"Is Grizabella still here?"
A young tom ran through the hallways of the many rooms, screeching the queen's name.
Grizabella had been lounging with Demeter, as she often did those days. Her ears perked as she heard the tom, giving Demeter a curious frown.
"I wonder what that could be…" Grizabella murmured, and Demeter shrugged.
It had been almost two months since Grizabella had made her promise, and so far everything was running smoothly. The food for Demeter, along with her bi-weekly romps with Macavity around town had made her nimble and strong, and she was growing into her body more as well. Astyanax had grown big and round, and was due any day now. The pregnant queen was well rested, and everything looked good for her pregnancy.
"Grizabella!" the voice was becoming more irritated, and Grizabella rose to her feet, poking her head out of the door. "Everlasting Cat, didn't you hear me?"
"I don't appreciate being shrieked for," Grizabella replied coolly, and the tom huffed.
"Astyanax is in labor, and she specifically requested for you to be there…"
Grizabella's eyes widened, and Demeter perked up. She didn't recognise her mother's name – she had been much too young – but the prospect of another kitten was exciting, especially one born in the lair.
"Demeter, stay here with Ayamico…" Grizabella said with a nuzzle to her head, and the kitten pouted.
"Do I have to?" she whined, and Grizabella laughed, licking her gently.
"I'm afraid so. Be good," she smiled, before turning to follow the tom, "Now… in any other situation, I'm going to assume that Macavity wouldn't let me ten feet near the place…" she murmured softly, her feet light as they hurried.
"The stupid queen won't let anyone in there to help her, except for you. Macavity would just let her die, but he wants this kit."
Grizabella's eyes narrowed, "Why this one?"
"Mystic…" the tom said after a moment of thought, unsure if he should've told her, "Macavity can smell it,"
Grizabella paused mid-step, her eyes wide, before she ran to keep up, "What would he do with another mystic?"
The tom laughed, "Train it? I don't know. I was sent to come get you, you think I'm privy to that kind of information?"
Grizabella rolled her eyes, stopping outside the birthing den. A collection of toms and older queens gathered outside, but every time one of them got too close, a screech warned them back. A screech, in between the gasps of pain and cries. Grizabella's eyes widened. They didn't sounds like good noises.
"Astyanax," she called, moving to her side with slight hesitation. She'd never helped birth a kitten before.
She had the basic idea – it was hard not to after having had a kit of her own – but her memory of the event was foggy.
"Bella," the queen whined, her body writhing as another contraction hit her, "Something isn't right,"
"Shh, no, it's fine. Just breathe," Grizabella coached, although she knew that the queen was right. She was bleeding heavily – a lot more than she should have been. The queen was pale and shaky, whining and clutching at Grizabella, "We'll get through this, we will."
The queen coughed, groaning, "Bella, this isn't gonna be good…"
"Just concentrate on the kitten, Astya," Grizabella urged her, "Are you ready to push?"
"I don't- it hurts-" she whimpered, pressing into Grizabella and scratching at her arms.
Grizabella suppressed a hiss at the pain, "Push, Astya. You can do it. You just have to get that kitten out and then you can rest."
The queen groaned, crying out softly as she pushed, her insides feeling like they were falling apart.
"Good, good… almost there," Grizabella praised, stroking her fur, trying to calm her down, "Just one more, I think…" she whispered, "Just one more and you'll have a beautiful little kitten…"
That seemed to be the last thing on Astyanax's mind.
"Come on, what are you going to name it?" Grizabella asked, nuzzling her.
Astyanax moaned softly, her whole body clenching in pain.
"What if it's a boy?" Grizabella prompted.
"Danizar," the queen finally whispered, writhing away from Grizabella's insistent hands.
"Beautiful…" Grizabella nodded, leaving her be for the moment. "And a girl?"
The queen cried out and she pushed again. Grizabella moved between her legs, rubbing her arm gently.
"You're so close...I can see the head, my love. One more push, just one more…"
The queen screeched softly as Grizabella caught the tiny, squirming kitten in her paws, severing the cord with her teeth and glancing up at Astyanax, who had gone quiet. The kitten, on the other hand, mewled and cried, but Astyanax barely registered the sound.
The queen's eyes were heavy lidded and she looked so weak… but Grizabella took the kit to her anyway, placing the tiny thing on her chest.
"A girl…" Grizabella whispered, concerned eyes watching Astyanax like a hawk, "What's her name?"
Astyanax's paws came to hold her kitten slowly, almost delayed, and she groaned quietly, "Rumpleteazer…" she whispered, "Sweet Rumple…"
"Astya… how can I help you? What's going on?"
"Bella… don't let Macavity get her. Please… Get her out…"
"I'm getting both of you out, and Demeter too. I promised," Grizabella said urgently, moving to her side and nuzzling the queen.
Astyanax gave her a weak smile, licking at her kitten slowly, cleaning her off with the last of the energy she had in her.
"Tell Demeter I love her…"
"No, Astya, no, you can do this. You're fine…"
"Thank you, Bella…" the queen whispered, heaving a long sigh as the rest of her life drained away, until her limp form stared up at the ceiling.
Grizabella hadn't realised she had been crying – didn't even think to pick up the kitten. She just stared, waiting for the queen to smile, or laugh. But there was nothing. Nothing except the feeble cries of the tiny kitten on her chest.
"Rumpleteazer…" Grizabella finally snapped out of it, taking the squirming kitten into her arms, nuzzling the poor thing until it stopped screaming.
"Is it done?" Macavity asked, leaning against the doorframe.
Grizabella turned to the tom, a hiss involuntarily leaving her throat.
"Ah, the aggression…" the tom chuckled, "Give the kitten to Ambrosia. Does it have a name?"
"You're not taking Rumpleteazer," Grizabella snapped, answering his question and denying him all at once. She tucked the kitten close to her chest, standing over Astyanax's body protectively.
"She needs to feed," Macavity said evenly, not fazed by her attitude, "Ambrosia will take her to one of the nursing queens. I wouldn't hurt her. She's my daughter…." He smirked.
Grizabella hissed at the mere thought, shaking her head. It was true, the kitten needed to eat…but it was too soon. Grizabella couldn't give her up – she may not get her back. Her promise had been broken. Despite her best efforts, she'd lost Astyanax. While she knew it wasn't likely anything they could've avoided – queens had problems in labour all the time – she still felt a hollow emptiness – like it was somehow her fault.
"Hand the kitten over," Macavity said, glaring down at her.
"Not to you," Grizabella finally relented. What could she do? She had a better chance of letting Rumpleteazer go now to rescue her later, than to try and fight against the magical tom.
Macavity glared, but summoned the queen called Ambrosia. The young queen came forward, almost tentatively, and held out her arms. Grizabella reluctantly passed the tiny orange kitten to her, fixing her with a hard glare.
Ambrosia nodded at her, knowing absolutely everything the old queen was saying through that glare. She would look after Rumpleteazer.
"Tamachin, Mostox – dispose of this mess…"
Grizabella's fur bristled and she hissed at the tom once more, staring down at her friend. They hadn't known each other well, even back at the warehouse… but still. She was part of her tribe.
"Her name was Astyanax," Grizabella snarled, "Have some respect…"
The two toms cautiously hauled the dead queen up from behind Grizabella, wary of Grizabella's unsheathed claws as they moved her.
"Oh Grizabella. Respect is a funny thing…" Macavity smirked, sauntering forward, "Some people take years to earn it… but me?"
Macavity's power surged forward and he pulled at Grizabella's mind, tendrils of power sifting through her emotions, until he found what he was looking for.
Immediately, her body language shifted and she was relaxed, smiling at the tom.
"Yes?"
"I can get it in seconds."
A/N: The family tree decision makes me cringe now...