Flerae: A Lie Untold

Chapter 4: I Sleep In... Sort Of

- Ocean -

I sleep in... sort of. More like I pretend to sleep in, waiting for Mom to go to work, to teach at school as a teacher. Mom always pesters me, asks me, why can't I be like those sweet little mer kittens she teaches? I always tell her that if she would consider loving me the way I am, that I may consider changing to be a better little kitten... maybe...

I get up and walk outside. Freedom. I start off at fast walking and slowly speed up and I head to - 

"Where are you running off to?"

I stop and look back. A few feet from me, Carp glares at me. 

"Uh, hi, Carp."

"You didn't answer me," he walks towards me, grabs my scruff with his claws and brings my ear to his mouth. "Your mother put me in charge of you for when she's gone," he hisses. He holds me like that for a while, digging his claws in deeper and deeper. Sharp pain floods through my scruff. 

"Let me go!" I cry.

"Not until you learn your lesson."

He squeezes once more then lets go. "Go where you want, but let me warn you. Every time you go somewhere without me knowing, I will punish you."

I cower even after he leaves. Finally, after an hour or so, I get up and run. I run away, away from my troubles, away from him.