Hello, this is cylobaby. Thank you reviewers, please keep it up. Sorry if its short!
Disclaimer: I do not own the Tamora Pierce books.
The rest of the week went by uneventfully. Prince James left her well alone, though his mouth dropped when she handed all her homework in on time, completely smooth.
Cat awoke one morning to Cylon walking over her on the bed. 'No more school. No more school,' she sang happily. The spy moaned and yawned, her tongue stretching out like a cat's.
Once she had registered what Cylon was chanting, Cat was out of bed so quickly that Cylon nearly flew off the covers. 'Excuse me!' she huffed, then began washing her paws.
Cat threw on her soft riding clothes and hurriedly packed her small suitcase. Cylon helped gather all of her supplies, crawling under furniture to reach some of the misplaced items.
Once packed, Cat rolled her suitcase out the door and onto the wooden cart that the school provided for all of the students to carry their bags home in. Using the heightened suitcase as a springboard, Cylon leapt onto Cat's shoulder.
The girl lugged the suitcase down the stairs, not talking to anyone. Though her father had wanted to pick her up so they could ride home together, it was impossible for the most famous spy in Coutrun to be seen in public with his only heir. Jack couldn't afford to be seen in public at all.
Cat drug the cart all the way to the stables, chatting to Cylon about what they would do once they got home. 'I'll get tuna, velvet beds, salmon, toys and more tuna!' Cylon was saying, voice dreamy. Cat wouldn't have been surprised if she was drooling, and she said so.
'Cats do not drool. We are clean, unlike filthy dogs,' Cylon defended herself, smirking at a nearby collie that had looked up as they passed; slobber dripping from its mouth.
As Cat entered the barn, Ashpetal whinnied out to her. "Hey girl!" Cat said, walking over to the stall.
She stroked the dappled gray mare's head, then gave the huge horse an apple. Cylon looked away in disgust as the horse began crunching into the red apple, juice flying everywhere.
Cat unlocked the stall and entered, leaving Cylon to jump on the door. The spy picked up the shiny leather saddle, the black color matching Ashpetal's spots beautifully. The soft white blanket underneath protected the mare's back for the long journey.
It would be a five day ride to the well-protected cottage Silence and Cat called home. Cat slid on the black bridle, Ash helping along the way. The mare was very well-trained.
Picking up the tack box, Cat put it on the cart then hooked it onto Ash's leads. The horse was strong enough to carry both Cat and the cart, though Cat decided to walk part of the way to help her.
Cylon leapt onto Cat's shoulder's as the young spy jumped skillfully onto the mare's back. Settling down, Cat clicked to Ashpetal to walk. The mare set off, her well-brushed coat glinting in the morning light.
On the way out of the school grounds, Cat and Cylon said goodbye to many feline friends. All the cats were sorry to see them leave, as Cylon was a favorite with them. One calico was sad enough to beg, 'Can I come?" in her deep voice.
Cat simply shook her head and looked away, sadness overcoming her. The cats were her only true friends and she was guilty that she had to leave them. Two rascally kittens began playing with Ashpetal's swishing tail as she walked by.
"Leave her alone, it's not her fault I'm leaving," scolded Cat affectionately. The brown kittens simply purred and pranced over to their gray mother, who called a goodbye to Cat.
When she had finally gotten out of the gate, Cat saw around five families greeting each other. As she passed Lord Nathan, he called out, "Goodbye, Catherine!"
She smiled and nodded to him, not speaking because he was hanging with the family he was going to spend the summer with; Prince James, Queen Eliana, and King Alexander. As she passed, the king gave her a subtle wink.
She gave a small smile and bow to the monarchs. The prince ignored her and continued riding his horse, but the queen nodded back.
Cat clicked to Ashpetal and the mare broke into a canter, able to keep the cart behind her smooth. She raced by the royal families until she was out in the open. Cat took a side path through the woods, hoping not to run into anyone. She allowed Ashpetal to choose the speed, and once she slowed into a trot, Cat used her Gift to make the cart run smoothly on any ground.
Cylon began purring, content with the breeze ruffling her bluish fur. Her white tail was wrapped loosely around Cat's neck for extra protection. Once positive that no one was near the path by getting Cylon to question all creatures they passed, Cat became relaxed in the calm environment. Cat let down her short odd-colored hair and took off the bandana.
The mismatched colors in her hair flew behind her and she allowed Ash to sped into a trot. The whole day was full of relaxation. They only stopped for meals and so Ash could get drinks in the streams. During the hottest parts of the day, Cat walked alongside of Ashpetal, letting the mare not be weighed down.
Cat made camp at nearly midnight, wanting to get home as soon as she could. Cylon had examined the area first and had found a nearby lake. "Perfect," Cat had figured.
She had made a small fire pit and had a lightweight blanket to sleep on and some meat she had nicked from the school kitchens.
Calling on her Gift, she lit a fire in the pit that glowed amber-green under her Sight. She undid all of Ash's tack as the fire warmed their food. Cat gave the mare and herself a bath in the tranquil lake.
Cylon decided to sit out, shuddering in disgust every time Cat flicked water in her direction. The spy washed her corkscrew hair and scrubbed herself clean.
Once completely clean, Cat scurried out of the cold water, Ash trotting happily after her. She dried off and folded her clothes of to the side. As Cat hadn't brought a cot, she decided to sleep in feline form. She always kept clothes nearby in case of people in the night.
In a blink, Cat had become an amber tabby. It was covered in curly medium length fur that had random streaks of blond, black, dark brown and red. Cat's green eyes were slit-like as she looked deep into the dying fire.
Cylon padded up beside her, dwarfed by the spy's feline size. 'Goodnight Cat,' yawned the white-tailed cat.
Cat yawned also and snuggled into the soft blanket with Cylon, "Goodnight," she muttered before falling asleep, with one green eye half open out of habit.
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Cat woke to Cylon's purring next to her. "Good morning, Cy," purred Cat sleepily.
"Let's go!" whinnied Ashpetal. The chatter of the forest reached Cat's feline ears.
"Okay, okay," meowed Cat, standing up and stretching. Cylon pounced on her wagging tail, "Hey! I said I was up!"
She morphed back into her human form and changed into clean riding clothes. After tacking up Ash, she latched the cart back on. Deciding it would be safe to use her Gift, Cat made her bags levitate slightly off the heavy cart.
Last minute, Cat scattered the stones and ashes from her fire pit so as not to leave any mark she had camped there.
Situating Cylon onto her small saddle seat, Cat rode on. Over the course of the next two days, the three females had little rest, all eager to get home.
Thank you to all of my numerous reviewers! I love you! sobs I would like to thank you all. smooch, smooch! I am FINALLY allowed back on the computer, so sorry for not updating. However, I have written a lot more to the story and I just need to type and post it! Until next time!