Ellenlome:….zzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz……….
Muta: (pokes her with a stick) Hey!
Ellenlome: (still sleeping)…zzz……hrm?...yeah, I'd like a lemon s'berry ice cream pleaz…thank youzzzz…….
Muta: (pokes Ellenlome harder) HEY!
Toto: (snicker) I don't think it's going to wake her up.
Muta: (throws stick away in exasperation) Does that mean we have to do the disclaimer AGAIN?
Toto: (peers at sleeping Ellenlome) looks like it. Unless you know how to wake her up. I'm out of ideas (points to a pile of random stuff one usually uses to wake up people, including a now-empty bucket).
Muta: (Curses under his breath) Should have known. Remind me to hit her muses on the head next time they keep her up till 3 AM. Hard.
Toto: Will do.
Muta: Aren't you going to do the disclaimer?
Toto: Nah, I'm no good at it.
Muta: How hard can it be to say: "Ellenlome doesn't own the Cat Returns, only the plot of this story and any original ideas/characters"?
Toto: (snicker) Well, since you already did it, I don't see any use in repeating it.
Muta: (curses again) I've been tricked! Damn birdbrain.
Toto: (Snickering)
Ellenlome:….zzzzzzzzzzzzzzz……….
Whispers of a distant land: Chapter ten
Back at the Cat Kingdom, things were going as usual. Or at least that's what it seemed like to all who didn't know of all the disturbing messages coming from many of the Kingdom's provinces. Deep down into the palace, the chamber where all messages came from was in a hustle. Magical portals kept opening and closing over the coming and going cat messengers as they carried notices and requests.
The place was, in the opinion of the Chief Messenger Manager, or C.M.M., like a bee-hive most of the time, but more so these last few days. As he looked the constant traffic of cream-colored cats, he thought that he couldn't recall, in all his years in the messenger service, as much activity as he was now seeing.
The C.M.M. frowned. All the traffic was going to exhaust the mages that maintained opened the portals and so assured the well-being of the service. Without them, the Message Service didn't exist, and if one of them was to collapse unexpectedly, it would be a catastrophe for those who were using the portal he/she was sustaining at the time. What could be the cause for such unusual activity?
He knew that a message from Lord Aaron – a wealthy cat from France, thanks to his mice pastures - had sent a message about being unable to send more mice because birds had been attacking his cattle recently, but that couldn't be important enough to justify all this. But now that he thought about it, the C.M.M. remembered another message concerning the birds. One of the foreign messengers had brought it a week or so ago, and had accidentally blurted out its content while drunk at a party held by some cats that night.
The C.M.M. wondered if it was related, and it was sure that he would have come to the logical conclusion, had he not been interrupted by the commotion caused over a mage nearly collapsing. He purposefully made his way forward, sending the mage to rest in his room and having another one replace him. His role was to make sure that the Service was fully functional at all times, not to ponder about political matters. Let the high-ups deal with that.
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"Here it is!" yelled Natoru over the wind. Myril and he were fast approaching the five lakes shaped as a cat's paw that marked the entry to the Cat Kingdom. The sea eagle nodded as she proceeded to lower herself to a near-ground level, tightening her claws around a bound Fento. It wouldn't be good to have the culprit escape so close to his judgment.
As the cat silently cast the appropriate spell, a glowing blue portal opened at the east end of the third small lake. Myril plunged into it, and after a few seconds of disorientating transfer, sweet warm air greeted them. They had arrived to the Kingdom of Cats.
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Lune sighed. Again. He seemed to be doing that a lot lately. But he sure had nothing to be ashamed of, for he was certain that anyone would have sighed if in his position and with confronted with the recent events. After finding that report about the increasing numbers of pigeons, he had had the palace in frenzy, asking for more information.
He had Natori helping him of course, and the Head of his Intelligence Service was also in the secret – he didn't want to make the matter official yet; no reason in panicking the population too soon, he wasn't even sure what he was so worried about – but Lune was still very busy. He had sent Yuki to sleep a few hours before, while he himself remained bent upon the many reports, trying to figure out what the knot in his stomach was for, while he very much needed sleep, probably more so than anyone else. The Cat King hadn't slept in days.
Rainbow light streamed in the study through its two large windows, and Lune caught himself glaring at it. Why couldn't the Kingdom have normal lighting? It was all good to rest lazily in the sun in merry times, but in times like these it shouldn't be so! The king rubbed his forehead. It was stupid to blame the weather. It sure wasn't going to help in any way. What was Baron doing?
As if to answer his unspoken thought, a guard burst into the room, apparently out of breath from having run a long distance. Lune's ears perked forward and he raised his head in question in the very much irregular entry.
"You…Your majesty!" the guard bowed slightly, remembering in front of whom he was standing. "There's a huge eagle coming down in front of the palace, and Advisor Natoru has been spotted with it!"
"What!" Lune could barely believe it. Natoru? On an eagle? What is a bird doing here? Could it be Hanakash? What had happened? "Send down guards! I'm coming!" And with that he stood up and, forgetting etiquette, began running down the halls and to the doors to the palace. But when he arrived on the bridge, the sight that greeted him as very different to what he had expected: A white eagle was standing to the side while Advisor Natoru was instructing the guards to hold tightly an already bound Fento. This was very confusing a scene to the king, and of course, prompted his next question:
"What in the worlds is going on here?"
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Muta wasn't shocked easily. In fact, very little ever shocked him, and when something did shock him, he didn't show it. It was one of those things he had learned after knowing Baron for so long. The cat was a master of his features, no matter what his feelings were on the inside. Of course, there were some things that even Baron couldn't hide, especially not from his two best friends. Like his behavior towards Haru. Muta and Toto had really found the whole thing ridiculous, as for them his feelings for the human were as clear as the crystal – although they did admit that to any other person (cat or not) who didn't know the baron as they, he had been acting in a very confusing manner.
Of course, they didn't tell him that his feelings were that obvious, and certainly not what they thought said feelings for Haru were, for it was also very obvious that the cat was confused about the matter.
And so, he wasn't shocked to see Haru and Baron strode in the room, fingers barely brushing each other's and a dreamy smile on both of their faces. Nope, not surprised at all. What did surprise him though was the fact that Haru had somehow changed into a cat woman in between late last night when he had fallen asleep and this morning. He suddenly realized that his mouth was hanging open, and that Toto was laughing at- no wait, he wasn't. The crow was too busy gaping at the couple himself to even notice Muta's misstep. In any other circumstances, Muta would have jumped at the occasion to tease his friend, but right now he had questions he needed answered.
"What happened to ya, kiddo?" he asked in a gruff voice. "I though you didn't want ta be a cat?" It would have sounded like a reprimand, had his smile not said otherwise.
"I never said that. I said I didn't want to marry the prince of cats. Being a cat is another matter entirely." Haru's face had turned serious at the statement, but she smiled when Muta groaned and held his head in mock annoyance.
"Just my luck! How do you expect me to deal with two of you?"
Toto hopped to a nearby chair of the room they were in. "How did this happen anyway?" the crow asked as he tilted his head to the right.
Baron turned to Haru, an eyebrow raised in question. "That is something that I would very much like to know myself." Haru colored slightly under his gaze. "Not that I mind the transformation, but the 'how' has been bothering me slightly."
Haru shook her head in understanding, and then nodded towards the healer's door. "She is the one who performed the spell for me last night, after a small conversation we had. I had hoped you wouldn't mind the change," she added to Baron, "although even if you did my decision would have stayed the same." But your approval was very important to me is what she didn't say and that Baron read in her eyes. He had to smile at that. "You'll have to ask Lady Kanade for the details thought, but I think she needs rest right now," Haru finished.
"Yes, magic would use her energy, especially such a high-level spell as changing one's species," Baron remarked. He then turned to his two friends. "I supposed Advisor Natoru and Miss Myril went back to the Cat Kingdom with Fento to warn Lune, since I haven't seen either of them since I woke up, and it was the most logical course of action to take."
Toto nodded and then proceeded to tell him what had happened while he was unconscious, as well as a resume of the whole situation for Haru's sake, since she was now, whether she wanted it or not, involved in the matter. As he finished, silence weighed heavily in the room.
Haru was horrified at the situation. How come she never realized that there were other kingdoms and empires aside the Cat Kingdom? How come she never realized that these kingdoms would need to have some kind of relation with the cats? Did she believe that, because the Cat kingdom was populated by cats and not humans its inhabitants wouldn't have to worry about things like politics? Did she think that it was all like in the fairytales she used to read when she was little, that when the prince and princess of the magical realm got together finally, everyone would live happily ever after, without any worries at all? I could I be so childish in my thinking? I should have seen that they didn't have a king for nothing. But, then again, I guess I always considered the Cat Kingdom as a childhood dream come true, so I never bothered to think of all the complications going with the ruling of a realm.
Haru sighed silently at that, and looked up at the other occupants of the room. Toto was perched on a the back of a chair (Haru still felt strange about the changing of size), his head cocked to the side and his first inner eyelids closed, a sure sign of deep thinking on his part. Muta was sprawled in another chair, seemingly not caring less if the world was to collapse this very instant, although his scrunched eyebrows belied his position. As for Baron…
When she saw him, Haru almost forgot everything else and had this sudden urge to grab her sketchpad and draw him. He was gorgeous! Leaning against a sofa, his hat was tipped slightly forward, his eyes half-closed and cast downwards in concentration. His left hand was holding his chin in between his index and thumb, while his other arm supported it, the cane in the right hand. One leg was outstretched, while the other was propped against the wooden leg of the sofa. Sunshine was falling on him, giving the whole picture an eerie warm feeling worthy of a great painting.
Haru really wish she could paint him, before chiding herself for being so selfish and bringing her thoughts back to the situation at hand. But no matter how hard she thought, she couldn't think of a solution. It wasn't that she wasn't intelligent; people actually told her that she was quite the contrary. It was just that she couldn't concentrate long enough, especially when the subject was completely off her interest and/or knowledge. Like war tactics, or even politics for that matter. She sighed again. Being a dreamer was great when an artist, but sometimes she wished she was able to help her friends more. She smiled as she opened her mouth to ask the most obvious question – it seemed she was stuck with that role.
"What do we do now?"
All three other occupants of the room blinked as she shook them out of their thoughts. But they didn't have any time to answer, for a door opened and Kanade strode in. She smiled as she saw the group, the wrinkles on her face increasing as she noticed the newly transformed Haru.
"Ah, I see the gods were in a generous mood for you, young Haru," she said. "I just hope they granted you this other gift – or curse in some people's mind – I told you about."
Haru nodded slightly in understanding, but chose to ignore the questioning glance Baron shot her. She wouldn't tell him about it. It wasn't any use to give him false hope about her having possible immortality when she wasn't sure of it. Instead she thanked the healer and asked her if she rested well enough.
"Yes, yes, quite well, don't you worry," answered the old woman, one hand clutching the purple – or was it violet? It seemed to change – shawl that never seemed to leave her shoulders. "But enough of that! I'm sure you're all hungry, and before you all go off and continue your adventure, what about some tea and toast? It is nearly ten."
The four nodded enthusiastically for Muta and Haru (apparently magic took its toll on the one it was used on too) and more mildly for the ever polite Toto and Baron. Breakfast - or brunch? Haru wasn't sure, but she learned somewhere that it was how European people called that meal in-between breakfast and lunch - was soon ready and the five were now seated at (or on for most of them) a large table.
"We have to somehow bring the Emperor to call a truce so he can discuss this matter with King Lune, but how?" mused Baron as he set down his tea cup.
"He won't come willingly, that I can tell you," said Toto. "Emperor Hanakash is a strong willed bird, but he is quick to anger and very stubborn. It won't be easy to get him to talk, we'll most likely have to force him somehow, and I'm not even talking about getting to him first."
"Yeah, whatever monkey-boy said sure wasn't very pleasant to have the guy react like that," added Muta, lifting his head from his plate long enough to put in his two-cents. Baron frowned. This wasn't very good news. He had been outmaneuvered once again. He knew that he wasn't the only one who had been tricked, as Hanakash proved it, but the fact that it involved Fento made it a personal matter. He finally turned back to the crow.
"Do you think a human could hold him still long enough for someone to talk to him about a possible truce?"
Toto cocked his head to the side once more. He could see where Baron's thoughts were headed, but it would be dangerous, especially for the human involved. Eagles, especially gold eagles, weren't kind to humans. They had this idea (quite justified) that they were loosing their rightful homes because of the destruction brought upon them by humanity. But of course Baron knew of these risks, and wouldn't leave the human involved in the dark about it. But more importantly, what human would help them? Haru would have been the obvious choice, but her changing into a cat made it impossible.
Both Toto and Baron glanced over at Kanade the healer, but she apparently followed the whole conversation, and held up her hands in refusal, as if saying: "Don't look at me; I'm far too old for an adventure of any sort." Toto turned his gaze back at Baron.
"Who would help us? Aside from Miss Haru and the Lady Healer, we don't know any other humans who would do such a thing for us, just because we asked!"
"Um," and the group turned to Haru at that, "I may know of someone who would help us, if provided answers to some questions she would obviously ask."
Baron raised an eyebrow at that. "And who would that person be, Haru?"
Haru smiled, a half-nervous, half-mischievous smile on her face, tail twitching in amusement. "Hiromi."
Tbc…
Author's note: Bleh. Too tired to write an author's note. It's 3 Am and I'm very tired, as you can tell by the disclaimer. Gah, stupid muses. Or not, depending if you're the author or a reader. And I'm babbling. I should go to sleep. No, really.
.I.
.Mean.
.NOW.
Damn hands, won't stop hitting the keys randomly. Anyway, sorry for the long wait, but I had the worst writer's block ever. Fortunately, watching the movie yet again gave me some fresh ideas and I have the whole story till the end plotted out, plus a few twists. I intend to update on the war more next chapter also. I'm not sure if bringing Hiromi into this is such a good idea, so please tell me what you think.
Also, reviewresponses time! (too tired to think of something funny to put here)
Phantom Ange: I just like bunnies. Baby bunnies to be precise. And besides, they were the first things that popped into mind. Yeah, strange, I know. :smirk:
EarthAngel: Thank you! I hope this chapter answered your little question. Also, the fact that the characters act OOC in the disclaimers and do stupid stuff ("over the top" as you put it) is something that I find funny. In my opinion, characters from all fandoms never act the same "on-stage" as they do in the background. The disclaimer is that background. Just think of them like real-life actors. But you don't have to like it of course, I just thought you may want to know why I was doing this.
theSilent knight: Yeah, I thought so too. Actually, that last chapter wasn't like me at all. I can hardly believe that I wrote that. I almost removed it to rewrite it (I may still do so) but I received so many praise for it that I decided not to change it for my readers' sake. I won't do that again anytime near soon. I think Baron was acting completely OOC in that scene, but I also think it was needed. He will express his feelings in a much more discreet and fitting way in future chapters, I promise.
Ragyn: Nah, the only reason the healer was warning Haru that much was because it is a lifetime decision, and so it cannot be taken lightly. As for Haru's appearance being related to her possible immortality…well, maybe. My first thought was actually to match her with Baron. I may use this later. I'm not sure about granting her immortality, as you can see by reading the little remark by Kanade in this chapter.
TO EVERYONE ELSE WHO REVIEWED: Thanks a lot for all the comments and appreciations! They really keep me going. I don't think I could have written this chapter without all the support you all gave me! THANK YOU! I hope you still like the story, and if you like (or not) this chapter and want to tell me something about it, even flames, please review! It is really important for me, so I can make this story better.
See you all soon, and again sorry for the long wait,
Ellenlome
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