Macavity. Smack. Crack. Darkness.
I could see nothing. Everything around me was darkness. I could hear nothing. Silence. Then- a voice. No, not a voice. A laugh. A deep, guttural, psychotic one.
Macavity.
He was everywhere and nowhere at the same time. I couldn't tell where he was coming from, or going. His laugh was so loud- it felt as if my head was going to explode any minute.
I tried to cover my ears an block him out, but he was in my head. The laughter was inside of me. Suddenly it felt as if my insides were on fire, ever bit of me felling as if I were being torn up by some maniacal animal or beast. The laughing in my head kept getting louder and louder, until I couldn't take it anymore. I screamed.
My eyes flew open, and I felt sweat on my forehead. I could still hear screaming, and I realised it was me. Tears were wet on my cheeks. My throat felt like sandpaper. Probably from screaming.
I felt a soft paw on my cheek, and looked up to find Tugger with a very worried expression.
"Hey- it's okay. It was just a nightmare." He cooed. His brushed my tears away. "Just a nightmare."
"I- where am I?" I panted, my breath ragged. It was definitely not my den. Cans and scraps of fabric were thrown everywhere, and there was a strong odor coming from somewhere to her right. It was a mess.
"You're in my den." He grinned sheepishly. He tucked thumb back into his belt.
"Wha- what happened?"
"Macavity flipped out on you. Heaven knows why. Munk heard a noise and came looking, and found you guys. Alonzo came, too. They beat Mac up pretty bad. They were gonna take him back to the tribe and punish him or whatever, but he got away." He scratch the back of his neck uncomfortably.
"So he's out there still?" I asked. It came out quieter than I had intended.
"Yeah, but your safe here. Don't worry about it." He smiled reassuringly. "Why did he come at you in the first place?"
"I was breaking up with him." I whispered, looking down at my paws. I had been so confident that I was doing the right thing. How could I have been so wrong?
"Serves him right." Tugger huffed. "Still, that's no reason to break someone's arm."
"Break what?" I asked, panic creeping in my voice. I looked down at my arm and gasped a little, swearing under my breath. My left arm had a bandage wrapped around it, going all the way from my wrist to my elbow. When I tried to wiggle my fingers, pain shot up my arm and I cried out.
"Hey, be careful!" Tugger said. "It'll never heal if you don't let it."
I sighed. Well, wasn't this all peachy. Badly injured with my ex-boyfriend on the run. I probably looked like a mess. I really didn't care.
"So, uh, I made some breakfast, if you want any." Tugger said, scratching his head. I raised my eyebrows.
"And by made you mean...?" I asked.
"I mean I have cereal and milk."
I nodded. The thought if Tugger actually cooking something made me giggle slightly. I could just imagine it; Tugger with a pink apron on and a spatula in hand, covered with patches of flour. Very sexy indeed.
I tentatively sat up in the bed, careful not to use my left arm. Man, I was sore. I could feel a bruse on my lower back already, and I knew I had one on my cheek. I bet I looked like an old rag doll. I certainly felt like one.
As I slid off the bed on weak legs, I felt them shaking. I took a couple steps towards his kitchen, only to collapse when my toe collided with a cardboard box. Strong arms wrapped around me, and Tugger picked me up bridal style.
I was surprised at how strong he was.
When we finally reached the kitchen he set me down on a stool and grabbed a bowl for me.
"Frosted Flakes or Wheaties?"
I thought for a moment and said, "Frosted Flakes."
He poured cereal in my bowl, then poured some for himself. "So..." He started awkwardly, munching on his breakfast.
"So," I repeated, cocking my head to the side. "I was wondering, why am I at your place, and not like, I dunno, Munks?"
He look startled for a moment. "I-uh..." He fumbled for words, and I could see a small blush creeping up onto his cheeks. Tugger never blushed. "Uhm well, Demeter is outta the Junkyard right now, which you knew, and Munk has been super busy lately, not to mention the fact that he has to find Mac now. And he said that I needed to learn to be responsible and stuff, so, uh, here you are." He grinned, spreading his arms out and gesturing to his home.
I nodded and looked down at my cereal again. Yes. Here I was.
