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Chapter 21: Captivity

Once the fox and her cronies had left, Ellie and Jason returned to the slab. Sitting beside

him, Ellie wrapped her arms around her precious kitty. She leaned against his side with her

head tucked under his arm. He reached his left arm across to stroke her face, and for a while

they stayed like that, each trying to take what comfort they could from the other's closeness.

Eventually, Ellie heard the creak of metal sliding against metal, and then a slot in the wall just to

the right of the door opened to reveal a yellow bowl of fresh green grass. Ellie gave Jason a

squeeze then got up to retrieve the food. At least, the fox wasn't going to make them starve to

death. That is assuming it isn't poisoned. Ellie carefully examined the grass, lifting some to sniff

at it: nothing seemed to be amiss. The slot slammed shut, and Ellie heard the other side

opening again. She set the plastic bowl on the slab and waited to receive Jason's meal. The slot

slid open to reveal a long, curved knife with a wooden handle. Ellie removed the knife and

examined it bemusedly.

She handed it to Jason, "I guess this is a utensil for you."

The slot slammed shut, and Ellie waited for them to deliver Jason's food. She waited

several seconds.

She leaned her face down to the slot and shouted, "Hey! I think you forgot something!

Where's his dinner?!"

"Ellie," Jason choked. "They're not bringing me anything. I-I'm supposed to eat you."

Ellie turned around slowly. Jason was holding the knife and looking at her with a grim

expression. He took a step toward her, and she jumped, scrambling to put the corner of the slab

between her and the cat. Jason froze. Slowly, he extended the knife handle first toward Ellie.

"Take it, Ellie," he choked.

"Huh?"

"Take it and use it to defend yourself. I swear I won't harm you as long as I'm lucid, but if

she plans to starve me, if I lose control, then I want you to defend yourself. I couldn't live with

myself if I found I'd harmed you."

"I don't want to harm you either, Jason!"

Jason shook his head, "Think, Ellie. If I lose control and I have the knife, you don't have

a chance, but if you have the knife, you can warn me away. But if you have to." His sea green

eyes stared into hers intensely. "I won't blame you, Ellie. Defend yourself however you have to."

Ellie accepted the knife grimly. Jason stared at the wickedly sharp blade in her hand,

perhaps contemplating whether he'd just condemned himself to feel the cold steel pierce his

body. Ellie looked at the knife in disgust. So this was the vixen's plan: to get them to kill each

other. Ellie wasn't going to play her sick games! She rammed the blade into the gap between

the concrete wall and the metal slab.

"What are you doing, Ellie?" Jason asked in confusion.

Ellie didn't answer. Putting her left foot against the wall, she pulled with all her strength.

SNAP! The blade broke off of the handle and clattered to the floor. Ellie retrieved it and slid it

through the narrow crack under the door.

"Fuck you, fox!" she shouted at the door. "We're not playing your sick games!" She threw

away the handle. "Cheap piece of crap," she growled.

She turned back to Jason, who was staring at her in disbelief.

"N-now, you don't have any way to defend yourself, Ellie!" he fretted. "I'm bigger, and I

have claws! You won't be able to fend me off withou-"

"You aren't going to hurt me, Jason!" Ellie insisted.

"But-"

"She wants to drive us apart. We can't let her. I trust you; I know you won't hurt me. And

I won't hurt you! We'll get through this. Together." She walked around the end of the slab and

wrapped him in a tight hug. "We're partners, Jason. Friends and partners and now," she nuzzled

his chest. "I love you, and I could never hurt you. I know you feel the same."

He hugged her back, "I do, Ellie, but I'm afraid of what might happen if I'm not me

anymore. What if I don't remember anything but how hungry I am?"

She hugged him tighter, "That won't happen, Jason. You won't forget. Our bond is too

strong."

They held each other a few seconds longer, but then Ellie's stomach growled. She

actually was pretty hungry: she hadn't even finished the pasty she'd had at lunch.

"You should go ahead and eat, Ellie," Jason murmured.

"If you can't eat, then I won't either," Ellie stated determinedly.

"You have to, Ellie. What if there were a chance to escape? We can't both be starving:

one of us has to be able to get away if the opportunity arises."

"But I don't want to eat in front of you if you're hungry!"

Jason pried her off of him. "Go on. I'd rather see you eat than be hungry too."

Ellie looked at him concernedly, "Are you sure?"

"Absolutely. Eat."

Ellie nodded and stepped over to retrieve the bowl of grass from on top of the slab. She

glanced at Jason then averted her eyes guiltily as she began to munch down the grass. It was

just plain grass, but it filled her belly and, when she had eaten it a second time, would give her

all the nutrients she needed. Jason, on the other hand, had nothing at all.

She turned to him worriedly, "I don't suppose if you ate some it would do you any good."

He shook his head, "It would only make me throw up."

She nodded and turned back to her meal. Her worry for Jason made her feel sick to her

stomach, but she forced herself to finish the grass. Jason was right: one of them needed to stay

fit enough to escape. After she finished eating, she put the bowl on the floor out of the way

under the slab; she would need it again later. She walked back over to Jason and wrapped her

arms around him lightly, laying the side of her head against his chest.

"I'm so sorry for this, Jason. If I weren't prey, that monster wouldn't have come up with

this sick scheme. I hope she gives up soon when she sees she can't break us."

Jason stroked her head and back, "I hope so too, Ellie."

Ellie nuzzled her nose into his chest fur and inhaled his comforting, familiar scent. He

nuzzled her between the ears. His stomach grumbled noisily, and the sound surprised Ellie,

causing her to tense involuntarily.

"Sorry!" Jason apologized quickly. He stopped petting her. "I understand if letting a

hungry cat hold you makes you uncomfortable."

"No, I'm sorry! The noise only startled me. You can't help being hungry, and I told you I

trust you. I'm not afraid."

He hugged her, "Thank you, Ellie. If I couldn't hold you, that would be worse than being

hungry."

They weren't visited again that evening. A few hours later, the strip of bright lights shut

off without warning, leaving them in what seemed to Ellie at first to be complete darkness.

However, as Ellie's eyes adjusted, she realized there was still light coming from a red LED

emanating through a slit in the upper right corner of the wall at the back of the cell. Ellie could

only assume the light was part of some sort of camera or microphone to allow the fox to surveil

them unless it was a smoke detector, which somehow she doubted.

"I guess that means we're supposed to go to sleep now unless she thinks I'll be more

afraid of you in the dark," Ellie commented.

Jason stood up from the slab where they were seated and went to crouch in the back left

corner.

"What are you doing?"

"There's only room for one of us on there. You can have it."

Ellie considered the slab: it was narrow, but they should both be able to fit if they both

lay on their side or if she lay on top.

"Don't you want to sleep with me?"

Jason stared at her from the corner. "Do you really want to sleep with a hungry cat

holding you?"

How many times did she need to reassure him that she wasn't afraid?! "I'm scared,

Jason."

"I'm sorry, Ellie. I-"

"Not of you! I'm scared of what that monster is doing to us already, especially to you! I

trust you! You have to trust that I trust you and trust yourself! All we have is each other now! I

want you to hold me! We can get through this together; I can't get through it by myself!"

"Alright, Ellie." He got up and came back over to the slab.

Ellie lay down on her side, facing the wall, and Jason lay beside her, his chest pressed

against her back. She reached her right arm up to snag his and pulled it down around her,

holding his hand to her chest. He hugged her to him, and she sighed contentedly. These may

be dire circumstances, but at least they were together; they could still enjoy the warmth of the

other's touch and the comfort of their mutual affection. Jason began to purr, and the rumbling

sound and vibration soothed Ellie to sleep.

* * *

Rita watched the cat and rabbit sleeping together on the closed-circuit television, their

forms colorless in the infrared mode of the camera but still obviously pressed together.

"Isn't that sweet?" she commented to Edgar and Howard who were seated in front of the

screen. "It seems like they're a little bit more than business partners, doesn't it?"

"The rabbit said 'love' earlier," Edgar murmured.

Rita smirked, "Did she really? Well, then she ought to be nice and comfortable when

she's in his belly."

"What if he doesn't eat her?" Edgar replied petulantly. "I wouldn't eat someone if I loved

them."

"Do you have a mouse sweetheart you're keeping a secret from us, Edgar?" Rita teased.

"No, but-"

"But nothing," she interrupted. "There's a reason you don't love prey, and he's going to

realize that very soon. How many days do you think our guest has gone without food before?"

Edgar didn't answer the question.

"Probably not even one," Rita concluded.

She looked back at the screen. The rabbit was wrapped so comfortably in the cat's

arms, cradled by his body. It would make it all the more delicious when she became

nourishment for that body, her faith betrayed as she realized what had been true all along: cats

ate rabbits if they were hungry enough. Maybe he'd have to be a little hungrier than your

average cat would have, but the idea that he'd starve himself was absurd.

"Make sure you let me know if anything interesting starts happening," Rita instructed

Edgar and Howard. "If I miss out on our feline guest's dinner, I might feed one of you to him

next."

"Ye-es, Your Grace!" Edgar squeaked nervously.

Rita turned and trotted out of the room, which was set up in the servants' quarters side

of the basement, and back out into her dungeon. She stopped to gaze at the cinder block cell

where her guests were currently resting, and she couldn't resist a quiet giggle to herself as she

imagined them curled up together inside. She'd been a bit annoyed when she'd learned the

rabbit had broken the knife, but it turned out things were proceeding more interestingly than

she'd anticipated. Having them at each other's throats so quickly would have been amusing, but

the anticipation of waiting for one of them to crack was even more delightful.

* * *

Ellie awoke to a familiar stirring in her gut. She had no way of knowing what time it was,

but the lights were still off. She assumed it was the early hours of the morning. She carefully

slipped off of the end of the slab without disturbing Jason and retrieved the bowl from

underneath. She was fortunate in that Jason wasn't awoken during the messy process. They'd

already had to try to get used to the idea of using the toilet with the other in the room, but Ellie

still didn't really want Jason awake while she consumed her caecotrophs. Afterward, she

carefully rinsed the bowl in the sink. Unfortunately, there was no soap, and after rinsing the

bowl, she realized there was also no way for her to brush her teeth. She swished and gargled

some tap water, but that was hardly the same thing. Sorry, Jason. She hoped he wouldn't be

too horrified by her breath. She climbed back up onto the slab beside him, again lying with her

back to his chest and wrapping his arm over her. He squeezed her against him in his sleep, and

she tucked her head under his chin before drifting back to sleep.

The next time Ellie awoke, the lights were back on. She was still in Jason's arms, and

she snuggled closer against him. It wasn't as if there was any reason to get up. Besides, she

should let Jason sleep. While he slept, he was conserving energy. While he slept, he wouldn't

remember his hunger. A hand stroked the side of Ellie's face. Ellie squeezed Jason's hand

against her chest. If she was holding his top hand and the other arm was under his head, then

who had just stroked her? Ellie opened her eyes again: the vixen was grinning down at her.

"You had pleasant dreams, I hope," the vixen crooned mockingly.

Ellie struggled to get out of Jason's arms to get at the fox: she might be bigger than her,

but she'd give her a beating to remember anyway!

"Settle down. I came to ask if there's anything you need?" the vixen stated calmly.

Ellie's struggling awoke Jason. "Ellie? What's going on?" he murmured sleepily.

"Good morning, Dear!" the vixen chirped. "What was your name again? Jason, that was

it. I was asking whether there was anything you needed, Jason."

"Let me up, Jason! I'll give her the beating she needs!"

Jason held Ellie tighter. "What do you mean what we need?" he asked dubiously.

"Just that, what do you need?"

"Freedom? Food?"

"Besides those," the vixen replied calmly. "Maybe you'd like a blanket for instance."

"Er, I guess so," Jason answered confusedly.

"Anything else?"

"Uh, soap for the sink?"

"Very good. Is that it?"

"Toothpaste and toothbrushes," Ellie grumbled. "Mouthwash if you have it."

"I don't, but I'll have Wolfgang get some."

"What's the point of this?!" Jason demanded. "Are you just trying to get us to think about

what we want so that you can deny it?!"

"I'm trying to be a good host," the vixen stated matter-of-factly. "You can have anything

you want as long as you can't eat it and it won't help you escape."

"Can I have something to read?" Jason asked.

"Jason!" Ellie scolded. "Stop playing along!"

"You asked for something," he replied.

"Hygiene related stuff! Not entertainment!"

"Bring her something to read too," Jason requested.

"No problem. What genres do you like?"

"She likes horror. And, uh, do you have any Shakespeare?"

"Of course, I'll find you some." The vixen grinned down at Ellie. "Horror, huh? That's my

favorite as well."

Ellie snorted contemptuously. She wasn't going to have a discussion on literature with

this murderous monster. The vixen grinned wider before turning and trotting toward the door.

She called back as she left, "By the way, I brought your breakfast. Ellie, wasn't it?

Enjoy."

The door slammed shut.

"You should have let me at her, Jason!" Ellie complained.

"She could really hurt you, Ellie!"

"I could still give her something to think about! Besides, a pampered twit like that

probably doesn't know the first thing about fighting!"

Jason let her go, and Ellie scrambled up to sit on the edge of the slab, staring angrily at

the door. A sky blue plastic bowl full of grass was placed on the corner of the slab. Ellie almost

kicked it onto the floor, but she remembered what Jason had said about one of them needing to

stay fit. She picked up the bowl and looked guiltily at Jason.

"How are you this morning?" she inquired worriedly.

"I'm okay."

Ellie suspected he wouldn't admit how hungry he was, but it must have been nearly

twenty hours since he'd eaten, and that had only been the questionable piece of jerky the

coyote had given him. Ellie ate the grass uncomfortably: Jason watching her intently didn't help,

but she felt too guilty about having food when he didn't to tell him to look away.

The vixen didn't visit them again that day. After what seemed like a few hours, the hand

soap, toothpaste, brushes, and blanket were delivered through the slot. Several hours after that,

a new bowl of grass was delivered. Jason watched Ellie longingly as she ate her dinner.

Finally, she couldn't take it anymore, and paused to address him, "I know you're hungry,

but could you not look at me like that while I'm eating? I feel bad enough as it is."

"Sorry!" He turned his head away.

Ellie felt even more guilty for scolding him, but she finished the grass and slipped the

bowl under the slab. Afterwards, Ellie got up to brush her teeth with the minty toothpaste the

vixen had given them.

"Come brush your teeth too, Jason. I know you haven't eaten anything, but maybe

brushing your teeth will make you feel a little like you have."

He gave her a dubious look but complied anyway. When they were done, Ellie wrapped

him in a tight hug.

"I can't bear it, Jason! I wish there was some way I could help you! It's horrible seeing

you suffer like this!"

He hugged her back, "This helps a little."

She hugged him tighter, and they held each other for several minutes. When they finally

broke apart, Ellie turned back toward the sink.

"Now that we have soap, I'm going to try to give myself a wash," she declared.

Jason went back to sit on the slab, and taking cue from Ellie's statement, began to

groom himself. Ellie used the sink to wash her face and genitals as best she could. When she

was done, she tried to wipe away the excess water with her hands: she should have asked for a

towel. She crouched down on the floor to wait while she air-dried, unwilling to get their new

bedding wet. Jason was still working on his chest.

"I guess that's one advantage of licking yourself," she commented.

He paused and looked at her. "Why don't you let me dry you off? I can give you a

complete wash while I'm at it."

Ellie shifted embarrassedly. If he was going to dry her off, wouldn't that mean he'd be

licking her rear? She didn't think this was where she wanted to have sex the first time even if

Jason didn't consider licking her genitals to dry them oral sex, especially when she assumed

they were being surveilled.

"I think I'll pass. Thanks for the offer though."

He looked at her a moment longer, shrugged, and went back to grooming himself.

The lights shut off before Ellie was fully dry. She crouched reluctantly in the dark,

unwilling to get in bed while she was still damp and regretting her decision to wash. Jason lay

on the slab facing outward and opened his arms invitingly.

"Come to bed, Ellie. I don't mind if you're a little damp."

"I don't want to get the blanket wet," she complained.

Jason pushed himself up, swinging his legs over the edge, and hopped up. He trotted

over to Ellie and scooped her up across his arms.

"Come on, stubborn bunny."

He carried her back over and, still holding her, sat on the bed.

"What do you say I give you that wash after all?" he suggested. "You'll feel better clean

and dry."

Ellie squirmed embarrassedly in his arms, "What if she's watching though?"

"Watching?"

"What do you think that red light is?"

Jason glanced at it, "Smoke detector?"

"I doubt it," Ellie replied dryly. "I assume she's watching us somehow."

"Even in the dark?"

"I don't know. It's possible."

Jason shrugged, "Does it matter?"

"I don't want her watching us do something that intimate," Ellie muttered.

"This might be the last chance we get, Ellie. I'd like to wash you at least once before it's

all over."

"We'll get out of here, Jason! We'll have lots of chances without that monster getting off

to it."

"You said she wants to drive us apart. Isn't letting her stop us from expressing our

affection letting her do that, at least to some degree?"

Ellie blinked, "I, I guess it would be."

"Then let's not worry about whether she's watching."

"Alright, Jason."

"You want me to wash you then?" he clarified.

"Yes, go ahead. I guess having your slobber on me will hardly be the worst thing right

now."

He leaned his head down to nuzzle her belly. "You'll like it," he teased.

She pushed him away. "We'll see about that. Go ahead and get started, I'm tired of

being cold and wet."

Jason sat her on his lap and began lapping her head. Ellie closed her eyes as his warm,

rough tongue rasped over her face. Next, he moved to her ears cleaning every side of each

before pushing his muzzle in close to wash the insides of her ears. His rough tongue still felt

weird in her ears, but she tolerated it. Jason groomed the rest of her head and then moved

down to groom her neck, purring as his tongue rasped over her vulnerable throat. Ellie stroked

her sweet kitty's cheek: she had no fear of his jaws closing around her, and the tickle of

vulnerability from feeling his muzzle pressed against her throat only served to reinforce her trust

and affection. When he was done there, he gently held out her arms as he rasped his tongue

down them with short, quick licks.

Completing the upper portion of her body, he lay her on the mat and crouched behind

her to begin work on her midsection. Ellie felt a tingle of anticipation as he moved down her

chest and then her belly. He paused to look up questioningly when he reached her pelvis. Ellie

nodded, and he returned to licking, rasping closer and closer to the sensitive area. Finally, his

rough tongue rasped over her vulva, and she stretched her legs at the strange sensation. As

she'd expected, he didn't seem to be trying to stimulate her, treating her genitals as merely

another area that needed to be thoroughly cleaned. Still, Ellie imagined what it would be like if

his rough tongue were seeking to pleasure her, and she became a little aroused at the idea,

wishing that actually had been his intention. However, Jason had soon finished with her vulva

and even her anus, which Ellie hadn't been sure he would include. Apparently, complete meant

complete. He rolled her over onto her chest and continued with her back. When he was done

with her torso, he rolled her back over and washed her legs, and he finished with her feet,

cleaning them as thoroughly as he had the time she'd pressured him into it.

He wiped his tongue with his hand. "Not as dirty as the last time," he noted. "Feel

better?"

Ellie ran her hand over her chest fur. Surprisingly enough, she did feel cleaner. "Yeah, I

feel pretty clean actually."

Jason grinned, "Maybe I should wash you like this all the time then."

"Don't push your luck!" Ellie warned jokingly. She reached her arms up wide, "Come

here, you big goof."

Carefully, he lay on top of her. Ellie wrapped her arms around him to hold him close. His

weight squashed her, making it a bit difficult to breathe, but she accepted the slightly oppressive

weight to feel his warm body pressed so firmly against hers. She reached up to stroke his face,

and he leaned his head in to rub his cheek against hers. She held his head close.

"Kiss me, Jason," she whispered.

He leaned his head to the side, and she leaned her head the opposite way to align their

mouths perpendicularly. They locked their mouths together, and their tongues entwined. Ellie

absorbed herself into the feeling of his body pressing against hers, the intimate sensation of his

tongue filling her mouth and slipping by her own tongue as they drank each other's essence, his

familiar feline scent, and the caress of his fingers as he stroked her neck. She bathed in these

intimate sensations that sent waves of ecstasy through her body. His warm, firm belly pressed

between her legs, and a tickle of warmth crept into her loins. Ellie brushed her foot down over

his waist and hips as her arousal intensified.

Eventually, Ellie was obliged to pull her tongue back to swallow the saliva pooling in her

mouth, and she let Jason pull away. He sat up, removing his weight from her, and gazed down

adoringly. Ellie pushed herself up too and slowly ran her eyes over his sleek form, dimly

illuminated in the red light.

"Let's do it, Jason," she breathed. "We've waited long enough."

Even in the low light, she could see him tense.

"I-if that's what you want, Ellie."

"I do. Lie down."

He lay on his back, and Ellie crawled around behind him. While the intimate sensations

of the tongue bath and then of having Jason on top of her while they kissed had already

aroused her, the same could not be said for him.

"Looks like you're going to need some help," she commented.

She lifted his scrotum in her right hand and gently fondled his testicles while she tickled

around the opening for his penis with the other hand. Slowly, it emerged.

"Are you ready, Jason?" she asked.

He nodded.

She leaned in to give the slimy member a lick to help lubricate it though lubrication might

not be much of an issue: Ellie hoped she wasn't leaving too big of a wet spot on the bed. Her

tongue brushed over spiky spines.

"Oh!" she yelped in surprise.

Jason squirmed. "Is something the matter," he asked embarrassedly.

"No, it's just that even your penis has spikey bits."

"Don't rabbits have them?"

"No!"

"We, uh, we don't have to. I don't want to hurt you."

"It only surprised me. I still want to unless you don't."

"I do if you do."

"Good, let's do it then."

Ellie gave his penis a few more licks to coat it in saliva; she was a little more worried

about lubrication after finding out he had spines. Then she climbed on top of him and lowered

her rear down onto his loins. She used her right hand to help guide his penis inside her, finally

sitting down to push it all the way in.

"Unhah!" It was a tight fit, and the spines scraped inside her. She wasn't sure she

wanted to experience vigorous sex with a cat; she'd need to keep it gentle.

"Are you okay?" Jason asked worriedly.

"I'm okay. Are you?"

"Fine if you are."

Ellie nodded, and she began to rotate her hips, twisting the penis inside her. The spines

continued to scrape her vaginal walls, stimulating her deep inside while she rubbed her clitoris

against the shaft and base. Slowly, she raised herself up and lowered back down as she

rotated.

"Ummuh, nahah, uhgah," Ellie moaned as she rode him, discomfort blending with

intense pleasure.

Jason began to moan softly as well. Waves of pleasure coursing up from Ellie's loins

intensified, and her moans did as well until she was almost squealing with each turn and thrust.

Suddenly, the penis jerked inside her, and Ellie let out a squeak of mixed ecstasy and pain.

Jason gasped, and his penis continued to pulse inside her as hot liquid pumped into her already

full vagina. Ellie gasped in elation as the hot semen flowed over her highly stimulated vaginal

walls, and then an orgasmic wave of intense pleasure crashed over her. Another and another

and another wave of pure ecstasy filled her being. After several seconds, she came down from

the orgasmic rush, gasping air. Jason was breathing heavily too. Ellie pulled herself off of him,

and the spines scraped her on the way out, causing her to give a little yelp. She flopped back

onto the mat, still breathing heavily.

"A-are you alright, Ellie?" Jason asked breathlessly.

"Uh-huh," she breathed.

Jason sat up and gave himself a few quick licks. He looked down at Ellie. "Do you want

me to clean you up?"

Ellie was still a little dazed, but she managed to reply. "Umhm, if, if you want to."

Jason crouched behind her, lowered his head between her legs, and began lapping at

her sopping vulva. He worked diligently, drying the outside and then pushing his tongue inside

to lap up the rest of the fluids.

"Ahh, that, mmm, feels pretty good, Jason. We should have, mmm, started with that; I'm

too overstimulated, naah, now. That, ahh, was a little rough."

Jason finished cleaning her and looked up. "I'm sorry, Ellie. I should have warned you,

but I didn't know rabbits don't have spines."

"No, it was good. Just, it hurt a little too. More than a little. Just, uh, don't ever start

pounding away while we're having sex because that would be bad."

"I promise I'll be gentle." He scooped her up into his arms and sat back. "It was good for

me too, by the way."

Ellie reached up to caress his face. She smiled, "See? I told you it would make our bond

stronger."

Jason nuzzled her cheek, "I don't know if it could have gotten any stronger than it

already was, but as long as you enjoyed yourself, that's what matters."

"I'm glad you enjoyed it too." Ellie snuggled her head against his chest. "What do you

say we go to bed now?"

"That sounds good to me."

Jason lay down with Ellie on top of him then turned onto his side. Ellie slid herself into

place, tucking her head under his chin with her back to his chest. He squeezed her close, and,

exhausted, Ellie quickly fell asleep in his arms.

* * *

Rita felt her mouth getting dry and realized it was hanging open. She shut it and shook

her head slowly in disbelief. Edgar had run to get her, saying that the cat had the rabbit down

and might be about to eat her. It had turned out he was in the process of grooming her. Rita had

been a little disappointed, but on the other hand, it had still been interesting to watch. It was like

he was tasting her before he decided to eat her; Rita had found that quite a titillating thought.

However, then they had started kissing. Rita hadn't been prepared for that. A cat and a rabbit

kissing? It was just weird. But that still hadn't prepared her for when they had started fucking!

Rita had sent Edgar out of the room but had remained staring at the screen herself, unable to

believe what she was seeing. A cat and a rabbit! It was unnatural! Unthinkable! One of them

was a deadly predator and the other prey!

For the first time, Rita wondered if the cat actually would starve himself rather than eat

the rabbit. And then what do I do? It wasn't the outcome she wanted; it sounded so

anticlimactic. She could always kill the rabbit afterward, but where was the fun in the cat simply

starving to death? Sure, starving was a nasty way to go, but she wanted a spectacle. She

wanted to witness his mental anguish when he succumbed to hunger and ate his friend, and

she wanted to witness the rabbit's horror when she realized that was what was going to happen.

If he starved to death, she wouldn't get to see either of those. She shook her head: he'd only

been without food two days. He might be tenacious, but hunger would win eventually. And if it

doesn't? Rita tried to push the doubt aside, but there it was.

"Then I'll just have to think of a plan B," she murmured to herself.

She eyed her sleeping guests on the screen again. This was an odd pair, throwing

surprises at her left and right, but she would get them to do what she wanted eventually. After

all, they were hers. She would make them realize that; they would submit to her will. Rita

grinned. And it would be all the more delicious because of how they'd resisted. When she finally

won and they knew she'd broken them, it would all be worth it.

* * *

Rita awoke to the aroma of her customary morning coffee. She pushed herself up

against the headboard, and Boots set the legged tray in front of her before adjusting a fluffy

pillow behind her. Rita examined the poached egg, ham, toast with marmalade, and coffee in

front of her.

She nodded approvingly. "Thank you, Boots. Any word about our guests from Howard

this morning?"

"Still sleeping I think, Mistress."

Rita added cream and three lumps of sugar to her coffee and stirred it slowly with the

polished silver spoon. "Quite an interesting pair, wouldn't you say, Boots?"

"Yes, Mistress."

She dipped her toast in the soft egg yolk. "Quite an affectionate pair."

Boots coughed. "Quite, Mistress."

Rita took a bite of toast and washed it down with a sip of sweet coffee. "It'll be all the

more amusing when the cat is ripping her apart."

"Do you still think he will, Mistress?"

Rita looked up from her breakfast. "He's only getting hungrier, Boots. It won't be long

before a fresh rabbit is irresistible to our feline friend."

"As you say, Mistress."

"Do you disagree?"

"You're right of course, Mistress. He's only getting hungrier."

"You can contradict me, Boots. Do you think he'll be able to resist?"

"I think it's possible, Mistress."

"Would you like to make it a wager? If you're wrong, I get to tie you up for an evening."

Boots blanched, "N-no, you're probably right, Mistress."

"Alright, Boots. I'll keep the wager open in case you feel more confident later." She sliced

off a piece of ham with knife and fork and transferred it to her mouth.

When Rita had finished with her breakfast, Boots took the tray away, and she decided to

go check on her guests. First, she checked in with Edgar, who had taken over watching the

screen once Howard's shift was over. The pine marten twisted to look at her as she pushed into

the small room.

"Still sleeping, Your Grace," he reported.

"Not surprising considering their busy evening."

Edgar fidgeted embarrassedly in the oak dining room chair.

"Come now, Edgar. You ought to be a little pleased with yourself. Weren't you the one

who posited that they're deeply in love?"

"I-I'm not sure I put it like that, Your Grace."

Rita smirked, "Well, if you had, apparently you would have been correct. Boots agrees

with you by the way, on the whole 'eating someone you love' idea."

Edgar blinked, "What will you do then, Your Grace?"

Rita smiled confidently, "I have some other ideas brewing. I'll find a way to entertain our

guests; don't you worry, Edgar."

Edgar winced.

"Is something the matter, Edgar?"

"N-no, Your Grace!"

Rita crossed the room and gently took him under the chin with her right hand, directing

his head to make eye contact with her. She stared into his dark eyes. "You can tell if you're

having trouble, Edgar."

"I-it's just that, I know you kill prey all the time, but this time one of them's a cat."

"And that bothers you, Edgar?"

"I just k-keep thinking that could be me."

Rita caressed his face with her other hand, extending her claws to part his dark brown

fur. "I wouldn't hurt you, Edgar. Besides, our feline guest is bringing this on himself. Do you think

I want to torture such a handsome predator? He merely has to eat the rabbit, and then I'll find

some more pleasant activities for him."

"O-okay, Your Grace."

She patted him and then let him go. "I'm going to go give our guests a visit, but first I

need to grab a few things for them."

Rita trotted back out of the servants' quarters and up all the way to her study. She

selected Dracula and Romeo and Juliet from the walnut bookshelves. Then she went back

down to the kitchen to pick up the yellow bowl of fresh grass Gustav had prepared. Imagine

living on something that grows out in the yard. Grass wasn't food; it was carpet. Rita knew the

rabbit likely would have eaten other things given the choice, but the fact that she could live on

this stuff reinforced how other she was, how wrong it was for her to be romantically involved

with a majestic carnivore. True, they didn't need prey for food anymore, but that was why prey

were for entertainment. She'd make the cat realize that one way or another.

Rita took the books and grass down to the dungeon, grabbing Wolfgang on the way. She

wasn't concerned about the rabbit, but she didn't want to get in a fight with the cat, who wasn't

that much smaller than her and who was equipped with his own razor-sharp claws. Rita wasn't

exactly a slouch at fighting; any decent predator needed to know how to subdue and slay prey

and enemy alike, but foxes prided themselves for their quick wits more than for their brute

strength or the sharpness of their claws. However, the cat hadn't shown much inclination to fight

so far. Rita let Wolfgang wait outside the cell while she entered.

The pair were still curled up together on the bed. Rita gently set the books and bowl

down on the near end of the bed and crept up by their heads. She stroked the cat's head, and

he stirred but only to hug the rabbit closer.

She whispered in his ear, "How are you doing this morning, Jason?"

He stirred again but didn't open his eyes.

"Hungry, I expect. It must be hard holding such a delicious meal right under your nose."

Rita took a deep breath. "Mmm, doesn't that smell good? Go on; take a bite. I won't tell anyone."

The cat opened his eyes and glared up at Rita. He turned his body, shielding the rabbit

from her. "Why don't you leave us alone?" he growled. "We're not going to give you what you

want. I'll die before I hurt Ellie."

"A very noble sentiment but wasted on that rabbit. Do you think she'd do the same for

you?"

"Yes!"

"Then she should offer herself to you. If she lets you eat her, I'll let you go free."

"That's sick! I'd never accept an offer like that!"

"Think about it. What's going to happen to her if you die? You can make it easy, and if

she goes peacefully, I'll set you free."

"Fuck you, fox!" the rabbit snarled, apparently having been awoken by their

conversation. "I wouldn't make an offer like that because of what it would do to Jason. He's not

responsible for what you do."

Rita grinned wickedly, "What else would you say? You're content to let him starve so

long as it gives you a few more days."

"Fuck you!" The rabbit struggled to get up, but the cat held her tight.

Rita smiled smugly, "So much anger. You know what I'm saying is true. You're barely

less of a monster than I am."

The cat leapt up and lunged at Rita. She only narrowly managed to dodge his first swipe,

and his second swipe connected with her shoulder. She yelped in pain as his claws tore her

flesh; she hadn't been prepared for the sudden ferocity of his attack. The rabbit jumped up and

raced over to aim a kick at her backside. Wolfgang barreled into the room, slamming into the

cat, and knocking him to the floor. Crushing the cat under him, the wolverine reached a massive

hand around the cat's throat.

"Jason!" the rabbit cried. She started toward them, but Rita grabbed her by the arm and

pulled her in against her chest, reaching her left hand around the rabbit's throat.

"That wasn't very clever," she growled in the rabbit's ear.

"Does your ass hurt?" the rabbit asked defiantly. "I hope you have trouble sitting down

later."

Rita squeezed her throat, feeling the blood vessels pumping under her fingers. She

could cut off their pumping, and this impudent rabbit would find out the price for attacking her.

That would be too quick. Rita loosened her grip.

"You can let him up now, Wolfgang," she instructed.

The wolverine stood and dragged the cat to his feet. The cat glared at Rita, but she tried

to compose herself, to get back in control of the situation.

"Grateful or not, I brought you the books you wanted," she stated. "And breakfast for

you, rabbit." Feeling more calm and in control after demonstrating her magnanimity, she

massaged the rabbit's neck. "Be a good bunny and eat it all up. We want you to make a

satisfying meal for your friend, don't we?"

Rita nodded to Wolfgang, and he pushed away the cat and headed for the door. The cat

stumbled but didn't fall. Rita shoved the rabbit at him, and he caught her. Rita turned and trotted

out of the cell, Wolfgang slamming and locking the door behind her.

"Are you alright, Your Grace?" he asked concernedly.

"Fine," she answered tersely.

Wolfgang eyed her right shoulder, and Rita turned to see blood seeping out of a set of

claw marks.

"You should get that attended to," he stated.

Rita frowned at the wound. The cat shouldn't have been able to get her. Maybe she was

out of practice. She'd have to get someone to spar with her.

Rita led Wolfgang upstairs then continued up the second flight without him. She

proceeded to the bathroom to wash her shoulder with soap and water. When she was done, she

retrieved a bottle of peroxide from the cabinet between the tub and shower and carefully applied

it to her shoulder. She winced as the liquid bubbled against her torn skin. Fortunately, the

scratches weren't deep, and they had already stopped bleeding. She doubted they would leave

a scar, but it had still hurt. They'd pay dearly for this. No more offers to let the cat go, she'd

make him suffer. Maybe if he begged, she'd let him live as her toy. The wound may be minor,

but the fact that he'd had the power to cause her pain for even a moment was what enraged

her. He'd beg for forgiveness for taking advantage of her momentary vulnerability, and she'd

accept nothing less than his submission to complete subjugation as repayment.

* * *

Jason didn't want to admit it, but the hunger gnawing at his belly had reached

unbearable levels after more than two full days without food. Moreover, he felt weak and

disoriented. He tried filling his stomach with water, but it did little to quell the hunger pangs and

nothing to improve his mental condition. He couldn't bear to watch Ellie eating her dinner,

desperately wishing he could have consumed the fibrous grass, but of course, it would have

done nothing but cause him further intestinal distress. He tried reading to get his mind off of his

hunger, but he couldn't concentrate and gave up after several minutes of staring at the first

page. Ellie wasn't unaware of his distress. How could she have been? But he tried to hide the

severity from her; there was nothing she could do, and he didn't want to cause her more worry

than he had to.

Ellie set the bowl under the bed and hopped up beside him. She stroked his back, trying

her best to comfort him. Jason wasn't so far gone that he didn't appreciate her touch; he turned

to give her the best smile he could manage. She looked back at him worriedly.

"I'm so sorry for what you're going through, Jason," she murmured. "I've been scouring

my brain for ways I could possibly help you, but," she paused a few seconds. "I want you to hear

me out, Jason," she murmured slowly.

Jason's eyes shot wide in horror, "Ellie! No! You can't suggest that!" he gasped.

"Not that, Jason! I wouldn't make you make a choice like that!"

"Then wha-"

"Quiet, just hear me out. I know you can't eat grass raw, but, but what if it were already

fermented?"

"Huh?"

"I mean my caecotrophs, Jason. The cellulose is already broken down, and they're high

in protein. You might be able to live on-"

"I don't want to eat your poop, Ellie!"

"It's not poop! It's a completely different thing; you're supposed to eat them."

"You're supposed to eat them!"

"But you could too! I know it might be gross, but it would be something."

Jason shook his head, disturbed at the suggestion. "Imagining that I could manage to

eat something like that and keep it down, don't you have to eat them?"

"Well, yes, but we could split them."

"Then you wouldn't be getting enough to eat either," Jason concluded.

"Maybe, but you'd be getting something."

Jason shook his head, "No, if I'm going to starve, I want to do it without having tried to

prolong it by eating anything that came out of you. Besides, she might simply stop feeding you

too."

"Okay, Jason. I'm sorry I suggested it," she murmured sadly.

"No, I appreciate that you're trying to think of anything you can."

Soon, the lights shut off. Jason sighed and lay on the bed. Ellie curled up next to him,

and he held her close. He didn't think he'd have the will to make it through this without her, but

at the same time he was terrified for her safety, both from him and the murderous vixen. There

had been at least some truth in the vixen's taunts: if he died, she would undoubtedly torture

Ellie. If he killed Ellie, she would die quickly. But he couldn't do it: he couldn't betray her trust,

and he wasn't sure he could have done it even if she'd wanted him to. He had to hope the vixen

would give up eventually; he had to withstand this torture because the only other choice was

unthinkable.

* * *

The next day was even worse. Even though the vixen stayed away instead of coming to

taunt them--she was probably wary after the scratch he'd given her last time--Jason's

condition continued to decline. He spent most of the day curled in a tight ball on the bed trying

desperately to forget how hungry he was. Ellie sat next to him, keeping him company. She even

read part of Romeo and Juliet to him. Her presence was a comfort, and Jason tried to enjoy the

voices she did for the different characters. But he was in too much pain to get into the story.

"You'd make a good mother, Ellie," Jason murmured.

Ellie paused in her reading, "You think so?"

"Yes, you're the kindest person I know."

"I know you're not the biggest socialite, Jason, but you ought to meet more people if you

think that," she replied lightly. "But really, you only need to look in the mirror to see someone

kinder than me."

"Do you think we ever would have adopted any?"

"Any kits?"

"Yes."

"We still can if that's what you want, Jason. Do you prefer kittens? Bunnies? Something

else entirely?"

"Maybe one of each."

"That sounds nice, a little kitty and bunny family." She stroked his back. "We'll get out of

here, Jason. We'll have that little family if that's what you want."

Jason tried to let her words comfort him, but he didn't believe it. After what seemed like

an interminable day of pain, the lights went out. Jason uncurled himself to allow Ellie into his

arms. He wasn't sure he'd be able to sleep, but he tried anyway. Maybe in his sleep, he

wouldn't remember how hungry he was.

* * *

Jason was stalking through long grass. He could smell his prey hiding up ahead, and he

crept forward slowly, silently. His prey wouldn't know he was there until it was in his claws. He

saw movement through the long stocks. He sniffed. It was his prey! He crouched and then gave

a mighty leap. He landed on his prey and dug his claws in.

"Jason!"

He paused, confused. His prey knew his name?

"Jason! You're hurting me!" A kick to his stomach shocked him into wakefulness.

"Wha?"

"Jason! Your claws!" Ellie cried.

Oh Zeus! He quickly retracted his claws and released her. Ellie scrambled away and sat

a short distance from him, watching him warily. In the bright lights, Jason could easily see the

blood seeping from puncture wounds on her chest.

"Oh Zeus! Ellie, I'm so sorry! I was dreaming!"

Ellie continued to watch him warily. "Dreaming about what?"

Jason tried to remember, "Uh, I was in a field. I was looking for something. Looking for,

uh." He froze in horror as he remembered. "Oh Zeus, I was hunting!"

Ellie looked back at him grimly.

"I-I'm sorry, Ellie! It was a dream!" He sat up and reached for her. "Let me help clean you

up!"

She flinched away, "I'll do it myself."

He lowered his arms. "Alright. I'm so sorry, Ellie."

"I know. You were asleep. You didn't mean it."

"But I still hurt you!"

"It's not too bad. I'll be okay."

"But it could have been!" He looked down dejectedly. "We, we can't sleep together

anymore, Ellie, not unless I get food. It isn't safe."

Ellie didn't contradict him. He wished she would try to argue him out of his conclusion,

but the undeniable evidence was seeping out of her chest.

She nodded slowly, "I'm sorry, Jason."

Ellie climbed off the bed and went to the sink to bathe her chest. Jason watched her

guiltily. He should have known that this could happen, that it wasn't safe! What if his hands had

been around her neck?! Ellie finished washing her wounds with soap and water and tried to

wipe away the excess water with her hands. Jason didn't offer to dry her off; he didn't think

she'd want his mouth on her so soon after what had happened. He curled into a ball of misery

and tried to shut everything out: his hunger and pain, the knowledge that he'd hurt Ellie, the

worry that it would happen again or worse.

Jason heard the door open, but he didn't look up.

"Dear me, did the two of you have a fight?" the vixen asked mockingly.

"Just a bad dream," Ellie growled.

"Or maybe a good dream," the vixen taunted. "You know, he really doesn't look good at

all."

"I wonder whose fault that is," Ellie snarled.

"I'm not denying my role. Are you?"

"Jason wouldn't eat me even if I offered! And I'm not going to because that would be

horrible! Only a monster like you wouldn't see how sick that would be!"

"That's what you tell yourself. You have to believe it for your own self-preservation, but it

won't even save you in the long run. Isn't it better to fill your friend's belly than to end up like

poor Bart?"

"Fuck you!"

"That's not much of an argument."

"Jason's not sick like you! If he killed someone, especially if he killed his friend, that

would devastate him! I wouldn't be saving him if I offered myself to him; I'd be condemning him!"

"Sounds like moralistic claptrap to me, nothing more than an excuse for you to go on

living one more day. I hope you enjoy it; I don't think your friend will."

There was a scuffling sound, and Ellie yelped. Jason shot up to see the vixen standing

on one of Ellie's ears.

"Ah, you're awake after all! I had a little disagreement with your friend." She stepped off

of Ellie's ear and kicked her side, causing Ellie to yelp again. "Have a pleasant rest of your day,"

the vixen taunted. She turned and trotted out the door, slamming it behind her.

Ellie pushed herself up and scrambled to her feet.

"Are you okay, Ellie?"

"Don't worry about me. Try to rest; conserve your strength."

Jason didn't think he had much strength left to conserve, but he curled back up anyway,

clenching his teeth against the biting pain in his stomach.

At some point, Jason realized Ellie was sitting beside him. She stroked his back.

"Do you want me to keep reading to you, Jason?"

He nodded.

"Alright." Ellie opened the book and began to read.

Again, Jason wasn't really able to focus on the story, but he drew some comfort from

Ellie's voice and closeness. After a while, he began to notice that her voices all sounded choked

or muffled. He uncurled himself to look at her: tears were streaming down Ellie's face as she

tried to read, choking on the words between suppressed sobs.

"Ellie! Are you okay?!"

"I-I'm sorry, Jason," she choked. "It's so horrible. I don't want you to starve! I don't want

to lose you!"

"I'm still here, Ellie. Don't give up hope yet!"

"But what hope is there, Jason?! You're starving, and when you're gone, she'll kill me.

There's no hope left!"

"No, Ellie! There's always hope! We'll get out of here somehow! You said it yourself!

Someone will come!"

"You're dying, and there's nothing I can do! Where's the hope in that?!"

Jason reached out to wrap his arms around her and pull her up onto his lap. He hugged

her close.

"I'm still here, Ellie. We're still together."

She put her hands on his and squeezed them. He continued to hold her, and after a few

minutes, she picked up the book and began reading again. They spent the rest of the day like

that, excepting when they had to use the bathroom and when Ellie finished Romeo and Juliet

and started on Dracula. Ellie didn't even get up to eat her dinner until Jason insisted, and then

they were right back together until the lights went out.

"You can have the bed, Jason," Ellie stated.

"No, you take it. You'll get more use out of it. I can barely sleep anyway."

"Is it that bad?" Ellie whined.

"I'm sorry, Ellie. I didn't want to tell you."

"I, I'm so sorry, Jason."

"It's not your fault."

Ellie sat on his lap a little longer before she slipped off onto the bed. Jason got up and

slunk over to the corner farthest from the door. He slumped down miserably onto the cold, hard

cement floor. However, the hardness of the floor was the least of his discomforts; he could

tolerate it. Jason could see the red light reflecting in Ellie's eyes as she stared at him from the

mat. He just hoped she was safe away from him while they slept. He didn't think he'd ever

sleep-walked before, so hopefully, she would be. Jason curled up and miserably tried to find

sleep.

* * *

Ellie awoke the next morning to find Jason still curled in the corner. She couldn't tell if he

was asleep, but she didn't want to wake him if he was. She waited silently until the slot opened

to reveal her morning bowl of grass. Jason stirred at the creak of sliding metal. Ellie retrieved

the bowl and placed it on the corner of the bed.

"Are you awake, Jason?" she murmured.

He looked up at her, and she had to fight back a flinch. She couldn't believe how bad he

looked: his sea green eyes were sunken and lusterless, and his once glossy coat had become

dull. He sat up, and she noticed how easily she could see his ribs. A lump in her throat choked

her. Why was this happening to her precious kitty?! So you can live another day. Ellie forcefully

pushed aside the guilty thought. It wasn't true! She couldn't ask Jason to make a choice like

that! Even if she suffered more later, she couldn't make him live with that guilt.

Ellie crossed the room, helped him to his feet, and led him back to the slab. He flopped

down exhaustedly. After she ate, she sat on the slab, propping his head in her lap, and stroked

him sadly. He pressed his muzzle into her belly.

"I'm sorry, Ellie," he whispered.

"For what, Jason?"

"I'm sorry that I'm going to leave you."

"Don't say that! We might still get away!"

"I don't think I have long left, Ellie."

Ellie felt tears well in her eyes, "Shh, you'll be okay, Jason. Just relax; save your

strength." Her teardrops fell onto his face, and she quickly wiped them away.

"I'm so sorry, Ellie," he whispered again.

Ellie continued to hold him. When night, or what passed for night, came, he started to

push himself up to return to the corner, but she pushed him back down.

"Stay here, Jason."

"It's not safe for you, Ellie," he murmured.

"You're barely strong enough to sit up. I think I'll be fine. If you want though, I'll sleep

over there."

"No, I should be the one over there. You'll be safer up here."

"Enough of this concern about my safety! You're hardly in a fit state to hurt me! I'll hold

you down if it's the only way to keep you in bed!"

Jason's arm shot up and grabbed the back of Ellie's neck. She tried to pull away, but he

dragged her down until her throat was just above his muzzle.

"Does this feel like no threat, Ellie?" he growled softly.

"Jason! Let me go!" she cried.

He released her, and she sat back up, looking down at the cat fearfully.

"I'm sorry, Ellie," he murmured. "I was trying to make a point. You need to think about

your own safety."

"A-alright, Jason. If you really think it's best, you can go back on the floor."

Jason shoved himself up with a grunt and returned to slump in the corner of the room.

Ellie watched him, sick with worry for the cat and unable to sleep, but eventually, exhaustion

dragged her under.

* * *

Ellie was awakened some time later by the drone of hoarse murmuring. Still half asleep,

she listened to make out the words.

"I will not harm Ellie. I will not harm Ellie. I will not harm Ellie..."

Ellie's eyes shot open, and she slowly turned her head toward the corner: Jason was

crouched with his head buried in his arms, repeating the sentence over and over like a mantra.

"Jason?" she called nervously.

His head shot up, and he stared at her, his eyes narrowing. He began a low growl.

"Jason! It's me! Ellie!"

Recognition dawned on his face, "S-sorry, Ellie!"

She slipped off of the slab and started over toward him. "Are you al-"

"Don't come any closer!" he snarled.

Ellie jumped back fearfully.

"Sorry! I-it's for your own safety. Please stay back."

"What's the matter, Jason?"

Sunken sea green eyes stared at her miserably from the gaunt face, "I-I'm sorry, Ellie.

I'm so hungry. I was trying to sleep, and I, I thought I smelled this delicious aroma. But, but then

I realized I was only smelling you."

Ellie took another step back, and Jason gazed at her mournfully.

"I'm sorry, Ellie," he repeated. "Please stay away. I don't know if I can resist if you come

close." He buried his head back in his arms, and after a minute, he began his chant again.

Ellie felt sick to her stomach. How long would he be able to resist her 'delicious aroma'

when he was as hungry as he was? She returned to the slab and sat watching him warily. After

a while, he stopped chanting and lay down, curling into a tight ball.

Jason stayed that way most of the rest of the day. He only got up once to get a drink of

water and pee before laying back down. Ellie was tense the whole time he was up, prepared for

him to make a lunge at her, but he stayed away.

When the lights shut off, Ellie wasn't sure whether she should even try to sleep. If she

did, would she wake up with teeth around her throat? Jason would never hurt me. She tried to

reassure herself, but he'd called her delicious. He's resisting though. He won't let hunger take

over. Even so, she was reluctant to sleep. She sat up watching the cat's form until eventually

she nodded off.

* * *

Rita frowned at the screen: the rabbit was spending another day crouched on the bed,

fearfully watching the cat while he lay nearly motionless in the corner. Her fear should have

pleased Rita, but instead she found herself dissatisfied. The cat was declining too quickly. Even

if he tried to eat the rabbit now, there was a good chance he'd end up getting the shit kicked out

of him instead, and the longer he waited, the more likely that distasteful outcome became. But

how could she avoid it? If she gave him food, that would be admitting defeat, but if he

succeeded in starving himself to death, that would also show that she hadn't been able to break

him. Maybe he would get lucky and kill the rabbit after all, but if he waited until he was too weak,

the satisfaction of her success in breaking him would be tainted by witnessing prey stomp the

life out of a fellow carnivore. I could always tie her up for him.

"This isn't going at all how I'd hoped," Rita commented to Boots, who was standing

beside her. "Do you think I should tie her up? Dump some sauce on her? He should be hungry

enough to eat anything at this point, but he's still resisting."

"I may have an alternative, Mistress," Boots murmured slowly.

Rita blinked at him curiously, "Go on."

* * *

Ellie watched in distress from on top of the slab: Jason looked near to death. She

wanted to go to him, to be with him at the end, but she was afraid of what might happen if she

got too close. The door swung open, and she jerked her head to the side. The two wolverines

pushed in in front of the vixen and tromped over to stand in front of the slab. The larger one

reached for her while the other blocked her escape. Ellie didn't fight back. What was the point?

Jason would be dead soon, and there was nowhere to run anyway. The wolverine tossed Ellie

over his shoulder like a sack of potatoes and headed back for the door.

Ellie looked back at Jason sadly. "Goodbye, Jason," she called softly. "If we never meet

again, remember that I love you."

He didn't respond; Ellie wasn't even sure he was conscious. The vixen grinned toothily

at her as the wolverine carried her by.

"Oh, don't worry. You'll get to see him again. In fact, I'm showing you mercy. You could

have saved him from all of this, but I'm going to give you one more chance.

"I'm not playing your sick games, fox," Ellie growled. "I already told you why that's not an

option."

The vixen smiled smugly, "Now, now, I said I was being merciful. You might not get

eaten after all. I'm willing to give your friend something else to eat if you pass a little trial."

"Like what? I have to jump in a pot of soup?"

"Nothing so crude. I'll show you."

The vixen skipped around in front, leading them deeper into the basement. The

wolverine set Ellie down in a small room with a television and a pair of wooden chairs. Ellie

recognized the cell on the tv screen.

"I knew that was a camera," she grumbled. She gave the vixen a withering stare, "Your

life must be awfully boring if you have time to sit around watching us."

"Actually, that's Howard and Edgar's job. They alert me if anything interesting is going

on," the Duchess corrected cheerfully. "I wanted you to know we'll be watching while you

perform your task, so we'll know if you cheat."

"Cheat? Can you get to the point?!" Ellie snapped. "What is this sick 'task' you want me

to do?"

"It's really quite simple," the vixen replied lightly.

She nodded to the shorter wolverine, and he pulled a metal collar with a cable leash

welded to one side out of his jacket. The vixen took it, and he pulled a key out of his front pocket

and handed that to her as well. The vixen slipped the key into a lock adjacent to the cable and

unlocked the collar.

"All you have to do is get this around his neck," the vixen chirped.

Ellie blinked, "That's it?"

"But," the vixen drawled. "You can't tell him why you're doing it, not a hint."

"And if I do this, you'll stop starving him? You'll give him regular meals?"

"I promise. He'll be well fed, both of you will be."

Ellie nodded in acceptance. It might be dangerous getting so close to the hungry cat,

especially with such an unfriendly looking collar, but she had to do it. If this would save his life,

then it was more than worth the risk.

The vixen grinned, "I thought you'd agree."

She handed the collar to Ellie and nodded to the larger wolverine. He ushered Ellie out

of the room back toward the cell.

After the door closed behind them Ellie looked up at him warily, "Why do you go along

with this?" she inquired. "Can't you see she's sick? She needs help."

The wolverine glared down at her, "Her Grace is perfectly sane. It's not my job to

question her recreation."

"She tortures and murders people! You think that's an acceptable form of 'recreation'?"

He shrugged.

"What if it were someone in your family who she killed?!"

"It isn't."

Ellie didn't have time to argue further. They reached the cell, and the wolverine opened

the door, shoved her inside, and slammed it shut.

Jason was still curled in the corner. Ellie peered at him a moment: he could be sleeping.

Maybe she could creep up and slip the collar on him before he ever woke up. She crept forward

as silently as she could. Ellie didn't think she'd made a noise, but when she was roughly two-

thirds of the way there, Jason uncurled and stared at her, sunken sea green eyes narrowing

suspiciously as they fell on the collar and leash.

"It's alright, Jason. It's me, Ellie. I need you to hold still for just a minute, Sweetheart. I

promise I won't hurt you."

She started to creep forward again, and he began a low warning growl.

"Shh, it's okay," Ellie tried to soothe.

Jason continued to growl. Ellie hesitated. I have to do this! He'll understand when he's

well again! Summoning her courage, Ellie bolted toward the cat. He hissed and lunged for her,

claws extended. He nearly caught her, and if he had, the vixen might have gotten what she'd

wanted all along. However, Ellie narrowly dodged his lunge. Adrenaline pumping, Ellie dashed

in and kicked the cat in the stomach. He collapsed with a screech, and she jumped on top of

him, straddling his back. He yowled with rage and tried to push himself up, but Ellie thrust the

collar around his neck, snapped it shut, and grabbing the leash, stomped on the end attached to

the collar. Jason fell back out flat. Snarling, he scrambled on the cement floor, trying to push

himself up, but he didn't have the strength. Exhausted, he gave up and lay flat with a whimper.

"I'm so sorry, Jason," Ellie whispered. "I didn't want to hurt you. I promise you'll be alright

now."

The door to the cell swung open, and the vixen strode in, grinning wide. Ellie jumped up

and dashed at her.

"Stay away from him! You said you'd bring him food! Now where is it?!"

The vixen caught Ellie by the arms and flung her into the arms of the wolverines behind

her. She trotted over to Jason and picked up the leash before sitting heavily on his back. He

whimpered again. She stroked his head.

"I'm quite impressed with your loyalty, Dear, even if it's misplaced," the vixen crooned.

"Nobly sacrificing yourself for your friend, I couldn't let that end so anticlimactically." The vixen

grinned at Ellie, "To her credit though, she did take a risk to save your life." She raised her

hands and gave two sharp claps.

A heavy clomping that Ellie hadn't ever wanted to hear again began to proceed through

the house, reaching thunderous levels before the colossal beast leaned his head through the

door.

"Slide it in here Bootsy, you don't need to squeeze in yourself," the vixen chirped.

The beast obeyed, sliding in a silver platter. Ellie didn't have to examine the contents of

the platter; she instantly recognized the brown furred lagomorphic limbs, the missing foot and

fingers, the one leg severed at the knee. It was part of the remains of Bartholomew Potter.

Horror at what the vixen had meant by saying Jason would be 'well fed' washed over her.

"You ought to thank Boots for coming up with this whole thing," the vixen piped at her. "I

was ready to tie you up and hope he'd eat you eventually, but Bootsy came up with this clever

little scheme. He even planned ahead and saved part of poor old Bart in case our feline guest

got hungry. Otherwise, he would have had to wait until I found him fresh prey. Quite thoughtful,

really." She nodded to the wolverine holding Ellie, "Bring me the handcuffs, Johann."

The smaller wolverine with a brown ringed face left Ellie with the larger one and tromped

over to the vixen, handing her a pair of handcuffs from his jacket pocket. The vixen pulled

Jason's arms behind his back and locked them in place.

She turned back to Ellie, "Alright, Dear, you can bring him his dinner now."

The wolverine released her, but Ellie hesitated, looking at Mr. Potter's arms and legs in

horrified disgust. She didn't want to watch Jason consume the rabbit's remains.

"Do you prefer for him to starve after all? Dear me, it seems his loyalty was more

misplaced than I imagined."

Ellie slowly bent down, trying to suppress her disgust, and picked up the platter. The

vixen stood and yanked Jason up into a crouching position, holding him by the shoulders from

behind. Ellie approached the cat and gingerly held the platter out to him. He examined it a

moment then reached his mouth forward and bit into one of the legs. He pulled at the leg,

dragging it across the tray, and growled in frustration.

"You're going to have to hold it for him, Dear," the vixen explained condescendingly.

Ellie set the tray on the floor and forced herself to firmly grip the icy cold flesh. Jason

pulled his head back to rip away a chunk of flesh and fur. He gulped it down immediately, and

without a pause, tore away another chunk and another. He ate ravenously until the bones were

stripped and then looked eagerly at the platter. Ellie quickly exchanged the bones for the thigh

of the other leg, and Jason tore into that as well. He didn't stop until all of the bones were

stripped bare. He looked at the platter as if wishing there were more, but then sat back with a

sigh of profound relief. Ellie could hardly look at his gore-covered muzzle.

The vixen stroked his head, "Feeling better already, are we? Don't worry; there will be

more where that came from. Wolfgang and Johann will find you some nice fresh prey, and I'll

prepare them for you." She crouched down and ran her hand over his slightly distended

stomach, grinning at Ellie wickedly, "Doesn't that look nice and cozy? You could have saved him

so much suffering tucked away in this warm belly. I guess Bart got to have the pleasure instead.

He was worried that I was going to eat him, but I think he'd be pleased to know he helped

someone in need." She stood and went back to stroking Jason's head. "I'm going to enjoy

having a pet kitty to take care of. Such a handsome one too once he's recovered from his little

ordeal."

"Leave him alone!" Ellie growled. "You did this to him! And now you want to make him

eat people! He doesn't want anything to do with you!"

The vixen smirked at her, "We'll see about that. I wonder how he'll feel curling up next to

the same species he had for dinner. I wonder how you'll feel about that. Will you feel

comfortable next to him knowing there's another rabbit digesting in his belly?"

Ellie glared at the vile fox.

The vixen smiled with a shrug, "I suppose we'll find out."

The vixen let go of Jason and trotted out of the room. The wolverines followed her,

slamming the door behind them. Ellie looked disconcertedly at the blood around Jason's

muzzle. Another rabbit's blood. It wasn't his fault! He wasn't responsible for the fox's sick

schemes! He has to eat even if-. But if the vixen kept killing prey to feed him, wasn't he

involved? No! He doesn't want to; she's forcing him!

"I'm sorry, Ellie," Jason murmured.

Ellie looked at him worriedly, "Sorry?"

"I'm sorry you have to go through this."

"It isn't your fault, Jason!"

"Some of what she said was true though, Ellie," he murmured mournfully. "I still love you,

but can you feel comfortable knowing what I've eaten?"

"I love you too, Jason! The most important thing is for you to get well again. I won't let

her tear us apart!"

"But it's so horrible, Ellie! We were supposed to save him, but now." He looked down at

his stomach miserably.

Ellie crouched down with him and wrapped her arms around him. She had to shove the

leash out of the way first, but then she hugged him close. "I know it's horrible, Jason, too

horrible; we just won't think about it."

Jason was unable to hug her back with his hands still locked behind his back, but he

nuzzled her head. Despite her words, Ellie had trouble not thinking about the blood on his

muzzle. She had trouble not thinking about the contents of the belly pressed against her. I won't

let her win! Ellie pressed her nose into his chest fur and breathed his familiar scent. He was still

her sweet kitty. He would never harm her; he hadn't harmed anyone! It was all that monster's

doing. He needed her now because he had to know that he wasn't a monster for being forced to

eat prey. Ellie squeezed him tighter. They would get through this nightmare. Together.