The master spy or Puss in the boot adventures

The way of the ninja 9, Part 101

Exhausted and sore, the two adventurers collapsed onto their beds. But their respite was short-lived as the witch's haunting words echoed in their minds.

"Rest now... for tomorrow, I will give you the next task."

Shadow-cat's heart sank as she remembered the torturous challenges they had already endured. But she knew there was no turning back now.

As they followed the witch to her barn the next morning, dread filled their hearts. The sight of three huge sacks of grain awaiting them sent shivers down their spines. The old witch cackled maliciously as she mixed the grains together.

"Lentils, barley, and wheat," she said with a twisted grin. "Separate them by tonight or face the consequences."

With a warning glance at her broom leaning against the wall, the witch left them locked in the barn.

Mer-mer looked at Shadow-cat with panic in his eyes. "How shall we divide the grain?"

But Shadow-cat remained calm and focused. "Let us think," she said determinedly, trying to come up with a plan to escape this new trial before them.

We need to analyze each grain," Shadowcat proposed, glancing at the sacks. "If we can identify the distinct properties of each type, we may find a quicker way to separate them."

Mer-mer nodded, his whiskers twitching in consideration.

"First, we need to understand the properties of each grain," Shadow-cat mused, her emerald eyes narrowing with resolve. "Lentils are heavier and darker, barley has a distinctive husk that feels rough, and wheat is lighter, almost golden."

Shadow-cat began rummaging through the bags, her delicate paws lightly sifting through the mixture. As she pulled out a handful of lentils, their glossy surface caught the dim light filtering through the barn's slatted walls.

"See? These are clearly lentils," she said, placing them in a corner. "Now let's look for the barley."

But as they worked, the witch's laughter echoed ominously through the cracks in the walls, reminding them that failure was not an option.

"Think, Mer-mer! What do you know about these grains?" Shadow-cat pressed on, urgency creeping into her voice.

Mer-mer scratched his head thoughtfully. "I remember something from my grandmother's stories... The farmers would sing songs while they worked to keep track of what they were gathering. Perhaps if we make our own song about the grains, we can remember their attributes and separate them faster!"

Shadow-cat's eyes sparkled with inspiration. "Yes! A song! Let's create a chant that describes each grain!"

Together, they began composing their melody—a rhythmic tune that paired images with words:

"Lentils round and always bright,

Barley husks take flight at night,

Wheat stands tall and sways so free,

We'll sort them all and set us free!"

With each verse they sang, it felt as though their minds organized themselves too. The rhythm kept them motivated; soon they were picking out more grains than they thought possible.

Yet time was racing against them; the sun dipped low outside the barn's windows, casting long shadows across their makeshift workspace. Suddenly, a gust of wind rattled the barn doors, and an unsettling cackle broke through the stillness.

"Tick-tock, my little fur-balls! You cannot hide from your fate!" The witch's voice dripped with malice as she hovered nearby on her broomstick, peering through a cracked slat in the barn wall. "Your little song may amuse you," she sneered. "But I wonder if you've accomplished anything at all."

Mer-mer's heart raced as he glanced at their growing piles. "We're so close! Just a bit more!"

But then came a jarring realization: the grains had begun to shift with every bump of the barn's old structure. 

The witch chuckled again. "Do you think I would make this easy for you? My magic can turn any task into a nightmare!"

Shadow-cat felt panic creeping in. She turned to Mer-mer, her gaze fierce yet reassuring.

 "Focus! We need an idea—and fast! What if we used your tail as a divider?"

Mer-mer blinked in surprise but nodded quickly. "It's strong enough. We'll lay it out between the different piles."

With urgency fueling their movements, Shadow-cat guided Mer-mer to stretch his tail across one end of the barn floor as they swiftly arranged each pile on opposite sides. The tension thickened as they worked feverishly against time.

"Almost there!" Shadow-cat said breathlessly.

The witch's cackling grew louder, echoing like thunder. "Fools! You will not succeed!"

But just as they finished sorting their final grains and took a moment to catch their breath, Shadow-cat caught sight of something glimmering beneath hay scattered around the barn—a small shard of silver that seemed to pulse with its own light.

"Look!" she gasped, nudging it forward with her paw. "This might be a key... perhaps it can help us against her magic!"

Mer-mer's eyes widened in realization. "If we can harness its power... perhaps we can outsmart her!"

With fresh determination igniting within them, they clutched the shard tightly between them and prepared for whatever trickery awaited once the witch returned. They could feel the Heart-stone's warmth guiding them; no matter what trials lay ahead, this time they would not face them alone.

They exchanged terrified glances as they quickly gathered their separated grains before her piercing gaze. Would it be enough to satisfy her twisted demands?