A Winter Story: The Christmas Kitten--Amazing Grace by Athelas Hale

In celebration of Christmas, I invited readers to write a story about the painting below. Enjoy the short stories submitted and have a Merry Christmas!

The Christmas Kitten

(Amazing Grace)

by

Athelas Hale

     Cold did not care if a person was great or insignificant, on a mission, or meandering without a goal through the snow.

It was, perpetually and without change, cold.

     Simon was neither great nor quite insignificant, exactly on a mission or entirely goalless. There was something he needed to accomplish, but he was not sure if it counted as a mission, as he did not know quite how or when it would end, nor how to go about it.

      His mission lent itself as an easy target for his conscience. It was not something he liked to do.

     His mission was treachery.

     But still, what was a cat to do? A starving cat, no less! Turn down the promise of food and take death instead as a reward? Besides, surely befriending a little girl was not wrong—and what happened to her afterwards was not his concern.

      He shook the snow off his fur, moving toward the shelter of a pine tree that could have covered a town.

     On the horizon, he could see a faint trail of smoke rising up to meet the clouds, marking the place where the girl, Aoko, and her aunt had taken refuge after the invasion of their homeland.

     He had heard stories about it, of course. Of how the attacking armies were not there one moment, and the next had almost won the day. Of how the Golden Lady was the one commanding them.

     Stories about her had been common when he was merely a tiny kitten. It was said that she needed an anchor to come to any world, and if it was killed, she would be vulnerable.

     The difference this time was that people said there was no anchor.

     “Uncanny,” he had heard some of the less superstitious say. The more superstitious people, well, they were out of the area before they could make any such comment.

     The King and Queen did not live long, but one of the knights of the king had managed to smuggle the Princess and her nursemaid, the king’s sister, out.

     And that was where it left Simon.

     He was to be the one to draw them back in.

     Sitting beneath a pine branch, Simon curled his tail around his feet and began to clean one of his paws. The smoke trailing upwards lazily gave him a clear direction, to go, but at the moment, sitting under the tree and grooming himself seemed like a much more enjoyable activity.

If there was anything that he had learned in his eight months of life, it was that it never hurt to take your time when stalking something.

Finishing with one paw, which was already quite clean from walking through the thick snow, Simon moved to the next, still absently watching the smoke rise.

After a long moment of preening, he got to his feet and shook himself. He had better start, then, if he was wanted to get it over with.

After looking accusingly at the falling snowflakes for a few seconds, Simon gave himself one last lick on his paw and sauntered off toward the house with the self-assurance that only a cat can manage.

He moved along beside the pine trees, his ears pricked forward as he topped the hill that hid the house.

A barn stood beside it, clearly declaring it’s identity by the chickens in the yard beside it and the doorway that let them into the building.

A yellow hen looked at him suspiciously, but he ignored her and walked to the back of the barn, and then toward the house, walking along the wall toward the front of it.

He heard a man’s voice.

All of his self-assurance fled for an instant, and he watched the house expectantly. He had not been told that there would be a man there, and men tended to be far more suspicious than a woman and a girl would be of an innocent cat.

Nothing happened for several seconds.

Glancing around, Simon crept along the wall toward the front of the house, listening. A girl was speaking now—no, a woman.

“Aoko, come say good bye to Ohdran,” she said.

‘Okay. Bye, Sir Ohdran,” a little girl’s voice called out.

So it was Sir Ohdran, the knight who had managed to get the girl’s out. At least he was leaving.

Simon walked to the corner of the house and peered out at the people. His eyes immediately found the eight year old Princess, the un-crowned Queen, tightening the horse’s saddle.

“Aoko, don’t touch that!” The woman standing beside her said, lunging forward and swatting Aoko’s hands away.

Sir Ohdran raised his eyebrows, leaning over and loosening the too-tight saddle.

Satsuki huffed, placing her hands on her hips. “You try staying with her for weeks on end and not snap sometimes.”

Aoko dashed away and then stopped a couple of steps from the two of them and the horse.

Ohdran shrugged, straightening. “I like my job.”

“I was just trying to help,” Aoko said, spreading her arms as though they were wings and turning.

Satsuki sighed, lowering her arms. “Okay, Aoko. I’m sorry I snapped.”

The princess turned back, ducking under the horse that, but now, appeared quite used to it, and grabbing Satsuki’s hands. “It’s okay, I forgive you.”

Satsuki smiled a bit, shaking her hands loose of Aoko’s grasp.

“Good bye, Princess,” Ohdran said, mounting his horse. “Good bye, Satsuki.”

“Bring us news of how things are going as soon as you can,” Satsuki said softly.

Ohdran nodded. “I will.”

“Good bye,” Satsuki said, drawing Aoko away from the horse. Ohdran turned and started at a slow trot, gaining speed until Simon could not see him anymore.

“Okay, Aoko,” Satsuki said, catching one of the girl’s hands before she could rush off again. “Let’s go inside.”

“Oh, please, can’t I stay out just a little bit longer?” Aoko said, dragging her feet in the snow.

Satsuki turned, shaking her hair out of her face and looking at Aoko. “Don’t be silly. You haven’t even got a coat on.”

Aoko spread her one free arm to show her cloak. “I have my cloak,” she said, as though her actions needed the added narration.

Simon laid his head on his paws, watching them through half closed eyes.

Satsuki pressed her lips together, her gaze softening. “Yes, and it’s a very pretty cloak, Aoko, but it doesn’t keep you warm. That’s not what it was made to do.”

Aoko looked around. “It’s not that cold.”

Satsuki released the princess’s hand, leaning over to brush snow from the top of her head. “Not that cold?”

“Well…”

“No, Aoko. Let’s go.”

That was his cue. Standing, Simon walked forward a couple of steps. The two girls moved toward the door again, not looking his way.

“Meow.”

Aoko stopped and turned toward Simon, her eyes round as full-moons. “Oh! Satsuki!”

Satsuki turned toward Simon, pausing for a moment before saying, “Oh. Hullo, cat.”

Simon looked at her for a moment before giving a small, “Meow,” and moving towards them slowly.

Not too fast.

“Oh, Satsuki, can we keep it?”

Simon repressed a small snort, drawing to a stop in front of them and looking up at Satsuki. “Meow.”

She laughed, crouching to look Simon in the eye. “Oh, you’re friendly, eh?”

Aoko crouched next to Satsuki, clasping her hands in front of herself. “Oh,” she said. “He looks hungry.”

“Aye, that he is, I think,” Satsuki said. She glanced at Aoko and then extended her hand toward Simon. He moved forward and rubbed his head against her palm, purring loudly enough that she would have no trouble hearing.

She pet him for a moment, and then stood, looking at Aoko. “We can feed him, but he’s not coming inside.”

Aoko considered this proposition for a moment, and then nodded.

Simon sat on the hard-packed snow where they had walked and watched them go into the house.

As they entered, the house, Aoko turned and waved at Simon. Then the door swung shut.

Simon stood without moving for a few seconds and then walked over to the house, laying down by the wall and using it to block the wind.

He glanced toward the door, and odd sense of pride growing. And some people thought he could not do anything. Well, this was one job that he would not botch.

~

Ohdran crouched on the snow, running his fingers along the flat surface beside the footprints absently.

“Oh come Thou rod of Jesse free,” he muttered, standing and stepping back to where his horse waited, “Thine own from Satan’s tyranny.”

Mounting quickly, he steered the horse to follow where the prints of a large animal—appearing to be a wolf from the tracks—led.

“The third time,” the Golden Lady had sworn, “It will not only destroy property. You will start losing your people.”

And they had. Jon the carpenter’s son and the woman who sold ribbons had been taken by whatever the Golden Lady had sent.

Ohdran laid his hand on his horse’s neck, able to feel the tenseness within him. The horse smelled their quarry. “How long?” He asked the grey, brooding sky. It did not deem him worthy of an answer.

The horse shied away to the side and Ohdran sighed, sliding off his back and grasping his bridle, leading him onward. “Come on, Jacob. You’re a trained stallion. You’ll manage.”

“If you continue to refuse me, there won’t be anyone left to agree. You know I would not hesitate to kill you all.”

Glancing behind at Jacob, Ohdran shook his head. “Pleasant woman, that, eh?”

It had taken too long to get there. If only he had been able to arrive a day or two earlier, he could have been able to stop the Lady’s agent.

Balling his hands into fists, he turned to follow the tracks of the beast.

Breathe. Remember your training.

Taking a breath, Ohdran kept after the tracks. Aoko and Satsuki needed supplies, and to be checked on. He could never be too careful with them.

Keep your head clear for combat. Don’t regret what’s already happened. Do something to fix it if you can, if not, don’t let it affect what comes next.

Surely there was more relating to that situation, but nothing came to mind.

“We said no again. We won’t serve her, no matter what she does.”

Ohdran glances around at the destruction the animal had caused. “What was it?”

Rokurou shrugs. “Some say ‘twas a wolf. Some say it had two heads. Some say it breathed fire. Some say it flew.”

Ohdran exhales, tightening his grip on Jacob’s lead rope. “If she comes again…”

Rokurou’s voice is as lifeless as a piece of wood. “We will never pledge our allegiance to her. Our queen is our queen, and we will follow her.”

“I’m going to track the beast,”

~

“Here you go, kitty. Good kitty.”

“I do have a name, you know,” Simon snapped. He immediately regretted his tone and his words. He had managed to get along without speaking for the past three days, and now he had to go and bungle the girl’s trust by speaking.

Aoko leaned back to look at him. “You can talk?”

“Yes,” Simon said, crouching in the snow and knowing quite suddenly that, yes, he had failed this time, too. Whether he wanted to do it or not, it hurt that he had failed again.

“Oh.” She regarded him silently for a moment, and then said, “What is your name?”

He raised his head. “Simon,” he said in a low voice.

“I’m Aoko.”

“I know.”

“How old are you?”

“Eight months. How old are you?”

“I’m eight years.” Aoko cocked her head to one side. “Are you really eight months?”

“It’s older than you were at eight months old. I’m… like a twelve year old human.”

She leaned back, thinking about it for a moment, and then nodded. “Okay.”

Simon slowly stood. He had not expected her to accept it so readily.

“Do you want to be my friend? I only have Satsuki, and Sir Ohdran, and they’re much older than me.”

Simon stared at her for a moment, and then nodded quickly. “I do want to be your friend, so very much.”

“Good,” Aoko said, brushing the snow off her hands and pushing the bowl of food toward Simon. “I have to go inside once Satsuki is done feeding the chickens, but I’ll be back soon.”

Simon looked at the barn where Satsuki had gone to feed their animals, the chickens that he had seen earlier and a goat. “Do you know tag?” He asked, turning back to face Aoko.

“Yes.”

He darted forward, letting his head touch her knee quickly before springing away lightly. “Catch me, then.”

She swung around toward him. “That’s not fair.”
Freezing, he looked back at her. Don’t be mad, he pleaded silently.

“You have to warn me first. Like this.” She lunged forward.

Simon sprang away quickly, the hair on his back standing on end. Aoko scrambled after him, and he had to fight the instinct to run without looking back. He had forgotten how it felt to be hunted, even in play.

She moved forward, and he darted away, watching Aoko closely.

Slowly, she moved closer to him.

“Aoko, don’t chase the kitty,” Satsuki called. The wind caught the barn door and slammed it as though to emphasize her point.

Aoko sighed, turning toward Satsuki. “”We were playing chase.”

Satsuki adjusted her grip on the bucket of eggs. “Were you,” she said. She held out one hand and Aoko skipped over there, grabbing her fingers and swinging their arms. “You can play tag when you come back out. How about some breakfast now, hm?”

“Okay. Bye!” She waved her one free hand as they approached the door. Simon watched them until the door closed on Aoko’s words of, “His name’s Simo--.”

He watched the door for half a heartbeat, and then wandered over to his food, laying down beside it and eyeing it glumly.

She really did want to be his friend.

“Simon.”

His head jerked up, and he looked around quickly. Though he had heard that voice only once, he knew who it was.

The Golden Lady.

She laughed. “What, Simon, did you think I would come into plain sight? I’m behind the barn.”

Glancing once at his food, Simon stood and padded silently over there.

She stood, leaning against the barn, all pretty against the muddy snow, all dangerous in the safety.

“I’ve been watching you, and you’ve done your job quite well.”

Simon shifted awkwardly. Praise from the Lady would have a catch, he was sure.

“I want you to deliver her to me on the other side of the river the day after tomorrow.”

Two more days. He would have to deal with this for two more days? “Why can’t it happen here?” He asked, trying to keep his ears from laying back. He was not scared.

“Oh, stop trying to look tough, Simon.” She crouched, looking Simon in the eyes. “Legally, she’s not dead unless she’s killed on her own land, or her body is shipped back. These people are more stubborn than mules, and I don’t think they would believe me if I brought her body back. We need to establish the fact that it is, without a doubt, her.”

Simon shrank away from her gaze, direction a small “mew” toward the snow. “All right,” he said to the Golden Lady.

“Very good.  You’ll be rewarded when you have her there on time.” She stood. Simon looked up at her and she smiled. “I’m not going to play the cliché villainess so I’ll have to leave the rest up to your imagination.”

Simon nodded slightly, his ears flattening against his head. He snorted very softly and pricked them forward again, kneading the ground with his paws.

“Good day.” The Lady stood and walked away.

Simon scurried off to the front of the house again, not caring to see any more of her.

Two days. He stopped in front of the door, looking at it. They would have to start in the afternoon if they wanted to get there on time. Would she come?

He lay next to the door, glancing disinterestedly at his food.

For the first time in a long time, he was not hungry.

~

“Well, Jacob,” Ohdran glanced at his horse, waving his hand at the clear banks of the river. “The track ends here. Where to now, do you think?”

Jacob nickered softly, stamping one foot.

“Mm,” Ohdran said, walking up the banks a couple of steps. “It has to be around here somewhere.”

Jacob, ever the practical horse, did not offer any comment, and Ohdran sighed. “It isn’t around here anymore, is it? You’re too calm, you know.” Sighing softly, he shook his head and walked further down the bank, scanning the snow for any sign that a large beast had wandered by.

Nothing.

Ohdran turned and walked back the way he had come, looking at the snow. There were no tracks.

Shaking his head, he stepped back to beside Jacob, grasping the saddle horn and pulling himself onto Jacob’s back.

He hated to start over, but he might find something he had missed if he started at the town again.

The Golden Lady might also decide to show up with another of her dramatic speeches. If she continued with her previous pattern, today would be the day.

“Let’s ride,” he said softly, leaning over. Jacob acknowledged the command to gallop, and they hurried back toward the town.

The castle was broken down, an empty shell. It had never been too glorious, as it was not a rich kingdom and the people could use the money more than an elaborate castle could.

“Sir Ohdran, you’re back just in time.”

Ohdran twisted around in his seat as Rokurou ran up. “What’s happening?”

“The Lady is giving another of her inspiring speeches,” Rokurou said darkly.

Ohdran glanced toward the center of the town and dismounted, not bothering with a lead rope and leading Jacob by his bridle.

People had gathered in a dark, angry crowd, and Ohdran stopped near the back, looking at the Lady who stood on the top of the platform that was set up long ago for the very purpose of giving speeches. There was a distinctly dangerous murmuring in the crowd as she stepped forward, and Ohdran realized that she had yet to start.

After a few seconds, the crowd quieted.

“People of the land behind the river,” she began, “what you have been through is just the beginning.”

“She certainly got to the point,” Ohdran muttered under his breath.

“You say you are a people who will not fall. I will have your allegiance if I have to kill all but one of you. In the reign of your king Haichi the Eighth, he established a law that said if you majority of people agreed to succeed or pledge allegiance to a person other than the reigning monarch, it can be done as the majority says, a majority being defined as four fifths of the country. If you do swear allegiance, the raids will stop and peace can return to your land.”

Someone from the crowd ahead of Ohdran shouted, “We still have our princess!”

There were murmurs through the crowd and then another person started the chant, “Princess Aoko!”

The crowd joined in, the sound echoing throughout the city.

Ohdran did not move, keeping his eyes fixed on the Lady’s face. Something was wrong.

“Ah, yes, your princess. I was just getting to that.”

She smiled.

The crowd quieted, shifting and looking nervously up at her. They could see the same thing Ohdran could see: she looked way too sure of herself.

“I have found your princess. She will be present the day after tomorrow…” She paused dramatically. “To be killed.”

“You’re lying!” A woman shouted without a second’s hesitation.

“No, dear, I don’t lie. Unless you swear allegiance to me now, she will die on Christmas eve.”

Ohdran glanced around quickly, his eyes quickly locking on the Lady’s face again.

She smiled, turning to face him completely. “Yes, Sir Ohdran. Gallop off to see if she’s all right, but you won’t be able to get there in time. You can try, or, if you think I’m bluffing…” She spread her hands. “It’s your choice.”

Ohdran turned, quickly mounting Jacob. The people talked quietly among themselves, looking at him expectantly as though he would tell them that, no, the princess was safe.

But he didn’t know.

Standing in the stirrups, he looked the Lady in the eyes, but what he shouted was more for the benefit of the crowd. “We do not yield!”

He turned, and galloped toward one of the crossings in the river.

She was not bluffing. It would be too risky for her, and she knew what she was doing.

~

“It’s going to be Christmas soon,” Aoko said.

Simon stood, head cocked to one side, and waited as she carefully lay on the snow.

“The day after tomorrow is going to be Christmas Eve, and after that is Christmas.”

She moved her arms and legs up and down and then scrambled to her feet, pointing at the imprint on the snow she had made. “It’s an angel. Satsuki taught me how to make it.”

Simon glanced around. “Where is Satsuki?”

“She’s bringing the chickens some water. Theirs froze.”

“How long will it take her?”

Aoko moved to another patch of clean snow and dropped onto it again. “It takes her a long time.”

“Aoko, I have something very important to tell you.” Simon sat down on the snow, watching her.  She sat up, her “snow angel” half finished and looked at him. “You’re a princess. A queen, really.”

She nodded. “I know.”

“So you have to be very brave sometimes, like right now.”

“Why?”

Simon paused, not sure if her question was, “Why should I be brave?” or “Why should I be brave right now?” He glanced at her, noting the way she looked at him, her head cocked to one side, and decided to skip it. “I know Ohdran, and he needs you to go to the bridge right away.”

“Oh!” She was on her feet in an instant. “I’ll go tell Satsuki!”

Simon bounded towards the barn door, blocking her before she could manage to get more than a few steps. “No!” He said, perhaps a bit too loud. He glanced quickly toward the barn, half expecting Satsuki to hurry out to find who had been speaking. A moment passed, and nothing happened. He turned back toward Aoko. “Ohdran said to bring you, not Satsuki,” Simon said quickly, trying to ignore the sick feeling growing in his stomach.

“Oh.” She cocked her head further to one side, as though considering his words.

“He said to hurry, though.”

She stood frozen for a second, and then nodded quickly, turning and darting toward the open land. “Let’s go!”

“No!” Simon said, running to intercept her.

Aoko stopped, turning. “Why?”

“We need food and a horse. “ He paused. “You do have a horse, don’t you?”

She nodded, and Simon felt relief fill him. If they had a horse, they would be able to make it in time.

“He’s in the barn,” Aoko said. “I’ll get him.”

She skipped in that direction and Simon bit back a growl, hurrying to stop her. “Aoko,” he said. Did this child know nothing about stealth?

The barn door opened, and a chicken fluttered out, quickly herded back in by Satsuki. Simon looked at her and she glanced over at Aoko, waved, and picked up her bucket.

Simon sat down, the picture of innocence, and watched her cross the yard and go behind the house to where the well was.

As soon as she had turned the corner, Simon was on his feet again. “Hurry!” He said.

Aoko glanced at him, and then scampered inside the barn, pausing before the door to push it open and then hurrying to the horse without closing it.

Simon paused, sniffing the air. “Do you keep your food here, too?”

Aoko shook her head. “Don’t be silly. The cellar’s under the barn.”

Simon looked at the horse, wearing some sort of coat and no bridle. “Can you put the bridle on?”

Aoko looked at the horse, pursing her lips, and then nodded.

“Good!” Simon padded across the floor, ignoring the chickens and the goat, and found the trap door. It was not locked, but he still had a hard time getting it open, having to pry it open with his claws and keep it from falling back into place after he had raised it some.

Finally he got it open and dropped down into it, ignoring the ladder, and looked around. The first things he saw were vegetables, cheese, and meat, and a bag hung on a hook on the wall. He grabbed the bag, pulling it off the hook with his teeth and hoping that the torn handles would not hurt anything, put the most readily available food there before latching onto the top of it and dragging it back up the ladder.

Aoko had managed to get the bridle on the horse by the time he reached the top. It looked strange, not like Simon remembered over bridles looking, but he dismissed it and carried the bag of food he had thrown together over to Aoko.

“Don’t put on a saddle,” he said, glancing at the door. Satsuki would be back too soon for that. “Just get on.”

Aoko stood still for a moment, looking up at the tall stallion, and Simon sighed, climbing up one of the barn supports and dropping the food over the horse’s back.

Aoko dragged a barrel over there and climbed onto the horse’s back using it.

Simon sat behind her, watching her. “Do you know how to ride?”

“Sort of,” she said, but she sounded doubtful. “Satsuki is teaching me.”

Simon blinked, and then crouched, holding onto the blanket with his claws. This would have to do.

“Start,” he said.

The horse trotted out of the barn, Aoko sitting as still as she could manage.

“We need to hurry,” Simon said.

Satsuki came around the corner, hauling a bucket of water. She froze for a second, and then dropped the bucket of water, running toward them.

“Hold on,” Simon said. He extracted his claws from the blanket and hit the horse hard with them.

Aoko ducked against the horse and held on as tight as she could, and Simon crouched against the blanket, digging his claws into the material again and trying not to fall.

The horse, he was sure, was breaking all speed records.

Satsuki ran after them for a couple of steps, and then slowed and stopped, staring after them for a moment before starting to run again. She would not catch them, though, Simon was sure.

The bag with the food started to slide, but Simon caught it in his teeth and hung on.

This was going to be a miserable ride, with all the bouncing and the bag pulling at his teeth.

But he would bear it. He would get Aoko to her country and have done with it.

They rode until the sun set, the horse usually setting a good pace. When it was too dark to tell if they were going to run into a tree, they dismounted and ate some of the food.

Aoko was barely awake when they stopped riding.

Simon tried to get her to make a fire, but he had only seen it done once, and Aoko did not manage.

They spent a very cold night under an evergreen tree.

When morning came, they started again, neither saying a word.

Simon thought that Aoko might cry.

~

It was snowing again. Large flakes had fluttered down for several hours by noon covering everything in perfect white again and fixing any damage on the already snow-covered hills.

Ohdran knew that the snow would hide any tracks heading toward the place Aoko and Satsuki were. He would just have to hurry.

He had not stopped the night before.

He only hoped he would be fast enough.

“Lord God,” he murmured, “please keep our Princess safe.”

He tapped Jacob’s sides and they sped up again.’

They would be able to reach the house before nightfall if they hurried.

“Ohdran!” A small, dark figure stood atop a hill, arms waving. She called his name again, and he realized who it was.

Satsuki.

He spurred Jacob into a gallop, hurrying the rest of the way to her and was off his horse before it had stopped. “What happened? Where’s the princess?”

“She left with a cat.” She took a breath. “He came just after you left and they rode off on our horse. I’m tracking them.”

Ohdran mounted Jacob again, extending his hand toward her. She took it, and he pulled her into the saddle behind him, glancing back at her. “Which way?”

She pointed, and Ohdran turned Jacob and hurried in that direction.

It was in the direction of the main bridge, almost a straight line.

Ohdran had come from about mile away from that bridge. He could have ridden past them and missed them by a hundred yards in the night.

He could feel Satsuki shaking behind him, and thought for a moment that she was shivering. It was different, though. She was scared.

Not for herself, but for the princess.

Ohdran wanted to tell her that Aoko would be fine, but he did not know.

“The snow has made it hard to track them,” Satsuki said, her voice admirably steady.

Ohdran nodded, keeping his eyes on the snow in front of them and searching for any trace that they had been there.

The Lady had not been bluffing after all.

~

They rode again for a day. When they were on the horse, Aoko was warmer and more inclined to talk. As the day progressed, she was happier, and regained her excitement about the adventure.

Simon, as a cat, was very good at ignoring things, but could not manage it with her.

It was the worst ride he had experienced, especially when she spoke about how much she liked cats, and how glad she was she got to do this.

Simon spoke only when he needed to.

The day ended with a house in sight, and they slept in the barn. Aoko was very excited about that.

“Because Mary and Joseph slept in the barn,” she said. Simon did not know who they were, and decided not to ask.

“The next morning came slowly. The clouds were grey, and the snow had not stopped.

They ate the last of their food.

Not that it mattered. They would be there before noon.

They mounted the horse and barely rode away before the farmer came out. Aoko did not understand, waving to the man while she shouted at them, her maroon cloak streaming behind her like a banner.

She gathered it closer to herself when the barn was out of sight, stroking the soft material. “My mommy made this for me. It’s special.”

Simon gave a noncommittal noise.

“I like riding horses,” she said, “but it starts to hurt after a little while. Do you have a mommy?”

Simon blinked at the rapid subject changes, and then shook his head. “Not anymore.”

“Did she die?” Aoko asked, her voice softer. “My mommy died.”

“Yes.”

“Why?”

“I don’t know,” he snapped. “Why would I know that?”

Aoko ducked her head and did not answer.

Simon hoped her silence would last. When she did not speak, he could think about why this was a good idea, why it was not a bad thing to do.

A few minutes passed, and she started singing. At first, Simon was irritated, but as it was not a song that he knew, he could ignore it, keeping to his own thoughts.

How he wanted to be over with this.

Just a few more hours, he promised himself, but he knew it was not so. He would have to live with it for the rest of his life.

He hated that thought.

“You’re a cat,” he hissed softly. “Since when do cats care?”

He had heard about some cats that would grow to love humans, but he could not be one of those cats. He had grown up with one thing being drilled into his brain.

“Cats only care about cats.”

All through his eight months of life, he had lived by it. He would live by it for the rest of his life.

“Did you know,” Aoko started, and Simon cringed. She either did not notice, or ignored it. “That’s a song messengers sometimes sing when they have messages. They have torches and light our messenger poles, which burn and let people know that there’s a message, and they can go to the middle of the town and say their messages, but sometimes they sing too. When they’re in the middle of the village, before everyone is there.”

Simon closed his eyes.

~

“Ohdran! They came through here!”

Ohdran looked up, scanning the hills to find Satsuki. She stood on a relatively flat area of ground. Ohdran glanced around and then ran to her side. Sure enough, there were horse tracks, extending toward the horizon.

“Thank God the snow stopped,” Satsuki breathed.

Ohdran nodded, taking Jacob’s reigns from her and motioning for her to mount first.

Satsuki mounted quickly and Ohdran followed, taking the reigns and hurrying after the tracks, every muscle in his body tense. They were fresh tracks.

“They’re heading toward the bridge,” Satsuki said.

Ohdran nodded silently, urging Jacob to go faster.

“I should have been more careful,” Satsuki said softly.

“We’ve been over this.”

“Sorry,” Satsuki muttered from behind him.

“How fast can you go, Jacob?” Ohdran muttered. After two nights and two days of riding with barely a pause, Ohdran hated to ask him to keep going, much less go faster.

But the princess’s life was on the line.

For Aoko.

 “Come on,” he said, flicking the reigns. “Let’s ride.”

They crossed the snow quickly, following the tracks of the other horse. They would be able to see the bridge soon, Ohdran knew.

“Let us be there in time,” he said softly.

“Amen.” Satsuki whispered.

~

“There’s the bridge! There it is, Simon. Do you see it?”

Simon raised his head glumly and looked around. There it sat, the bridge that joined Aoko’s kingdom to the outside world, set across the river that separated it.

They approached it quickly, the horse having settled into a comfortable pace and not willing to break it for the occasion that it did not understand the importance of.

Simon glance behind them and froze. He could see a rider approaching. He doubted that they could see him, assuming they were humans, and he could not tell who it was.

He could guess.

“Stop the horse when we get to the bridge,” Simon said.

“Okay.”

They trotted up to it and Aoko pulled on the reigns, leaning back. The horse stopped and she tumbled off it’s back. Simon hopped of to join her, and she pulled herself out of the snow, looking around. “Where’s Sir Ohdran?”

Simon froze, not sure how to answer for a second. Four words slowly formed in his head.

He’s not here. Run.

He clamped his mouth shut and did not say them.

He had gone this far. He would see it through to the end.

Simon gazed across the bridge, aware that Aoko was watching him. He could see the houses vaguely through a veil of trees and knew that was where the Lady wanted Aoko.

“Simon,” Aoko said in a sing-song voice. ‘Where’s Sir Ohdran?”

Simon looked at her steadily, not sure what to say. He did not really want to do this.

A low growl drifted through the air, and Simon turned, his fur standing on end. Their horse fled.

The first thought that came to his mind was a wolf. It was like a wolf in shape, if one ignored the two heads and the sparks coming from it’s mouth. Burns decorated it’s body, especially around it’s necks and heads.

“Oh,” Aoko breathed, stepping toward the beast. “It’s hurt.”

Simon let out a strangled “Mreowl.” Just how naïve could this girl be?

“Can I help you?” Aoko said, taking a step nearer.

“Bother,” the Lady said from the side of the bridge belonging to Aoko. Simon started and turned in that direction quickly. “That was supposed to bring her to this side of the river. Simon?”

Simon looked at the Lady and then at the beast. He glanced at Aoko, standing there and looking more innocent than any girl ever had a right to.

And he made his choice.

He ran.

“Ohdran!” He shouted, streaking toward where he had seen the rider. He would not be big enough to fight the beast if it came down to that.

The Lady had mentioned a few times that she disliked clichés, but at the moment, his only option was to have the brave knight rescue the princess.

Sir Ohdran came over the hill, Satsuki sitting behind him.

“Help!” Simon shouted. Satsuki slid off the horse and hit the ground running, and Ohdran’s horse sped up, passing Simon.

Simon stopped, crouching in the snow, and watched.

The Lady folded her hands behind her back, watching Ohdran and the beast engage with only a faint amount of interest.

Simon did not move. For the first time, he was scared, really and truly scared.

He did not even have the sense enough to know who exactly he was scared for.

~

The side and top of Ohdran’s head felt vaguely warm, but he did not dare stop moving. Out of the corner of his eye, he saw Satsuki pull Aoko away, and Jacob dash off.

The beast was not following the patterns that he had been trained to fight, and seemed to throw itself with reckless abandon into the fight.

It was not a natural creature, clearly.

“Oh, Sir Ohdran,” the Lady crooned from somewhere behind him, but he tried to ignore her and kept his eyes on his opponent, moving rapidly to block it’s lunges and play it’s retreats. “Are you asking for death?”

He ground his teeth, not having enough breath to tell her his thoughts.

If that’s what it takes.

The beast lunged forward, and he took a step back, raising his sword to block it and turning quickly to the side. It stumbled past him, off the bridge and into the Land Behind the River. He glanced briefly at Satsuki and Aoko, just to be sure they were safe.

Then the beast was charging again.

Moving quickly, he let it pass him into the snow on the other side of the bridge again, ignoring the thought that screamed at him to get the beast of the Land Behind the River as fast as possible.

The beast turned and seemed about to move toward him again, but stopped, looking between him and Aoko. Ohdran focused on breathing, tightening his grip no his sword.

The beast lunged toward Aoko, and either she or Satsuki let out a muffled shriek. Ohdran lunged in between them, and he and the beast met again in combat.

~

“Mreaowl,” Simon said softly. “Mew.” Glancing around quickly, he got to his feet, running toward the bridge before he could lose his nerve.

He hopped onto the railing of the bridge, hurrying past Ohdran and the beast and moving to stand in front of the Lady.

She looked at him, her eyebrows raised. “So you decided to play noble, then?” She clucked her tongue softly.

Simon did not answer, trying to keep his fur from resembling porcupine quills.

“You know he’s going to lose anyway, right?”

“You’re going to lose,” Simon said, trying to sound braver than he felt and miserably failing.

She laughed lightly. “Oh, am I?”

“Yes,” Simon said, the word nearly veiled in a meow.

“Why is that?”

“Because the beast is your anchor.”

She laughed again. “Very nicely done. And why do you think that?”

He had expected her to react, to show some sort of emotion besides amusement. “You need and anchor to keep you here and keep you safe.”

Applauding quietly, the Lady shook her head. “So assumptive, Simon. So assumptive.”

He backed up a step. He was right. She would have denied it if he was not right.

“You’re wrong, though.”

Simon froze, looking at her. So much for that.

But did he not know that she was a liar?

He stepped back and then turned, leaping onto the side of the bridge and toward the beast.

The Lady caught him.

Twisting around, he extended his claws and threw himself against her arm, scratching at her wrist.

Her arms shimmered slightly, and his claws came through on the other side.

“You see my dear Simon,” she said, her voice low and dangerous, “I rarely come all the way to one place.”

~

Especially now that I am locked away.

Anger builds inside of me, though my face is calm and my grip remains steady on the squirming mass of fur and bones.

I do not worry about the knight winning against the beats, but an orange cat flicking in and out of the battle would be an unwelcome distraction for my shield and anchor.

The cat is smarter than he gives himself credit for, and I regret the fact that he has decided to turn noble for a moment. How I could have used him to my advantage!

The cat’s words match those of the man who locked me up. “I hate you.”

I ignore him. Power swells in the trees, in the river, through the snow and on the bridge. It is not normal power, and I am unable to harness it by force as I might be able to normally. Such a strange place, but so powerful.

The power here must be given by the people.

I will have their allegiance.

My escape from this wretched prison depends on it.

~

Ohdran’s breath came raggedly, but the beast was worse. He would fall. Ohdran knew he would.

The thought crossed his mind that, if it did not hurry, another name would be added to the list of slain. He pushed it away and focused his attention on the beast in front of him. This one was big enough; he did not need another in his mind.

Lord God, the words matched the beat of his movement, and he was glad for once that he did not have to try and take the rhythm out of his movements like her normally did. The beast would not even notice. Keep the princess and Satsuki safe.

It stumbled, and Ohdran took the opening.

Falling upon the stone, it did not move again.

Ohdran turned to the Lady.

She dropped to her knees, and the cat streaked off, to where, Ohdran paid no attention.

He saw the Lady as she really was.

She was not the beautiful woman she projected herself to be. For a moment, he pitied her.

The moment passed.

Ohdran stepped to her and jerked her to her feet, setting his blade against her throat.

Her fair image returned, and she lifted her head, smiling at him faintly. “You would not kill me, Sir Ohdran. I am a lady.”

His grip on the sword tightened, but he did not move. It did not help that she was right. “A knight protects his land. If I could trust a promise that you would not return, then I would not kill you.”

“Ohdran!” Aoko said. He glanced over his shoulder at her. She ran toward him, and Satsuki grabbed at her, but missed. Aoko moved to stand just behind Ohdran, and Satsuki hurried after her.

“Hello, princess,” the Lady said, her voice full of sarcasm.

“Hello, Lady,” the princess said softly.

There was a pause, and Ohdran glanced at Satsuki. She shrugged slightly, putting both her hands on Aoko’s shoulders.

“You invaded my land,” Aoko said slowly. “You hurt my people. I’m Queen here.”

“You are queen?” The Lady smiled a slow, poisoned smile. “Queen of what? Of a land that is dead and forgotten?” Her voice dropped. “You don’t know who I am, Aoko queen of The Land Behind the River. I am older than your oldest tree, and deeper than your ground goes.”

“You certainly talk a lot,” Ohdran said through his teeth. Aoko did not seem to pay any attention.

“And since I’m queen…” Her voice faltered, and she paused before regaining her regal tone. “I banish you. My people and my land swear allegiance to me and if you come here again, you will die. You can cross the bridge.”

Ohdran looked at Satsuki, and she nodded. He stepped back, lowering his sword and feeling all of a sudden how very sore every part of his body felt.

The Lady stepped onto the bridge, crossing to the other side. Before her foot touched the snow again, she was gone.

Ohdran exhaled, looking at Aoko. “You’re a lot like your mother,” she said.

Aoko gazed at the place where the Lady had last been seen, silent for several seconds. “I think she was sad,” she said finally.

Ohdran drove his sword into the snow and pulled it out, wiping it across his pant-leg to dry it before re-sheathing it. He was not even touching that.

“Simon!” Aoko said, starting forward, but this time Satsuki did not let her go.

Ohdran turned to the small orange cat.

“Simon, she left! We’re home now!” Aoko said.

Simon looked more ashamed than Ohdran had ever seen a cat. “I know,” he said softly.

“This is the first time I’ve met a talking cat. I can’t say it’s been a singularly pleasant experience.” Ohdran sighed, running his hand along one side of his head, wincing slightly. The burn was not bad, but it would take awhile to heal, and his hair felt distinctly lopsided.

Aoko tugged at Satsuki’s hand. “Let’s go to the town,” she said. “Let’s go home, Satsuki.”

Satsuki turned and started walking toward the houses and town.

“Just a minute,” Ohdran said. “I need to light the Messenger Poles. They need to know the Lady has fallen.”

Satsuki stopped, and Ohdran quickly walked to the messenger pole, glancing at Satsuki. She followed, towing Aoko by one hand.

He lit the top and watched it until the flame caught, sending off bright light.

“The cat?” Satsuki said softly.

Ohdran turned to her. “In the end,” he said, his tone matching hers, “he helped. We should let him stay. We’ll be careful.”

Satsuki pressed her lips together, still for a moment, and then nodded.

Ohdran looked at Aoko, realizing for the first time what day it was. Christmas Eve. “Welcome home,” he said, stepping toward the town. “And merry Christmas.”

“Simon,” Aoko said, turning quickly. “It’s such a pretty town with all the…” She swung around in a full circle to look at Ohdran and Satsuki. “Where’s Simon?”

Ohdran scanned the horizon until his eyes caught the distinctive orange shape moving across the snow slowly. As he watched, the cat stopped and just stood there, staring into space.

“Oh,” Aoko said, clearly catching sight of him. “Can I go talk to him, Satsuki?”

Satsuki looked at Ohdran, and both were silent for a long moment.

“Satsuki,” Aoko said, her voice more insistent. “I want to go talk to Simon.”

Ohdran glanced at the small kitten, and then nodded slightly. “Just a minute.” He crossed to the bridge and gave the beast’s body to the river, silently bidding it to do with it as it pleased.

Then he turned toward Aoko and Satsuki and nodded.

Satsuki released the princess’s hand, and she shot across the bridge and toward the cat.

~

“Simon! Simon!”

Simon turned, crouching low against the ground when she approached. He did not want to talk to her.

She reached him and dropped to the ground in front of him. “Why are you leaving?”

I can’t stay,” he said, suddenly realizing that eight months was not so old.

“Why?”

“I almost hurt you.” The word killed seemed like a terrible word to say in her presence.

“Are you sorry?” She asked, peering at him seriously.

He nodded rapidly.

“Than it’s okay,” she said, nodding as though that settled the whole thing.

“But I can’t make up for it.”

I can’t ever make up for it. What if it worked?

“That’s okay. Will you come back with me?”

“No! I want you to hate me!”

“I don’t, though.”

He could not tell if she was really that forgiving, or if she was just so clueless as to not understand any of this.

“I want you to be my friend and come home and celebrate Christmas with us. Christmas is tomorrow!”

Simon looked at her, ears pressed against his head. “You don’t hate me? Really?”

“No.”

“I want to make up for it.”

“Even if you can’t, I want you to be my friend. Will you? Please?”

“Really?” Simon asked, slowly straightening.

She nodded rapidly. “Oh, yes!”

“Oh,” Simon breathed.

She reached out a hand, and Simon cringed away from her touch for a moment, and then slowly stood again, letting her pet the top of his head.

She did not hate him.

“Will you come home?”

“You’re sure?”

Aoko nodded, looking at the bridge. “Satsuki thinks I’m taking too long, I think. She’s coming to get me. I forgive you. Will you come home with me?”

“I’ll come.” Simon whispered.

She stood up, all smiles, and started toward the bridge. “Do you know what my favorite song is?”

“No. What?”

“It didn’t come from here. Mommy used to say it traveled through lots of worlds just to come to us.” She wrapped her arms around herself, walking toward the bridge with Simon just behind her. She smiled at Simon, and then raised her head and sang.

“Amazing Grace, how sweet the sound,

“That saved a wretch like me....

“I once was lost but now am found,

“Was blind, but now, I see.”

Cats very rarely cry.