(Untitled)

[lastof_five]

Helen had always loved cats. She tried to keep that in mind as she stood at the base of a tree just off the path leading up to the Compound, her own cat thoroughly stuck in the branches and yowling to get down. Of course, today was the day that she'd worn heels and a smart dress that had come with her from home and even with the shoes off, she was

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[pitythetrumper]

"I've never been asked to save a pussy before," Freddie smirked. He looked from her to the cat and back again. "I'd offer to help, but I think I'd get about as far as you did before falling on my ass and I probably wouldn't look half as pretty." He wasn't a country boy in any way, shape, or form and unless the thing had easy hand and footholds, there was no way he was going to get up there without help. He'd never learned to climb a tree.

[lastof_five]

"I suppose my rescue's not going to happen," Helen said with a mock sigh. She looked at Freddie and back at the tree. "Do you suppose you could spot me while I climb it? If I can get her down, there's no need to go all the way up. I'm just scared of falling again."

[pitythetrumper]

Freddie's mouth opened and closed a few times and he cleared his throat. "I could do that." It remained to be seen whether he would take advantage of the view or not. He was still undecided.

[lastof_five]

"Thank you," Helen said, grinning at him before starting to shimmy up the tree again. It would have been easier without a skirt, certainly, but that couldn't be helped at precisely this moment.

"Austen? I'm nearly there," she called out to the cat. "Just a little further..."

[pitythetrumper]

Freddie's eyes kept starting to wander up to see what he could see under her skirt, but every time he started to look, a wave of guilt hit him and he looked away again. It was damned frustrating, having a conscience. And he even had a name for that conscience: Prior.

"Hurry up," he muttered, though he made sure he was ready in case she did fall...or needed a shoulder to put her feet on. "Or you'll tempt me to look up."

[lastof_five]

Helen laughed and scrambled up the tree, managing to snag her skirt on one of the branches. Oh, of all the ridiculous things to ever happen to her, this was one of the most idiotic. She did manage to catch Austen though and hugged her to her chest as she made her way down.

"Can you take her if I hand her off to you?"

[pitythetrumper]

"I can't promise to keep her if she decides to bite or scratch me, but I'll try." He'd already had enough human cats in his life - like Anatoly and Florence - to last him a lifetime. He didn't need to deal with an actual cat.