Kat woke to someone shaking her. She quickly pulled out the dagger she kept under her pillow and raised it to the person's throat. She blinked away what sleep she had left and looked at the person who was foolish enough to disturb her sleep. No one had woken her up in the morning since she first came here when she was eight. She had pulled a dagger an Alyssa, the first person to do so. It wasn't her fault her mom had taught her to always protect herself. She had explained that she wasn't a morning person and that she pulled a dagger on anyone who disturbed her asleep. Even though she was now friends with Alyssa, none of the servants even approached her in the morning. She sighed and lay back down as she put the dagger back under her pillow and closed he
"What are you doing up at this forsaken hour?" she asked Ulasim angrily.
"It's time to stage our prank." Ulasim answered as he bit back a grin. He knew she hated waking up early. Even Junai's anger at being woken up early didn't come close to Kat's. This was one of the reasons he would never play this prank on Kat. He shivered. He liked his skin exactly where he is. But still. In his opinion it wasn't normal for a ten year old to have that much of a temper.
" I must have lost my mind for a second. I doubt I would have agreed to this prank if I knew that I would have to wake up this early too. I bet even the gods are still asleep" Kat moaned.
"Nope. They woke up just so they could witness every second of Junai's downfall and you should wake up too." Ulasim replied.
"Junai's downfall?" Kat asked amused. "I'm pretty sure it will be your downfall I'll be witnessing once Junai gets a hold of you. Too bad I'll probably be on my way to Tortall before she gets you back."
"Well go call Junai's friends." Kat sighed. "I'll go get the dye and the bucket."
An ear splitting shriek rent through the castle. Then loud footsteps were heard as Ulasim ran to his room with Junai chasing him and a loud bang was heard as he shut the door. Kat silently laughed as she perched on the roof of the castle. I wonder how long he'll be stuck in his room. She slipped back into her room and started packing.
When she was done she decided to stop by Ulasim's room on her way down to breakfast. She knocked on the door and smirked. Was he seriously still inside there? She had been packing for the last two bells.
"What?" she heard a muffled voice say. "It's me." Kat said. "Open the door." When he did, Kat started laughing. It seemed as though Ulasim had been out of his room and Junai had caught. She had left him a souvenir in the form of a big bump on his head and she had covered him in orange dye.
"So I'm guessing that Junai caught you." Kat said wryly as she entered his room.
"Obviously. She's not as bad as you but she's almost there" Ulasim replied. "Excuse me." Kat said sharply. She could have sworn she heard a hint of pride in his voice. Ulasim looked at her and widened his eyes. "Not that you're bad at all." He said quickly. "I'm just saying that she's getting a temper almost like yours." He paused then added weakly "Which is of course a good thing."
Kat just stared. This boy must be out of his mind. Who would want another person with my temper around? "Well I have to go. I'm going to go and eat some breakfast. I know she's not done getting you back." Kat said as she walked out the door.
As she got her breakfast she saw Junai and went to sit with her. "Hey Junai." Kat said cheerfully as she noticed that Junai's hair was back to it's reddish god color. Junai looked up at her with a sour expression. "Hey yourself." Junai replied. "I'm going to make Ulasim's life a living hell for playing that prank on me this morning." I knew she wasn't done getting him back, Kat thought as she said "Of course" with what she hoped was an encouraging expression. Junai looked at her suspiciously. "You didn't have anything to do with this, did you?" Junai asked. "I didn't see you this morning when I was in your room. You're never awake that early without a reason."
Of course not, Kat thought. I was making sure I stayed out of your sight so you wouldn't suspect me. "I slept on the roof." Kat replied innocently. "I wanted to relax in the warm weather. Plus I would never prank my favorite adopted cousin."
"You only have two adopted cousins." Junai told her heatedly. "And, it was raining last night."
"I know that." Kat lied. "I used my Gift to protect me."
"Whatever." Junai replied., knowing that she wouldn't get the truth out of Kat. "I've decided to visit my grandma. The Lioness. I want you to come with me. She'll love to meet you and you can stay with us until you go to Corus."
"Thanks" Kat said excitedly as she hugged her. "Are you packed up to go? I'm leaving at the next bell."
"Almost." Junai replied. "I'll finish after breakfast."
"Bye Aunt Aly and Uncle Nawat" Kat said happily as she hugged them. She wasn't sure how her mom Sarra was friends with Aly but when her mom came to their home two years when Kat was eight, she had become close friends with Junai and Ulasim and made them her adopted cousins. Since Sarra didn't travel that much anymore, she let Kat visit with several trusted servants. "Bye Ulasim." Kat said. As she hugged him she whispered in his ear "Junai's going to make your life a living hell when she gets back."
Kat smirked as she watched Ulasim's smile wilt. That'll teach him to mess with Junai. Of course I played a part in the prank also, but it's not like Junai needs to know that, Kat thought. She and Junai walked onto the boat Wind Catcher with their horses. Kat's horse was a jet-black mare that had told Kat that her name was Moonbeam. Her mom had given the horse to Kat so she could use it when she starts training as a page. Junai's horse was a brown and red mare called Wildfire.
"Junai!" Kat called. They had been on the boat for several days and had almost reached Tortall. "Let's go see my mom before we go to Pirate's Swoop. I need to talk to her and tell her where I'm staying."
"Sure." Junai replied. "Now let me get some rest."
"Of course." Kat muttered sarcastically. "I didn't mean to disturb your ladyship's sweet dreams."
"I heard that." Junai said.
"I know you did." Kat replied as she settled down to sleep.
Disclaimer-I know nothing
Thanks for the reviews Tunstall Chick and Shang Leopard. And to answer your question, Kat has both even though she doesn't have a very strong Gift. And since she has wild magic, she can change into a crow.
I need more REVIEWS so I can know whether I should continue this story. Critique the story and tell me if I should change anything. Thanx.
