Blood from Stone [AU]

[NPCs]

"I would prefer you not stuff any of my Tribe. That seems like something I should be deciding, hmm?" Cadmus offers Beth a kindly smile. "And Don... son... stop being a horse's ass."

[GamesMaster]

Don flinches. "I... I'm sorry, I tried so hard not to shame the family, I..."

[Carver Amell]

"You didn't shame anyone," snaps Carver. 

[GamesMaster]

Miki, however, holds out a paw. "He doesn't need to hear it from you," he says, in Catfolk.

[NPCs]

Cadmus looks over at Miki, expression thoughtful. He starts to look away, then pauses to study him a moment more. How curious... That is something I shall have to look into. But later. Moving slowly, carefully, as to not provoke either of the twins, Cadmus approaches his son. "Don... look at me."

[GamesMaster]

Don swallows, opening his eyes and lifting his head. His expression looks bleak, and a little frightened. Father loves me dearly, but surely, as Keeper, he has to cast me out of the Tribe for this failing. Bharnerol wouldn't have let my claws be taken if I didn't deserve it. 

[Carver Amell]

Carver stands aside, moving toward Miki, sword still out. "Sorry," he says, softly. "It just... I hate that we were too slow to prevent any of this." 

Miki nods, but doesn't reply. 

[NPCs]

We? Definitely need to follow up it seems. "Your actions were reported back to me. Attempting to save that human child at the start of the riots. I would hear your own words."

[GamesMaster]

Don swallows, taking a deep breath. Right. Of course. He speaks in Catfolk, knowing everyone here can understand it anyway. "There were speeches, just outside Cattown, for most of the afternoon; around lunch, someone broke a window at Niko's sho-- I mean, Feline Creations. I was helping board the place up when the speeches seemed to take on a new rancor. I left my post to investigate, and I witnessed the beginning of the rioting. I moved to save a human child,"

Ren hisses, clearly seeing this as further proof of whatever it is he believes.

"and they took that as proof that I wished the child harm. I found myself at the center of the nascent riot. I attempted to defend myself, but was ultimately unsuccessful against so many combatants. I awoke in darkness -- I understand it was the Temple, and I had been blinded -- and I was tortu--"

He swallows the word, shaking his head. "I was shamed, declawed, and neutered." The word is not the one they'd use for castration of a cat-cat, but the one for altering a pet -- though, to be fair, that's often the word used when this is done as a punishment for a crime. The symbolism is clear: one who shames their Tribe badly enough to require such punishment is no longer a cat-cat, but a lesser beast. "I was bleeding still when my rescuers arrived. Mikael healed me; Carver and his uncle fought to protect me, and his uncle lost his life. They wished for me to sign something, but would not tell me what; they also accused me of stealing my wealth, title, and Beth. I believe they wished me to sign away all three. The group seemed to be led by Pandias, a human I have come into contact with before."

[Bethany]

Beth hisses savagely and her grip around Don tightens for a moment. She had tensed a few times during his recital but that last. She opens her mouth to say something, but closes it. No. Afterwards. Don needs to talk with his father. With his Keeper. 

[NPCs]

Sign... At the temple. "Our temple?" Cadmus asks sharply. When Don nods, his bows his head. "You are... incorrect, about what would be signed. The contract, written in infernal, would give you your freedom and your life in exchange for the shells of your unborn children and your faith, requiring your eternal worship of Sirena."

[GamesMaster]

He stares in mute horror for a moment. "...My kits," he whispers, clearly spooked. "I nearly--" 

Then he sits, pulling away from Beth as he does, his ears drooping, huddling into a miserable ball in his blanket. The kits. If Miki and Car hadn't come when they did... I'd have lost them too.

[Bethany]

Beth has to swallow a few times. "They're safe. We're safe, all of us. See... feel," she whispers, reaching for his hand to press against her stomach- doesn't really give him a great deal of choice either.

[NPCs]

"But you did not. Nearly is irrelevant. Nearly catching a rabbit will not feed kits. Nor does nearly wooing a mate produce them." Cadmus smiles faintly at the two. "You fought a foe might greater and numerous than yourself and yet lived. You held fast and survived."

[GamesMaster]

Don shudders, bowing his head. "I was going to-- after the last, I didn't care what I'd be signing. I'm not fit to be a father."

MIki hisses. "If being a parent means being operated on without numbing, few would be fit."

Don shakes his head. "I brought shame to the Tribe. Bharnerol saw fit to cut me down. It is... I know what comes next. Do as you must."