Kitten Crusader Salmiak stirs, coughing hoarsely.
"Ope, here you go."
Someone shoves a cold bottle into her hands, and she eagerly uncaps it and gulps down the icy water. She stretches and blinks the bleariness from her eyes, examining her surroundings.
She's in a large, rather barren room. The other Kitten Crusaders are here too, in various states of wakefulness, and so is-
"Were-Bear?" She croaks, throat still a little scratchy.
"Hi!" Says Were-Bear, giving a slight wave as she continues handing out water bottles. "Is- Is everyone feeling okay? Any nausea?"
The Kitten Crusaders murmur amongst themselves, a wave of shrugs passing through the group.
"Good!" Were-Bear chirps, relieved. She clears her throat and takes a small cue card from her pocket. "Hello Kitten Crusaders." She recites, slow and flat. "You have been captured by your eternal nemesis...es, the Polycruel. Pause for- oh."
She pauses, while all the Kitten Crusaders watch expectantly.
"Hi Were-Bear!"
"Hi Tortie! Um, I- I have to pause to let you all cower."
Nobody cowers.
"When can we leave?" Asks Kitten Crusader Orange.
"That's, um. That's later on the card. I'll just keep going."
Were-Bear's intimidating figure is vastly undercut by her persistent stage fright when it comes to villainous speeches. She continues, tail between her legs.
"Our dastardly plan to harness the power of the sun has defeated you with ease, and you are now fully at our mercy. Please turn your attention to the projector screen on the wall."
A projector clicks to life, and the Kitten Crusaders look at the slide being shown on the wall, titled: 'A Full And Irrefutable Explanation On Why Puppygirls Are Better Than Catgirls And Also Why Tabby Should Give Puppyghoul Her Comfy Skeleton Sweater Back - By Puppyghoul'.
"I told her I don't have her stupid skeleton sweater, she probably just shoved it to the back of her closet and forgot." Tabby says, rolling her eyes.
Salmiak is pretty sure she saw Tabby wearing it last week.
"The presentation will play on repeat, and there will be a quiz tomorrow. Once you have all demonstrated your full understanding of the subject, you will be released. Ask if they have ques- uh, does anyone have questions?"
Calico raises her hand.
"Yes, Calico?"
"Orange needs to take her estrogen when she wakes up, did you take it when you captured us?"
"Oh, um, no. I can share some of mine I guess? ...Salmiak?"
"Why are you called Were-Bear when you're a werewolf?" Salmiak asks. This is her first time meeting the Polycruel and she's been wondering this since she first read about her.
"Well, I'm like, not the animal bear but the big and hairy and gay type bear, and I thought it rhyming was fun."
"Oh. Cool!"
"Any more questions? Tortie?"
"You did a really good job on your speech, Care-Bear." Tortie coos, and Were-Bear blushes and wags her tail.
"Tortiiiiie, not at woooorrk...." She whines, smiling.
"I mean it! Everyone, tell her what a good job she did!"
"You did so well!"
"We were really scared!"
"Awwww no stopppppp-" She whimpers, as the catgirls surround her.
"Who's a good girl, Care-Bear?" Tortie asks, rubbing Were-Bear's tummy, and instantly the large villain falls to her back, tail wagging furiously. "Who's a good girlllll?"
Were-Bear just squirms wordlessly as the other Kitten Crusaders join in petting her.
"Good girllll!"
"Such a good girl!"
"You're a good girl!"
Tuxedo silently searches Were-Bear's pockets, producing a ring of keys. While Tortie stays behind to keep her distracted, the rest of the Kitten Crusaders stealthily make their escape.
