A Reunion

"SHORT!" Ursa bellowed, "I don't have all day I was in the middle of something before you turned up!"

"I'm on the run because I've got something someone else wants and they are not too far behind me. Now, "Christmas turned to the crowd to address them, "if you lovely people would be kind enough to help me I can make it worth your while!"

Ursa laughed, "They can't help you, they'd try their best I'd expect," she laughed, "bless them, The Army of The Try Their Bests." Letting out a cackle she taunted the crowd.

"I'm the only one who can help you here." Ursa yelled as she continued walking down the valley towards her, the rest of her troupe following. Purlean at her feet, keeping close.

"I don't think you can," Christmas turned towards Ursa heading her way, "but I can help you."

Ursa laughed as she continued her way while one of the cats in the crowd approached Christmas from behind and whispered something in her ear.

"What are you up to?" Ursa pointed a finger at her, "Wanna be stone?" 

The cat shook his head and slowly started edging back to the rest of the assembled cats, trying to merge into the crowd.

"What did he say to you? WELL I'M WAITING. AND I DON'T LIKE TO BE KEPT WAITING!"

Christmas smiled at the cat who had just whispered to her and mouthed a don't worry.

"WELL!" Ursa was now only a few meters away.

"I can help you, I really can." Christmas looked at Purlean and smiled. Purlean returned a quizzical look.

"I don't think I like you," Ursa spat, "Nothing but trouble you. I think I've had enough now." She raised her hand towards Christmas Peacock!

"NO! Wait." Purlean jumped up onto Ursa shoulder and wrapped her tail lovingly around her neck. 

"How can you help me?"

Christmas smiled, turned to her left, towards the gap in the forest opposite me. I followed her gaze but couldn't see anything.

She turned back to address Purlean, "Just wait a moment." and turned back to the gap.

Everyone looked in the direction indicated by Christmas's interest, silence fell across the valley. In the silence a pin could have been heard dropping, all I could hear was the sound of my own breath, today was turning out to be even stranger than I could have imagined. The whole place was a place of craziness.

"What are we waiting for?" I asked The Fly.

"Just watch it won't be long now."

Faintly to begin with then growing in volume "They're coming, THEY'RE COMING."

A rather handsome tabby cat came running through the gap.

Ursa's face looked confused. She turned to Christmas."What is this?"

Christmas smiled at Purlean, "A reunion, a family reunion."

Curiosity Is Not Just A Cat Curse You Know

"Blimey I wouldn't want to catch her on a bad day." Christmas Peacock! addressed one of the cats now gently touching the now stone cat.

She turned to Ursa, "You're vicious!"

Ursa smiled and nodded. "If you want my help," she turned to Purlean, "and let's face it I'm the only one here that could possibly help her." turning back to Christmas "you'd better spit it out, I was in the middle of things."

"Yes middle of a massacre by the look of it." Christmas spat back, "What on earth happened in your life to make you such a bitch?"

"Like you care." Ursa retorted.

Christmas smiled, "I don't, not in the slightest but as we're here chewing the cud..."

Without pausing and drawing attention to herself she tossed a small piece of paper on the floor next to the cat who had been looking after Ursa's first victim on the day. It didn't go unnoticed and the cat quickly scooped it up and opened it, careful not t get detected.

"ENOUGH of this nonsense!" Ursa screamed.

"I agree, " Christmas replied, "you see I also am in a hurry and this is all becoming very confusing. Now what was it I needed help with." she tapped the top of her head.

Meanwhile the cat had passed the note back to another cat at the edge of the crowd who looked down, took a read and passed it back.

"Oh yes, " Christmas took a couple of steps closer to Ursa, "I'm.. oh honey have you never heard of Peppermint, it's a great breath neutraliser." She put a paw over her nose and took a step to her left.

I turned to The Fly, "She's distracting Ursa's attention isn't she."

The Fly nodded back, "Clever isn't she."

"But how come Ursa hasn't put some sort of a spell on her?"

"Curiosity is not just a cat curse you know."

Ursa was smiling again. "You really have a way with words."

"I thank you." Christmas bowed, looked behind her, caught a glimpse from one of the cat that had read the notelet, who quickly nodded to her and poked a finger behind her. Christmas smiled and turned back to Ursa. Taking another step closer to her.

"Oh yes, that's right. I'm on the run and need you to help me hide.

That caught Ursa's attention.

"On the run." She took a step closer to Christmas, "Who from?"

Christmas sat down on a rock, took a handkerchief from her pocket, blew her nose, returned it to the said pocket and patted the stone next to her indicated to Ursa to take a seat.

"What would you prefer, the short or long version?"

Tear Of Mirth Dropped From Her Chin

I thought Ursa was going to implode with rage but it just goes to show witches are a different breed. She opened her mouth and cackled, her head flying back the cackle merged to a roar. Tears of mirth dropped from her chin. The dragon next to her retracted his wings and sat back down.

A few of the cats also started to laugh, the atmosphere felt less charged and more positive, the tension disappearing.

"Oh," she whipped a droplet from her nose, "it's been absolutely ages since I've laughed like that. I'm having so much fun and in a minute I'm going to take the remaining crystal, obliterate you all," she pointed to Christmas Peacock!, "maybe not you I have a vacancy for a court jester and I think you'll fit the bill perfectly and exact complete revenge on that bunch of villagers before taking over the world."

She clapped her hands, "Yes today is turning out to be a fabulous day indeed." 

She took a few more steps down the hill. "Now who," she address the crowd "is claiming to manage this bunch of moggies." 

The crowd gasped, the atmosphere of 30 seconds ago was long gone.

"I," a cat, a grey version of George stepped forward. "am the local elder, so you might like to look on me as..."

Before he could finish Ursa nodded at him, raised her hand and pointed her finger in his direction mumbling something under her breath. A flash of light filled the air above everyone turned to look the light bleaching everything in a white light, gone in a flash a lady screamed.

The elder man still there was not moving, his grey hair now grey stone.

Some of the crowd let out moans and cries, when one cat passes all cats mourn, a few fled into the woods where we were hiding but most just stood there staring unable to comprehend what had just taken place.

"Now," she turned to Christmas Peacock! "You said you could do with some help. I'm curious. what do you need help with, I've always been nosey!" A crooked smile spread across her face.

He Looked Back At Me, A Twinkle In His Eye - Isn't She A Scene Stealer

"What the!!!" I thought but Ursa said.

I turned to The Fly, I don't know if it was the tension of the situation or whatever it was but I really wanted to giggle. I knew it was not the time but still.

He looked back at me, a twinkle in his eye. "Isn't she a scene stealer." He smiled.

"Oh she's that alright."

By the time I turned back Christmas Peacock! had half a dozen cats surrounding her, trying to give her sips of water, a general hubbub of whispered chattering was rippling through the gathered crowd.

Ursa was staring down, hands on hips, defiant and irritated, the Dragon behind her now quiet but still breathing, his eyes reduced to slits.

I scanned the rest of the gang, Bob and The Darling, Darling had both moved a little closer to the kittens, Leopold was now by Purlean, protecting her as she wrapped herself around Ursa's left foot.

Ursa turned to the Dragon and back to the crowd, "Am I imagining this?" Shouting down the hill she got the attention of the crowd. "AM I IMAGINING THIS?"

Most of the crowd fell silent but hushed voices could still be heard.

Ursa turned to the Dragon. "Deal with this nonsense will you!"

The Dragon smiled, puffed out his chest and stretched out his wing, smoke coming from his nostrils he stood as if to get ready to take flight.

"Oh my, I'm so sorry I seem to have interrupted your little gathering." Christmas Peacock! was on her feet.

"Well that was a miraculous recovery!" I whispered out the side of my mouth to The Fly.

"Um amazing timing!" The irony in our voices not lost on the other.

"Now, " Christmas straightened the daisy in her hat. "Now who is the head honcho around here, I need a favour and I'm in rather a hurry."

Ursa looked shocked, a couple of the cat laughed only enraging Ursa more, the Dragon now calm, distracted from his orders.

"Are you..." she stepped a few steps closer down the hill. "taking the mick?"

Christmas Peacock picked of a blade of grass stuck to her shawl. Looked Ursa up and down, turned to the crowd behind her, turned to face me and The Fly again, winked again, this was becoming a habit and opened her mouth.

"No your stylist however ekk. Money back guarantee?"

Hello, I'm Christmas Peacock! I Need Your Help!

There I was side by side with The Fly, leaves on bushes and twigs on sticks snapping and opening as we made our way through the undergrowth towards the edge of the woodland around the edge of Parsnip Valley.

To my left to valley continued to dip down, a hill on the opposite side and valley floor was filled with cats, mottled and in varying states of attire, robes caps next to bear feet and bowed legs. The noise of their chattering a banging cacophony not single sentence unmuzzled. Cats turned and swung between conversations, constantly shifting positions, heckles and ganders up high.

To my right the valley rose to a peak and over the edge the trees on the top hung with flags stood Ursa, Leopold, Purlean, their children, The Darling, Darling and Bob.

Ursa proud and upright leering down, hair now slightly matted, Leopold stood in front of the children but a way back under the tree, safe distance. The children had grown a lot in the last month and although now still very small they were certainly stronger.

Bob fussed over a campfire he was attempting to make, flint on flint does not always produce a spark, especially at the top of a windy valley and the breath of thousands of cats hissing curses in the same direction.

The Daring, Darling sat next to Bob, by the look of her she didn't know whether to stay back safe from immediate peril or run down and lick all the cats in the valley until they gave in and loved her. For the moment she remained with Bob.

In the gap between them little bright lights like electric sparks whizzed around and disappeared.  turned to The Fly.

"What on earth is that?" My head jabbed towards the sparks.

"Tension in the air!" The Fly replied not turning away from something he was intent n looking for on the other side of the clearing. Finally he waved and turned to me.

"As I say tension in the air. It always looks like that. When you feel it it's there it's just it can't always be seen but this place..." he paused his face screwing up and taking a sharp intake of breath through his bottom lip for dramatic purpose, "...is something else!"

I just shook my head. Give me strength.

"Hang on." I suddenly remembered something. "Who did you just wave at?"

The Fly buzzed and sat on my nose. "Myself, I'm over there." He nodded towards a tree branch on the other side.

My head began to turn when a gasp from the cat gathering became a singing chorus. Ah the Cat Information Network, alive and strong even then. I turned to look in the direction drawing attention, the sky had turned dark but the sun was still out. A large sound of thuds and whooshes gathered volume on the other side of the valley tip, just out of sight.

Ursa turned away from the crowd following their gaze.

"On a previous tour. I always promised myself I would say hello to me, when the time came." The Fly ignoring the unfolding commotion.

"What?!"

The Fly laughed. "That's one of my earlier tours, look over there just passed me, another me a previous me waving at you and laughing over their, up on the branch behind. Can you see it, that little bit of grey? "

I peered my eyes following his directions. Yes there I could see something. I nodded.

"That was a lovely cat I brought on the tour way back, years ago. Smokey, lovely fellow. Anyway waiting for the beginning, much like we are now, back then I made a promise to myself to wave at myself from across the field, when the opportunity presented itself, to me, and I knew I had because as soon as I thought it and looked up there I was waving at me. I just had to make sure I did it which of course I had and it just today, turns out is the day, we're at exactly the right spot. Get it?"

"Kinda",

All this Time Consciousness stuff can play games with your sanity.

The Fly grinned.

"Now shush, you'll miss it."

The crowd were no longer in stunned silence, gasps and cries and noise had begun screams threading through.

I stared at them the fear in their eyes, some ready to fight some already given up.

I turned to the top of the valley and their stood the Red Dragon, now thrice the size it was last time we had seen him. The scales blood red, wings retracted tips sharp and glistening. A revolting stench avalanced itself down the valley each time he breathed out a grin of evil on his face, his eyes searching the crowd when eye caught his tongue menacingly poked.

Ursa stepped up and tickled his chin, ecstasy coursing through her veins.

She went to open her mouth and at that exact moment everyone as one turned to look towards the
middle of the field.

That gap in-between the two sides was now filled by an out of breath and slightly dishevelled cat running noisily through, arms in the air waving about from left to right.

She suddenly stopped, took two deep breaths, turned to her left, to her right and then straight at me and winked before turning and bowed to both sides.

"Hello, I'm Christmas Peacock! I need your help!" She turned to face us again winked, bowed, clutched her stomach and promptly passed out.

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'm Sure She'll Be In It - Her Reputation Proceeds Her

I've just had my chat with Ginger Cat.

I was enjoying the day on the sunshine shed, it's sunny but there's the odd cloud too so I wasn't getting too hot sitting in it when all of a sudden there he was sitting in front of me just staring and smiling.

We exchanged hello's and general chit-chat pleasantries and then he said what I was thinking all along. He had also been to the Time Consciousness and said he saw me there.

I was dumbstruck that he was so upfront about it and relieved at the same time, for so long I've been wanting to ask him if it was him I was there. Now I knew.

I also understand that you've been having a bit of trouble trying to re-form a new Coven of 3.

I nodded and told him how I'd been trying to persuade Theo and that although Doublay had agreed he was now in hiding since all the trouble with Foxy Lectar, Flash and the New Cat Crew.

"I might be able to help you there." He said. "I've contacts far and wide and it just so happens that I know one of them is a witches familiar."

My heart jumped, nervous and excited.

"Really!" I almost jumped to give him a hug.

"No problem." He smiled back. "It might take a little while,ss he lives a bit of a way away but I'm sure she'll be in it. She likes a good challenge."

"Thank you so much. I've been having real problems with this, my friend Greego he's been cursed with a sleep spell ofr over a year now."

"Oh yes I know Greego the Pixie, I think there's very few who haven't either met him or heard of him. His reputation proceeds him." 

He grinned a knowing smile, nodded and jumped down into the gardens at the back of our house. "I'll be in touch."He shouted as he sped away.