Chapter 36

FORESHADOWING OR NOT?

Fakir felt numb. His first thought was if he had that strange antidote from the village again only to feel a damp cloth touch his forehead. He slowly opened his eyes to see a cat, grey and scraggly, placing the cloth in a strange clear liquid with little leaves floating around in it. When the cat saw him open his eyes a little, he lifted the bowl and placed it at Fakir's lips.

At first, he didn't know if he wanted the liquid or not, but the image of the strange girl smiling and nodding her head told him he should drink it. He didn't know why he was actually doing as the girl said. He still had no idea who she was, but it just felt right to listen to her. She was magic, wasn't she?

The cat held his head up as he drank some of the liquid and gently placed it back on the ground when he was done. Fakir took in several deep breathes, finally realizing the weight on his chest. He did his best to see what it was only to see orange and yellow feathers. He closed his eyes and sighed. It was Duck. At least she was still alright…hopefully.

The cat, now dabbing the liquid at his arm, was mumbling to himself and at first, Fakir thought he was just imagining it when he heard the cat actually say something like, "Stupid intruders. Making more work for me."

Fakir didn't even react. Even if he wanted to, he didn't feel up to it at that moment and he just closed his eyes again. He couldn't even place where he was. His mind was so fuzzy and his thoughts so jumbled that he felt lost, but somehow, at the same time, knew exactly where he was and what he needed to do.

He laid there for several peaceful minutes until he felt the cat pat his face and say, "Hey, sicko, you up? I need to know what your affiliation is with Miss Duck."

Fakir stared at him. So he really could talk. Interesting.

"I'm her friend," he mumbled.

"What kind of friend? I don't want Miss Duck to get hurt by any false friends," he said and crossed his arms.

The Knight stared up at him once more and finally asked, "Who are you?"

"You may call me Mr. Cat. I'm afraid I'm the one that attacked you, sorry. I thought you were one of those horrible intruders from that no good castle," he said. "I can't believe they tried to harm sweet Miss Duck. She saved your life, you know."

"I know," Fakir mumbled and stared at the dark, cloud covered sky. "She's saved my life several times now. I've actually lost count. Sometimes…I wonder…"

"What are you talking about, boy?" Mr. Cat asked, ringing out the damp cloth again in the bowl and moving it toward the Knight's face again. "Hold still. You must still be sick. You're saying random things."

"I'm not that sick," Fakir said, pushing the cloth away only to see the girl again. "It's you again. You…you just keep…ah…showing up."

"Yes, yes I do," she said and knelt next to him, her white dress flowing in nonexistent wind. "Fakir, don't fight Mr. Cat. He is only trying to help you."

"He thinks I'm delusional," he grumbled. "Why do you keep showing up? I know you want to help me, but I still don't understand why. I don't even know you and…do you even exist?"

"Is it wrong to want to help someone, just because you want to?" she grinned, her hand brushing his forehead. "You are still sick. You should rest."

"Tell me who you are first," he said only to gasp for air. "You…you act like I know you, but…"

"Shh," she said and placed her fingers on his lips. "I do know you. I've known you for much longer than you realize and…I will always be there when you need me, my dear Knight."

"Then…why won't you tell me…who…" his eyes slid closed as her fingers left his lips and she smiled sweetly.

"I'm sorry, but I can't tell you. You'll have to find out on your own…with Ducks help," she said and moved her attention to Duck. "If only…I could tell her. Am I right, Mr. Cat?"

He had been watching the boy carefully and was startled by the girl's recognition. He stumbled onto all fours and looked up at her, quickly brushing himself off and bowing.

"Ma'am," he said.

"Mr. Cat, can you look after these two? I don't know if I will be around as they keep traveling," she said, petting his small head. "I'm afraid, the farther she gets from the castle, the weaker I become."

"What of the boy, Your Majesty?"

"He will wake up not knowing if what just happened was real or a dream," she said, her eyes looking at him longingly. "I want you to make sure he thinks it was a dream. You may still talk to Duck, she will need you, but I don't want him to quite remember me. He will…have to get along without my help soon."

"I understand, Princess," Mr. Cat said and sat on all fours. "The boy will never know I can talk. I will protect Miss Duck as you request."

"Thank you, Mr. Cat. You don't know how much that means," the girl said and faded, her smile being the last thing the tabby cat saw.

"Wow, that girl is just…wow," he sighed, his cheeks red from embarrassment. "And this bird girl must be very special for her to want me to protect her. Hm…wonder who she is though."

The cat saw that Duck was beginning to stir and he rushed to hide the bowl. He sat in front of her, his tail swishing slightly behind him, and he began licking his paw when she awoke.

She rubbed her eyes and smiled when she saw him. "Oh, Mr. Cat. I'm so sorry, I fell asleep. I must have been more tired than I thought."

"I understand, Miss Duck, but you laying on the boy did not help me with his healing," he said. "All those feathers just got in the way."

"Oh, I'm sorry," she said and looked away ashamed. "But…is he better? Were you able to make that…medicine?"

"Yes and he is on the road to recovery…at least, his illness is," he said. "I'm afraid his arm is way past my level of expertise."

"Poor Fakir," she whispered.

Mr. Cat moved forward with interest and asked, "His name is Fakir? Do you know his last name, by chance?"

"I'm afraid not. I don't think he's ever mentioned it," she shrugged. "Why? Is it important?"

"Not particularly," he said and sat back again. "Just wondering. Could have known his family, but doubt it."

Duck tilted her head, but she didn't question it. She instead looked at Fakir and found herself staring at him once again. Why was she finding him so interesting all of a sudden? Well…she had always thought he was interesting, but for some reason, she found him interesting in a completely different way.

As she stared at him, flashes of some of the more happy occasions skimmed across her eyes. She smiled at all the happier times she had with him from the small metal bird he made to when she found his smile. Suddenly her mind stopped on a certain memory. A memory of Paulo and Palimony. She tilted her head and moved slightly closer to him, not sure why his face reminded her of this memory.

She began to reach for his face when Mr. Cat cleared his throat. "Miss Duck, perhaps we should make a fire. It would definitely help the boy and your friends might even find you."

"Oh…of course," she said and placed her hand quickly on the ground.

She followed the cat into the brush and helped collect wood, or twigs, and she wondered how the others were doing, if they had gotten away. She hoped that she distracted the guards enough for them to hide, but she could only hope.

However, as she thought of the guards, they were searching the Swamp for anything. They eventually found the scraps of the hover board and each picked up a piece. They had found a clear trail of where Fakir had gone, but the roar of the monsters scared them and they retreated faster than you could say chickens.

They took the scraps to the King only for him to bellow at them, "You let them get away!? And this is just a heap of junk!"

"I'm sorry sir, but they disappeared," a guard coward.

"You are so useless! The only way anything gets done is if I do it myself!" he hollered then turned and bellowed, "Drosselmeyer!"

"Oh…my…" the ringmaster said, standing right in front of the king. "I'm here, sire. You bellowed?"

"I want you to track those…kids!" he ordered. "You seem to be the only one able to get any progress from your work. Go out there and bring back those damn kids!"

"Any kids in particular, sir? Perhaps we should just forget the less…necessary ones," he suggested.

"The Knight and the Princess. I need those ones and…maybe even the white haired one," the King said thoughtfully. "He seems vaguely familiar. Weak, but familiar."

"Yes, sire. I will not let you down," Drosselmeyer said and bowed.

"You better not or you know what's in store," the Raven sneered as he walked away.

Once the King was out of the room, Drosselmeyer muttered, "Yeah, well, at this rate, you should know what's in store."

I quick swish of his cape, Drosselmeyer disappeared into smoke, his cold chuckle echoing the empty room.