Don't Forget to Remember (Dimyri)

Scrambling and scurrying up to the top of the house was a slight chore, she preferred trees and bark over rough rooftop tiles after all. Sure there exist urban cats who welcome the feel of pavement and marble, who feel accustomed to lay in the soft fluffy comfort of pillows and fancy furniture, but she did not share in that taste. Beds felt odd and uncomfortable, and chairs and sofas irritated her paws to the point where she felt tempted to scratch at them. Looking up from where she was perched, the view looked beautiful under the partial moonlight. Not yet full, but close enough to illuminate the woods surrounding this house. Weird, no farmland around them, no sign of stables or gardens either aside from the numerous roses outlining the path to the front doors. Yet here the house lies, somewhat hidden with no sign of how its wealth was forged. Here it sat tall and alone, crowded with solitude and endless frogs and crickets singing through the night.

The sound of claws meeting brick drew her attention to a pair of nearby felines, one scratching its claws against the chimney and another perched above it staring back at her. Unable to speak in her cat form, Dimyri approached the two, sitting close and watching this new cat enjoying its time before licking its paws. It was certainly weird growing up this way, understanding that you more closely resemble a cat than a human. No matter what form they took, the paws remain and the tails and ears where there to stay, always a reminder of who they really are. Yet these cats walk around to their leisure without much care, there was no predator for them, no dogs unless brought forth by a traveler passing by.

Dimyri stared longingly at this cat, how she wondered what life would be like, to be in its place and worry for no one but yourself.

The cat perched above them grabbed her attention with a soft meow, landing beside her and approaching the edge of the roof where the balcony lies. She followed upon recognizing its appearance, a feeling of comfort in realizing she was not alone outside. It's black fur shrunk and disappeared, giving way to human skin, and her size grew much larger as the tail split into two. The cat behind them hissed and ran off to the far end of the roof upon seeing this spectacle, it was to be expected.

Dimyri sighed as she transformed into her Nekomata form as well. "Even though we look just like them, they hiss and run away when they see us."

"Does it bother you?" She looked up to see the concentrated face Na'Vi held under the cool moonlight.

"I know it shouldn't, but sometimes I can't hide it so well. It gets exhausting." She slumped and laid back before letting her leg hang off the edge. "Mom says we aren't bad but it certainly feels like we are, for some reason."

"I don't like it."

"Neither do I, I can't sleep much. I hear Syri snoring and it makes me mad I can't sleep too."

"He didn't teach her how to defend herself, just how to be a good pet."

Dimyri looked over at her, seeing her fur grow tense and still. "You don't think she's still under, do you?"

Na'Vi felt her eyes begin to glare. "I don't know, she doesn't remember us well. It makes me scared that she is still-"

"No wait, she can't be. She was crying remember, she said she was so-"

"I know what she said!" Na'Vi growled, leaping out from their spot and climbing her way to the front yard grass. Feeling hurt inside, Dimyri followed anyway, venturing into the woods as the sound of snapping twigs and rustling leaves surrounded their movement. The numerous crickets and frogs around them began to falter and slow down, only bringing further attention to their heated night.

"Hey, don't do this. You've been all sorts of mean since we found her, I would think you would feel better."

"You act like you weren't having second thoughts a moment ago." She hissed, walking into the woods.

"I was and I still am but we did find her and I'm not forgetting that."

"No, you're just forgetting how she defends that man she calls mate, what does she see in him?"

"Hey!" Dimryi cried, running over to stop Na'Vi in her tracks, "She may have trouble remembering but I don't, and I know she was hurting before that night. Just because she forgot doesn't mean you get to!"

There, she said it. It wasn't something she wanted to do, but it was too late for regrets. Besides, it was nothing compared to what Nityri did.

"Look," She began, a slight crack in her voice causing her to pause before continuing, "We're all hurting and things really suck right now, but I lost a lot of my best friends back there. At least we found yours, but that doesn't give you the right to be so mean. Especially to her. When are you going to help her remember, and when are going to tell her you're sorry? Because I'm glad she forgot, if I remember and it broke my heart, how do you think she felt before?"

Dimyri stepped aside, feeling her eyes begin to swell inside but biting her tongue to force them under. For some reason, the insects and frogs now stayed quiet, and she wished they would grow louder to mask her whimper and sadness.

"Go ahead and take your walk, you wanna be alone. I think I do too."

Na'Vi kept silent, looking down at the ground before looking up into her eyes only to see them avert hers. Feeling her claws flex, she couldn't shake off this tense feeling around her. It hurt to hear her say that, but she knew she was telling her truth.

"I don't... I-" One final gaze before feeling her emotions rise uncontrollably again. She yelled before swiping hard at a nearby tree, leaving her mark. She panted before turning her head back. "Where were you when she was hurting, hm? You weren't there either so don't you go making me look like i'm in the wrong and you were the saint. I know what I did wrong! You think I want to forget? I-I hate it, I hate myself and right now, I hate how happy she is for forgetting me!"

She growled before looking back at the claw marks she made. "And I hate knowing she is in trouble because of me. She was better off without us."

Dimyri gasped. "You don't... mean that."

"Don't I? She looked happy didn't she? Her own mate, her own house, then we crash in and now we're messing her life up again. We should be the one's running not her. Just leave me alone."

With that, she ran off feeling a deep pain of guilt and remorse encapsulate her heart inside. It hurt, and now she made her hurt too. It didn't feel good to hurt her back, it just felt worse.

Dimyri stepped back, watching her friend run off into the woods, hurting all around. This never changed, and going out only made her feel worse. She felt herself lose her inner struggle as the tears began to flow down her cheeks, her paws unable to wipe them away. What are they going to do now, what can they do? Is she right, did we bring the trouble back to Nityri? Was my sister living a better life without us?

Her ear flinched as the sound of rustling bushes and dried leaves on the ground were heard, along with a scary howl of the wind beginning to pick up. "They did look happy together, maybe we should leave instead. Maybe then she would be happier." Dimyri looked up to see the fading sight of Na'Vi running forward.

Suddenly the sound of leaves grew louder, and something strong trapped her neck and pulled her weight back onto it. Her eyes grew wide, something clasped over her mouth before she could scream for help. Something strong and funny filled her nostrils to overwhelming degrees, and the arm around her neck kept her from breaking its hold. Already out of breath from crying, she struggled to thrash her light form left and right, her tails wrapping around this figure holding her, her claws swiping at its arm keeping her locked onto it. Feeling faint as the stench made her dizzy and weak, she looked ahead and tried to cry for Na'Vi, wishing that somehow she could grab her attention, someway she would know she is in trouble. Please, turn back, please...

Her eyes felt heavy, was it holding me still? I can't breathe, something is making me feel numb. Her legs gave away, and slowly she felt herself begin to drop before landing on her back. The last thing she saw was a young man looking back at her with silver white hair, before drifting off to sleep...