Chapter 8 – Magic
She was flying. The brightening sky before her, the wind whipping through her hair, her eyes widened to see the sight of the sun rising over the horizon.
No, that wasn't right. The ground was rushing up way too fast. She was falling!
Through her panic, Haru glanced behind on her free fall to see the strangest sight – the clouds of birds pouring into the tower swirled and changed direction.
"Spread your arms and look down, Haru!" Toto's welcomed voiced called out again.
The girl did as he bid spreading her arms wide at her sides to keep slow her descent. The inky forms streaked towards her like a black ribbon, and she began to feel them push against her body as they flew past her. Slowly the brown haired girl found herself being forced upright until she was standing in midair. The crows pressed against the soles of her shoes enabling her to practically walk with ease. Spiraling down in a helical staircase, the birds allowed her a perfect pathway towards the ground. There at the bottom were the ones she had been dying (and had almost died for!) to see.
Yuki with her worried blue eyes stood paw in paw with Lune. His dark head craned upwards hoping to catch a glimpse of their friend. Haru could feel their magic heavy in the air. It must have been a powerful spell so that they could remain human sized. Muta shouted orders to Toto, feeling useless as he was on the ground.
"You couldn't have taken any longer birdbrain!? Fly faster you chickens!"
"You can't tell the difference between crows and chickens, you Fatso?!"
"Fatso! Come down here and fight me, you birdbrain!"
"You already called me that!" the crow retorted.
To Haru's surprise, along with the squabbling duo, the Cat King, stern Natori and silly Natoru were even present amongst the group. All of her friends had come to rescue her!
Except where was-?
The feathered wings blocked her sight for a moment, and suddenly he was there below her just within reach. He stretched his hands upwards as she leapt down into his grasp.
"Baron!" Haru shouted with relief and joy. "You found me!"
He engulfed her within his hold, pressing her close to his body.
"Haru. I'm sorry it took so long," he murmured his voice shaking from his worry for her. She slid her arms around his neck hoping that this was the last time she would ever be parted from him.
Baron held her for a few precious moments as the flock of crows took off back into the air. He could feel the poor girl shuddering in exhaustion, but they had no time to linger.
"I'm sorry, Haru, but we have to keep moving."
A clamor of voices met the rescue team's ears. The princess and her forces had managed to regroup, and were determined not to lose their only clue to the magical beings.
"Stop that girl and everyone with her! Anyone who does will receive a basket of gold!"
Through the early morning mist, the milling townfolk wondering at the cacophony of birdcalls perked up when the thought of a reward echoed through the streets, but who was the princess searching for? A criminal? A thief?
"Wait, that's Haru!" Hiromi, a girl Haru often walked the village with recognized the brunette amongst the strange figures.
"Out of time," Muta muttered. "Lune!" he barked to the slim grey cat nearby. "Call your friends!"
The prince nodded and let out a piercing whistle. From every corner of the kingdom cats poured out from their hiding places. Atop rooftops, from warm and cozy homes, to hidden niches, the quick footed beings converged on the fugitives from the crown.
Haru felt herself being encircled and swept off her feet for the second time that morning as the cats took off carrying her and each embodiment of the months on their furry backs. They seemed to fly on the wind itself as each sure footed creature raced through the snow without slipping. The animals maneuvered into the forest, nimbly staying as one group even as the trees divided them and they jumped across large snow banks.
"No!" the princess shrieked from the courtyard. "Get my sleigh and follow those cats!"
Baron kept his arms around Haru ensuring that she was safe and close by him throughout their chaotic escape.
"Scared were you?" he murmured to her. "I certainly was."
Haru smiled at his admission and leaned closer into his embrace. "Yes, Baron, but I thought of you and the others and I wasn't afraid anymore. In fact, thinking of you all seemed to help me not reveal your location to the princess."
The debonair cat tilted his head to the side in contemplation. Even with the cats running at full tilt he managed to keep his top hat on the entire time. "It's a sign, Haru."
"A sign of what? You and the months have been keeping something from me, and I want to know what it is!"
He shook his head, "One more trial and you'll find the truth, and we'll escape the princess at the same time. Just have a little patience with me, Haru."
The royal was still in hot pursuit of them, her sleigh easily traveling across the snow as she followed the cats' journey.
It was Haru's turn to shake her head, "I've waited for you this long, Baron. If I can stay with you forever, I can wait a little longer." It was a great effort to admit, but after her harrowing ordeal, she wanted him to know her heart.
Baron beamed widely and pressed a gentle kiss atop her head. He was about to speak to reconfirm his adoration in return to her, but their sudden stop halted his words. They had reached the secret meadow.
As the rescuers scrambled off the cats' backs, each four footed animal disappeared through the trees leaving no trace of their presence behind. The exhausted group was greeted by the trio that was left to tend the great bonfire. The laughing Elizabethan, the cook, and the musician greeted her and their comrades with glad tidings, grateful that the troupe had rescued their new friend.
The jingling of bells sounded too close for everyone's comfort.
"Quickly everyone! To your places!" Lune ordered.
Each month raced to their appointed places around the twelve seats outlining the great fire. Haru wasn't sure where to stand, but Baron quietly tugged her to the empty spot beside him. The clatter of the princess's sleigh was barely a few feet from their refuge.
"Wait!" Baron called out just as the Cat King raised his staff of office in the air. "We have to give her one more chance!"
Muta scowled, "No you idiot! We're not sure if the transmutation is even going to work, and now you want to give the madwoman time to capture us?!"
Haru too couldn't believe Baron's words, but she trusted in his judgment.
The royal's sleigh came to a noisy halt outside their sanctuary, and the princess strode out looking triumphant in her victory.
"Halt all of you in the name of the crown!"
"We only serve one crown here and that's not you, Lady!" Natoru bristled in indignation. Calm Natori nodded his head sagely in agreement.
The Cat King gave a contemptible sneer in the so-called royal's direction. Muta and the others wisely held their tongue. Seeing the irate royal in front of them, the Cat King almost seemed sane in comparison.
Baron raised his voice capturing everyone's attention. "Your majesty! You have kidnapped our friend in your never ending search for us, but we will give you the benefit of the doubt. Should you or the Kingdom be in any danger, we would be happy to help. What was your purpose in finding us?"
He hoped that the ruler would show an inkling of kindness, one scrap of love for her people.
Alas, her heart was as hard as stone.
"My only purpose in life is to line my halls with more gold and wealth than I could ever possibly imagine! I told that silly girl what uses I could have for you all – a never ending surplus of food available to the highest bidder during famine, calm seas to plunder neighboring kingdoms, and icy winds to stop any who tried to oppose me! I could even ascend to the Jade Emperor's throne right now and see him bow at my feet!"
A flash of lightning and echoing thunder off in the distance stirred the forest's silence.
They all glanced at the Cat King.
"Hey, don't look at me, babe."
Baron cleared his throat, "Tread carefully your highness. You never know who may be listening."
The woman paid no heed to his warning, "My men have this clearing surrounded. None of you can escape without them noticing, and don't count on your little precious animals to save you either. You have no choice but to come with me."
The gathering murmured quietly to each other in alarm, but Yuki quieted them down.
"Haru, is what she said true? Is this her plan for us?"
The brunette nodded unhappily, confirming the cruel blonde's words. To think that the sovereign of her village could be so evil! Did the woman not know that being a ruler was a duty and not a gift to be abused?
Lune spoke now addressing the gathering, and perhaps another, with his edict.
"Then we have no choice. It is the consensus of the Twelve that we must do what we do next." He turned his mismatched eyes towards another pair exactly like his own. "Father?"
The Cat King nodded, and with unusual gravitas raised the magical staff. Sending it down with a thunderous crash, the rod sent a mystical shockwave throughout the group. The elder cat's eyes began to glow, and Haru could see each occupant in the circle take on the same quality.
The Cat King, Toto, the Chef, Muta, the Musician, the Elizabethan cat, Natoru, Natori, Yuki, Lune… how wonderful they were. How she loved them all.
To her left, Baron gave her a heart stopping smile just before his emerald eyes began to sparkle and blaze like the sun itself. Haru felt her devotion for him soar purely from that sweet gesture, and to her surprise she felt a sudden warmth bubble upwards from her heart throughout her body.
Her eyes shone like a falling star, and in doing so completed the magical circle.
With a screech, the princess shielded her eyes from the brightness of the group. A sudden blink and then she was left in an empty clearing. No trace of the great bonfire or any of its former inhabitants met her sight, not even her hardened soldiers.
She was all alone.
The falling star is a reference to Howl's Moving Castle. Thank you for everyone's kind reviews!
We're on the home stretch,
Grignard