Nuliyaa wasn’t sure what she expected the Malks’ meeting house to look like, but she wasn’t prepared for what they were led into.

From the exterior, the building seemed long and about two floors tall. The two windows had been converted into doors that were closed.

Chesfi directed them to the small alley next to the building. It was the most cluttered alley Nuliyaa had ever seen, a path just wide enough for the wagon to creep through. They had to scoot barrels, stinking piles of old worn-out clothes and carpets, and broken building materials out of the way of the wheels—and Chesfi had them scoot them back once the wagon had passed. Cats scattered as they worked their way down, and Nuliyaa couldn’t tell if they were Malks or true cats.

She hadn’t expected the building to be so long, but it took a while to work their way down to the middle (even without the, ahem, obstacles). There they found double doors tall enough for Kachaark to enter without ducking his head. Once inside, they found the building wasn’t really a building at all.

It was a forest.

Once the doors closed, whatever magic was laid over the place fell and revealed trees that towered over them, the roots nearly tangling. Lean-tos had been built against the walls in places—to provide rain shelters, she supposed—but otherwise what was between the walls was open to the sky between the branches.

Malks scampered along those branches and the roofs. Occasionally they would dart down to the ground by jumping from branch to branch to roof to barrel or shelf to dirt, but mostly they seemed content to stay up in the branches.

“You may leave the wagon here.” Chesfi jumped down and strolled away between the trees, tail flicking lazily as she walked.

Of course they would have to leave the wagon there. Otherwise Kachaark would be dragging it over the roots. And that was if it didn’t get wedged between tree trunks.

“Come along,” Chesfi continued. “My mother would like to speak with you. You do want the additional coin we promised, yes?”

That made Nuliyaa stop gaping at the trees and hurry after the Malk. Chesfi’s mother was there? They were supposed to be meeting with some of the pounce representatives, not the leader of the pounce herself!

Near the back of the building, a round clearing opened among the trees. Completely round, Nuliyaa was almost certain. It had to be a magic thing, though now she didn’t have Sinchach around to ask.

It was also full of Malks, most of them in the big cat form Chesfi had taken when fighting. The Malks sat in ordered rows, leaving a wide aisle between two groups.

A divan had been placed at the far side of the circle, a Malk with Chesfi’s silvery fur stretched across it in house cat size. Two other Malks, also in house cat size, sat on either ends of the divan. Neither were silver-furred, but something told Nuliyaa these were Chesfi’s elder sisters.

Chesfi stopped before the divan and bowed with her forelegs. “Mother, I present before you Cheeyt and Nuliyaa. They and their company are responsible for returning me safely home after my ordeal.”

The Malk lifted her head. “Did they return you home? From what I have been told, you returned to us on your own four paws.”

Nuliyaa’s breath caught and she saw Cheeyt stiffen beside her. They had done all of this for that additional payment. If they left here without it, they would have to return to Wumaltsmaas for courier jobs and they’d be forced to find a smaller apartment for their family. She wanted to turn and see Singmij’s expression, but instinct told her Chesfi’s mother would be insulted by that. Beside, Singmij was a part of the diplomats. It wasn’t likely she would given anything away.

Chesfi swished her tail as she sat. “A misunderstanding. They had stopped to meet with the Mingom family and I was impatient to return.”

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Her mother’s eyes narrowed as she stared down Cheeyt and Nuliyaa. “It still seems rather unprofessional to me,” she said. “Is this how all of the human guarding companies behave? It seems it is good we Malks have our own systems.”

Nuliyaa sucked in a breath. She had to find a way to get their company the money. They were relying on that payment. It would replenish their savings. They would be able to hire more guards when needed, and maybe they could find a way to get Tseetsaa trained as a mage’s assistant if she wanted to continue, and…

“Oh, their faces.” Chesfi’s mother rolled onto her back, paws lazily stretching and pawing at the air. “You were right. They are so easy to play with.”

Air whooshed out of Nuliyaa’s mouth as she stared at the Malk. She’d been joking?

Chesfi turned her head slightly toward Nuliyaa and Cheeyt. “Yes, I was greatly entertained during our travels.”

Nuliyaa just barely caught herself from narrowing her eyes at their now-former client.

Chesfi’s mother jumped down from the divan and came down to rub her body against Nuliyaa and Cheeyt’s shins. All of the other Malks present stared them down as though daring them to harm their leader while she touched them. Nuliyaa looked at Cheeyt, trying to figure out what she should do. Did she reach down and pet her like a cat? Did she just stand there? Cheeyt smirked at her, but since she didn’t move when it was her turn, Nuliyaa assumed standing there was the correct response.

“On behalf of the Posow Pounce, I thank you for returning my daughter to us after she found herself overwhelmed by the enemy.” Pamta paused from twining about their legs to eye her third daughter. Cheeyt followed the look, then her eyes narrowed. She looked at Nuliyaa and scowled for just a moment.

Ah. Cheeyt had just figured out how Chesfi had been “caught” by the poachers.

Another Malk in house cat form appeared from the shadows beneath the nearby lean-to, trotting with head lifted high so the bag the Malk was carrying didn’t drag on the ground.

“Your payment,” Pamta said, gesturing toward the pouch with her head. “May your family live in health and safety.”

“Thank you,” Nuliyaa said, squatting down to take the pouch from the Malk. She probably looked oddly stiff as did it, because she was fighting so hard to keep from shaking. “Health and safety to your pounce.”

It was done. They had their payment, Chesfi was home, and they were free to move on to the next job.

“With what your company has done for us, all of the Malk pounces may see more health and safety in the future,” Pamta said quietly, sadly. She turned and trotted away from their group, disappearing into the shadows beneath a nearby tree.

The Malks Nuliyaa had assumed were Chesfi’s sisters jumped down from the divan and hissed at Chesfi. “Yes, yes,” the silver-haired Malk said. “They will leave now.” She started herding the company back toward the wagon.

“Will you return to Wumaltsmaas immediately?” Chesfi asked as the Malks opened the double doors for the wagon.

“Not immediately,” Cheeyt answered. “Tomorrow we will go to the Guild office and see if there are any jobs available heading back in that direction.”

“I need to report in at the office,” Singmij said. She looked at Cheeyt, then away. “Please visit me before you leave.” She slipped out of the building before they had an opportunity for good-byes.

Nuliyaa didn’t miss the way Chesfi looked at Cheeyt, then turned to look after Singmij meaningfully.

“There is a good inn run by a Puca family our pounce has a good relationship with nearby.” Chesfi yowled at another Malk. When the tabby-colored Malk trotted over, she said, “Show them to the Mountain Pony Inn.”

Then Chesfi rubbed against their shins, even Nuttulch and Saknuu. “I will see you before you leave the city,” she said, the words seeming like a vow. “Enjoy your rest, my guards.” With that, she disappeared.