Chapter 5 – The Problem with Nightcat
“Oh, no!” said Celesta. “How do you know you can’t fly?”
“I tried it out in the courtyard. I fell.”
“I don’t know if we will be able to help you,” said Richard.
“Maybe we can teach you,” suggested Keziah.
“It’s worth a try,” said Nightcat. “I won’t be able to fight the dragons if I can’t fly.”
They all went down the stairs very quietly. Then they opened the door to the courtyard. The courtyard was surrounded by the castle on all sides. The dragons could not get into the courtyard because the castle walls were very, very high. No one ever came out into the courtyard. It was just trees and weeds and cobble stone pavement. They were sure no one would see them. Richard was careful to close the door behind them.
“Why don’t you show us what you can do,” suggested Richard.
“Okay,” said Nightcat.
He stretched out his wide silver wings and flapped. Nothing happened. He flapped and flapped and flapped. Dust flew up into the air all around him but Nightcat did not move.
“Maybe you’re too fat,” said David.
“David!” said Celesta. “Don’t say that!”
“Don’t worry,” said Priscilla to Nightcat. “You’re not too fat!”
“Maybe you should try jumping,” suggested Keziah.
“I don’t know anything,” sobbed Nightcat. “I thought I could fight the dragons and now I can’t even fly!”
“Awww...,” said Priscilla. She patted his large, furry head.
“You’ll learn to fly eventually,” said Keziah. “Sometimes it takes birds a while but they do learn!”
“Jumping sounds like a good idea,” said Richard, also petting their huge cat. “You were always a very good jumper.”
“That’s true.” Nightcat sniffed. “I am a good jumper. I’ll try.”
“Now you’ll be a double good jumper,” said David, “because you’re twice as big!”
Nightcat crouched down and then sprung up in the air, a blur of sliver fur. He flapped a few times and then landed back on his feet.
“Try again,” said Richard.
“Try running first,” suggested Priscilla.
Nightcat ran across the yard and jumped, flapping his wings furiously. At first, it looked as if he were going to fall, but then, as the children cheered him on, he started flying. He turned in the air and made the short flight back to them. Nightcat landed beside the children. They all rushed to him and stroked his silky fur.
“You did it!” cried Priscilla.
“I knew you could do it!” said Keziah.
“Thank you for believing in me,” said Nightcat.
“What else can you do?” asked Priscilla.
“Can you breathe fire?” asked David.
“Of course not!” said Celesta. “He would burn his fur!”
“I think I should be able to breathe sparkle dust,” said Nightcat. “Here. Let me try it.”
Nightcat took a deep breath. Then he blew a long blast of warm air. No sparkle dust.
“Try again, Nightcat,” said Richard. “It worked last time when you kept trying.”
“I know you can do it!” said Celesta.
Nightcat took another deep breath. He looked at the children. He thought about how he had to be able to fight the dragons in order to save all the people of the kingdom. As he breathed out, sparkles flew everywhere!
Keziah was standing nearest to him. She stepped back quickly, hoping none of the sparkle dust had hit her. She knew that, since Nightcat was magic, the sparkle dust would be magic too. Luckily, none of the children had breathed in any of the sparkles.
“I did it!” cried Nightcat.
“What happens if you breathe that on someone?” asked Priscilla.
“They’ll fall asleep for a long time,” answered Nightcat. “And the water from the pool will turn the dragons back into kittens.”
“Try flying again,” said Celesta.
“Yes,” said Richard, “you need to practice your skills.”
Nightcat flew low around the courtyard at first. Then he flew higher and higher. The children cheered and cheered. Nightcat circled the yard, getting higher each time. Then, with one final pounce, Nightcat pushed himself over the castle wall.
“Nightcat!” gasped Celesta.
“Oh, no!” moaned Priscilla. “The dragons will get him!”
“I can’t believe Nightcat made it over the wall,” said Richard. “Even the dragons can’t do that.”
“It’s because Nightcat is way better than a dragon,” said David.
“But what about the fire the dragons make?” asked Priscilla.
“He won’t get hurt,” said David. “He’s too smart for that!”
“He will probably come back in the morning,” said Keziah.
“Right,” said Richard. “I know that we will see Nightcat again very soon.”
“We might as well go to bed,” said Celesta.
Quietly the children returned to their room to wait for morning and for Nightcat.
About the Authors
Keziah Thiessen was between the ages of seven and nine when she wrote the Kitty Castle Series with her mother. Keziah loves to make up stories. Creativity and inventiveness are her strengths. Keziah won the recycling craft project at Southwood School with her Milk Jug Castle Playhouse. One of her favorite activities is art and she loves to make drawings and 3D models of cats.
Celesta Thiessen has written short stories and novels for adults and teens, chapter books for children, and leveled books for beginning readers. She also generates ideas and writes content for Visions Encoded, a company specializing in apps for iPhone, iPod touch, and iPad. Celesta lives in Steinbach, Manitoba with her husband, two young daughters and two cute cats.
Kitty Castle Books
Kitty Castle 1 - Nightcat
Kitty Castle 2 - Surprises!
Kitty Castle 3 - Answers!
Kitty Castle 4 - Mystery!
Kitty Castle 5 - Reunion
Kitty Castle 6 - Celebration
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Nightcat - Kitty Castle Series Page 5