closer than you think

[medrau.livejournal.com]

Who: Medrau, Amy and a kitten
What: Saving a kid from evil fairy (furry?) clutches
When: night of Jan 24
Where: Rainbow's End



This is it, Amy thought, I've finally cracked. Eli, a cat. A cat that had been living with them since she'd gotten home. A cat that liked her a lot, sure, but what cat didn't like her? Not to sound egotistical about it, but she tended to be good with soft, furry things. Besides, I'd have felt it, right? I'd have known. Of course, I didn't know that a damn bundle of sticks wasn't my baby, so why would I have noticed this? Goddamn Maleficent. See, this was what she got for having her as her favorite Disney Villian. She reached Meddie's door and knocked, maybe a little harder than she'd intended. "Hey Meddie, lemme see the cat for a second?"

The door opened before she'd finished speaking. Medrau looked distraught. "I'm sorry, Amy! I was going to bring him to you, and he got spooked and... and he jumped." She pointed at a window which was open a few inches despite the season.

"He what?" Amy dashed over to the window and pushed it open all the way, sticking her head out to peer into the darkness. "Here kitty kitty! Here Bugs!" No, she didn't feel stupid hollering out a window for a cat that no doubt was already up a tree or under the porch. He was fine, he was a cat, after all. She was suddenly reminded of the time that Azzy had jumped out a second story window onto the fence below, and almost snickered in spite of herself. Another long look, and she pulled herself back in, shutting the window. "He's gone. I'll have to go look outside."

"I'll help," Meddy offered, grabbing her jacket off the back of a chair. "He's my cat, after all." She pushed past Amy and hurried out into the hall.

She stared after for a moment, then shook her head, following. "He might be under the porch!" She called. "There's a teeny little opening on the left side of it."

"I bet that's it, then. He loves hiding under my bed." She was through the building and out the front door in a flash, crouching on the edge of the porch and calling "heeeere BugsBugsBugs! C'mon boy..."

Amy caught up to her a few seconds later and dropped to her knees, peering into the small space. "Hey furball, come here. Want some tuna? Or milk?" She clicked her tongue a few times, staring intently into the darkness. She thought she saw something move, but she wasn't sure.

The cat didn't emerge, though Meddy called several times more. "Maybe he's not under the porch...?"

Biting her lip, she wondered what to do next. And then she grinned. "Hey Ladybug," She called softly. "Come to mama, baby. Wanna go see daddy? C'mere my Ladybug." Amy felt a little silly, but if it really was him...

For a moment there was nothing. Then, from the shadow of a bush in the yard came a small shape. The kitten walked slowly back to the two refugees and gave a quiet mew, looking up at Amy with big eyes.

"There you are! Good boy!" She scooped him up and hugged him tight before holding him out in front of her, studying him. "Are you Eli, little one? Is it you?" Amy bit her lip and tried to feel him, looking for the sunshine feeling she was so used to, but there was nothing. But if that stupid cow was blocking it...She shifted the cat to one hand while she dug in her pocket for the compass Ray had gotten him. She'd been carrying it around like a talisman. Once it was in her hand, she cracked it open and set it down on the ground. Then she let the cat down, hoping he wouldn't run away again. "Wanna play with the shiny, Ladybug?" She kept one eye on him, and the other on the arrow that was facing off towards the town.

Medrau stood and stepped backwards until her back nearly touched the door. There she watched with her arms crossed and a slight frown of concentration on her face.

The kitten looked from Amy to the compass and back, lashing his tail from side to side. Then he pounced, slapping his little paws down on the compass. At his touch, the needle swept around to point at Amy - or rather, at the house behind her.

"Eli!" It was a shriek that probably could've been heard all the way to the town, and definitely all the way to the top floor of the house. Amy scooped up the cat and hugged him silly. "My baby!" There was a warm feeling in her arms, warmer than the cat should have been, and she looked down to see her son watching her and smiling. Another shriek escaped her and she hugged him again, then kissed him soundly all over his little face.
"Look Meddie, look! It's my baby! Oh my god, I missed him so much, and he was right here all this time...I'm gonna kill Maleficent for this." She rose to her feet, clutching the babbling baby to her chest as if he'd disappear again any second. "Let's go see daddy, and tell the others...Oh my Eli, I'm so glad you're safe." She gave him yet another hug and disappeared back into the house, calling for Jalen.

Meddy broke into an open-mouthed smile for Amy's sake, but clearly didn't need to say anything. The riddle was solved. She'd been wrong to worry. Despite the lag, the refugees had pulled together and done it in the end, little more than three days before their time ran out. How like a fairy tale.