One arm draped around Genghis' broad shoulder, Griddlebone toiled up the steep rock face, her hind paws aching and her temples still throbbing agonisingly. Moistening her cracked lips, she gritted her teeth and pressed onwards.
Even reaching the peak of the small hill seemed a challenge, her breath ragged in her throat as she finally stumbled onto the plateau to find Bill Bailey and Little Dragon happily playing tag with each other, laughing and leaping about.
It's all downhill from here." Blaze murmured reassuringly, sitting on the grass-covered ground, her long legs stretched out lazily in front of her, her face raised to the bright sun. "Just rest for a little while."
Gratefully, Griddlebone sank down on her haunches, her long tail lying limply on the ground around her. Completely exhausted, she curled up with a moan of sleepiness and buried head in her thick fur.
Sitting down beside her, Genghis drew her head into his lap and stroked her sleeping face gently, his concern for her condition apparent. Still weak from the blow to her head, she was forcing herself to go on, for them. Despite all her determination to reach the river with them, she was getting weaker by the hour and they had been walking almost since she had awoken.
McDuff sat on a small outcropping with Grumbuskin, gazing down the valley they were venturing into. The river seemed to be several miles away and they knew they had to reach it, if they wanted to increase their chances of survival.
"Do you think she'll make it?" McDuff nodded back at the white queen anxiously, his paws gripping onto his sacks, the mid-afternoon sun hot on his face.
"I think so." Grumbuskin nodded. "She's stronger than you know, McDuff. She'll do it and she'll outlast all of us, you can guarantee it."
Nodding, McDuff smiled. "I bet she will." He acknowledged, tersely tightening the knot in the mouth of the sack.
He had to admit he was impressed with Griddlebone's idea to make the bags out of the swine's hide. Cutting strips of thong out of the dried-out hide she had made simple sacks, using the thong to close the sides up.
Now they had no need to return the cave at all, unless they found no other shelter - especially if they travelled as far as they planned to over the next few days. They had all they needed with them, including a good supply of smoked meat in their sacks.
"Can we go yet?" Little Bill Bailey demanded, bouncing up and down. None of the adults could understand how the kittens could retain so much energy all the time. "I want to get down the hill! Let's go to the river."
Opening one eye, Griddlebone moaned sleepily and struggled into a sitting position. "Let's get going then." She mumbled, rubbing her eyes. "If I fall asleep again, I might just stay that way and wait for you to carry me down."
"You wish!" Laughing, Genghis hid his concern, helping her to her feet, looping her arm over his shoulder again. "Dragging you by your tail is a much better option."
"Touch the tail," She wagged a threatening claw at him. "And you die. Die as in dead, morte, kaputt and killed and I ain't jokin'!"
"That's what I adore about you." He kissed her lightly on the nose. "Your talent at being so absolutely subtle!"
"Cheeky git." She chuckled, as they followed the little group down the smooth slope. "You wouldn't know subtle if it walked up to you and hit you with a rock."
"Is that so?" He grinned, grateful she was still able to summon up some humour. "I'll prove I'm right when we get to the river."
"Whatever you say." Grimacing briefly, she grinned gamely at him. "Whatever you say."
*
"Genghis..." Her voice was barely more than a weak breath. "Can we stop for a minute... so tired. I...I need to rest...just leave me... I'll...catch up."
"Oh no you don't." Determinedly stooping down, he scooped her up in his arms, holding her close to him and continuing after the other. "I'm not leaving you on your own. I have a bet with you. No backing out now for you."
"No fair." She mumbled, closing her eyes, her body going limp against him, her breathing soft and light.
Dropping back, Blaze looked carefully down at the white queen. "I thought she might be concussed." She muttered, "But it looks like she needs water. She's tired out and dehydrated. The head injury didn't help."
"She will be all right though?"
"Of course." Patting her twin reassuringly on the back, she smiled. "If you need a hand, I'm sure McDuff or Grumbuskin will help."
Nodding in acknowledgement, he held her more protectively to his chest. "I can take care of her." He growled gruffly. "She's my responsibility now, all right?"
Laughing softly to herself, she shook her head and walked ahead to keep an eye on the two kittens while the toms scouted the area ahead of them.
She didn't know why she was the one who was psychic in the group. She didn't even know if the others knew or not, but it made making decisions a lot easier. And understanding the others was a lot easier too.
Despite the short time together, she could see the adoration her brother felt for Griddlebone. It was hardly surprising. The white queen was a beautiful and delicate-looking creature, glamorous and graceful, yet incredibly strong.
The twin connection they once had seemed weaker than when they were human, but she had found a similar kind of connection with Grumbuskin. The tom – unlike his character in the show – was a gentle, thoughtful and surprisingly deep individual, always making certain that everyone was comfortable and cared for.
Looking ahead at the two older toms, she allowed herself a smile. They were both very handsome cats, although McDuff was a rather large and rough-looking tom. He reminded her of…her father? She remembered a father, but was it hers?
Sighing at the loss of memories, she rubbed her forehead slowly. Perhaps it was better that they forget. That they start new lives. Perhaps living with the memories of the old lives would only drag them down.
"We made it!" A yell from ahead snapped her out of her reverie and she looked up, raising her paw to shield her eyes from the sun, to see Grumbuskin beckoning frantically. "We did it! The river is up ahead! Barely half a mile! Come on!"
Turning back, she was in time to see Genghis hurtle passed at full speed, Griddlebone's tail streaming behind him like the tail of a comet.
"We're gonna make it." She whispered to herself, racing after the rest of the group. "We're really gonna make it!"
*
Dabbling her feet in the water, Griddlebone smiled shyly at Genghis. She had heard about how he had carried her almost 3 miles on his own and knowing that he cared enough to do that sent tingles of startling pleasure through her.
Even knowing he was sitting watching her made her flush. She had never known such a reaction to a member of the opposite sex, especially not to a cat man. Even as a human, though, she was fascinated by the tall, dark and handsome co-actor.
Maybe, she thought, being a cat allows you more freedom with expressing your emotions. Cats were a very sensual species - something that rehearsals for the tour had shown her - so maybe that's why she was less embarrassed about physical contact and the like.
But then again, her character was very coy... or so she had seemed from what she could remember. Glancing up at Genghis she felt her pulse accelerate. It couldn't be that. She liked the tom. More than that, she wanted him.
He was nothing like her, his short fur sleek and creamy, his paws, ears, muzzle and tail all a dark, chocolate-brown. Maybe that was the appeal, she mused. He was so masculine, so strong. Everything a queen could want.
But he couldn't want her. He simply saw her as a friend in need. Nothing more, no doubt. Drawing her feet out of the water, she sighed. She could never be that fortunate. She would simply let him be and enjoy watching over him.
"Griddle!" Looking across the stepping stones, she saw Little Dragon and Bill Bailey waving. "Come and see what we found! It's amazing!"
Getting to her feet, she found Genghis' paw extended to help her across the rocks, but she shook her head, leaping lightly across the rocks, away from him, never noticing the look of pain in his blue eyes.
"What did you find?" Putting her arms around the kittens, she held them back, slowed down enough to lead her to their discovery.
Leading her through the thick bushes, they entered a wide clearing and – pointing to the centre of the opening - proudly announced in unison. "That!"
A paw to her mouth, speechless, Griddlebone moved forward in amazement, staring at the towering building.
The huge tower looked like it had been glorious once, but now…now it was a crumbling ruin. Charring on the walls suggested why it was such a ruin, but the scoring looked years old, the scent of burning barely perceptible after so much time for the fresh air to clear it.
Scrabbling through the ruins and parts of the collapsed tower, Grumbuskin inhaled a sharp breath through his teeth, sweeping some of the ash away with his paw and gazing down at the remains of the previous occupants' belongings sadly.
A small dagger on a leather belt seemed relatively undamaged, so he reverently lifted it up, tying it around his waist. "Waste not." He murmured to himself, fingering the delicately carved hilt, as he brushed through more of the rubble.
His eyes settled on something unusual protruding from the shattered stone, the scent reaching him before he even saw it, and he carefully picked it up, brushing the damp dirt off it gently. "Oh hell." He whispered, touching it in disbelief. "Oh hell."