“I can feel their hunger,” Lucian admitted.
Theo gasped, and clung to Lucian’s side. He glared warily at the urban sprawl ahead. It didn’t look like a place traversed by humans or most mortal species Theo knew of, more a spread of squares with large cutouts for doors. Tunnels, perhaps.
The opening between the forest and the rock abodes left them vulnerable. Twice Lucian paused, stilling to stare upward as things neither of them could identify flew overhead. Theo kept his wings hidden in the ether; uncertain he had enough energy to pull them if the need arose.
Lucian cursed, pulling Theo suddenly back as a slash of magic ripped through the space in front of them and out popped a giant cat. “So much for going unnoticed…”
The magic closed behind the beast, and the sheer size of it reminded Theo of the human world’s tigers, large, sleek beasts striped and deadly. This thing, while a bit leaner, stretched nearly as long as Lucian’s Onari form was tall, and the bright purple fur, etched with rosettes and stripes in dark purple.
“Pretty,” Theo marveled.
“You and Yuri, wanting to pet the deadly kitty…” Lucian grumbled and froze as the cat focused on him. “What?”
“What, what?” Theo asked.
Lucian swallowed and took a half step forward. “Barney?”
The beast snorted.
“Well, yes, it is a ridiculous name, but the way you clung to my shoulder fit…”
Theo’s gaze darted from the cat back to Lucian. “Is it talking to you?”
“Mind to mind, yes. You can’t hear him?”
Theo stared at the cat, and it turned its head to stare back, but he heard nothing. “No.” Theo frowned. Why was all this magic stuff so much easier for Lucian? “I wonder if Uriel and Raphael gave us minimal magic because they ran out, or because they wanted to annoy us.”
Lucian laughed and held out his hand to Barney, the now giant cat. “You’ve changed, my friend. It’s a good look for you. I’ve missed you, but I won’t make you return with me. If the changes in this world are your doing, you’ve been doing amazing work.”
Barney licked his hand, then slid his giant body along Lucian’s as though scent marking him. He slinked around and did the same with Theo, nearly knocking Theo off his feet as the cat pressed himself into Theo’s side, seeking pets. Theo obliged,sinking his hands into the beast’s fur and stroking down his back.
“You’re so beautiful,” Theo said. “Majestic.”
Barney whipped his head around at something behind him and snarled. Lucian grabbed Theo and took a step back as a dozen more cats of different colors, but similar sizes popped out of the ether in the clearing. Wings appeared on Barney’s back, glistening in rainbow array not unlike Theo’s, and he flapped them twice before leaping into the air and gliding to face off with the others.
“Can you hear them?” Theo whispered to Lucian.
“Only sort of?” Lucian frowned. “It’s like they aren’t speaking a language I know, but my mind is translating it slowly? It sounds like they are fighting over whether or not we belong here.”
“We don’t… I’m sorry. It’s my fault.”
“Hush, angel.”
Theo worried at his lower lip with his teeth, fearing Barney would have to fight a dozen others because Theo made the mistake of searching for him. But one by one, the other cats turned and vanished into the ether again. Only when the last disappeared did Barney put away his wings and stalk back to them.
“Your wings are amazing,” Theo told him. “I’m sorry I caused trouble.”
Barney huffed, glanced at Lucian and a portal appeared beside them.
“Thank you,” Lucian said. He tugged Theo toward the portal. “He’s sending us home.”
“Oh,” Theo said. “Thank you, Barney. I’m sorry for disturbing you. We just missed you. If you ever want to see us, please come visit. You’ll always have a place with us.” Theo stretched out his hand to scratch Barney’s ears.
Lucian dragged him through the portal, which closed behind them and left them standing in front of the cottage in the world between. Theo smiled up at Lucian, though his gaze turned blurry.
“Why are you crying, angel?”
“I miss him,” Theo said. “You miss him… and he’s amazing. More than I could imagine him ever being. It’s why he’s a creator and I’m not.”
