Poem 3

The clock is ticking,

Gradually reeling.

I kept my face blank,

Blue eyes steeled and

Ears folded back.

I remained unnerved.

Hallways flashing

And doors creaking,

Pawsteps silent on

Roughly worn tiles.

My spine curled as

I smothered myself

Into a quiet vent.

The space was filled

With the scent of

Books and papers.

I watched the hands

On a clock move slowly

While listening in on

The distant chatter.

...

Whispers bounced off

The walls like echoes

In a cavern, or some

Rowdy back street.

I would always wait

Until the sound faded.

My ear only twitched

At the sound of a

Different voice.

Eyes no longer fluttered,

My fur smoothed out from

The tight-knit airway.

I was curious at heart,

Nature to survive just a

Pesky, nagging thought.

The other cats on the

Streets-- hiders, runners,

And scavengers alike,

Would always ridicule

My bemusing tendencies.

...

I drifted down into

Memory lane for

A brief moment,

Acutely unaware

Of his presence

Until he spoke.

The person seemed

To drag out his words.

"Oh, kitty! Where

Are you hiding?"

Scolding myself,

I peered down at

The page-scattered

Floor beneath my

Quaint hiding place.

Strangely enough,

The grin plastered

On his face was

Quick to fall flat.

"I know that someone

Is planning something in

This library, and I don't

Want you to get caught

Up in the trap. So, can

You come on out now?"

His gaze casted over

The room, arms stiff

And shoulders taut.

The demeanor of this

Person was fickle,

Quickly changing.

...

I took a leap of faith,

Already hearing my

Instinct claw at my

Stomach as my heart

Churned and rumbled.

My fur was slightly

Ruffled from the

Landing, although

The person already

Focused his attention

On my lithe form.

The brittle line his

Mouth was curved

Into was replaced

By an uncanny smile.

Violet eyes flickered

Like a wildfire, steady

And deep-- unyielding.

I blinked up at him,

Patience a virtue

With his demeanor

On constant thin ice.

"There you are.'"

He tilted his chin

At me, stone

Face unfazed.

"Are you going

To keep hiding?"

...

I held onto his widowed

Gaze like an anchor.

He blinked once,

Before looking away.

"To be honest, hiding

Is actually a good thing

If you're going to be

Stuck here with us."

He glanced back at me,

Before crouching down.

"Just between you and

Me... How about I give

you a nickname? It'll

be our little secret!"

His smile was back,

Albeit different.

No longer an

Empty grin--

Just fragile,

True emotion.

Rare and pure,

Like that comb

Of oozing honey

I once dug out

From a hive.

He tapped a fingertip

To his chin in thought.

...

"You're more than a

Just a player of this

Game, aren't you?"

I stepped closer, until

My pelt brushed against

His open palm as he

Reached a hand out.

The raw smile grew.

"I'll call you lavender.

You're silent, cautious,

And I can tell that

You're devoted, too."

My ear twitched as I

Stared up at him.

I understood that word.

I remember those fields

Of vibrant lavender, aglow

From moon or sunlight.

The berry bushes that

Pricked at your paws

In the woodland across

From the riverside,

Just over the hill.

...

He stared at me,

Eyes widened.

He repeated

That word.

"You alright,

Lavender?"

My ears flicked.

A soft rumble

Climbed up my

Throat, unsteady,

Bleeding honesty.

"You're... purring?"

His jaw hung open

Partially, until it

Snapped shut as

Abrupt voices rang

Through the air.

...

The care in his gaze

Fell through and the

Gentle grin slipped

Into a firm line.

He breathed a sigh,

Clicking his tongue

Like it was bitten.

His tone dropped low, a

Dark stone in the quiet.

"Well then, lavender...

The players are here."

I watched his smile

Fall flat and barren.

Ever-so fickle.

♡

Character Key (Based on Eye Color):

Violet- Kokichi