The Meowclops with Two Eyes by scrollfox |  |
"This isn't good," the Meowclops mother purred, as she
and her seven children stared at the newly born kitten, number eight, lying
on his back. "I've never seen anything like it...it's insane, it's outrageous,
it's kooky, it's..."
"He's got two eyes," the oldest kitten, Lea,
finished. "Mum, what are we going to do? He looks like a side-show freak! And
look at how small his eyes are," she said the word with hesitation. "Meowclops
only have one eye, and it's supposed to be big and beautiful. Right, mum?"
"Right," said Tempera. "Exactly right. But we
can't just do away with him, you know. He's one of us...typically." She stroked
a paw over the furry back, the newly forming claws, the scarcely sharp baby
teeth. "We have so much in common, and yet, we are so different." She sighed.
"So this is what you get when you want special kids for a change."
"No one's going to buy him," said one of the
more robust kittens, Roderick. "So we're gonna just have to abandon him. Maybe
outside, near the dumpsters. There are good leftovers there, especially on Fridays."
He licked his chops. "Jack-O-Lantern Cookies are the best." Tempera groaned.
"No, no, that won't do at all."
"I know," said Lea suddenly. "We can give him
to the Brain Tree!
He's always looking for prizes to give. And he says he's tired of ripping off
all of his branches and giving them away. He's thinning, he says." Tempera analysed
the idea for a moment, then smiled cattishly. "That'll do great. Excellent idea,
Lea, you're a very clever cat, you know that?" Lea beamed in reply, and Roderick
scowled.
***
That night, the whole family of Meowclops accompanied Tempera to the Brain
Tree. The "Nameless One", as Roderick had dubbed him, was getting a free ride
in mum's teeth. They slipped through the shadows, the younger ones crowding
together, mewing in fear, while big brother Sean made strange and unusual sounds:
a horse neighing wildly, somebody screaming in terror, and ground-shaking stomps
and moans. The kittens huddled together even more closely.
At last they reached the Brain Tree. It was
sleeping, muttering. The huge, gross brain trembled and heaved as it snored.
Tempera laid the little kitten on the ground. All the Meowclops, even the terrified
ones that wished they had never come along, huddled around the Nameless One.
Tempera purred sadly. "If only you had been born with one eye...but maybe this
way you will be happier." She touched his forehead, then led her family into
the shadows. The Nameless One did not notice. He simply fell asleep, nestled
in the Brain Tree's roots.
Several Months Later...
Audrey Aisha had just finished her second Esophagor
quest, and she now had enough information to bring to the Brain Tree. The huge
looming figure watched her come closer and closer. "Well, impudent Neopet? Have
you gotten what I have asked you for?"
"Yes," said Audrey, feeling a little cold and
a little afraid, a mixture of both. And she rattled off the dates. The Brain
Tree was silent. He was quiet for a long time, and Audrey was afraid she had
gotten it wrong. Then he smiled. "Congratulations, little Aisha. You're right."
Audrey grinned. "Cool! What do I get?" She waited
eagerly.
The Brain Tree brought out a Baby Fireball and
a strangely queer Meowclops...The Brain Tree whipped it away, and it meowed.
"Um, never mind about that thing. Here." He handed the Fireball towards her.
Audrey shivered, the Baby Fireball looked rather vicious. She saw the Brain
Tree holding the Meowclops behind his back. "I'd like to have that Meowclops
instead, please."
"I don't think you will," said the Brain Tree.
But he handed it to Audrey anyway. Audrey picked the gray ball of fur up and
smiled. It was rather cute, even if it had one eye...then she gasped. This one
didn't have one eye - it had two!
"I told you," sighed the tree. But to his surprise,
Audrey didn't ask for the Fireball. Instead, she hugged the warm Meowclops close
and grinned. "It's perfect. Thank you, Brain Tree." And she turned around and
left, still hugging her new petpet. The Brain Tree shrugged, wondering why someone
would want such an abnormal pet, and went back to his business. But what the
Brain Tree had neglected to see was this: Audrey Aisha was not so normal herself.
She had four ears.
The End |
