Of Frost and Flames

Chapter 9

No matter how much she read, she still couldn't understand everything that was written in the book. It was mostly the illustrations that made any sense to her. But she knew she couldn't continue just looking at the pictures if she wanted to learn something. Cahira sighed as she looked away for a moment, her brain needed a break from the stuff she had to take in. Just then, some bushes rustled, making her squint her eyes to take a closer look. A small squeal left her when a shadow jumped out of the bushes. She closed her eyes as if that could protect her from whatever had just jumped out. It meowed.

"What?" she mumbled and opened one eye.

A little kitten was standing barely a foot away from her, watching her curiously. Cahira laughed at her own reaction. Why had she been so scared of something that seemed so small? She tilted her head at the little creature, trying to smother it over to her. The kitten stood there and stared at her for what seemed like an eternity, before waddling over and climbing into her lap. Cahira watched carefully as it kept shifting, her eyes never leaving it.

Watching the kitten made her think of what had happened up till now. She had people who seemed genuine in wanting to know her, people who seemed happy that she was around. Would it be so bad if she eventually decided to stay in this world? Would it be so bad to want a portion of what the people here had? She sighed as she slowly ran her fingers against the kitten's fur, leaning her head back to look at the sky. How peaceful she felt in that very moment, how everything just seemed to slow down. Just her, the kitten, and the passing breeze.

"Sometimes I feel like you, so tiny in a massive world. So much I have not been able to see, but always worried for the dangers lurking in the shadows," she said lowly to the kitten on her lap.

She got no response from the little one of course, just a little shift of its body. Cahira chuckled at the sight and picked up the book, going back to try and decipher it. Some time passed and she only felt more confused the more she read about dragon fire and souls in a sword. It was all foreign to her.

But she was forced to stop when the book suddenly shut close in her hands. Even the kitten reacted at the sudden sound. Cahira frowned as she caught movement close by, her focus quickly on the pile of leaves. The leaves started to move. It took her a moment to realize they were supposed to mimic her and Roslyn just before. Cahira laughed softly as she watched the leaf version of her get it and fall over, laughing. She looked around to see where the little trick came from but couldn't see anyone.

"I don't know, kitty. Maybe I'm just going crazy," she said, shaking her head.

As she sat there, she reached a hand out to touch the grass beside her. Her thoughts went to some of the words that she had just read about, about a little dragon of fire, that only needed a few simple words. She whispered the words from memory and watched a small dragon flicker from her fingers, brushing against the grass and towards the trickster. The kitten jumped out of her lap and followed the fire eagerly. Cahira got up and followed, getting to a tree with a shadow hiding.

"And here I thought I was going insane yet again," she smiled, her book clutched to her chest.

Seren fell before her, out from his hiding. The kitten approached quickly, sniffed, and started to chew on his boots.

"I do have that effect upon some women, making them lose their heads when they're around me," he beamed, looking up at her. "You must really like me. You are taking me to meet your father, after all, and that's a big step. Are you certain you're ready? I'm not usually good with fathers... I am a criminal, you know. And I've been told I'm an insatiable talker, and that I say all the most inappropriate things, and somehow end up insulting everybody. The moment I see him, I'll be sure to tell him-" he cut himself off.