Weeks had passed since Macavity and his cats invaded the yard after Amolia, and the tension among the tribe seemed to be slowly dissipating.
Another blizzard was blowing through London, keeping the kittens and their caretakers once again inside. Jellyorum, Jennanydots, Demeter and Bombalurina all sat on the sofa, as frisky balls of fur ran around them with no way to effectively let out their pent-up energy. Because of this fact, Jellyorum had stopped scolding them for running inside a long time ago. Bombalurina slouched down into the cushions of the sofa and rubbed her head that was aching from the shrill kitten squeals and laughs that rang throughout the den. Just then Jemima and Victoria came bounding up, worry plastered on their sweet youthful faces.
"Mummy, Aunt Bomby…uh we think Amolia is ill" Jemima said
"Yeah she's curled up behind the rocking chair clutching her stomach." Victoria added, pointing to the rocking chair in the opposite corner.
Demeter and Bombalurina exchanged concerned looks before Bombalurina got up and followed the pair to where their friend lay. Like Victoria had said, Amolia was curled up in a ball behind the rocking chair, her paws wrapped around her abdomen. A pain-stricken look of discomfort covered her face. Bomba knelt down beside her.
"Moli sweetheart, what's the matter?" she asked gently before feeling the kitten's forehead. "Oh my, wow you're warm" she informed, now confident that the kitten needed immediate medical attention."come here " she cooed scooping the kitten up. She walked back towards where the other adult queens were now standing, looking their way with concern.
"She definitely has a fever" the scarlet queen reported, bringing the shivering kitten over to them.
Jenny, the most versed in nursing among them all placed a paw to Amolia's forehead. She winced when she felt how hot it was and nodded.
"Oh yes" she agreed "go get her in bed I'll gather what I need to tend to her" the Gumbie cat said motioning Bombay off to the back bedroom. Bomba obeyed and turned to do so.
"Moli?" Jemima whined perching herself up on Victoria's hind quarters, disappointed that her friend could no longer play.
"She'll be ok loves, go back to what you were doing" Demeter said, ushering the two kittens off towards where the other kits were playing, completely unaware of anything going on.
"Yes, thank you for telling us" Jellyorum added as Victoria and Jemima obeyed.
In the back bedroom, Bombalurina placed Amolia on to her bed and pulled the covers over her. She then sat down on the side of the bed and lovingly stroked the kittens head fur.
"How long do I have to stay in bed for?" Amolia whined. "when I got sick like this, when I was in the bad place with mummy, I wasn't allowed to stay in bed…I didn't even have a bed".
Bombalurina chuckled to hide how painful it was hearing Amolia say that.
"Well here you have a bed and resting in it will be what you need to get better." She answered, moving her paw from the kitten's head and down her warm cheek.
"This isn't the bad place sweetheart, we take care of you here" she added tenderly "And that means keeping you in bed until that nasty fever goes away." Bomba's voice turned playful and she tickled Amolia under her chin. The kitten giggled right before Jenny came bustling in with a basket of supplies she kept for situations like this. She quickly got to work and placed a damp towel across Amolia's forehead.
"How long ago did you start feeling like this dear?" she questioned as she began mixing liquids from separate jars into one big one.
Amolia's eyes shot down. "When I woke up this morning" she answered shyly.
"And why didn't you tell us?!" Jenny probed, the concern and surprise in her voice not at all subtle.
"I was scared of getting in trouble and beaten again." The kitten answered honestly, looking back up at the queens with big tear filled green eyes.
Jenny and Bomba looked at each other shocked and heartbroken. She was really beaten for getting sick? Bomba thought to herself. However, when she thought about it, that wasn't something she would put past Macavity and his low IQ hench cats. They'd find any reason to beat someone who couldn't defend themselves.
"We would never beat you here love." Jenny said kissing the fragile kitten's cheek.
Bomba followed suite and kissed her other cheek "especially not for getting sick." She added.
"Now" Jenny began, reaching to grab the jar of medicine she had just mixed up "You probably won't enjoy this, as kittens rarely do, but this will help you feel much better", she explained scooping a dose on to a spoon.
Amolia didn't have to be very close to the medicine to smell how bad it smelled. Her eyes widened and she covered her mouth in protest. Bombalurina and Jenny exchanged knowing looks before the scarlet queen moved to sit behind Amolia, pulling her into her lap. She wrapped her arms around the her front and extracted the kitten's paws from her mouth.
"Come on love, open up" She said softly in her ear. Amolia pressed her lips tightly together and shook her head.
"Please?" Bomba pleaded "You'll only taste it for a second"
Amolia eyed the spoon that Jenny was holding before she open her mouth a tiny bit. Before she could change her mind, Jenny stuck the spoon in. She quickly put her paw to Amolia's mouth, knowing that she'd probably try and spit it out.
"Swallow" she instructed firmly.
Amolia reluctantly obeyed, grimacing while she did so.
Both queens sighed out of relief.
"Good, now you get some sleep and if you're awake, someone will bring you some dinner" the Gumbie cat said kindly and once again kissed Amolia's cheek, and left the room. Bomba pulled the kitten off her lap and placed her back on the bed. She returned to the side of the bed where she was before.
"Alright sweetheart" Bomba spoke in an almost whisper "sleep tight"
She stroked Amolia's face. The ingredients in the medicine were fast acting and the kitten's eyes began to droop. Bomba pulled the blanket up further so it covered Amolia's entire body.
"Good night mummy" Amolia murmured, now mostly incoherent.
Bomablurina's eyes widened a bit. She was used to caring for kittens at this point, but she was definitely not used to being called mummy.
She knew that the kitten probably didn't know what was going on anymore.
Bombalurina smiled slightly "Good night sweetheart" she whispered, before leaving the room.