Bright afternoon in Dunwiddie, as Cedric found himself walking onto the pathways leading back to the castle. He was carrying a bag of magical ingredients for a potion he was working on
"This was supposed to be given to the Sorcerer… why am I the one going out in the first place?" He muttered in complaint
As his attention was devoted to his thoughts, he stumbled upon an orange cat on the road. Cedric stopped immediately, quite captivated and amazed by what was in the way in front of him. A rather chubby kitten that had white and orange streaks on the back.
"Hello, where are ya headed to?" He spoke softly to the cat which replied with a meow
Cedric looked around, making sure something was set. His hands started twitching, but he was to make sure no one was watching. As he turned to the kitten, he slowly made his way, eyes averted to make sure he wasn't seen as a threat, but rather an environment background
"Where's your family" he asked, noticing the kitten looked quite groomed, which gave him the idea that her mom was nearby. From just one glance, Cedric already knew she was a female cat. It was an instinct he got in his youth
He used to pet cats in his young teenage years, and so he knew about them a lot. But ever since he became the Royal Sorcerer, and became an uncle to his sister's newborn just afterwards, he hasn't had much time to goof around like this and do stuffs he would always do
Randomness like this doesn't happen often, so he might as well cherish it.
The kitten meowed loudly which prompted the man to kneel down and pet it. But as his hand was about to meet her fur, a certain presence from behind caught his attention
"Mr. Ceedric?"
Eyes widened, Cedric immediately stood up to his feet like nothing happened. "Princess Sofia, what are you doing here so early? Aren't you still supposed to be at school, where's the coach? Did you have snacks on the way?"
The clever sorcerer made sure to bombard her with a bunch of questions, hoping she would forget what she just saw.
"Actually, it's almost late afternoon so school ended quite a bit earlier, and I told Coachman Riddick to drop me by the market because I needed to buy some school materials, and I had bread on the way"
Cedric scoffed, he darned her intuition for being quick to catch on. Either ways, if no one would bring it up, then she won't be reminded…
"Anyways, what were you doing with the kitten, Mr. Ceedric?"
He darned everything.
"I was uh… moving her out of the way in case it might get hit by something in the middle of the road.." he pulled a fast one
The kitten meowed a couple of times which caught Sofia's attention
"mmmm…" Sofia hummed, looking at him this time with clear intent and interest "So you were trying to protect Pepper from danger. She said you're very kind person"
"Pepper?"
"Yeah, I know this cat" she said, slowly caressing the kitten all over her fluffy fur "Her name is Pepper. She lives by the park with her mom and siblings"
The man grew silent for a few seconds.. "And how do you know this exactly?"
"She told me." Sofia answered him without hesitation
Cedric scratched his head "This kitten spoke to you?"
"Mhmm.." Sofia nodded without any hint of hesitation whatsoever "I told you, I can talk to them.. and I understand them too, Mr. Ceedric"
Looking at her, he was reminded that Sofia was indeed… just a little girl. So whatever fantasies she has on or the outlandish things she bring to life is nothing but a product of her wildest imaginations.
Suddenly, a certain twinkle from her bosom caught his attention. Oho, it was only what Cedric wanted all this time, which of course… is very difficult to obtain
But soon he will..
He has to..
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"Meow!"
Cedric broke out from his daze upon seeing the kitten roll over and over on the ground with Sofia petting it with utmost gentleness. Pepper looked like she was having the best time of her life from Sofia's touch that her fur got messy and more fluffy
Seeing this struck jealousy to Cedric..
He wanted to pet the kitten too.
"So Mr. Ceedric…" Sofia eyed him, which made him immediately twitch "Do you like cats too?"
"N-Not really…" He looked away
Sofia turned to him "Reallyyy…." Her voice longed, emphasizing a teasing manner. "But aren't you about to pet her earlier though?"
Cedric froze rather quickly, surprised that she already come to know about that "Why would you even come to that conclusion, I was just about to take her somewhere safe, that's all.."
"And besides… who talks to cats anyways" Cedric decided to push it even more, thinking he will have the upper hand
At this moment, a series of meows was heard from the kitten. Sofia was listening to it attentively for some reason, with Cedric looking quite suspicious over what's going on
Sofia smiled "But Pepper said you were saying stuffs like… Where are you headed to? or Where's your family?"
It was at this moment Cedric knew… he messed up
She probably has been watching the entire time and waited until the right time to show up. Either ways, he had to play dumb
"Hah… what are you talking about… aha-aha.." Cedric scratched his head hoping it would work
"mmmm…" Sofia hummed yet again, and Cedric hated hearing this. It only means a certain thing is on her mind, and it is mostly about her already seeing through his façade
Either ways, he couldn't falter. He couldn't afford to give her another ammunition for her teases later on.
"So you really don't want to pet her at all?"
"Nope."
"Are you sure…" Sofia began to pet her tail which made the kitten roll over again and again "Pepper loves people and doesn't mind being petted on." She continued by tickling her pink paws as she raised them to him
"She would even let you touch her paws.."
"This cat would even let you touch her paws?" Cedric gasped internally, eyes widened upon seeing how Sofia nonchalantly petted the kitten's paws without hesitation. Most of the cats back in the day wouldn't even let him touch their paws and would get mad rather immediately.
And with this, Cedric never had much opportunities to do so..
But this kitten on the other hand… is different. She even lets you pet her tail. Her freakin tail!
Cedric's hands were now moving on its own. It is very unfair how Sofia gets to pet her all to herself, he wanted to caress the fluffy fur too..
But how can that be possible if Sofia is there? If she were to see Cedric enjoying himself caressing Pepper, Sofia would yet again think he's a softie who loves cute and adorable things
And that is something he simply cannot allow.
There must be some kind of trick that he can pull to pet the kitten without it seeming like he enjoys cute things.
"Are you sure you REALLY don't want to pet her too, Mr. Ceedric?"
Prang! An idea came to him
"Hah, who pets kittens nowadays?"
"Mmm…" Sofia grew interest over this as she hummed softly turning to him
"Are they that cute… and even if they are.. I definitely don't want to pet them.."
A leer came from Sofia "You just don't want to be scratched right?"
Bingo! She took the bait
"Not really" A confident smirk now forms on his face "I'd even prove to you if you want" Cedric took a step closer and prepared her hands
"I see. I'm sorry I doubted you, Mr. Ceedric."
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"W-What…"
"I believe you" her eyes stared through his soul
A round of silence filled Cedric as he only watched Sofia pet the kitten over and over again with him just standing there looking all stupid… and she did this while staring at him too. He got checkmated on his own tactic, and in the end, he could only keep his hands to himself.
Sofia couldn't help but finally giggle looking at Cedric's frown and sad face "aha-aha-aha! I knew you really want to pet the cat, Mr. Ceedric" her merriment was now getting the best of him as he turned around
"You really want to pet Pepper, don't you?" she insinuated in a teasing tone
He closed his eyes, clenching his fist in embarrassment. The girl got him again and he was completely helpless of what was coming. Suddenly, the kitten made her way to his leg, rubbing it in the process with her whiskers tickling his ankles
He smiled. Cedric was about to pick her up and touch her, when a certain meow was heard from a far which immediately made Pepper turn. It was her mom calling and without hesitation, the kitten ran to her.
They rubbed each other passionately as the Mother meowed loudly to Sofia and Cedric before finally walking away as a pair
"That was her mother, Polly. She thanked us for finding her child" Sofia translated from behind
Cedric sighed, as Sofia appeared beside him. She kinda felt bad for him as she slowly sneaked her hand to his elbows "I'm sorry you didn't get to pet the cat.."
"Pshh… I didn't even want to in the first place" Cedric scoffed rather immediately as he turned around and made his way to the path that leads to the castle. Sofia follows from behind with a sly smirk on her face
"You really don't huh…"
"I dooont~" he sang in a sing-song tone, acting as if it didn't affect him
"Look, a cat!" Sofia pointed out
"Where?" Cedric didn't hesitate to turn to it
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Cedric looked completely flabbergasted and dumb upon noticing there was nothing there. And as he turned into the main culprit herself, she was on the verge of laughing with her cheeks full..
"I hate you, Sofia…"
~ d~
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It was already night time when a sudden knock was heard from the door. Cedric's lazy behind didn't want to answer it at first, but then again, it might be something important
He opened the door, and there was nothing there. He figured it was probably James and his pranks again. But as he was about to close the door, a certain meow was heard from below
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It was a light-purple cat with sky-blue eyes and long whiskers.
Cedric got immediately awed just from one look. His instincts about cats immediately gave him the conclusion that this cat was a female by the size of her whiskers, eyes, paws and tail and all that other stuff. He knew all about this when he used to watch felines back in the day
He was about to kneel down and take her into his arms, when he remembered something. Quickly, he turned left and right, making sure the sector was clear from any wary eyes before he would do something absolutely out-of-character.
The kitten meowed again, quite louder this time, and this prompted the Sorcerer to finally lift her to his arms and take him inside the workshop
"Hello there little one… what's your name?"
The cat meowed, which he didn't understand of course. But he pretended to understand her
"You need a home?" Cedric patted her on the head which the kitten responded by leaning on his touch
He smiled "that's a good girl"
Upon further inspection, she noticed it was quite peculiar how a cat just suddenly appeared out of nowhere and in front of his workshop…
And what's more strange is… this cat was wearing jewelry!
Wormwood then landed on the table nearby as Cedric turned to the raven, scratching his head in the process.
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"Am I just tripping or does that look like the Amulet of Avalor?"