Cat's Eye

"Guards? Us?" Treasure asked.

"Well, I was hoping one of you would be willing to be a Whisker Haven Night Knight and guard the pawlace during the night." Ms Featherbon explained to the pets currently in Whisker Haven.

"I can't." Petite spoke up. "Belle reads to me and Teacup every night, if one of us is gone she'd be worried."

"And Snow White always checks on me every night." Berry added. "So same problem there."

"Ooo! Ooo!" Sultan said jumping up and down and waving his paw in the air. "Pick me! Pick me!" He fell down and quickly got back up. "I can do it Ms Featherbon! Jasmine doesn't mind when I go off to play, so I can do it!"

"Thank you Sultan, I-"

"I could do it too!" Treasure said. "Nighttime's really boring at the castle. I don't think anyone will notice I'm gone."

"Hey, I called dibs first!" Sultan snarled.

"Well I didn't have time to say I wanted to!"

"You should talk faster then!"

Ms Featherbon landed between the two. "Please stop fighting!"

"But I wanna be the guard!" Sultan whined.

"And I do too!" Treasure said.

Maybe they both could be? No, it's a rather small job: you see something suspicious, use some magic I'm lending, and come get me. It already hurts with Kunak using my magic, I don't think I could handle three….

"I think you two should talk it out and decide for yourselves." Ms Featherbon said. "I'll be back at nine." She opened the portal and headed back to the palace.

Sultan turned to Treasure. "How about we face off to decide?"

"All right!" Treasure said, grinning mischievously.

"Meet me in the pawlace at eight." He said competitively

"You're on!"

…

"Hey Iago!" Sultan skipped over to him.

Iago looked up from cleaning his feathers. "What do you want?" He sighed in annoyance.

"I'm gonna be a Whisker Haven Night Knight Guard!" He said proudly.

"Oh good for you." He said sarcastically. "You must have had a lot of competition to become the protector of your fantasy land."

Sultan huffed. "I already told you Iago, Whisker Haven is real!"

"Suuuure it is, and I spend my weekends doing math with three kids...Sultan." He gripped the side of his head and shook. "You need to accept reality!"

Sultan pulled away. "Dad believes me!"

"Kid,Rajah's just encouraging your fantasy."

Sultan rolled his eyes. "Whatever you say." He walked off to the balcony where his adoptive father was taking a cat nap.

Sultan grinned and sneaked up behind him before letting out a roar and pouncing onto his back. Rajah woke up panicked until he saw the cub chewing on his ear and letting out playful snarls.

"Hey dad!" Sultan greeted.

"Hello Sultan." Rajah yawned.

"Guess what!?"

"What?"

"I'm gonna be a Whisker Haven Night Knight Guard!"

"That's great." Rajah said, smiling.

Sultan laid beside him. "Iago doesn't think so."

"Don't listen to him." Rajah said as he pulled Sultan closer to groom him.

"He doesn't think it's real." He pouted.

Rajah nuzzled him gently and gave a lick on the cheek for good measure. "Why don't you join me for a nap."

"Nah I'm not tired."

"You never are…" Rajah mumbled as he put his head down again and fell asleep again.

…

"Ahoy Scuttle!" Treasure greeted as she emerged from the water.

"Hey there little catfish!" Scuttle replied, pulling her into a half hug and giving her a noogie. "How are ya?"

"I'm great! I'm gonna be a Whisker Haven Night Knight Guard!"

"Ooooh, a Whisker Haven Night Knight Guard huh?"

She nodded excitedly. "Yeah! I'm gonna protect Whisker Haven!"

Scuttle smiled. "I'm sure you'll do great!"

Treasure floated on her back and grinned. I'm so gonna beat Sultan!