EPISODE THIRTY-EIGHT

I hate to say it but the pizza helped. The cat hadn't appeared as the guy knocked at the door, which had been locked. I grabbed the pizza from him and signed the slip with a large tip. More than I should have left, but I was still pissed at the cat. Pissed wasn't the right emotion, more like disappointed.

I had guesses about what had happened. When the cat meowed earlier he had been upset at the book telling him to get the orb and let those young women steal it. Hopefully, the Prophetess of the Fates would forgive him, since he had promised to protect it. That reminded me, she knew his name and had called him something. It slipped through my mind, but I couldn't grasp it, like someone had whispered it and I'd only see the lips move. Frustration built in me and I wished I’d written it down to ask him about it later. He didn't answer questions about himself often, and I felt awkward asking for his name at this point. After all, as he kept reminding me, names had power.

Indigo still hadn't woken up, the smell of pizza or reading aloud about candle magic hadn't been enough. I hoped she would be up soon. While Lady Borsal had warned me she would sleep, I still worried. It was easier worrying about that then whatever was going on with the cat. First, I find him passed out by the plants, then I get attacked in the shop and now he was depressed for using magic on the Prophetess.

The greasy pizza sat like a lump in the middle of my stomach. It had been good, but I preferred eating with someone and he hadn't shown up. I picked the pepperoni off the last slice on my plate and ate it before pushing the paper plate away. Maybe I should have remained downstairs to eat in the kitchen.

The cat tree by the door mocked me. I hadn't mentioned it to the cat, and now I didn't know if I wanted to give it to him. Yet, maybe it was better to give it to him right now. We both were having a shitty day, him more so than me. I crawled off my bed and peeked out the door, but I didn't see him anywhere. I slid the cat tree out of my room and down the balcony toward the conservatory. It slid pretty easily, on the hardwood floors and I sped up.

After moving several plants, I situated it in a spot where a few of the platforms would be in the sun from the windows, but he could still look out over the store. The little oak tree was next to it, still in the optimal sunlight location. The other plants I moved around until the cat tree appeared like part of the grouping. Hopefully, the cat wouldn't feel the need to push any of the plants off the edges I set them on.

The overcast clouds had lightened, and sunlight peeked through in various places. Hopefully, he would like his present. The carpet covered tree looked good in its new location and I couldn't help but smile. Now I just needed to write a note, and hopefully he would find it.

A chirping from my room drew my attention, and I dashed inside.

Indigo peeked out of the hole in the box, her green eyes wide as she glanced at the cat tree. She saw me and chirped loudly before climbing up the side of it to the top of the box. Then she leaped to the even higher platform.

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"Do you like your perch?" I asked, smiling at the little book dragon.

Indigo chirped twice and stretched her wings out to either side.

I moved closer to see if anything was different. Lady Borsal had mentioned a growth spurt, but she didn't look any bigger. "Did you have a good nap?" I asked, trying to spot any difference.

Again she chirped twice, and she sniffed. Her eyes zoomed in on the slice of pizza I had left on my bed. Before I could say anything, she leaped off the platform and glided to the paper plate. Then, without preamble, she started eating the pepperoni free slice, taking a bite out of the cheese.

"Please let pizza be okay for you..." I mumbled as I joined her on my bed. Hopefully, she wouldn't make too much of a mess. "It's easier if you take bites out of it from the side."

Her head came up as I approached and her snout had sauce all over it. Dragons probably didn't eat pizza, but I wasn't going to take it away from her. "How about we head downstairs where I have more pizza, and napkins?"

Again, two chirps.

She knew how to say yes in a way I understood.

#

The shop poked me as I stared at the book in anger. My to-do list was still so long, yet I couldn't stop staring at the golden book. I hated it so much, especially on days like today. Still, another entry done, and so many more to go. The shop poked me again, and I resisted the urge to growl.

I had disappointed her, Sable. Whatever the shop wanted had to be important, since it poked me yet again. I jumped off the table and exited the room. My workshop was protected, and Sable wouldn't be able to casually find it. The balcony appeared in front of me and I peeked in between the railing, though I didn't expect to see her in the shop. The shop directed me toward the plants.

I closed my eyes and opened them again, smelling something sweet. Seeing the tree once already today was a lot, and I wanted to resist going in that direction, but I followed the scent. Something was different among the plants and I panicked, not seeing the tree in its normal spot. I caught sight of it next to something new.

A piece of paper was on top of a box with a hole in it, which was mounted on a pole. I jumped up to the top, feeling the carpet under my paws. The paper was folded in half with black writing on it.

Today sucked, for both of us. I hope you like the cat tree - Sable

The sweet smell was coming from inside the box I stood on top of. From here, I could see out the window and look at the tree if I wanted. She had gotten this thing, this cat tree, for me.

I wasn't sure if I should be insulted or pleased.

Warmth flickered through me as I sat there, hoping she would forgive me. This wouldn't be the only time the fates told me to do something I didn't want to do. But maybe she understood that somehow. Humans were strange, after all. Why was this called a cat tree?

I like the carpet under my paws, and it gave me a nice place to sit. Also, what had she put into the box that smelled so good? I crawled down the side of it into the hole. The dark box was cozy and smelled fantastic. Almost like the forest had smelled before. My breathing slowed down, and I stuck the tip of my nose out of the box, resting it on the comfortable edge. From here I could see the top of the tree, and the rest of the plants surrounding me.

I let myself drift off to sleep as sunlight streamed down from the window, relaxing. At least she must not hate me, and that had to be enough, for now.