The master spy or Puss in the boot adventures

The way of the ninja 7, Part 99

Their hearts sank as the witch snatched away the only source of their magic, leaving them to rely solely on their own powers. With heavy steps, they followed her to her elder sister's domain, where they overheard two birds whispering.

"Pity about the poor kittens," one said.

"Why?" asked the other.

"Because the witch is taking them to her elder sister's. And she is a witch too. Every day for seven days, she will assign them impossible tasks. On the first day, they'll be sent to herd her rabbits. But when the cage is opened, the rabbits will escape into the forest."

The two birds perched on a branch, their feathers ruffled by the wind. The second bird chirped excitedly, "They have to use the magic flute, it can bring back the rabbits!"

The first bird cocked its head in confusion, "What magic flute?"

"On the second day of their journey ... the first bird continued...

But before they could hear anymore, the witch disappeared and fear crept into their souls as they realized that nothing good awaited them in this place of darkness and evil.

As the witch cackled, the two kittens felt a wave of dread wash over them, but Mer-mer quickly steadied her resolve. "We need to remember what we've learned," she whispered to Shadow-cat. "Kira taught us how to be resourceful and clever."

"Right," Shadow-cat nodded, determined not to let fear take hold. "We'll find a way out of this."

The dark lair was dimly lit by flickering torches that cast eerie shadows on the stone walls. A rancid smell filled the air, and the distant echoes of sinister laughter sent chills down their spines. As they followed the witch deeper into her domain, they soon arrived at a gloomy chamber filled with cages—each one more grotesque than the last.

"Welcome to my sister's haven!" the witch declared, grinning wickedly. "You shall serve her well, or suffer her wrath."

Inside the cages were various creatures—rabbits, birds, and even a small fawn—each looking as miserable as the last. The elder witch appeared from the shadows, her long black hair cascading over her shoulders like a dark waterfall. Her eyes glinted with malice as she surveyed her new captives.

"You will work for me," she said in a voice like gravel. "Your first task is to herd my rabbits back into their cages after I release them. They are quite... spirited."

With a wave of her gnarled hand, she opened the cage doors, and the rabbits burst forth like a flood of fur and chaos. Mer-mer and Shadow-cat exchanged glances, realizing that their freedom depended on completing this ridiculous task.

"But how?" asked Shadow-cat in a whisper, panic creeping into her voice as rabbits darted past them.

"Remember what I heard from those birds?" Mer-mer recalled urgently. "The flute! We need to find it."

They scanned the room frantically for anything that could resemble a magic flute but found only scattered debris and remnants of old spells. Suddenly, Mer-mer spotted something glimmering beneath an overturned barrel—a small wooden flute etched with ancient runes.

"That's it!" she exclaimed.

As she picked it up, a warm golden glow enveloped them both. "Now we can call back the rabbits!" shouted Shadow-cat.

Placing the flute to her lips, Mer-mer began to play—a sweet melody poured forth like rippling water through sunlight. The notes danced through the air, infectious in their joy. At first, nothing happened; then slowly but surely, the rabbits stopped in their tracks and turned toward the sound.

One by one, they hopped back toward Mer-mer's enchanting music, entranced by its magic. Soon enough, all of them were pacified and began lining up before their cages voluntarily.

"It's working!" Shadow-cat cheered as they ushered each rabbit back inside.

Just as they closed the last cage door with triumphant grins on their faces, however, they heard an ominous voice behind them.

"What is happening here?" The elder witch's eyes narrowed dangerously at their success.

"Um... we were just..." Mer-mer stammered, feeling herself shrink under that piercing gaze.

"I see you've found my flute," she said coldly. "That was not part of your task."

As the cool shadows embraced them, Mer-mer and Shadow-cat exchanged worried glances, their hearts racing with uncertainty. The elder witch's ominous words hung in the air like a thick fog—what would tomorrow's task entail?

They settled into a corner of the dreary chamber, trying to ignore the wretched sounds of despair echoing from the cages around them. Sleep came reluctantly, fraught with dreams of howling winds and monstrous laughter.

When dawn's light filtered weakly through the cracks in the stone walls, they were jolted awake by a cackling voice that sent shivers down their spines. "Rise and shine, my little furballs! It's time for your second task!"

With her long, bony fingers curled around her staff, the elder witch loomed over them, eyes gleaming with mischief. "Today, you must retrieve an ancient relic from the depths of my dungeon—the Heartstone of Shadows. It lies hidden behind three enchanted doors that guard it fiercely."

Mer-mer gulped at the thought. "What happens if we fail?"

The witch grinned wickedly. "Oh, you don't want to find out." With a flick of her wrist, she conjured a swirling portal that led straight into her dark dungeon. "You have until sunset to return with the Heartstone; otherwise... well, let's just say you might make fine ingredients for my next potion."

With that parting threat hanging heavily in the air, Mer-mer and Shadow-cat stepped through the portal and found themselves in an eerie corridor lined with flickering torches that cast unsettling shadows on the damp stone walls. The atmosphere was thick with a sense of foreboding.

"Okay," Mer-mer whispered as they caught their breath. "We need to be strategic about this. Kira taught us how to face challenges together."

Their first objective was clear: locate the three enchanted doors that shielded the Heartstone. As they ventured deeper into the dungeon's heart, they soon encountered a massive wooden door adorned with intricate carvings—a lion battling a serpent.

"This must be one of them," Shadow-cat said, cautiously stepping forward. She touched the door gently and felt an electric pulse beneath her paw.

"What do you think it means?" Mer-mer asked.

Suddenly, the lion burst to life within the carvings, its golden mane shimmering as it roared fiercely. "To pass through me," it declared in a booming voice, "you must answer this riddle...