Hey guys thank you for your reviews ;) I love hearing from you. I had a lot of fun with this chapter :) Enjoy
(At the Pole)
"It's a damn kitten Patrick!" Pitch was glaring at his friend who was sitting as far from them as possible. "Do you realize how painful it was to be hit by that much fear at once?"
Patrick didn't take his eyes off the kitten, who was currently batting at Jack's fingers, "Sorry Pitch. I couldn't help it. One minute I was sleeping and the next that 'thing' pounced on me." The man waved his hands towards the feline
The kitten glanced at the Leprechaun, "Mew." A loud cry came from him, then he buried his head into Jack's hoodie
"Patrick you're scaring Sam." Jack glared
"Don't name it Jack." The Leprechaun spoke quickly, "Once you name it you'll want to keep it."
Jack shook his head, "You don't understand this is Sam."
Pitch glanced as the kitten jumped from Jack's lap, "Are you sure Jack?" the Nightmare King watched the kitten stalk the winter spirit's toes as the boy moved them
"Yeah, he changes into a kitten whenever he gets super scared." Jack grinned when the kitten pounced on his foot
"Is that a part of his power he gained when he was turned into a spirit?" Pitch had to chuckle when the kitten let out a tiny squeak when Jack used his foot to roll him over
"Not exactly." Jack made a face "Sam once told me that a kitten's soul was grafted to his only a few days before he managed to escape." The winter spirit watched as the kitten lost interest in his feet and began pouncing around on the floor, "At the time I really had no idea what he was talking about. And Sam didn't want to elaborate on it so I didn't think much about it."
"Hmmm, if Sam escaped with such a new graft..." Pitch rubbed his chin in thought, "Does Sam know who he is when he changes." Pitch gently picked the kitten up who had pounced on imaginary things across the floor over to him
"Ummmm, not at first. It takes a few hours before he does." The winter spirit glanced at Pitch, "Why is that? I mean, Cazador is able to change at will and remember who he is the moment he changes. Why can't Sam?"
"Sam never received the training to make it to where his soul is the dominate one when he changes." Pitch spoke quietly as he began to stroke the kitten's back, golden eyes narrowed at the slight scar that ran across the kitten's back. "Kazim was in charge of the training…" golden eyes glanced down at Sam, "In a way it's a good thing he escaped before he was subjected to that spirit's idea of training."
Jack watched his brother's face fill with emotion, he could tell that Pitch was remembering his time with Death and whoever this Kazim spirit was. He quickly changed the subject, "Hey Patrick are you going to help watch Sam till he changes back?"
"How long will he be like this?" Patrick glared at the kitten who was purring contently as Pitch gently pet him
Jack frowned, "Not sure." He smirked when the kitten jumped from Pitch's lap and raced quickly over to Patrick.
The Leprechaun let out a very undignified yelp and used his foot to push the kitten away from him.
Sam simply rolled over with the push, a squeak escaping him. He then preceded to pounce on the offending shoe.
Pitch grinned as Patrick stiffened as the kitten began chewing on his shoe laces, "Aww he likes you Patrick."
"Th…the feeling…is mutual." The spirit didn't move as Sam began climbing up his pants leg, trying to reach the man's lap. "Pitch please, just get him off me….I beg you….I can't…."
Pitch rolled his eyes at the fear rolling off his friend, "Jack get Sam before Patrick has a heart attack."
Crimson eyes stared at the winter spirit that walked over to him, "Mew." He batted at the teen's hand as the boy tried to get him. He didn't want to leave the tall human, he was warm. A huff escaped him when the spirit picked him up anyway, "Merft." He glared at the boy letting him know that he did not approve of the move
"Come on Sam don't be like that." The winter spirit laughed at the kitten's expression of annoyance as they sat back into the chair
The kitten resigned himself to being with the teen, he immediately curled up against the boy's stomach and began purring.
Pitch glanced at Patrick, "How can you be afraid of 'that'?"
Patrick made a face, "Easy, the thing is a demon in a tiny fur coat."
Jack started to retort when a growl echoed from the kitten's stomach, "Are you hungry Sam?"
Crimson eyes stared up at Jack, an excited chirp escaped him. Maybe this cold human wasn't so bad after all.
"Yes, go take the monster and feed it." Patrick motioned to the door
Pitch sighed as Jack quickly left, he then glared at Patrick
"What?" the Leprechaun was confused by his friends anger
"That is Sam. And you have no idea how much of this he will remember." The Nightmare King's voice held an edge to it, "That boy has been through hell Patrick. Literal hell, and you hating him is likely to traumatize him even more."
"I… I didn't think about it like that." Patrick sighed, "You're right Pitch. I'll try, but only him no other got it?" the Leprechaun glared, "I don't need a repeat of your attempt to 'cure' me of my fear of cats."
Pitch grinned, revealing his teeth "Awww come on Patrick you know that was good for you."
"Oh yes, finding hundreds of sand cats throughout my home was 'exactly' what I needed for my fear." Patrick rolled his eyes as Pitch laughed
(In the Kitchen)
"What do kittens eat?" the winter spirit asked out loud as he rummaged through the fridge
"Mew?" the kitten cocked his head as he watched the boy from the kitchen floor, then he caught sight of something waving slightly above him
"Milk, maybe?" Jack startled when frantic mewling filled the air, "Oh Sam." The winter spirit chuckled slightly at the kitten who was currently struggling to get free of the table cloth that he had pulled off onto himself.
Crimson eyes stared up at Jack as the cloth was pulled off him, "Chirrup?"
Jack laughed as he picked up the kitten, "Sam you have to be more careful."
"Merp." The kitten glanced at him, cocking his head not really understanding what the boy was saying
"Jack, does Pitch know you are up?"
The winter spirit turned as North came into the room, "Yeah he does North. I was just looking for some food for Sam."
North looked around, "Where is Sam?"
"Ummm, North. Met Sam" the winter spirit glanced at the kitten who was watching North with curiosity. He handed the kitten to the surprised spirit.
North held the kitten awkwardly, carful to not hurt him since his hands were as big as the small creature. "Jack, tell me is joke?"
"Sorry North." The teen laughed as the kitten started batting at North's beard, "Something must have scared him. So he changed in a kitten."
"Is it like when Cazador changes?" North placed the kitten on the counter, watching as he began exploring
"Umm not exactly, Sam doesn't remember who he is for the first hour or so." Jack grinned, "And even then it takes him a few days to change back, in fact it took four last time." He laughed, "Which makes for great blackmail material. Reminds me, do you have a camera?"
North chuckled, "No I am sorry." He watched the kitten knock over a box of cereal, "But you need to keep eye on him. Such a small kitten in Pole… he will get stepped on. I have enough trouble not stepping on elves."
"I'll watch him North." Jack grinned
"Really?" North pointed to the counter
"Sam no!" the winter spirit scrambled to grab the kitten who had discovered the cord of the microwave and was currently chewing on it.
"Mewt." Crimson eyes glared up at Jack, angry that he had been denied his new chew string
"He's just hungry." Jack sighed, "Not really sure what to get for him though."
North laughed, "Here. Kittens like fish." He went to a cabinet and pulled a can of sardines from it, "I have plenty, no one likes these."
Sam chirped as the spirit prepared a dish for him, crimson eyes filled with anticipation as the spirit laid the plate on the floor.
The winter spirit placed the kitten on the floor "Wow, he was hungry." Jack watched amazed as the kitten began devouring the food as if it were going out of style. He chuckled at the tiny chirrups Sam emitted every few seconds.
"Yes, and once he eats he will sleep for rest of night." North laughed, "Best thing about kittens. They do three things: explore, eat, sleep and in that order."
Jack laughed, "Perfect."
"Just watch him." North spoke as Jack picked up the now very content kitten
"I will." The winter spirit grinned and raced out of the room and down the hall. He went to the infirmary room, "Here," he placed the kitten on the bed, "Pitch said that I only have to stay in here one more night."
Sam began exploring the bed, not really paying attention to the teen. Being too interested in his new surroundings. So enthused with his exploring he didn't notice that Jack had left, till he looked up and saw that he was alone. Crimson eyes filled with fear, he didn't like being alone he wanted those humans he had just been with.
Frantic mews echoed as Sam began trying to find the one that had brought him to the room. Glass shattered to the floor as the kitten jumped to the nightstand and knocked over the empty glass that had been there. The sound of course scared Sam even more, so with a quick pounce he jumped from the nightstand and raced across the floor looking for somewhere higher he could get.
The large dresser seemed to be the logical choice, so that's exactly what he did. With much effort the kitten managed to get to the top of the dresser. Once on top crimson eyes caught sight of the small round sphere. He cautiously stalked over to it, with a tentive swat the kitten hit the glass. He jumped back when it bobbled sideways, then righted itself. Sam filled with excitement, this would be a fun game to play till the human got back.
(Back with Pitch)
"I will not hold it." Patrick was saying as Jack walked in
"Hold what?" the winter spirit asked as Pitch rolled his eyes
"I am explaining to Patrick what he must do when taking care of Sam." Pitch grinned, "This is my idea of an 'intervention'. It isn't healthy to have a fear of something based solely off superstition."
"Is that why your afraid of cats Patrick?" Jack chuckled at the thought
"Hey, cats are evil little demons that suck out your soul at night." The Leprechaun waved his hands dramatically, "Especially the black ones, they report to Death herself."
"I spent centuries with Death, never saw any." Pitch spoke matter of factly, he glanced at Jack, "Jack…where is Sam?"
"Oh, I put him in the infirmary and then I came to get you. He's fine." Jack grinned
Pitch started to speak when he felt a tiny spike of fear, "Really? Well I have you know that he is scared half to death at the moment."
"What's wrong?" Jack hurried after Pitch who walked out of the room towards the infirmary
"Seems that even as a kitten Sam doesn't like to be alone." Pitch shook his head, "That must mean that Sam's soul is leaking back into dominance."
"That's good, I…" Jack was interrupted by a loud crash coming from the room ahead of them.
Both spirit looked at each other, then ran to the room. They arrived just in time to see the globe shatter on the floor, a swirling portal, and then the black blur as Sam was pulled into the light.
"Oh crap!" Jack rushed forward only to have the portal close seconds before he reached it. The winter spirit stared in disbelief at the empty space before him.
Please review and let me know what thought ;) Much of Sam's antics are inspired by my own kitten. Hope you all had a great Thanksgiving :) Till Next Time