She's a Beauty

Quick note from the writer: To give some context, the story follows a Cait Sith, which, if you don't know already, is a fairy in the form of a cat.

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"She is a beauty. Don’t you agree my friend?”

Beside me, Horatio narrowed his eyes at the cottage below our perch, his tail flicking back and forth like a swaying reed in the breeze.

I tutted, shaking my head.

“No, no, no. Not that. The window. Look.”

Horatio turned his focus on the window, tail stilling.

A smile as wide as the crescent moon stretched across my furred face.

Ah. Finally. He saw her. Saw her sitting there on the sill, the dream that was to be my reality, the reason for our long, tired journey here.

She was all that I had envisioned, fur, molten silver, nose, pink as a trout’s underbelly. And her eyes. Oh her eyes. Blue as the will-o-wisps that drifted through my forests.

Shivers got my fur standing on end.

She was perfect.

“I must have her.”

Horatio rolled his eyes.

“Now, now old friend no need for such snark. Does your king not deserve a bit of fun here and there?”

Horatio yawned.

Poor Horatio. He preferred the company of our own kind more than these beauties. Which was a shame because he was missing out.

“But why should I let that bother me,” I thought while scratching behind one of my turf-tipped ears.

I had better things to be focusing on. Like my love. Blue. Yes.

That was her name. I’m sure of it. Blue. Sweet Blue.

I chuckled as she pawed the potted aloe beside her. A playful gesture to yours truly.

She knew I was here. Sensed me. Craved me as much as I craved her.

Behind her a figure appeared.

A growl rumbled from my throat as her guardian; a flame-headed giant, plucked up my Blue and carried her deeper inside.

Upon witnessing this intrusion, Horatio looked at me.

I shrugged.

“Well there is no fun without a challenge.”

And what a challenge it would be. I would not lie. There would be risks. Fates far worse than death like the dreaded ‘domestication’ my great grandfather had warned us of. But I was Cait Sith. A Master of Shadows. A Whisper of Secrets.

“Time to make my grand entrance,” I said, stretching my limbs. “You know the drill friend.”

Horatio bowed his head and tucked his paws under him.

I leapt, landing in the cottage’s small garden as graceful as a bird.

With another shake, I trotted onward, drawn by that sound that had taken me from my kingdom to this squalor in which my sweet Blue was imprisoned.

A sharp squeal pierced my ears and I darted over to a little man with a red cap, mooning the fish pond he stood by. I crouched low behind it, imagined myself a mouse. It was best to think these things in these situations.

Exiting the cottage was her guardian, who closed the door behind her, locking

it and slipping the key into her little bag. While she sorted out her bag of wonders I darted for the closest rose bush, watching as she headed up the cobbled path to where that wheeled monstrosity awaited to chariot her away. Hopefully for some time.

When the gate’s latch had clicked into place and the monstrosity roared to life, I shot across the garden and flew up to the window. It was open. How thoughtful. And foolish.

Did Blue’s warden not know there were far worse things than burglars.

Things with teeth and claws. With voices of pure light and fingers as slick as eels.

I nosed the gap wider, taking my time. Didn’t want to run into any unexpected surprises.

Though I had to admit it took some time. Hinges you see. The banes of my immortal existence.

Come on. That’s it. Just a little more. Ah.

I slipped through the crack and took a moment to assess my surroundings.

It was what I expected. This place was…simple. Too simple.

I was mortified. To think she stayed here. No. My Blue deserved better. She deserved a chamber of velvet pillows, dishes of fresh cream and feather-tethered baubles to bat about with her soft paws. What she did not deserve was this dingy cave of stone floors and walls decorated with framed windows, which held captive tiny smiley people too pleased with their imprisonment behind glass. Even the furnishings were…barbaric. Plywood, cow skin. Bah. Hideous. Absolutely hideous.

Don’t worry Blue. I will bring light to your droll life.

Speaking of which, where was my bride to be?

Ah. There she was laying before the heath fire, stretched out across a rug of cotton. The little lynx.

I leapt from counter to table, weaving around the discarded dishes and hopping down to the floor, paws soft as daffodil kisses.

I would have gone to her immediately, tended to her every whim.

But alas we weren’t alone.

At first it was a small sound. A tapping of claws that flicked my ears. Then it was the smell. Earthy with a hint of rotten cheese.

Trouble. But from where? The ceiling. No. The corridor. Yes. That’s where it came from. And it was getting closer.

When the hairs rose all over my body I knew what I must do.

I retreated to the table, crouched beneath one of its chairs, waited for whatever lived in those shadows to appear.

And appear it did, a giant quadruped of slobber and fur with a snouted face sagged by loose skin that hid the black eyes I imagined would be under all those rolls. Gods it was hideous.

I squinted at the brut as it lumbered over, snuffling up discarded crumbs left by this squalor’s caretakers before stomping over to Blue.

My chest tightened as he nuzzled Blue’s head, wiping his jowls on her fur as if she were a napkin.

The sheer audacity of this brut. Yes. A brut. That was what he was. And I would not standby and let him do this to Blue.

Arching my back I let out my deepest growl.

The brut paused in his snuffling and lifted that massive head.

Upon seeing me he swung his tail side to side and trotted toward me, pink tongue lolling and dripping that drool on the floor.

I hissed, growling lower. A second warning.

The brut paused, huffed and stretched a massive paw, plunking it before me. A clumsy move indeed. I hissed and with a swipe of my claw, hooked them into those disgusting, fleshy flaps, pulling.

The brut leapt back, yelping and scampering off back into the darkness it had emerged from, tail tucked between its legs.

Once sure my opponent had left, I held my head high and turned my attention to Blue. Sweet Blue.

She still remained where she lay, completely oblivious to the fight that had taken place in her honour. Or at least that was what she wanted me to assume.

I purred in greeting. It was what one did when wooing a lady.

She opened a single eye, glaring at me. A growl rumbled from her, tail flickering.

Ah. So she was feisty. No matter. All fell in the end on my spear.

I flicked my tail in response, staying perfectly still, waiting for my moment.

Then I pounced.

My Blue let out a loud screech, clawing and biting at me as I fell on top of her.

I leapt back.

Oh. Yes. She had fire.

I leapt for her again, aiming for her ruff.

She flung herself on her back, slapping me left to right.

Come now my sweet. No need to be a tease.

A claw hooked into my eyelid.

I leapt back, sneezing at the pain before I dove back in.

This went on for some time, our tussle, our tango until finally we broke apart a final time to assess our wounds.

As I licked my scars, I found Blue’s eyes never left me.

It was agonising. Did she not see how I craved for her? Desired her so?

As if reading my thoughts, Blue turned, tail up.

Finally. She was pleased. And so she should be.

Again I slinked toward her.

This time she didn’t resist just lay prone as I mounted her, readied myself into position.

“That’s it my sweet,” I said to her even though she would not hear.

Grabbing the back of her ruff between my teeth, I slid inside.

Ah. Home sweet home.

I vocalized my pleasure with a purr.

She cast me a glance from the corner of her eye, confused by my response.

After all a cat was a cat.

The laws of pleasure were not a concept they understood

But I was not a cat.

“Oh my pretty. Do you even know who you’ve let in your bed this day?” I whispered to her.

Did she know she was with royalty? That I was no ordinary cat.

Of course she did. Perhaps not directly. But she knew. Deep down.

Sensed it. This otherness. And it excited her. Made her ache, paw for its touch.

Why else would she have decided to arch her tail and expose herself to me?

I wondered what must be going through her kitty brain right now?

“Oh great shadow. Oh whisperer of secrets,” she must be moaning.

Or Perhaps….

“Yes! Yes! Oh! Don’t stop! Please! Oh!” she must be screeching.

Yes. Oh yes. That sounded more like it.

She gave low meow of approval at my change of pace, the sound as gentle as the air.

Goddess if I were human, my spear would be split with stiffness over such sweet music.

I thought of the other males who would come tomorrow, attempt to deflower her. But the task was nearly done. The treasure plundered. The only thing left would be my calling card. All eight of them.

I was nearly there now. Almost through the final push.

Yes. One. Two. Ah. That hit the spot.

As expected she thanked me with a yowl and shot to the other side of the room under the couch.

I allowed her her privacy. It was the least I could do for the service received.

And it was how I liked to leave them. Awed with amazement, hidden beneath the couch, blinking eyes staring at me.

Yowling sounded outside. Ah. My cue.

“Well my dear it has been such a pleasure,” I told her.

She did not respond. Perhaps to awe-struck by my prowess.

With a wink I dashed across the room, through the kitchen and out the window.

As expected I found Horatio waiting for me in the tree.

“And so another maiden falls for my charm.”

Another eye roll from my old friend.

I settled back down on the branch.

Oh Yes. Once more another victory. Another conquest completed.

And what a conquest indeed.

She must be relieved. Thrilled to have been blessed by my holy touch.

Now all that was left for her to do was wait. Wait until…pop!

Out they’d come. All thirty-two paws. All little eight noses.

And she will tell them, tell the little princes of the great shadow, who had fought tooth and claw to ensure their existence.

“Well I believe it is time to return home Horatio.”

Horatio meowed in agreement, unfurling and stretching his limbs before jumping down.

I was going to follow when something caught my ears.

What is that? A cry for help?

Horatio let out a yowl but I ignored him, dropping back down and sprinting passed him and across the road into the field next door.

I followed those sounds until I came to a barn. And in the barn there was a cat. And she was a beauty.