JP - Evie wakes up for a bit

Meanwhile Kiana was gently brushing Evie’s hair while Whiskers purred at his Goddess’s side.

After a bit, Evie would wake up and see both Whiskers and Kiana. “I…I didn’t hurt you…did I?” She stuttered sleepily.

“No, of course not.” Kiana said.

Whiskers purred loudly and proceeded to head but Evie in joy.

“T-that’s good…” Evie said and stroked Whiskers’ back absently as she sat up. “How…how have you been all this time?”

"We've missed you, especially Whiskers." Kiana said as Whiskers flopped on his back inviting belly rubs and kneading the air with his paws. Kiana chose not to talk about Herbert or anything that would overwhelm Evie for now. "When you see Gelf you gotta check out her ring. Sorley proposed to her just today."

“H-he did?” Evie was happy for the distraction and pet Whiskers’ belly, just glad to see the cat happy and not yowling like he was earlier.

Whiskers wrapped his paws around Evie’s wrist in a hug, holding her arm in place so he could rub his face on her arm.

“Yeah, I was there when he was trying to work himself up to popping the question. It was really fucking cute.” Kiana smiled.

Seeing Whiskers do that and hearing Kiana’s words seemed to trigger more tears and all Evie could do was sit there and silently cry with a weak smile on her face. “I…I’m so sorry…I…I wish I had been here f-for you guys…”

It was all Kiana could do to not cry too. “You don’t have anything to be sorry for, Evie. I’m sorry we didn’t protect you better and you got caught again.”

Whiskers chirped and looked at Evie with his big eyes.

"Y-you couldn't help…help it." Evie said as she sat up fully and picked up Whiskers. Settling him on her lap, she kept petting him. "I…I just…want t-to go home w-with you and Gelf a-and Sorley and Whis-Whiskers." The stutter would not stop no matter how much she tried to control it.

“You can come back home as soon as you’re cleared to leave.” Kiana promised, feeling heart sick at how scared Evie was by hearing her stutter. “We kept your room exactly as you left it. Whiskers likes to go in there.” Kiana wanted to hug her but all those bandages gave her pause. She did not want to hurt her but gently patted Evie’s arm where it did not look too badly injured.

Whiskers purred loudly, giving Evie gentle head butts.

It was the patting that got to Evie. She kissed the top of Whiskers’ head and slipped out of the bed as she set him down gently. Instantly, she fell onto Kiana and hugged her, sobbing. “I missed you all so much!” She cried.

Kiana burst into tears too and gently hugged Evie back. “We missed you too. I’m so sorry we didn’t protect you. I’m so sorry we took so long to find you.” She sobbed.

Evie shook her head when she finally pulled back. “N-no…it’s not…not your fault. H-how could you have known…where I…I was? H-he had them lie a-about my location…” She explained, having been told everything from the man himself. It was another way he tormented her - a psychological hell of never being found had haunted her for five long years. “I just want to go home…”

Kiana wiped her eyes. “We’ll ask a doctor how soon you can come home.”

Whiskers mewed and head butted Evie’s leg.

“I…I think Leimomi wants me to stay a bit…” Evie admitted as she picked up Whiskers to pet him again. Holding the cat always calmed her down.

“We’ll figure out what’s best. I’ll stay in the Underground until you can go, okay?” Kiana said.

Whiskers purred and rubbed his head on her chin. His Goddess was back, all was right with the world.

All Evie could do was nod. She was starting to feel exhausted again and had to lie back down, keeping Whiskers close. “I…I feel like I’m…home…again…” She whispered, meaning that being around Kiana and having Whiskers in her arms was the closest she’d been to home in the past five years.

“You’ll be home soon.” Kiana promised, pulling a blanket over Evie and Whiskers, who was happily purring and cuddling beside her.

Evie nuzzled against Whiskers gently and offered a small, but tired smile. “Thank you…” She whispered. “Thank you to-to all of y-you…”

“Hey, you’re my friend.” Kiana said. “You’d do the same for me.”

Whiskers kissed Evie’s cheek.

Evie nodded and giggled softly. She would do more than the same for her friends. Kiana, Sorley, and Gelf were family as much as Whiskers, Herbert and all the other animals. She would die for them if need be.

“Try to get some sleep.” Kiana said. “I’ll see about getting you something to eat when you wake up.”