After what seemed like forever, the cats started to slowly filter down from upstairs. Some remained far away, while others gathered close to the door of the kitchen, catching tib-bits of sound from the conversation between Aldan, Dulcinea, the newcomer called T'ran and the heard but not yet seen dragon, Surrith. Finlay sat silent most of the time, warily watching T'ran, offering only growl when the cat-man got too close to Dulcinea for the younger cat's taste. Stop it, Finlay, Aldan warned privately. I don't like it, Aldan. All this talk of dragons...this sounds like too much for Dulcinea to handle. And look at him, he's getting her hopes up about this. She might not even get one. It's called Impressing, Finlay. At least use the rig't terms, boy. Stop calling me that, Old Man. W'en you stop calling me Old Man. I can still lick your 'ide. Finlay gave another sour growl, and Dulcinea looked to her long time friend. "Oh calm down, would you Finlay?" before turning her attention to T'ran again. "So...these dragons...won't nessicarily fly?" T'ran shook his head, moving a stray strand of blue hair out of his face. "Most likely, not. They'll be swimming dragons, conceived in the water to live in the water. Some may have the ability to walk on land, or do other amazing things. But most will be water bound." "Not like I'd have a problem with that," Dulcinea said with a laugh, glancing out the window to the dark sea. "Which is why I think you'd be perfect for this clutch. Dulcinea, you've got dragon blood in you, I can smell it. Was your father a..." Aldan quickly shook his head back and forth. Don't mention 'im... the older cat privately warned, and Finlay began to growl as well. "Oh both of you, hush," she said with a sigh. "Gah, you both still treat me like I'm two," and with a chuckle she reached to pet between Finlay's ears. "I didn't know my father, or my mother." "Oh...I'm sorry..." And in a very cat likie manner T'ran laid his ears against his head. Dulcinea shrugged."It was for the best, I believe. Finlay's mother found me when I was a baby, and raised me. I would never have lived the life I have had my true parents kept me." T'ran offered an understanding smile, nodding. "You Ilori cats are amazing," he said, looking out to the living room. A multitude of cats suddenly disappeared from view, afraid. Pains in the butt... Added Surrith. "Hush," T'ran bespoke, smirking. "So will you, Dulcinea? Will you Stand for The Healing Den's Swim?" Dulcinea suddenly heard a hundred voice in her head, saw a hundred pictures from the Iloris who could not speak. Don't go, most of them pleaded. They wanted her to stay. Finaly most of all. You can't go. What will we do without you, Dulcinea? You're our sister... Dulcinea remember back to when Os left. How upset the place had been, how everyone moped about. But they had bounced back. Things were fine now, and when Os came back, they loved to listen to the stories he told of all the places he had been. It's your c'oice, Dulcinea. Not t'eirs. But let me tell you now...I've seen t'is coming for years. T'ran is rig't, Dullie. Dullie...Aldan hadn't called her that in years. You were born for dragons...w'ether t'ey fly, swim, or w'atever...somew'ere in your blood, t'ere's a dragon born. T'is is t'e life you are supposed to live. Give her time, Surrith told T'ran, and mentally he nodded. "Surrith and I will be leaving tomorrow. I hate to pressure you, but we need an answer by then," "A night's sleep would be helpful..." Dulcinea said, thanking her friend. "We'll leave at noon...if you're coming, be there anytime before then. But we won't wait for you," T'ran said, standing. He's pushing her too much, Finlay growled. 'E 'as to do t'at. 'E can't give 'er all t'e time in t'e world. Dragon eggs don't wait, and t'ey will 'atch wit'out 'er, Aldan explained, walking with Dulcinea and T'ran to see him out. "Are you sure you don't want to stay here?" "I'm not leaving my dragon out there alone over night. Thank you anyway, Dulcinea. Sleep well." And with that, the cat man disappeared out onto the street to go find Surrith again. You're seriously considering leaving us, Finlay said as he sat on the ground, watching Dulcinea climb the stairs to go to bed. "I am, Finlay. This is a big thing. If I don't take it seriously, I may make the wrong choice." Going with that...that...thing...is the wrong choice, don't you see that? Dulcinea, you might not even get a dragon! Then where will you be? "I will be on my first flight home..." she stated simply, and Finlay didn't like how she sounded like T'ran with her tone. Dulcinea, you can't... "Goodnight, Finlay...I'll see you tomorrow." And with that, the brown haired girl went to bed. You can't keep 'er 'ere, Finlay. You know Dulcinea, if s'e deides she wants to go...s'e's going. Aldan tried to place sense into the young cat's head. It's all your fault, Finaly muttered, not turning to look at the tabby. You brought that...that...creature and his drgaon here. Suddenly he whirled on the elder. You're making her leave!!! And with a growl, Finlay attacked the older cat, hissing and screaming into a fight. Dulcinea, and other cats, attracted by the noise, came down the stairs. They were barely able to pull Finaly's raging form from the Aldan. Both were covered in cuts and bites, bleeding here or there. Dulcinea picked up Aldan's poor, bruised and battered body, barely clinging to life. "Aldan?" she whispered, gingerly hugging the old cat before turning horrified eyes to Finlay. Now you can't leave! he screamed at her. Now you have to stay and take care of him! You can't leave! And with that, the Calico dashed out into the dark, into the alleys of Citric and the dark, coldness of the night. Dulcinea did everything she could for poor old Aldan. She cleaned him, and banaged his wounds. Several of the other Iloris alternated sitting with her by the fire, for she refused to sleep that night. But in the end, nothing anyone did was enough. Just as dawn was beginning to slip above the sea's horizon, Aldan looked up at Dulcinea, who sniffled as she held him in her lap, a smile in his cloudy eyes. 'Ey...no tears. I've lived a good, long life, Dulcinea. And I always 'oped I go after a battle of some sort. O' now...don't be too mad wit' Finlay...he'll need you to be t'ere for him more now t'an ever before... With that, the old Tabby laid his head on Dulcinea's knee, and peacefully fell asleep, forever. The house was quiet for a long time. It was one of the smaller cats who did it first, a soft mew of a cry. Soon it spread, and every cat in the building was calling out in loud, sad notes of despair. Aldan, the oldest cat that had ever graced the doors of that house, was dead. Only Dulcinea was silent, looking at the cat who had been her grandfather and protector for as long as she could remember. Slowly getting up, the funeral parade of cats followed her outside, still yeowling, as Dulcinea laid Aldan's body in his favorite spot in the overgrown garden behind the house. He had loved to lay there on sunny days, basking in the warmth of the sun. It was only fit that that was where he should be laid to rest for eternity. She knew what would happen over the next few weeks. Not a cat would go into the garden while the earth overcame Aldan's form and he was taken back into the ground, from where all Iloris were born. And then a vine would grow, tall and proud and lovely, and mother cats would hang their strings of kittens on that vine for hundreds of generations to come. Placing a kiss to Aldan's head, Dulcinea got up and headed inside. T'ran and Surrith would be leaving in less than 6 hours...and Dulcinea had some packing to do. |
| Text, Characters, and Ilori cats are (c) Jennifer, yr 2002 & Beyond. T'ran and Surrith (c) The Healing Den. |