Chapter Text
Yennefer is aware of the rules of magic, even if she's not wont to follow them. Which is why she is only mildly chagrined when the spell goes wrong and transforms her into something with four paws and a tail.
Oh wonderful, she thinks dryly because she most certainly cannot curse and spit like she would like to. Her dress has pooled around her and with a stiff stretch of her newly acquired limbs, she steps out of it and past the drifting remains of the spell that occur in the form of a mist of sweet smelling juniper.
Maybe, a small reasonable voice in the back of her head that sounds like an absolutely unimpressed Tissaia De Vries, this wasn't a good idea. Maybe, she had been too greedy. Maybe, she couldn't have everything even though she had given up the one thing to gain access everything else but it. Those damned fertility mages are all quacks! She bristles, her fur rising. She'd gotten a spell from one of them that was supposed to help her regain her womanhood and all it had done was turn her into a cat! The man had swore up and down she'd be restored to a full pussy.
Though, now that she thinks about it, there's a double meaning to his words. A meaning she had not picked up on before because she had been so hasty.
Yet again she can hear the Rectoress's voice in her mind, scolding her for lacking control and tack in this situation. But could Yennefer be really blamed? The guy mumbled and spoke so softly she couldn't be bothered to figure out his riddles.
At least she makes for a pretty cat. A quick stock of her body in the reflection of the floor length mirror in her room details she's got pitch black fur, a slim figure, and violet colored eyes. She meows in disappointment.
How was she going to get out of this? She didn't suppose she could use magic? She tried to focus on the chaos swirling inside her, normally found there so easily. But, she could not reach it. Her feline body didn't have any magic. Whatever she'd had, it had been stolen, or kept from her.
There was no way she could get out of this. Not without some human help. She most certainly did not want to get Tissaia involved. The woman would punish Yennefer for this most egregiously. No, she'd go to her friends first and see if they could help her out. But as she padded over to her door, everything so high up and bigger, she found the door was locked.
Right.
How was she going to get past that?
…
An hour and several failed attempts later, Yennefer had given up and relegated to jumping onto her table, to the windowsill where she had left the window open to let out possible fumes and onto the ledge of the outdoors. The salty air greeted her, and with a forlorn sigh, she could not help but think how she did not miss this place.
It held many bad memories. Of pain, of humiliation. But it also held some good memories. Because this was the one place that had felt like home where no where else had. Tissaia might have been cruel and strict, but she had saved Yennefer from a life of being worth no more than a pig. She had helped her realize her true magic. And despite how much Yennefer had despised the woman owning her, a huge part of her didn't feel hate for her at all. And it was utterly frustrating, finding herself warring between hate and an unknown feeling. Yennefer accepted her hatred and anger. Cloaked herself in it. Powered herself with it. This other feeling was...something she was afraid to dwell on if only for what she would find.
With her new cat like abilities, she was able to easily walk the thin ledge, hoping to find an open window to another room. Whatever little luck she had left, she was able to find an open window. And inside it, Triss and Sabrina. She slipped in, landing with a soft thump as the two of them sat around, talking on their beds. When they saw her, their eyes went round.
“A cat? Where did you come from?” Sabrina asked, coming closer and picking Yennefer up.
Yennefer tried not to yowl in discomfort when she was buried in Sabrina's cleavage. Triss was right next to her, petting Yennefer on the head. She flattened her ears, very irritated with them. They shouldn't be petting her. They should be helping her!
“Are they lost?” Triss cooed before resorting to baby talk. “Are you lost little kitty?”
She wriggled out of Sabrina's grip, the girl giving a gasp of surprise. Yennefer landed on her feet and padded to the door, meowing loudly and cocking her head.
“Oh, she must be hungry,” Triss deduced.
Yennefer let out a yowl that was meant to be a no. They mistook it as a yes.
“You stay with the cat here, I'll get some scraps. We can't let Tissaia see it, she might want to use it for magic,” Sabrina said.
No, you idiots! Yennefer thought, screeching at them. You need to help me. Follow me! I'm not hungry! I am Yennefer!
“Seems we've upset the cat,” Triss said hands on hips, Yennefer lashing her tail. They had to open the door for her, and follow out. Not get her food!
Just then there was a knock on the door and without waiting to be allowed in, Tissaia opened the door and strode in, nearly flattening Yennefer with the door. She jumped back just barely in time.
“Ladies, dinner is being served downstairs. We are free to go.” Her sharp blue eyes did not miss the new addition to the room. “Why is there a cat here? Which one of you conjured one up?”
“Neither of us did. It slipped in through the window,” Sabrina explained at the accusation.
Tissaia thinned her lips. “I will let it out then. We don't need any pests in here. It will distract the new students we have.” She scooped Yennefer in her arms, the black cat letting her. Perhaps, she might as well resign herself to waiting until Tissaia had her guard down and then slipping free from her to try and get Sabrina and Triss's attention once more.
“You're not thinking of using her for spells?” Triss asked, ever worried about the safety and fate of others.
“We have no use for one now,” Tissaia said, looking Yennefer over with mild disdain. Then, she closed the door and walked down the hall. Yennefer craned her head around, startled by the loud noises of the halls, and the many sights and smells due to her heightened feline senses. She reflexively snuggled deeper into Tissaia, this close feeling the warmth radiating from her. So, she's not an entirely cold hearted bitch after all, Yennefer thought wryly. Her scent was clean and sharp, like ice with a hint of pine. Yennefer found it comforting in an odd way. She hadn't even known Tissaia used a perfume, because she'd never been this close to her.
Lost in her thoughts about the new discovery, Yennefer didn't notice they had arrived at Tissaia's personal quarters. The woman went in, Yennefer taking in the new sight. It was neat and ordered, something to be expected of the in control woman. It held a lot of touches of blue too. And it smelled even more like her. Tissaia sat down in her seat, setting Yennefer down on the desk before leaning in and observing her. Yennefer felt like she was being scrutinized. Like her inner most thoughts were being read.
“Yennefer, I know it's you.”
Oh. Well of course. Tissaia wasn't one of the most powerful mages without reason. Yennefer curled her tail around her paws, waiting for the berating to come. She wasn't disappointed. “I know you've been searching for fertility cures. I am simply astounded by the level of recklessness you've allowed yourself. Turning into a cat is shameful, even by your standards.”
Yennefer let out a low hiss, wishing she had the ability of words to convey her annoyance at Tissaia's uppity behavior.
Tissaia is merely amused by this, given the slight arching of her brow. “Part of me thinks you should spend some time as a cat to finally knock some sense into that head of yours. The other part thinks I should help you and let you be out of my hair. However, I have more important things to do than to clean up your messes, and I am very busy at the moment with meetings with the Chapter. So, I think it shall have to be waiting.”
Yennefer lashes her tail angrily and reaches out a paw to snag onto Tissaia's dress sleeve as she rises to leave in order to keep her there. This conversation isn't over! Yennefer misses and is rewarded with a sharp look. “I will not stand this catty behavior.” And then Tissaia leaves.
Yennefer yowls and hisses and screeches at Tissaia to come back. Did the woman just dare to make a joke at her expanse?! Yennefer threw herself at the door but it was closed. Violent eyes gleaming angrily, she surveyed the rest of the room. She was stuck here, and she didn't have her magic. But that didn't mean she couldn't do something to show Tissaia just how displeased she was with all this.
If a cat could laugh maniacally, it would be doing so now. All Yennefer could do in exchange was cough up a hair ball.
Ugh.