A Terrible Influence
Sorcha awoke to the soft crackle of the fire and sunlight streaming through the windows. She didn’t remember falling asleep. Looking down, she saw the cat still perched on her lap.
I guess it wasn’t a dream, she thought, staring at the creature, its fur bright as stars.
She felt a twinge of guilt about moving and waking it, but she needed to get ready for patrols.
As Sorcha dressed, the cat darted around the house, circling too many times for her to keep track. She frowned, wondering what it was up to. It acted as though it were impatient, waiting for her. When she finally emerged from the bedroom and headed for the door, the cat was already there, sitting expectantly.
“And what do you think you’re doing?” she asked, raising an eyebrow at the feline.
The cat simply stared back, unmoving. She shook her head and opened the door. The cat followed her out, then sat down, watching her close it behind her.
“I’m heading to work,” she told the cat firmly. “You can’t come with me.”
She started walking, but the sound of tiny paws padding behind her made her glance over her shoulder. Sure enough, the cat was trailing her.
She sighed and tried to ignore it, but the cat stuck to her like a shadow all the way to the circle. When she arrived, Commander Nethran tilted his head, confusion plain on his face as he eyed both Sorcha and the odd-looking feline at her side. Sorcha noticed the mixed expressions on everyone’s faces, too. Most looked amused, but Kyron’s reaction stood out; his gaze was fixed on the cat, his face a mix of shock and unease. He clearly didn’t like it, though he tried and failed to hide it. Sorcha noticed, and so did the cat.
Commander Nethran finally broke the silence. “Why is there an animal with you, Sorcha?”
Sorcha shifted uncomfortably. “Sir, this cat followed me home last night. I guess it’s mine now… It won’t leave alone.”
The commander blinked, baffled. “And that means it has to behere?”
Sorcha nodded awkwardly. The cat, surprisingly, nodded too. Commander Nethran sighed, muttering under his breath before approaching the cat. He reached out to pick it up, but the cat sprang onto his head in one swift leap, clinging there stubbornly.
What followed was chaos. The commander flailed, grabbing at the cat from every possible angle, but the creature dodged every attempt with ease, only to land back on him each time.
The circle erupted with laughter, and Sorcha’s face flushed with embarrassment as the commander bellowed, “Sorcha, get this damn thing off me—NOW!
Mortified, Sorcha rushed forward, already trying to wrangle the cat.
“Please stop,” she begged under her breath.
To her relief, the cat finally leapt down, landing gracefully on the cobblestones before sitting at attention, staring the commander down.
Commander Nethran, red faced and fuming, took a deep breath and composed himself as best he could.
Without another word about the incident, he quickly assigned patrol routes and stormed off toward the Druid School.
As the laughter died down, Sorcha turned to face the circle. Her friends were still staring at her, and at the strange cat by her side.
Drystan walked over, chuckling as he knelt down to face the cat at eye level.
“Nice work, buddy. I’ve never seen the commander that shade of red before,” he said, patting the cat’s head. He glanced up at Sorcha with a grin.
“So, Sorcha, you’re taking in strays now?”
Before Sorcha could respond, Eirin appeared behind him. “No, Drystan, she’s not takingyouin.”
Drystan shot him a mock glare before looking back at Sorcha. “Really, Sorcha? A cat? I didn’t take you for cat person.”
Sorcha laughed softly, her cheeks still flushed with embarrassment.
“I’m not, but this little guy didn’t really give me a choice. So… yeah, I guess I’m a cat person now.”
The three of them laughed as Rhosyn and Eirin approached. Rhosyn leaned down to pet the feline, her expression warm.
