Neko Shorts - 9. Prompt #256: It's Just a Scratch

Prompt # 256-- Use these words in a story:

apple tree, broken fence, horse, phone, doctor

It's just a scratch

"Kayden," Ellis called as he approached the poultry corral. He could see the black haired neko on the ground reaching through the fence.

The neko jumped and turned from where he had his arm through the thin slats of the chickens' pen. There was an edge of a broken fence post that hadn't been fixed yet, and it provided a nice hole that he could reach his thin arm through. He'd been watching his beloved peacock when he'd noticed the beautiful bird plucking at another feather that he was getting ready to shed. Kayden had already collected and hidden away a few feathers. He knew that Ysmenia liked to keep an eye out for the feathers too as she made them into some weird thing that she used to fling dust back into the air when she cleaned. It always made Kayden sneeze. And he kept wanting to attack the thing as she waved it around like that.

As the older neko approached, Kayden realized that he'd scraped his bicep on the fence planks when he'd yanked his arm back through the slats. Well, crap, that would sting in the shower tonight.

"Kayden, what are you doing?" the older neko asked, his brown tail flicking a couple times. Obviously, he'd been looking for Kayden.

"Just watching Azule." Kayden slid his hand through his ebony locks.

Ellis eyed him narrowly. "Yeah, right," he said. He stopped when Kayden's bright green eyes widened innocently. ""Don't give me that phone--"

"But, I didn't do anything," Kayden insisted.

"Don't give me that phoney innocent look," Ellis finished. "I know you've been grabbing the feathers of the peacock and hiding them."

Crap. Kayden twitched his pointed black ears.

"You know that Ysmenia needs them to make her feather dusters. She's been wondering why there aren't more yet."

"Yeah, I know," Kayden glanced down at the ground in shame. "But they're too pretty to be smearing around in the dust."

Ellis laughed. "They help to keep the shelves and mantles free of dust."

Kayden wrinkled his nose. "No, they don't. They just fling the dust back into the air."

Ellis didn't have much to say to that since the kit was right. "Just leave some feathers for her, alright?" Ellis finally sighed.

"Fine," Kayden reached back through the broken fence to grab the long feather that he'd almost had. He thrust it at Ellis. "She can have this one. There's not much blue on it anyway."

Ellis snorted a laugh, knowing that Kayden loved the color blue. It probably had something to do with the fact that Lord Damien's eyes were blue too. Ellis reached to take the feather when he noticed the streaks of blood on the boy's bicep.

He grabbed the younger neko's arm and pulled it closer, scrutinizing the scratches, wondering how deep they were. "You probably should go see the doctor."

Kayden pulled his arm away from the older neko. "It's just a scratch."

"Yeah, like the time you fell off of the horse was just a scratch." Ellis rolled his eyes.

A small smirk appeared on the edges of the thin lips of his master's young lover. "Well, that was different."

Ellis tried not to smile as he stared sternly at the smaller neko. "It wouldn't have happened if you hadn't tried to stand up on the damn horse to reach the limb of that apple tree."

"I thought she would like it," Kayden defended. " Bella likes apples as a treat."

"Then get off the horse next time before you try to grab one from the tree."

"Well, if you hadn't shouted then Bella wouldn't have been startled, either."

Ellis at least looked a little chagrinned. He knew it had been his fault that the horse had jumped. But he hadn't been able to help his shout of concern when he'd seen the boy standing up on the back of his horse, reaching toward a bright red apple from a heavy limb. Unfortunately, his shout of concern had cause the horse to startle and Kayden had crashed to the ground. Kayden had manage to right his balance just as he hit the ground, but his hand had been seriously cut by a sharp rock. The doc hadn't been pleased to have to stitch up the kid again, even if it was just a couple of them.

"Well, if you hadn't been standing on the damn horse, I wouldn't have shouted," Ellis muttered. "You scared the shit out of me. You think I'd be used to it by now."

Kayden just waved at his arm with those wide innocent green eyes. "Really, it's just as scratch. Everyone worries so much."

Ellis narrowed his eyes at the young neko. "If you'd stop doing stuff that freaked everyone out, then we wouldn't have to worry."