Leaving? How could he be leaving already?

I couldn’t believe it. Eastwei and I had just gotten back from one adventure and now he was off on another one. How could he just plop me down in his palace and leave me? And why in the world did I care so much?

Because he saved your life.

Yeah, that was it. He saved my life and now he was off on some dangerous excursion back in that land realm. I’d been such a bother to him now that I wanted to repay the debt. Helping him after he no doubt received some sort of order from the king was the perfect way to make us even.

And what if that crazy murderous came back?

I stood and meowed again as he vanished into the distance with Yushir at his side. My front paws complained of the weight on their injured selves but I didn’t care. I didn’t want him to leave me. I wanted him to take me along.

I gingerly walked forward but Puren stepped into my path. He knelt on one knee and smiled at me. “His Lordship will return tomorrow, little cat. Would you like me to give you some of the food Lady Fann provided for you?”

I leaned to one side and looked past him. “Meowr.”

Puren shook his head. “You cannot go with them, Lady Cat. I am sure His Majesty asked them to perform some important matter and you would only slow them down.”

I plopped my butt on the ground and hung my head.

The servant smiled and patted my head. “Why do you not try to get some rest? Then you will be better prepared to greet His Lordship when he returns.” I swung my head from side to side and Puren pursed his lips. “Will you not at least try to eat something? I can fetch one of those boxes right now. It would only take a moment.”

His words inspired a naughty idea to worm its way into my mind. There would be complications but I didn’t have time to think those over. He was probably headed for the gate and then the island in the land realm.

I sat up and bobbed my head.

Puren smiled and stood. “Very well. I will be right back.” He turned and slipped into the bedroom.

And I slipped away down the hall.

It wasn’t too hard considering for my cat self to tiptoe down the tiles and out the front door. I didn’t hear trouble until I was halfway through the expansive garden.

“Cat? Where are you, cat?”

I ducked under a bush and turned around to face the home entrance. My front legs wobbled a bit at the pressure as I watched Puren appear in the doorway, his face a picture of worry. A tinge of regret and guilt stung my heart but I told myself I had a mission. He would forgive me later. I hoped.

I darted through the greenery and slipped out the impressive gate that led onto the main walk. A few gods and goddesses sauntered to and fro, and I caught the eye of some of the ladies. A young girl tugged on her mother’s hand and pointed at me.

“I want that kitty, Mommy! It’s so pretty!”

Her mother yanked back and shook her head. “You will not touch that creature, darling. You do not know what diseases it might be carrying.”

I bristled at the suggestion but I had no time to take offense as I scooted along the palace wall. I had explored enough of the heaven realm to know the general direction of the gate and so I made my way there with all the haste my injured legs would allow. The trek wasn’t quite as easy on my own as in the gentle arms of the fire lord but I managed to make it.

I skidded down the last turn and faced the short road to the magical gate. Two faint figures vanished into the ether. A yowl of frustration and disappointment was torn from me.

And then I noticed the slinking figure on the opposite side of the road.

Pampir stood partially hidden behind a decorative column that marked the gate road. He, too, had watched the pair leave but with less disappointment than I. Indeed, he appeared to have a devilishly sly smile on his lips.

I scurried back and watched him from behind the twin pillar. He slunk out of his hiding spot and strode swiftly down the road toward the gate. I scurried after him keeping low to the ground and staying close enough on his tail that he couldn’t see mine.

Unlawfully taken from Royal Road, this story should be reported if seen on Amazon.

We hurried through the massive gate and across the open space before the end of the island. My sharp eyes caught the faint start of the magic as it poured out to send him to the other side. Here was my chance.

I leaped at him and extended all my claws. My murder mittens embedded into his back and the man gave a horrible cry even as we stumbled through his magical portal. Pampir stumbled out the other side and our union of claws and flesh meant I traveled with him. He twisted and flailed his arms trying to get me detached.

I did the task for him and retracted my claws. My cat instincts let me land on all fours but my heedless action had taken its toll on my front legs. The strain of my weight had left them in throbbing pain and I smelled fresh blood.

Pampir spun around and glared at me. “What is the meaning of this? Why have you attacked me?”

Oh, how I wish I could have explained but there wasn’t any time for that. I scoured the area looking for the men. They were nowhere to be seen.

“Now look at what you have done!” the lord snapped as he waved an arm at the scenery in front of us. “I have lost them! Goodness knows what path they have taken to get to Lord Leiren’s home!”

I cocked my head to one side and would have lifted an eyebrow if I had one. Why do you need to follow them?

“Curse that creature. . .” Pampir continued to mutter as he clutched his hands in front of him and shook them. “I might venture to Lord Leiren’s abode on my own but goodness knows what lurks in the shadows.” His head shot up and the color drained from his face. “I may be attacked by that creature!” He paced in a tight circle and wrung his hands. “Whatever will I do? Should I go back? Should I go forward?”

You should be a little quieter I commented as I trotted past him and neared the center of the island.

A soft breeze blew past me and I froze. A familiar scent floated upon its chilly waves and tingled my nose. I lifted my adorable sniffer in the air and took in a few deep breaths before my tail shot up. The essence was a soft blend of roses and the morning dew. That was definitely Lord Eastwei’s scent. I now had the trail but the formidable vastness of the land realm lay before me. I looked over my shoulder at the quivering bundle of a man and meowed.

Pampir paused in his self-flagellation and scowled at me. “Whatever it is you desire I have no wish to humor you. You have lost them to me and now I must return in shame.”

This guy was a sniveling idiot but he at least knew some magic. I lifted a paw and pointed in the direction from where the scent had floated. “Meow.”

The lord turned his head slightly and studied where I pointed. He lifted an eyebrow and cocked his head to one side. “Do you. . .do you mean to say you can find them?”

I bobbed my head.

Pampir’s eyes reflected his turmoil before he stood straight and puffed out his scrawny chest. “Very well. I will allow you to accompany me so long as you remain useful.”

My tail bristled at his words but I waited for him to stride over to me. He leaned down to scoop me up but paused and gave me a once-over with a sharp shine in his eyes. “You are not filthy, are you?” I whipped my tail about and growled. He held up his hands. “I was merely inquiring.”

Pampir grasped me around the waist and lifted me into his arms. He pressed me hard against his chest and my legs dangled beneath me. I felt like a sack of potatoes and growled again.

“One moment,” he snapped as he juggled me a few times before finally tucking me under one arm. “There. Will that work?”

It would have to. We were wasting too much time on his ineptitude.

“Now come, cat,” he mused as he strolled in the direction I had pointed. The faint wisps of his magic began to surround us. “We shall see if we might not find them before something else finds us.”