A/N: Okay, one more chapter of... team building (I guess?), plus the wrap up of Matt's angst-ing. Plus a brief appearance of NoLegs.
Little Follower: Yeah, the limit breaks are going to take a lot more thought. I want to do something with dual Godcat, but it will take some serious thinking. I usually tend to consider limit breaks as a kind of temporary ascension to something more than mortal to achieve a certain goal (revival of the dead, insane power, etc.). But still, I'll likely come up with a different idea for a second limit break.
I'm glad you're enjoying Godcat so much! I've really enjoyed writing for her, and it's really nice to hear that someone enjoys reading it! As for a guilty cat expression: Let's be honest, cats don't really feel guilt. XD Still, I imagine that it would involved narrowed eyes, flattened ears, crouching down, and a tucked tail.
Now, then, on to the chapter! Enjoy!
Matt walked through the snow along the edge of Whitefall town. He heard his friends call his name and he glanced back at them. He stopped walking to wait for them to catch up with a blank look on his face. "What's up?" Matt asked quietly, "I'd have been back in a little while, you know."
Lance nodded, "We know, but we thought we should take you to the village now."
The swordsman's eyes widened before he gave them a grateful smile, "Thanks. How far is it?"
Anna shrugged and turned to lead the way, "Only about a fifteen minutes walk south."
"That isn't far from the cave I fought the Heldren in," Matt murmured. He gave a self-deprecating smile and snorted, "So you all were right nearby. Gods, I'm stupid."
Natalie hesitated and then wrapped an arm around his stiff body, "You didn't know, Matt."
Matt heaved a shuddering sigh and nodded, "Yeah."
Silence fell as they walked through the snowy trees. Finally, they came out on the edge of the burned village. Someone had come along and buried the corpses, leaving only a cluster of white tombstones. Matt hesitated for a moment, looking around at the remains of the burned houses. He felt Natalie give him a reassuring squeeze and he shot her a grateful look before walking up to the markers. He carefully knelt down in the snow and looked across the cold stone. Twelve people, and one of them, he'd drained the blood of. No, not him; the Heldren had been responsible for what had happened, and he would make sure the victims got the revenge they deserved.
His friends watched in silence as tears ran down Matt's face. His expression twisted with grief before hardening with resolve. Finally, they listened as he murmured an apology and a promise to avenge them. Then, strangely, he became hesitant as he glanced up at them. Matt swallowed, opened his mouth, but shut it again without saying a word. And yet, Natalie knew exactly what he'd wanted to say.
"We don't think any less of you, Matt," Natalie said in a quiet but firm voice. "Even the strongest person will break or bend to certain forces. We don't blame you for what happened here, and we understand your need to take responsibility for it. We just want you to keep in mind that you are not to blame for this, and we will help you avenge them."
Matt shuddered and stood up. "Right," he breathed, wiping a hand across his face. "And Godcat's helping, so it won't happen again," he added. Suddenly, he paused and glanced around, "Where is she, anyway?"
Lance frowned and looked around as well, "Maybe she stayed back at the inn? She might have thought she was too new to the team to be around for mourning."
"That would line up with what she said earlier," Matt mused with a frown. He shook his head with fond exasperation, "She's a good person, but I wish she would understand she's a team member now. Let's go back. I'm sure she's waiting outside the room again."
And sure enough, when they returned to the inn, a small, furry white body was curled at the corner of their door. Godcat's ears twitched when they approached, and she lifted her head to look up at them. Matt greeted her with a smile and a nod as he unlocked the door. Godcat returned the nod, but said nothing as she scampered into the room and leapt up onto the chair in the corner. The others filed in and sorted out who was sleeping where. Finally, they were all lying in the beds, and Anna looked over at where Godcat was curled in the chair.
"That doesn't look very comfortable. Why don't you join me and Natz?" Anna offered.
Godcat raised her head and shook it before dropping it back down and curling her tail over her nose.
The silence got Natalie sitting up and looking at the cat with concern, "Are you okay, Godcat?"
"Fine, thank you," Godcat replied in a small mew.
Lance snorted from where he was lying on the far side of the room, "You don't sound fine. What's wrong?"
"Nothing is wrong, I'm just tired," Godcat replied.
Matt sat up as well and said in a disapproving voice, "We can tell you're lying, Godcat. What's bugging you? Did the chicken not stay down or something?"
Godcat was silent for a long time before quietly meowing, "I'm sorry."
The others blinked in surprise at the clear remorse in her voice, and Anna joined Natalie in sitting up as she asked, "For what?"
"For sending Matt out alone," Godcat quietly revealed. "I should have contacted the rest of you to help him, but I didn't."
"For the love of," Lance muttered. He sat up and glared at the white cat in the corner and said in a flat voice, "You made a mistake; stop beating yourself up over it. Matt doesn't blame you, and neither do the rest of us. We're not mad, but I will be unless you stop making the others talk when I want to sleep." With that, he flopped back down and tugged the sheets over his head.
Matt chuckled at Lance and said to Godcat, "He's right, you know. Don't worry about what happened; we'll be putting an end to the Heldren tomorrow, anyway." He lay back down as well and added, "Curl up with Anna and Natz. I'm sure you'll be more comfortable." Soon, the swordsman was asleep.
Godcat stared at the two women still waiting up for her. Her mind had a hard time wrapping around the forgiveness displayed by the rest of the team. Finally, though, she hesitantly stood up and jumped over to the bed. Natalie and Anna lay back down, and drew the sheets up. The mage felt Godcat's slight weight as the cat crept up to curl into a ball on her stomach. She detangled one of her arms from the sheet and ran it over the cat's silky fur. Godcat's eyes narrowed as she started to purr before going limp, falling asleep.
It was early the next morning when Matt awoke, feeling more rested than he had in weeks. He stared at the dark ceiling of the room, listening to the soft sounds of his friends' breathing, and he smiled. It was comforting to know that he had such excellent support, and that they would always be there when he needed them. He sat up and slid out of the bed, taking care not to disturb Lance, who still had his head buried under the blanket from the night before. The only movement the gunner made was to curl up a little more before letting out a sigh.
Matt stretched his arms over his bed and looked across at the other bed where Natalie and Anna were curled, facing opposite directions, sleeping peacefully. Godcat was curled above Natalie's head, but her eyes were open and looking back at Matt. The swordsman nodded a greeting, and watched Godcat stand up and arch her back in a stretch before jumping down from the bed. She padded beside Matt to the door, and they slipped out silently.
"Want to get some breakfast?" Matt asked as they descended the stairs.
Godcat mewed, "Yes please. Will the others be up soon?"
Matt nodded, "Yeah, they'll be up before long. I'm actually usually the last one up."
"Are you feeling okay?" Godcat asked worriedly.
"Yes, actually," Matt confirmed with a smile. "Better than I have for weeks. I just have my early days, some days." He stepped up to the breakfast buffet and snagged a couple of plates of bacon, some eggs, several sausage links, some toast, and a carton of orange juice before leading the way to a table.
Godcat jumped up and waited with her tail impatiently twitching as Matt set out a plate for her with some of the food he'd gathered. Both started digging in, scarfing down the food with matching feelings of contentment. And then, there was a soft flash of light paired by a frantic but familiar meowing; Matt started and slid back to look under the table with a smile.
"Morning No…Legs…" Matt's greeting trailed off into stunned silence as he stared at his longtime friend.
NoLegs the cat was standing under the table with an equally stunned look. The reason for each of their amazement was the fact that the cat had four legs. Matt's jaw dropped as he and NoLeg's stared at each other. Godcat licked her lips and padded to the edge of the table to peer down at what Matt was staring at. Her back stiffened with amazement, even as the reason for the sudden appearance of legs on a formerly legless cat surfaced in her mind.
But before anyone could say anything, the rest of the team came tromping downstairs. Their cheerful greeting to Matt was cut off as the swordsman blurted out, "Guys! Check out NoLegs! He has legs now!"
Natalie blinked in surprise as NoLegs walked out from under the table, a little shaky on his new limbs. He blinked up at the mage and meowed. Anna's and Lance's jaws dropped as they spluttered in amazement. Their eyes soon jerked up to stare at Godcat, who was sitting on the table, a considering gleam in her eyes.
"Want to explain this one?" Lance finally asked.
Godcat tilted her head and meowed, "I assume it's because of the bond. He's a part of it as well, and I guess part of his gift was the restoration of his legs. I imagine that he has an extended lifespan as well."
NoLegs jerked at Godcat's voice, and spun around to stare up at the other cat. The sudden motion was too much for his recent grasp on walking, and he toppled over. The cat swiftly regained his feet as he meowed a stunned question. Godcat nodded to whatever he said, and he purred. Natalie smiled at the exchange, and told the others that NoLegs was welcoming his creator to the team, though he had no idea how it had come to pass.
The others shook off their shock, and moved to retrieve some plates of food. Soon all of them were gathered around the table, eating and talking. NoLegs was given the full explanation of what had happened by Natalie and Godcat. The cat was pleased to have Godcat on their side, and rubbed against Matt's leg reassuringly for what he had suffered through. They talked about changing NoLegs' name, given his new appearance, but he decided that it was his name, and he was used to it. Before long, however, their minds turned to business.
"You guys ready to face the Heldren?" Matt asked in a serious voice.
Natalie nodded with a determined gleam in her eyes, "More than ready."
"Same here," Anna added.
"Let's perforate 'em," Lance said with a smirk.
Godcat stood and stretched her legs in front of her, "Very well. NoLegs, you should stay away." She shook her head when the cat protested, "No, you don't have control of your body, and will merely be a target. Please stay out of the fight." NoLegs deflated and nodded his understanding before vanishing.
The team stood up, and filed outside. Once in the snow, Godcat resumed her larger form, and led the way towards the Heldren's summon point. The others fell in step, and they made their way south, each with an expression of determination. As they walked, they equipped various light-based weapons. Anna switched to her Angel Wing bow, Natalie pulled out her Seraphim staff and Lance shrugged on his God Hand rifle, and Matt kept Heaven's Gate across his back. An aura of light appeared around Godcat, similar to but weaker than her former godly aura, and would serve as a both a defense and a weapon.
They stopped outside of the cave Matt had first delved into at the start of the entire mess. Natalie clasped the swordsman's hand in her own when she saw him shiver, earning a grateful look from him in return. The lurking evil of the Heldren could be felt lingering in the air even from where they stood outside. Anna quietly pointed out a set of faint footsteps in the dusting of snow: their mystery masked man was already inside. Each saw this as a good thing, as they could take out both their foes at once.
A/N: Okay, next chapter is the epic battle! I will warn you now that the masked man will not be getting any more lines as, in my opinion, it isn't needed. His motive was already stated as wanting the destruction of everything. I really don't feel the need to extrapolate on that, so I won't. Feel free to leave your own theories as to why he would be like that in your reviews (hint, hint), though! I'll be back soon!