Chapter Three
by
angelinhell
angelinhell: And now, the third chapter in my epic story of doom!
evilemmylou: *glares at angelinhell*
angelinhell: *cringes* Anyway, we(re having fun here in this studio with fun and insanity.
evilemmylou: *looks over strangely at angelinhell* You said fun twice.
Angelinhell: *scratches head* I did? *looks back at script* You(re right, I did. But we(re still having fun with fun and insanity!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
evilemmylou: *sighs*
angelinhell: According to my schedule, we are receiving two sets, a number of all purpose props, several scripts courtesy of evilemmylou(s writing studio and it(s two-dimensional, insubstantial workforce-
evilemmylou: Go anime labor!
angelinhell: *stares at evilemmylou*
evilemmylou: What?!
angelinhell: -and a live jaguar!
ririchan: *popping out of nowhere* Wait a sec. Did you say a live jaguar?
angelinhell: Of course! It(s in the script, isn(t it?
ririchan: *checks script* I guess. But the point is that I(m allergic to cats.
*Loud roar is heard from the hallway.*
angelinhell: Unfortunately, my friend Riri, you will just have to deal. *goes to door* *to movers* Just put the cage over there. Opposite the mixer.
Mover: It ain't in a cage, lady, just on a lea-
*ROAR*
*SNAP*
ririchan: *starts to sneeze uncontrollably*
Jaguar: *runs into room, teeth bared* RRRRRRRAAAAAAOOOOORRRRRRR!!!!!!!!
evilemmylou: EEEEEEEEEEEEEEPPPPPPP!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! *runs away*
angelinhell: *does the same*
ririchan: *follows angelinhell and evilemmylou, still sneezing violently*
Gabrielle: *walks into film studio with Erik* Hello? What's going -
Jaguar: RRRRRRRAAAAAAOOOOORRRRRRR!!!!!!!!
Gabrielle: *drags Erik out of studio* We'll come back later. At a better time.
angelinhell: NOOOOOOOOOOO!!!!!!! Wait! COOOOMMMEEEE BAAAACCCKKK!!!!!!!!
laaanessness: *comes in with huge bloody steak in left hand* Hey, guys, what's up?
evilemmylou: Julie, I think you better look-
laaanessness: *sees jaguar* Oh, nice kitty. Nice Shadow. *holds out steak* I've got a present for you!
Jaguar: *purrs and walks over to laaanessness* *begins to eat steak*
*all stare at laaanessness strangely*
laaanessness: *petting jaguar* What?!
angelinhell: *shrugs*
laaanessness: Well, what are you waiting for?
angelinhell: *shrugs* *again*
laaanessness: Then on with the story!
evilemmylou: Right!
* * * * * *
Glowing green eyes cut the night's deepest shadow as the huge animal they belonged to lashed her tail rapidly. The tree shook with the weight of the black jaguar it held within its branches, gently rustling against the window in the third floor wall and making clicking noises on the strong wooden trellis that led to the window.
It was a big garden, with plenty of places for even a cat of this size to hide. The rose bushes alone were large enough to hide five of her, though it would be somewhat painful. There were lilacs and lavender in one corner and a small plot of marigolds near the stone bench on the left side. All of the flowers had been allowed to run wild, and only the small section of purple irises in the back by the gate was not full of weeds.
While once this place had been beautiful, it was now merely tragic. The cat put her head on her paws and for a few seconds used human words to formulate the thought goes to show what humans do to perfectly good land it goes to ruin and neglect before lapsing into the far easier practice of thinking in images, feelings, and memories.
She had come from a long way away, too far for most humans, but the big cat was made of sterner stuff, and she had made it this far. Her telepathic instinct told her that this one, this Master, would be kinder to her than the others she had met along the way. The journey had taken her three long months, and about half of that had been spent on living with and escaping from unkind Masters. The rest had been spent on running, running as far and as fast as the poor animal could go.
The black jaguar tilted her head and focused on the door as it slowly opened. One woman stumbled out, tall and beautiful, but haughty and seemingly unforgiving. The cat found herself thanking Bastet that this woman was not accompanied by the soft glow that heralded a Master. She was dragging two young boys, one wearing a mask, the other with incredibly long hair and both with astonishing, mismatched black-and-white eyes.
White light poured from the two children, illuminating their features and showing their determination and righteous anger. So it was to be two Masters this time. Perhaps she had better watch and see what they did, because two Masters were always harder to escape from than one.
The woman began to shout at the two children, green eyes fiery and blazing with rage. The masked boy started to shout back at her, the long-haired one simply staring calmly and infuriatingly at the woman. Suddenly the woman turned violently and swung a fist at the masked boy.
Almost instantly the long-haired one leapt into action. He jumped in front of the woman's blow and took it harshly in the chest, falling backward several feet. The masked boy ran to his brother's side and began to shout back at the woman.
The jaguar was almost singed by the anger emanating from the boy, and she could feel, beneath it, the call for help that was broadcasted. Squirrels in the tree chattered angrily at the woman, encouraging the cat to fight in the children's defense, and when asked they provided the information that the children were kind but the woman was evil, as a predator was evil. That decided her.
As the woman advanced on the boy and prepared to swing against him once more, the huge cat launched herself from the tree, hitting the woman and enjoying the feeling of having her claws dig into this contemptible skin. She bared her teeth, and the woman screamed and tried to shake the cat off. She hung on doggedly, sinking her teeth into skin to retain her hold.
The woman screamed again and stopped moving. The cat jumped off her and prowled in circles between the woman and the children, watching satisfactorily as blood dripped from the many wounds she had made. The woman slowly began to back up, fear showing in her eyes. The big cat growled low in her throat.
The woman turned and ran for the door, opened it, and locked it behind her.
The cat laughed, a deep throaty cat-laugh, then turned to face the children.
The first thing she noticed was that the long-haired boy was, in fact, a girl. This embarrassed her somewhat, but she overcame that quickly and looked the masked boy straight in the eye.
He stared back at her, eyes glowing with confusion, excitement, some satisfaction, and just a little fear.
The girl coughed, and he turned back to her, eyes full of concern. She spoke gently, then looked over at the cat. She spoke again, voice questioning. The boy answered her.
Then the girl used words the cat could understand, a thought that could resound in her brain. Why? She presented the two children with an image of themselves as they looked to her. The girl drew in her breath sharply as the cat thought the word Masters.
No, we're not, the girl thought. We're just telepathic, we can't control you.
You... understand. You... speak. So I... listen... you. This thinking in words was very hard for her. Master.
Mistress, the girl corrected her. And my name is Gabrielle.
No, Master and Master, the cat continued, struggling for the words. Master is... title. None of you... under... the other. You... equal. Mistress... lower. Master... equal. Both... Master.
Just call me Gabrielle.
No, Master.
The girl mentally sighed. Erik, a little help here?
Where did you come from? And don't worry, the boy thought, his melodious thought-voice kind. We understand images. We learned from the others. Several images, of other creatures, pervaded the cat's mind.
The cat sigh gratefully and sent images of her first Master and then of all the others, ending with an image of herself running.
You poor thing, Gabrielle thought softly. She spoke to Erik rapidly. He nodded.
You can stay with us. Gabrielle smiled at the cat. What's your name?
The cat was slightly confused, but then understood. They would have to call her something, after all. She gave her image-name.
All right, then, Erik thought. We'll call you Shadow.
The cat laughed again, then helped the two children to climb up the trellis. She herself clawed her way up the tree, following them. Erik, who had gotten there first, opened the window and tumbled in. Gabrielle followed him, and waved the cat in.
No, Master, the cat thought. I... like... outside... tree.
Suit yourself, the girl thought, and left the window open.
The cat slept happy that night.
* * * * * *
angelinhell: I'm going to dispense with this ending disclaimer, as it will only end in severe property damage and me becoming infuriated.
evilemmylou: Too late. This is it.
angelinhell: ARRRRRRRRGG- *claps hands over mouth as she realizes she is continuing the disclaimer*
laaanessness: A little late for that, Em. It's already started, and there's nothing you can do about it.
Nick: *pops up* I smelled steak.
laaanessness: *points to half-eaten steak* It's sort of taken.
Jaguar: *as if to prove the point* RRRRROOOOOOOAAAAAAARRRRRR!!!!!!!!!!!!
Nick: Okay, okay! *backs off*
ririchan: I'm leaving. *begins to do so*
evilemmylou: Not yet! You can't leave until the disclaimer is over.
ririchan: *whining* Why not?
evilemmylou: So you can take part in the insanity!
angelinhell: *groans* Can all of you just get out of here before something bad happens?
Nick: *wanders over to lighting controls*
angelinhell: *sees him* No! Nick! Don't-
Nick: *pushes button labeled 'Lights'*
Lights: *go out*
angelinhell: Shit.
Sets: *begin to randomly fall over*
angelinhell: NICK! STOP MOVING!
Sets: *stop falling over*
angelinhell: Now, listen to me very carefully. You are going to walk between the sets towards the sound of my voice. All right?
Penny: *pops up and lights match* What's up?
Nick: FIRE!!!!!!!! *runs for fire* *through several sets*
angelinhell: Shit.
Penny: *walks into barrels of gunpowder*
*BOOM*
angelinhell: *gently smoking* There wasn't supposed to be actual gunpowder in those barrels.
evilemmylou: I thought you wanted something authentic.
angelinhell: *sighs*
Penny: *sets self on fire*
Nick: FIRE!!!!!! *runs over to Penny and starts to dance around with her*
Penny: FIRE!!!!!!!!!!! *while dancing with Nick, sets him on fire*
angelinhell: SHIT! GO AWAY!
Nick and Penny: *stop dancing* *continue burning*
angelinhell: *sighs* This disclaimer is over.
evilemmylou: No it is-
angelinhell: *smothers evilemmylou* It is now.
angelinhell: And now, the third chapter in my epic story of doom!
evilemmylou: *glares at angelinhell*
angelinhell: *cringes* Anyway, we(re having fun here in this studio with fun and insanity.
evilemmylou: *looks over strangely at angelinhell* You said fun twice.
Angelinhell: *scratches head* I did? *looks back at script* You(re right, I did. But we(re still having fun with fun and insanity!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
evilemmylou: *sighs*
angelinhell: According to my schedule, we are receiving two sets, a number of all purpose props, several scripts courtesy of evilemmylou(s writing studio and it(s two-dimensional, insubstantial workforce-
evilemmylou: Go anime labor!
angelinhell: *stares at evilemmylou*
evilemmylou: What?!
angelinhell: -and a live jaguar!
ririchan: *popping out of nowhere* Wait a sec. Did you say a live jaguar?
angelinhell: Of course! It(s in the script, isn(t it?
ririchan: *checks script* I guess. But the point is that I(m allergic to cats.
*Loud roar is heard from the hallway.*
angelinhell: Unfortunately, my friend Riri, you will just have to deal. *goes to door* *to movers* Just put the cage over there. Opposite the mixer.
Mover: It ain't in a cage, lady, just on a lea-
*ROAR*
*SNAP*
ririchan: *starts to sneeze uncontrollably*
Jaguar: *runs into room, teeth bared* RRRRRRRAAAAAAOOOOORRRRRRR!!!!!!!!
evilemmylou: EEEEEEEEEEEEEEPPPPPPP!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! *runs away*
angelinhell: *does the same*
ririchan: *follows angelinhell and evilemmylou, still sneezing violently*
Gabrielle: *walks into film studio with Erik* Hello? What's going -
Jaguar: RRRRRRRAAAAAAOOOOORRRRRRR!!!!!!!!
Gabrielle: *drags Erik out of studio* We'll come back later. At a better time.
angelinhell: NOOOOOOOOOOO!!!!!!! Wait! COOOOMMMEEEE BAAAACCCKKK!!!!!!!!
laaanessness: *comes in with huge bloody steak in left hand* Hey, guys, what's up?
evilemmylou: Julie, I think you better look-
laaanessness: *sees jaguar* Oh, nice kitty. Nice Shadow. *holds out steak* I've got a present for you!
Jaguar: *purrs and walks over to laaanessness* *begins to eat steak*
*all stare at laaanessness strangely*
laaanessness: *petting jaguar* What?!
angelinhell: *shrugs*
laaanessness: Well, what are you waiting for?
angelinhell: *shrugs* *again*
laaanessness: Then on with the story!
evilemmylou: Right!
* * * * * *
Glowing green eyes cut the night's deepest shadow as the huge animal they belonged to lashed her tail rapidly. The tree shook with the weight of the black jaguar it held within its branches, gently rustling against the window in the third floor wall and making clicking noises on the strong wooden trellis that led to the window.
It was a big garden, with plenty of places for even a cat of this size to hide. The rose bushes alone were large enough to hide five of her, though it would be somewhat painful. There were lilacs and lavender in one corner and a small plot of marigolds near the stone bench on the left side. All of the flowers had been allowed to run wild, and only the small section of purple irises in the back by the gate was not full of weeds.
While once this place had been beautiful, it was now merely tragic. The cat put her head on her paws and for a few seconds used human words to formulate the thought goes to show what humans do to perfectly good land it goes to ruin and neglect before lapsing into the far easier practice of thinking in images, feelings, and memories.
She had come from a long way away, too far for most humans, but the big cat was made of sterner stuff, and she had made it this far. Her telepathic instinct told her that this one, this Master, would be kinder to her than the others she had met along the way. The journey had taken her three long months, and about half of that had been spent on living with and escaping from unkind Masters. The rest had been spent on running, running as far and as fast as the poor animal could go.
The black jaguar tilted her head and focused on the door as it slowly opened. One woman stumbled out, tall and beautiful, but haughty and seemingly unforgiving. The cat found herself thanking Bastet that this woman was not accompanied by the soft glow that heralded a Master. She was dragging two young boys, one wearing a mask, the other with incredibly long hair and both with astonishing, mismatched black-and-white eyes.
White light poured from the two children, illuminating their features and showing their determination and righteous anger. So it was to be two Masters this time. Perhaps she had better watch and see what they did, because two Masters were always harder to escape from than one.
The woman began to shout at the two children, green eyes fiery and blazing with rage. The masked boy started to shout back at her, the long-haired one simply staring calmly and infuriatingly at the woman. Suddenly the woman turned violently and swung a fist at the masked boy.
Almost instantly the long-haired one leapt into action. He jumped in front of the woman's blow and took it harshly in the chest, falling backward several feet. The masked boy ran to his brother's side and began to shout back at the woman.
The jaguar was almost singed by the anger emanating from the boy, and she could feel, beneath it, the call for help that was broadcasted. Squirrels in the tree chattered angrily at the woman, encouraging the cat to fight in the children's defense, and when asked they provided the information that the children were kind but the woman was evil, as a predator was evil. That decided her.
As the woman advanced on the boy and prepared to swing against him once more, the huge cat launched herself from the tree, hitting the woman and enjoying the feeling of having her claws dig into this contemptible skin. She bared her teeth, and the woman screamed and tried to shake the cat off. She hung on doggedly, sinking her teeth into skin to retain her hold.
The woman screamed again and stopped moving. The cat jumped off her and prowled in circles between the woman and the children, watching satisfactorily as blood dripped from the many wounds she had made. The woman slowly began to back up, fear showing in her eyes. The big cat growled low in her throat.
The woman turned and ran for the door, opened it, and locked it behind her.
The cat laughed, a deep throaty cat-laugh, then turned to face the children.
The first thing she noticed was that the long-haired boy was, in fact, a girl. This embarrassed her somewhat, but she overcame that quickly and looked the masked boy straight in the eye.
He stared back at her, eyes glowing with confusion, excitement, some satisfaction, and just a little fear.
The girl coughed, and he turned back to her, eyes full of concern. She spoke gently, then looked over at the cat. She spoke again, voice questioning. The boy answered her.
Then the girl used words the cat could understand, a thought that could resound in her brain. Why? She presented the two children with an image of themselves as they looked to her. The girl drew in her breath sharply as the cat thought the word Masters.
No, we're not, the girl thought. We're just telepathic, we can't control you.
You... understand. You... speak. So I... listen... you. This thinking in words was very hard for her. Master.
Mistress, the girl corrected her. And my name is Gabrielle.
No, Master and Master, the cat continued, struggling for the words. Master is... title. None of you... under... the other. You... equal. Mistress... lower. Master... equal. Both... Master.
Just call me Gabrielle.
No, Master.
The girl mentally sighed. Erik, a little help here?
Where did you come from? And don't worry, the boy thought, his melodious thought-voice kind. We understand images. We learned from the others. Several images, of other creatures, pervaded the cat's mind.
The cat sigh gratefully and sent images of her first Master and then of all the others, ending with an image of herself running.
You poor thing, Gabrielle thought softly. She spoke to Erik rapidly. He nodded.
You can stay with us. Gabrielle smiled at the cat. What's your name?
The cat was slightly confused, but then understood. They would have to call her something, after all. She gave her image-name.
All right, then, Erik thought. We'll call you Shadow.
The cat laughed again, then helped the two children to climb up the trellis. She herself clawed her way up the tree, following them. Erik, who had gotten there first, opened the window and tumbled in. Gabrielle followed him, and waved the cat in.
No, Master, the cat thought. I... like... outside... tree.
Suit yourself, the girl thought, and left the window open.
The cat slept happy that night.
* * * * * *
angelinhell: I'm going to dispense with this ending disclaimer, as it will only end in severe property damage and me becoming infuriated.
evilemmylou: Too late. This is it.
angelinhell: ARRRRRRRRGG- *claps hands over mouth as she realizes she is continuing the disclaimer*
laaanessness: A little late for that, Em. It's already started, and there's nothing you can do about it.
Nick: *pops up* I smelled steak.
laaanessness: *points to half-eaten steak* It's sort of taken.
Jaguar: *as if to prove the point* RRRRROOOOOOOAAAAAAARRRRRR!!!!!!!!!!!!
Nick: Okay, okay! *backs off*
ririchan: I'm leaving. *begins to do so*
evilemmylou: Not yet! You can't leave until the disclaimer is over.
ririchan: *whining* Why not?
evilemmylou: So you can take part in the insanity!
angelinhell: *groans* Can all of you just get out of here before something bad happens?
Nick: *wanders over to lighting controls*
angelinhell: *sees him* No! Nick! Don't-
Nick: *pushes button labeled 'Lights'*
Lights: *go out*
angelinhell: Shit.
Sets: *begin to randomly fall over*
angelinhell: NICK! STOP MOVING!
Sets: *stop falling over*
angelinhell: Now, listen to me very carefully. You are going to walk between the sets towards the sound of my voice. All right?
Penny: *pops up and lights match* What's up?
Nick: FIRE!!!!!!!! *runs for fire* *through several sets*
angelinhell: Shit.
Penny: *walks into barrels of gunpowder*
*BOOM*
angelinhell: *gently smoking* There wasn't supposed to be actual gunpowder in those barrels.
evilemmylou: I thought you wanted something authentic.
angelinhell: *sighs*
Penny: *sets self on fire*
Nick: FIRE!!!!!! *runs over to Penny and starts to dance around with her*
Penny: FIRE!!!!!!!!!!! *while dancing with Nick, sets him on fire*
angelinhell: SHIT! GO AWAY!
Nick and Penny: *stop dancing* *continue burning*
angelinhell: *sighs* This disclaimer is over.
evilemmylou: No it is-
angelinhell: *smothers evilemmylou* It is now.
