Etcetera was plauged by nightmares. In her dream she was like Ademtus's mother. Pregnant and weak.
In her dream she was sitting in a chair sewing a little sweater. Admetus staggers in drunk. He looks a Etcetera and smirks.
"God you've gotten fat." He smirked.
Etcetera was shocked.
"Admetus?" She asked surprised.
Admetus leaned his head back and howled with laughter. "Im not your pathetic little son! I don't know why I even bother with you. I Should kick you and that little runt out of my den! You two are worthless, Nothing but weaklings. And now your carryiing another little runt. Thats the only thing your good at! Getting pregnant and making me more angry!" Admetus spat.
Etcetera couldn't believe what she was hearing. What was Admetus doing? Why was he acting like this? He was acting like his father. Admetus walked over to her and slapped her across the face. Etcetera fell to the floor. She placed her hand on her cheek and cry out in pain. Admetus stood above her smirking again.
"Your wrose than a kitten." He said coldly.
Etcetera whimpered in her sleep. She kicked her legs and dug her calws into the mattress. Admetus was sitting in a rocking chair and reading a book across the room. He noticed Etcetera and got up. He put his book down and walked over to her and gently stroked her cheek. Etcetera woke up from her nightmare. She qucikly sat up hypervenilating. Admetus was starting to worry.
"Etcy! It was just a bad dream. It's ok!" Admetus said placing his hands on her shoulders.
Etcetera looked around then room, then looked up at Admetus. She threw her arms around him and buried her face in his chest fur. She began to sob again.
"Oh God, It was horrible Admetus." She cried hicupping with tears.
Admetus held her tightly. He tried his best to calm her.
"Etcy, Shhh... You're ok." Admetus said nervously trying calm her down.
Etcetera tighten her grip on Admetus's fur. She could hear Admetus's heartbeat. Admetus rest his cheek on top of Etcetera's head. Etcetera gently ran her hand down Admetus's chest fur. Admetus lifted his head up and looked down at Etcetera. She looked back up.
"What?" She asked.
Admetus sighed. He licked his thumb and bagan to wipe of Etcetera's smeared makeup.
"Thanks." Etcetera said.
"Have you ever thought about just not wearing makeup at all?" Admetus asked.
"What? No! I looked horrible without my lipstick!" Exclaimed Etcetera.
Admetus chuckled. "I doubt that." He said.
Etcetera smiled.
"Oh, I just remebered, your brother is coming to visit." Admetus said.
Etcetera's eyes grew big. "Pounce is coming to visit?" Ectetera asked surprised.
Admetus smiled. "Yes, I invited him over for dinner. I thought if he came to visit you would feel much better." He said.
Etcetera hugged Admetus tightly. "Oh Admetus! Thank you so much!" She cried.
Etcetera jumped out of bed and ran into the bathroom. She showered, brushed her fur, and did her makeup. She didn't want to look like a complete nightmare when her brother came to visit. When Etcetera was done she went into the kitchen where Admetus was already making dinner. A couple of minutes later there was a knock on the door. Etcetera ran to the door quickly and opened the door. She was greated with a giant bear hug from her brother.
"Oh Pouncy! I'm so glad to see you." Etcetera said.
"Glad to see you too Etcy!" Pouncival said back.
Etcetera took Pouncival's hand and directed him into the kitchen. Admetus turned to Pouncival and smiled. Pouncival smiled back.
"Hello Pouncival. Glad you could come." Admetus greeted politley.
Pouncival nodded. "Hey, Thanks for inviting me over for dinner." Pouncival replied.
Etcetera sat down at the table. Pouncival joined her and sat in another chair. The two of them chatted while Admetus made dinner.
"So how've ya been sis" Pouncival asked.
"Oh, wonderful. How have u been?" Etcetera said.
"Ive been incredible! Ive never been so happy in my life." Beamed Pouncival
Etcetera chuckled at her brothers sudden bubbly mood. She was glad that her brother was happy. For as long as she could remeber she knew her brother had a huge crush on Bombalurina. She was glad that they were together. Etcetera assumed that Bombalurin would choose Tugger over her brother. But it turns out that Bombalurina was rather fond of Pouncival. So she gladly accepted his offer to mate with her. Etcetera thought about Jellylorum. She wondered how she was doing.
"So, do you know how mother has been?" Etcetera asked quietly.
Pouncival sighed. "Yeah. She's been kinda lonley ever since you left her." Pouncival replied.
Etcetera was scared he was going to say that. She looked down.
"It's my fault." Etcetera said.
Pouncival looked at his sister. "Etcetera. Don't feel bad. Mother knew this day was going to come. It's not your fault. She has to understand that you will not be a kitten forever. You are becoming an adult. And she has to accept that." Pouncival said.
Etcetera nodded in agreement with her brother. But nothing he could say could make her feel any better about leaving her mother so early.
"Have you been visiting her?" Etcetera asked.
"Yes, but she would much rather have you visit her instead me." Pouncival answered.
Etcetera sighed. "Is that what she said?" She asked.
"Yes, sometimes I regret being her least favorite." Pouncival said.
Etcetera shrugged. "Sometimes I regret being her favorite." She said.
Pouncival smiled. "I know mother has been controlling over your for your intire life. But thats because she loves you Etcy." he said.
Etcetera looked down. She thought about Admetus's mother. About how she protected her children and loved them. She died birthing one her children. And there she was complaining about her mother. Etcetera felt selfish. She turned and looked at Admetus. He was just about finished cooking their dinner. Etcetera turned back to his brother.
"Your right." Etcetera said to her brother.
Admetus finished cooking and began handing everyone there food. When the food was served everyone sat down and dug in.
"This is amazing Admetus." Pouncival exclaimed.
Admetus smiled. "Thank you."
"Admetus is a great cook." Etcetera said. She looked at Admetus and smiled. He smiled back and winked.
After that it got quiet. Either everyone was too busy eating, or they didn't know what to say. Pouncival decided to start a conversation.
"Admetus, you seem like a very nice tom. I supose you are taking good care of my sister." Pouncival said not looking up from his plate.
Etcetera shot Pouncival an icy look. "Pouncival!" She whispered harshley.
Pouncival ignored his sister.
Admetus smiled. "Thank you Pouncival, I promise you that I am taking very good care of your sister." Admetus said to Pouncival.
Pouncival smiled and continued eating. A couple hours later later they finished eating. Pouncival asked if he could talk to Etcetera in private. The two of them walked outside the den for privacy.
"What is it Pouncival?" Etcetera asked closing the door to the den.
Pouncival sctratched the back of his neck. "Etcetera?" He hesitated. "Are you happy here?" He asked.
Etcetera looked at him suspiciously. "Of course I am Pounce, why wouldn't I be?" Etcetera asked.
Pouncival shrugged his shoulder. "I dunno, when you and Admetus mated for the first time... You two didn't do much. You looked rather uncomfterable." He said.
"I was just a little nervous. But i'm alright now." Etcetera lied.
Etcetera remebered the mating dance. That was before Admetus told her the memory loss story. She still didn't know if she believed him. She decided to ask her brother about it.
"Pouncival?" She asked.
"Yes, Etcy?" He answered.
"What happened to me?" She asked quietly.
Pouncival cocked his head. "What do you mean what happened to you?" He asked puzzled.
"I mean what happened to me awhile ago." Etcetera asked raising her voice.
Pouncival looked down at the ground. He didn't speak or look up at his sister. He finally sighed.
"I have to go Etcetera. Please visit mother." Pouncival said pulling his sister into a hug.
"Bye Pounce." Etcetera said hugging him back. Oh how she missed her brother. She wish he could stay longer. And tell her the truth.
Pouncival turned away and left. Disapearing into the night.
(You might be wondering why Pouncival is not telling Etcetera about what happened to her. The reason why he won't tell her is because he dosen't want her to remeber the terrible thing that happened to her. But Etcetera will find that out later on in the story.)