A ninja to remember

25.

Mountain of Cats

"Ugh how much farther?" I shouted to Sandā who was cruising easily up the mountain. We had been travelling for two weeks now! Way longer than Sandā promise since she kept on stopping at every bar she saw and getting drunk. Then we would have to spend a day at an inn so she could get over a hangover.

"Just around this corner, and then another and another" she called back, whispering the last part. I snapped my head towards her, aware she said something that got lost in the howling winds.

"What?" I asked her, narrowing my eyes at her, daring her to say it again, as of she would have injured my pride if she said it again.
"Nothing" she said. We continued for what seemed like hours but Sandā kept saying it was five minutes. My bag kept getting heavier, and it didn't help that my lovely teacher added rocks to my load every five seconds.
"Staph" I shouted at her. She suddenly crawled to the side of the road and crouched, a depressing aura surrounding her.
"But, it's training" she mumbled, pulling a sad face.

"Don't you dare pull a Tamaki" I told her.
"A what?" She asked, standing.
"Never mind"

So we walked. And walked. And walked. And walked. It wasn't until dawn a few days later that we finally reached our destination. I was exhausted, having to deal with Sandās random depressing spouts.
"Welcome to Mountain of cats" Sandā called, walking towards it determined. 

My eyes grew hearts as I drooled over the different cat species. There were, Siamese, tom cat, tabby, tiger, lion sabre tooth, snow leopard and bobcat, who smushed him face against the ground when he didn't catch his food.

The mountain itself coated on air, a bridge connecting it to the earth. Buildings surrounded the surface area of the mountain, all different shapes and sizes and colours. My eyes grew the size of saucers as I took in all the little things the cats added to customise the houses as theirs.

Cat flaps for each member of families. Cat beds instead of rocking chairs stood on the porch. A ball of yarn tied to the end of a piece of string and that tide to a wooden pole as their version of whack ball. Relaxing classes instead of spinning classes. And learn how to bathe yourself classes for the little kittens.

We continued towards a gigantic building, green in colour with a black tiled roof, and loads of windows. As we walked, the cats we passed started to follow, welcoming us "annoying humans" and "the cat prince". Sherlock was in his gigantic state as we followed an old tom cat towards the building. He was incredibly rude and grumpy, like he'd woken up on the wrong side of the cat bed.

We walked trough the doors and my nose was assaulted with the stench of cat food, rotten meat and cat poo.
'Yuck' I thought, resisting the urge to cover up my nose, lest it be deemed ungrateful.

As we walked, Sherlock started to get nervous, his tail was twitching, ears pricked, eyes dilating. I reached up and scratched the highest place I could reach; his chin. He obviously didn't like the idea of seeing his father again.

He calmed again, purring loudly as great double oak doors were opened to reveal a majestic lion perched upon a throne, a bowl of milk beside him. His golden fur shone in the light, his whiskers bristled. His mane was soft, well kept and beautiful. And his old yellow eyes looked at me with the wisdom of thousands of years.

Sandā knelt before him, sherlock lay on his stomach and I knelt as well. I tore my eyes away from his, feeling his eyes in the back of my head.
"We have come for your guidance, oh wise one" Sandā said, bowing her head.
'Way to make an entrance Sandā. They do know English' I thought to myself. 

"And who is this, cub who kneels beside you?" He asked, his deep voice rumbling around the room, his tone dismissive, as if I were one of the kittens in the cleaning classes.
"I am Sora, Daniels, daughter of Fiona  Daniels. I have come to train sir" I replied, nervous.

"Stand, cub" he said. I stood and Sherlock stood as well. The kings eyes suddenly noticed his son, his expression turning more dismissive.
"Alright you will be trained. But not by me. I'll give you my second in command. Send in Toru" he said, inclining his head to a tom cat that sat beside him.

It left, disappearing into the darkness behind the great throne and came back again, followed by a great tiger, who had brown eyes that glared into my soul.

"This is Toru. He will be your partner and when you leave he will go with you if, you pass his test." the king said to me.
"Thank you, sir" I replied, bowing deeply.

"No thank you for taking care of my son" he replied, looking Sherlock in the eyes for the second  time.

"Ok, let's get going" Sandā said, startling me.
"That's the longest time you've gone being quiet"
Sherlock giggled, wary of how he acted in front of his father.

Edited as of 1/2/2017 13 days until I become 15 ^^