Strong

This is a short about Jim ShadowSpirit.

1
"Strong enough?" Jim spat at the officer. "You don't think I'm strong enough?"

"No. You're scrawny." The officer had a British accent.

"I'm strong enough! I-" A hard, clawed paw slapped him. Jim staggered backward into the wall.

"Dad!" He cried. The officer's face softened for a moment.

"You're not strong enough. Pippin!" He called for Jim's older brother.

"Yes, Dad?" The brown tabby peeped through. Instantly, he noticed the long, jagged claw scratch on Jim's cheek.

"Take this scrawny and stupid tom-cat to his room." The officer snarled.

Pippin grabbed Jim's scruff lightly and dragged him into the hallway. When out of sight, Pippin dropped him. "What happened?" Pippin urgently asked. "I'm not strong enough, he says." Jim spat.

"That's not fair!" Pippin's eyes blazed. "He was always too hard on you!"

"Due to him, we lost Eloise!" Jim raged.

"What! Eloise?" Pippin was genuinely shocked. "Yes!" Jim said, his tail beginning to droop.

"Ellie left last night. Dad threatened to kill her." Jim now looked up.

"Don't feel it's your fault. It ain't." Pippin said as he prodded him along. "Almost there, Jim, buddy." Pippin affectionately licked the top of Jim's head, a miniature grooming.

"I know, but Ellie took my punishment." Jim whimpered.

"WHAT!?" Pippin yowled.

2
It was a warm Tuesday morning.

"Jim?" Pippin hesitantly went inside the room. Jim looked up from his book. "Dad wants you."

"Oh no!" Jim wailed. Pippin glanced at his book. "The Hobbit, eh? What would Dad think if he caught you with that?"

"You wouldn't tell, right?" Jim meekly asked. The brave Jim hid away inside.

"No! I myself love that book! Especially when Bilbo meets Gollum and-"

"Kid! Mista Drake wants you!" The guard cut Pippin short.

"Alright!" Jim yowled and stuffed the book under his bed. "Come," Pippin spoke as he led him away, "lets what Papa's got to yell today."

"Yes, let's see." Jim grinned cockily.

The guard dragged Jim, and surprisingly not Pippin. They entered the office, where his dad gave a slightly proud glance at Pippin.

"Good Morning, Pa- Dad," Jim said, stumbling over his words.

"Good morning, young Jim. Master Pippin, where is my whip?" Jim's Dad asked Pippin. Jim heard the pleased and "you're my favorite son" tone in his voice. Inwardly, Jim wondered, Does he even acknowledge I'm his youngest son? Jim didn't hear his dad.

"Jim!" Mr. ShadowSpirit barked.

"Yes, Da- Yes, Sir?"