The possum chirped, clearly in agreement, then nuzzled one of the fuzzy critters rustling at Boleyn’s side. The black cat’s expression was regal, unbothered, and immensely accomplished. Patches looked concerned and out of sorts, trying to nestle the kittens better. Said kittens, who had completely different plans that included rolling around every which way, cried loudly. Since they weren’t newborn kittens, they were undoubtedly heavy and a handful even for the industrious possum.
Predictably, the first sounds and sighs of enchantment came from their elder sister.
“Awww.” Ceridwen crouched down by the luxurious bed and gently ran a fingertip over a tabby kitten, who immediately flipped over, exposed a light belly, and mewled pathetically. “They’re so cute.”
Seren smiled and joined Ceridwen on the floor. The white sibling started crawling to her, and she picked it up, nuzzling its soft fur.
Deryn was apprehensive. Not that she didn’t like cats. Cats were fine. Honestly. She had no problem with cats. From afar, they were kind of cute. She had said so many times. She felt the need to say so again.
“Your cats are kinda cute?”
Everyone turned to her, and Rhiannon tsked.
“Trust you to kill the moment, Der. Yes, they are kinda cute. Also, they aren’t my cats. They’re yours. Patches found them inthe dumpster and brought them home in her pouch a few weeks ago.”
“Weeks? Rhy, you have kept them from us?” Ceridwen’s face was a picture of anguish. The tabby was now climbing on her shoulders.
Rhiannon was undeterred by the sisterly scolding.
“Prudence and I gave Patches and Boleyn time to enjoy themselves and their progeny in peace without all of you trampling around, touching everything and everyone. They have apparently been trying to expand their family, if you believe Prudence. I am not convinced. But as you see, where there’s a will, nature doesn’t stand in a critter’s way.”
“Well, in Patches’s way, since this possum is a force of said nature. A true winner.” Seren gave Patches’s big head a scratch. The possum eyed her warily and cuddled the last kitten closer. It was smaller than the others, and all gray. Deryn didn’t look at it too long before asking the most important question.
“Despite Patches scheming and probably stealing these kittens from wherever she got them?—”
Deryn was interrupted by a rather disgruntled shout from the kitchen. “She didn’t steal them. I asked everyone, and nobody came forward, so they must’ve dumped them. Assholes!” Prudence was clearly disgusted with people—and with Deryn for even suggesting her possum had concocted a nefarious scheme.
Rhiannon lifted a shoulder before continuing. “Be that as it may, you all can see my current living arrangements. The four of us barely fit. While I love that Patches and Boleyn became mothers, they’ve had weeks to play house, and now it’s time to see the kittens on their way. Boleyn is sort of done with them anyway. They try to suckle and are mostly hurting her at this point. Prudence and I used to hand-feed them, and we’ve reached a point where they can eat by themselves. Mostly. They still love their bottle, though. However, we’re going out of townsoon. Lachlan will take care of Patches and Boleyn, but I can’t ask him to also bottle-feed three cats. They have no manners, no matter how cute they might be. Especially the gray one. Menace. So?—”
“What do you mean? They’re ours?” Deryn heard the terror in her own voice and didn’t care.
No way?—
Rhiannon waved her hands at her sisters.
“Even if we didn’t have to attend the auction at Sotheby’s, Der, do you think I have space, time, or patience to keep four cats in my life? I have a soon-to-be wife and a possum to take care of. Boleyn takes care of herself, thank Goddess.”
“Won’t Patches and Boleyn miss their children?” Deryn tried to avoid the obvious direction this conversation was heading.
“They might, and then we will come and visit. Honestly, they had a very happy several weeks, and then the lack of sleep and caring for three active and rambunctious kittens got to them, we think. They love them, but it’s time.”
“Let’s not focus too long on the fact that you equated me with a possum, my love, and direct our attention to what’s really important.” Prudence came in, wiping her hands on a towel. She appeared simultaneously exhausted and radiant, despite clearly having to wake up at night to feed the kittens, as the circles under her eyes attested. Prudence looked well-loved. Cats or no cats, Rhiannon was doing something right. Even if this latest cat development was concerning.
“And what’s important?” Deryn was beginning to have a really bad feeling about this.
“Your kittens, of course.” Prudence smiled beatifically. Mona Lisa would’ve been put to shame by this smile. So warm, so kind, and so manipulative.
“What? I can’t! I travel, I have responsibilities. I simply can’t. Ceridwen, tell them, surely you can’t have a cat either. All thoseplants! And I don’t even own a house! I don’t know anything about pets anyway.” Deryn desperately shook her head and would have stepped away from the fireplace if she had not been boxed in by her sisters, all cooing over kittens.
“I’ll enchant the plants, and the kitten will be safe. As for you not knowing about pets? That’s never been in question.” Ceridwen’s laughter, for once, grated on Deryn’s nerves. She had a feeling an old “little Deryn” anecdote was about to be brought up. When Ceridwen went on, Deryn simply closed her eyes. “Remember that time when Christian’s dog died, and when you asked him what happened, he didn’t want to traumatize you and answered that she crossed the rainbow bridge?” Deryn refused to open her eyes, and Ceridwen went on. “You said, ‘Congratulations, Uncle Christian! Love is love!’”
Deryn dropped her chin to her chest.
“I thought it meant the dog came out of the closet, jeez. I was, like, seven years old. All rainbows were about being gay to me at the time.”
Her sisters almost howled with laughter. Prudence patted her arm with a warm “Aww, that’s adorable.” Deryn gritted her teeth.
Boleyn chose that moment to meow. Patches immediately relocated to support whatever whim her wife had, completely forgetting that she was supporting her child, and the gray kitten rolled out of the bed and straight onto Deryn’s boot, where it proceeded to get tangled in the laces and yowled most pitifully.
