HAT: Okay, next chapter. I realized I only had ten days to finish my entry and now I'm focusing more on this story than I've been paying it the past few days when it comes to writing (unless I do my homework) so wish me luck... and inspiration. ON WITH THE STORY!
Disclaimer: I own nothing, but the plot.
Gus enters the Gumbie Cat's den and sees the small she-kit hugging her knees to her chest and her emerald eyes are on the fabric just beyond her feet in the bed. His heart breaks at how fragile she looks and he shares a look with Silhouette. Obviously she feels the same way. Asparagus Sr. goes through many ideas to start off the conversation, but this isn't improv in the theater, this is a real life situation with a fragile she-kit that was not too long ago almost dead.
"Hello," he says in a quiet voice. "Are you alright?"
Her emerald eyes snap to him, giving him her full attention before she shrugs. "I dunno..."
He bites his lip before giving a winning smile. "What's your name, sweetheart?"
"J-Jellylorum..."
"A beautiful name. And I take you're not living with a human pet?"
She shakes her head. "No..."
"I'm Asparagus Sr., but everyone calls me Gus," he informs before sighing. "You gave me quite the scare when I found you outside the theater... what were you doing there anyway?"
She bites her lip and tears fill her eyes and Silhouette elbows the tom. "Gus," she whispers harshly.
He gives the Gumbie Cat a quick glare before taking the she-kit's paw and squeezing. "You don't have to tell me if you don't want to."
Jellylorum looks up at the kind tom and wipes her tears away in determination. "... M-my mother abandoned me..."
Gus' fur bristles. He can't understand why any queen would abandon their kit. He knows it's winter and that food is very scarce, so feeding kits is work, but no one should be so heartless as to leave their kit in the snow to die. He's pretty sure even the worst criminal wouldn't leave a kit to die in the snow like that. He hears the kit whimper and makes his fur lie flat and emotions calm so that way he doesn't scare Jellylorum anymore.
"I'm sorry, it's just... terrible that a mother would leave her kit like that," he defends himself.
She stays quiet.
"Dear, would you like to live here with us?" Silhouette asks.
Jellylorum looks up at them and she feels happy, glad she'll be accepted by another, but then again... she's afraid they'll abandon her as well. She doesn't know if she can handle abandonment like that again and she doesn't want to take that chance... She looks up at the tom and she finds that his face is trustworthy and she finds that his dark brown eyes hold something... something that makes her believe that he's different from her mother and won't abandon her.
"Yes..."
Gus smiles. "Good. If you want, you can stay with my son and I for a little while."
Jellylorum nods and yawns, rubbing her eyes with her free paw. He picks up the kit and she buries her face in his shoulder and he gives a silent thanks to the snow leopard looking Jellicle and walks out of the den and then he pauses right outside his den as Silhouette calls for all the kits to return to their homes. Asparagus Jr. rushes towards his home, but slows down at the sight of the new queen-kit in his father's arms.
"Who's she?"
"A guest," his father replies vaguely before jerking his head in the direction of their door. "Let's go, you've got to go to bed."
Gus tucks Jellylorum in his own bed and Asparagus into the tom-kits bed before he settles on the couch and lets out a breath. He gets the feeling it's going to take a while for Jellylorum to adjust to living here... With that thought in mind he falls asleep.
HAT: Yeah, I know it's rushed, but hopefully I'll get it done... I'll probably go back and make revisions later. TAKE IT AWAY-... When did Baloo get here?
Baloo: Hey-hey! How's it hangin'?
HAT: Good... but-
Baloo: Look for the bare necessities, the simple bare necessities, forget about your worries and your st-
Bagheera: BALOO! Get back here before I get Colonel Haati and his troop down here.
HAT: Hey Bagheera. How's Mowgli?
Bagheera: Good and safe in the human village... Is that bacon?
Baloo: Bacon? Well sure, I'll take some. *reaches for bacon*
HAT: OH HELL NO! *gets in front of bacon and growls* MAC! Get these two back to the Jungle Book where they won't take my bacon.
Macavity: Got it. *makes Baloo and Bagheera disappear* There, now your bacon's safe.
HAT: *hugs Macavity* Thank you! *gives him a slice of bacon* For saving my bacon.
Macavity: Welcome. *munches on bacon* Rephwew.
HAT: *munching on bacon* Pwease!
