Alec and Magnus had moved on to the living room couch, which was making curious squeaking noises, almost as if someone were bouncing on it.
"Ow," Alec moaned. "My butt is so sore."
Magnus stopped bouncing up and down on the couch and turned to look at Alec.
"Maybe there's something under the cushion," he suggested.
Alec, who was sitting ridgedly on the opposite end of the couch, stood up and lifted up the cushion he had been sitting on.
"Hey," he said, pulling out a crumpled object. "Isn't this…?"
"Chairman Meow!" Magnus cried softly as he snatched his crushed cat from Alec. "I was wondering where you were!" He hugged the cat's mutilated form. It mewed weakly.
Alec looked at Chairman Meow, concerned. "Don't you think we should take him to the vet?" he asked.
"Nah," Magnus said, throwing his pet over his shoulder. The cat landed with a thump on the floor and mewed again.
"Walk it off, you pansy!" Magnus shouted.