his face pressed to her gown. Hot tears mixed with the spattered gore on his cheeks and stained the fabric of the Belle’s skirt.

She stroked his hair, whispering a flood of endearments and gratitude.

Around them lay bodies, the five kidnappers and several of their customers. Anyone who stood between Licht and the Belle. Their captives stood or crouched nearby, still in shock. Freedom hadn’t settled yet in their bones.

Licht looked up at his Belle as if there was no one else there, not in the room, perhaps not in all of Rhodolite. “I’m sorry,” he said, his voice catching. His throat was tight and the words tore like barbed metal. “This was all my fault.”

“You’re . . . Licht, no,” she replied. “I shouldn’t have sent Rio off on errands. You and Sariel warned me and I - I . . .” Her eyes widened as she looked down at him. “Licht! You’re hurt!” She knelt in front of him, her hands trembling as she touched the bloodied edges of his clothes where daggers had torn both fabric and flesh.

He shook his head and his vision swam. “I’m not important. But you, are you ok?”

“How can you say that? How can you say you’re not important when . . . to me you - you matter most?” She hugged him gently, carefully, her arms held just barely touching.

Licht pulled her close, not caring about the sharp burning agony that lanced through him. He deserved that and worse. His fault. Though he knew he should be pushing the Belle away, he couldn’t let go. Not yet. He promised himself he would - he had to, for her sake - but just a little longer with her in his arms. Because she needed the comfort. He laid his cheek atop her hair and let the sweet, clean scent of her wash away the stench of the basement and felt guilty for the peace it brought him.

Pinpricks of shadow dotted his vision, swarming until Licht could not tell if his eyes were open or closed. If he died now, like this, he thought, that would be alright. “I hate you,” he whispered, or perhaps only thought the words. Though in his mind and on his lips they meant - love adore worship - something very different.

#ikemen prince #ikepri licht #licht klein #fanfiction #fanfic #otome #otome guys #drama #tw violence #tw implied animal abuse

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cardinal-contest-king · 1 month

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You know, if your roserade ever warms up to you, maybe it would be able to help take care of that berry, being a grass type and all?

Yeah, that's true! I hope she likes me sooner rather than later.. she's real pretty, and really should be able to just.. relax. I don't think she hated me for no reason. She was always.. tense. And on guard. I can tell she's been hurt before... so maybe gardening will help her out too?

#ruby posts #rotomblr #asks #tw implied animal abuse #tw implied pokemon abuse

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talonslockau · 3 months

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Forest of Secrets - Chapter 7

Chapter 6 || Index || Chapter 8

WARNING: This chapter contains animal husbandry from the perspective of animals. There will be themes of: dubious consent, pregnancy, abortion, and implied animal abuse.

If you do not want to read any of the above, the chapter summary below describes all the important plot beats going forward. If you do wish to read the chapter, see below the cut. Chapter summary for those who wish to skip: Fireheart visits with Princess and learns that she is carrying kits. Seeking to help her, he brings Yellowfang and Dewpaw to speak with his sister under Tigerclaw's nose. They bring back some catmint to use for any leafbare greencough, and Fireheart learns about the greencough epidemic the leafbare before he joined, in which many older warriors and elders died, including Peppermask's grandmother Swiftbreeze.

The days grew colder and colder as the last of the leaves dropped from their trees onto the forest below. Fireheart shivered as he passed between the barren bushes, his long puffed fur not keeping him warm enough in the cold leafbare morning. He had told Tigerclaw he was off hunting near Tallpines, hoping that the location far from camp would yield more prey. While he would, eventually, the truth was a little different.

“Princess!” He called over the fence, trying to keep his voice light even as his body shook from the cold. It was about this season that he had first been taken from the nursery to his new Twoleg home, and something about it made him long for his sister’s comfort more than ever. He wouldn’t dare tell anyone in the Clan that, of course, as they would surely make fun of him for having such kittypet weakness, but he knew his sister would understand.

Cold silence filled the air around him as he stood there, waiting for her to appear. Perhaps she was in her Twoleg nest, curled up beside her Twoleg for warmth. They had plush beds that kept heat long after the body that had warmed it was gone, and burning fires that they kept in little stone dens to warm their nests. Very few kittypets would be willing to brave the cold when they had all of that at their paws, and he couldn’t say he blamed them.

Still, he thought - he hoped - that his sister would come out, at least for a little while, to talk to him. “Princess?” He called again, unable to keep the apprehension from creeping into his voice. She took longer before, when he had come to the wrong garden, but he was certain he had the right one this time. And yet, as he stood there and shivered patiently, there was still no response.

Maybe she just hadn’t heard him? He hesitated, not sure if he should call for her louder. He didn’t want even the cats in Riverclan camp to hear him crying for a kittypet, though, and part of him worried what might happen if a Twoleg heard his yowl. Maybe he could enter her garden, just this once?

Still, as he bunched up his legs for the jump, part of him held back. He recalled Lionheart’s dire warning when Bluestar had first extended the offer for him to join Thunderclan; “If you did become a Clan cat, you would never return to your Twolegplace. If you did, then you would be exiled.” Just the mere threat was enough to make him shiver, not from the cold, but from fear.

He shook his head. They had meant that he couldn’t return to being a kittypet. And he wasn’t going to! He would only talk to his sister, nothing more. He wouldn’t even go in the Twoleg’s nest. It would be fine.

His mind made up, he jumped to the top of the fence in one easy bound. He hesitated at the top, looking down into his sister’s garden. It was filled with flowers, much like his own garden had been, although they were dying off now that the frost had come. In the center was a circular stone floor; a ‘patio’, they had called it; with spindly chairs and a table on top of it. His own Twolegs had had a similar setup, though they had rarely used it.

He still didn’t see Princess as he scanned the flowers. Where had she gone? His heart quickened as he imagined her entering the forest searching for him. But surely that would have been news amongst Thunderclan? Unless she-

A flash of motion from the Twoleg nest caught his attention, and he was about to leap back the way he had come when he realized it was Princess emerging from the cat flap. “Princess!” He mewed happily from where he sat on the fence. “Why didn’t you say something? You had me worried!”

“I’m sorry, Fireheart.” Her voice was even softer than he remembered it, and he frowned as he looked down at her. Her tawny pelt, normally silky and smooth, looked as though it hadn’t been groomed in several days. Her tail was low, brushing against the ground, and even her emerald eyes seemed to have lost their spark as she looked up at him. “I… I suppose I must not have heard you the first time.”

“What’s wrong?” He asked with a frown. “Is it because I almost entered your garden? I’m sorry. I can stay outside, if you prefer.”

She hesitated, then slowly shook her head. “No, it’s not you. I’m sorry, Fireheart, I just…” Her voice trailed off as she slowly looked down to her slightly dirty white paws.

He glanced around, looking for any sign that someone might spot him, but the forest and Twolegplace were both still and quiet. Gathering himself, he leaped down into her garden, fur prickling in worry as he pressed into her side. “What’s wrong? You look-” He cut himself off. Life in the Clan had quickly taught him that making comments on a molly’s appearance was a bad idea. “Are you sick? Did something happen? If any cat attacked you, I’ll-”

“No, Fireheart. I haven’t been attacked.” He blinked gently at her as she interrupted him. She looked briefly up into his eyes, before squeezing them shut and turning away. “Fireheart, I- I think I’m going to have kits.”

“Huh?” He stared at her in confusion. He knew what that meant; after all, Goldenflower had carried Frostfur’s kits, back when he was an apprentice. But they had been mates, and they were both queens, and that was normal for them. There had been talk of Whitestorm and Lionheart having kits come newleaf, thanks to the Clan’s queens. But they too were mates that cared deeply for each other. “You’ve never even told me you had a mate!”

“I don’t.” She was on the verge of tears as she looked back down at her paws. “I don’t- I don’t know if I even want kits, Fireheart!”

He stared at her, his mind racing. None of that made any sense. And yet, he knew that he loved his sister, the only family he had, and that whatever else happened, it was his responsibility to help her. “Tell me what happened.” He mewed at last, padding over to sit beside her and beginning to gently lick at her forehead.

“Oh, Fireheart. I don’t know what to do. I’m all confused inside.” She cried, tears dripping down her cheeks even as her eyes were screwed shut. “I- I trusted them. My housefolk, they’ve always been so good to me, but now… I don’t know. I don’t know!”

He didn’t answer for several moments as he lapped at one of her ears. “Why don’t you start from the beginning?” He finally suggested to her.

She hesitated, then nodded softly, letting out a small hiccup as she did. “It all started about a moon ago. My housefolk, they took me to the vet. It was this big, strange smelling place with all white floors and walls. Another housefolk, they came in and felt me all over and poked me a few times with strange claws. It was weird, but it seemed like it made my housefolk happy, so I just smiled and purred.”

He stopped washing her for a moment as something in what she said tugged at the back of his mind. “We’ve been to the vet before, haven’t we? When we were young kits.” He mewed softly. “Our mother’s housefolk, they put us all in a big hard box with a little door. They poked us with those big claws then, too.”

“They did!” She seemed surprised at the mention of it, then gave him a weak purr. “Do you remember how our littlest brother howled when they first poked him?”

“Do I ever! You would’ve thought they were killing him.” Fireheart shook his head bemusedly at the memory. “That was just before we went to our new housefolk, wasn’t it?”

“It was.” She was suddenly somber again, and he gently lapped at her cheek twice before moving on to groom her neck. “My housefolk took me in one of those boxes to the vet last moon as well. It wasn’t… it wasn’t fun, but they seemed pleased with themselves, so I just let them do it.” She flicked her ear sadly. “But then, a few days ago, they put me in that box again and carried me back out to the Monster.”

“Again?” He mewed in surprise. The box, as he recalled, had been a very rare occurrence when he had lived as a kittypet. “Why would they take you back to the vet?”

“That’s what I thought, at first.” She replied, her voice tinged with regret. “But they took me somewhere else, instead. They put me in a nice room, with furniture and scratching posts and lots of food and water. And… and there was a tom.” She choked up for a moment. “His name was Oliver.”

Fireheart flicked an ear to show he had heard, but said nothing yet. “He asked me if I knew where I was, and I told him I didn’t. He told me that was normal, and he’d tell me everything.” Tears started flowing from her eyes, staining her tawny fur a dark brown. “He told- He said that he was what housefolk called a ‘stud’, and that other housefolk brought him their cats so they could have his kits. I asked him why, and he said he didn’t know, but that the housefolk got very angry at him if he didn’t do his job, so…”

The ginger warrior struggled to understand what she was saying. “So the housefolk make him father all these kits? But why?”

“Yes- no- maybe? I don’t know.” She struggled to find the right words. The young tom pressed closer into his sister’s side and began lapping at her fur faster. “He said that the housefolk would get really excited when the queens had kits, and they’d take good care of them before giving them to other housefolk. Sometimes the same queens would come back, and that’s how he knew, but not all the time. Sometimes, he thinks they would then go to different ‘studs’ instead.”

Her whole body was shaking now, though her fur still held the warmth of the Twoleg nest. “He was so nice, and my housefolk were so gentle when they came back for me, but I hated it. I hated it!” She howled it out into the cold, still air, icy tendrils curling around her mouth as she did so. “Do you think this is going to be the rest of my life, Fireheart? Having kits to make the housefolk happy?”

He didn’t know how to answer that. In the Clans, kits always seemed to be a joyous occasion. They were new life, and they would eventually become new warriors that served the Clan. That was a good thing. But the queens did so happily, and they never seemed to harbor doubts about their role in Clan life, not like his sister was.

“Do you think that the same thing happened to our mother?” Princess asked softly as she stared out at the flowers in her garden. “Do you think she’s had another litter by now?”

“I- I don’t know.” Fireheart meowed at last. “She seemed happy around us. She seemed to love us.”

“She seemed to, though.” The light brown molly’s body was wracked by another sobbing fit. “What if she didn’t? What if she only did it because she thought she had to?”

Had their mother been happy? He wished he could go fetch her, or one of the queens, to talk about it with her. But if he did, then the whole Clan would surely know that he had been talking to a kittypet. What cat in the Clan could he trust to keep such a secret? As he thought about it, he realized he might have an answer to that question.

“Princess, I won’t leave if you don’t want me to, but I think I know a cat that might be able to help you.” He mewed softly. “She- she takes care of all the queens in our Clan. She’s seen a lot in her long life. Maybe she knows of something that can help you.”

His sister was silent for a long time. Just as he thought she might not have heard him, she shifted away slightly. “Help me how?” She asked distrustfully.

“I- I mean, like I said, she takes care of all the queens in our Clan, and the kits when they get sick. She probably knows a lot more about being a queen than I do.” He thought back through all the interactions he’d had with Yellowfang. “And she treats them with herbs, too, to help them with their kits. Maybe… maybe she knows something about preventing queens from having kits, as well?” He didn’t know if such a thing existed, or if queens would even have use for such a thing. He didn’t know a lot, as he was very quickly realizing.

They sat in tense silence for a long moment. “If you think she’ll help.” Princess finally agreed with a small dip of her head, beginning to lap at her chest fur, though he could tell her heart wasn’t in it.

“I- I hope she will.” He didn’t know for sure, but he had to have hope. “I’ll be right back, regardless of whether she agrees to come or not. Okay?” As his sister flicked her tail farewell, he turned and bounded back out of the garden.

He encountered no cat within the forest: all were busy on other patrols. He raced through the forest, not daring to stop for anything. Luckily, nothing disturbed him.

At least, not until he dashed through the bramble entrance into camp. “Where are you going?” He flinched as he heard Tigerclaw’s familiar growl from near the leader’s den, and turned to see the dark tabby watching him. “I thought you were out hunting.”

“I was!” He panted, winded from running back so quickly. “But- I saw a flower- still growing- saw Yellowfang- use it once-”

The deputy’s lip curled in a grimace. “And that’s enough for you to come back to camp without any prey?” He snarled down at the young warrior. “The Clan needs food, not herbs.”

“I know, but I-” He noticed Dewpaw slip out from the healer’s den. “Dewpaw!” He called quickly. The small tabby molly perked up at the call, and scanned the clearing to notice him and Tigerclaw. She padded over with a polite smile to the both of them. “Can you convince Tigerclaw for me? I saw a rare flower in the forest, one that I think Yellowfang needs.”

She looked a bit confused at his statement, but her ears perked forward nonetheless. “What did this rare flower look like?” She asked him quickly.

He hesitated. Was she calling his bluff? “It- it was golden. Like the sun. But it had orange flecks too!” He stared at her, pleading with her to understand the hint. It was exactly the same way that he had described Redtail’s eyes to her, as proof that he wasn’t lying about seeing the former deputy’s spirit.

Her eyes widened, and she nodded quickly. “Oh yes! That sounds like the firefern. It only blooms for a few days, after the first frost, but we can use it to cure suncough. Yellowfang will want you to show her where immediately!” She turned to Tigerclaw, a scowl quickly coming to her face. “As for you! Why would you detain a warrior that is only trying to help his Clan thrive? Just because you’re deputy now doesn’t mean you can interfere with healer affairs!” She flicked her tail for Fireheart to leave, clearly prepared to square up to the deputy for him.

He gratefully scuttled away, leaving the two to bicker behind him as he sped into Yellowfang’s den. The grizzled molly was pawing through the herbs, mumbling to herself about stocks and supplies. “Yellowfang!” He whispered urgently. “I need your help, but I also need you to keep it a secret from the Clan. Can I trust you to do that?”

The healer paused, and for a few heartbeats he wondered if she was thinking about yowling for someone to help. Instead, she turned to face him. “I’ve kept Redtail a secret, haven’t I?” She replied in her usual bitter growl. “What is so important that you would need my help, of all things?”

“I-” He hesitated, trying to figure out where to start. “I’ve been meeting with my sister. She’s a kittypet, in the Twolegplace.” Yellowfang’s ear flicked, but she didn’t seem very surprised by the admission. “She thinks she’s going to have kits, but she’s not sure if she wants them, either. It- it’s complicated. I think she can explain better than I can.”

The old molly regarded him with a stern copper gaze. “You want me to use my limited stores to treat a kittypet?” She asked him slowly, a fiery spark in her eye.

“I- maybe? If she needs it. Look, I just- I want you to talk to her, at least. She needs someone that isn’t a mousebrain to help her, and I just can’t do it alone.” He pleaded with her, hoping that she would agree rather than reveal to the Clan what he had been doing the past few moons.

She stared at him a little longer. “I’ll talk to her. But only if Dewpaw can come along.” As Fireheart bristled, opening his mouth to reply, she shushed him with a flick of her tail. “These are rare healer secrets you’re asking me to use, and as my apprentice she should be there to learn them. You know as well as I do that Dewpaw will never reveal your secret to the Clan either.”

He hesitated. He hadn’t told Princess that he would be bringing back two cats. Yet, he couldn’t deny Yellowfang’s request either. “Alright.” He admitted with a sigh. “Just- be gentle with my sister, won’t you? She’s very confused right now, and scared, and I don’t want her to be hurt more.”

Yellowfang chuffed in amusement. “I’ll treat her however I very well please, thank you. Now, then; the Twolegplace, you said?” She asked, beginning to push past him.

“Yes. I’ll show you the way.” As she moved towards the entrance, he remembered Tigerclaw and Dewpaw were still likely arguing in the clearing. “Wait! Before you go out there, I, uhm, lied to Tigerclaw to come see you. I told him I had seen a rare flower while out hunting, and Dewpaw said it was a ‘firefern’, which treats suncough, or something.”

The old healer snorted. “At least she’s better at improvising than you are.” With that, Fireheart followed her out of the den and towards where the deputy and apprentice were still bickering. “Dewpaw! Come on! That firefern isn’t going to last very long in this frost!”

The two turned to look at Yellowfang storming her way across camp, the ginger warrior on her tail. “Right away, Yellowfang!” She chirped, trotting beside Fireheart as they headed for the bramble entrance. He could hear Tigerclaw yowl something at them as they exited, but he didn’t want to put the energy or thought into puzzling out what the deputy was saying.

His heart raced faster than his paws as he led the two healers to his sister, filling Dewpaw in on the way. He was risking a lot, and he knew that, but he also knew that he would do anything in his power to help her, and this was hopefully one such thing.

It seemed impossibly long before he saw the treeline, and beyond that the fence of his sister’s garden. He slowed to a halt at the edge of the trees. “Wait here until I call for you. She’s scared, and I don’t think she’ll react well to two strangers appearing in her garden without warning, even if I’m with you.”

Yellowfang nodded and sat down, muttering something to Dewpaw he didn’t catch as he bounded out to the Twoleg fence. He leaped over to find her sitting in the same place he had left her, shivering in the cold but waiting determinedly for him nonetheless.

“I’m back.” He mewed softly, rubbing his cheek against hers in greeting. “I brought back the cat I was telling you about. Her name is Yellowfang. She might look scary, but I promise you, she’s the best healer I’ve ever met.”

“I- Okay.” Her white-tipped tail twitched nervously at his words, but she didn't voice any worries she might have.

“She also brought her apprentice, Dewpaw. She’s training to be a healer, like how I was training to be a warrior.” His sister stiffened at his words, but he quickly held up his tail to hush her. “It was the only way I could get Yellowfang to agree to help. And I promise that Dewpaw is much nicer than her mentor. She’s about our age, and she’s very understanding.”

Princess stared down at her paws for a moment before finally nodding almost imperceptibly. “Okay. If you believe it’s for the best, I believe you.”

“I do.” He nuzzled her once more and bounded back up to the top of the fence. “You two can come out now.”

The healers came out from the bushes warily before they scrambled over the top of the fence, evidently not quite used to having to make such high leaps. As they all dropped down into the garden, Dewpaw looked around with wonder. “There’s so many herbs here! And- is that catmint?” She gasped as she caught sight of a frosted, bushy plant. “Yellowfang-”

“Hush, child.” Yellowfang murmured. “If his sister allows it, perhaps we can harvest some to take back with us. But we have a job to do first.”

Princess’ green eyes were wide as she stared at the two new wild cats. “You’re Fireheart’s friends?” She asked cautiously, though she didn’t move away as they approached.

“His Clanmates, yes.” Yellowfang replied, though he could tell she was holding back the barbs she would normally have used in response to being called his ‘friend’. “My name is Yellowfang. I am responsible for healing all manner of ailments in our Clan, both mental and physical.” She drew Dewpaw closer with her tail. “This is my apprentice, Dewpaw. She is learning to do the same from me. She is here solely to observe, and will only speak if you ask her to.”

The little apprentice sat primly beside the grizzled old healer and nodded to affirm her words, though didn’t speak as though she were sitting vigil. “Uh- Thank you, Yellowfang, Dewpaw.” His sister mewed, though he could tell she was still wary of them as she glanced at Fireheart. “Did- did my brother tell you everything?”

“He told us enough.” Yellowfang responded as she also sat down beside her apprentice. “But whatever you feel comfortable sharing with me is up to you. We are here to help you, whatever you think that might entail.”

The grizzled molly caught Fireheart moving close out of the corner of her eye, and turned to give him a surprisingly dirty glare. “Why don’t you go run off and do whatever it is you warriors do when you’re not bothering us?” She growled at him. “Go chase mice, or whatever. Don’t worry; we’ll take care of your sister.”

He hesitated, glancing to his sister for her approval, but she gave him a quick nod. He had to trust that Yellowfang would treat her well. “Alright. I’ll be hunting nearby; you can yowl if you need me.” With that, he jumped to the top of the fence separating the Twolegplace and the forest, taking one last look behind him at the three mollies. They were huddled close together, murmuring softly, and as he watched Yellowfang gently cleaned one of his sister’s ears while she leaned into it. The simple act made him smile, and with more confidence he bounded off into the forest, looking to return to camp laden with prey.

He didn’t return to camp until just before sunhigh, carrying a cardinal and a mouse that he had managed to catch on the way back. Though Tigerclaw glared as he walked by, the deputy said nothing as he put his prey where the freshkill pile would be. Most of the prey had been distributed out for sharing tongues; as he looked up, he could see most cats clustered around the fringes of camp, including two familiar mollies sharing a robin.

He bounded over, the anxiety he’d felt leaving Princess alone with the healers suddenly welling up once more. Just as he stopped in front of Yellowfang, mouth open to issue a greeting, she held up a paw to stop him. “I already know what you’re going to ask.” She rasped at him, swiping her tongue around her mouth to collect some stray flecks of prey. “And I can’t answer anything. If you want to know what happened, you’ll have to ask her yourself.”

“Maybe I was just going to say hello.” Fireheart retorted. “But I understand. I just want to know one thing: Did you help her?”

The old healer regarded him for a long moment. “Yes.” She answered at last. “We did.”

“That’s all I care about.” The warrior mewed with a dip of his head. “Thank you, both of you. For- for everything.”

Yellowfang shrugged in response. “We’re healers. It’s what we do. Besides, I wasn’t going to leave a young molly like her in distress. I know it’s a hard position to be in, even without being a season-cycle or so old.”

He perked his ears at that, but before he could ask more she chuffed in amusement. “Why, we should be thanking her! She let us take some catmint when we left, and while it’s old it’s still fresher than the stores Spottedleaf left me.”

He tilted his head in confusion. “Dewpaw mentioned it too. Why is catmint so important?” Nearly every kittypet’s garden had had some, and while it was a wonderful smelling plant, he couldn’t imagine that was why the healers seemed to regard it so highly.

“It’s very rare in Clan territory, but it’s also one of the best cures for greencough.” Yellowfang glanced at her apprentice with a wry smirk. “And unlike firefern and suncough, both are most definitely real. Most leafbares will bring a couple of cases of greencough, but I witnessed one leafbare where nearly a dozen cats caught it. Nearly all of them died.” She shook her head mournfully. “The fresher the catmint, the more likely it will treat it. Perhaps this leafbare we’ll get lucky.”

“That’s good to hear.” He looked up to see Peppermask and Graystripe sharing the cardinal he’d caught. “I’ll leave you two to eat in peace, but I- if you need anything from me, just let me know. I appreciate what you did.”

The old healer rolled her eyes. “Yes, for this and everything else, I’m sure.” She flicked her tail dismissively. “Go on, then. Let us enjoy our meal. Surely you can find someone else to share tongues with for sunhigh.”

He gave her one last appreciative nod before turning and bounding over to where his warrior friends were sitting. “I hope you don’t mind sharing.” He mewed as he settled down besides Graystripe, giving the tom a bump with his shoulder.

“Only if you tell us what you were talking with Yellowfang about.” Peppermask mewed, her ears perked curiously. “Did something happen while you were out hunting?”

He hesitated. Part of him wanted to tell them the truth, but he feared how they might react. Besides, what had happened was just one time; never again would the Clan need to know that he was talking to his kittypet sister. “I found some catmint out on patrol.” He mewed, careful not to lie entirely, though certainly not telling the whole truth. “I remembered Dewpaw talking about it one time. I just wanted to know if it was useful, that’s all.”

The side-eye Peppermask gave him told him she certainly didn’t believe him, at least not entirely, but she nodded slowly all the same. “Helpful as always, aren’t you?” She mewed at last as Graystripe nudged the cardinal slightly towards him. “Was it useful, then?”

“It was! Yellowfang told me about how it’s used to treat greencough in leafbare.” He mewed, before taking a carefully timed bite.

“Greencough.” Peppermask’s face dropped at the mention of the sickness. “You weren’t here for it, but it killed many in the Clan last leafbare. Between that and the Great Hunger, it devastated the Clan. So many cats died.” She shook her head slowly. “Still, if you found a cure for it out on patrol, that’s a good thing. Maybe it means we won’t suffer so much this season-cycle.”

“I did. Yellowfang said it wasn’t as fresh as she wanted, but it was still better than nothing.” Fireheart mewed, hoping she could hear the honesty in his voice. “Did anyone you know die?” He asked softly, touching his nose to her cheek for comfort.

“It never spread to the nursery, thanks to Spottedleaf’s hard work.” The spotted molly replied slowly. “But many elders and senior warriors died. Swiftbreeze, our grandmother, was one of them.” She shook her head briefly. “It doesn’t matter much anymore. I’m just glad to hear that this leafbare might fare better than the last.”

“It will.” The ginger warrior mewed determinedly. As he pushed his worries about his sister to the back of his mind, confident in Yellowfang’s promise that she had helped Princess, he instead turned his thoughts towards the coming moon. Even with Tigerclaw’s plotting, he would do his best to help the Clan survive the frigid grasp of leafbare. He just hoped that Starclan wouldn’t give them too many challenges, and that the deputy’s inevitable betrayal didn’t come before they could stop him.

#talonslock #warrior cats #fanfic #trigger warning #tw abortion #tw dubious consent #tw pregnancy #tw implied animal abuse #the prophecies begin #thunderclan #fireheart #princess #tigerclaw #dewpaw #yellowfang #peppermask #talonslock story #forest of secrets

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