" This feels nice, being treated like I matter for once." said Theo. " I want you to tell me everything from start to finish. But remember, you can do it at your own pace." said Master Swoop. " I suddenly went blind at the age of four. My parents loved me, but that was until my twin Luen was born. After that, they pushed me aside. My mother doted on Luen and left me to suffer. Neither of my parents were cruel, they just left me to fend for myself. I was very smart for a four year old and could read and talk in full sentences already. So when I realized I was going blind, I read as many books as possible on how to function as if I wasn't blind. It worked because my parents never found out. But then again, neither did my brother." said Theo.
Master Swoop's head was reeling. How could anyone's parents not realize their child was blind at the age of four? It disgusted him to know that no one realized it. And his twin, how could he not know? Now he understood why Theo was so clingy. He didn't mind it and he knew it couldn't be helped. It was like separating a mother from a child she never knew she had. Once reunited, the child would be clinging to the mother like a limpet. Theo couldn't seem to be far away from Master Swoop for more then a few seconds.
He became aware of Theo shaking in his arms and gasping. " Let go." was all he said. Theo did. He cried, finally grieving for the family he was haphazardly thrown into. " I was an unwanted surprise." said Theo. In between his sobs. " I wasn't even born first." Master Swoop's eyes widened. " But I thought you just said." Theo cut him off. " I did, but I found out later that he was born first. My mother's love went to him, not me. It was like I was a disgrace to the family." said Theo. Master Swoop rocked him and growled.
Nobody was going to get their hands on his Cub. Theo gasp in sudden pain and tensed. " Relax your making the pain worse." said Master Swoop. He sat him up and scooted over. He sat him next to him and keeping an arm around his shoulders, he gently placed a hand on Theo's chest and start rubbing circles. The circles were soothing and Theo slowly started to relax. Soon enough, his breathing evened out and Master Swoop smiled. He placed him back in his lap.
He knew he could never let Theo go back to his parents. He needed someone there for just him. His resolve hardened and he smirked. He really couldn't wait to get a hold of his lawyer. Master Swoop dozed off and was awoken ten minutes later by a horrible scream. His eyes blinked open and he instantly knew something was wrong. He felt the blanket, but couldn't find Theo.
He heard a terrified yowl and launched himself to his feet. He walked to the glass door and opened it. Stepping out, his listened for the sound and found where it was coming from. He broke off into a run towards the sound. He got there and the yowling was loud. Something snapped in his mind and suddenly, he wasn't there anymore. Master Swoop was deeply confused. He didn't know what just happened. Suddenly he was focused on the horrible yowling sound and walked up to it. He found himself releasing a steady purr and the yowling suddenly stopped.
He laid down and was surprised when he felt a little nose poke at his chest. Suddenly memories flooded his mind in a wave and he blinked in shock. That couldn't be right could it? No absolutely not. Theo poked his chest again and he grabbed his cub in his teeth. He set him on his paws and the tiny cat curled up into a ball. He started licking him and Theo soon went to sleep. Master Swoop kept licking his cub while trying to figure out what he was. Then it suddenly clicked. The growling, protectiveness, the sudden anger at RJ, knowing what Theo needed. It was his instincts, but they weren't his, they were those of a Lioness.