Chapter 1

We start off on a very normal day in Cambridge, England with, an also, average American girl living with her Great Aunt for a few months. She had thus far lived a normal life with two parents, and five siblings, gone to collage not really knowing what to do with her life and graduated of the same mindset. And like any other girl, when her Aunt in England had offered her a job as a companion, she accepted, after all who didn't want to see the world even if you were working.

But like the rest of the population Katherine was not without her faults; her temper for one, and when she had her mind set it was almost impossible to change it, and her quick tongue which could do as much if not more harm than good and often got her into trouble. But Katherine was not a wicked girl, and tried her best to tame her temper and tongue with some success, she was also one to make few friends but those friendships would last for a life time.

Toward the end of her stay, she headed out into the typical English rain on some errands. The thing that is to shortly occur in our heroine's life is quite far from ordinary, some would call it quite extraordinary if not bizarre. Who could know of the amazing events that would soon find their way to Katherine Collins, and how they would change her life. And contently our story beings with the above mentioned.

'Today I happen to be trudging through mud and rain this fine English afternoon. My Great Aunt Gertrude had asked me; "Could you be a dear Katherine, and pick up a few things for me?" Since Aunt Gerty is 94 years old, I agreed, she would have go herself if I hadn't I would have really gotten it from my dad then. I agreed only to find out what she thought a "few things" were. In her opinion it is a foot long list including brand names, sell by dates, ounces, and preferred grocers… she had way to much time on her hands.'

It had been raining for 6 days straight, but Katherine had been planning to go to an estate sale anyway. With it so conveniently on the way, how could she not go, it was only the next street over in fact. The woman who had lived there had lived well into the hundreds and had kept everything she ever owned in her little house. Along with her many cats… but didn't every town need its cat lady.

'Here it is, on the right. The door was opened by an older lady most likely in her 80's with short white hair and a care worn face.' Kat, that is what all of her close friends called her, smiled and asked the lady what time the sale would be over, which happened to be in 2 hours.

After finding out my time limit I headed directly for the books, for you never know what you will find. While browsing through the small collection, I couldn't help but overhear some local women gossiping quite loudly as they looked over the silverware and china.

"Did ya hear 'bout the old lady who lived hear? I heard that she owned over 20 cats, an' stayed inside after her husband pasted away over 30 years ago."

"Really, I heard it was because of the' deaths of her only son and most of her family in an 'orrible train wreck. But after her husband died she went completely insane and started to think her cats were her lost family. Even had them named after her kin, talked with them and everything."

Kathrine pounded up the stairs eager to leave the gossips behind. In her haste not bothering to worry about her still wet yellow raincoat, the drips tattling of her presence. 'Unthinking people, who wouldn't go a bit crazy after loosing everyone they love, and I'd bet money that she only had about 5 cats, if I was a betting person to start with.

In Kathrine Collin's haste, she didn't relize that she had rushed through the rest of the upstairs, until she found herself in a small spare bedroom. Unlike the other rooms it was spartanly furnished, with only a few pieces it could call its own.

'A bed, desk and chair set, cat, a lamp –wha?! A cat?

Katherine stared into its bright golden eyes. Well at least she knew that the past owner had at least one cat. It had a tawny colored coat, but its eyes were what stood out. They had a wize, understanding look, like someone who had seen many things during their life, the good and bad.

But the cat was hardly the only strange object in the room, directly above the said cat, was a strange painting. A ship sailing right toward the viewer, with a dragonhead on her prow, reminiscing of Viking long boats yet it wasn't the same. She also had a great billowing purple sail, the blue-green sea rushing by as if it were truly moving.

Katherine nearly jumped out of her skin when a sudden weight landed on her feet. Looking down she saw big green eyes surrounded by grey and very fluffy fur. It was about 7 weeks old and very cute like most baby animals. Picking the kitten up, she noticed that the golden one had disappeared as quickly as it had come.

A breeze ruffled the kitten's fur… 'Odd why would the windows be open on such a rainy day?' Kat looked up and saw the single window in the room tightly shut and bolted, only to have another gust rush by her. It was warm and salty, which was also odd since the sea was miles away from Cambridge. Startled she looked into the picture and saw of all things that it was moving. Up and down the great ship went to the motion of the waves, sails billowing in the salty sea winds. In the process of looking at the picture it seemed to have gotten much bigger. It was bigger, and the waves were poring into the room surrounding the confounded girl and cat.

The wind and sea whipped around them in a crescendo, quickly swallowing her knees and waist, as the cold water towed them closer and closer to the frame. And while most people would be thinking of why this was happening, Katherine's last thoughts before being dragged by the waves past the frame were; "This backpack better be water proof!"

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Warning: this is (hopefully) not the usual Narnia fanfic. I'm a die hard fan of the books (though I still like the movies on there own merits) so Caspian is not going to be a dark-haired 20 something, daydreaming over Susan, and while I don't want to quote the book line and verse, I will try to keep its integrity, other than I'm dropping an extra character in. And to clear up any other confusion, Kat is not from our reality but is from the Pevensies, so she has no knowledge of Narnia in the beginning of the story.

Thank you for reading, and please Review