"Willow's Missing Tail" 12

“Perfidia, I’m sure Jon isn’t in jeopardy with your cousin,” Martha reasoned.

“And I’m not so sure,” Perfidia replied and turned back to Willow with a fierce look. “Can you open that portal and get me out of here?”

Willow nodded and flicked her tail but it was followed by a strange sounding thud.

What was that?” Perfidia asked the feline.

Willow gave her a confused look.

“Try again,” Martha encouraged the cat.

Willow flicked her tail at the portal but that odd thud sound occurred again. The portal remained closed but this was her meadow; that portal should have swung open.

A confident meow was heard from the other side of the willow tree and Willow saw Thistle slink into view. Willow gave the sibling cat a low meow of warning.

The sibling cat smugly flicked her tail at Willow; she wasn’t intimidated and she was ready for a showdown.

“What’s that look-a-like cat doing out there?” Perfidia demanded.

Martha frowned. “Thistle is making sure we can’t get out of here.”

“Is she? How is she stronger than Willow?”

“She isn’t stronger she’s equal and as soon as Willow flicks her tail to open the portal, Thistle is flicking her tail to close it; hence the thud.”

“Why that little…feline,” Perfidia fumed, “What if Chaos, Max and Ram combined their powers with Willow; could they keep the portal open?”

“That sounds like a good idea Perfidia,” Avery said nodding to Max.

“I guess it’s worth a try,” Martha agreed.

Max, Ram and Chaos stood by Willow and they flicked, twitched and blinked at the same moment linking their powers together to open the portal. There was a creaking sound and a whoosh of wind as the powers clashed, four against one.

Thistle drew on her ancient, twin-cat power and pitted it against the onslaught of the four cat’s powerful push, but she wasn't concerned about the portal, she was focused on draining Willow’s power.

It was Perfidia who saw the threat of a golden tipped arrow that flew from Thistle’s tail and screamed. “Close the portal; close it now!”

All four cats released the door and it slammed shut with a deafening thud, half a second later the golden arrow slammed into it, harmlessly stopped by the closed portal it shimmered impotently before it vanished.

“What is that cat trying to do to Willow?” Perfidia whispered to Martha.

“She doesn’t want to share twin power; she wants it all.”

“Great; so we have a vengeful cousin and a vengeful cat?”

“It would appear so.”

Perfidia looked at Willow and saw the cat staring at her sibling.

“Willow,” Perfidia whispered and the cat looked at her. “Is there any doorway out of the meadow that cat doesn’t know about?”

Willow’s eyes glowed as she meowed affirmatively.

“Then what are we doing here?” Perfidia asked with a grin.

 

Willow turned and ran back into the meadow with Chaos, Ram and Max following her.

Martha, Perfidia and Avery tried their best to keep up.

Willow raced past the tropical plants and rare herbs and into the primeval forest. There, hidden behind the largest tree in the forest, was a small willow tree.

Willow sat down in front of the tree and waited for the humans to catch up.

Chaos, Max and Ram waited with her.

“This is perfect,” Perfidia crowed when she saw the hidden willow tree, “Where will it lead us? How close to my house?”

Martha gave Perfidia a sympathetic look. “This isn’t going to lead us anywhere near your home Perfidia.”

“Why not, and if not; can’t we magic it up and make it open closer to my home?”

“If we place this doorway close to your home, Thistle will see it too. We have to exit where she can’t find us.”

“That makes sense.” Perfidia agreed.

“Well, I’m not complaining. I’m glad it isn’t opening anywhere near Daphne because whenever this portal opens, wherever it is, my home and I are getting out of here, “Avery stated, “I’ll send you a note with my new location when I’ve settle in Martha.”

“I’ll look forward to that,” Martha said, “And now, are we ready to get out of here?” She asked and at the mutual nods from humans and cats, she told Willow to open the portal.

Willow flicked her tail and without any sibling interference, the portal opened as commanded but before Martha or Perfidia could step out of the meadow they felt a strong whoosh of wind that knocked them both sideways.

The passing tornado was wide enough to carry a magic house.

Martha shook her head. “It appears Avery has made good on his promise to leave here first.”

“Such a gentleman; don’t know what my cousin saw in him,” Perfidia scoffed as she combed her fingers through her tangled hair. The rush of wind had twisted it into disarray, not unlike Willow’s signature brand of wind tunnel, she thought.

“Okay, I’m ready to see where this portal leaves us,” Perfidia said stepping through the doorway. The cats and Martha followed her.

“This looks familiar,” Perfidia said looking around, “Why does this look familiar?”

“It’s not too far from the Shopper’s Delight Market I’d taken you to on the day you arrived at my home,” Martha told her.

“Great; I’m hours away from Daphne and I can’t stop her from…”

“From what…?” Martha asked.

“Never mind; how far are we from your house?”

“Six streets that way,” Martha pointed.

“I’ll ask Chaos to blink us a vehicle.”

“No, I think the walk will do us good,” Martha said.

Even though Perfidia grumbled about it, she agreed; she had a lot of anger to burn off.

Willow looked back at the portal and flicked her tail making it disappear and more importantly, making its existence invisible to all but her.

 

Martha’s home was a welcome sight when it came into view and Perfidia’s high-heeled feet were grateful. “I can’t wait to soak off this day in a nice bubble bath with a flute of champagne,” Perfidia said wistfully.

Martha chuckled. “And, as you do that, I’ll order dinner.”

Willow’s meow clearly voiced her opinion on that subject.

Martha smiled at the three cats; it was only three cats now since Max had been whisked away by Avery when he fled the meadow with home in tow.

“Yes; you, Chaos and Ram can choose whatever you like from the take out menu too,” Martha told them as she unlocked her front door.

The three cats meowed happily and began to consider their choices.

Perfidia took off her shoes as soon as she stepped inside and carried them up the stairs telling Martha to call her when the food was delivered.

 

Martha walked into her kitchen to get the menu for her favorite restaurant but when she snapped on the lights she froze at the sight before her.

The Familiar Guide Book that had been at Perfidia’s house, was unhappily sitting open on her kitchen counter and its pages were flipping dramatically.

“What’s going on? Why are you here?”

The book’s pages flipped to a page and a light glowed over a specific passage on that page. Martha stepped closer and read the passage.

This book will go wherever the human and familiar travel to and it will keep watch so no familiar is ever mistreated or under loved.

Martha nodded. “I see; I’d forgotten how watchful you are in the beginning of the human familiar connection. Please make yourself at home.” She offered.

The large book flew from the kitchen into the living room and soon Martha heard the thud, thud, thud of displaced books while the new occupant of the bookcase made itself at home.