Okay. So injections really weren't any fun.

Not that Fianna had gone into this expecting them to be. But this didn't mean she would be ready for the prick of pain piercing her shoulder as Han and Pinebranch carefully maneuvered the needle into position and steadily pushed down on the syringe.

She let out a hiss of pain as the pair of toms did the thing. Fiona stood stiffly to the side, waiting her turn, her eyes clouded with doubt, as if only just now she was realizing that two tomcats administering a serum designed by Twolegs wasn't really such a good idea.

"All done," Han mewed, placing the syringe down on the benchtop.

Fianna nodded mutely, a dull ache spreading through her scruff as she padded over to her sister, who still looked pretty concerned. She would never get used to seeing her sister's slightly darker emotions and expressions colouring her own face. With any luck, she wouldn't have to get used to it. "You okay?"

Fiona shot her a look, that was almost a glare, but was also underlined with a soft sort of concern. "Not really."

Fianna pressed up against her sister with her good shoulder. Or, her sister's good shoulder. "It'll be worth it."

The other she-cat hesitated, then nodded, getting to her paws, her eyes dulling a little. "Let's get this over with. . . "

The serum was administered a second time.

Nothing happened.

They all sat their in silence for a solid half minute. Pinebranch was the first to break the sudden quiet. "Was something supposed to...er...happen? Are you yourselves again?"

Fiona's ears flattened as she tore her gaze away from her sister's. "No. Still different eyes."

"Maybe it just needs...time?" Fianna suggested, trying to force a semblance of cheerfulness into her voice. In truth, she was getting really, really tired of this.

Han and Fiona exchanged a glance. Then the she-cat finally meowed, "Let's just go back to the Clan."

The quartet of cats carefully got down from the benchtop, both sisters tentative to put any weight on their left forepaws. They began their walk back to the forest, the two sisters leading, the toms trailing behind in relative silence. Fianna brushed close to her sister. "Feel anything?"

"Soul-crushing regret."

"Fiona. . . "

"What, am I supposed to feel something? Can you?"

Fianna hesitated. "Not yet. But I'm sure we will, right?"

Fiona glared at the ground. "I seriously hope so."

Chapter by Leafyy 🍃🍂