Lassoing the Cresent Moon

38. Sharing a Meal

My stomach gurgled but I forced myself to pull away and get closer to Theodore. The 5 slashes in his middle could only have been one thing- The prototype. I couldn't imagine how he must've felt.

He had given up everything to follow the prototype. He had heard Terry over the years, argue against the prototype and he'd been so angry, he tortured him. In the end, the prototype had tried to kill him when he was no longer useful to it.

"I wanted him to learn a lesson, but not like this." Terry said softly.

"He's lost a lot of blood." Poppy shook the disinfectant trying to get more use out of the nearly empty bottle. She tucked gauze under him and started to bandage his waist.

"But he'll make it, right?" I looked over to his joints. His limbs looked so stiff. His joints stuck out, each with its own discoloration that strained the skin.

Poppy sighed. "Unfortunately... he's a stubborn cat."

I let my fingers graze his joints only for Terry to yelp at the sight. He grabbed my shoulders and shook his head. "I wouldn't."

I turned my head toward him. "You said he wasn't double jointed. Why does he look like that?"

"His joints are dislocated." Poppy answered. "It was the only way he'd be able to squeeze through the vents."

"All of them?" I exclaimed. "That- why wouldn't he choose another route then?"

Terry winced. "You try hiding from the prototype." He paused. "Catnap was given the ability to snap and unsnap his joints back in place to fit in smaller spaces, but it still hurts him."

"Who thought that was a good idea?" Living toys from orphans, that was pretty messed up- but deliberately giving them features while knowing it would hurt them? If I hadn't been disgusted by playtime Co before the thought of it was revolting now. "So what do we do?"

"We have to snap them in place. I can take care of that." Terry's eyes were set on Theodore's joints.

"You just had surgery. Shouldn't you be resting? Poppy and I can handle this."

The way he looked deeply into my eyes showed a burden I didn't expect. "I want to do this, Angel." I could see he didn't just want to do this. He felt he needed to.

I scooted back a little to give him space. "Okay..." I glanced at Kissy. Even she was helping clean handkerchiefs by dunking them into a bowl of water and wringing the blood out of them. "What can I do?"

"You can eat, Angel. You've done plenty today."

"I think we have all we need right now." Poppy followed.

"B-but. Theo just- He was just wrecked by the person- thing he devoted his life to. He went through so much. You've been through so much!" I gestured to Terry. "Your legs! And you're starving! Kissy is starving, Kitten is-" As i said this Kitten rubbed against my leg. I hadn't realized my chest was aching until now. I reached out to pet him.

Kitten purred, as he further rubbed against me. He was so sweet. I couldn't help but smile.

"I don't need to eat." Poppy spoke.

"And the rest of us can survive without food and still have strength for much longer than you can." Terry didn't even look at me as he spoke.

"But doesn't it hurt?" I asked softly.

"You're eating, and that's final."

My eyes widened at Terry's sharp tone. There was no room left to protest, although I wanted to. "Okay... but I'm gonna leave you some." I glanced at Catnap' resting form. I hated the way I could tell exactly where his pelvis started and ended. "And Theo too... he needs all he can get." I said softly.