''Heaaaddss uppppp Burrs!!!"
The cat stopped in its descent to devour us; We heard something, someone shouting above our heads, the noise coming from the upside of the standing behind;
Suddenly, the glass vase flew off of the stand, pink flowers and water falling out of it as it heads straight for the cat. I stood there frozen, watching it all about to crash on us; for once, Cheesy took my hand and grabbed me out of the way.
"Rwrrarrrwr!!!" the glass crashed across the cat's back and broke, leaving millions of cracked pieces everywhere. The cat hiked up on its legs and jumped back, running off into the living room with a chain of prolonged, displeased meows.
We looked up to see no other than Sharp on the stand, proudly pumping his fists in the air and beating his chest.
"Yeaahhhh!!!! Run away pussey!!!! Like the big scaredy Cat you are!!!" he exclaimed, smiling and laughing like he had won a prize.
.........................................................................
We made our way home, all of us entering the peephole with nothing but tiredness. Cheesy was holding me up while I limped my way through the peephole, the three slashes across my stomach stinging me each time I moved.
Luckily, it was just a few scraps to the skin, nothing that was deep. Cheesy got the napkins and water, cleaning up my blood from off him and dressing me, plastering my wounds with some of the Aloe Vera we had left for Mother. Sharp's voice was banging throughout the room, he stood there bragging endlessly about him "saving" us.
"Guys wasn't that crazy? Did you see how I threw that vase on that cat's head and how he spazzed out?? What did he really think he was gonna injure my mother and kill my brothers??Not while I'm alive an breathin-"
"Sharp. This is no time for you to brag. What did I tell you about more than two of us being outside??He could've killed you!!" I reprimanded Sharp, interrupting his delusions of being savior. The smile vanished from his face.
"Burr.... what are you on about?? If I wasn't there that cat would've swallowed you and Cheesy whole. He would have clamped you up in between his paws. You were both cat chow-" Sharp argued, I sighed and placed my head in my hands.
"I had it handled Sharp. You weren't supposed to be out there, you should have been here watching mom. Suppose something happened to you? You drew attention to us and now the cat knows there are more of us in the house. Sharp what you did was irresponsible-"
"Oh and you had it handled Burrow? You really did huh??? Damn could've fooled me. Thought your ass was about to be devoured but okay if you say so" he relented.
"You know what Burrow?" He got up and came in my face, his finger pointed to me.
"I should've let that damn cat eat you alive" as he said that he walked off, going to the table to sit by himself. I rolled my eyes at his ignorance. Sharp just didn't get it. He always thought that I was going against him but that wasn't the case.
It was bad enough that the Feline saw both of us. Now, he saw him as well. He now knew how many of us were in the house. Secondly, Mother left me in charge. I am supposed to be the only one that risks his life given that responsibility, if anything were to happen to him or Cheesy, I would be in deep trouble.
Bottom line is I just didn't want anything bad to happen to them, and no matter how much I didn't, things happened anyway. I was doing a terrible job of keeping everyone safe...
Sharp stayed by the table for a few, and then went to the corner. Everyone ate in their own individual spots, Cheesy helping me with something here and there due to my injury, but it was mostly a quiet afternoon. Mother was resting as usual, Cheesy dipping the napkin into water and sapping her head, in hopes of bringing down her fever.
"Mmmm...so hot..." Mother Mince murmured under her breath. She turned and twisted while Cheesy dressed her, the heat creating a great discomfort.
I was doing in and out of sleep when Chessy woke me up, telling me that Mother was calling me. I rushed to her side to hear what she wanted to tell me.
******************************************************************************************
'' Mother. How are you feeling?' Burrow asked gently. She could hardly raise her voice past a whisper, I bent my head down right to her mouth to hear what she was saying. Sharp was still up by the table, watching it all happen. He came over and stood beside Chessy as Mother told me what she wanted. Her eyes were large and reddened, she blinked slowly, barely being able to be keep them open. I listened as intently as I could, for Mother looked as if she would pass out at any time. The weakened mother of three opened her mouth, pausing for a minute as she gathered all the strength to speak again.
"Burr... I can trust you. Go in the kitchen and get me some mint bush. It's by the couch in that pot. For your mother, please'' she begged.
The Mint bushes. Of course!! That was it. Maybe that would finally cure her fever.
There was another potted plant to the side of the couch where the living room was, to the very far left end against the wall. Mother had carried home Mint leaves before, and on his many nights of sneaking out to look in the clearing glass he had seen the plant on the other ledge. So, I knew exactly where to go.
'I'll get anything you need Ma. I promise, I will" just as I said that, the pricking ache from my wounds gave me a painful reminder. Had it not been for that, I would have gone out that very moment to secure her the bush. Mother Mince closed her eyes and rested her head down.
Biting my lip I absorbed the pain and got up, hoping towards the door and looking out. The Feline was still out there, walking up and down across the Kitchen floor.
Cheesy followed me, ushering me back to sit.
"Rest easy Brother. Mother's fever has gone down a tad bit. Please, you can get the bush tomorrow. Your wounds are still fresh" I sighed, looking up at him and his caring eyes. He smiled warmly and rubbed my head.
"I'll get that bush in the morning since To-mas is up at night." I instructed.
"To-mas?" Cheesy inquired.
"Yes. That's what I heard the Giant call him" I corrected. After a minute conversation, Cheesy helped me get into my nesting and I dozed off...
...............................................
Sharp sat up in his nesting.
Looking across he saw his brothers deep in sleep, Cheesy with his back turned one way, Burrow the next. He got up, folding his arms and looking at Burrow.
"Should have just left your ass there since your the only one who can do any good around here. Nobody else matters but Burrow isn't it?? I'll show you" he grumped to himself.
He was tired of Burrow taking the limelight for everything. He was the one saving Mother, he was doing this, he was doing that. Sharp overheard the conversation with Mother and her request for the Mint bush.
"Why should I allow you to have the glory after all?"
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Perkins POV
It was early in the morning. The roosters crowed outside, morning dew from last night dripping down the underside of leaves. Perkins rises out of his bed half-way, yawning as he stretched his hands up to the ceiling. He looks over to his new cat, To-mas, who is resting peacefully, rustled up on the carpet in front of his bed, the creature far into dream land.
"You sure do drive a hard bargain kitty cat. Gosh I hope you warm up ta me" he wishes. The tired Farmer stretches more, and with a series of yawns he finally walks out of his bedroom. He goes to the fridge and gets some water, going to the couch and sitting down, drinking the water in his hand.
"Ahhhhhhh" Perkins sits back in the couch, laying his arms out, feeling the cold, icey water going down his throat. At the corner of his eye he notices the small potted plant to the end of the couch, by the purple curtain. The man gets up and goes to the plant, inspecting its leaves.
"Hm...even my mint tree looks dry and tired. This weather here is tooo damn hot. Finna water this tree and put out it outside..."
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SHARP'S POV
The cold air of the morning blasts him as he stepped out of the peephole. He scribbles across the kitchen floor, hiding behind the wall, then sneaking over to the counter and advancing to the couch.
Sharp looked to the pot where the mint was supposed to be and saw that it was uprooted. He looked up at the giant who had fallen asleep sitting in the couch, his head slumped back against the windowsill. The outside was showing blackness still; it was early on in the morning where the cock hadn't even crowed yet. Sharp stood there in the passageway that bordered the Kitchen and the living room.
"Burrow thinks he's the only one that can be a useful son to Mother. Well, I'll show him. I'll get the Mint bush and show him up. Then Mother will see that he isn't the only reliable one. I'll be. I'll show Mother Mince that I can be held accountable for things" he affirmed.
Sharp was glad he overheard that conversation with Mother and Burrow; he was even happier that the Feline had injured him, damaging him just enough for him to be tired and oversleep. He bet he wouldn't have woken up until it was far too late, where he would already have procured the Mint bush.
To top it all off, the Cat was nowhere in sight. It seemed that he had already head out for the morning on whichever escapade he did to go hunt outside for whatever juicy lizard, wild rodent, bird or whatever breakfast he was having for the day.
So everything was lining up for him exactly how he had imagined.
There was one minor problem, however. A major problem actually.
The Giant was resting peacefully on the couch, with his hand wrapped around a plant that had been uprooted from its source.
Sharp narrowed his eyes, stepping closer to really see what the Giant held onto. It was a plant obviously, but on observation he noticed that it wasn't just any plant. It was the same Mint bush that Mother wanted for her fever.
Sharp swayed his head from side to side, rubbing his temples and chuckling to himself.
"There always is a catch isn't there?" he muttered. With a drive and focus he had never felt before, he stepped forward, determined to relish in this challenge.
No matter what happens, Mother was going to get that Mint bush today.
He didn't care what he had to do to get it.
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BURROW'S POV
I was on top of a bridge. A sturdy, wooden one, that looked much like the floor of the Giant's house. There was a river of water flowing underneath the bridge that was crystalline, a transparent opaque blue that was clearer than anything I had ever seen. The sun was brighter in the sky, fleecy clouds floating through the turquoise Heavens.
I didn't know where this place was, but wherever it is I wished to stay forever. The picturesque views, the surroundings, even the air felt different. Crisper. Fresher.
The landscape was filled with vegetation. Stringy leaves of extensive palm trees waved their hands in the distance, a rainbow arched off from where the mountains where and ending further on.
I looked over and saw Sharp, Cheesy, and Mother running together through a field of flowers, laughing and smiling, happy as ever. There were these weird, crystal-like sparkles around them as they pranced, soothing chiming sounds emitted from them, filling the air with a sense of magic. Seeing that I felt a wave of calm wash over me, mixed with curiosity. I wondered if they were seeing how glorious this place looked, so I went up the hill to approach them.
As I was just inches away from them, waving my arms and calling out for them to see me;
They vanished.
Then, I opened my eyes. I was back in the cornered wall of this prison box. It was just a dream. Saddened by this fact, I attempted to get up, forgetting the pangs of the three slashes across my gut. I laid down, staring into the ceiling.
"These damn stupid persistent dreams" I murmured to myself. After coming from somewhere that was so pristine and unblemished, it was a hard reality coming back to this shithole. Was my subconscious torturing me too? Along with everybody else? Sighing, I rolled onto my side, taking my time to push myself up on my feet, the pain crumpling my face into a scrunch as I did so.
Shuffling my way over to the water cup to drink, I glimpsed around. Mother was still sleeping. Cheesy was well asleep too. I looked at the other corner, to Sharp. But his bed was empty. He was gone. My eyebrows narrowed and turned around the room, wondering where he could've gone. Then, I realized.
"No...he didn't" I said to myself. I knew Sharp was a bit impulsive sometimes, but he had to have known better than that. He had to. Maybe he simply had gone for water in the Bathroom. That was all. He wouldn't possibly have gone to get the Mint leaf by himself. No way.
I kept repeating this impossibility to myself, going into straight denial of what my gut was telling me. A part of me already knew that Sharp had gone out for the bush by his lone. It was an unshakeable, unmistakable feeling I had that something would go horribly wrong; but for my own sanity, I choose to have a greater, more delusional opinion.
He must be in the bathroom getting water. He must be in the bathroom getting water.. I was thinking in circles now.
"But the water cup is still here..why would he go to the bathroom to catch water and not carry it? Hmmmm...maybe he just wanted some fresh air. I should go look in the bathroom and see if he's fine" .
I gathered all the strength that I had and walked slowly to the peephole door, careful not to irritate my injuries.
............................................................................
"I'm getting that Mint Bush. No matter what, don't you dare leave without it" Sharp stood there taking in his dilemma, watching how deeply the Giant slept; five of his huge, lengthy, naked fingers gripping the Mint bush.
That was his prize, the catalyst to his freedom from being in his brother's shadow. If he got that plant for Mother to see, it would change everything. Gone are the days of Mother only acknowledging Burrow, it was his time now. His time to shine.
He revered the mint as if it was his greatest accolade, the short, green stalk of it sitting comfortably in the curvature of the Giant's rounded fist. It almost looked like it belonged there sitting so snugged. No, it couldn't have belonged there. Sharp knew he had to get it, even if it meant risking his life. But how? How would he take it from the Giant's fist if he laid there holding on to it for dear life?
Sharp exhaled slowly, rubbing his paws against the furs of his coat to dry the sweat pouring from the middle of his hands. He placed his palm across his chest to calm his throbbing heart, which he could now hear through his ears. Everything in him ran cold all of a sudden; he questioned if Mother getting that Mint was really a necessity after all. Maybe he didn't mind living in Burrow's shadow if it meant he didn't have to risk his life.
"No. No Sharp. Your gonna climb up on that couch, get to his hand and pluck that mint bush out of it like it was still in the soil..." Sharp stood up and shook himself around a bit, slapping his face and stretching.
With another deep inhale, the determined rodent advanced to the sleeping man.
He took his time and tiptoed to the couch arm, standing on his hind legs and sinking his claws into the soft, cotton material, gliding his way up. His ascension up the arm was quick.
He was now at the top of the couch arm. He lifted himself up onto it, the first thing he saw was the Giant's elbow resting on it, in a 90-degree angle. His eyes followed the rest of the Giant's arm which led to his hand, wrapped over the plant., on his chest.
"Now, just how exactly am I going to do this?" he assessed.
"Hmmmm...maybe if I just" Sharp continued cautiously, walking along the sides of the arm rest, stopping right before the man's elbow. Looking over the edge onto where the Giant was resting, he stretched out his torso, bridging the space between the couch arm and the Giant.
"Here we go Sharp. You can do thiisss" with one breathe, he stepped gently on the blanket that covered the man's lap, placing his two front legs first and then easing on with his two back legs.
"Okay...I'm on his lap. Okay.." Sharp muttered under a shaky tone. He could feel the Giant's body rising beneath his feet as he breathed in and out. Turning his face to the North, the white blanket led up to the man's neck, finishing at a dense wall of curly chest hairs that peeked out from a white sleeveless shirt. Traces of strangley veins in his neck wish-washed their way up to a pronounced jaw line, a hefty mustache sitting on thin, pouted lips. High cheek bones heisted themselves in the tanned complexion of a boney, oval face. Sharp giggled to himself as he saw the man's bald head, his head shape reminding him of a peanut.
He refocused and brought his vision back down to the mint stalk that was stuck in the hand of the Giant's bent arm that laid tucked on his chest.
Sharp sighed and swallowed hard, praying that the next move he made was a good decision.
He hitched his claws lightly into the thick fabric, moving one hand ahead of the other. Drawing himself up as he went, he climbed off the torso of the Giant. Making his way up he finally faced the slanted arm and went around it, going to the left. His eyes were laser focused on the Mint bush that was just a few more paces before him. Then, the fabric beneath his feet began to shift.
Sharp's eyes enlarged. Immediately, he looked up to the Giant's face. His eyes were still closed thank God, but he was twisting his body to face the other direction, using the other hand without the mint to draw the blanket over his chest. Sharp's view zapped to the mint in his hand praying that he wouldn't let it go, or all of this would be for nothing. Then the Giant stopped turning. The mint peeked over his hand more, the shift moved his cupped hand to lean more onto the side, but everything else remained the same. Sharp bowed his head and breathed out into the fabric, having a moment of gratitude. Even more determined to get off of this man, he rose his head up and continued to climb.
The mint was closer to his face. Sharp swerved over, climbing along the sides of the Giant's forearm. He was climbing so close to it that he could feel the man's stubby arm hairs tickling the top of his ears, he bit his lip, trying his best to land his paws softly, but swiftly across the path.
Finally, he was right beside the Giant's hand, the mint bush looking him dead in the face.
"Here we go Sharpo" he sighed, unclenching his claw and holding on to the thin material of the man's shirt with his hand, stretching over to the Giant's cupped hand to reach for the mint bush. Sharp leaned forward to it, the mint bush dangling on the tip of his fingers. He could feel the muscles in his torso stretching under strain, but he continued leaning over more, his hand grasping around the stem of the plant.
"Yes !!" Sharp's face beamed joy as he gripped the stalk.
Then, he heard something in the distance.
"Sharp you idiot!! Get down from there! You're going to get us in trouble" Sharp turned his head out in the direction he heard those words. He swerved his head down on the carpet; it was Burrow, with the most concerned expression. Seeing Burrow from up there he looked so tiny, Sharp smiled at him and waved.
"Sharp! You damned fool- Sharp!" Sharp glanced at him and winked, putting his finger by his lips and nodding that everything would be fine. He turns forward and furrows his eyes, zooming in to focus. Gripping his palm around the slender stem of the picked plant, he slides it out of the Giant's hand, drawing it back slowly.
Burrow couldn't believe what he was seeing. What the hell had gotten into Sharp??? After the stunt he pulled with the cat now he wanted the Giant to know we were here?? Was he trying to prove a point or be a complete idiot??
''Why are you taking so damned long Sharp? Hurry up!!" he shouts lowly. Burrow couldn't stop worrying, his eyes phasing between Sharp and how close he was to the Giant's face.
"Ohhh this is going to shit. Drats this isn't gonna go well oh my gosh Sharp what's wrong with you.." Burrow passes back and forth, dragging the fur's out of his head.
Sharp gripped the plant in his hand with a hoorah, turning and waving it as a flag to Burrow, who stood as still as a beam, frozen. Burrow covered his mouth and started pointing for Sharp to look, then running away and diving to the side of the couch where he couldn't be seen.
"Huhh?" Sharp asked, turning around to see his greatest fear come true,
The Giant's eyes were wide open.
The man rose up out of his leaned back position, his eyes enlarged as he came forward, mechanically, like a robot. Sharp sucked in his breathe, his heart about to explode.
"Shit!!"" the poor rodent's body swerved back and forth, slumping against the man's chest as he dangled forward, one hand attached to the Giant's shirt, the other hand still firmly gripping the mint bush in his hand.
They were definitely screwed now.