Celta Cats Page 8

  She watched as he did. Interesting.

  Then, as the humans sorted themselves into a circle, some of them already standing hand-in-hand, the sheer generosity of their spirits lured him to take part in their holiday.

  Perhaps, perhaps, he could find a person, or even a couple, with whom he could bond. He rather liked the look of the priest who’d worked so hard on sprucing up the park and restoring the temple….

  If he didn’t find a human companion he’d continue to live in the wallow...in a snowy rut. His paws and ears and muzzle would deteriorate. He might die!

  No, he would find someone to treat him the best. He was determined.

  So he exited the rut and spent a few minutes grooming to make himself as presentable as he could without having a regular abode. Then he strolled around the circle, discreetly sniffing at the humans. Some of the people knew each other, recognized each other as neighbors, some were strangers to all.

  Welcome to all.

  Baccat found two, a mated couple, that particularly radiated warmth. He stepped right up and into the circle between the man and a woman and mewed. They glanced down and moved their feet so he could sit on one each of their feet and be included in the energy of the circle.

  He watched as the other Fams joined their humans. They ignored him as if he were a feral. The nerve of them!

  Baccat kept his composure as latecomers arrived, found places in the circle and it expanded opposite them. He observed the priest and priestess dressed the altar to one side of the bonfire. Those two brought out covered platters to share during the ritual and he scented furrabeast and gravy in pastry turnovers. Smelled simply delicious. He decided it was worth being here for the food, even if he didn’t find a human Fam.

  He shifted now and again as cold seeped through him from his derriere on the freezing ground, only blocked by the portion of him on the feet of the couple in order to link better with them and the rest of the humans.

  Finally the priest and priestess took up their places and intoned the spell words that started the ceremony. From his years with the professors, he knew the order of rituals. The man and woman, representing the Divine Couple, the Lady and Lord, went to each being and connected them into the spiritual circle, then closed it magically.

  To his disgust, the humans didn’t erect a weathershield spell that would keep any generated warmth in.

  He should have scouted out a better group, but the highest-status humans all celebrated with their Families tonight. They wouldn’t open the big, round place of worship until much later, and by that time his nose might frost over.

  So as the humans sent energy around the circle and he joined in, he blasted a visual of a weathershield out along the stream. The man and woman near him squeaked and shifted their feet under him, no doubt surprised at his mental power.

  The priestess laughed and sent the thought that he should be patient, and that later she and the priest would raise a light weathershield. Baccat barely refrained from hissing at her. He sensed that, unlike him, she’d spent most of the day inside, clean and fed and warm.

  The couple he’d hoped to impress withdrew a little from him, and dumped him out of the circle and that...no, not hurt. Discouraged only. He thought they’d looked askance at him. He had to lie all the way down on the ground and put one forepaw on her shoe and drape his tail over the man’s shoe to link with them and the rest of the people during this blessing part of the ceremony.

  Husband squeezed wife’s hand and they both thought of the blessing of her body now carrying a new child. Focused on the future of their Family with that child. No thought at all of a Fam, particularly of the Fam at their feet.

  Not hurt, no. Disappointed.

  In the middle of the circle, the priest lit the big log and the flames whooshed up. He threw off his mask of an older man and cloak of green and danced with the priestess. Then she helped him don a new cape of red and a holographic mask of a baby growing to a newly-adult man.

  The couple linked closest with Baccat ooohed and aaahed and thought of their babe.

  The priestess said human mental-magic-Words that rang within and without Baccat’s ears forming a basic weathershield along with a magical dome that kept the energy inside and swirling. He remained cold and, after sending his mind around the circle considering each person and finding no one interested in him...a little sad.

  Soon the people sang and swayed, then took torches from the priest and priestesses and sang about the end of the dark and welcoming light and lit their torches at the big log, then danced, waving the torches. Baccat kept a wary eye out for sparks and flying cinders, but at least the people’s movement generated some heat.

  When the action ended and meditation began, he returned to his original place, though had no illusions that he’d find a FamWoman or FamMan or FamCouple here. The slightly thawed ground now dampened his rump and paws and tail. Nasty.

  Priest and Priestess heated the turnovers and readied the prized citrus juice drink, said more magical Words and spiritual blessings and sent the platters of hand pies and goblets around the circle.

  Baccat’s mouth watered but the humans did not share even a tiniest shred of furrabeast with him. Passed over just as if he were of no account. He growled but his neighbors paid no attention. The great light that seemed to have entered his chest during the climax of the ceremony, the brightness and the sparkle, faded at this lack of courtesy.

  Then the priest came to him with a small portion on a piece of bark and placed it before Baccat. He thrashed his tail. Thank you. He paused, eying the man. He might be an acceptable person. The temple might be too cold, but the priest wore good clothing and smelled of expensive soap and spells, so he must live in a good, warm place.

  Giving a tiny mew, and looking his most charming, he sent mind-to-mind to the religious man, Would you like a Fam? Baccat opened his eyes wide since humans liked that.

  Not at all, thanks, said the man absent-mindedly and scratched Baccat between the ears, then went down the circle to another Fam and did the same!

  Then the man and the woman on either side of him moved and he felt toes of shoes slide under his hindquarters to link him with everyone again. And the big, beautiful feeling in his heart came back as everyone, more cheerful than he, linked and dragged him into the emotion. He even forgot the coolness and wet of his derriere.

  Finally the priest said the closing prayer and opened the circle, and vanished the weathershield and Baccat’s whiskers twitched at the frigid cold. Icy breezes ruffled his hair to reach his tender skin and sink winter into his bones.

  Those who could teleport away to their bright and warm homes, did. Most of the others, including the couple who gave him not a glance, hurried away, walking fast.

  The priestess left, and the priest gestured to the stragglers — all single persons — toward the temple.

  Baccat’s hopes had plummeted, and he began to trudge back toward the ditch at the Turquoise House when he saw the young woman he’d noted earlier step away from the tree. She moved easily, and narrowing his eyes, he perceived that a magnificent weathershield formed around her. The fat snowflakes falling met her shield and melted, the wind swirled away from her, did not touch her.

  Something about a tall, slender girl with light hair that shone in the twinmoonslight attracted him. Her scent teased him. Animals — beloved animals marking their person. Mostly stridebeasts. His nose twitched as he tapped a paw in counting rhythm. Eight. But one stridebeast was much like another, hardly distinguishable or unique. And they didn’t live inside with their person. Like a FamCat would. Sleeping in her bedroom on a fancy pillow.

  Since other fur-bearers, even stridebeasts, loved her, Baccat paused and considered. The girl might have possibilities.

  So just as she stepped from the edge of the park into a rarely used side street, he ran across her path, moving so he’d only be a blur to her eyes.

  His resolve had stiffened. The girl had to pass his first test. He leapt onto an empty cart
, waved his gray and black striped tail to attract her attention, looked over his back and met her gaze.

  FamCat, she said into his mind. Nice and clear in words, not only a Cat image.

  As he formed a reply, her expression sharpened into anxiety. She whirled around, felt lost.

  You are near the park, he sent her.

  I teleported near a plaque! Where is it? I need to know! Why am I asking a CAT?

  Baccat sniffed, stalked to a small area surrounded by crates. Here.

  A small cry escaped her. She hurried over to touch the plaque, stared around as if to fix the location in her brain.

  Baccat sat tall, expecting thanks.

  But she vanished, teleporting away without a sound, without leaving a wavy aura around her.

  She’d passed his test, saw him, acknowledged him.

  But slipped through his paws. Discouraging.

  And who was she?

  The next night, late, after he’d devoured a few scraps from the food carts in CityCenter, he started back toward the Turquoise House. As he trotted through his usual alleys magically cleared of the big snow, Baccat caught the scent of the young woman again. His ears angled as he heard her pattering footsteps, quick and hurried, feet shod with good and well treated furrabeast leather soles.

  Yesss, the same young woman as before, just past childhood. An adult as the humans figured things.

  She might be an acceptable FamWoman for him, especially if her home was as rich. She wore expensive boots and clothing. He noted her skin smelled exquisitely of the finest lotions.

  Pad, pad, pad, a little closer. Her breathing came fast and she appeared quite out of place. As much as he, perhaps. He’d spent his kittenhood and young adult cathood with a professor. Who’d died and made no provisions for his Fam! Dreadful.

  Infuriating.

  But Baccat would not dwell on that, on how low he’d fallen.

  Baccat wanted the best and he thought this girl could give him that.

  So, when she glanced over her shoulder to check the entrance of the alley — a large rat had scurried away from him — Baccat plunked himself down directly into her path and offered a smile, along with the words broadcast locally and telepathically, Greetyou, Lady.

  She gasped and jumped, stumbled back with a hand pressed between her breasts.

  Baccat decided not to take offense.

  Apparently examining him from eartuft to tail tip, she kept silent for a moment. He’d groomed most particularly for this eventuality, working with tooth and claw to remove the mats that he could reach from his fur. Alas, since his stomach had shrunk, he could access more portions of his body. He sniffed again. She didn’t smell as if she carried food. Too bad. He let a quiet exhalation sift from his mouth.

  She still didn’t speak and he couldn’t prevent the irritation that caused his tail to twitch. GREETYOU, LADY! he shouted mentally, since she hadn’t responded to his original courtesy.

  She winced. “I heard you the first time.” She said a Word and a lightspell formed overhead. Her expression turned dubious, so Baccat sniffed loudly to show he, too, considered her. When she didn’t respond appropriately, he lifted his leg and began to groom.

  “Oh,” she said. “The FamCat from last night. You’re an intelligent Familiar animal? To whom are you the companion?”

  He approved of her grammar, so he lowered his leg and sat again. Now he could sense the interest and...dare he think it?...hope radiating from her. He caught the thought that she didn’t think Fams would haunt alleyways in CityCenter. How little did she know. CityCenter offered prime amusements for Cats. He could, perhaps, educate her when they became FamCat and FamWoman.

  I am currently interviewing humans for the honor of becoming My Fam.

  She snorted and he thought she might also be laughing. Laughing at him! Intolerable.

  Pausing, she looked beyond him, stilled.

  Well, if it ain’t the newbie Cat to the band. The stuck-up, bottom of the clowder Cat, looking for a HUMAN to take care’a him, sneered the alpha of the feral band with whom Baccat associated.

  Baccat whirled, found a semi-circle of five cats staring at them, the big black one flicking his tail in obvious challenge. Well, he matched that one in size, bested him in intelligence.

  Nothing wrong with having a human feed good stuff, give good pets, said the long-haired female calico. She waved her fluffy orange and black and white tail back and forth, then rumbled a loud purr that filled the alley. Perhaps the girl would like ME better.

  The young woman frowned, but said, “Perhaps.”

  Many humans good for many meals, added a black cat with white paws on a loud belch. I could be a FamCat, too.

  Baccat’s nose caught the odor of slightly off porcine strip. His stomach grumbled, he hadn’t pushed to the front of the band close enough to get a few of the fresh fish guts for the evening meal, but only kibble. Not that he liked fish innards.

  A chuckle from the young woman.

  No use for it, Baccat must prove his worth. So much for his tests. She’d decided to have some of her own. Irritation mixed with approval within Baccat.

  He hissed at the group. She is MINE, he sent along a private cat channel.

  Big Black, snorted, swaggered close.

  Baccat nerved himself for great use of energy and teleported right in front of Big Black who reared back in surprise. YOU can’t do that. Can’t teleport.

  Sure I can! Big Black, a very simple name used by a very simple cat, blustered.

  Let’s see you do so, then! Baccat challenged. He swept his gaze along the other Cats, prodding them to echo him. And, disloyal band that they were, they did.

  Yeah, White Paws stopped licking a forepaw, focused. Let’s see you, Big Black.

  Yes, the calico whispered the word, mewed aloud at the same time.

  The others agreed and the woman waited.

  Too cold right now, using My Flair to keep Us ALL warm, Big Black said, sending out the puny weathershield he could control to cover the rest of his band. An alpha cat trick Baccat hadn’t managed to learn yet, since he spent most of his time alone. Or with humans who would shield him.

  True, You shield Us, Big Black, stated calico. She smiled winningly at the FamWoman. You might prefer a female FamCat.

  So Baccat hopped in front of her. She might like a long-haired Cat who vomits hairballs quite often. A Cat to clean up after!

  “Oh,” the woman said faintly.

  And, as if he’d prompted the action, the calico began to hack.

  Not Big Black or calico, but Me! insisted White Paws.

  So Baccat jumped in front of him. He flinched but didn’t, quite, fall. You, White Paws, can’t be loyal to one person, one human. You wander the whole town for multiple meals from multiple people.

  White Paws glanced aside.

  “Loyalty is absolutely necessary,” the young woman said.

  And You are all more in the clowder than Me! Baccat leapt, and used Flair and did more little teleporting hops, and zoomed around them. The cats scattered, Big Black trotting, not running, as if pretending he didn’t retreat.

  Baccat grinned up at the woman in satisfaction. Greetyou, GentleLady. He inclined his head like humans did. I am called Baccat.

  She blinked, stooped down and rubbed his head. “This is...lucky, I suppose. Perhaps an omen. Baccat could be a Y—, a derivative of my Family name.”

  A minor member of the Huckleberry Family named Me, Baccat said. Since she’d looked up at a faint rat chittering, then straightened, he decided against telling his story to her at this moment.

  Mind-to-mind, she sent, You can call me Lori. I am NOT a girl. I am an adult as of last summer. Then she cleared her throat and said aloud, “I’d planned on, ah, looking at CityCenter, but the energy of the Yule ritual drew me to the park to watch.” She glanced around and he followed her gaze. The distant park behind them showed absolutely no one. Before them the alley narrowed and branched into even smaller twisty byways.


  You have wandered far from CityCenter, he stated. More like a PublicCarrier ride than a walk, especially on a freezing winter’s night.

  Just followed some of the back streets, she replied.

  I know where We are, and where We are in conjunction to CityCenter. If you hold Me, I can take Us there, he offered. It would demand a great deal of his Flair to teleport them both there. He’d expended much magic tonight, but he’d soaked up some energy and power from the ritual. And he needed to impress this woman who would give him a nice home.

  She picked him up and now, so close, he smelled a trace of tangy not-natural stuff. He sniffed discreetly. You have an odd scent on your clothes.

  Her bosom jerked and a choked laugh expelled from her.

  “I am restoring the boathouse,” she said, stiffening a little as if in defense. “The Family thinks I am working on a stall or two of the stables, which I did three months ago. I make it a policy to always be ahead of my assigned projects.”

  Thus you have time to explore Druida. Baccat revved his purr louder.

  “Ye-es.” Then she switched to mental communication with him. I first left my est—the Family place— just two days ago. I am unsure about staying— The telepathic phrases, freighted with emotions of disappointment and dread, collapsed into muddy images, then wide and deepening hurt.

  He radiated warmth, sent comfort — the comfort he’d received from her and returned, along with the true pleasure of being with her. His brain calculated, though. Now he lay against her bosom and could definitely feel the wealth of her Flair, her magical power, he knew it to be the strongest he’d ever sensed. From anyone.

  Being within her weathershield kept him toasty and warm, and even the passive Flair radiating from her sank into him. Wonderful!

  He thought swiftly. He’d caught fragmented images, the slip of her mind-images. She’d nearly said estate and her mind had shown a mansion and a great amount of land in Noble Country, where the highest status and richest people lived. Also, she’d emphasized Family, as if she capitalized the first letter, which meant a noble Family.