Description: Book 2: Of Wolves and Men from Kitten's POV

Disclaimer: I do not own any of the characters. Everything belongs to Tamora Pierce.

Author's Note: Kitten is a year older, so her scenes are slightly less disjointed. I now have this image of Kitten practicing trying to send random things to a different dimension, like socks and boots.

Chapter 2

Mama, Papa and I are following two wolves called Fleetfoot and Russet. They are friends of Mama's. I have my own riding pouch and I ride with Mangle who pulls the cart. I like travelling with Mama and Papa. They sleep close together across the fire so I can see them both and know that they are safe. Papa lets me light the fire at night and teaches us about the stars. One day when I am much older, I would like to fly into the sky and see the stars up close.

The wolf pups don't want to play with me. I won't hurt them, I promise! They are all scared of me and won't let me play chase or rough and tumble, but Russet came to play stones with me. Mangle doesn't like the wolves either and Spots is nervous. Cloud knows these wolves and they know to be afraid of her instead. She and Mama will not let the wolves hurt the other horses.

I keep Mangle company while my parents go exploring. I would like to go with them, but Mangle lets me ride him and I don't want him to be alone and scared. My bite is worse than Cloud's if anyone tries to eat him.

I am sulking under the bed in Mama's room. Papa took us to an inn but says I have to stay hidden. I am cross with Papa because he wouldn't let me go to the castle with them. He was cross when I opened the door between the rooms, but I don't understand why. My parents sleep across the fire so why can't they sleep with the door open? I thought he would be proud that I can unlock and open doors. He's usually proud of me when I do magic. Mama isn't happy with him either because he made her wear a horrible dress.

When Mama comes back, she tells me that I wouldn't have liked the castle, but I don't believe her. Castles have lots of rooms to explore.

Papa wakes us in the middle of the night telling us we must leave. Papa sounds afraid but I am still grumpy with him.

Papa is leaving! I don't like it when my parents aren't together, and Papa is scared. Papa is never afraid, and I don't like it! Why can't we go with him? Mama wants to stay with the wolves but why can't we all go where Papa is going? Papa is taking Spots and Mangle with him which means I will have to ride Cloud. Cloud is not happy and says she will stamp on me if I scratch her. Russet says I can ride on his back if I promise not to scratch. I like Russet the best. Cloud must be very worried because she called Papa by his name. She usually calls him stork-man which Papa doesn't like.

I cannot sleep. There is bad magic in the air, and someone is making a cage over us. Where is Papa? Papa would make it go away. I crawl into Mama's blankets which is something I haven't done in ages. Mama's blankets are usually too full of other animals, and I am getting too old to share a bed.

Someone can understand me! His name is Tkaa and he saved Mama, the pups and me from a Coldfang. He turned it to stone! I hope he will teach me how to do that. Tkaa is a basilisk and says that we are cousins. I tell him all about my parents and our home. I also tell him about the cage that is around us because I'm worried Papa won't be able to get back to us. It is wonderful to have someone to talk to!

Tkaa has gone to speak with Papa. He is trapped on the other side of the cage and cannot get through. I am very worried about him. He has his magic, but he is not a hunter. What if he runs out of food? Mama cannot bring food to him if he is separated from us.

Mama does a strange thing and starts turning into an animal while Tkaa is away. Only parts of her change into an animal, not all of her. I will ask Tkaa about it when he returns as Papa is not here to explain it.

Tkaa showed me how to make the magical stones glow. I tell him about the magic Papa has already taught me and what I have learned from watching him.

Mama has made a lot of friends. There is a girl, Maura, a man called Tait and his dogs, a squirrel and an ogre. Mama can turn all the way into an animal now, but I don't think she means to. Papa will be very excited. He likes it when Mama does something clever with her magic. Mama is worried what the mages in the castle are up to. They are bad mages, not like my Papa. They want to poison the land, take the magic stones Tkaa likes to eat and capture my Papa. I won't let them! Our soldiers have arrived, and we will attack them. Mama and I must break the cage so they can fight the bad people.

Mama and I had to fight to fight a Coldfang and I got to break many locks to find the magic that made the cage. When Mama broke the stones there was an explosion. I was worried Mama was hurt but now Papa is here, and he is hugging Mama and me. Papa did some clever magic to make the poison disappear. He didn't explain it to me, but I was watching very closely. Maybe he will explain it later. If not, I will practice by myself when we get home. Papa looks very angry and wants to teach the bad mage a lesson.

Papa was very sad when he turned the bad mage into a tree. I don't know why he is so sad when he stopped the bad mage from hurting Mama. Mama turned into a wolf and hunted down the bad lady. Mama had to stay in bed for three days, but she is fine now. Papa isn't talking to anyone and has gone into the castle to hide. I have made friends with the cats, Blueness and Scrap, who like to play with me, not like those silly wolf pups. Tkaa talks to me and tells me everything that is happening. Papa will be fine once Mama has talked to him. I think Papa just missed us and will be happy again when he knows we are not still angry about the dress or making me stay inside.