The Bluntest And Most Utterly Charming Lady I Have Ever Met - Christmas Peacock! ?

I was just cuddled up all nice and snug on our new special rest area, our own haven set up just for us both, no visitors required, when in my half awake half dozing state of rest I heard something familiar in the air. My ears pricked up.

Brought back from a dozy position I was now straining my ear muscles,a little neck tension joined in waiting for confirmation or denial or the sound I think I may just have heard although possibly a dream also.

No nothing, OK can rest back but best to keep alert for a while.

"Erling. O-erling."

Waist up alert and prepared, best uncross those legs, ears straining maximum arena extended. Somewhere in the distance.

"Barling, Barrrrling."

Back legs crouched ready to spring, head moving left to right, must locate that sound. Coming closer definitely.

A thud in the back garden the sound of something falling over. I was on the table in seconds using the sofa to propel myself bound and spin.

"AH DARLING!"

There at the back of the garden, just underneath the Swinging Heart of Love, next to The Wiseman, there she stood, the bluntest and most utterly charming lady I have ever met,

Arms stretched towards me a smile spread across her face, head cocked 25 degrees southwards.

"Now where's that kiss you promised me." Her tongue, flicked out the side of her mouth quick as a dart, dancing happily with a smile.

"How can you be here?" It just wasn't possible. We'd  met once before and it's never forgotten, but there was no way she could possibly be here.

She flicked her ear, adjusted the small daisy tucked into the edge of her hat, red wool shawl readjusted back to her shoulder, kicking off a bit of dirt from her face she started to walk towards me, arms and smile firmly in place. She really was a beauty my heart remembered it's crush.

Magic charmed that one however I'm experienced in her tricks. I faced her square on, puffed myself out yes chest perfectly large, hair smoothed presentably, then stamped my foot.

"Christmas Peacock! ?"

She wasn't moving a step closer until she'd answered my question. A cat knows when another means business. I raised an eyebrow to emphasise the point.

She stopped, pretended to clean her toe on the grass, found something to clean off her toe that she did't know was there, looked confused, wiped her toe on the grass then looked back up at me bemused.

Seeing my un-budging face staring at her she remembered what she was about to confess to and opened her mouth. Her eyes, wow they are still so sparkling, I could lose myself in those beauties.

"Well..." She began.

I Understand Why They Call It The Peace Garden Now

You know what, in troubled times keeping it simple surprisingly helps.

I was feeling a bit lost, bit of missing my friend and just couldn't settle. It's a hot day, a very hot day so neither in nor out provided a perfectly cool solution so I decided to go and sit in the shade in the Peace Garden.

I found myself recieving a gentle breeze a welcome gift as I sat next to The Wiseman, both of us remaining in the silent moment.

I understand why they call it the Peace Garden now.

I Heard A Noise Behind Me That Made Me Jump

It's a beautiful day today, it's got a real Spring feel and as everyone was out in the garden sorting things out I thought it would be a great opportunity to have a bit of a chat with The Wiseman. 

I have my plan for dealing with Flash and The New Cat Crew and didn't think it would harm running it by him.

I was just tuning in when I heard a noise behind me that made me jump.

I quickly ran nearer my daddies, they would protect me if anyone had crept into the garden to threaten me. 

But as it turned out I didn't need to worry, it was Nadia the tortoise.

Of course as soon as River realised she sat down for a long catch up as I sat and watched. River knows her better than I do, they've been friends a lot longer than I've lived here so I decided to let them get on with things. I didn't want to overwhelm Nadia, she's spends over half the year asleep so probably needs a while to wake up properly. 

I waited until all the catching up and bathing and feeding was done then made me approach.

But I think I scared her, as soon as I got close she quickly pulled her head in to her body and went all stiff. 

I do hope we get to be better friends this time around, she seems like a very interesting character. 

Cats and Dogs - Another Side

www.riverssong.net/2016/04/nadia-shes-come-back.html

I Was Lost

Seeing The Fly drinking suddenly made me realise how thirsty I was.

"Is there anywhere around here we can get a drink?" I asked

The Fly lifted his head from the daisy leaf;

"Yes, sorry I should have thought," he smiled, "there's a little river just a few minutes walk from here, you'll be able to partake there. Follow me."

Off he flew and off I followed. The bush was thick but being a nibble cat traversing the terrain was no problem for me, this was all good practise for me when I got back home, there's so many trees and woods and things like that around where we live and I realised my muscles had responded to all the exercise I'd been having since I came here, strange as I'd come here through connecting with the time consciousness, so I was here and at home both at the same time.

I'd had no idea how long I'd been here, yes for me a lot had happened and I'd slept at least once but I wondered how much time had passed back at home, but I didn't want to think of home too much as I wasn't finished on this tour yet and I feared thinking too much of home would take me straight back there.

 

The sound of tinkling water was all around me, The Fly wasn't lying we weren't too far from the river at all.

"Here we are!" The Fly proudly exclaimed and there just in front of him was the most beautiful site, a river surrounded by the most beautiful trees, red and pink and yellow blooms all around, a duck happily swimming by. My thirst, now that water was there right in front of me, was almost unbearable and I jumped forward, head straight lapping up the golden water.

I turned towards where The Fly had been, "You not joining me?" It was really was the best water I'd ever tasted but I couldn't see him.

"Fly. FLY!" I called out, suddenly very aware that this was the first time he'd not been there right by my side, panic tangoing the blood through my veins.

"FLY, WHERE ARE YOU FLY?" I turned left and right, nothing, nowhere to be seen.

I thought about turning back, to where we had just come from, then it suddenly struck me that I'd not really being paying any attention to where we were going, The Fly had always led the way. Even if I had been paying attention then I still wouldn't know where I was, I had no grasp of direction, the forest had turned into a wood and then a forest and back into a wood again, I was lost.

Right, I thought to myself, what would Daddy say in such situation? 

Don't panic. Yes that's what he would say at first, don't panic, try to calm down and analyse the situation. Easier said than done.

I was by a river and all rivers lead somewhere, generally to the sea or maybe a lake and where there's water there's bound to be people and maybe if I followed the river I could find some people and ask them for some help.

But should I stay where I was, The Fly knew he'd led me here and if he'd just gone somewhere for a few minutes surely he would come back to this spot to pick me back up?

Oh what a quandary, follow the river to look for help or stay and wait? What would The Wiseman say for he always had good advice?

I looked up into the sky, for the first time since being here the sun wasn't shining, dark clouds had started to form, it looked like it could rain, over in the distance I could see some mountains, the clouds above that were heavy dark, yes it had been raining elsewhere.

Listen, that's what The Wiseman would say, listen to yourself.

I sat and tried to banish the feeling of panic, breathing slowly and steadily, that helps, so that's what I started to do, falling ore and more into a relaxed state, my breathing getting calmer and calmer, the sound of the birds fading and getting quieter, crickets nearby singing to each other played a happy melody then...

...silence.

"Arkk, ARKK!"

I must have fallen asleep, how long I'd been out of it I had no idea but the sound of a flock of gulls crashing through the nearby tree's brought me back to consciousness.

I looked around, it was now very dark, I looked up, the clouds had blocked out the sun and a chill was in the air.

"Fly, FLY!" I called out, in case he had returned, nothing.

I turned back to call in the other direction just in time to see a huge wall of water less than 5 meters away from me, racing down the river.

Bang, it hit me before I could have time to react, tumbling and knocking me over, water all around, no time to think.

An Awakening

"Would you mind hanging on a moment." I put my paw up to Mogsie and looked down and tried to clear my head.

Something was happening to me, a stirring inside, something unfamiliar, something new. I looked down and saw my fur was standing on end, bristling, it felt electric but I didn't need to see to known I felt it, like that moment you get when someone walks over your grave. I looked back up at Mogsie;

!I won't be a minute, please don't go anywhere." He looked at me earnestly nodded, the corners of his eyes pinching in on themselves.

I jumped down from the window ledge, I needed some fresh air and went running outside. I wasn't sure why but I craved a breeze and needed to shake the feeling and get back to me.

I ran past Nadia and River, enjoying the sun in the garden with my Daddies, before I knew it I was up in the Peace Garden heading towards The Wiseman, but he wasn't really my destination, I wasn't sure why I was here, I stopped to catch my breath. River was still laying in the sun, I had no need to feel on alert.

The feeling passed. I'm not sure why I needed air but it did the trick, I was ready to go back in again.

Cats and Dogs - Another Side

www.riverssong.net/2015/06/i-saw-aeroplane-fly-over.html

Up The Garden

I needed some answers and I needed them fast, my mind  was in overdrive getting no where fast so I decided the best thing I could do was go to the source of all wisdom, The Wiseman!

Up the garden I went, River following to see what I was doing, keeping a respectful distance so I wouldn't be disturbed, she can be a wise little thing sometimes, still surprises me on occasion.

"Wiseman." I called "Wiseman are you there?"

A few seconds of silence and I heard him in my head.

"Hello little cat, I'm always here for you."

I was so grateful and a wave of relief spread through me and I relaxed a little. He seemed like my best chance of trying to make sense of what Mogsie had said to me, I didn't understand all this coven business, I was finding out there's so much more to this life malarkey that I first thought.

"Wiseman, I'm so glad you are here, I need your help."

"Ahhh, so you come to see yourself." As before his lips unmoving.

"Wiseman I really need your help, Greego has been struck down by a sleeping curse, he came and told me in my dream, he's been asleep for ages and then I told George and he told Mogsie and then he came and told me that the only way that I could help break the curse was to form a Coven of 3 witches familiars and that he'd been trying to stop us doing that since I moved here and that there's 2 other witches familiars that live in Catworld and he was told all this by a friend of his called Troy and this was all my destiny."

The words tumbled out thick and fast, I didn't pause for breath.

"What's it all mean? What am I to do?"

I looked him straight in his face, waiting for the slightest movement, I still wasn't sure how he managed to communicate without moving his lips.

A minute or so passed.

"You know what to do little cat, little David-Shiro, you just have to look within, now settle yourself and feel the answer."

Oh how I wished he would just tell me but I'd been here before and knew it wasn't to be that way. I settled myself down, doing my best to remain calm and started to concentrate on my breathing, I'd heard somewhere that helps, Daddy said it's something called meditation although to me it was just being calm.

I closed my eyes and listened to my breathing, slower and slower, faint in the distance, a thought an image, I was searching for something, a voice, an answer, to listen I needed to almost not listen, not think just be and get what I got, this meditation thing is harder than it looks but I guess it's just practise. Yes everything gets easier with practise.

Then all of a sudden an image, yes there, now gone, too much concentration, stand back from my thoughts and don't try to make them happen, just feel, just sense. Yes there I could see it clearer now that I wasn't looking for it, the sound of water, a trickle, a leaf, I was on a leaf, a leaf that floated bobbing in the stream. Water I was on a leaf on water, looking down I couldn't see myself, I was the leaf, bobbing gently down a stream, but hang on the water was flowing one way and I was going another, I wasn't going down the stream I was going up it.

This was strange, don't think, just see and feel, there the end, the end of the stream was in sight, things getting slower, moving almost not at all. Where was I? The beginning of the stream, I was at the beginning where it sprung from no where out of the ground. Then gone, nothing.

I tired again to see if I could get back to my vision but it was gone. I turned to The Wiseman.

"I was a leaf and I was on a stream but I wasn't going with the flow of the stream I was going the other way but I didn't feel any resistance, it was like I was somehow right on top of the water heading to where it came out of the ground. What does it mean Wiseman, how can that help me?"

The Wiseman smiled in my mind, a smile of warmth and love and comfort.

"Ahh, so now you have your answer my little friend."

I didn't know what he meant I didn't feel like I had any sort of an answer, not one that I could understand.

"But I don't know what it means Wiseman." I could have cried with frustration and confusion.

"So you went to the beginning of the stream did you?"

"Yes, Yes I did." For a moment I thought he was going to tell me what I needed to do.

"You went to the beginning did you, the beginning of the stream?"

"Yes," I was getting excited, "Yes, yes I did."

"So you returned to the source!"

"Yes that's right, the source, I went to the source of the stream."

"So now I guess you have your answer little David-Shiro, lil cat."

I was waiting for more but it didn't come, The Wiseman remained silent, smiling in my mind.

"So I need to go to the source?" It was slowly dawning on me. "I need to find The Source?"

"If that's what you told yourself, what you found then that's your answer. Now I have a question for you little cat. What is the source?"

"The source of what?" Oh this was so confusing.

"What is the source? The source is the beginning, a perfect place to start."

"What I need to go to the beginning? The beginning of what?"

"Well if I were you I'd go to the source of this information."

"What Mogsie!" This was like having a conversation with Greego, all riddles.

"He said he wouldn't tell me how to form the Coven of 3!" I stamped my foot, a little petulant I know but it had been a trying afternoon.

"That's right, he said you had to find your way, but that wasn't all he said to you was it?"

I stopped and thought for a moment replaying out conversation in my memory and then something stabbed me in my mind a slow possible realisation.

"He said he'd learnt about the Coven of 3 from conversations with a friend of his. Do you mean I should go back to Mogsie," Yes this was it it felt right, it felt like I was on the right track. "and ask him what else he knows?"

The Wiseman smiled in my mind, and my lips followed.

"Well Mogsie was the source of this information!"

Yes that was it, I knew it now, I had to go to Mogsie and find out everything he knew about the original Coven of 3 that his friend Troy had talked to him about. Yes that's it, back to the source, back to the beginning!

Then Something Quite Unusual Happened!

Noise and consternation, I had to escape into the garden, Daddy's got his box of tools out, I've learnt to keep out the way.

River was supervising Daddy pottering in the garden and I asked her if she fancied stretching her legs. Apparently sitting on your bum is quiet an exhausting activity and she decide to stay where she was, so off exploring I went.

I'm getting quiet good at this garden lark, I've investigated most of it now and know the layout almost by heart.

Then something quite unusual happened!

I was up in the Peace Garden, I thought I'd ask The Wiseman some advice on solving this riddle posed to me by Greego, when I could have sworn I heard some sort of a strange cry coming from the top of the water bath at the same time the sun burst through the clouds and bleached my sight for a moment.

I got closer to the water bath, was something moving on it, for a second I could have sworn one of the dragons blinked, but that can't be, the whole thing is made of concrete, no my eyes were definitely playing me up, that sun light burst.

I turned to go that when I noticed, something has changed the time machine, it's top now sparked gold.

I went to move closer to get a better look but to my left, there coming out of the ground, the worm was also now gold all over.

I didn't know what was happening and got very scared and ran as fast as I could indoors, as I ran another flash of gold glinted in the left eye, I didn't stop to look.

After I was safely inside and my courage found my heart again I steeped back out to see what it was that I'd just run by and there in the ground was some strange markings.

I don't know what they mean but they must be linked to the gold time machine and the now gold worm. Mystery after mystery around here these days. 

Cats and Dogs - Another Side

www.riverssong.net/2015/05/finally-i-find-five-minuted-to-myselfc.html

Off To See Some Old Friends

"You see, " said Greego, "I haven't always lived around here, oh no I've been all over the world on my magic carpet but those pesky Fairyville Fairies hid it from me when they dropped me off here. I've been stuck in that room for ages up on that shelf ever since your father found me in the garden."

I licked a paw, wow Greego was a Pixie of the world, I'd only ever been to a couple of places, where I was born, here, and to the Doctors. I knew the world existed, I'd heard my Daddies talking about different places they wanted to go to, it all sounded very exciting.

"and stuck me up on that shelf!" He didn't sound like he'd gotten over it completely yet but I didn't want to interrupt trying to defend them, I'm sure they were only doing what they thought was a good thing.

My magic carpet can take me anywhere I want but the only thing is, until my punishment is lifted by The High Council of the Pixals, I have to return within the week to where I was last dropped off, your Peace Garden, or in the near vicinity, also I've grown quiet attached to the coming and going on's in this place."

"So where did you go?" Greego looked at me a little annoyed.

"I was off to see some old friends, over the water and in the clouds, to the other side of the ocean and through the rainbow. You see my magic carpet doesn't just fly in distance, it can fly through to the other reality, my reality. Humans think they can see and know everything that's going on but they miss so much going about the daily lives, not even seeing what's right under their noses, and that's where I went, through the rainbow, to the land of bicycles."

"As I said I wanted to go see some of my old friends, the Merrymaking Dwarfs."

"Wow!" Dwarfs, I'd never heard of them.

"Pllllleeeeeaaaasssseeee DON'T interrupt, I'm on a roll." Greego rolled head over feet and laughed.

"Ah it was such fun, they really know how to party. Up all night we were, they were so glad to see me. Great drop of ale they can make and the songs, oh the songs, we danced and made merry all night. Killer handover the next morning, I had to sneak onto someone's breakfast table to pinch a little bit of bread to soak it all up. Us Pixie's don't need to eat you know, we don't mind the odd bit of food occasionally, if the fancy takes but as a general rule we don't partake, but ale and rum, now that's a different story!"


"I then spent the next day trying to track down me old mucker FancyPants, a mean tune he plays you know, I didn't want the party to stop but I couldn't find him anywhere. Up and down the canals and waterways I went, up and down, side to side, nowhere to be seen was he so off I trotted to see Makerlise, a distance cousin of mine who I could just smell was around."

I shifted my weight, drawing closer to Greego, he didn't seem quiet so jolly anymore and I didn't want to miss a word.

"He's a right stinker he is, but as I found a bit down on his luck, stuck, trapped in a window carrying water, which I know not why as he's never washed to my knowledge."

"Blow me down you could have. I asked him what had happened and he said he'd also been punished my the High Council of the Pixals, for some misdemeanour no doubt, you see he's a little, err, how shall I put this, light fingered. He can't help himself, in his DNA, probably got caught stealing salt, he's got a taste for it but I don't know he wouldn't talk much about it, the owls next to him were too busy eavesdropping and there's something I know about an owl, they are very, very noisy, never miss a thing!"

"I tried to tell them not to be so noisy but they just squawked at me and the one on the Cello started playing the most awful tune that my poor ears just couldn't take anymore so I bade Makerlise adieu and went off to think where I could go next to try and find FancyPants, the main reason I flew through the rainbow."

"I was just sitting there, wondering what to do, feeling a bit fed up if I'm honest, this travelling malarkey can take it out of you, when all of a sudden I heard a voice coming from the wall above me. Blow me down, how did he get up there, my old friend and sometimes sparing partner Potpot."

"Potpot I said, how are you?"

"Fed up stuck on this wall Greego, what you doing here, last I heard you were in punishment? He said."

"I still am, I laughed, but you know me, never down for long. Have you seen FancyPants? I've looked all over for him?"

"No and I don't like music either."












"Ok, don't think I asked that question but thanks for the info. I said to him, although I did laugh so hard I fell over and spent the next three minutes in convulsions, he always did have the ability to make me laugh. Ahh bless old Potpot."

"I asked him how he'd ended up on the wall by the water, apparently some tourists had thought it funny to take him down from his spot near the park and try and take him home, got themselves a bit worried as they neared the station and dumped him on the floor, where he'd been found by one of the waiters from the cafe and super glued back up. All very undignified, still it was another friend ticked off the list, it really was a fabulous visit I was having, seeing so many old faces."

"It sounds it, " I said.

Greego turned to me raised an eye as if to say why are you speaking, before putting a finger to his mouth.

"Shhhh! The best bit is yet to come."

He had my attention before, now he really had it.

"You cat's are not the only creatures with special intuitive powers you know. Whenever a Pixie doesn't know what to do we simply look down, the answer if we really are stuck will be in right in front of our feet and it was, there right in front of me a sign."

I struggled not to speak.

"As soon as I saw the card on the floor below me I knew where I had to go, even though she wasn't on my list, I must admit I was trying to avoid her we'd had a little alteration last time I was here, such a misunderstanding such a fuss over a doughnut and a bit of a boating mishap, anyway that's another story and not at all relevant to this one."

"Whom who did you have to go to see?" I'd forgotten I shouldn't speak and so must have Greego as he continued without reprimand.

"The Angel of Gold and Blue! She sits up high watching us all, making sure we are OK, protecting us. The sign was clear, if I was to find my old friend FancyPants then I would have to go and see her. I was a little nervous as I approached, I wasn't sure if she was still angry with me or not but she appeared pleased to see me. She always had a lovely smile."

"Hello your highness, I need a little favour. I wasn't sure how she'd react, such a long time since we'd seen each other and now here I was wanting a favour."

I was surprised at how Greego's tone changed as he spoke about her, he obviously held her in awe and with respect, something I'd never seen in him before.

"I'm searching for FancyPants, have you seen him?"

"She looked down at me, yes, yes I know how can she look down she's a statue, I hear you say. As I said my magic carpet takes me through the rainbow and when you go through the rainbow you can see everything that is really going on, not just what the world of humans wants you to see. Free yourselves people, free yourselves."

Greego was on a roll and leaped into the air before landing cross legged back in the same position.

"Greego, you want to know where your friend is, yet you come to me for what? Answers? You know what to do. The Angel of Gold and Blue said."

Greego turned back to me.

"I did, I must admit I was in a hurry though. it's the frustrating thing with these Angels Yes, yes they can give you answers but like The Wiseman they prefer to help you find them yourself, which is OK in itself but sometimes can really take some time and I didn't have all week, I knew I had to come back here or my carpet would not just be hidden, it would disappear for good for ever, the curse of the Pixie's, so many disappearing curses put upon us."

Greego sighed "Still we all have a load to bear."

"I bowed to our highness and apologised for my previous mischieviousness. I needed to find a quiet place to reflect, to listen to myself."

"After about an hour sitting and contemplating I had it, an image in my mind, an image of Popeye."

"Popeye!" I was so surprised I wasn't expecting that.

"Yes Popeye, the character, you know, the human invention, Popeye! I then knew I needed to fly around and find Popeye and when I did, which I did, I understood totally where I would find my friend FancyPants."

"Where? WHERE?" Greego had sucked me into his drama.

Greego leaned in towards me, "Look into my eyes."

I thought he was going to hypnotise me or something but no, there in his eye I could see an image."

"But how?" I stood back from Greego before moving in for a second look. There again exactly the same image.

"I don't know," Greego shrugged his shoulders "But there right in front of me was the answer, I'd been searching everywhere for FancyPants and all along I just needed to look closer to home. I guess he's on his way here, he'll turn up at some point but home is where I needed to be and home is where I am."

Greego looked me right in the eye and laughed, "Just like you, back home again."

I'll Be Back

I made it back indoor just in time, Daddy was in the kitchen making a cup of coffee, he heard the flap go but he must have thought it was the wind as he didn't turn towards it straight away.

I ran straight upstairs, good the bedroom door was still closed Daddy and River must still be in bed asleep, the coast was clear, with one powerful leap I jumped up at the door handle to The Secret Room and pulled all my weight on it.

The latch fell down and the door swung open an inch. I jumped back down and knocked it open with my paw, the yellow cloth still in my mouth, in I went.

"About time too!" I'd hardly got through the door before Greego spoke.

"You're not exactly quick at finding things are you?" He said.

"And you're not exactly clear with instructions either are YOU!" I retorted.

I'd not got half way across the room before he squealed."YES. Yes! That's it, you found my thing." Greego leaped up and spun around, landing on his index finger he spun again using just the tip.

"Oh you have done well, now come on bring it up here, I can't get down."

I went to leap up on the table to go straight to him then paused,

"Before I give you this bit of yellow cloth," goodness only knows why he was attached to such a silly thing "I would like some answers from you."

Greego scowled. "Some answers?" He smiled. "What do you mean?"

"You know exactly what I mean? Setting me up like that just so I would meet The Wiseman. Why?" I held all the cards for once, he seemed to happy to see this bit of yellow cloth and he's just let me know he couldn't get down so I was in a great bargaining position.

Realising he was beat Greego took a deep breath. "Ok, Ok so I wanted you two to meet, big deal."

"Yes but why and why didn't you just tell me to go and meet him?"

Greego laughed. "Really, you ask me that question, the little cat who's taken months to master going outside, the little cat who's scared of the Peace Garden. Now come on, if I had just told you to go up there would you have? No thought not." He flipped over and sat crossed legged on the shelf.

"Ok I might not have, true but why did you want me to meet him."

Greego sat forward. "I will tell you but only ONCE you have given me my thing!"

He sounded very determined but so was I. I was about to try and bargain with him further to give me the information before I handed over the bit of yellow cloth that he seemed so attached to then I remembered what The Wiseman had said, Pixie's cannot lie. I jumped straight up on the table, moved carefully over the book underneath the shelf, stretching up I placed it right next to him.

Greego immediately jumped onto the yellow cloth as if he was riding a surf board "Fly my pretty, fly." he screamed.

The clothe, with Greego still on it, sudden shot up into the air.

"My magic carpet, my magic carpet, oh how I've missed you." With that he flew around the room twice, before shooting out into the hallway. I was stunned but still chased him out to see where he was going.

Downstairs he flew, downstairs I chased. I got to the bottom of the stairs just in time to see him do one lap of the living room before settling on the table.

I jumped up next to him.

"Wow!" My head was spinning, "A magic carpet!"

Greego smiled, hunched his shoulders and opened his mouth. "I know! And it's mine!" He giggled and did a back flip.

The carpet rose off the table again.

"Hang on why did you want us to meet, me and The Wiseman I called up to him as loud as I could Daddy was ironing his shirt in the kitchen and as much as I wanted answers I didn't want to alert him to what was going on.

"Oh yes, I nearly forgot, so he could give you some answers LIL' CAT!" With that the magic carpet flew towards the back door before sweeping back towards the table, a laughing Greego holding on tight.

"Don't worry I'll be back, I'm of on an adventure!" And with that the carpet swooped down and sped through the still open doorflap. This time daddy heard, walked over to it, looked around saw me on the table smiled and said hello and locked it again.

What a night!

Wish Me Luck

"But if Greego wanted us to meet why didn't he just say, and why lie to me about losing something?" I was actually quiet hurt, being lied to by someone who, ok wasn't exactly a friend but well he was something to me.

"There's one thing I can tell you Pixie's don't lie" The Wiseman sounded very serious, "They can't!"

"What they can't lie at all?"

"No, not at all, although as you've learnt they can talk in riddles."

No wasn't that the truth. "So he has lost something, that he can't remember what in some wood that he can't remember where after all?"

"Oh yes, if he lied to you he would simple have vanished into thin air, gone forever so that much is true."

"That's why I came here to ask for your help and no I'm more confused than ever and I'll be leaving here tonight with more questions than answers."

"I think you have some of those answers David-Shiro, it's just that at that moment you can't hear them. Listen! Always listen and observe and they will eventually come, the best answers are those we earn ourselves. People value what they earn, always remember that."

"So why do you think he wanted us to meet then Wiseman?"

"That is not for me to say, that is for you to earn, but I'm sure earn it you will."

I turned to Craig for help, his head was down a little noise was coming from his nose. He'd fallen asleep. It had been a long night, I could hear the Wood Pigeons beginning to sing, the birds were starting their mornings song. It suddenly dawned on me everyone would be up soon and me not waiting at the bedroom door for River and my Daddies would be noticed and I didn't want to be caught outside.

"But what am I to do about finding Greego's missing thing?" I was beginning to panic, I;d spent the whole night and not achieved what I'd set out to do.

"What is a wood David-Shiro?"

"It's a place full of tree's" I replied, time was running out and I wasn't thinking about my answers, "Come on please just tell me where to look." I begged.

"Up!" He replied.

I looked up, all I could see was the birds in the tree's harmonising.

"Listen!" The Wiseman said "Listen!"

I listen, yes all I could hear was the birds in the tree's. THE TREE'S!

"Is this a wood?" My heart began to race "Is this THE wood?"

I'm sure I saw The Wiseman smile again but no noise came out of his mouth.

I looked around, if this was THE wood, maybe what I was searching for was here, somewhere lying around me in the Peace Garden. Some twigs, no that couldn't be it, a few leaves, a bit of paper that had blown from over the wall. No, that couldn't be it. Come on David, think what was out of the ordinary.

"Craig! CRAIG!" I shouted "Wake up, help me look." Craig shook his head.

"What is it?"

"Help me look, look for something out of the ordinary, you know this place better than I do, you live here, what's out of place?"

Craig started to scan the Peace Garden, sleep still in his eyes.

"I don't know."

Then all of a sudden it hit me, the only thing I could think of and I reached over to where Craig was sitting and snatched up the piece of yellow cloth that he'd moved earlier as he dug up his monkey nut.

"This will have to do. I hope I'm right. Thank you" I called over my shoulder to Craig and The Wiseman as I ran back towards the house.

"Wish me luck!"

Yes Lil' Cat, Sorry David-Shiro

No it couldn't be. I turned to Craig, he must have known what I was thinking, he nodded and smiled.

"The Wiseman will help you, he helps everyone."

"What! I don't know what you are talking about, you point to this old statue and say he is here to help me but his mouth isn't moving when I hear the voice."

Again that voice "And never will you see my lips move, but don't be mistaken for I am here, yo hear me in my head, it's the way I communicate, always has been, always will."

This was weird, it didn't sound like the voice was in my head, it sounded like it was coming from someone right next to me, I watched The Wiseman closely, nothing, as still as the stone he was.

"Most disbelieve the first time we speak, but somehow they come back time and again." The voice was peppered with a smile. I didn't know what to say.

"Now how can I help you? Some come just to sit, most come with something on their mind."

"What do I do?"  I turned to Craig.

"Just relax and speak, out loud if it help you but you can do it in your head too, wither way he'll hear you."

I took a deep breath, this was madness but hey I'm still young and learning about the world, maybe this was normal after all?

"I need to find something that's lost, but I don't know what, in a wood, but I don't know which one."

All was silent, no answer. I turned to Craig. who was scratching around in the ground, before opening a little piece of yellow cloth he'd dug up and unwrapping a monkey nut.

"I can't hear anything."

Craig looked up from the monkey nut he was de-shelling.

"Don't worry he would have heard."

Another minute passed with everyone still sitting in silence, eventually The Wiseman's voice spoke to me;

"It appears a mystery in riddles and yet somehow I don't think that is your way, no wonder you are confused Lil' Cat! Do you seek answers for yourself Lil' Cat or do you seek them for another, that is the question!"

I was getting rather impatient.

"Would you please call me by my name David-Shiro or David whatever you prefer, everyone keeps calling me a little cat and I know I am but I don't need reminding of it!"

"As you wish, but are you sure, a reason and a rhythm in every riddle?"

"Oh you are as confusing as Greego The Pixie is!" If I was of the type I would have stamped my foot.

The Wiseman's voice smiled at me, "So you've got yourself mixed up with Greego have you. No wonder you are confused, clever Pixie."

What! I squinted trying to work out what he was talking about.

"What do you mean clever Pixie, he can't have been that clever to have lost something and not know what it was or where it was?"

Craig looked shocked at the way I was speaking to The Wiseman and slightly shook his head and lowered his head as if to say don't.

"Something you will come to learn about Pixie's, they may talk in riddles but they are some of the cleverest creatures in all the land and no more so than Greego. He knew exactly what he was doing, a Pixie always does!"

"I don't understand?" I turned to face Craig and then back to The Wiseman.

"Think about it David-Shiro, a fine name by the way, very apt considering what's ahead of you. Go on really think about it, Greego knew exactly what he was doing when he set you this task."

"But I don't understand he said he lost something in a wood but he couldn't remember what was lost or in what wood."

"And then what did you do?"

"I told George about it."

"Yes, and then what?"

"And George told Craig."

"Um, go on." The Wisemans voice had softened to almost a hum.

"And Craig said he would help me search."

"Yes."

"And he brought me here to you."

"Exactly!"

I sat there still not understanding. The Wiseman must have realised.

"What is Greego, apart from being a very clever Pixie. Listen to what you know?"

I sat and thought for a while as Craig continued munching on his nut.

"He's a riddle maker?" I hesitantly answered.

"Exactly!" The Wiseman replied, "And what is a riddle?"

"Confusing, that's for sure."

The Wiseman laughed, "Yes it is, that is very true."

I felt more comfortable after hearing his laugh. "Well a riddle is saying something, giving an answer without giving it. Am I right?"

"Yes Lil' Cat, sorry David-Shiro. I think you are very right.So let me pose this question to you. If Greego hadn't set you a riddle, where would you be right now?"

"Oh that would be easy, I'd be tucked up in bed on my warm blanket."

"So you wouldn't be...?"

"I wouldn't be here." Hang on something within my catty powers spoke to me.

"You mean Greego wanted me to be here?"

The Wiseman's voice relaxed even more, "A fine answer David-Shiro, a fine answer indeed."

"Greego wanted us to meet?" The penny was dropping "And so he set this whole thing up?" I was confused as to why he wanted to do that and angry at being played.

I knew it couldn't be The Wiseman was made of stone but just for a second, maybe a millisecond it appeared that he nodded before he voice rang out in my head.

"Now the next question I would be asking myself in such a position is why?"

Listen!

I'm exhausted, it's been a busy night I've not been to sleep yet but I'm enjoying having a little lay down in the sun shining through the window, thoughts of a very strange night and morning going through my mind.

It turns out there's an advantage to being naughty and waking everyone up at 4am and being shut out of the bedroom at night, I have free reign of the house at night.

Usual time everyone went to bed, kisses and strokes a-plenty and then all alone. I nervously approached the backdoor flap not knowing for sure if I'd be able to get out or not, Daddy usually locks it after 9 to make sure River doesn't run out and start barking.

I tapped the flap, it was locked as usual but I could see it wasn't full blocked, if I knocked it hard enough I was pretty sure I could bypass the blocking thing. I tapped it, yes it moved slightly but not enough. I needed more force behind it but I didn't want to wake anyone up, Daddy is a light sleeper.

Again I knocked it, no movement. 

I could see Craig burying something in the lawn, he was true to his word, waiting as he said, to help me. The knocking hadn't caught his attention so I guess I wasn't making too much of a noise so I knocked the flap again, this time with all my might. A loud crack n the flap made me jump and run back into the kitchen, I'd scared myself, I'd made such a noise. Had I woken anyone?

I waited a minute or so, no noise coming from upstairs, I was OK no one was awake, and then I gingerly approached the flap and gave it a slight tap with my paw, it swung open. 

Phew I'd done it, as quick as a flash I was out and into the garden. It was very windy out, it had been all day and it had still not settled down as night had fallen. 

Craig was looking my way and I ran over to him, it was night and night does not scare me.

"Hello." I was nervous and excited and so glad to see Craig.

"Hang on a second." Craig flicked a little bit of dirt with his paw, "Just covering my tracks, I don't want that Fox finding my stash of monkey nuts. Right you ready then?"

Oh I was ready alright a cocktail of strange emotions playing havoc in my stomach, no idea what the night would bring,

"What direction are we heading in?" I'd never been out of the garden before, apart from when my Daddies first brought me here.

"Not far, follow me." And Craig was off, jumping his way up towards the back of the garden.

With not a moment to lose I chased after him, if we were going over the wall I didn't want to lose sight of him for even a second. 

Craig stopped in the Peace Garden, not my favourite place in the world, and turned to face me not saying a word. I waited for him to jump up on top of the wall by the Swinging Heart of Love but he just stayed there.

Maybe he was catching his breath, all that jumping must have tired him out? We just stayed still in silence, in the end it got too much, it was so windy and I'm sure I could feel rain in the air so I was keen to get on.

"What are you waiting for?" I eventually asked.

"Shhh!" he said, "Listen!"

"Listen for what?" I was very confused.

A deep voice behind me began to speak. "If one listens to oneself, one can hear all manner of things." 

I nearly jumped out of my fur. Looking around I couldn't see anyone. I turned to face Craig who was smiling at me, not in the slightest bit afraid.

"Who are you?" My head turned left, to right and back again, again I saw no one.

"Who are you?" I repeated the question.

"Fear not my little friend, for I am here to help you to help yourself. To help you to see yourself!"

Again I scanned the Peace Garden, I could see no one.

"Don't worry," Craig moved closer, "I've brought you to see a friend, a friend who can help you more than anyone else can, there's nothing to fear."

Craig moved away from the back wall, passed the Easter Island Head and pointed towards the old Chinese statue.

"Hello, little one." Again that deep voice all around me, "I am The Wiseman, at your service!"

A Bursting Edge Of A Gossip Bag

I've had a very productive afternoon. 

I didn't manage to get to George in time, by the time I gathered up my courage to peak out the front from the gate he was gone.

I must admit I got angry with myself, if only I'd moved faster, if only I'd been more familiar with the territory around the side of the house I might have managed to get there to him before he disappeared and I wouldn't be standing here now knowing what had happened to Ginger Cat with a bursting edge of a gossip bag stuck in my chest.

Now I've heard Daddy say about turning anger into motivation and I did just that and strutted up the side of the garage to the edge where it disappears around a corner and sat down looking all around me.

To the front of me, the Peace Garden, supposedly a place of great serenity but I get a funny feeling when I look at it, de-ja-vu of some kind, it's not a place I think I'll be visiting much. 

A fence runs all the way around each side of the garden, good for using as a high wire walkway and convenient for getting to the top of the garage. 

A few bushes to the right, a tree in bloom and some nasty looking blackberry bushes, must avoid that don't want to scratch myself. Snow White and her little friends, a mole, an Easter Island Head, 2 Gnomes and some old bloke with a wonky head make up the garden people and of course the lawn that River likes to lay on sunbathing stretches from border to border.

Yes think that's got the lay of the land, knowledge is power and I could do with a teaspoon full of that at the moment.

Now I just need to measure some distances out the front to calculate a maximum speed I can go if need be, oh yes preparation to key right now, I'm going it alone!

How Did You Work It Out?

I'm right aren't I? 

I stood up and turned to face The Curse who was smoothing out her robe.

Yes, she shrugged.

Well done!

Feigning indifference she pulled another imaginary bit of fluff form her robe.

Sarah had stopped crying and along with everyone else was now staring at me. I could feel George's paw rubbing up and down my back even more rapidly than before and I turned to face him, relief almost taking me to the floor. I suddenly felt so very, very tired and just wanted to go to sleep, something I'd not done since before I went to the other side. Such a strange feeling, and so welcomed, I'd gotten so used to the idea of never having to sleep again.

The Naughty Twins were jumping up and down cuddling each other arms enveloping Sarah and Twizzle had visibly slumped, finally showing her real feelings beneath her poise.

How did you work it out? Doublay asked.

I turned to face him and started;

I had nothing to go on as to who she could be trapped in and tried to eliminate everyone one by one, hoping that some of the qualities of our Queen would have bled through into and affected our own personalities but I could only reduce the list so far. I then started to listen to what The Wiseman had told me about listening to myself, my intuition and that helped me to reduce down the list a little more but I was still so confused.

It was when, just for a moment, I thought it could be me that I gave something away in my face and checked to see if The Curse had picked up on it and by her reaction and from what I saw I believed she had. But if I applied the same logic to myself as I had to George then it couldn't be me, we were both in The Lane of bells together. Then some more words from my last consultation with The Wiseman came to mind. He'd been insistent on saying I had the answer right under my nose and it was only then that I realised what I'd half sarcastically said at the time what was right under my nose, my mouth! I must have already mentioned someone who had the Queen trapped inside of them, those already affected!

What by The Curse? Chameleon asked.

Yes! I nodded.

I tried to remember more of our conversation and there was something else that stood out to me that he said. Had I been looking in the right places? And then I remembered what The Curse had said about The Queen during The Game of Truth. 

Sarah moved closer;

She didn't say The Queen was in front of her, she said the Queen was within 5 meters of her.

I turned to face The Curse; Clever play on words!

She nodded her appreciation.

I turned back to face the group.

It was The Game of Truth so she couldn't lie, she would automatically have lost! She was so confident in her winning that she made sure we were all gathered here before we started, she wouldn't need Emma to be here, of course she wouldn't, she already had control over her and what better way to divert attention than to completely ignore her and trust that under the pressure of the situation Emma would be completely forgotten about and I had forgotten her until I saw The Curse reacting when I thought it could be me, then everything made sense.

But there one thing that doesn't make sense to me, George stood up and looked directly at The Curse.

Go on, she smiled.

You said you never LOSE;

He turned to face me;

She never said she's never LOST! Lil' She said she never LOSES! Lil' if she was wasn't telling the truth the game would have been over then.

My stomach hit the floor and my body followed. Looking up at The Curse she smiled back, not the reaction I was expecting from someone who had just been beaten.

Clever little puddy cat aren't we George? And how observant of you! You're right I never lose. NEVER!

She turned to face me her eyes sparkling blue.

Now Lil', my favourite part of this game. The prize giving! 

A giggle erupted from her belly, a childish, mocking voice followed;

A choice to make!

Face forward, her body half turned as she spun her arm around in the direction of the garden gate where Emma silently stood.

I'm Ready To Answer The Question!

Silence. You could have heard a pin drop, everyone was looking at me and I was feeling the pressure. Everything that had happened before had led to this point and just one word from me would free us all and allow the Queen and Troy to be together again for all eternity, free from The Curse that had imprisoned her for so many lifetimes or it would send us all to a similar fate.

Who could it be, the pressure of just one word, one answer? I felt it's weight.

I didn't want to do this on my own but I had no choice. Right, calm Lil' keep calm, a cool head, that's right. I felt myself gaining control of me again. Logic, think logically. Who could it be?

I turned to face Sarah, her eyes wide with terror. Sarah um could it be Sarah? Let me think. I know the Queen is trapped but her prison guard would have no idea. I tried to see if I could see anything is Sarah's eyes. No all I saw was fear, our Queen was brave but I'm sure she would feel fear in such a situation anyone would. Sarah just wanted to be loved, she's proven that time and time again, a sucker for love. Would our Queen be too? She loved Troy Lamore, she loved him enough to keep on fighting to come back no matter how many times she'd failed to outrun The Curse. I'm not sure, she may be.

Twizzle coughed, a bit of her hair must have gotten caught in her throat and her coughing drew my attention. Now Twizzle, she liked to keep to herself and was very watchful and supportive, both qualities our Queen would possess. She had a big heart taking in those who needed help, another quality our Queen would surely have. Maybe, no matter the prison, the Queen's personality would bleed through, maybe they had no choice but and she was the Princess of Catworld. 

Looking at Twizzle I tried to picture her as I'd always imagined our Queen to be. Twizzle certainly had a royal stance, um yes I think it's more likely to be Twizzle than Sarah. Right strike Sarah off my list. Twizzle supersedes her as a likely contender.

Well I've started on the girls I may well as continue, Bella. A mighty warrior just like our Queen, mothering and loyal but somehow I just don't think it could be her. I started to dismiss her as a possibility but then again if The Curse was doing her job well she would try and hide The Queen in the most unlikely of places. I shouldn't be so quick to strike her off the list.

Oh this is impossible the more I think the more confused I'm getting. I wish I was more prepared, I wish I hadn't let my temper get the better of me and just called The Curse out, I wish I'd spoken to The Wiseman before he could have helped. What would he say, remember Lil' remember his words of advice. 

It was almost as if I could hear his voice;

Just listen to yourself Lil' the answers right under your nose.

What had I said that day? Oh why can't I remember what I had said, it might give me a clue now, a direction to take.

The lighter Naughty Twin said something to her brother and I looked at them both. 

Ah the Naughty Twins, if The Curse wanted to throw me off the scent what better way that to cause confusion and these two certainly did that, swapping genders all the time and with no one even aware of it until recently, all hidden in plain sight. But if it was one of the Twins which one? Maybe it was both, what an clever way of hiding The Queen in not one but two bodies, she's emphasised naming it in ONE was she trying to trick me?

I looked at The Curse who was smiling back clearly aware of what I was doing trying to deduce who it could be. She seemed to be enjoying herself, of course she would be, playing games was her pleasure.

Worked it out yet? 

The Curse sarcastically grinned. I ignored her and went back to looking at the Naughty Twins.

Right, The Curse asked if I'd worked it out yet when I was looking at the Twins so maybe she'd want me to think it was them which makes me think I'm on the wrong track, although the Darker Naughty Twin did manage to break his curse which takes some doing so he could still be a contender. I'll come back to them I'm not sure yet.

I turned to George, smiling back at me, trying to give me comfort in his gentle way. We'd pretty much always been close so of course he would be. Could she be entrapped within him? He had been possessed but no, I was with him when we first heard the Queen call out for our help, when we were in The Lane of Bells, so no, it couldn't be George of that I was sure.

A warm feeling spread over me, that's it, I felt so sure it wasn't George, not just because I didn't want it to be or logically it couldn't be him but because my catty powers told me so. Right I need to listen to them too, I'd got so caught up in the game I'd forgotten my most powerful weapon against The Curse.

Turning to Mogsie I smiled.

How could it be Mogsie? Yes he was our Hero and leader but to hide The Queen in him would be too obvious. Mind you we'd had our own love story just like Troy and The Queen had, could things have played out subconsciously between us in this lifetime? Nah not Mogsie, too obvious, a double bluff or a coincidence maybe? But then again he has been acting strangely recently. I'm pretty sure it's not him but I can't listen to my catty powers where he's concerned, we're too close, it affects it.

I looked again at Mogsie who was looking slightly down, was there something else going on there? He'd hardly said a word since being around The Curse, Ok he's on the list of maybe's!

Time's moving on Lil', things to do, places to be! 

The Curse tried to pile on the pressure. I glared at her.

I'll answer in MY time!

She laughed and flicked her top tooth with one of her fingernails.

I turned to face Chameleon and Doublay. 

Chameleon looked very sad and almost as scared as Sarah did. No it wasn't him, no way. If the Queens qualities were bleeding through, which I hoped they were, it was pretty much all I had to go on to help me with this decision, then I really didn't think she would possess the one's he did. 

True he'd come good in the end but he was still a bit selfish and ruthless and as much as a Queen needed to be strong, there was a difference. Again I felt myself and I was told I was right. Good at least I can completely eliminate George and Chameleon as contenders. Makes the job a little easier, I feel I'm making progress, I just hope I'm not wrong in my thinking.

Doublay, um now he just could be. Turning up out of nowhere, trusted by Troy, one of the first to help me since I came back from the other side, a true and loyal member of Catworld, psychic and strong. Oh yes he could be The Queen, he really could he possessed the right qualities. I hope I'm using the right tool to measure this.

I turned back to face Mogsie, pleading for his help my eyes not mouth doing to talking. He bowed his head lower although I know he caught my gaze. Why was he avoiding helping me, I needed him more than ever and he was abandoning me in my time of greatest need? My heart hurt a little, I didn't understand why he would allow me to bear this burden all on my own.

I turned again to face the players in this game. 

Right so the list as it now stands is Twizzle, the Naughty Twins, Bella, Mogsie and Doublay. 

Right Lil' listen to yourself, forget logic just listen to how you feel. Does it feel like it could be Twizzle? I moved towards her and sat down and closed my eyes. I could feel the warmth of her body and hear her slow breaths. If she was nervous she was doing very well to control it. I couldn't pick up anything, maybe I was trying too hard.

Bella was sitting next to her so I turned my body slightly and tried to do the same, cold I felt cold. No something in me told me it wasn't her, I turned to face Mogsie, even though I was upset at him I got the same feeling, something had kicked in, another two I could take of the list.

Doublay and the Naughty Twins remained. I looked at them and just as with Twizzle I felt confused.

Oh who could it be, Doublay? Twizzle? One or both of the Naughty Twins? Who was hiding our Queen? I felt sick, I'd used logic and I'd used intuition and I'd still got 4 people left and I had no idea who it could be. I could be here forever and still get no closer to being sure who it was. Oh why me, why me?

Hang on a second, suddenly those words rang in my head. I'd not even considered looking at myself. I turned to face The Curse to see if she had picked up on my potential epiphany. She'd picked up on something, maybe my change of expression, she was peering intently at me as if trying to work out what I was thinking, maybe to see if my face was giving something away.

Why I hadn't I looked at myself in all this? Could the Queen of Catkind somehow be trapped inside of me? Surely I would have felt something? Maybe not, no one had! 

Troy had come to me to help me, but was he trying to help me help him or help me just live my life in the best way he thought I could. He'd also helped me come back from the other side, isn't that exactly what he was trying to do with his Queen? The more I thought about it the more sense it made. OMG it could be me! I could have been the prison cell for The Queen of Catkind all along!

I turned and smiled at The Curse, if she was as good at reading people as I thought she was, if I looked like I'd suddenly got it she might give something away in her face. 

She had tensed, she had picked up something. 

My mind started to race, OMG I was onto something here, I seemed to have her rattled. Right Lil' come on pull yourself together, don't let excitement get the better of you, courage, yes courage that's what Troy had been trying to help me build all along, listen to your catty powers, I know it's hard when you are close to yourself but listen, like you've never listened to yourself before.

I turned to face The Curse and confidently smiled.

I'm ready to answer the question!

Sarah started to cry and the Naughty Twins moved either side of her, all three huddled together, Twizzle shifted and moved so her body was touching Bella's. Mogsie looked up and faced me his expression giving nothing away and I felt George rub my back.

Emma! You've trapped The Queen in Emma!

The Game of Bluff, Intimidation In Complacency

My mind was racing, words said back and forth!

She'd said she'd never lost and we were both still here. Did that mean she would win? Yes! Just for a few moments that realisation sank in and my heart dropped to my stomach, it wasn't a lie, SHE'D NEVER LOST! Yet the future was not yet upon us yet, a chance lay ahead of me. I'd said I wouldn't be needing to say goodbye to Mogsie, I must win mustn't I? I know it was in the future but the truth could never be denied and the truth had no timescale. If that was the case then the future truth had already taken in her words and she wouldn't lose but if she doesn't lose and I don't have to say my goodbyes then in the future we must all still be together.

That thought calmed my heart and it rose again in my chest, slotting nicely back into position, this time a little tougher than before.

But how could we both win this game? It didn't seem logical, her prize was to keep the Queen entrapped and take all of us with her and my prize was freedom for all of us, opposing what The Curse was playing for.

Such twists and turns this Game of Truth.

I looked into The Curse's eyes, smiling back at me, suspecting nothing, my thoughts and feelings still hidden from her. I needed to keep it cool. Composure Lil' just think slowly and surely. Now the seriousness of my words were recognised, by me, I was beginning to second guess what my next words would be. The consequences were disastrous for all of Catkind, but there positives, the quashing of The Curse and the long awaited throning of The Queen of Catkind.

No it's OK her eyes weren't giving anything away, slightly smiling she's trying to play the game of bluff, intimidation in complacency, no I won't fall for that one, I'm stronger than that.

The Curse cleared her throat and stood up, flattening out her robes and pinching an imaginary bit of fluff from the top pocket. Head raised, arm outstretched, sweeping left to right over everyone's heads.

I think it's time Lil' I'm see no point in wasting any more time, you tire and bore me...

I could feel anger rising in me, no master it, master it, The Wiseman's words came flooding in, listen to yourself, the answers right under your nose. That's it anger calming, keeping calm that's the way to win, a cool head. phew deep breath. ahh lovely my lungs so full.

You come to free your Queen, such a deserved leader that loses herself in battle. Can't see myself why you would want to risk your necks over such a thing but hey I win either way so what's the bother, I'll play along?

I kept my mouth tightly shut, biting the cheek to stop myself from blurting out words that could come at such a high cost.

Nothing to say? The Curse laughed.

Ok then, down to business, I'll roll the dice. Your Queen is indeed trapped here.

She turned to look down at Doublay;

Well done, you got it bang on! I think I'll be able to utilise your powers of deduction very well. Bit of a psychic are we? Your Queen is trapped inside one of you Catworld cats and you never knew. She's been here all her life, not a clue, any of you and there's me thinking you cats were proud of your catty powers. 

She slurred the last two words, a half chuckle escaped from her rather scraggy neck.

The Naughty Twin's gasped in unison and I could hear a few whispers between Bella and Sarah.

Yes my lovelies, The Curses shoulders shrugged up and down once an a faux smile turned itself on and off.

Less than 5 meters away stands your Queen and all she needs is naming by Lil'.

She turned to face me;

You ready Lil'? You reached The Tipping Point? Huh?

Emphasising each t she shrugged again, elbows bent, palms faced skywards.

You wanna free your Queen? Then it's simple Lil' you're playing The Game of Truth, just name her Lil' Cat! JUST. NAME. HER. IN. ONE!