This is a sequel to Chapter 2: 'Cat'. I sometimes stare in horror at the things my cats do as well, so this is somewhat based off that.


Name

"Safety and pea-"

Altair stopped dead in his tracks. The cat from the week before sat on the counter, swishing it's tail back and forth and was purring contentedly. It gave Altair a moderately disdainful look, not unlike the one that Malik was sporting.

"And to what do I owe this displeasure to?" Malik sniffed, and Altair scowled at the cat, edging into the bureau with a suspicious glare towards the animal. "Don't look at him that way. He is an excellent ratter. Just this morning he brought me one that he caught near the grain baskets. So you should be thanking him, novice."

Malik pointedly did not mention how long he had danced around the idea of even picking the rat up to toss it outside. It was one of the more disgusting things he had ever done.

"...I am not thanking that demon," Altair said firmly, moving over to the counter where Malik stood. "I've completed my investigations-"

"-and it certainly took you long enough."

"-I stopped to assist Fayiz. He needed an escort out of the city walls," Altair asserted, and Malik clicked his tongue and made a noise in his throat. "...I need a feather, Brother."

Malik pulled out his small box, withdrawing a white feather and handing it over to him. Altair took it, and Malik smirked at him.

"Why don't you give our new ratter a name, novice?" he drawled, and Altair's yellow-brown eyes looked over at the cat. Quick as a flash, he reached out and picked the cat up, holding it close to his face. "I suppose I shall leave that honor up to you, since you are such good friends with him."

"Very well," Altair said, keeping a completely straight face. "I proclaim this demon beast... Altair."

Malik snorted loudly and disbelievingly.

"I think not," he leered at Altair, who put the cat back down on the counter and went to the door, "I can barely deal with one Altair. A second-"

The cat suddenly made a strange sound in it's gut, and before their eyes, vomited up what looked like the remains of several rats.

Malik stared in horror, his mind not comprehending what he was seeing at first.

Altair hovered in the doorway, then held up his feather in sort of casual salute. He grinned brightly at Malik.

"Safety and peace, Brother!" he said cheerfully, and Malik looked up just as Altair flitted away, and there was the sound of boots on the garden wall outside. He looked back at the second 'Altair', who stared haughtily back at Malik before hopping off the counter and disappearing into Malik's quarters.

The rat remains sat there on the counter, waiting to be cleaned.

Malik whimpered.


...aaaaaaaand rest.