A/N
Hey guys im real sorry about the delay but I've been settling my puppy Remus in at home
I hope you enjoy this Crookshanks fic.
QL R4
Falmouth Falcons
Chaser 2 - Historical and adventure
Optional prompts:
Creature: cat
Colour: orange
Word: hollow
THC
y6R2
Hufflepuff
Transfiguration
Standard
action: hiding
Object: plate
Hogwarts assignments and challenges
Assignment 11
GryffindorTransfiguration task 4
Suckling on my mother under a small cactus is the first memory I can recall of my long and hard life.
I pawed at my other siblings, trying to push them away from our mother to get my fill. I was different from the other kittens; I had a bushy orange tail and beady yellow eyes that blended well in the desert surroundings.
My siblings pushed me away as they scrambled for Mother's belly so I crawled deeper under the cacti.
My siblings and I gathered around our mother where she lay. Living in the shadows helped cool us down from the penetrating heat. Overcome with a sense of peace, I was lulled to sleep. We lay curled up together against our Mother's side, my paws resting on her big one. We had just had a large feed and our tummies were full with milk. It had been a long, hot day.
Mother had decided that today was the day we would learn how to pounce on our prey, and I soon discovered that I was a natural. Mother had brought back a dead mouse for us to practice on. Everyone soon learnt very quickly that I was better than them. I had attacked it with such force that my siblings had slunk away from me. Mother was impressed.
My last thought before falling asleep was of how lovely it was to have Mother's approval.
Three months had passed and I had begun to notice the difference between myself and my siblings. I had scruffy orange fur whereas they had tufts of black fur. I had longer and larger legs, unlike their spindly, wobbly ones. I had a deep, throaty voice, unlike their weak, mewling cries. I was much stronger, and Mother noticed these differences. I sometimes suspected she feared me and knew I was different. She sent me away from the nest first, perhaps to challenge me, but I knew that she knew I was ready to be on my own now. Although I am strong, big and tough, I had not eaten in over a week (Mother sent me away everytime I paw for food) and my stomach yearnd to be full of food.
Mother pushed me away once more, encouraging me to part from her. I gave in and slunk away with my tail between my legs. I would miss Mother and my siblings.
My ears pricked up as I bounded across the dry land, following my nose as it picked up the scent of a rodent nearby. I caught sight of it and gave chase as it scurried along the river bank. My fur stood on end as I lay low in the dried grass, eyeing my prey with great malice. My throat began to rumble as I got ready to take down my prey.
I lunged forwards, landing my almighty claws on the rodent, my nails diving deep into its body. I ate savagely as the overhead sun sets for the night, bright pinks and reds lighting up the sky.
I finished my first solid food in a week and licked the drying crimson blood off my sleek paws.
I needed to find somewhere warm to sleep. I felt utterly cold, isolated from the rest of my siblings and the warmth that was vital to us growing up.
I was wary of the two-legged beast roaming near the river which I drank from. I could smell smoke from their fire that blazed bright, and could feel the heat from where I lay low in the thick reeds at the bottom of the hill. I slunk closer towards where the settlement was and curled up in the hollowed out space between the roots of the tree. I had learnt that not all two-legged beasts are kind and caring as the ones I watch now.
As the settlers go off to sleep, I edged closer to the fire and ate the leftover scraps I found. The night air of the Egyptian desert was cold against my skin, but curling my body up in the crook of the hollow sheltered me from the dropping temperature.
I had begun to overcome my shyness and show myself to the Egyptians who lived around the river bank. I began to understand their tongue and to help look after their crops. I had killed many snakes and many rodents as I roamed around the mud brick houses.
Mostly, I stood guard at one woman's house and warded off any misfortune that fell upon her.
I had picked up that her name was Apu, and she was a scribe for the pharaoh that rules Egypt.
One day, as I cleaned my lion-like paws I overheard her talking about going into one of the divine pyramids that marked the desert.
I decided that it is time to follow Apu and see what adventures that her life held.
I followed Apu and her party of companions to where the mighty pyramids stood tall, the sun radiating strongly off the slanting limestone structures and blinding me at first sight. As we got closer to the pyramid, I felt a subtle but intense energy in the air, setting my fur on end. They approached slowly, muttering excitedly amongst themselves. As we got nearer to the entrance of the pyramid, Apu and her companions' voices dropped into whispers. I felt the change in the air and slunk mutely at Apu's heels. I was unsettled by the energy that surrounded the pyramid, and I suspected the energy would only increase as we ventured towards the pyramid's core.
Apu and her party took a moment to feel the smooth, immaculate limestone. I edged closer, my tail poised vertically, and rubbed my side against the stone. I jumped away quickly. I don't know how I knew, but I definitely sensed that there was some divine energy inside those walls. Apu and her companions marveled at the stone's flawlessness before stepping away and urging me forward into the entrance corridor.
They wanted me to lead the way, as a cat, worthy of the deity. I was almost reluctant—the energy sparking the air is not something I was familiar with—but Apu stroked my back and gave me a scratch behind the ears, promising me milk and fish if I did well.
I stood straight and tall, lifted my nose into the air, and walked steadily forward, my tail held high.
The inside was as white as the outside. Apu and her companions spoke in excited tones and scribbled hastily on their parchment. Their voices echoed down the corridor, which slowly narrowed. Apu and her companions had to bend a bit to get through. I was not afraid, despite having lived my entire life in the open environment of the desert. I swished my tail lazily, and it brushed against the wall. The limestone was cool against my fur.
Eventually, the corridor opened out into a gigantic chamber. It was a vast contrast to the narrow tunnel I was just in. The ceiling was twenty times higher and the chamber was equally as wide. Standing in the centre of the chamber was a creature unknown to me. It had the head of a two-legged beast and the body of a lion.
I padded closer, wary on my feet. Apu and her companions had split up, examining different sections of the walls. I was curious what they had found, and considered darting towards them to get a closer inspection, but this beast captured my attention. I could flee quickly if I needed to. The beast hadn't moved yet. As I got closer, I noticed it was cold, the scent on this beast cold and metallic. I reached its feet. It was looming over me and I don't think it had even seen me. I brushed up against its leg, jumping back as I felt cold solid metal. I threw my head back and hissed. This was not a real beast.
I darted between its legs and loped towards Apu. She crouched at the corner of the north wall, inspecting some lines and loops written on the wall.
Apu and her companions gathered together a few moments later around the strange creature. They talked for some time before Apu crouched between the creature's front legs and etched something into the space that was there.
I roamed around the perimeter of the chamber till I found another corridor leading off further into the pyramid. I slunk through it, Apu and her companions' voices fading into the distance. The ground sloped downwards, and I padded forward on light feet.
The corridor soon opened out into another chamber, this one much smaller, but more crowded. This was where the energy in the air felt the strongest. I kept my ears pricked as I ventured cautiously.
In the centre of the chamber sat a stone tomb, unblemished except for a line of writing across the top. The walls were lined with furniture, gold plates encrusted with rubies, jewels and huge stones, well-worn tunics and cloaks embroidered with red thread that hardly looked frayed. These were a pharaoh's treasures.
I slunk around to the other side of the tomb and crouched down at its side.
Soon I heard voices approaching. I readied myself to stand, but I quickly realised that the voices weren't Apu's or her companions'. The voices were deeper and their foot falls heavier. I lay low and waited. I was not scared, but I sensed these humans weren't friendly. The voices drifted nearer; any moment now they would step into this chamber. I got ready to pounce.
Two large men entered the chamber wearing black cloaks with the hoods pulled over their heads. They were both carrying large sacks. I sprang forward with a hiss, paws outstretched, and flew towards their shocked faces.
They shouted urgently to one another—something about the pharaoh's cat coming back to life—and whirled around to flee. I landed deftly on my feet where the men had just stood, hissing and swishing my tail triumphantly.
I stalked back through the corridor, following the scent of the men in the air and emerged back into the first chamber. The men were there, minus the large sacks, their hoods now off. They were talking with Apu and her companions.
The men were warning them about the pharaoh's monster cat, but Apu only looked amused. One of her companions spotted me lurking behind the human-lion beast and winked at me.
I decided to go for the chase once more. The men squealed as I seemingly appeared out of nowhere in midair. They legged it out of the chamber, and Apu caught me out of the air with a laugh. She patted me affectionately, placed me on the floor, and told me to lead her to the pharaoh's chamber. I did so proudly.
