Black Cat //Ateez

°6°

The next day everything seemed peaceful.

Hongjoong woke up from his bed, seeing that the rays of sunlight went straight for his eyes.

It didn't bother him that much. He blinked his eyes a few times, getting the sleep away. He turned around, only to see Jongho and San sleeping together. The younger wouldn't let Jongho alone.

Hongjoong smiled softly and went to their bed, placing the blanket over them.

Getting out of the room and closing the door behind him, he exited the house, to grab some water from their barrel outside.

Hongjoong open the cap, seeing that it was almost empty. He had to go back to the river to get some water.

He took a small bowl from beside the barrel, and started gathering the water that was inside. It wasn't much. It only filled a bucket.

Sighing he took that inside. It was just enough for them to wash and cook. For today. Tomorrow they wouldn't have water.

He set the bucket in the kitchen and went to their room. He shook Jongho lightly until he was saw him opening his eyes.

"What happened?" He asked in his sleepy state.

"I'll go to the river to get some water. You can go back to sleep, I just to tell you, so that you know"

Jongho nodded his head slightly and went back to sleep, hugging San tighter.

Exiting the room for the second time, and again out the house, he walked towards a barn they had, where the villagers kept their animals.

Hongjoong searched for the small donkey they had, seeing that it would be much easier to carry water with it.

He saw that the animals had fresh food and water, meaning that someone was there before him.

He walked to the last space of the barn, seeing the animal walk back and forth.

Hongjoong gently opened the door, letting himself in. He brought his hand and gently stroked the animal, patting his head.

"Good morning Mr donkey. We have work to do today" He said, and started preparing him, with the equipment provided.

It didn't take him long, he knew where everything fitted. The saddle had eight small hooks, four on each side, which were used to hang the buckets. Using rope was too risky, so Hongjoong thought about something more stable.

He took the bridle in his hands, and exited the barn, going to grab his buckets from the house.

It didn't take him long until he set off to the river.

~~~

The walk to the river was quite pleasant. The sun has started to move higher and higher into the sky, while the gentle breeze made Hongjoong smile in content.

The chirping of birds could be heard along with the rustling of the bushes. Some small animals were jumping around, making weird sounds. But Hongjoong was used to that.

He reached the river quickly and he started to fill the buckets, putting them again on the donkey. The small animal was walking around, eating some grass or small flowers.

Before Hongjoong could load the last bucket, another animal made an appearance.

The black cat got closer to them, more like the donkey. It started sniffing around, occasionally rubbing his head to its leg.

"Good morning to you, Mr cat. Would you like some water?" Hongjoong said, offering a small bowl filled with water towards the cat.

The small creature meowed, and lapped at the water. Hongjoong watched it, a soft smile on his face.

Once it was finished, Hongjoong filled the bowl again, letting the donkey drink from it. He petted his head gently, filling the fur under his fingers.

Everything was settled. He had gotten his water, so now he was ready to go back.

He saw that the cat was following them, but didn't questioned it. It was after some time, that the cat had jumped on top of the donkey, sitting down on its saddle.

Hongjoong chuckled at that, seeing the cat closing its eyes, swaying its tail gently.

In just a few minutes they were back to the village, and the cat didn't make a move to leave.

Suddenly, the door of his house bursted open, and San came running towards him.

"Joongie!" He screamed, tackling the the older into a hug. Hongjoong was quick to pick him up, letting him lean on his shoulders.

San was playing with Hongjoongs shirt, until his eyes landed on the donkey. He saw a black cat sitting there, seemingly sleeping.

He gasped and tried to catch it.

"Joongie, a cat. Can I please touch it, please" He said bouncing on the olders arms, wanting to get closer to the cat.

"Um, I don't think if that's a good idea"

"Ahh please, just.."

"What if it hurts you?"

"It won't, I trust it"

Hongjoong seeing that he couldn't do much, held San protectively.

"Um, Mr cat, is it OK if my brother touches you?" He asked warily. Why was he doing that again? Oh yeah, for his brother.

The cat, having heard the entire conversation, lifted its head, and only looked at them.

"Ahh, Joongie it's so pretty" San said giggling and extended his hand carefully towards the cat.

The animal didn't back away, or tried to hurt San in any way. He didn't have a reason to.

San's small hand touched its head, stroking the fur softly.

"See, I told you it wouldn't hurt me" He said laughing at his brother. The fur under his small fingers was so soft, San didn't want to stop petting it.

But it all came to a stop when they heard crashing from inside the house. Hongjoong turned immediately his head.

"Jongho!" He yelled and rushed inside the house, hugging San closer to his body.

Hongjoong placed his brother down and rushed towards the noise. Pained yells could be heard, along with crying.

Hongjoong found Jongho on the floor of his room, the basin with water on the floor in pieces.

"Jongho" He quickly came to his side, trying to lift the yelling boy.

"Hongjoong it hurts. It hurts too much" The younger said, tears leaving his eyes. He tried to keep his shouts at minimum, to not disturb San.

"Where.. Where does it hurt?" He asked panicking. When Jongho couldn't pin point exactly where, he showed all his body.

Hongjoong tried to not have a panic attack at this moment. He gently lifted the boy, placing him on his bed. He went and searched for the herbs the doctor had told him to give him, when something like this happened.

He looked frantically through every drawer, and once he found them, he quickly put them inside a pot with water, and waited for them to boil.

It didn't take long, so he put the substance inside a glass and went to give it to Jongho.

He stopped once he saw San standing at the opening of the door, holding his dog close to his body.

Hongjoong got in front of him, blocking his way.

"San, why don't you go outside for a while huh? This is not a sight for you" The older said gently kissing the boy's forehead.

San didn't object. He nodded his head and made his way outside. Maybe the cat would still be there.