by Taki Drake
The shadows of agony from that long-ago memory still had the power to cut deeply. His thoughts played back his desperate and agonized journey back to the only other home that he had ever known. Jack had barely made it back to the clowder only to be shunned as a failure. And here he was, a broken knight without a lance, trying to save another innocent.
Finally, Jack turned to TT and asked the question that had been foremost on his mind for the last hour, <
TT responded, << Russia. Dascha lives in Russia. >>
Jack waited for a moment before asking, << That’s all you know? That she lives in Russia? I take it you’ve never had much geography. >>
<< Geography? >>
<<<>>>
The intensity of the survival lessons that Jack ran TT through increased in frequency and difficulty. It was as if he was training her for a marathon. TT did what she was told. She tried to the best of her abilities in everything that he asked her to do and did it without complaint.
They were only two days away from their planned departure when both cats became aware that several animals were coming toward them at great speed.
Automatically doing what Jack had taught her, TT moved slightly away from Jack so that they could not be rushed and overwhelmed at the same time. While she watched the direction of the oncoming strangers, she could tell that Jack was maintaining situational awareness of their entire surroundings. His alertness ratcheted up, and he looked ready to respond any threat.
Exploding out of the forest groundcover were two of the Council messengers. One of them was the same arrogant tomcat that had been so hurtful to TT before, while the other was unknown to both Jack and TT. It was the second cat that recovered his breath first enough to say, << Come quickly! The Council needs you, immediately! >>
His message delivered, the younger cat continued to pant as he slowly collapsed to the ground. The other cat had no breath to form a coherent thought but weakly waved his paw back along the way they had come.
Jack looked at TT, waiting for her response. Moving past her astonishment, TT asked, << Why on earth should I hurry back to the clowder? I was told to stay away, far from even the edges of the community. You have hidden food from me so that I would starve to death, you shunned me, all to force me away. Why should I return to help the Council now? >>
Before the gasping, panting messengers could respond, Jack interjected, << Perhaps this is a ploy to have a reason to destroy you when you break the rules. This doesn’t seem like it’s in character for the elders and I would be suspect of any messenger that comes like this after being so nasty to you before. >>
The other messenger responded to Jack’s comment saying, << The Council is being forced to produce you. There are Familiars here looking for you, and they have a message to deliver. They’re very scary, and the Council wants to get rid of them as soon as possible. They’re not going leave until they talk to you, so everyone needs you to come and tell them that you are alright and get the message that they have for you. >>
TT asked, << Who are they and why are they scary? >>
The Persian saw an approving nod from Jack and immediately felt more assured. Perhaps she was getting her instincts trained and perhaps, just perhaps, she was developing a backbone of her own.
The messenger continued, his embarrassment and anger clearly leaking through into his mental voice, << You are an embarrassment, and it’s one that we don’t want to have associated with our clowder. However, they are from a powerful political faction, and we don’t want to antagonize them. They seem to know you already, so the Council thinks that there is no additional shame from them knowing that you’re still around. >>
The other messenger added, << If they know you, they already know what sort disgrace you are. The fact that they came looking for you means that any embarrassment or shame is all on you, not on us. We’ve obviously demonstrated our good breeding by shunning you out of the clowder. They know that we had to go find you because you had been forbidden the community. Perhaps, they are here to levy a fine or other punishment on you. This way, all the problems from your ill-bred actions will not affect the clowder. >>
TT looked at Jack and saw that he was willing to do whatever she wanted. Turning back to the messengers, she responded, << All right. We will head that way. >>
The older messenger protested, << We were only told to bring you! >>
TT made an unflinching answer, << If you want me, you get us both. >>
The Persian could feel the pride and approval radiating from her uncle as he stood close to her. She could also see the dismay and mortified acceptance in the posture and expression of the two messengers. This round, at least, she had won.
Chapter 22 – Visitors
Coming into the clowder main meeting place felt very strange to TT. As she made her way to the central gathering area, the Persian was aware of the sideways glances and whispered commentary that spread out from her passage like ripples from a pebble dropped into still water.
At this point, the small cat was paying no attention to anyone’s sensibilities. The entire clowder had taken an adversarial position against both her and Jack. For all that they cared, she could have died. In fact, they had made it very plain that they wished that she had died. She didn’t owe them a thing. Even when she saw her one sister who turned and slunk away, TT felt nothing but pity and a low level of angry resentment.
With TT leading the way and Jack protecting her back, they were soon at the center of the common area. Ahead of them, arrayed on their left, were the collected elders of the Clawtip Clowder. Exhibiting different stages of anger, embarrassment, and fear, the cats were focused on the three large beings facing them from the other side of the gathering area.
At first glance, TT’s eyes skittered over the waiting Familiars. It was difficult for her to connect those that waited for her with her expectations of who would show up at the clowder. Shaking her head slightly and looking again, she realized that she had seen two of the three before at the Familiar Trials. But the third was a total stranger to her, and easily the most intimidating member of the waiting group.
The Persian cat had seen both the Raven, George, and the Golden Eagle at the last session of the Familiar Trials. She knew that George was a friend of Glenfrey’s and that he also had been an instructor and judge during the classes and competition. The Golden Eagle had also participated, although her recollection of exactly what he had done was little hazier.
The third bird that sat patiently waiting for her was a total unknown. She didn’t even know what kind of bird he was, only that he was easily twice as large as George. In a quiet mental thread, Jack said to her, << Dear Lord in heaven! I’ve only seen one of those once before. And I thought I would never see one again. >>
Responding to the awe that her that she heard in her uncle’s voice, TT asked, just as quietly, << Who or what is he? >>
<< A Cinereous Vulture. One of the largest birds alive and I know of only one that’s a Familiar. I’ll tell you about his magic user some other time, but for right now be very respectful. >>
As TT and Jack joined the elders and their visitors, the most senior member of the Council turned and said in a peevish voice, << I hope you’re satisfied. We haven’t killed her, and she’s obviously here. Deal with what you have come to do and leave us alone. >>
Totally ignoring the spiteful cat, George greeted TT, saying, << Hello there, TT. There have been several of our people very concerned about you. Since we were coming this way anyway, they asked us to stop in and make sure of your well-being. We are also tasked with passing on some messages. >>
TT responded, << Thank you, sir. As you can see, I am alive, although somewhat worn. I appreciate your stopping in to check on me, and I’m anxious to understand what messages you might have for me. >>
Before George could continue, one of the other clowder elders interrupted, snarling in his mental voice as he cruelly said, << She is a disgrace to our clowder and if we had a
way of repudiating her, we would. She was so defective that her Witch cast her off and we certainly are not going to encourage that bloodline. We breed better than her, and we expect the members of Clawtip Clowder to adhere to a higher code of conduct! >>
TT looked at him sadly before turning her head back to look at George. Taking a deep breath, the Persian said in as calm a mental voice as possible, << Obviously, I’m not welcome here. In fact, my uncle Jack and I are planning on leaving shortly. >>
Murmurs of thankfulness came from the members of the clowder within earshot. TT heard relief and pleasure in the news and once again was reminded how thoroughly she had been rejected. Refusing to get upset, she focused her attention on the three visitors.
<< If you would be so kind, please convey both news of my well-being and my plans to those that cared enough to check on me. I’m hoping to travel to a friend’s home and take her up on her offer of a place to stay. >>
The deep rumbly voice of the vulture resounded in everyone’s head as he said, << I find this very interesting. And it may be that your decision allows us to solve another problem or two among the Familiar groups. >>
The sound of the vulture’s voice frightened many of the council members into crouching. They looked poised to fight or flee but without any idea of what to do and where to go next.
Jack’s response was totally different. << Cool! He sounds like a total bad ass! >>
TT smothered a snort of amusement and was completely startled when the Vulture and the Golden Eagle joined her in laughter. The vulture turned his attention to Jack saying, << Thank you! I see that my reputation has preceded me. >>
His own amusement obvious in his mental voice, George said, << Your time at the Familiar Trials was very well spent. You made a lot of diplomatic contacts and impressed a lot of people with your comportment and your intelligence. In fact, part of what I was supposed to do when I saw you was to extend invitations to join other clowders.
<
One of the clowder elders interrupted, saying in a stunned voice, << But… but… she’s a failure, flawed. Why would anyone want to have her around? >>
When George responded to this latest inane comment, all sounds of friendliness had been washed out of his mental voice. In words as chill and hard as blue ice, he informed the clowder that obviously others valued TT’s capabilities and her characteristics. The ultimate argument, in this case, was the fact that she had been requested by not one clowder but two.
TT, stunned by the turn of events, asked George, << Who is the other clowder that has expressed interest? >>
<< The Caucasian Clowder has requested that you consider them. They are looking not only for your strategic skills but the characteristics of bravery and intelligence that you have displayed. >>
At the mention of the clowder name, a gasp ran around the listening crowd. The Caucasian Clowder was well known as one of the premier groups in the Familiar world. With a long distinguished history of service and a heritage that included some of the best-known Familiars, even the offer of crossbreeding with a member of the Caucasian Clowder was considered an honor. For them to have extended an adoption offer to TT was unprecedented.
Murmurs from various parts the crowd could be heard, but TT ignored them. Instead, she answered George with a very simple response, << Yes, it would be very nice to be wanted and valued. I will definitely consider both of them, but I need to have time to think and consider all of the ramifications. Of course, I will visit and evaluate both clowders before I make a decision.>>
TT desperately wanted to talk with George privately. Hoping that he could help her figure out how to get to Dascha, she looked at his visit as a fortuitous event. However, the press of their itinerary forced them to make noises about an immediate departure.
Disappointed, but willing to accept the encouragement that she had been given without being greedy for something else, TT made her civil goodbyes. Just before the three familiars took off, TT was surprised when George said, << Oh, I almost forgot. I have something from Henley for you.>> Hopping over toward her, he dropped a small packet on the ground and winked at her. <>
On a much quieter and tighter mental thread, George said privately to her, << Now, get out of the center of all these crazy people while we are still here. It will give you enough time to get your head in order. I would recommend that you and your uncle make your getaway before they find some way of getting you to stay. >>
Accepting the hint, TT made her farewells to all three of the visiting Familiars and set off for their hut at a rapid pace. Although there were murmurs all around her, no one stopped TT and Jack as they quickly made their escape.
Chapter 23 – Decision’s Edge
The first thing they had done when they got back to the ruined hut was to pull open the packet that George had given TT. There was a small necklace inside the wrapping with a stone that dangled from the center front. Both TT and her uncle had sniffed and examined the stone, finding nothing unusual about it.
Deciding that Henley had sent it for a reason, TT finally scooted her head through the closed circle of the necklace so that it looped over her head and hung down from her neck to the center of her chest. The stone settled as if arranged by an invisible hand, seeming to fall naturally in the exact center. A faint, slithering sensation startled the Persian, and she realized that the necklace had adjusted in length so that it was no longer loose. Instead, it fit comfortably around her neck but did not hang down far enough to inhibit her movement.
Jack said, << That is very strange. It now looks like there is a light on the inside of the stone where before it just looked like a normal rock. >>
TT attempted to look down and see the stone, but it was so close under her chin that she couldn’t. Deciding that there was nothing that could be done about it at this time, and trusting the gift giver, the two cats went out hunting for fish. After all, starting a trip on a full belly was probably the best preparation they could make.
When TT and Jack returned for one last night in the hut, it was obvious that several other members of the clowder had been there in their absence. Jack checked thoroughly and found nothing amiss in the area, although someone had thoughtfully left them a peace offering of food.
At this point, TT was not willing to accept the gift. She also didn’t want to take a risk that somebody decided to add something to the food that she couldn’t detect.
<< Not very trusting, are you? >>
<< Why would I be? They have done nothing to help us, Jack. In fact, they’ve done many things to cause us problems. At this point, it’s too little and too late. >>
<< Agreed, but don’t get too cynical. There are good people out there just as frequently as there are stupid or ignorant ones. >>
<<<>>>
It was early morning when TT and Jack left the Clawtip Clowder grounds for what TT profoundly hoped would be the last time. The previous night she and Jack had done what preparation they could, knowing that travel would be difficult and pushed by a sense of urgency which seemed to grow minute by minute.
Once they were on the road, the feeling of approaching doom lessened and the two cats soon relaxed into a comfortable walking pace. TT had suggested going back to the small waystation where the caravan had stopped during her journey home. Thinking that perhaps they could hitch a ride with someone traveling to the east, she and Jack had decided to start their journey with that first stop. Moving in perfect harmony, the pair proceeded quickly, all without saying a word.
The two cats c
ould hear the noise of a crowd before they came within sight of the glade. The waypoint was full of travelers, teeming with action and confusion. Two different groups had stopped there today and all were busy with watering their stock and rearranging the contents of their wagons. Groups of people were clustered around several fires, trading stories and information in the convivial interaction that was so common among chance-met fellow travelers.
The better equipped of the two caravans actually had a couple of massive trucks that ran on burnable fuel. They were loaded up with extremely heavy loads, something that no animal could easily pull. The two trucks were surrounded by many men, all poking and prodding the wheels and crawling around the undercarriage. The drivers were holding court to a mesmerized crowd from the other group, expounding on their vehicles with pride.
The other caravan was more usual for this area with wagons drawn by patient oxen or powerful mules. One of the wagons carried a machine that was used in the evening to provide lights and recharging for some of the travelers’ devices. The mixture of technology and primitive transportation was something that TT had never thought much about, although she had noticed more strange devices used in Paris than were around her now.
In everything but large cities, the more expensive, advanced technology existed side-by-side with methods that had been in place for hundreds of years. Only where a high concentration of people lived could the cost of the upkeep of the dray animals and other, older ways make technology the best choice for the smaller business or normal worker.
Jack interrupted TT’s thoughts, suggesting that TT conceal herself while he scouted around to see what he could find out about the destination of each of the groups. If he could, he would also try to learn about any special factors that would affect their decision to join one or the other.