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Gold Sword Week 2024 – Day 7 - Family
After half an hour of opening boxes, climbing step ladders and screwing poles together the work was done. Two cat towers stood against the back wall of the nursery, in the space previously occupied by an old crib. They filled the space from floor to ceiling, and had everything a cat could want. Bed boxes, sleeping platforms, scratching posts and dangling pom-poms at various levels. The grey and black carpeting made them resemble a castle, which fit in well with the colourful dragons on the wallpaper.
Mr and Mrs Pendragon sat down among the cardboard rubble to admire their handiwork.
“Will they enjoy these?” Artoria asked, picking up plastic bags and stuffing them into an empty box.
“They are cats.” Gilgamesh sighed, “These were designed to amuse them.” He stood up and left to fetch the unopened boxes from the hallway.
The hardest job was out of the way, and they still had more cat supplies to unpack! In hindsight, they probably should have done all of this before bringing their kittens home. But, they’d wanted to hold on to this room for a little while longer. This luxurious villa had many extra bedrooms and facilities which they’d found new purposes for. However, the fully furnished nursery had been left unused until now. Aside from changing the wallpaper and carpet, this room had been left unchanged. Now that they finally had two new family members, it felt right to give them this room.
With this villa being their new home, it was time to get a pet. Originally, they’d hoped to get a lion cub. But, modern laws surrounding the trade of exotic animals would make that too difficult. Instead, they’d settled for two savannah cat kittens. A pair of brothers with a high percentage of serval genes. Due to lack of available breeders, they’d had to import them. It has been a long process, but they were happy to have them home at last. Currently they were being kept in the kitchen being fed by the staff. Undoubtedly, they were being spoilt already. Dinning on fresh liver and raw turkey breast.
Gil returned to the room carrying a stack of four packages. He set the boxes on the floor, before shouting “Catch!” Laughing jovially, he tossed the soft bags to his wife.
One hit her chest, and the other one landed by her side. Using a pair of kitchen scissors she tore into them with great enthusiasm. She smiled with delight as she admired the crimson pillows she’d ordered. They were big and soft, and both kittens could probably fit on just one of them. Her husband unboxed one of the wicker basket cat beds and tried to find a good place to set it down.
“Here?” he asked, walking over to the wall opposite the cat towers. “Or perhaps, this location would be better suited?” he gestured to the wall opposite the big windows.
“Put them there” Artoria said, walking over to add the pillow to the basket. “They’ll like sleeping in the sunshine.”
“We should reposition that cabinet then” Gil remarked, looking over at white wooden baby changing unit.
With their combined strength it was easy to shift the set of empty drawers. They put it against the back wall and set the cat beds down in it’s former place. Filled with the bedding and blankets, they looked incredibly comfy. The cat’s bedroom was pretty much ready now. Mr Pendragon left the room to discard the empty boxes, leaving his wife alone to open the remaining ones.
Sitting on the kelly green carpet, the blonde woman started unwrapping cat toys. First, there was a pack of plushy mice. Next, some plastic balls with bells in them. (Hopefully these wouldn’t become too annoying.) One by one, she dropped them on the floor and rolled them over towards the beds. There was a wooden toy chest that she could be putting them in, but she’d probably do that later. Her little boys could have their playtime first. Besides, it was currently occupied by a large gaudy lion plush. She continued unpacking feathers on sticks. There was a toy bird attached to a wide base by a long spring, she placed it in the middle of the floor. Seeing this room fully furnished brought a small tear to her eye.
Heavy footsteps marked the return of her husband. He was followed by two big kittens, tumbling over each other as they chased their dad. Beeping and mewing loudly as they went. Erin was a ball of caramel fluff, while Wileg was silver. Their ears looked too big for their heads and their spots were only just beginning to show. The couple looked at each other with big grins as they watched their pets play fight.
“Hello little one” Artoria cooed, petting the brown kitten as he wriggled on her lap. “They aren’t lions, but they’re just as beautiful.” She remarked, watching as Gil stroked the other one.
“Indeed. They are fine animals in their own right.” He said, rubbing Wileg’s head and chin.
The two Kings lost track of the time as they watched their four-legged children play. Rolling balls, waving teaser toys and watching them dart around the room. Eventually, their seemingly boundless energy ran out. Wileg scooted up to the top of one of the cat towers, and curled up on top of the highest platform. Erin just flopped down in a basket and fell asleep with his belly exposed. After making sure to take a lot of photos with the tablet device, Mr and Mrs Pendragon left the old nursery room. Their villa would feel like a royal palace again in no time, with two fine beasts roaming the halls and grounds.