Disclaimer: I do not own the Young Wizards Series

I know, shame one me for yet another short chapter. I'm sorry but I cant help it! I put it up because about ten minutes ago I put up another chapter which was short too, so I figured if I gave you guys two chapters in one day, it might placate you for now.

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Everything solidified again and I was back in my living room. I turned furiously on Atin, only to find he was no longer behind the chair. "Atin!" I yelled. Suddenly I heard steps out side the house, the jingle of keys, and then the door flew open. My Mama stepped in, arms full of paper grocery bags. She stopped abruptly when she saw me, and her eyes darted from the me to the tv and back.

"I didn't think you were going to be home when I got back," she said, shifting the bags in her arms.

"Yeah, I thought I'd take the day off from wizardry," I told her. I could see the relief that flashed in her eyes. Out of the corner of my eye, I spotted a purple tail disappearing over the top of the stairs. "Um, I'm going to be upstairs ok Mama? Call me down when lunch is ready."

"Sure sweety," she told me with a smile before continuing towards the kitchen. In a flash I was running for the stairs, taking them two at a time. I slammed into my bedroom, closed the door behind me and picked up the purple alien cat that was sitting on the floor. I held Atin out in front of me and stared him straight in the eyes.

"Take me back there!" I told him. "Take me back right now. I need to go back!" Atin yowled and squirmed until I let him go. He stalked to my bed and leapt up onto my mess of blankets. I wasn't about to give up. "Please Atin! You need to take me back there!"

Atin fixed his icy gaze on me, and shook his head slightly. The message was clear. I slumped against the bed, throwing an arm over my eyes. Atin started to purr and rubbed up against my cheek. I shot him a dirty look.

Atin seemed a bit bigger, now about the size of a regular house cat. And he didn't seem to need any food. Maybe he got energy from the sun. A solar powered cat. I surprised myself by chuckling under my breath at the idea.

Atin jumped off the bed and started sniffing around on the carpet. "Hey," I told him, "If you need to take a dump, do it outside." Atin continued sniffing and eventually disappeared under the bed. A few seconds later, he returned with dust bunnies clinging to his whiskers and something in his mouth. As Atin jumped back up onto the bed, I recognized it as a small peppermint wrapped in clear plastic. I always used to keep a bag in here for Nita. And just like that, a low pain shot through my heart. I blinked my eyes furiously, staring up at the ceiling, waiting for this sudden wave of sorrow to pass.

I tried to get the peppermint from Atin but he jumped backward onto my pillow. Then he proceeded to shred the wrapper into confetti. Keeping the small ball of candy between his paws, he started licking it. I just stared at him.

An alien cat, risen from a stone, and could possible have the power to travel to different worlds, had a peppermint fetish. For the second time that day, I almost laughed. Almost.

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Yay for peppermints! Please review!