"Do you honestly think that this is a good idea?" Purrsephone asked her sister who sighed and nodded.
"Look, I'm sick of seeing Toralei act like her energy has just...Died. If this can help...Then I'm willing to do it. Besides, if this Kat or whatever the fang her name is has as much talent and raw ability as Toralei says she did. Then she's the best bet to put those idiots from Madow into their place." The other stated pointedly before sighing and adding
"Look, I know that you're afraid that you'll hurt Toralei and that our friendship with miss secretive asshole will be compromised but we have to do something."
The weekend hadn't come fast enough for Toralei who would have done anything to escape the jeers and ridicule from everyone that getting her butt kicked in middle of the hallway had caused. One part of her wished she could just go home and stay, though she knew that was as far out of the question as going back to her birthplace was.
Even her friends were acting weird, basically avoiding her which she didn't understand. Had she done something to offend them? Sure, they fought at times but they had never had acted like this before, as if they were hiding something or trying to keep secrets.
"Shit!"
She recognized that voice, however the smell that accompanied it wasn't of lavender and lemongrass but an wild, natural earthy scent that was overly familiar. Turning toward the intruder Toralei felt her heart rise into her throat.
"How?"
The only word that she could say as she took a step back, falling onto the ground though the taller figure sighed and glared over toward two pairs of glowing eyes in the underbrush.
"Yeah, pretty sure you wouldn't be the only one asking that question. Three words...Humans in River-dale." Kat sighed as she walked over glanced up at the sky before turning and walking over to the younger girl, holding out a hand.
"To be honest, I wasn't planning on showing who I was." Kat admitted as she pulled the other werecat to her feet "But your friends wouldn't take no for an answer obviously. They told me everything that they knew. I am so sorry...If I had known that would happen..."
"You would have what? Came back? Not tried to commit suicide? Yeah right! You were just like the others, only thinking about yourself!"
Kat took a full step back at the flash of red in the younger girl's gaze.
"Maybe I was...But I would have given anything to have the innocence you had. You may not have had our parent's affection but you got to run around town, playing and acting like a normal kitten while I was being conditioned to be a perfect leader."
She didn't even try to shield herself from the power of the younger girl's gaze.
"Innocence? You think I had it easy? Our own siblings hated me or don't you remember? Don't you remember how many times they hassled me because I was the smallest, weakest? Do you think I never noticed how no one wanted me?"
Kat froze as she heard those words before sighing.
"No. I didn't. Half the time I was too sore, tired and nervous to notice anything."
Toralei was about to say something in response when Kat removed her jacket, revealing the red tank-top underneath and the large scar that ran from her back and down her arm.
"You never got held underwater. You never had to learn how to turn off emotions like they weren't natural. You never had to fight against an alpha's aura like I did...it was a constant everyday thing. I got no breaks. I saw the bridge breaking...I knew what would happen. I was hoping for escape." Kat closed her eyes, ears pinning back as the memories came flooding back.
"I wasn't going to let a innocent life be lost. I had lost my innocence during the conclave." she confessed bitterly as she opened her eyes, turning her back toward them.
"I'll spend the next few weeks here then I'll be out of your territory. But the least I can do is help you face down those idiots."
"Toralei, I think..." Meowlody began earning a sigh.
"don't...Please just don't. I might want to hear it later but not right now."