#i still hearing them meowing..I STILL HEARIN-

[amoratheskeleton]

Guys....

i have 14 cats

14 cats on Minecraft

MY GAME IS LAGGING SO HARD PEMSBDKAANAKAKKJ broo i just think that my friend hates me rn EHEHHHEHHEHEHEHHEHE😈😈

(the tags have silly things:3)

[izzy-b-hands]

Happy At Home-Part Seven

We’ve reached the end of this fic! The first multipart fic I’ve finished up completely in ages, actually. It has been an absolute joy to write, and has given me inspiration to attempt another sometime in the near future. Of course, I’ll be writing plenty of Sledgefu one-shots in the meantime-I still have a huge prompt list to work through!

Thanks to all who read/like/reblog, and I hope you enjoy this last part!

He awoke to the sound of yowling cats. 

“Now, we’re all gonna look nice for dinner, so you come back here!” Snafu’s voice echoed down the halls, along with sound of skittering claws. “All it is-come here-just a damn bow! You’ll look beautiful, Queen!” 

Slowly, Eugene rose from the couch. Little Sid was sitting in front of him, meowing pitifully as he tried to grab and eat the red bow tied around his neck. 

“What did Daddy do to you?” Eugene asked, picking him up and moving the bow to the back of his neck. “Better? Least you can run without it in your face then, right?” 

He set Little Sid down, who immediately flopped on his back and yowled. 

“Fine then. But it isn’t too tight, and you do look very nice. Give it a go, you might get used to it,” he replied. 

Little Sid fussed at his feet as he stood and left to find Snafu. 

The kitchen was empty-a mess, but empty of cats or his husband. A quick search of the fridge revealed most of the food-salad, rolls, dessert, and even the hated main dish ready to go and even plated nicely. 

The halls and the rest of the main floor were empty too, but bits of the hardwood flooring bore scratch marks. He was getting close. 

Finally, upstairs, he found Snafu-or more accurately, Snafu’s ass and legs, since the rest of him was under the bed in the master/now guest bedroom. 

“Queen! You are setting a bad example for Little Sid and Gunner, and I will not have it!” 

Gunner was on top of the bed, glaring down at Snafu’s lower half in between attempted bites at the bow messily tied around his neck. 

“You aren’t gonna let me fix that, are you?” Eugene asked as he gently pet Gunner. 

After a single pet, Gunner dashed away down the hall, apparently entirely fed up with both of his fathers. 

“Sledgehammer? How are you feelin’?” Snafu’s voice was muffled from under the bed. 

“Better. Still nervous, but not passin’ out anymore. How are you?” 

“Uh, I-fuckin’ ow-am tryin’ to deal with our fussy children, who apparently don’t want to look nice for their grandparents,” Snafu huffed as he crawled backwards out from under the bed, a gentle thunk letting Eugene know he’d hit his head at least once on the way out. 

“When did you get this idea, exactly?” 

“Finished the food, figured I shouldn’t waste the time I had left over. I may be startin’ to regret it, slightly,” Snafu sighed as he stood up. “How much time till they get here?” 

Eugene looked to his watch. “It is...uh. Four forty-five.” 

They both darted out and down the stairs, Queen and her lack of a bow utterly forgotten. 

“I should go brush my teeth again,” Eugene fussed as he worked to smooth Snafu’s wrinkled shirt. 

“If you want, but I think you’re fine. My hair though...” Snafu was plucking at his collar, where it had shifted as he’d slept on the couch. 

“Your hair is fine. Even if it was messy, you look cute with it that way,” Eugene replied. “Oh god. Are we ready? I’m not ready.” 

“We’re ready. We got this,” Snafu wrapped him in a hug. “What’s the worst that can happen?” 

“My parents disown me formally, tell everyone they know here about us so that we have to leave for our safety, and we have to run to find a new house and new jobs,” Eugene replied as he pressed a quick kiss to Snafu’s neck. 

Snafu let him go, and frowned. “Darlin’. I didn’t mean you were supposed to answer that.” 

“Sorry, nervous,” Eugene muttered. He was waiting for the sound of their car, the knock at the door, and it made him want to run and hide under the bed with Queen. 

“Just breathe. Better to go into it thinkin’ everything will go well. If it doesn’t...we’ll figure it out as we go,” Snafu replied. 

The sound of tires on the gravel made him leap out of his skin. 

“You go set the food out. Don’t think any of it needs warming, but you make that call. I’ll go to the door,” Snafu said. 

“I think I’m gonna be sick,” Eugene sighed heavily, willing himself not to run upstairs. 

“Long as you aren’t all over the food! Do what you have to, sweetheart,” Snafu called as he ran for the door. 

Setting out the food and the tableware was somewhat calming for the moment, until he heard their knock at the door. 

“Mr. and Mrs. Sledge! Come in-Eugene is just gettin’ the table ready. Hope you’re hungry! Let me take your coats, and can I get you both a drink?” Snafu seemed to have lost his confidence too. He only rambled like that when he was nervous. It was adorable, but Eugene felt for him at the same time. 

He walked out to the entry hall, even though every fiber of his being was screaming not to. He couldn’t leave Snafu to dangle like that though. 

“Mom, Dad,” he started awkwardly as he met up with them. 

Snafu’s eyes were wide, flitting from Eugene to Eugene’s parents as they both waited for a response. 

Finally, his father cleared his throat. “Bourbon, if you have it. And Eugene, you-” 

There was a beat, and then he could see tears in his father’s eyes just before he rushed forwards to hug him. 

“You have no idea how worried we were. Hearin’ every day about someone’s son coming home in a coffin. You being back, being here-” his father was holding back the tears now as he moved back a step, looking Eugene up and down as if he didn’t think he was entirely real. “I can’t tell you how happy it makes us.” 

For a moment, Eugene didn’t know where to go with it, what to say. “I-what about...I mean, I know Sid talked to you both, has probably talked to you a lot from the sounds of it-” 

“We’ve had some work to do,” his mother said, stepped forward to take his father’s place and wrap him up in a tight hug. “I admit, this is still...different, than what I ever expected for you. But you’re here, and alive, and if you’re as happy together as Sid says...” 

She stepped back, and shrugged awkwardly. “I suppose you can get used to anything new and different. Especially if it means you’re happy.” 

Snafu was frozen off to the side, and he jumped as Eugene’s mother turned to him. 

“Well? Come here, give me a hug. You’re family, so there’s no getting out of it,” she said, her arms open wide. 

Snafu stepped forward slowly, but grinned once she hugged him. “Ma’am, I can’t begin to tell you how nervous we were-” 

“Well, no need to be nervous anymore. We still need..a bit of time, but you should both know that we love you and want you happy and well. Speaking of, Eugene, do you not feed your husband?” 

Eugene let himself laugh, the tension in his shoulders and neck not quite gone. “I do. That’s just how he is.” 

“I’ll get you some recipes; we’ll fix it,” she said brightly. “Speaking of, what did you make for us?” 

“Something exotic, from your time away?” his father asked, and Eugene bit back another laugh. The idea of tossing an old, mud-covered ration onto their plates was something else, but he had a feeling that they’d try and eat them anyway, pretending all the while they liked them. 

“You both always loved ‘delicious combination’, right?” he asked right back. 

His father’s face paled slightly. “Oh, of course. A good war-time meal. Sensible, as we recover from rationing. I’m sure it is just as wonderful as your mother made it.” 

His mother wore a pained smile. “I didn’t think you liked that dish, Eugene.” 

Snafu cracked up, moving away from her as he laughed. “I can’t. I can’t take this anymore. All of y’all stop. I wasn’t gonna let him kill you with that shit.” 

“Then what the hell are we eating, Snaf darlin’?” Eugene asked, panicking. He hadn’t looked beyond the one shelf in the fridge in his nervousness, but he also couldn’t recall seeing any other dishes anywhere. 

“You missed it, didn’t you? Should be finishing up in the oven just about now, if I timed it right. Pardon me while I go check on it, and get you that drink, Mr. Sledge,” Snafu was all light and happiness, damn near bouncing as he pressed a soft kiss to Eugene’s cheek before moving past him to the kitchen. 

His parents were laughing. Smiling, laughing, happy as could be. It was the best shock he could have. 

“You better count your blessings,” his mother said. “He seems like a good one.” 

“I do, and he is,” Eugene replied, gesturing for them to follow him to the dining room to sit. “I don’t know what I’d do without him.” 

“Same, darlin’,” Snafu said, walking into the room from the kitchen just in time to hear him, the plate of meatloaf in his hands. “My mother always told me to find one who’s mother had raised them right. You did a hell of a job, Mrs. Sledge.” 

She blushed as Snafu set the plate down, whisked the ‘delicious combination’ away, and darted back into the kitchen. He was back a moment later with drinks for all of them, balanced carefully in his hands. 

“With a mouth like that, I can see why you like him, Eugene,” his mother started. 

He blushed immediately. He couldn’t help it. Snafu was red too, poorly hiding a grin behind his hand. 

“So complimentary. But that’s all a part of it-you talk sweet and hold each other up no matter what. I’m happy for you both,” she continued. “But, I have to admit, I’m still surprised neither of you came home before heading out together. Where would that have put you...” 

“Sid hasn’t told you my real name, has he?” Snafu smiled. “You can call me Merriell, if you’d rather ma’am.” 

“Merriell,” she said warmly. “So, where was home for you?” 

“New Orleans. Not much ‘home’ there though, if I’m honest. That’s Eugene now-home,” Snafu replied. “My parents haven’t even sent a letter back-and I know Eugene here sent one out to them for me, though I think he wanted that to be a secret from me.” 

Eugene gave him a look. “How the hell did you know? I only did it because I figured it couldn’t hurt for them to know where to send a letter, if they missed you.” 

“I don’t mind that you did it. It’s sweet. But honey-you really didn’t think I’d find it strange, you askin’ for their address and then sayin’ you were just curious?” Snafu grinned, and reached over to grab his hand and give it a squeeze. 

He grinned and squeezed back. “Okay, you got me. Still wish they would have sent somethin’ back though.” 

His parents looked down to their plates at that, and he wondered if they were thinking of the rather cold letters they’d sent him when he and Snafu had first been settling in Maryland. 

Snafu was back on his usual rhythm. “But let’s get to the food before we keep talkin’.” 

He held their hands for grace with no prompting, much to Eugene’s relief. They never said grace when it was just them-they’d gone over briefly that they simply didn’t feel the need for it themselves, but that they’d do it with others if they asked. 

For a bit, it was quiet except for the sound of forks scraping. It was calming-an utterly normal scene that he’d been so afraid he wouldn’t get: his parents and his husband meeting, sharing a meal, and everyone getting along. All was well, the sky was not falling, and it made his heart feel like it would burst. 

“How was it? Maryland?” his father asked. 

“Cold as hell in the winter,” Snafu sighed. “Gettin’ down here was a blessing. Winter without all the snow and ice is the only winter I wanna deal with!” 

“Eugene’s letters always made it sound so nice,” his mother interjected. “But your apartment-it wasn’t really that small, was it?” 

“It worked out fine enough. Was more irritatin’ paying so much for so little,” Snafu replied. “But honestly, we’ve been lucky. Lots of other Marines, they came home and if they couldn’t move back in with parents or friends...well. There’s just not enough room to go around, it seems. That’s why this was such a boon for us too.” 

“We couldn’t have found a house back in Maryland,” Eugene said. “Nothing like this, but nothing smaller either. We never could have afforded it, not if we wanted to save anything.” 

“Well, I’m glad you both took us up on this, then. Better to have the room available, for guests and whatnot. Eugene mentioned a few other housemates-where are the cats?” his father asked, peering down to his feet as he took a bite out a roll. 

It was Snafu’s turn to blush again. “I-well, let me start by sayin’ I wanted them to look nice for you. We got a bit dressed up, figured they should too. Just a little bow, not too tight. I think they might be hiding, or I’d show you. Got ‘em on two out of the three, anyway.” 

“Oh, you didn’t,” his mother laughed. “Now how long did that take?” 

“Probably longer than it should have. I’m not a quitter; I wanted them to look nice for tonight,” Snafu smiled. “If you really want to see them, I bet I can find them.” 

“You do that, and I’ll get dessert. Wait’ll you have what Sna-Merriell’s made for you. You’ll never want any other dessert, I promise,” Eugene said as Snafu left the table, calling for the cats. 

He cleared away the dishes, and by the time he was back out with the beignets and a new set of plates and silverware for everyone, Snafu had returned with Little Sid in his arms. 

“Say hello to Little Sid. Sid, say hi to your grandparents,” Snafu instructed. Somehow, the bow was still on Little Sid, though it seemed to bear a few runs from his fangs. 

His mother and father doted over the cat as though he was a proper grand baby, standing from the table to go pet him and compliment his bow. Little Sid was purring loud enough he could hear it from across the room, and it brought out the other two after a few moments. 

“Who is this?” his father said, reaching down to pick up Gunner as he entered the dining room, his bow askew. “Not a fan of your bow, are you?” 

Gunner meowed pitifully, but turned it into a purr as his father gently took off the bow. “There we are. You’re just as adorable without it, not that I don’t appreciate your effort, Merriell.” 

“It was an ill-fated idea,” Snafu replied with a chuckle. “But I think doin’ that just made you Gunner’s new best friend.” 

Queen was the last to trot in, her bow in her mouth, picked up from wherever Snafu must have abandoned it. 

His mother squealed at sight of her. “Oh my word! Look at you! This must be Queen! And what a fitting name.” 

She kneeled down to pet Queen. “I’m happy to be turning over my house to royalty.” 

“And us,” Eugene said.

“Listen to that-they talk as if you don’t run the house. That’s okay, we both know the truth,” his mother said to Queen, who was purring just as loud as the other two now. 

“Alright, the kids oughta get to bed now,” Eugene interjected. He was glad they liked the cats, but there would be more opportunities for them to come by and spoil them relentlessly. And what a happy thing to think of, too. “Dessert’s on as well.” 

“You heard your father. Off to bed with the three of you,” Snafu said gently, letting Little Sid down. 

Queen led the way, Gunner followed, and Little Sid trotted after them both, and his mother squealed again. 

“They’re just the sweetest,” she sighed as they sat back down. “Be careful though-some of the cats from the next few roads over always have a habit of makin’ it over here. You might end up with kittens that way.” 

Snafu’s expression could only be described as pure joy. 

“We would not be able to keep all the kittens,” Eugene said. 

“Of course not-we’d give one to Sid, one to your folks here, and one to your brother. Then we’d keep the rest,” Snafu replied. 

Eugene could only shake his head as he dished everyone up, and watched for his parent’s reactions. 

“You made these?” his father asked. 

“Yessir. I do quite often too. Your son has a hell of a sweet tooth,” Snafu replied. “If you’d like, I could make sure to parcel some up from the next batch and we could bring them on over to you.” 

“That would be very kind of you, dear. When you’re over for dinner at ours, why don’t you bring them then?” his mother asked. 

That caught Eugene’s ear. “Dinner?” 

“Well, we’ve got to return this favor and have you over. We’ll have to take turns, every couple of Sundays or something like that. We’ll invite Sid and his fiancee over too, for the next one.” 

He reached for Snafu’s hand under the table, out of sight of his parents, and squeezed it tightly. “That sounds wonderful, Mom. We’d be honored.” 

The conversation went on for another hour after that-thankfully, they didn’t bring up the war too much. Eugene didn’t think it would have ruined the night, but it would have been a dark topic for such a happy night. And now, there would be other nights to let the conversation go late, to serious topics and feelings. 

Once his parents had been escorted to their car by the two of them, and they were back in the house flopped on the couch in the sitting room, himself laying in Snafu’s lap, he finally completely relaxed. 

“That was...it went so well! I never expected-oh my God,” he was stuttering as Snafu played with his hair, smiling gently. “I feel like a huge weight is off my chest.” 

“Same. I was worried, but my god, you have the nicest parents I’ve ever met,” Snafu said. 

“How many parents have you met?” Eugene teased. 

“None except yours, if I’m honest, but I do know what nasty parents are like. You got good ones,” Snafu replied. 

“I’ve got so much good in my life, don’t I?” Eugene sighed. “Between you, them, the cats, Sid, Burgin-how the hell did I get so lucky?” 

“You’re good yourself. You just attract it to you,” Snafu’s eyes were gazing down at his, radiating love. It was wonderful and so intense he almost couldn’t take it. 

“That’s how we found each other-two good people, pulled together by that force,” Eugene said quietly. 

Snafu nodded. “Not gonna be good tonight though.” 

“My parents literally just left-” 

“I know, which is good, because I can’t wait any longer to get you out of that uniform,” Snafu replied. “We haven’t properly broken in the bed yet, and that’s bad luck Sledgehammer.” 

“You are somethin’ else,” Eugene laughed, standing from the couch. 

“And you love it,” Snafu grinned.

He did. But right at that moment, reflecting on it all, it was not just Snafu, but everything about how things were now-they were happy, in a beautiful home, with family and friends that cared about them. 

It was a very pure sort of happiness, and he loved that he was able to feel it so strongly, with someone he loved so much.

[raph-fangirl]

A Tale of the Shapeshifters

previously - chapter ii

~~~

Athena Everleigh is a young girl living in Dublin, Ireland in 1905. She tricks her parents into letting her work for a mysterious man–Sir Claudius–in a castle not far away from the local village. But, unbeknownst to both, Athena and Sir Claudius are shapeshifters. Will this strange relationship between a half-human/half-cat and half-human/half-dragon… work itself out?

~~~

Also available on:

Fictionpress.com

Wattpad.com

Quotev.com

~~~

Chapter III - Beochaoineadh Castle

Morning light never touched Mrs. Everleigh’s side of the bed lest it was made. Even before the birds began their twittering, she had already risen, candle in hand, headed her way out the door. It was a daily ritual--something she had done since her first footsteps, without shoes, without proper garments, and without hesitation. She traveled through her trail in the woods--several miles, her pace never surpassing a brisk trot--and always back in time to make breakfast. The only pride she ever carried was the mud stuck to the back of her heels.

Not two minutes had Mrs. Everleigh been out of the house when a sleek gray cat sneaked into her room. She groomed herself--tufts of silk fur flew up into the air, bouncing around and around like flurries of pollen in spring.

Mr. Everleigh sniffled.

The cat paused, batting her silvery blue eyes. One of her white paws hung in mid-air. Then he began to snore, and so she commenced grooming.

Eventually, Mr. Everleigh’s snores fell out of rhythm. He took several short breaths between each one, almost heaving for air. During these breaths, his chin jolted up and his beard stuck straight out. The cat continued to watch, her eyes tracing each slight muscle movement.

Only two or three minutes had passed and Mr. Everleigh began to have a coughing fit. He rolled over to the other side of the bed, groaning all the way. It frightened the cat so, and she dashed out of the room, claws scraping the floor.

Mr. Everleigh shook awake, sneezing and coughing one right after the other. Athena heard him from the hallway.

“Father?” she called, peering in through the doorway.

He groaned into the pillow which caused feathers to fly out.

“Oh, Father, are you alright?” Athena came to his bedside.

Mr. Everleigh turned his head toward the girl, laying one swollen red eye on her. He then sucked in through his nose and heaved again.

“Is it because of the spring blossoms?” she asked, rubbing the back of his hand. “Is there anything I can do for you?”

He tried to mutter something when one of Athena’s younger sisters entered the room. Rubbing her eyes and yawning, the little one spoke: “What’s wrong with Pa?”

“Oh, he’s just a little tired is all, me little one. Go back to bed.”

“But it sounded like he was a-coughin’, Annie--”

“You’re just hearin’ things. Fetch me some water, won’t you? I’m thirsty.”

“Alright, Annie.”

Athena listened until the toddler’s footsteps no longer could be heard. She then faced her father, who had fallen back asleep.

“Father. Father!” She placed her hands on his back and shook him until he woke.

“What? What is it?” He sat straight up, his bloodshot eyes searching around the room. “Ach! Blasted headache!”

Mr. Everleigh began to reach for his temples when Athena placed her hand in his. “Father.”

“What?” He stared at her for a few moments, until he realized who she was. “Athena!” he called and his face softened. The deep lines around his forehead and brows disappeared. “What is it, my daughter?”

“Today we are supposed to go to Beochaoineadh Castle, Father.”

“Oh, not today, my darling,” he said, placing himself back down in bed as though it were made of rotten, splintery wood. “Ah! Oh!”

“But, Father! You promised!” Athena pouted. She climbed up next to the old man until her silvery blue eyes challenged his red-brown ones.

“Athena, my darling, Father is in pain.” His eyes bulged out first, then squeezed shut together while he rubbed his fingers over his lower back.

“Hmph!” She climbed over to her mother’s side of the bed and rolled off. Her little sister waited at the door.

“Here, Annie.”

“T’ank you, little one. When Ma comes home, tell her I’ve gone to town,” she whispered. The little girl nodded, so Athena took the pail and shooed her away.

She came to her Father’s side.

“What is that, darling?” He tilted his head forward.

“Water, freshly drawn.” She sloshed the liquid around in the pail a few times.

“Oh, how marvelous of you! You are a kind and gentle one--” he reached for it, but she hid it behind her back.

“Only… only if you let me go today--by myself.” The girl stuck her nose in the air and shut her eyes, almost looking like a lady.

Mr. Everleigh sighed. “Now, darling, please don’t be this way. You know I do everything in the world for you. We shall go another day when I feel better.”

“But you promised today--”

“I know what I promised!” he shouted. The blood veins on his arms crept up and he stared at the ceiling.

Athena still held her ground, but the pail began to sink and her eyes moved to the floor. Mr. Everleigh braced himself for the tears, but there were none.

Instead, she slammed the pail on the ground, took hold of her skirts and twisted them into tight little balls, whispering, “If you do not let me go alone, I will tell Mother what you told me last night.”

And with that, Mr. Everleigh succumbed to not one, but two women of the household.

~~~

What brought awe to Athena’s eyes upon viewing Beochaoineadh Castle was not its size--for she had viewed greater architecture during trips to visit family in London--but rather its style. She had only ever seen it from a distance, on her way to the market, just as everyone else in the town had. But there were certain nuances about it that caught her attention when viewing it up close. The cold and bold bricks lining the outside told her to never return. There were even multiple fortresses surrounding the lower portions of the castle, as though guarding something. Of course, there were other castles like this in Ireland--she had seen them!--but they always looked to be in use. Vines twisted around Beochaoineadh Castle’s lower quarters, and there was a sharp cliff dropping off its backside, leading into the ocean.

Athena had always loved the ocean. She had loved the sound of the waters slamming into cliffs as a little girl. But the water was so near and so loud that it pounded in her eardrums. She could not hear the birds singing or the wind rustling or the sounds of the nearby town. Beochaoineadh Castle drowned every feeling from her soul--every feeling except that which continued to propel her forward.

Her shoes dug into the dark gravel, making a sound like scratching. It looked like the gravel had never been walked on: there were no wheel marks, horse prints, or even footsteps to be found. She took the large door handle and lifted it, but the door opened on its own.

The black inside sucked the light from her face, feeding off her warmth. Her breath became mist that traveled beyond what she could see. She almost wanted to reach out and touch the blackness to test its thickness, but even without touching, she felt it enveloping her everywhere.

The wind pushed Athena inside and the door closed behind her, ultimately enshrouding her in total darkness. She had not anticipated changing into a cat, especially upon greeting her future Master, but she had no other choice. The girl leaped into the air, in a diving position, then landed on her paws. Her dress fell into neat ruffles on the floor and her shoes lay right beside them. She would have to fetch them later. She sniffed around, searching for any kind of scent that wasn’t must or rotting stone. There. Her fur pricked up. Even in the dark, surrounded by dust-coated, ancient walls, she would always recognize that primal, earthy scent. It clogged her nostrils, fresh and alive. Fire.

Athena sprinted, placing one paw in front of the other. The stone under her was so cold she must have been running on a frozen lake. She followed the scent of burning wood but, eventually, began following the feeling of warmth instead. Her ears perked. Almost there. Just a few more leaps. The stone beneath her paws became lighter in tone--the fire was near.

Athena stopped, almost toppling over on herself. She felt a presence. Could it have been Sir Claudius?

She sniffed and scouted the area, noticing bleak furniture in the corner of her eye. They led to another room. I must be in the Grand Hall now, and that room there must be where the flames are coming from, she thought.

Pitter-pattering on over toward the light, Athena listened for breathing, for movement, for anything. She knew that someone was here, but who? And, where?

If only I could meow and get their attention! But that wouldn’t work because--

“*Púca!” a man roared.

Athena reared at the dark and savage sound, her back arching and her fur sticking up as high as the rocky cliffs on the ocean shore. She sprinted all the way back through the grand hall to her clothes. Sprawling herself out on the ground, she transformed back into a human once again. She could no longer see but at least her bare body cooled down as she laid on the stone.

Once her breathing became normal again, Athena rolled over and sat up. She began to put the dress over her head. “Agh…” she groaned upon putting her arm through the hole meant for her head.

Eventually, the dress and shoes fit snug. She stood up and pushed what she believed to be the door when, like an orchestra’s crescendo suddenly being cut off, she stopped.

Athena turned, walked forward a few steps, and squinted.

“Cats may be better at the smellin’, but man’s better at the seein’,” she whispered to herself, giggling nervously. “That is, far…” she lifted up onto her tip-toes “far away.”

How did he know that I was a púca?

* Púca (Irish for spirit/ghost; plural púcaí) … is primarily a creature of Celtic folklore. Considered to be bringers both of good and bad fortune, they could help or hinder rural and marine communities. Púcaí can have dark or white fur or hair. The creatures were said to be shape-changers, which could take the appearance of horses, goats, cats, dogs, and hares. They may also take a human form, which includes various animal features, such as ears or a tail.