A/N: Right then, if you've seen the (wonderful) film Whistle Down the Wind you'll understand what's going on, if you haven't it's just a very sweet story. Thank you to witchintraining for beta-reading it for me. Well I just love this story (not necessarily my version) it's so lovely! So just immerse yourself into the world of three small children, and enjoy…

- CHAPTER ONE -

The three children followed Eddie as he strode out of the field, when he stopped and took one last drag on his cigarette before dropping it at his feet and stomping it. They crouched down, but as soon as he went on they tiptoed after him. When he reached the water-filled quarry he held up the small bag he had been swinging, looking at it broodingly before he suddenly reached for his wand. The children all hid their terrified faces behind their hands, but he sighed and put his wand away again. The youngest child nearly shouted but his sisters quickly clapped their hands over his mouth, and the three of them lay hidden behind a rock as the farm hand marched past them, back to the farm, leaving the bag sitting in the shallow water.

As soon as he was out of sight they jumped up and ran down to the water's edge, they grabbed a long stick and pushed the bag back towards them where it had been slowly floating along the river. The three little kittens with straggly fur and large ears purred contentedly as they were clasped to each child's chest.

The children ran up to the farm and swung on the gate. Their father, who was hopefully prodding his wand at the old tractor called at them, "Now shut that,"

"Charlie's coming, Dad," Kathy, the eldest replied,

"I don't care who's coming," her father said, "now go back and shut that."

Just then Charlie appeared at the gate, holding the breast of his cloak uncomfortably whilst his kitten trying to settle down. "Shut the gate!" Kathy shouted at him,

"I shut it. I shut the gate, Dad."

"What have you been up to, then?"

"Nothing." Charlie answered, "Do you want any help, Dad?"

"No, I don't need your help." He looked at his son suspiciously, "Come here. What have you got under your cloak?"

"Me pully," He replied innocently,

"I don't mean that. You know what I mean, and don't be so clever. What have you got?"

"Something I found. Are you sure I can't help you, Dad?"

"Go on," his father sighed, "get on."

Charlie ran after his sisters as they crossed the farm to one of the barns. Eddie was hosing the concrete outside and Charlie ran out of sight just as he shouted at the girls.

"Have you been in my traps again?" Eddie growled.

"No we haven't, see." Kathy said indignantly whilst her younger sister Nan shook her head fervently.

"Well, you better not, else I'll tell your dad." Eddie flicked his hose so they both got sprayed a little, before continuing, "Then you'll cop it. Cost me good money, them traps do."

"We haven't been near your rotten traps," Kathy repeated angrily, "and I'll tell me dad you pinched his paraffin."

Eddie scowled and lifted his hose to spray them both, but just then Charlie turned the tap off on the side of the barn. As Eddie shook the hose furiously, giving the girls just time to run off, Charlie quickly turned the tap back on and belted after his sisters, pausing to admire Eddie getting a jet of freezing water in his pouched face.

"Close it. Hurry up; we'll get old trapface in here." Kathy called to Charlie as he came in, "Let's find a place to put them." She scanned the barn and pointed out an empty stall with her finger, "Over there, get the box. We'll put some stuff in it."

They put the kittens in the box and filled it with straw, and then Nan turned to Charlie.

"Yours looks poorly. I think he wants its mother. Do you want your mother?"

"Shut up." Charlie said. "Yours… yours is the one that wants its mother."

"What shall we call them, Kathy?" Nan asked.

"I don't know. We'll have to think."

"I'm going to call mine Spider." Charlie said happily, looking down at his kitten.

"You can't call a Kneazle Spider!" Nan snorted, "That's ridiculous!"

"I can call it anything I like!"

"You're daft, you are," laughed Nan. "You're soft in your head."

"When mine grows up I'll teach it to hate yours and it'll eat it all up." Charlie spat.

"Oh don't!"

"Shut up, you two," sighed Kathy, "And listen, you're not to say nowt. You're not to breathe it to our Aunt Dolly or she'll be after telling me dad. Come on, then. And don't keep running in and out of here, else they'll know."

They left the barn and went back to the house, glancing back often to the barn where the kittens were asleep in their box.

OoOoOoO

Later that evening they all sat in the sitting room, their father was about to go out, "Come on you two." He called to Charlie and Nan, "Bed."

"I haven't finished my sandwich yet." Charlie said loudly.

"You've finished. Come on."

"But Auntie says I have to eat more slowly."

"Well, never mind that. Put it in your mouth and get upstairs."

"Good night, Dad," said Nan as she finished drawing her picture. Her father kissed her goodnight and then she went up to bed.

"Night, Dad," Charlie sighed, standing up reluctantly.

"Straight up, now."

"I have to say good night to Auntie and Kathy."

"Well, say it from there."

"Good night, Auntie!" Charlie shouted into the kitchen. "I don't think she heard me. Shall I go in and say?" he added hopefully.

"Look, I'll not tell you again…"

"Good night, Kathy." Charlie said resignedly.

"Good night." She replied, barely looking up from her comic.

"I'm going down there for half an hour. And don't let her stay up half the night reading either." Their father shouted to his sister as he went to leave.

"Don't tell me, tell her." She bellowed back, "She's your daughter."

He winked at Kathy, "You heard what she said." Then he fastened his cloak and went out of the door.

Kathy read for a few minutes longer, and then when she could no longer hear anyone moving around she ran lightly to the door and struggled to put her boots on.

"What are you up to?" her aunt's voice called from the kitchen.

"Um, just... just off to the lavvy, Auntie."

"Well, mind you don't leave door open, banging all night."

"No, Auntie."

Then she ran out into the dark. She walked briskly past all the outhouses calling quietly to their Kneazle who had mothered the kittens, "Dusty? Dusty?" There was a faint mew and a large hairy cat appeared. Kathy picked her up and carried her into the barn.

"There you are," Kathy smiled as she laid Dusty next to her kittens.

Suddenly she heard a rustling in the straw and a figure sat up. A pale gaunt face, shadowed by a curtain of black hair appeared, rising up from under the straw. The Kneazle yowled and Kathy leapt backwards, her heart thumping like a drum against her ribcage.

"Who is it?" Kathy whispered shakily. "Who are you?"

The man's face blanched even more if that was possible, and muttered, "Merlin," before collapsing back into the straw.

Kathy stared at his ghostly face for a moment and then tore out of the barn, terrified. Just stopping to catch her breath by the gate before running back to the house and into her bedroom.