The Red Reign Challenge: This Christmastime
The Twelfth Night : A Faerie Tale
by I Got Tired of Waiting

January 3 : A Joyous Noisome

He stalked into the house caked head to foot in muck, his cloak and scarf held gingerly at arm's length. As he hung them on the peg by the door, Ossie took one whiff and bolted for the other room, hiding under the tree with accusatory howls. Half-frozen, as he'd not dared soil his outer garments with the mess, he wrinkled his nose against his own stench and removed his clothing at the door, throwing the soiled garments outside into the snow, before marching naked into the bathroom. An hour later, he finally emerged clean and reclothed, the endless hot water a luxury he'd not appreciated much until this moment. Exhausted, he wearily sat in his chair by the fire, unable to summon even the energy to make his supper. Cleaning Claudius' Gryphon stalls had proved more noisome that he'd thought they would be; the lone Galleon he'd earned wouldn't even replace the old clothing he'd never be able to clean.

A soft mewling drew his attention to the floor. He smiled when he saw the apple and mouse the cat had brought him. Such a simple gesture, but it made him feel warm inside. He picked up the apple with a soft noise of thanks, adding quietly, "I'll share the mouse tonight; the apple should prove plenty."

Fascinated, he watched the cat consume the rodent before drinking deeply out of his bowl. Before he could stop him, the cat jumped into his lap, his breath sweet, which he found odd considering what Ossie had just eaten. Claws sinking into his lap, Ossie didn't stay long and jumped back to the floor, walking to the tree. Digging underneath, he emerged a few minutes later carrying in his mouth a gold ribbon tied in a loose circle. Nudging it with his nose, he stood with one paw on one edge of the ribbon and worked his head into the loop until it settled around his neck like a collar. Daintily, he sauntered back and lithely jumped into his lap.

Intrigued, he examined the ribbon, finding a tiny bronze key and a small vial marked, "Phoenix Tears," threaded through it. He tried removing the ribbon from around Ossie's neck, but the magic crackling around it had shrunk it, keeping it firmly in place. He could not open the vial.

Golden eyes stared at him as he contemplated this latest gift.

"I have no idea what this is about, but the Phoenix tears might come in handy later as I used up the last of the supply they'd left me last year when I had an infection in my hand," he said, soothing his cat's apparent concern with gentle strokes down the centre of Ossie's scarred face.

Blinking, the cat settled in his lap, his purring a soothing counterpoint to an inexplicable unease. Deciding not to worry about it, he picked up his book and began to read the next chapter, 'Keeping Your Cat Away From the Clothes Line."

TBC