Black Cat

Black Cat-17

Balto had prodded me awake this morning after I had fallen asleep on the ground. Now I was running down my stairs dressed in skinny jeans and a baggy black blouse that was only half tucked in. I was going to be late for my bus if I didn’t hurry.

I guess in my mind I had still been counting on Tommy’s ride to and from school now I would have to rush to get to the bus on time. Taryin and Sunny stood in my kitchen sipping freshly brewed coffee like nothing was wrong.

I tripped coming down the stairs fumbling my poor choice of heels down with me. Sunny and Taryin stopped in the middle of their conversation to watch me wobble on my back as I jammed my feet into the little black swashbuckler style wedge boots.

I rocked up onto my feet running around the dining room table heading to the couch grabbing my bag from the end.

Popping into the kitchen I took Taryins mug from him and shot the entire thing down my throat shuddering as the caffeine rushed my system.

“Right, and thank you whoever cleaned up the damage in my room. It was much appreciated”

Taryin stared down at his empty hand still holding the air where his mug had been, “Your welcome” He muttered.

“Sybelle what are you doing?” Sunny asked as I raced through the kitchen heading up the stairs to grab my coat off one of the hooks on the wall.

I turned back down and walked back into the kitchen dropping my bag to the linoleum floor to put my jacket on.

“I’m going to miss my bus if I don’t hurry” I hissed through my teeth.

“Sunny’s dropping us off, then he’s going to take Thomas to his mother who will deal appropriately with him” Taryin said turning and grabbing another mug from the cupboard and pouring another leisurely cup of coffee.

I stared open mouthed at him, anger and shock built up inside of me, “Why didn’t anybody tell me that!” I shouted at them both.

They glanced between one another and then ignored me, “I could have slept in, instead of rushing around like a mad fool trying to catch a bus I don’t need to catch!” I bellowed at them reaching my full rage which was about as ferocious as a small newborn kitten.

“We had to deal with Thomas” Taryin sighed rolling his eyes, as though I should have known that all on my own instead of having to hear it from him.

“Where is Tommy?” I asked looking around.

“In my closet” Taryin murmured into his coffee.

I doubled over in a fit of laughter, he had somebody crammed in his closet! Balto came trotting into the kitchen and looked around at everybody.

His blue eyes sparkling with a strange and foreign happiness. I could tell that Balto had never been very happy, and who would blame him his brother wanted him dead and he was the cast out of his family.

I felt bad for him, but not pity. He had stayed so strong through 700 years of this and never once tried to back away. Sure he ran from them but that was survival, he could have just turned around and killed his brother but he hadn't. I was excited to meet Balto's human form.

“Has the Tribunal been called for Thomas?” He asked.

“I thought it was ick-snay on the whole Feral world for little miss princess over there?” Taryin said pointing at me.

“Sybelle has chosen to accept this, if she wants to know let her know if you think she will benefit from learning it. Otherwise ick-snay on the Feral” Balto said in a commanding tone apart from where he mocked Taryin.

“Are you two seriously speaking pig Latin, or at least trying to?” I muttered looking between both of them.

Taryin snickered into his cup of coffee and turned away from me.

I turned to look at Balto and smiled at him sweetly, “So what does the Tribunal do?” I asked in a soft voice crouching down in front of him.

He trotted forward and stood before me, “They are our judge jury and executioner” His voice was flat and angry, I flinched from him cringing back pulling my hands in against myself.

“So are they going to kill Thomas?” I whispered my voice shrinking.

Balto’s eyes scrunched at me and he sighed heavily, “Most probably not. Sending Thomas to the Tribunal is only to throw them off my trail. They wouldn’t suspect me of being so stupid as to allow him to leave with my location. Still that is why I’m hiding out here.”

“So you’re gonna use me as a shield?” I muttered rubbing my forehead.

“No, we are going to protect you and you are going to help us by allowing us to stay here”

I nodded my head and rose to my feet, my left arm twitched and I cursed under my breath. That still really hurt, Sunny grabbed my shoulder and lifted my arm up so he could inspect it properly, his eyes scrunching together as he narrowed in on the wrap underneath my blouse.

“You shouldn’t go to school today Sybelle, it would be dangerous with this wound”

I gently pulled my arm back from him and shook my head, “Uh-uh, I need to go to school. I need to talk to Natalie and keep ahead on my studies. I had a life before you guys and I really would like to try and at least resume a semi normal version of it once again”

Sunny glanced at Balto who nodded his head, “Alright fine” Sunny groaned walking over to the coffee maker and pouring himself another cup of coffee.

I glanced from the coffee pot to Balto and had a thought, “Do you drink coffee?” I asked him crouching down again.

His bright blue eyes went wide and he looked around as if he was about to get in trouble, it was almost enough to get an awe from me. Instead I reached out grabbing his scruff and pulling him over to me.

“Sybelle! Cats don’t drink coffee” he yowled.

I held him close and whispered in his ear, “I thought you said you weren’t just a cat?” His claws flexed lightly onto my skin through the fabric of my shirt.

“You are devious” He hissed out, “I’d much rather you forget that little rant”

“Yeah, and I’d much rather not have four puncture wounds in my left arm. But we don’t always get what we want now do we Mr. Black Cat. Now do you want some coffee?” I asked him.

Taryin stared at me his orange eyes wide in shock, Sunny stood frozen obviously waiting for something to happen. Not something good from his stance.

“No, I don’t drink it” Balto sighed out dropping his head onto my shoulder.

“I have to set you down you know”

“I understand, but for now you seem to have little intention of setting me down so I will enjoy the moment”

I giggled and flicked his right ear, “You are a dirty little kitty cat, has anybody ever told you that before?”