tying a wildcat down
3. The Hissy Cat
Jes can't find Elspeth, again. Often, he considers just leaving her and talking to the families on his own. Maybe that way he can convince one of them. But he knows Elspeth will never be happy with a family she can't accept, so he goes to find her.
She's scratching a black cat behind its ears. It hisses. She just laughs. And she's got no scratches, when that cat's infamous for scratching anyone who tries to touch him.
Jes has never been scratched by him either, but that's just because he's never tried. Elspeth offers him this time. He shakes his head. 'There's a family looking for a couple of kids. You know it's hard enough finding ones that won't split us up.'
Elspeth shrugs. Of course, he knows she's uninterested in being adopted. 'Maybe Maruman has a litter somewhere,' she muses.
He stares at her. 'What does that have to do with anything?'
'Then he'll be a father, won't he?'
He snorts when it finally clicks. 'You want the cat to adopt you?' It's more the other way around, he would think.
'Wouldn't that be nice?' she asks, tilting her head so her long hair tumbles into reach of the newly-dubbed Maruman's claws. 'Me, you, Maruman… and Gahltha too.' They're in Gahltha's stall now, though Gahltha's not there.
'But Gahltha belongs to Madam Vega.' The idea is ridiculous anyway: two children, a hissy cat and a horse that doesn't let anyone ride it.
Then again, Madam Vega has talked about getting Gahltha put down, so she might not mind the mare being stolen.
…is he actually considering this?
But Elspeth's eyes are sparkling at the idea.
He sighs. 'It's not as simple as that, you know.'