A couple of soft grunts should be enough to make the boy aware that he isn’t alone. At the entrance of their little tree hideaway huffs the largish orange cat they all know to be Gray by now. Acting a little more arthritic and incapable in the cold, but his mismatched eyes are a dead giveaway. He complains again, soft trilling noises doubtlessly drawing the studious boy’s attention.
When the behemoth of a cat finally manages to drag its raggedy self fully into the treehouse, flopping down immediately in exhaustion, Caleb is granted the ‘why’ to the many questions that surround this eldritch monstrosity’s odd behavior.
The “cat’s” back left leg is wrapped in layers of stiff white fabric covered over in a bright blue wrapping, from paw to hip. Gray can b a r e l y utilize it, and doesn’t seem to have any of the grace or balance IT can usually maneuver with.
Instead, IT gives Caleb a faintly nauseated look before squeezing ITs eyes tightly closed and breathing hard.
Perhaps this IS the monster in all of Caleb’s half-heard tales. He fits the bill: shapeshifter, a penchant for spooking up ITs little companions (though never t o o badly) and an uncanny ability to be wherever IT needed to. Sure, Gray s e e m s to reside in Neibolt, but there isn’t much within the dilapidated old property to suggest that anyone uses it regularly, and beyond that? Not even Ava knows where IT really lives. What’s more, if he’s heard more of these stories lately, kids escaping to tell the tale, then that means the Monster of Derry–if it actually exists–isn’t having the greatest time at the moment.
It…sort of fits. And yet maybe their otherworldly companion has just been foolish, managing to get ITself caught under a tire, or around a group of schoolyard bullies. Though IT can speak like any adult, and even reason decently, Gray also hasn’t proven himself to be brilliant in weeks past.
the creature’s dramatics certainly jerk caleb from his convoluted run - on thoughts , and he glances over his shoulder to regard gray with a momentary flash of concern . he presses his lips into a thin line as he quickly realises it’s not an actual cat in distress ; rather , it’s georgie and ava’s friend in the guise of one . pretty sure both of them are wishing a friendlier face were here to ask after IT as apposed to him , caleb grudgingly forgoes his musings in favour of letting IT in and shutting the door behind IT , if only to keep out the cold .
“ what happened to you ? ” he blurts , rarely thoughtless . it’s about the closest thing he can muster to ‘ are you okay ? ’ caleb justifies his blunt words with the understanding that the latter would be a ineffectual question to ask even if he did care all that much --- the answer is apparent , after all .
the child momentarily dithers ------ hesitates just long enough that a temporary conflict is clear to see . he tells himself his next course of action is taken only because poring over facts and evidence with a mewling monstrosity so close by is going to put him off . that’s all .
the uncomfortable feeling of pity , the softer slither of sympathy that filters in amidst his otherwise rigid disdain for IT goes unacknowledged . nope . he’s not touching that shit with a ten foot pole , ‘cause that kind of thinking was exactly how even ava , the naturally scornful cool kid who should share his apprehension if not feel it tenfold , went and turned all horribly oblivious to gray’s ... quirks . you know . the ones that align scarily well with his ideas if he thinks about IT too hard .
“ please quit that noise . you’re not dying . right ? ” caleb stoops before IT , an arm’s length away , but it’s still decidedly closer than he’s ever cared to draw before .
one small comfort keeps him from the terrifying idea that maybe gray is the one doing all of this ; despite being in such persistently close proximity to him for all this time , they’re all ... okay . not missing . not indoctrinated into some underground cult , brainwashed . not snatched away or dead in a ditch or eaten alive or whatever these worse monsters must be doing with their victims . otherwise , he’d have to point the finger . this morbid summer project that was a terrible idea from the get - go , surely the fastest way to get them disappeared like all those other kids , would have an answer .
normally he likes reaching one of those . it’s cold , hard proof that he’s a clever , capable little boy . so long as it’s right that is . but this answer in particular begs a new , even more overwhelming question : now what ? if it were gray , which he fights every day to assure his erratic young mind it can’t be , what the hell is he even supposed to do with that knowledge ? die with it ? that’d be his guess !
but it’s not . so he won’t . because all three of them are largely unscathed . why would an entity bent on hunting children not only pass up the countless opportunities to take them , many of them presented willingly by two thirds of their mismatched trio ... but play with them , too ? even if caleb’s not exactly leaping to be a part of the earnest bond georgie and ava have formed with gray , the fact it exists at all negates every single possibility he has any part in derry’s sinister happenings .
“ y- you should be careful . ” caleb shakes himself , sharpish . small head tilts at his feline companion uncertainly . he’d offer to help , really , but he’s not sure what he can offer a wounded monster . paracetamol ? “ bowers likes to --- hurt little animals , you know . shoot cats and stuff . just , roaming the streets as one might not be --- never mind . um , look , d’you need anything ? i mean , would anything --- help you feel better ? ”
theartofmadeline
areudirty
blakekathryn
