Toralei stretched with a yawn as they sat and watched TV, feeling awful even though she hid it.
"I'm going to go take a nap." she stated, getting to her feet and walking toward the stairs. "are you okay?" Grace asked gently, glancing up just in time to see the teen nod as she walked up stairs.
'I feel anything but okay...but I've been through worse. No need to give her a reason to think I'm useless.' the girl thought as she walked into her room and removed her shoes before crawling into bed, burrowing under the covers until no part of her body was visible before she quickly fell asleep.
Grace sighed as she switched off the TV and stood up, she could tell something was up with Toralei but didn't quite know what it was. 'I hope she's not getting down with anything...that cold rain the other night isn't good for anyone.' the woman thought as she walked out of the house and toward the stables.
After about an hour and a half Grace headed back into the house, only to see that Toralei had not yet come down. 'I better go check on her...she didn't seem herself earlier.' she thought worriedly.
As soon as she walked in she saw that the fourteen year old was tangled up tight in her covers, though the sleep was fitful and the young were-cat was drenched with sweat.
Gingerly placing her hand on the girl's arm the woman whispered "Toralei...wake up."
The orange tabby only whimpered in her sleep as she muttered pleadingly "please...no...I'm sorry."
"Shh...honey...wake up. No one is going to hurt you." Grace whispered, noting the tell-tale signs of fever as she ran her hand through the girl's hair.
The girl whimpered for a few more minutes before relaxing again, before she awoke sneezing.
"you're burning up." Grace stated and the girl glared up at her.
"that would explain why I feel like I fell into the arctic ocean." she retorted causing her guardian to smile slightly.
"I should take your temperature...do you know what a normal temperature for you is?" Bloodgood asked and the girl sighed.
"around one hundred or a hundred and two at the most." she answered before adding "its a cat thing."
Grace only nodded and stood up, leaving the room. 'I really hope she's not too sick...she's anxious enough the way it is now.' the woman thought as she searched the cabinet for a thermometer.
'why is she fussing over me like this? I don't need anyone to do that.' Toralei thought bitterly, just wanting to go back to sleep.
"here...hold this under your tongue." the woman instructed earning a glare from the teen.
"I'm not stupid, I know how to take my own temperature thank you very much." she snapped, though she obeyed.
Grace only rolled her eyes but otherwise ignored the statement, though she kept a hand on Toralei's shoulder.
As soon as the glass tube was removed the were-cat hissed softly.
"now can I go back to sleep?" she demanded, earning a stern but not harsh look.
"you have a temperature of 109.6...you're not doing anything until we get that fever down." Grace stated causing the teen to groan.
"Fine." she grumbled, leaning back onto the pillows before sneezing again before she added "gah...my nose is so dry...my throat hurts and I have a head ache from Hades."
Grace smiled gently and patted the young were-cat's shoulder before getting up.
"I have some medication that will help you...just hang on okay?" she whispered so not to cause the younger monster's headache to get any worse.
"okay." Toralei whispered, curling back up under the blankets and as soon as the woman left, slipped into a deep sleep.
When Bloodgood walked back into the bedroom she heard soft pleading
"please...please don't leave me...please...I...I..didn't do it! I didn't still that ring. Please its cold."
Grace slowly sat on the edge of the bed, listening to the girl who was starting to cry.
"please...its Christmas." the girl pleaded, mewing softly.
"Toralei, come on. You're going to have to drink this." Grace whispered, gently pressing a vial of liquid to the girl's lips.
"No!" the ginger were-cat suddenly exclaimed with a hiss, then whispering the woman only sat the vial down and whispered "honey...it won't hurt you...I promise. I wouldn't hurt you."
the orange tabby whimpered and lightly batted at the woman's hand.
"please...don't make me leave. I'm sorry." Toralei whispered, suddenly violently shaking with sobs.
"you won't leave Toralei...you are going to stay here and get well then you are going to start school in a place you'll be accepted." the woman reassured as she carefully retrained the girl, who struggled in the gentle hold.
"please...don't...I didn't do anything wrong...don't hit me...please." the girl stammered, however Grace didn't remove her hands but lightly dried the fourteen year old's tears.
"shh...shh...have I hit you yet baby? Why would I ever raise my hand to you?" Grace asked kindly and the young girl calmed slightly.
"but you said..." Toralei began, still stuck in the past.
"you're mistaken young one...I've never said that. It must have been someone else." Bloodgood said, playing along.
"Sorry." the ginger haired girl whine as she curled away from the woman.
"its okay...but will you please do one thing for me sweetheart? Will you drink something for me? It might not taste good but it won't hurt you." Grace retorted gingerly as she presented the vial again.
"promise?" the girl mewed, scared and the woman nodded.
As the young teen took a drink she grimaced and with a splutter.
"that's gross." she hissed as she handed the glass back, though the woman only laughed.
"it'll make you feel better though." she answered.
Toralei leaned back onto the pillows and closed her eyes.
"uh huh..." she muttered, then snuggled tight against the woman.
Grace just sat running her hand through the young were-cat's hair as she hummed softly, lulling the young teen into a very light sleep.
'I hope she recovers soon...I'd rather have her being cheeky like earlier than having her this upset.'
the woman thought, concern shining in her pale blue eyes.
The young girl whimpered a little and woke up a bit, rubbing her eyes a little.
"Momma...my throat hurts." the girl whispered, still clearly out of it.
"let me check your temperature again and then I'll get you something that will help your throat." Bloodgood replied kindly though she was slightly in shock at the teen's comment.
"okay." Toralei answered in a soft tone. Once the tube was under the girl's tongue once again Grace whispered "keep that there until I get back...I'll fix some tea that will help with that."
Once she put the tea on the headmistress returned to her young ward's side, taking the thermometer that read 107.9.
"its still high but not overly high...you still need to rest for a few days though." she explained softly though her voice held no room for argument.
"okay." the Orange tabby replied then glanced up tiredly and asked shyly "please stay?"
"I'll be right back...I'm going to get you that tea I promised." came the kind answer.
Toralei nodded as she snuggled deeper under the covers and waited, though she shivered due to the harsh fever that still raged over her. Even while the girl went in and out of consciousness. However as soon as her guardian returned to the room she sat up.
"here, drink this. It tastes better than that medicine." the woman whispered softly as she handed the girl the steaming cup.
"thank you." the teen were-cat whispered, timidly placing the cup to her lips.
"you're welcome." Grace responded, surprised at the girl's politeness.
After taking a few sips of the steaming fluid the girl glanced up again and whispered softly "it does help...thank you."
Grace smiled and nodded as she closely examined the girl's behavior, afraid that the girl may relapse even worse.
After the girl placed the cup on the bedside table she curled up against the woman to keep warm and drifted back into a deep sleep.
'I better keep an eye on her tonight. In case she gets worse.' the headmistress thought as she rested against the headboard before drifting off to sleep herself.
It was six o'clock when Toralei awoke, sneezing.
"Gah...Why the fang did I have to get sick?" the teen complained as she grabbed the box of tissue off the table.
"you okay?" a soft voice chimed from nearby and the striped tabby gasped in shock.
"you stayed in here?" Toralei asked and the dark haired woman nodded.
"all night...you were pretty out of it until around one thirty when your fever finally went down a bit...it broke around two fifty eight." Bloodgood answered and the teen glanced down.
"did I...say anything?" Toralei whispered, flicking her tail nervously.
"yes but I understand if you don't want to talk about it." Grace answered and the young were-cat glanced up nervously.
"Maybe I should tell you...everything..." the orange feline whispered and the dark haired woman sighed.
"only if you want to...Toralei I won't ever ask you to." the woman replied.
"you should know...since I guess I'll be staying here a while." the were-cat replied softly as she pulled the blankets around her before continuing
"I was abandoned when I was really young...I was one, going on two. All of my siblings were adopted and I was left alone in an alley."
Toralei paused as she tried to hold in the tears that choked her up. Grace sighed and wrapped her arm around the girl, who surprised her by leaning against her and hugging her back.
"you don't have to say anything more if its too hard." Grace said in a whisper.
"its...okay..." the child stammered then smiled sadly and then with a sigh continued her story "every time I would ask for shelter or food I would get either hit, water sprayed at me or yelled at...its not like I was going to hurt anyone...I was just a kitten I only wanted to either play or have someone to talk to. I finally had to result in stealing things...mostly food and old clothes."
Tears began to run down her face as she snuggled against Grace, hiding her face for a minute as she tried to compose herself.
Grace just sat there, rubbing the girl's shoulders as she let the words sink in.
"it...it was just really hard. Then when I was about eight or nine I was taken in by a teacher and her husband. It was closest thing I ever had to a family but everything I did was wrong...they screamed at me just because I brought them an arts and craft project home for a Christmas present. Then their son hid a ring from his mother and blamed me...there was a blizzard out and even when I didn't do it they kicked me out." the were-cat said, the last part coming out a sob.
Gently pushing the girl away and lifting the girl's face "its okay Toralei...it wont happen again. I promise you that, you have a permanent home here." she reassured before the girl hugged her again, crying against her.
"Thank you." the ginger haired girl forced out, feeling for once safe.
"you're welcome but you don't have to thank me for something any decent person would have done." Grace pointed out gingerly and the girl growled softly.
"then none of the people I've met have been decent." she whispered, drying her eyes with the back of her hand.
"people do stupid stuff out of fear and normei's tend to do that a lot." the woman retorted, the girl leaning against her once again.
'jeez she puts up with my pathetic butt even now...I'm sure she's tired of me being all over her.' Toralei thought though she said "I guess."
Grace could tell the girl was feeling calmer but didn't want to force her away just yet.
"you guess?" she chuckled, trying to lighten the mood. Toralei only hissed and smirked, purring softly as she rested her head against the woman.
"yeah I guess...just like I guess I feel like something the dog drag in." the teen muttered, obviously enjoying the affection.
'I bet if I am clingy enough or bad enough she'll be like all the rest.' the teen thought sadly as she finally sat up and stretched.
"maybe you should rest a while?" Grace suggested though the girl shook her head.
"Nah...I'll be okay." came the answer though when the girl stood up she felt weak.
"if you start feeling worse you rest alright?" the dark haired woman replied and the teen nodded.
Toralei headed down the stairs, trying to figure out a way to test the woman.
After finding something to eat Toralei goes into the stables, wanting to actually help the woman to repay her back for the help she had given her.
'why do I want to stay here? Is it because she's the only person who ever cared how I felt? It did kinda feel good to know someone was worried about me last night...'
Toralei didn't want to admit it but she really felt comfortable with this woman, however the fear of being hurt once more only caused her to want to stay away from her.
However the girl couldn't do much of anything because she either started coughing really hard or sneezing.
"you should just take it easy." Grace chuckled, watching as Toralei tried to clean out the stalls of the barn.
"Shut up." the girl growled though she was feeling worse by the minute.
Grace only took the rake away from her and retorted "go watch tv or something. I'll finish in here." with that the woman gently shoved her toward the house.
"fine." Toralei grumbled, going back to the house.
Once she was inside the fourteen year old collapsed on the couch and started watching TV, though she soon fell asleep. When she awoke she had a blanket threw over her and a note was laying on the coffee table.
Groaning the teen sat up and skimmed over the note that read:
'went out to pick up some stuff. Will be back soon.'
fear gripped the young teen for a moment but then she forced herself to relax.
'she did not abandon you. Jeez stop acting like a kitten!' she scolded herself mentally as she lay back down however after a while she decided to get up and explore the huge house, feeling much better and a little curious.
'one person lives in a house this big?' Toralei thought in awe as she found a large, hidden area that lead to a ledge on the roof.
Carefully climbing out the young were-cat sat and glanced out at her surroundings, seeing an old, large building in the distance.
'is that the school M...Grace keeps talking about? It look like the images she had...' the girl thought, stopping herself from wishful thinking.
The young teen sighed as she returned into the house and continued to explore, until she opened a door and a bat flew right into her face.
"Gah! Stupid bats!" she hissed, sneezing from the fact that she had been hit in the nose.
"you might want to watch those things...they can knock you out." a familiar voice stated and the Ginger tabby whirled around to see Grace standing there, laughing.
"sorry." Toralei muttered, fear slightly gripping her.
"this is your home too you know, go where you want in here just don't release a flock of bats again." the woman replied with a chuckle as she opened a nearby window, letting the bats out.
The young were-cat smiled and replied "thanks. Most places I've been accepted at I wasn't quite allowed that much." she replied softly, earning a little glare from the woman.
"try to forget about all of that." Grace ordered gently and the fourteen year old smiled.
"I will try." she replied before the woman wrapped her arm around the young girl's shoulders.
The girl leaned against the dark haired woman.
'should I ask her?...No she'll just get mad.' the girl wondered as she pulled away and glanced nervously down.
"can we talk about something?" she asked and the woman nodded.
"yes but I have some stuff I got for you before you start school." she answered.
"More stuff? What else could I need?" Toralei asked and the woman handed her a coffin shaped box.
"an Icoffin? Why would you want to get me a phone?"" the girl asked, concealing the happiness that she felt.
"because you deserve everything that other kids get." came the reply and the were-cat hugged her.
"thank you...seriously I don't deserve everything like that." she argued only to get a chuckle from the woman.
"yes you do. You deserve a lot more than you have ever been given." Bloodgood stated softly and the young girl sighed and pulled away and glanced toward the stairs that lead to the sitting room.
"Can you go in there and wait on me? I want to talk to you about something." she forced herself to say and the woman nodded and gave her a reassuring smile. Once the headmistress had went to the room and sat down Toralei let out a nervous mew before slowly making her way down the stairs.
Once she was downstairs the red haired were-cat took a seat in front of the woman and glanced down nervously, her jade eyes sparkling with moister.
"you wont kick me out...just because of a question right?" the teen asked, thinking its now or never.
"Toralei...how many times must I tell you that I am not going to kick you out and I am not going to get angry over a question." Grace replied warmly and the ginger furred were-cat sighed.
"well...Can I...maybe..." the girl stammered nervously then with a gulp she continued "call you mom?"
Grace sat in shock as she let the teen's words sink in.
"I should knew that you wouldn't..." the teen snapped as she turned to leave the room however to her surprise Grace grabbed her arm.
"I didn't say that Toralei. You shouldn't have to be alone any longer and every ghoul needs a mother. Of course you can call me that." the woman replied before pulling the girl into a quick embrace.