ã€ŠWanted: Purrfect Cat Guyã€‹


 1 Not So Bad After All

    Mina opened her eyes with a blank stare.As her eyesight adjusted, she tried to process everything. She remembered crying her guts out on the steps of the Empire Hotel. She was getting drenched by the sudden downpour when a man wearing a superhero costume bumped into her. She crashed into something solid and a resounding boom followed. She had no idea what happened after she lost consciousness.

    Staring at a thatched roof, she tried to scan her surroundings to make sense of what happened. Her eyes widened as she took in the sight.

    She was in the middle of a modest hut. There''s no furniture in sight aside from a worn out table at the far side of the room and she seems to be lying flat out on the ground.

    The walls were made of straw and the door was closed shut. She deduced that the sunlight streaming inside the hut must be from an open window on one side. The scenery before her was highly irregular. She had no recollection of being in a place like this.

    ''Where was she?''

    Still trying to make sense of what happened to her, Mina remained still and continued to figure out her location.

    She heard rushing water and chirping birds. Based on the light streaming inside the hut, it should be close to sunset. As she took in a deep breath, she was surprised with the surprisingly clean scent. This place seems to be outside the city. She confirmed her suspicion with another deep sniff. This time, she detected a floral scent.

    ''It smells like lavender. There are no street sounds - no cars or buses or horns.''

    ''Where am I? Did someone kidnap me? Where is this place?''

    She blinked once, afraid that someone will rush into the door at any moment. Mina continued to scan the place with her eyes. Minutes passed and the light from setting sun slowly faded into dusk. There was no movement in the hut. After waiting for a few more minutes, she confirmed that she was all alone.

    Trying to sit up to get a better look at the place, she saw her feet. Or was it what was supposed to be her feet? Suppressing a cry, she placed her hands in front of her. The moment she laid her eyes on sharp claws she jumped in surprise and found herself standing in all fours.

    She sat back down to take a closer look at her hands and feet which were all covered in black fur. Even her body was covered in black fur.

    ''Is this a nightmare?''

    She pinched herself to wake herself up, but nothing changed. Her legs were still covered in black fur and so were her hands.

    Maybe it''s harder to wake up from this dream, she thought.

    Putting all her energy to her hands, she tried to slap herself awake. Just when her hand came in contact with her face, she jerked in pain. The sharp claws dug into her face and it was painful enough that she let out a loud "Meow!"

    At that sound, her hands flew to her throat. ''Did I just let out a meow?''

    Slowly, her mind caught up with what was happening. This is absurd. Still, she tried to stand on two feet to disprove her theory.

    Seeing that she won''t be able to stand on two feet, she got up on all fours again and this time, she realized she had a tail.

    ''This is weird.''

    Stretching each one of her four legs, she confirmed one thing - she is in the body of what seems to be a black and furry creature.

    More concerned about turning into some animal than anything else, she bravely called out "Is anybody there?" But instead of her usual voice, all she heard was "Meow! Meow! Meow!"

    Once again, she tried to slap her face to wake up.

    Perhaps the bombing incident is making her see things.

    As her "hand" got in contact with her face for the second time, she felt another sharp pain. Now, she''s pretty sure that her "hands" turned into paws and a claw slap hurt more than a regular slap.

    ''Goodness, is this really happening? Is this for real?''

    She had no idea if she really became a cat or why she transformed into one. All she remembered was what happened before a bomb seems to have blown off.

    Back then, she welcomed the darkness that came from losing her consciousness and roughly remembered something she wished for -- "I''d rather be an animal!"

    What might have been the last moments of her life did not lead to flashbacks of all her sufferings but to the feeling of relief. After all, she knew she was doomed. She would most likely end up in jail anyway.

    Who knows what happens behind bars? The gruesome tale female inmates revealed in documentaries was enough to make her shiver.

    Once again, Mina found herself feeling ridiculous. She''s not dead but it seems like she just transformed into a cat ¨C a black cat ¨C nothing less than the harbinger of bad luck. How fitting.

    On second thought, she just escaped her $15 million debt and her $900 unpaid rent. She finally saw a silver lining in all of these -- ''If those people come looking for me, I''ll scratch them to death.'' She smiled at her devious thought.

    ''It''s not bad to be a cat after all.''

 2 Worst Monday Ever

    Mina continued to wrack her brains to find any clue on what just happened. In the last few seconds before the explosion, she only remembered a voice warning her to move away. Before that, she had the worst day of her life. She couldn''t help but feel bitter recalling the worst Monday morning of her life.

    She has been looking forward to straightening things out with the tax bureau before heading off the work.

    It was a regular Monday morning, and she explained her concerns after an officer asked her to have a seat. But what she thought was an error, turned out to be an unexpected nightmare.

    She shuddered at the memory of just how awful that day has been. She could still hear the straightforward explanation of the tax officer. His voice was modulated but to her ears, it seems to have echoed all over the hall -- catching the attention of roughly a hundred people inside the bureau.

    "No mistake has been made on your tax assessment. Miss, you owe roughly $15 million in back taxes."

    Other people in the room peered at her when they heard how much she owes the government. The girl whom the assessor spoke to is fairly young ¨C someone who seems to be fresh out of university.

    The young lady wore a skirt and a formal blouse and seems to have rushed out of her office. While the girl looked pleasant enough, her clothes were serviceable and unbranded. Hearing how much she owed surprised everyone in the tax bureau.

    After a few seconds of shocked silence, the people in the bureau were back to milling around and going on with their business.

    "These days, you can never trust a person''s appearance," chirped in a business owner waiting for her number to be called.

    An old man reading a paper beside her reverted his gaze from the young lady to the woman who just spoke. "Yes, she could be a scammer who tried to pull one over the assessor."

    A lady who received an assessment for $500 quickly shut her mouth when she heard the assessor beside her. She stopped in the middle of berating the officer entertaining her when she heard how much the young lady owed in back taxes. She immediately requested for details on how to pay the penalties and graciously thanked the officer, thankful that she only had to pay $500.

    Everyone had an opinion on what they just heard. Some pitied the girl who would most likely end up in jail if she can''t find enough cash to cover what she owes. Others thought she was just pretending to be pitiful and is doing a lot of illegal dealings on the side.

    Mina was too shocked to process everything she heard from the people in the bureau. She took the documents the assessor handed to her with shaking hands. After a deep breath, she glanced at the papers before her. A quick look at the documents told her everything she needed to know.

    Her grip loosened on the documents and papers fell on the ground. As if drenched in cold water, she shot out of her seat and picked up the documents scattered all over the floor.

    Skylight Corporation. The company Hans created before he disappeared.

    Seeing the proof before her, she knew she was doomed. She can''t deny her involvement in this company. After all, she signed the papers to establish the business. She trusted that man with everything and she felt the searing pain of betrayal. She hated the man with a passion.

    Now, there''s another reminder of how brutal he can be ¨C leaving her $15 million in debt. She found herself in a daze and without a word she walked out with a bunch of documents on her hand.

    ---

    "HAHAHAHAHA" Mina let out a shaky, hysterical laugh. After leaving the tax bureau, she found herself walking without any direction. She had no idea where she was headed or where she was.

    Eventually, she found herself outside her workplace -- the five-star Empire Hotel. She did not feel the tiredness after walking for hours under the scorching sun, but she felt her legs give way and she slumped on the ground. She slumped on the stairs without a care in the world. Oblivious to her surroundings, she buried her face in her arms and let out a wail. Still, no one paid attention to her. People were rushing in and out of the hotel --it''s always a venue for meetings and conferences and even a young woman looking up to the sky as if the heaven dealt her a fatal blow is the least of their worries.

    Fear, anger, hysteria, and a strong sense of betrayal hit her all at once. She had been too shocked to say anything while talking to the assessing officer but after wandering for hours, she finally gripped how dire her situation is. There is no salvation for her.

    "$15 million! HAHAHAHA" she cried, laughing like a fool in between. "Here I thought owing my landlady $900 is the end of the world. Now, I owe the government $15 million."

    Mina can''t help but let out a bitter laugh at how ridiculous things are for her. She''s just a regular office worker, barely making ends meet and now she owes more than what she would have earned in this lifetime.

    HAHAHAHA, this time her laughter became even louder, and even passersby on a rush noticed her. Her blouse was drenched from sweat, her skirt was sideways, and her hair was a mess.She looked insane with her eyes fixed on the burning sun.

    Losing all the care in the world, she had no qualms about acting up and bellowed, "So, what if you are the sun? I''ll stare at you all I want! Who cares if I get a headache, dying from migraine is so much better!!!!"

    As if scared of her crazy act, the sun hid behind the clouds, away from her angry stare.

    She bitterly smiled. She felt anger wash through her system. In a few minutes, the once sunny morning turned gloomy and soon enough dark clouds covered the skies.

    No longer caring about her surroundings, she yelled while looking at the heavens, " Come! Bring it on? What now? What''s next? Rain? Getting struck by lightning? I might as well get toasted to death than work like a dog all my life to pay for someone''s sins. I''d rather be an animal!"

    After letting out her rage, the frustration washed over her, and she felt her knees growing even weaker. "WAAAAHHHHHH" she wailed.

    Just as she let out a scream, raindrops slowly fell. Feeling pathetic about herself she continued to cry. The rain poured harder as her cries became louder.

    No longer caring about a thing she sobbed to her heart''s content. "That wretched man! How dare he use my name for his illegal dealings."

    Who would have thought that ex will use her name for a ghost company, pushing all the responsibility towards her after he left the country? When she received the letter from the tax bureau, she thought a quick trip to their office will fix everything.

    Still swimming in the sea of regret, Mina was oblivious to everything. She was about to let out another cry when she heard a booming voice.

    "Move! Woman, Move!"

    She looked up to see someone rushing towards her. Dazed from her outburst it took her a few seconds for the words to register.

    "MOVE!"

    The alarmed man yelled.

    Feeling a sense of danger, she immediately stood up and ran away from the approaching man. The man continued to make his way closer to her and she picked up her speed towards the hotel to seek for help. Without warning, she crashed into something. And in the next second, she heard an explosion.

    As everything faded to black, her last thoughts were of how brilliant she was to predict the end of her existence ¨C pouring rain and then getting struck by lightning. Her eyes closed with a ridiculous smile. She was better dead than alive anyway.

 3 Tarou

    When Mina stopped reminiscing, the hut was already enveloped in darkness. Unknown to her, the door which was shut close opened slightly, revealing the cool blue evening skies from outside. A small creature slowly crept in, making no discernible sound.

    A bitter smile passed through the cat''s lips, baring her sharp canine teeth. At that very moment, the mouse happened to glance at the cat''s direction. The cat almost blended into the darkness and would have escaped the mouse''s notice if not for the sight of its teeth and its glowing eyes. Seeing the scene before it, a terrifying scent registered in the little creature''s senses. Fearing for its safety, the mouse swiftly heading to its hiding place, letting out a terrorized squeak.

    ''One swipe from this evil cat and I''m doomed,'' the mouse thought running quickly to his treasure room. ''I''ll be that feline''s dinner if I''m not quick.''

    Unfortunately, the squeak caught the cat''s attention. Turning, she saw a tail disappear into a hole. Realizing that she had a housemate, the cat felt elated but confused.

    ''Why did that mouse run away?''

    In the past, Mina recalled how haughty and disrespectful these animals are.

    A mouse in her apartment bit her toe. The creature was so into the bite she was afraid she would lose her toe. She was so scared that she''ll catch an infectious disease from the animal that she pawned her mother''s ring to pay the hospital bill. Her battle with the mouse back at her place did not end there too!

    The despicable creature ate the contract her boss entrusted her with, and she had to get slapped for being incompetent because she claimed that she lost it. How could she say the mouse had it for dinner? That''s not even the end of their battle. The mouse always knew if she had food in the house and always called dibs on anything she leaves on the table, even for just 10 minutes. That mouse wasn''t even shy of shoving her food down its throat even when she was present.

    How could she compete with such a devious creature? As if getting bullied at the office wasn''t enough, she had to put up with her destructive "roommate" back at her apartment.

    Remembering the reaction of the mouse that just disappeared, she couldn''t help but think, ''Is this mouse a shy one?''

    Every mouse she met in the city City would show you who the boss is right away. Those creatures are not even afraid of her. In fact, she was scared to death when looking at the mouse in her apartment. The rodents look so healthy, it''s as big as a kitten! Plus, she was super afraid of getting bitten again.

    ''I have learned my lesson. This time, I''ll show this mouse who the boss is.''

    Trying to call out to the mouse, she let out a meow.

    Surprised at the threatening meow and fearing for its life, the mouse squeaked again. From the sound, Mina immediately caught on why the mouse was behaving oddly. The mouse seems to be suppressing its fear.

    "HAHAHA, I''m a cat! It could be because I''m a cat!"

    As the black cat rolled on the floor in a fit of laughter, the mouse became so scared that it squished the cheese in its hands. Testing out her theory, she approached the mouse hole. Her approach was so stealthy, she looked like she''s about to pounce on a helpless prey.

    "Stupid mouse. Even if you were a gourmet dish, this cat will not gobble you up. I have standards." She spoke through a series of gentle meows.

    After berating the mouse for assuming it''s worthy to be her dinner, she became curious if the animal understood her. Cats say meow while mice go squeak, squeak after all. She looked at the place where the mouse disappeared to again, curious about what the animal will do.

    In the next few seconds, she saw a pair of eyes appear from inside the hole and came eye to eye with the mouse. Excited about the animal''s appearance, she asked "Mouse, can you understand me?"

    The grey mouse made a cautious step forward, revealing its snout and chubby cheeks

    Despite its fear, the mouse found the courage to move closer to the black cat. This was the first time a cat talked to him ¨C they were more interested in having him for dinner after all.

    ''Maybe it wouldn''t be too bad to befriend this cat.''

    The cat had black fur all over -this cat will look almost invisible in the dark that he almost missed it.

    ''Perhaps an alliance with something more powerful could help him too.''

    In a series of cautious squeaks, the mouse asked, "Are you talking to me?"

    Understanding what the mouse just said through a series of squeaks, Mina couldn''t help but feel amazed. ''Awesome! This is so cool.''

    Curious on her newfound skill, she probed the mouse even more. "Do you understand birds too?"

    The mouse, losing some of its fear, quickly squeaked back, "Yes, you can talk to other animals they will understand you. Bah! You are a stupid cat!"Of course, the mouse did his best to avoid calling the cat stupid but he couldn''t help it. Everyone knew they could speak to each other without any problems. You can even talk to fish!

    This animal was acting so weird, but he can''t let his guard down or else he will end up on the pit of a cat''s stomach.

    While the mouse was trying to figure out whether this cat will harm or not, the animal in question was feeling elated about all her new discoveries. Being an animal was better, after all, she thought once again. You don''t even need translators to talk to another creature.

    "Mouse, is there anyone else in this hut?"

    "No, the humans who lived here were gone when I came."

    So, it was an abandoned hut after all.

    She continued to be curious why she was there and why she became a cat, but she could mull over those things later.

    "Mouse, do you have a name?"

    "I''m just a mouse, I have no name."

    "How come you have no name? How do other animals call you?"

    "Like how you do."

    "Mouse???"

    All she heard was an affirmative squeak.

    ''This is awful, this animal doesn''t even realize that it needs a proper name!''

    The mouse inched closer, curious about how the cat was acting. Such strange questions. Why would a mouse like him need a name?

    Remembering her favorite cartoon character, she looked at the mouse with its chubby cheeks. "From now on your name will be Tarou." The cat approached the mouse and extended its paw to shake hands. Afraid to hurt little Tarou, she decided to just pat its head instead.

    Seeing the sharp claws the mouse shook in fear, looked at the cat and pleased dearly, "Please, don''t eat me. I''ll give you everything even the meat from the bandit''s house"

 4 Call Me Boss

    Mina felt the animal''s rapid heartbeat from under her paw, the uncontrollable shaking of the creature before her didn''t escape her notice. At this, the black cat smiled looking at the mouse in amusement.

    The sight of the cat''s sharp canine teeth, was enough for the mouse''s fear to increase to another level. The slight tremble became uncontrollable. Of course, this did not escape Mina''s notice.

    Still amused, Mina looked at the poor powerless mouse beneath her paws. The creature before her started struggling hard -- this time squeaking while pleading for its life.

    She couldn''t help but reminisce while looking at the puny creature -- she was just like this mouse. She remembered her pathetic self in the not-so-distant past. She always walked on thin ice when dealing with superiors and people with a higher status. She seems to be constantly bowing to everyone around her.

    She was just like the mouse...

    Slowly, memories of the past trickled in...

    "I''m sorry sir, I''ll clean this up and deliver the dress your wife likes to your house."

    "Please sir, I need this job. I''ll do everything right from now on."

    "I''ll pay everything in a week, please don''t throw me out of the house. I have nowhere else to go."

    She couldn''t count how many times she swallowed her pride to avoid punishment. Her back seems to have been bent from constantly asking for an apology and keeping her head down.

    She tasted a bitter taste in her mouth and felt her paw tighten around the mouse.

    ''So, being in power feels like this. In this life, I will not be the same pathetic human I used to be.''

    Determined to overcome her pathetic existence, a dark look flashed on the cat''s face, baring her canines in the process.

    The mouse caught the change in the cat''s mood.

    Taking in his predator''s ominous presence with its sharp teeth peeking through its mouth, the mouse couldn''t hold in his emotions.

    He became so scared that he lost his grip on the cheese. He felt his bladder lose control and a stream of urine soaked the cheese on the ground.

    Reluctant but left without a choice, the mouse waited for the cat to pounce, bracing itself for the cat''s attack.

    The sudden stiffness under her paw catapulted Mina back to the present. The mouse felt so stiff under her paw that she felt as if her hand is resting on a stuffed animal. If not for the faint heartbeat, she would have thought the mouse went into rigor mortis.*

    Paying more attention to her mouse, she realized that the mouse looked like a pig being led to a slaughterhouse.

    ''I must have been too scary''

    She removed her hold on the mouse and tried to pat the creature whose spirit seems to have evaporated.

    "Tarou," the black cat finally said in an amused tone, commanding the mouse''s attention.

    "I don''t need your meat."

    Seeing the cat look gentler, the mouse felt some relief but remained cautious. ''You can never trust a predator.''

    ''Good thing the cat declined the cheese. If I give this cat the meat I urinated on, it will tear me to piece.''

    Still observing the mouse, Mina had a brilliant idea. With a smug look, she observed the mouse for a few more seconds before expressing her thoughts in words.

    "Call me boss."

    In this life she will not just be a cat, she will be the leader of a gang. She will not allow anyone to bully her in this life and the only way to protect her interest is to be the boss and this mouse will be her first gang member.

    The mouse finally felt his heartbeat return to normal. Several ideas were running through his head at that moment.

    ''This evil cat is called Boss. Boss is a weird name. Tarou sounds better.''

    For the first time after entering the hut, he felt lucky.

    Feeling a bit of hunger, Mina remembered how the mouse was offering something from the bandit''s place. This sparked an idea.

    She needs a good dose of adventure in her new body and she wasn''t able to take a tour of this place yet.

    "Bring me to the bandit''s place, I''m hungry for freshly cooked meat."

    The mouse was at a loss. He had just been redeemed from death and had no idea what the cat was talking about. He nodded reluctantly. Right now, he can''t afford to offend this menacing creature. One swipe of those claws and he is dead meat, he''d rather play along with this cat.

    Looking down, he saw the cheese drenched in urine. This juggled his memory and the words finally registered.

    ''Will Boss raid the bandit''s place?''

    He was curious about what the evil creature plans to do. Some of his reluctance actually transformed into excitement. He doesn''t mind eating cheese with a splash of urine but fresh fare is always better. Thinking of the new haul from that place, he became more enthusiastic and made his way towards the door.

    "Boss, follow me."

    Following the mouse, the cat walked elegantly and with pride.

    ''This is a better life. For the first time, someone is at my beck and call.''

    --

    "Is that a cat? A black cat," a young man leaning on a tree asked. Another man close to him looked at the approaching creature following what appears to be a mouse.

    "Yes, what''s wrong? It''s just a cat," he spoke nonchalantly.

    "Why is there such an unusual cat in this forest? That''s a creepy creature."

    "Who knows? Maybe it''s lost." The guy answered.

    Mina gazed curiously at the two men. As a cat, she couldn''t see them clearly at a distance but now that she''s closer to them, she realized that they wore unusual clothes.

    The clothes were a bit shabby but that was not why she found them unusual --men were wearing tunics, pants, and boots. Both men had a sword attached to their hip and the taller one had a belt quiver containing several arrows. She couldn''t help but compare their clothes to Robin Hood.

    This place is a hideout for bandits. But these men look straight out of a medieval series. A sudden thought crossed her mind.

    ''Could it be possible?''

    ''Did I become a cat who lived in a different timeline?''

 5 Thanks for the Meal

    "Eat!"

    A gruff-looking man placed a plate of meat in front of a young woman and exited abruptly. From the shadows, Mina observed the woman inside the tent, peering cautiously from the opening.

    The woman looked out of place in a tent. She didn''t look like someone who would hang out with bandits from the way she dressed!

    A thin veil covered the woman''s face from the nose down. Observing her closely, Mina noticed the dress she wore. She could tell that it was supposed to be a pale shade of pink almost looked brown. It seems like it hasn''t been changed for days!

    ''She looks young.''

    She slowly made her way into the tent, planning to steal a piece of meat when the lady was not looking. But before she can enact the plan, the lady caught sight of her. In a sweet and gentle voice which sounded almost like a whisper, the lady beckoned her closer.

    "Cat, do you want to eat?"

    ''Oh gosh! This woman''s voice sounds so good.''

    The lady took a piece of meat and laid it on the ground.

    From her new vantage point, she clearly saw the woman''s figure. Checking out the lady''s figure, she couldn''t help but feel jealous. The woman had a body she could only dream of.

    Her eyes remained on the woman''s chest for a few more seconds. Once again, the woman extended her arm, motioning on the food on the ground.

    Snapping out of her ruminating thoughts, she looked at the meat on the ground. The food was not exactly on a plate but at least she''s not eating raw meat!

    Before getting a mouthful of meat, she tried to look for Tarou to share her loot. Her friend was nowhere to be found. The smell of the freshly-cooked meat wafted through the air, making her hungrier.

    ''He might scare this nice lady anyway.''

    Without any qualms, she pounced on it right away, savoring the taste.

    She looked at the lady gratefully as if she is a goddess bestowing her a huge favor.

    ''There are still good people in this planet.''

    The lady was looking intently at her as she ate. She has been lost on recounting the woman''s virtues as she finished off the last bite of meat.

    ''Maybe this lady liked cats too. Could she possibly be a crazy cat lady?''

    Looking up with eyes full of hope, she saw the woman removing her face covering with dainty fingers. Her mouth fell open at the sight of this lady''s full face.

    ''If I have been half as beautiful as her, I could catch a rich sugar daddy and live like a princess.

    ''She looks like she''s just 15 or 16 and she''s clearly a D-cup! I had to stuff socks on my bra at that age just to look great in my clothes!''

    ''Jealousy crept up her body once again ¨C this lady is not just pretty and well-endowed, she had a heavenly-voice too and a gentle personality.''

    The young woman reached out for another piece of meat and laid it on the ground.

    ''This woman will even share food with a cat. Awwww... she''s too good to be true!''

    Snapping out of her jealous tirade, she realized that just like the men outside, she was garbed in medieval garments. She had a longsleeved pink dress on with a modest neckline. The design looks like something her grandma would wear.

    A few minutes later, she heard the woman''s melodious voice.

    "So, they''re not planning to poison me."

    Mina snapped her head up when she heard the woman.

    Ha! She was just used to test for poison. This woman had gall!

    ''I''m too soft, I always see the good in people and judge them to be sincere right away. There is no medicine for regret.''

    If you are using me, I would accept food as compensation.

    She quickly finished off the piece of meat on the ground and pounced on the plate containing meat.

    She reached out for another piece of meat directly from the bowl, deliberately licking all the pieces.

    "Lady, since you want a poison taster, I will grant your wish. I will taste each piece for you."

    She didn''t care if all the woman heard was Meows! Her ferocious stare should get the message across.

    She gave the woman another menacing look while slobbering on the meat and grabbing another piece.

    ''I''ll get some to go. Thank''s for the meal.''

    Surprised at what she did, the woman could only look at the disappearing form of a black cat who strutted out of the tent like a haughty empress.

    ''It didn''t matter how pretty the woman was! She wronged me so she deserved it!''

    The black cat spied Tarou holding on to a piece of food while waiting for her outside the tent''s opening.As they disappeared undetected in the dark, the bandits heard the young lady''s angry screams.

    "I''m a princess!!! How can I be reduced to eating a cat''s leftovers!!!"

 6 Why Not Rule the World?

    After arriving in their hut, the unlikely pair bid each other goodnight. Tarou quickly arranged his latest haul.

    ''Having a cat as a boss wasn''t bad.''

    The boss seems to have no interest in eating a mouse like him and is more interested in human food.

    Feeling reassured the mouse drifted off to sleep right away. He even dreamed of conquering a rich man''s kitchen with his new boss. He was smiling throughout the night thinking about all the cheese, meat, and delicious food he could loot.

    Meanwhile, the cat boss stretched her front and hind legs on the ground while trying to process everything that happened.

    The day''s activities were tiring but her thoughts continued to drift back to her unique situation.

    Everything felt surreal. Her initial assumptions appear to be correct ¨C dying led her to a different timeline in a cat''s body.

    Everything still felt surreal. But she felt nothing but thankful if today is real. Second chances are hard to come by and it''s even harder to start with a clean slate. She smiled.

    She couldn''t wait but to start her adventures as a cat. As a human, she never had the chance to follow her passions. She''s going to be the one who breaks the mold.

    For the first time, she was up late at night thinking about what to do with her life.

    What will she accomplish in this life? In this world?

    Mina remembered the statues sporting cat images in temples she read about in history books. The ancients treated cats. She''s back to an earlier era.

    Why not aim for being a goddess? Should my goal be world domination?

    She snickered. World domination! She was destined for great things and she felt this opportunity is too tempting to pass. But maybe she was being too ambitious.

    She just woke up in this world. It might be too early to set a goal.

    First, she needs to know everything she can about this place. She will survey this territory tomorrow but the thought of planning to be someone great continued to nag at her.

    Who knows she might just become the most powerful figure in history?

    The loser who left her with a $15 million debt will read about her feats perhaps a hundred years from now.

    Her name will go down in history while that loser is on the run. She might even have castles, songs, tales, and poems made in her honor.

    ''Me ruling the world. People at my beck and call.''

    She smiled. Yes, she deserves to be someone important enough to decide someone''s life and death.

    Lost in her thoughts, her eyelids grew heavier. She felt tiredness creep in, and she drifted off to sleep.

    --

    That same night, another part of the forest was just as quiet. But it was far from peaceful. Tension lingered in the air as a group of three men sat in silence, hidden by the cloak of trees as if waiting for their prey.

    No one dared to breathe loudly, afraid to give out their presence as they listened to the approaching footsteps. Twigs snapped with every step, the sound resounding into the night, announcing the impending arrival of at least two people.

    Soon enough, two relatively young men appeared in the small clearing. Without a clue of the danger they were in, they sat down on the ground and started a fire.

    Seeing the duo in a comfortable position, a man wearing a sedge hat stepped out of the shadows. His sudden appearance scared the young lads, one slumped into the ground in shock while the other clutched his chest.

    The man seems to have no care about how stunned the lads were. He took another step closer. His face remained concealed but the young men could feel the intensity of his gaze.

    Suddenly, a crisp voice broke the silence.

    "He''s not here."

    A few seconds later, the man stepped back into the shadows and disappeared into the night. Two young lads were seen running out of the clearing a minute later, leaving all their belongings behind.

    --

    When Mina woke up the next morning, her first instinct was to check if she was still a cat. Everything was still and even her new subordinate seems to be out of the house.

    Hungry from thinking too much the night before, she ate the piece she stole from the tent. Bored from staying indoors, Mina decided to explore the area.

    Stepping out of the hut, she realized that she had no idea where this place is except that it was a lush forest with fresh air.

    She could only detect the sounds related to nature ¨C there was no hint of vehicles traveling on air or on the ground. Her senses were sharp last night. Her eyesight was sharper, and she could see the movement of small things better. Her ability to distinguish different scents was also out of this world.

    After living as a cat for almost a day, Mina realized that being a cat feels like having superpowers.

    The hut looked prettier in the day but there''s nothing special about it. Some lavenders grew close to the hut, and she caught a whiff of these flowers yesterday. There were other plants in the vicinity but she was too bored to care. She even looked for new gang members but she didn''t encounter any other animals either.

    She felt tiredness creep in while exploring the area close to the hut and decided to just head home. Instinctively she followed a path and found herself back at home.

    ''As a human, I get lost inside a shopping center but as a cat, I know how to go home without wracking my brains out? Awesome!''

    While she listed all the skills she discovered, she saw Tarou. The chubby grey creature was dripping wet, tracking water all over the grass, and muttering "Scum! Scum!" in an angry voice.

    "Tarou, did you go for a swim?"

    The mouse looked up to him with fire in its eyes.

    "Ha! Swim! More like attempted murder! I will never trust a fish in my whole life! Scum! All of them are scum!"

 7 Nagging Curiosity

    Chuckling at the mouse''s misfortune, Mina followed him inside the hut. When they arrived inside, the mouse shook off the water from its body, but it remained sullen.

    "What happened?"

    "That white amur tricked me into falling into the river. They lured me to lean closer and closer and when I fell, they all laughed at me for being a gullible land animal. Bullies! All of them are bullies!"

    "Dry up and rest, Tarou."

    Looking at the fuming mouse, reminded Mina of how the pre-schoolers she looked after were like when someone stole their toy. Somehow she found herself blurting a few more words to comfort her companion.

    "We can''t take revenge on those creatures now, but we can try to catch a few of them sometime."

    The mouse clenched gnawed its teeth and looked at him with pitiful eyes. Mina let out a deep breath.

    ''She couldn''t promise that they will eat fish after torturing them to death! It would be a complete lie. Eating something raw is just --- urgh!''

    Making her way closer to the mouse, patting its slightly damp head.

    The mouse stiffened at the touch. Looking up the black imposing cat to assess the situation, he saw its gentle expression. But he couldn''t be sure, could he? The sight of the sharp claws still made his heart race and he finally snapped out of his foul mood.

    ''I can''t put this cat in a bad mood. It''s better to be drenched than be food!!!''

    Now lying down on its front with paws tucked underneath, the black cat didn''t look as imposing. Seeing the cat''s relaxed whiskers, the cat''s body didn''t threaten him in any way. In fact, Boss seems to be smiling.

    It wasn''t bad to suck up to this kind of cat. He even struggled to get inside the rat hole last night because he ate too much. He even snatched more food when they went out.

    Seeing the satisfied look on the mouse''s face, Mina got up on all fours to find a more comfortable place inside the hut. Before taking another step forward, she glanced back to the mouse, remembering something.

    "Tonight, we''ll raid the bandit''s lair again. Is there no other settlement in this area?"

    With the naughty fishes completely forgotten, for now, the mouse shook his head. "The only village close to this part of the forest has been burned to the ground."

    Sensing intense curiosity from the cat''s focused gaze, he continued. "Nothing survived in that village. I had to leave to find food. I barely made it to this hut"

    "Why was the village destroyed?"

    A sad looked passed over the mouse''s face. "To ruin an alliance."

    "Huh! How predictable. Humans."

    The mouse remained silent while staring at the cat who settled on a shady corner, away from the window. Sitting on her bottom, the cat started to lick her paw subconsciously.

    ''This feels great, it''s as if I''m taking a bath.'' She looked at the mouse, and her curiosity nagged her to ask for more.

    "How do you know all these?"

    "I lived there with my wife and children. I lost my family in the fire and I''m still looking for them."

    "You are male?!?"

    She almost laughed at that statement but she hid it quickly with a meow. With how the mouse acted, she wouldn''t have thought that he was a male mouse.

    Despite her efforts to conceal how flabbergasted she felt, the mouse sensed that the cat mocked him. The Boss treated him just like the fishes did! He felt wronged. Right now, he wants nothing but to go home and find comfort in food.

    Mina was about to lick her foreleg and continue grooming when something crossed her mind. She looked at Tarou who was walking towards the mouse hole with slumped shoulders.

    "Tarou..."

    Unable to conceal his annoyance at being poked fun at the whole morning, the mouse couldn''t help but act out.

    "HMPF! What now?!?"

    "Uhm... Am I a tom or a queen?"

    "Huh?"

    "I mean, am I a male cat or a female cat?"

    Startled at the sudden shift in their conversation, the reluctant mouse couldn''t help but be surprised.

    "H-How am I supposed to know!?"

    The curiosity kept nagging her. She needed to know at least that.

    "Uhm¡­ can you tell my gender if you lift my tail?"

    She has been in a cat''s body for a day and she could tell that she''s not a kitten anymore. Right now, she just wanted to know if this was a male or female cat.

    She didn''t mind having someone else help her determine what her gender is. It would be different if she was a human but right now, she''s a cat. Why would she even care about another animal helping her determine her gender when she''s not even wearing clothes, to begin with?

    Unfortunately, she seems to be the only one thinking that way. Right across her, a blush crept on the mouse''s face who was too stunned to answer her question.

    Realizing that the mouse may be more conservative than she expected, Mina decided to shift tactics.

    "Then, are you attracted to me?"

 8 Not Into You

    ''Was this cat being nice to me because I am an attractive mouse.''

    Tarou recalled the cat''s tight grip the night before. Was the cat trying to get close to him because it was initiating intimacy? Not because he looked tasty?

    This cat even tried to console him earlier, could it possible for a cat to be attracted to a mouse?'' He shuddered. His body grew stiff and he found himself almost gnawing off his fur while his mind wandered. With eyes as big as saucers, he answered with conviction.

    "Boss! !!I''d rather die than commit such a shameful thing!"

    I''m a mouse with a healthy appetite. If I see a pretty mouse, I will most likely pounce. It''s not like Boss is a mouse, how do we even...''

    Slapping his mouth in his mind, Tarou tried to shake off the direction his mind was taking.

    Mina looked at the mouse who was vehemently shaking his head, with its ears down. She simply kept her gaze on the mouse while nibbling on her rear claw.

    ''Who knows what this cat will do if I get caught playing with another mouse? Wifey mouse is scary but a cat scorned?''

    The mouse shuddered. He would be torn to a thousand pieces. He winced, thinking about how painful it will be. Before he could stop himself from voicing his thoughts, he already spoke the words.

    "I am not into cats!"

    Hearing Tarou''s exasperated tone, her pupils narrowed. She couldn''t help but hiss back.

    " Who says I''m into you? I''m not into mice either."

    Seeing how Boss reacted, Tarou bolted for cover, disappearing in less than a second. Tarou''s reaction did not escape Mina, she caught his movements and she was tempted to strike just to see if she could catch the mouse before it reached the small crevice.

    She changed her mind at the last minute and decided to let it go while bending forward for a stretch. A good stretch never failed to calm her down. Dismissing Tarou''s cheeky reply, she simply laid the matter to rest. Knowing whether she''s a male or female cat is not a matter of survival right now, anyway. She will eventually find out.

    Now lying down, she looked at the hole where the mouse disappeared and gently meowed to remind him of something.

    " Tonight, we have to raid the bandits'' tent again."

    --

    By evening,Mina had totally gotten over what happened earlier that day but she seems to be the only one who did.

    The mouse has been eyeing Mina with caution but she was too focused on food to mind the petty problems of her latest recruit.

    Tarou has been keeping some distance between him and Boss. Fortunately, his sense of smell was so good he could tell where the bandit''s hideout was by scent alone.

    ''It never hurts to take precautions, Boss might fall for my charms.''

    Oblivious to the mouse''s thoughts, Mina just soldiered on worried about tonight''s dinner. She might have to transform into a dinner-snatching cat. The young woman was too furious last night after what she did.

    Reaching the familiar area, the cat caught a strange scent - the smell of fear. Looking up, she noticed how the guards were extra alert tonight. They were not bantering like they did last night but stood rigid, observing their surroundings.

    Realizing this change, she stopped Tarou, motioning him to sneak from an inconspicuous location. From their location, they could smell the fragrant smell of food as she stood with Tarou beside the young lady''s tent.

    Their timing, like the night before, was impeccable as one of the men were delivering food to the young lady''s tent.

    Cautious but left without a choice, Mina sneaked inside the young lady''s tent after the man walked out. The young lady was still wearing yesterday''s clothes. Hiding in the shadows, Mina was surprised with the young lady''s appearance.

    ''Did I make her so angry that she looks like she aged overnight?''

    Although bothered by how haggard the woman looked, she couldn''t resist the fragrant smell of freshly cooked fish. Imagining how happy Tarou will be when they rip the fish to shreds was enough to make her smile. She was about to pounce when the young lady noticed her presence.

    Reaching for a few pieces of meat, the woman grabbed a piece of fish and threw it close to her. Without saying anything, the woman started to eat, ignoring her completely.

    She looked at the young lady with inquisitive eyes.

    ''What just happened?"

    She expected the woman to snap or chase her away but none of that happened. Too surprised to care about her loot, the cat just stared at the fish and then the young woman without blinking. Her black tail moved slowly from side to side waiting for something.

    The woman focused one eating the fish, ignoring her completely. She had a nagging feeling that something was wrong. Too bothered to eat right there, she grabbed the piece of fish by her mouth and disappeared back into the darkness.

    Like the night before, Tarou was already there waiting for her. Mina couldn''t help but look back as they left.

    The mood in the lair seems to have changed abruptly. The actions of the guards and the woman were highly irregular. Everyone seems to be alert waiting for something big to happen.

    Unable to stop her curiosity, she finally asked Tarou if he heard anything while hunting for food. The mouse thought for a while before answering.

    "The leader has not returned yet."

 9 Priorities

    A missing leader...

    She did not hear anything while stealing food but if Tarou''s intel is correct, something major is bound to happen.

    ''Did the boss run into another gang and got killed? What about the young lady? What does it have to do with her?''

    While she ruminated, Tarou continued, "The bandit camp is temporary. The group planned to return to their main hideout today, but their leader is still away. Everyone is worried that the emperor''s men caught him."

    Mina looked at the mouse. "What do you mean? Was that young lady kidnapped? Why will the emperor chase after her? Is she the emperor''s woman."

    ''The plot thickens! I feel like I have been sucked into an ancient story. This is interesting.''

    The mouse looked at her. Remembering that Boss knew nothing, not even its ability to communicate with other animals, he sighed. A reminder of the morning''s event fleeted through his mind, making him shudder. Boss didn''t even know how if it''s male or female. Sigh.

    "Don''t you have any idea of who that young woman was?" this time he asked trying as hard as he can not to berate the cat for being ignorant.

    Tarou bit the cheese on his hand, chewing it slowly while looking at the cat as if she is some dumb animal. It was too late to mask his expression since the cat''s sharp vision already caught on what he was implying.

    Feeling the need to defend her intelligence, she hissed back, "I''m a special cat, of course, the affairs of the emperor is not important to me. I''m curious that''s all"

    Not willing to yield to her underling, her tail held out straight and stiff, the pupils on her eyes narrowing as her gaze focused on each movement of the mouse feasting on cheese.

    At the moment, all the mouse saw was a black cat on the brink of pouncing on him for being disrespectful. The feral look put him in place. He swallowed the large chunk of cheese in his hand in shock, almost choking as the soft lump lodged on his throat.

    ''So, this look does work!''

    Without diverting her gaze, she maintained her serious tone.

    "So what exactly happened? Tell me."

    The mouse was still reeling from swallowing the whole cheese in one go. But the cat''s tone meant serious business, prodding him to speak up.

    "The lady in the tent is some kind of princess."

    Mina became thankful she''s a cat after hearing the word "princess." She may be from a modern era, but she knows that people in the past were fond of beheading, torturing, and killing anyone for petty reasons.

    If she was a person, that woman would have her head after what she did. Although she wouldn''t be slobbering saliva all over someone else''s food if she was a person! Maybe she would have had to spit on her meal if she was totally irritated with her.

    "She was supposed to marry a prince from another Kingdom."

    Looking at the cat whose whiskers are ears pricked towards him, he continued.

    "The bandits'' boss took her away before the fire."

    The mouse''s whiskers wiggled, his eyes went from the cat to his home. Looking to the left, the mouse lifted a paw to scratch his head before offering more information hesitantly under the intense gaze of Boss.

    "The house I lived in... the princess stayed there."

    His wife who loved drama snuck out of their hideout that day as the bandits took the princess forcefully. He happened to be on his way back when it happened, so he accompanied wifey to watch the scene. Who would have thought...

    "Shortly after she left, the village burned down."

    "Hmmm¡­ smells like a conspiracy to me."

    Curious about the young woman, she egged on the mouse for more information. Tarou seems to be more than eager to tell her what happened to the village and volunteer more details.

    "There was a big commotion that day. The people who burned down the village seems to have another purpose. That''s everything I know. When the fire broke out, the place was too chaotic. I''m not sure anyone survived."

    Completely immersed in what she heard, the cat lowered her guard.

    ''Interesting. The ancients had it rough.''

    She circled back to her main point after threatening the mouse to share some gossip with her. Right now, her greatest concern is their food source. These affairs are none of her business. Dismissing her curiosity she went on to ask another question.

    "Is there any other place to get food?"

    Tarou who has been waiting excitedly on what the cat boss wants to ask next. So, this cat was just like any other animal. The cat was acting like a magistrate, he almost thought he was under interrogation.

    Human affairs are truly human affairs, they have to deal with theirs, we have to deal with ours. He chuckled. Then his jaw moved back and forth in excitement while thinking about food. Yes, food was important to him too.

    "There are edible plants in this forest."

    Mina''s tail puffed up, her face crumpled. Plant food. She is not a big fan of it. After she transformed into a cat, she didn''t get the urge to eat plants either.

    "A cat needs her meat. Are there houses nearby?"

    The mouse was about to blurt out something along the lines of, ''You''re a cat, can''t you hunt?'' but he stopped himself before he could say anything. Instead, he offered a reply that won''t get him hunted down like prey.

    "From the village where I lived, the closest town will take hours on paw."

    "That''s too troublesome. Let''s cross the bridge when we get there."

    It was troublesome to look for food but at least she can just steal. The perks of being a cat. She''ll eat plants if she has to. She can also hunt.

    At this thought, she eyed the mouse who was slowly inching his way back to his hideout.

    She can''t imagine eating him whole.

    Feeling the intense stare of the cat, the mouse looked away and made a run for it. Right now his greatest concern was not getting eaten by the cat but in having the cat fall in love with him.

    Having no idea what was troubling the mouse, Mina was lost in her own thoughts while filling her stomach with the grilled fish. This era is truly interesting. It would be great to see how things unfold but for now, food is her main priority.

 10 The Bandit Chief

    A soft shower descended on the forest. Inside the hut, a black cat lazily curled into a ball, its eyes closed halfway. In the darkness, small sounds of grinding teeth chomping were barely audible from a small crack.

    Outside, the smell of damp soil hung permeated the warm air. The crush of leaves underfoot and hastily packed tents joined the sound of fluttering wings and monkey hoots as the night deepened.

    At the approach of the imposing figure wearing a dark cloak, the ill-tempered stallion tied to the outskirts of the hideout, emitted a low-pitched breathy sound. The nicker caught the attention of the men who were packing up with haste. All eyes trained on the horse who raised its head attentively towards someone.

    Their eyes eventually trailed on the man with an imposing aura who seems to have materialized out of thin air. Tension hung in the air and almost everyone held their breath.

    The man walked closer to the horse who continued nickering.Illuminated by the light from the fire, the animal''s ears were pointing up while sniffing the man''s hand. A hand shot out of the cloak, scratching the animal''s neck. Happy sounds of a horse who just received a thorough petting broke through the clearing, catching the men off guard.

    "Com...Chief!!!"

    The cloaked man took off his hood, revealing his unkempt hair hovering close to his sharp eyes.The flickering light from the fire cast shadows on his face, making him look fiercer with his lips firmly shut. Looking at the men, he nodded back in greeting.

    The young man with his hands on the hilt of a sword relaxed his hand. Almost every man let out a deep breath. Looking at the items around the temporary camp, his chilly voice resounded.

    "Don''t leave any tracks behind."

    "Yes, Sir!"

    The chief tilted his head toward the only tent left standing.

    "Did she cause any trouble?"

    "She has mostly behaved."

    Nodding, he made his way to the tent. "Don''t leave anything behind, we''re leaving before daylight."

    Before dawn, the rain disappeared and Mina was too bored to stay indoors. She couldn''t keep still and her tail kept twitching. She glanced at the open window, and couldn''t resist but explore. Without any idea where to head off to, Mina found herself in the direction towards the bandit camp. Taking cover in the darkness, she observed the quick movements of the three men.

    A man she had never seen before came out of the tent. Her ears perked up when she saw the man and her tail curved.

    With narrowed pupils, she stalked the man from the cover of darkness. She could make out a tall figure wearing a tunic and trousers similar to the other bandits. But compared to those people, this man stood out with his feet splayed outward and his chin up with his back fully erect.

    The princess followed behind the man, her hands clasped, fingers interlocked. She stood still on her spot, looking at the scene before her.

    "It''s time to move."

    Mina''s eyes trailed back to the man again.

    ''Leader, he is the leader.'' She nodded, finding a comfortable position to continue watching the show. Licking a paw, she looked up to see the man staring at her direction. Tongue out, she abruptly stopped, sensing his gaze.

    Without giving him an inch, she stared back unblinking, her front paws stiffened and she felt the fur on her back stand up.

    Intense.

    Smoldering.

    The man''s gaze would have made her swoon if she was the old Mina. But right now,

    Their gazes locked, and she observed the man''s lips set in a hard line, his eyebrows furrowed. Instinctively, she heard herself growl with eyes still focused on the man. The sound was almost deafening, catching the attention of the bandits who were packing all supplies on their mounts.

    At the sound, the man broke eye contact, and Mina saw his mouth slightly open looking at the princess.

    ''Roupen''

    Her attention drifted to the voice which sounded almost like a whisper before she focused her eyes back on the leader.

    "Cat."

    The princess nodded in understanding, her dainty fingers smoothening her furrowed brow.

    ''A man whose words were like gold.''

    Looking at the princess, Mina had mixed emotions. The woman is fated for a difficult life. At this age, she could only depend on a man at times like this. While thinking about the bleak future awaiting the woman, she kept her gaze at the chief and the princess.

    The young lady, who concealed everything but her eyes, tilted her head up towards the chief. Her hands interlocked in front of her body.

    Looking at them, Mina vocalized with a stuttering sound, conveying her excited thoughts. Interesting enough, the solution to her survival problem is right in front of her --the chief and the leader who were now making their way towards a horse.

    She didn''t receive too much abuse in the woman''s company. The princess wasn''t such a bully. She pondered whether she should choose the chief as her right-hand man.

    He was obviously fit -- she could tell even if he wore loose clothing. The stare off earlier proved he paid attention to his surroundings. Feeling relaxed, she sat down and licked her shoulder, her mind considering the possibilities.

    Ability to provide. Check.

    Observance skills. Check.

    Love for cats? Unconfirmed.

    If he''s into cats, he is a viable candidate.

    Being a bandit chief''s cat didn''t sound too bad.

    If her goal is to make a name that would go down in history, he fits the tab. If she wants to go, she needs to decide now.

    Time is of the essence. The bandits took care of everything with speed, the area which used to be a temporary camp appeared undisturbed. Soon everyone was on their mounts, ready to leave.

    But before she could make her final decision, her ears perked up and her eyes narrowed as she stared in the opposite direction.

    She knew it then. Something interesting is bound to happen.

    Before dawn breaks, she would decide on her best chance at survival and whether the bandit chief deserved her favor or not.

 11 Innocent Bystander

    Mina heard some snorting followed by the faint padding of hoofbeats on the still damp forest floor.

    After a few whispered words, a loud neigh resounded before the horses galloped away.

    From her peripheral vision, she saw the bandit''s camp clear up except for her potential right hand.

    Out of this world instinct. Check.

    Mina''s ear perked up, moving from side to side. Her whiskers stiffened and moved outwards. She looked towards the direction of the approaching footsteps.

    Out of the darkness, she saw the shadow of a man wearing a sedge hat and two cloaked men trailed behind.

    At the moment, a faint light descended on the forest, allowing her to see better. Her focus remained on the man heading the group whose eyes were concealed. He walked in long strides almost without making a sound, each gait precise but relaxed.

    From the cover of darkness, Mina knew she was barely visible and she continued to view the man with curiosity. His heels hit the ground first and she observed his lip raise slightly on one side.

    With the appearance of this new man, her head popped out of her cover to get a better look before the man got too close.

    Clad in a black robe and trousers, the man would look like an apparition if he appeared before someone. Mina greeted the man with a high pitched meow.

    The cloaked men bent their head slightly in her direction but the man with the conical hat was not distracted in any way. He continued on his way towards the bandit chief, walking past her.

    She was ... ignored. Completely ignored.

    She tried to make her way closer to the two men. Spotting a tree close to the vicinity she climbed up to get a better view. She wasn''t much of a tree climbing expert but show found it easier to do in a cat''s body.

    Finding the best vantage point, she sat up, finding the most comfortable position.

    She noticed his hand resting an object on his side. Her eyes widened as she yawned.

    ''I''ll need popcorns for this scene.''

    She assessed the bandit chief and the sedge hat man. Bandit chief had his feet planted firmly on the ground slightly apart, one foot placed slightly behind him, shoulders pulled back. His chin jutted upwards, his hands sitting on his side. His lips moved slightly.

    "Jadon"

    A few feet from him, sedge hat man stopped, raising his hand slightly. The cloaked men stayed behind, almost unrecognizable in the cover behind the trees. She saw his hat tilt towards the chief bandit, his eyes locked on the man in the clearing.

    "Commandant"

    Keeping her eyes on the scene below, she saw bandit chief sucked in some air, his lips moving slightly. Before he could say anything, sedge hat man continued.

    "Hand her over."

    "You must be mistaken. I am no commandant," the bandit chief retorted in a wry tone,the hand concealed by his shadow tightened into a fist.

    The man was eyeing the bandit chief, his stare completely on the man whose eyes were also focused on him. After engaging the bandit chief in a staring contest earlier, she knew how intense his gaze could be.

    Anyone who came between these two, human or animal, would sizzle. A slight movement caught her eye. There was a rapidly moving object moving along the lines between the two.

    Narrowing her eyes, she saw a plump, grey mouse blindly weaving its way, burrowing on the ground, oblivious to its surroundings.

    ''Tarou. You stupid mouse. Are you blind?''

    The men, still locked gazes, observing each other, waiting to pound at any moment. Meanwhile, the mouse sat right in the middle of the battlefield, chomping on something.

    Mina''s paw landed on her temples. Her head moving from left to right. Emitting a drawn-out meow, she focused on the mouse between two men ready to pounce on each other.

    A happy mouse continued to feast on food, filling up his stomach without a care about what''s about to happen.

    "Bring the princess back." The commanding tone repeated, emphasizing every word.

    "Again," the bandit chief retorted in a hard tone, "you must be mistaken."

    Maintaining his stance, the man declared in a stoic tone.

    "Make no mistake, I''m merely informing you as a courtesy."

    Glancing at the concealed men, he communicated orders with a nod. The sound of departing footsteps followed. Two men were left sizing up each other in the clearing under the early morning sky. The bandit chief had a discernible flush. One hand reached for the sword on his belt. Becoming completely unsheathed, the blade hissed.

    The man with the sedge hat remained calm. He maintained his stance as the bandit chief was about to attack him.

    But Mina''s focus was on the startled mouse with its cheeks bunched with food. He was running in the wrong direction!

    ''Drat!''

    Bunching up her body, she gathered enough energy to parachute down the tree. On her descent, she couldn''t help but berate herself.

    ''I''m a stupid, stupid cat!''

 12 Heroes Have It Rough

    Allowing her cat instincts to take over, Mina managed to land on her feet without injuring anything. Her eyes focused on the confused mouse running towards the bandit chief who is about to strike.

    In her peripheral vision, Mina saw the sedge hat tilt slightly in her direction. Focusing solely on Tarou, Mina set off at top speed.

    Just when she captured the terrorized mouse with her mouth, she felt an impact which sent her flying towards a nearby shrub.

    Clang!

    Releasing the mouse abruptly as she yelped in pain. Annoyed, she growled after spitting out the mouse. The mouse she just saved stool still, his paws positioned as if he''s holding a piece of cheese. She was supposed to be a spectator, waiting for these men to show who deserved her favor.

    Looking at the bandit chief who fell on his back with his sword lying on the ground, she seems to have escaped with her pride intact. The man spared her a quick glance before scowling at his opponent.

    The man with the sedge hat approached the bandit chief, kicking the sword to the side as he came closer.

    From her new vantage point, Mina could make out a lean, rugged face under the sedge hat. His eyes crinkled in the corners and his lips moving upwards in a smile.

    "Commandant, you never fail to surprise me."

    Mina would have been amused too if not for the kick. Extending his hands towards the bandit chief, the mysterious man continued.

    "Still careless."

    The bandit chief accepted his hand and pulled him towards the ground. A sudden squeak caught Mina''s attention momentarily. The mouse, who was now alert, had his eyes on the two men.

    When the cat shifted her attention back to her potential subjects, the chief already had his feet clinging tightly on his opponent''s neck. The man''s conical hat was at an awkward position on the back of his head. She grimaced, imagining how painful it would be for something to dig into the back of her neck.

    Thud!

    She didn''t even blink but the scene changed abruptly.

    ''Whoa! What just happened?''

    The mysterious man overpowered the bandit chief, pinning him on the ground. With the hat thrown to the side, mystery man had more freedom. She was so surprised that she didn''t even have time to focus on the man''s appearance.

    Gritting his teeth, the bandit chief struggled against the man''s hold. The two rolled on the ground. As the bandit chief tried to raise a hand to strike the mysterious man, he was pinned back down. A silent but intense battle continued on the ground.

    Mina focused on the tangle of hands and legs. Holding her breath, she anticipated how this battle will unfold as neither of the two wanted to yield.

    Right then, she felt something scratching on her fur. But she couldn''t peel her eyes away from the scene.

    Mystery man now had his arms around the bandit chief, who sweated profusely while trying to throw off his opponent.

    Everything was still except for the sounds of labored breathing. She held her breath too.

    The bandit chief attacked the man''s leg, a punch hovering in the air. But, before he could launch another attack, he felt a forceful hug from behind. Rolling on the ground, the two continued to struggle.

    Mina felt a little paw on her fur again, roughly brushing it off this time. With her tail wagging slowly, she kept her eyes peeled on the scene before her. But it was impossible to keep track who landed more kicks or punches as the two men grappled on the ground.

    Finally, the mystery man gained some advantage, splaying his body to force the bandit chief to settle down, keeping him down with both arms. Mina could only gasp as the tumbles continued.

    Both men eyed each other panting heavily. The mystery man threw a leg over his neck, quickly locking it down with the other leg. As the chief continued to resist, the man''s legs tightened around his neck, keeping him down.

    Groaning as he struggled, the bandit''s face was all red. He continued to fight him off but the mysterious man did not budge. Right then, the bandit chief lightly tapped his foot on the ground.

    Without knowing, Mina held her breath too. Releasing it only when she heard the tap.

    The mystery man relaxed his hold on the bandit chief but continued to pin him down. The bandit chief stopped resisting and a few seconds later, the man loosened his grip gradually.

    On the ground, the bandit chief clenched his jaw while controlling his breathing.

    "Commandant, your king is dead. You have no kingdom, no troops."

    The bandit chief replied with a glare. The mystery man extended his hands again only to be slapped away by his opponent. Undeterred, he continued.

    "The princess needs my protection."

    Getting up on his own, the bandit chief stared at the man. Tilting his head back, he looked straight into the man''s eyes.

    "Will your protection keep her safe?"

    In a stoic voice, the man replied, "It''s not advantageous for her to die."

    Unmoving, he gauged the man before him.

    "I am no commandant."

    The mysterious man gave tilted his head towards the bandit chief.

    "My orders include your capture."

    "I will surrender. In exchange, keep the princess safe."

    Not too far away, a black cat listened to everything intently. She didn''t have to think about anything. The mysterious man, whose face was hidden under a sedge hat again, will have the pleasure of serving her.

    After reaching a verdict, she finally took the time to glance at Tarou.

    The mouse had a concerned look while running his paws on his whiskers. Realizing Boss finally paid attention to him, he couldn''t wait but squeak in succession.

    "Have they... finished doing it?"

    Mina looked at the mouse, confused at the odd question. The two men who stood close to each other, but were no longer at each other''s throats. Looking back at Tarou, she nodded.

    Mumbling, the mouse rushed back into the place where Mina picked him up looking for something. Finally emerging outside a pile of leaves about two feet from where the men stood, Tarou sniffed them and regarded them with curious eyes.

    Shortly after, the mouse was back by her side. Mina had no idea what Tarou was holding but the "thing" resembles cheese.

    "Boss, you like things like that?"

    Mina looked at the mouse with a puzzled expression.

    "Mouse senses are exceptional except for sight."

    Mina still had no idea why Tarou was boasting of his abilities. He almost turned into compost and he had the gall to tell her he''s good at almost everything. Her ears swiveled, waiting for the mouse to get to the point.

    "I felt humans falling on the ground."

    "I clearly heard panting and gasping."

    "I could smell sweat mingling with each other."

    Her tail swished as Tarou continued.

    "Just now, I took a closer look and confirmed both of them are men."

    Finally realizing what the mouse implied, her tail moved faster.

    "Boss, I''ve been nagging to ask since earlier... did you snatch me out of their way so you ... can see the action up close?"

    When the mouse concluded his speech, her ears rotated backward, flat against her head.She felt sharp claws reveal themselves under her paws as her cat instincts kicked in.

    She wanted a certain mouse''s meat for dinner.

    Well done.

    Preferably charred.

 13 The Man with the Sedge Ha

    Mina continued to eye Tarou who was now grooming himself vigorously while waiting for her reply. Her eyes narrowed as she trailed every movement of the mouse''s paw.

    Crouching low on the ground with her butt up in the air, she was waiting for the perfect moment.

    In her peripheral vision, she saw the trees swayed as a light wind swept through the forest but her focus remained on Tarou.

    Five...

    Four...

    Three...

    Two...

    One...

    As she was about to pounce, an irresistible smell wafted through the air, diverting her attention.

    Meanwhile, the man with the sedge hat and the bandit chief stood opposite each other. With his legs apart and his body leaning forward, the mysterious man looked at home among the giant sequoias surrounding the area.

    Looking at the bandit chief on the eye, the mysterious man broke the almost deafening silence.

    "It will be easier to fight on our side. Your enemies will be our enemies."

    "I''m honored that a mighty general of Artha takes an interest in the affairs of a deposed noble," the bandit chief replied in a wry voice.

    Maintaining a firm tone, the general replied, "The matters of a comrade never escape my notice."

    "As they say, in the desert, no man meets a friend."

    "We have a common enemy, a more dangerous one within the walls of the empire."

    The bandit chief replied with a twisted smile on his lips, "The emperor''s concerns are no business of mine. He continued in a frosty tone, "I will not swear fealty to the emperor."

    The general nodded his head slowly. He looked at the bandit chief before speaking, "Of all the kingdoms in the empire, Houri is the greatest threat."

    The bandit chief fixed his gaze at the skies streaked with a pale orange hue. Emphasizing each word, the general continued, "The King of Houri is a ruthless man."

    "To forge an alliance, he promised a married sister to the King of Dinhi."

    At the mention of Dinhi, the bandit chief tilted his head towards the general with an unreadable expression on his face, waiting for the man to continue.

    "Sent off a bastard sibling to cover deceit."

    "And now, he wants his sister dead, pinning the murder to a certain rebel."

    The bandit chief stood still. His face turned very furious as his jaw clenched. The general took a step to the side and paused slightly.Paying no heed to the bandit chief, he expressed his views in a reverent tone.

    "The man is indeed a wise rule. He would annihilate a threat and gain an ally without sacrificing any member of the royal household."

    The bandit chief gripped his arm behind his back as he looked into the cold eyes of the man before him. He opened and closed his mouth without making a sound.

    Watching the man in front of him, the general tilted his chin upward and looked the bandit chief in the eye.

    "My offer stands."

    As the words left the general''s lips, the first rays of sunlight bathed the forest.

    The early morning hours were quiet except for the rustling of the trees. A few moments later, a soft and soothing sound vibrated, breaking the almost deafening silence.

    ''Meeeooooooooooow....''

    At the sound of the loud purring, a grey mouse snapped out of his daze. Looking frantically from left to right, Tarou realized that Boss did not disappear but was actually somewhere close by.

    He was on tenterhooks while waiting for the cat''s reply that he did not notice how the cat disappeared.

    Guided by his whiskers, the mouse set out to look for Boss. With great difficulty, he finally climbed a log blocking his path.

    Balancing on his perch, the mouse clearly saw Boss standing close to a plant with triangular leaves. The scent of the plant was so repulsive he would have sprinted out of the area if not for the shocking scene before him.

    "Boss!" he called out with a squeak, but the feline did not even spare him a glance.

    The black cat was rubbing itself on the plant with the offensive smell. The cat even chewed on a leaf, releasing an even stronger scent.

    After showing such frenzy over the plant, Boss rolled on the ground with glazed eyes and paws tucked close to its body while voicing ecstatic purrs.

    The mouse gaped in shock with the sight before him. As if the actions were not offensive enough, the cat even made its way to one of the humans. Tarou had to slap his head with a paw when he saw the direction where the cat was heading.

    After studying each man with care, the cat eventually decided that the man with the hat deserved its attention. To his horror, the black cat bumped his head adoringly against one of the questionable humans, purring with each rub.

    He couldn''t help but cringe.

    The cat scratched the man''s trousers gently. Boss even blinked slowly while looking up to the man with eyes as big as saucers.

    His eyes burned.

    ''Boss...''

    ''He shouldn''t have asked Boss about what happened earlier.''

    ''He was too insensitive.''

    ''He implied a relationship between the two humans...''

    ''forcing Boss to mark his territory.''

    The mouse couldn''t help but place both paws on his head while looking at the black cat.

    While a grey mouse felt responsible, a certain black cat felt too ecstatic to care. Mina couldn''t explain how she felt after she inhaled the sweet scent in the air. She just had to get closer to it.

    While rolling around in glee, she spotted two humans across each other.

    A little voice in her head reminded her of something. She is yet to bestow her favor on the victorious human.

    Mina approached the man with the hat, placing one paw on his boot. To make sure, he did not misunderstand, she even stood on two paws to inform him of her decision.

    The man accepted her favor without complaints. When he avoided her wide eyes, she knew that he was the perfect human for a cat like her.

    Pleased with her new servant, Mina placed another paw on his trousers and purred to show her eagerness to have him under her wing.

    Still feeling the wave of euphoria, she clung on to him to seal the deal.

    This human was her''s now. She will not let him go.

    Meanwhile, the bandit chief looked at the docile cat clinging on the general''s trousers with a confused expression on his face. He saw the general''s hat tilt downwards.

    His gaze drifted from the general and then to the black cat hugging the man''s leg ecstatically. He couldn''t help but trail his gaze back to the general''s face whose expressions remained concealed under a sedge hat.

 14 The Generals Black Ca

    "This cat," the bandit chief motioned towards the docile cat clinging comfortably on the general''s leg, "taming this animal is unheard of."

    The general looked at the adorable cat purring on his boot as a faint sound of approaching horses became audible. Dismissing the bandit chief''s previous remark, the general spoke in a serious voice.

    "The princess and your men are almost back. You need to make a choice."

    The bandit chief fixed his gaze on the general and extended his hand.

    "I accept."

    The general took his hand and sealed their cooperation with a firm grasp before disclosing something important to the chief.

    "No one knows that the princess is alive. We must reach the capital before someone learns of this fact."

    "I understand."

    A few minutes later, the princess and the rest of the bandits arrived with the general''s men. When the group became visible, it was clear that the princess fidgeted on top of her mount. There was a discernible change in the princess'' demeanor when she saw the two men who stood across each other. The expression of the bandits also softened when they saw their chief.

    The bandit chief gave the princess a meaningful look before approaching the party. The general walked behind him while a black cat staggered to follow him.

    Behind the veil covering her entire face, the princess glanced at the bandit chief and then at the general.

    Stopping at an appropriate distance from the princess, the general was about to greet the princess when the woman spoke first.

    "Let us dispense with the formalities General," the princess said with a tinge of displeasure in her voice, "your men waylaid my return to Houri."

    "Apologies for my impertinence your highness. The emperor requests your presence in the capital.

    "General, I know nothing of you save for your reputation which leaves much to be desired."

    "Your Highness, the empire is in upheaval because of your death. Your brother, the King of Houri, and your betrothed, the King of Dinhi, are on their way to the capital to seek the emperor''s audience."

    In a voice filled with sarcasm, the princess could not help but reply.

    "As you can see general, I am very much alive."

    General Jadon continued. "We have received word that your family wants to seek for your murderer who also committed the grievous crime of burning down a village." The general glanced at the bandit chief with meaning. "I must insist that you accompany the party towards the capital with this gentleman here."

    "General, the Prince of Dinhi did nothing to harm my life. If not for him, I would have perished."

    "Then, your highness, you must know better than I that your appearance before the emperor is even more necessary."

    Realizing the seriousness of the situation, the princess nodded her head and motioned to the general. "Very well. I will heed the emperor''s request and put my safety in your hands, General." The princess consented reluctantly.

    "We must travel fast, Your Highness. But your arrival in the capital must remain a secret."

    One of the general''s men stepped forward with a piece of clothing. The general motioned to the garments. "A traveling monk would be less conspicuous than a young woman with a band of men."

    The princess looked down on the garments and nodded.

    "Let your man hand them over to me, I could wear these even on horseback."

    Mina snapped out of her euphoric state when she heard the princess'' highhanded tone. She finally realized that the scene was much different from before. She had no time to process why she ended up beside her human servant but she had to deal with the current situation first.

    The two men seemed to have reached a truce since the tension between them was no longer there. This time, there were also more people in the clearing. The princess and the bandits were back. She also saw the general''s men return with them. Despite her reluctance to leave her comfortable position, she had to greet the princess on all fours.

    "Meow! Meow! Meow!"

    Her greetings caught the attention of everyone present.

    Instinctively, all eyes turned towards a black cat standing next to the general. Save for the general''s men whose expressions remained unchanged, the princess and the bandits were all eyeing the black cat and the general with unveiled shock.

    "That...that animal, does it belong to you General?"

    Mina was all ears when the princess asked the question in a tone filled with disbelief. Losing all gratefulness to the woman who had been her benefactor since she arrived in this world, she growled at the princess.

    ''Hey person this human is clearly my servant. You''ve got it all mixed up!'' she hissed.

    "Black cats are spawns of the devil," one of the young bandits murmured in a voice which was almost inaudible. Mina looked at the young bandit as her pupils narrowed into slits. Before she could growl at the man, the horse the bandit was on neighed and flipped over backward throwing off its rider.

 15 Forgotten

    The young bandit landed with a thud. Everyone stared at the fallen rider but Mina couldn''t help but let out an amused meow while looking from the young bandit to the bandit chief.

    ''These bandits should be negotiators. They can diffuse tension by landing on their ass.''

    Unbeknownst to her, the general''s gaze was also fixed on the bandit chief. Right after Mina''s chatter, she heard the general spoke up in a chiding tone.

    "Prince Roupen, you and your men are in possession of a rare talent."

    Mina couldn''t help but meow in agreement. The bandit chief glared at the general and at the black cat used a paw to express her glee over her human''s conduct.

    While looking at the man, Mina saw the hint of a smile. Shifting back to his indifferent expression, the general looked at the crowd and spoke in an authoritative tone.

    "Let''s set off quickly. We should head north towards the capital."

    Mina was also excited to start her journey towards the capital. She couldn''t help but meow.

    "Humans, we''re losing daylight! Giddy up! Giddy Up!"

    Shortly after all arrangements were completed, it was time to set off. The bandit chief brought his most trusted man along and the princess wore her disguise. Everyone took note of the black cat who sat on the general''s mount although no one knew how or when the black cat made its way up there.

    ***

    Almost an hour into the journey, Mina''s enthusiasm changed to weariness. Sitting on a horse was not her preferred means of transport! She has been constantly shifting to avoid falling off the animal. Every once in a while she couldn''t help but meow in annoyance.

    "My cat parts are not comfortable!!!!"

    Coincidentally, every time she complained, she felt that the jostling became slightly worse so she tried to control her whining.

    To take her mind off the abominable journey, Mina decided to take stock of her situation which reminded her of how one of the bandits referred to her.

    The devil''s spawn!

    Of course, she had nothing to do with the devil. She had no memory of striking a deal with someone from the underbelly of hell!

    In a way, she could understand the young man. Black cats were believed to be unlucky even in the modern era. She did not believe any of those superstitions but the bandits and even the princess seems to be convinced that she is a vile creature.

    Fortunately, her human was a reasonable man. He did not even budge at the accusations. He did not throw her off the horse and he is the most capable of the bunch. Mina had to pat herself with a paw --she had a good eye!

    She couldn''t help but glance at the general. The man''s efficiency rating is superb. He ignored all useless talk and proceeded with the task he came to do --bring back the princess and the clumsy prince aka the bandit chief.

    While thinking of the two nobles, Mina spared them a glance and noticed that the princess motioned the bandit chief to come closer.

    ''Oh, these two seems to be close.''

    Although the two were some distance away from her, she could still hear them thanks to her cat senses. Focusing on the sound, she heard a soft voice ask an interesting question.

    "Prince Roupen,do you trust the General from Artha?" After a short pause, the princess continued, "He knows you are the bandit chief, will you be in trouble?"

    "I fought with the general in the battle against the savages. He considers me as a comrade."

    The princess looked left and right and spoke almost in a whisper, "His...cat. Only the devil can tame these animals."

    "Princess, you are being superstitious. Even the fiercest men cower before the general."

    "The cat has the evil eye, your.. your man called it names and he was thrown off his horse. There is something wrong with that cat!"

    Mina was all ears and the remark made her scowl. Maintaining an even tone, the bandit chief answered.

    "Perhaps a small animal spooked the horse. We are in a forest after all."

    "Then, how do you think the general found us?"

    "He has informants everywhere."

    "Precisely. And that informant happens to be more intelligent than all of us." Pausing, the princess continued in a tone full of intrigue, "He has been spying on us with that cat."

    "Princess, you think too much. The General is a capable man, his spies move like shadows," the bandit chief reasoned.

    "His spy will surely go undetected. Who would suspect that his spy is a cat? It has been keeping tabs on me for two nights!" the princess insisted in an exasperated voice.

    With furrowed brows, the prince glanced at the general and the cat in front of him. Mina caught his eye but the man quickly looked away and gazed at the princess. In a voice filled with conviction, the bandit chief replied, "It was merely a coincidence."

    ''In my defense, I was there for dinner,'' Mina thought while looking at them.

    ''Princess, you have a wild imagination. If the general understood cat language, I would be in a far more comfortable position.''

    The princess continued to converse with the prince about other topics. Bored with eavesdropping, Mina turned her attention to her surroundings.

    From the snippets she heard, Mina realized that she landed in an intriguing era. Since she woke up in a cat''s body all she saw was the clearing and the hut where she woke up. At the moment, the view was pretty much the same --trees, bushes, plants, and surprisingly, only a few animals.

    While looking around, she spotted a squirrel peeking from one of the tree hollows. When she saw the creature, Mina paused.

    ''I think I forgot something crucial.''

    Looking at the place where the squirrel disappeared, she continued to think but nothing came to mind. She dismissed those thoughts and focused on the road ahead.

    She had more than enough time to make sense of all the information she gathered. Her human is apparently the General of an Empire called Artha. This empire has several kingdoms. She couldn''t figure out how many kingdoms there were but there should be more than two.

    The bandit chief whom she had been considering as a candidate is also of noble birth. He used to be the Prince of a kingdom called Dinhi but for some reason, he lost his status and became involved with the bandits.

    The princess who was in the bandit camp is apparently related to the Kingdom of Houri. Tarou was right, the woman is indeed a princess. So, that mouse can be a reliable source of information after all.

    Just then, she finally remembered what was missing.

    ''Uh, Oh..''

    It was almost mid-afternoon now and they have been traveling for hours.

    ''Underling.''

    "Tarou!"

    She meowed in an alarmed voice.

    The last time she saw the mouse was in the clearing. She looked at the trail they left behind.

    "Tarou!"

    Mina called out like a mother cat calling for its young.

    "Tarou!"

    Mina knew they were too far away for Tarou to hear and her meows eventually subsided.

    She couldn''t help but berate herself.

    She was too excited to set off that she forgot the mouse. Mina looked back at the path they took with a downcast expression.

    ''Tarou...''

    ''Will I see you again?''

 16 Lonely and Alone

    Still looking at the path they took, Mina felt something wet on her paws. She felt another drop but she ignored it. She only looked up when she heard the general''s voice.

    "Rain. Let''s take cover."

    Mina followed the general halfheartedly. She was too sad to mind the conversation going around her. Instead of milling around with the rest of the party, she looked for a nice and warm spot. She was about to rest her eyes when she heard the rustling leaves.

    Her ears instinctively pointed upward. Mina could barely make out the sound of movement because of the rain.

    ''Could it be?''

    Restraining her excitement, she made her way towards the direction of the sound. Her eyes focused on the grass behind the trees. Coincidentally, food was also laid out in the area.

    ''Tarou!'' she thought. ''That mouse only cares about food!''

    Mina''s lethargic mood was gone instantly.

    ''It should be him.''

    Mina smiled while thinking about her naughty plan. Crouching low, she moved without making any sound.

    ''I''m going to scare that mouse to death!''

    Mina saw something grey. Focusing solely on the moving object, her eyes narrowed. When she found the perfect timing, she let out a toothy grin before catching the animal with her mouth.

    Instead of a warm and furry mouse, Mina felt a cold, scaly thing on her mouth. Before she could think, she came face to face with a grey snake.

    The startled animal hissed at her with a mix of anger and surprise. Mina had no idea what to do.

    ''There''s a slimy tail in my jaws.''

    For fear that the snake will come closer, she twirled it around fast enough to avoid the approaching head.

    ''This is too revolting!''

    Mina only released the snake when the animal became limp. The snake took the opportunity to get away from her and slithered towards the clueless princess.

    ''Argh!!! These humans are too troublesome!''

    After groaning inwardly, Mina stalked the snake and caught it again. She gave it another twirl to fend off possible attacks. She had no idea if the snake was venomous or not but she didn''t want to take any chances.

    ''Arghh! I just want to get rid of this slimy thing.''

    Mina finally caught sight of the general at the edge of the clearing. She ran as fast as she can towards the man. She laid it on the general''s feet and meowed to catch his attention.

    "Deal with this servant! The taste is eew! Too abominable."

    After depositing the animal to someone reliable, Mina made her way towards the princess to grab something to

    Still shuddering from the taste, she snacked on the closest plant with the most tolerable scent.

    During the entire scene, the bandits and the princess were speechless. They saw how the cat brought the snake to the general as if it was some kind of offering. The man dealt with the snake quickly and before they knew it, the cat approached them and snacked on their food.

    ***

    After the temporary excitement, Mina was back in a somber mood. She was secretly hoping that Tarou sneaked inside one of the bags. After all, it was the most sensible thing to do!

    With her tail tucked between her legs, she continued to listen for any movement. But there was nothing unusual.

    Minutes passed but there was still nothing except for the sound of the raindrops.

    For the first time, Mina felt alone since she arrived in this world. She felt tiredness creep into her little body and her eyes closed involuntarily.

    ***

    When Mina opened her eyes, tents were up, the ground was dry, and darkness already crept into the forest. She gazed up at the night sky with a lazy yawn. To her amazement, everything was just too beautiful.

    Thousands of stars sparkled in the heavens and Mina felt overwhelmed. In the city, stars were barely visible but even then she never had the chance to observe the night sky long enough to enjoy the view. She was always in a rush or dead tired.

    Tonight, she had all the time in the world. When Mina lowered her gaze, she saw dancing lights over the trees and bushes.

    Fireflies!

    Against the darkness, everything glowed and sparkled. The forest came alive and it was magical.

    The scene took Mina''s breath away.

    It was like a fairytale.

    Getting closer to the dancing fireflies, Mina couldn''t help but reach out with one paw with glee.

    Forgetting everything else temporarily, she played with the insects and chased them around until a tasty scent caught her attention.

    ''This smells divine!''

    While making her way towards her meal, she heard two voices.

    "I had no idea the general likes cats."

    "Apparently, he likes rabbits better."

    Mina felt offended.

    ''How could those white, fluffy things be better than me?''

    Her tail moved quickly from side to side and her ears were flat against her head. She was about to claw the rabbit-loving man when she saw what the dinner meal would be.

    ''Oh!''

    Sheathing her claws, she saw white, fluffy fur on one side and the gutted animals over the fire.

    Rabbits.

    Finally calm, Mina sat quietly on the side until the sound of horse hooves disturbed her vigil over the grilled meat. Her tail moved from side to side. With her ears up, she realized that the horse is running on breakneck speed.

    Fully alert, Mina stood up on all fours and looked for the general. Her human was with the bandit chief and they were on their way out of a tent.

    When the horse slowed down to a walk, Mina knew that the animal was making its way to their camp. Everyone became tense while looking at the direction of the approaching horse.

    When the animal came into view a shout rang out from across the clearing.

    "Rohan!" the bandit chief called out while running towards the rider who gripped the reins with great effort.

    When he looked up, Mina saw a familiar face. He was the young man who fell off his horse earlier.

    "Chief," the man spoke in a labored voice. The man almost fell off his mount but the bandit chief steadied him. "Ambush."

    "Where?"

    "Last fork before the hideout,"Rohan answered, pausing after every word.

    "The rest?"

    Rohan stammered in pain, unable to speak coherently.

    "Let''s tend to your wounds first. Tell me the rest later."

    While looking at the bandit chief leading the man into a tent to treat his injuries, a realization dawned on Mina.

    ''In this world, there is danger everywhere.''

    At that exact moment, her ears caught another sound. Bracing for a threat, her pupils dilated and she crouched down while waiting for something else to appear.

 17 Drunk Chick?

    With all senses engaged, Mina could hear the shuffling movement in the grass followed by a plop. The movements were unusual and the resulting sound even more so.

    Mina listened to the sound from beyond the trees. She could barely see anything from her position. The movement continued and Mina could see a silhouette.

    ''A chick?''

    Mina couldn''t see the approaching figure properly, but the animal seems to have a beak albeit an oversized one. Based on its size, this creature seems to be a plump chick.

    As for how the animal acted, Mina could only place one paw on her head.

    With every step, the unidentified creature plopped on the grass causing an unusual sound. A few seconds later, the animal would get up to take another step before diving back to the grass.

    What made Mina even more surprised was the fact that this creature actually covered some distance by traveling in such a peculiar manner.

    ''A drunk chick?''

    Mina tried to call out to the creature with a soft meow but all she heard was another plop on the grass. Finally, the creature came close enough to be illuminated by the light from the fire.

    ''Oh, it''s not a beak.''

    Seeing well enough from her vantage point, Mina saw something fluffy with ears and whiskers. What looked like a beak was actually something else.

    Mina meowed but there was no response. The animal appeared oblivious to its surroundings.

    Getting more curious, Mina came closer. Before the animal plopped on the grass for the hundredth time, Mina approached and braced the fall.

    Looking down, she saw a familiar pair of eyes.

    ''I should have known.''

    Mina meowed, expecting the animal to respond. The animal looked at up her with a blank stare. With another meow, Mina tried to get a reaction out of the dazed mouse.

    "Hey! Tarou! What''s are you carrying?"

    After another failed attempt to get the mouse to respond, Mina shook the mouse who was rocking back and forth, apparently simulating the plopping motion. But instead of getting his head out of the fog, Tarou bared his sharp teeth and attacked Mina''s leg.

    Mina growled. The pain was so sudden that she instinctively slapped the mouse with a clawed paw. She heard a pained yelp and quickly went over the mouse to check on his condition.

    When the mouse detected her approach, he looked at Mina with fearful eyes while hiding something behind him. Mina ignored his actions and quickly scanned the animal before her. She sighed in relief when she saw that he was unharmed.

    Mina focused her gaze back on the mouse, who was now looking at her with eyes full of uncertainty.

    "Boss?" the mouse called out in a hesitant squeak.

    Mina meowed back in acknowledgment.

    ''Finally.''

    "Boss!!! Boss!!!"

    The mouse squeaked enthusiastically while holding on to Mina''s paw.

    "Horrible experience! I almost got run over by that...that horse!"Tarou squeaked while pointing at the young bandit''s horse. In a vexed voice, the mouse continued his rant.

    "That animal hates me! That horse planned on stomping me to death since morning. I''m so fortunate for having quick reflexes!"

    Mina was about to ask what happened to Tarou, but she couldn''t get a word in as the mouse gave an account of what happened to him.

    "It was horrible! I slipped into a bandit''s bag for cover and I fell asleep. When I woke up, I heard clashing swords and horses neighing in fear. It was so dark I couldn''t see a thing."

    ''Even if it''s light out you can''t see a thing,'' Mina replied sarcastically in her mind. Without minding Mina''s amused reaction, Tarou proceeded with his tale.

    "I slipped out of my hiding place and caught a delectable scent. I almost got stepped on while searching for this beefy meal," the mouse shared with glee while raising a triangle-shaped item that she mistook for a beak.

    ''You only think about food!'' Mina thought while looking at the animated mouse.

    "I made my way back inside the bandit''s bag quickly but before I could slip inside, the horse suddenly started running. The journey was..."

    "Horrible!" Mina interrupted. "What happened then?" she asked, more interested in the ambush than on Tarou''s daring tale about scavenging for food. The mouse answered eagerly.

    "I had to hang on for hours! That boy is the worst driver! And that horse! He is my nemesis!" Tarou rambled on but Mina''s attention was focused on the mouse''s "beefy" dinner.

    Mina asked about the details of the ambush but Tarou couldn''t remember anything helpful. The mouse waved the stolen item back and forth while retelling his story for the second time and Mina couldn''t help but pay attention to the moving object.

    "Wait!" Mina interjected. "That doesn''t look like food," she exclaimed while pointing at the item on Tarou''s hand.

    "Huh?" the mouse asked with a puzzled look before placing the item close to his nose, "Boss, this smells like dried beef." Tarou licked the edge and looked at Mina, "Tastes like one too."

    Mina made her way towards the questionable item and sniffed. "This... this has the scent of food but it looks like paper."

    "I don''t care about appearances Boss. Sometimes we have to make do." Tarou schooled her in a serious voice. Blinking, the mouse seems to have realized something and magnanimously added, "I can share."

    "Eating paper? Tarou! That''s disgusting!" Mina blurted almost automatically.

    "After everything that happened today, I need nourishment. Paper or not, I have to gnaw on something."

    Mina ignored the mouse and snatched the item so she could examine it closely.

    "This looks like a letter! Quick! Tarou, what does the letter say?"

    Tarou stared at the letter for a while before glancing up at Mina with round, confused eyes.

    "I have no idea."

    "You...can''t you? Forget it, you can''t even see properly."

    The mouse nodded in relief.

    "Okay, I''ll do it," Mina offered before giving the folded piece of paper a thorough inspection.

    "Boss?" Tarou called out when Mina continued to stare at the letter without saying anything for several minutes.

    "I can''t see when I''m too near, I need to back away a bit."

    But even after finding the best distance and lighting, Mina remained motionless. All the characters resembled squiggles and she had no idea those symbols mean.

    "What does it say?" Tarou eagerly inquired.

    This time, it was Mina''s turn to stare at the mouse with a blank look. In a resigned voice, Mina revealed her conclusion.

    "I''ll need a translator."

    Tarou''s gaze landed on the horse who peered at them curiously. Realizing the direction of Tarou''s train of thought, Mina quickly clarified her point.

    "A human translator."

 18 Human Affairs

    Picking up the letter using her mouth, Mina was about to speed towards the general''s tent when something tugged on her fur.

    "Boss," Tarou called out weakly. "We''re animals."

    Mina''s tail curved when she heard what the grey mouse had to say.

    "Human affairs are for humans."

    Incensed, she let go of the letter and answered the clingy mouse. "We have to bring this letter to my human. I need to know what''s inside."

    "Why would you care so much for human affairs Boss? You''re a cat, these humans despise creatures like us. Look," Tarou pause before pointing his paw towards the horse, "those animals receive better treatment, that''s why they''re arrogant asses!"

    "Neigh. We''re stallions, not donkeys!" the horse quipped almost instantly after Tarou''s claims.

    Scratching its head Tarou couldn''t help but feel confused. Mina couldn''t help but nod in approval towards the eavesdropping horse

    "He''s right."

    Tarou gaped at Mina. His clueless eyes widened with annoyance and Mina couldn''t help but chuckle while trying to clarify the stallion''s words.

    "He''s not an ass."

    Tarou''s cheeks bulged as he let out an angry huff. Afraid of hearing another account of Tarou''s horrible experience, Mina diverted the topic.

    "Let''s deal with this letter first. I need to find my human."

    "We can get food on our own. Why would we meddle with human affairs?" Tarou squeaked in annoyance.

    Mina paused. Tarou''s argument actually made sense.

    She was a cat now --an animal, not a person. She had no business meddling with human affairs. But she couldn''t help it! She wants to know what''s inside the letter. As they say, curiosity killed the cat but satisfaction brought it back. Yes, that''s the perfect excuse.

    Right now, she''s just a stray following a guy home. She needs to make a move to be indispensable to the human.

    The guy clearly values loyalty. Playing like a pitiful creature won''t work, she needs to be cunning and this letter could serve as leverage.

    While wrestling with her thoughts, Mina caught something in her peripheral vision. She snapped out of her philosophical state and saw Tarou''s paw inch closer towards the letter. When she stared at the mouse, Tarou retracted his paw quickly and blinked at her with innocent eyes.

    ''And here I was thinking this mouse raised an important issue.'' Mina sighed. She focused on the devious animal and realized its time for a lecture on strategic living.

    "Tell me, Tarou, are you satisfied with this kind of life? Do you want to be a scavenger all the time? If there''s no food you either have you go hungry or make do with anything edible--even paper!"

    Tarou''s ears were pointed downwards and he stood stiff as a statue while listening to Mina''s passionate speech. She expected the mouse to admit his stupidity but to her surprise, Tarou looked at her and bellowed indignantly.

    "That''s my food! I risked my life for that meal!"

    Mina was speechless, she was the foolish one.

    ''A hungry Tarou is an angry Tarou.''

    Mina concealed a smile when she realized how Tarou must be feeling at the moment. ''So, that''s actually what all this protest is all about.''

    "There''s actual food here, underling. Something tastier than paper." Mina teased.

    Tarou''s ears perked up at the mention of food. His eyes lit up, melting away any signs of anger.

    "I smell...is that rabbit?"

    "Boss, where''s your human? Let''s bring him this letter quickly. It might contain something important," the mouse asked eagerly.

    ''I can''t believe this mouse. Food is everything to him.''

    ***

    Carrying the letter using her mouth, Mina searched for her human. She scanned the surroundings and saw him with one of his men. The two men blended perfectly with the shadows, and it would be easy to miss them given their position.

    After making her way towards the general, Mina nudged his leg. The man ignored her and continued to give instructions to his man.

    "Stay alert. We have no idea who the enemies are."

    Impatient, Mina continued to get him to pay attention. She stood on two legs and scratched the man''s leg. This finally prompted the general to look at her.

    Worrying that it''s too dark to see, Mina went to an illuminated area and waved the letter Tarou found. After placing it on the ground, she called out to her human with a drawn-out meow.

    Soon after, the two men emerged from the shadows.

    The general''s subordinate crouched down to take a closer look at the item on the ground and picked it up for a closer look.

    "General, it''s a letter. I have never seen the markings before."

    The general reached for the letter and opened it with ease. He scanned the contents quickly. With an impatient meow, Mina tried to coax him to share the contents. The general looked at her but said nothing.

    Studying him closely, Mina saw his jaw clench while staring at the small piece of paper for the second time.

    "Luca," the general called out to his underling in a tone devoid of any emotion, "see to the animals."

    ''This man clearly wants me out of his sight. Did he just dismiss me? That letter must be useless.''

    ''So disappointing. I thought my gift would seal the deal.''

    Mina mindlessly walked towards the cooking rabbit as the general''s man trailed behind. After finding a comfortable position, Mina looked back at Luca. The man''s brow furrowed and one hand cupped his mouth while making his way towards the fire.

    Mina chirped to make him pay attention and it worked perfectly. He looked at the cat, the food, and the other man before relaying an order.

    "Barca, see to the animals."

    Luca delivered the directive in a tone similar to the general. The man called Barca nodded and paused to check the meat cooking over the fire. The black cat''s eagerness for mealtime drew his attention, and he spoke to the cat with a hint of amusement.

    "Food is almost ready."

    Mina meowed with approval and stretched.

    "Barca, you are a runner up for being my human."

 19 Bedeviled

    ???????

    Tarou trailed behind Boss who looked for his human translator. He was reluctant to surrender his treasure but he had to. Between a paper meal and a real one, he clearly wanted the tastier meal.

    ''Boss, wait up!''

    Tarou could only shake his head while looking at Boss who looked docile in front of the human. Right after receiving the letter, the man did not even give Boss a pat as a sign of gratitude.

    ''Boss may have claws, but I have never seen a more ignorant cat in my life. He should have been firmer with the human, after all, we are doing them a favor!''

    Remembering all the struggles he went through earlier and how he begrudgingly handed the letter over to Boss, he was in a sour mood.

    ''I risked my life for that letter!''

    Tarou''s tail wagged while staring at the direction of Boss and the human. When he found his way towards the clearing, he caught the scent of something sweet close to the rocks.

    ''This part of the forest has a lot of plants.''

    ''Meat can wait, right?''

    ''I surrendered the treasured meal to have something more nutritious. Snacking on fresh plants is simply irresistible!''

    Tarou just had two bites of an irresistible plant when he heard a swishing sound and a tall and imposing figure entered the tent closest to his foraging ground.

    ''It''s the general!'' Tarou quickly retreated back to the shadows, expecting Boss to trail after the man. But he did not detect the familiar scent of the cat. Preening over to take a closer look through the tent''s small opening, Tarou saw the general come closer to the princess.

    ''I''m too far. What are they doing?''

    Tarou stealthily found a better spot to hear them but it was impossible to see clearly from his position.

    ''This is rich!''

    ''Boss, I''ll find out your human''s weakness! Maybe you will change your mind. I don''t trust him.''

    Tarou strained to hear movements inside the tent.

    "Where...who..." the gentle voice of the princess sprang with wonder followed by a shuffling sound. "This...letter" the voice resumed after a long pause.

    A strong gust of wind blew at the moment and Tarou couldn''t help but feel frustrated hearing only snippets.

    Eventually, Tarou heard shifting clothes and labored breathing. One body fell on the ground followed by another and there was some movement on the ground. Hushed tones laced with tension followed but it almost impossible to eavesdrop. The princess spoke in whispers and the general made almost no sound --and he couldn''t help but gnaw on one paw.

    Tarou couldn''t remember how many minutes have passed but he stood rooted on the spot while waiting for someone to say something.

    "No one should know about this," the general''s dominant voice splintered the agonizing silence. Tarou''s head was instantly up, intent on hearing every word while sneaking closer to the tent.

    "As you wish," the princess conceded reluctantly in a voice devoid of its usual arrogant flair. When the general left the tent, Tarou could vaguely hear "for the sake of the Kingdom of Covin" before a series of stomps and muffled screams. After a while, the princess quieted down but Tarou remained curious.

    While making his way towards Boss, Tarou continued to mull over the conversation between the princess and the general. He heard about Covin from mice who came by the village. All those brothers agree on one thing --the place is not fit for a mouse, more so for a human. After hearing the intriguing exchange, he wanted to consult Boss. His greedy stomach wanted a piece of rabbit meat too.

    Sniffing, Tarou finally caught the delicious scent of food.Right now, his main goal is to urge Boss to grab the reward for surrendering the letter. But before he could get close to the cat, he noticed the presence of a man who smelled like lemongrass.

    "Leaving home for the first time is hard. I did it too. Survival is always the priority," a gentle voice advised while looking at a black cat lying on its stomach close to the fire.

    Tarou saw the cat''s head move up to look at the person speaking and the man continued in a voice filled with admiration.

    "You have a good eye. He has two expressions --cold and colder but he is a good person."

    ''Good person? Hmpf!'' Tarou couldn''t help but groom himself vigorously when he heard the man''s words.

    "The capital is not the best place for a cat but being his cat would afford you some level of protection."

    Tarou shifted his paws while hiding in the shadows. This guy was selling the general to Boss like a father sending his daughter off to marriage. Tarou saw a black tail swish from one side to another.

    ''Boss, don''t even consider it! You should be less gullible. Don''t listen to that man. The general is dangerous!''

    "You''re a smart cat. You can win him over," the man said while crouching down on the ground to give Boss a piece of meat. The man did not mind the cat''s silence and in an enthusiastic voice filled with mirth, he continued.

    "This is the longest conversation I had for a month," the enthusiastic voice said in a tone filled with mirth.

    Tarou was about to dash close to Boss when someone appeared behind the man.

    "Barca, you are talking to a cat who is not even meowing back. That does not count as a conversation," a loud voice interrupted.

    ''So, this cat who pimps Boss to the general is called Barca.''

    While studying the scene in front of him, he heard a chuckle before a tone laced with ridicule raised the same question he wanted to ask.

    "Are you muddleheaded, why would you advise a cat on how to win over the general?"

    "Can''t you see how this little one tries to be tough?" Barca retorted, appealing to the other man''s emotion while motioning to the cat who looked too bored to respond with a meow.

    "All I can see is one proud cat."

    "Luca, that animal has no home," Barca reasoned only to be told off like a grouchy child.

    "He will bring trouble to the general. We should lose the cat." After a quick pause, Luca continued in a voice reverberating with unsettling concern.

    "Why would he choose a cat for a pet. A panther or even a tiger will be better than a cat. This animal will only invite trouble."

    "The cat chose him."

    "The cat can choose someone else, the general should stop tolerating the presence of this cursed animal," Luca said firmly.

    "The cat can hear you," Barca quickly interjected to reprimand Luca.

    "If that cat understands us, it should know its place. You know cats are not exactly welcome at the capital," Luca insisted, his head shifting slightly while eyeing the cat."He continued in a voice filled with disdain, "It''s not just a cat, it also happens to be a black cat --the symbol of the devil. Being labeled as a devil --"

    "will be useful in sowing fear. Terror is an effective tool in any battlefield," a sharp voice interrupted without a hint of hesitation.

    When the general spoke, Tarou''s jaw dropped. He did not notice when the man arrived, he could not believe what the man said either.

    Feeling the man''s intense presence, Tarou rushed towards Boss who was now on all fours standing alert with her tail up and her head raised up towards the human.

 20 The Letter

    ???????

    Tarou forgot his plan to stay discreetly on the shadows when his paws moved on their own towards Boss. Like the eager cat, he wanted to take a closer look at the human.

    Except for the small noise he made, no one said a word. The air was still as the humans stood face to face with each other. Tarou could hear the owls screech and the sound of hungry hedgehogs in the background. The eerie sound made the scene feel sinister even to an innocent bystander like him.

    Tarou nudged Boss who continued to look up to the general as if seeing a deity. The cat did not budge and continued to stare at the man with unveiled adoration. The delicious rabbit meal''s enticing scent wafted through the air but Boss did not spare it a glance. Tarou could only look at the food longingly while shooting the black cat an annoyed glare.

    Luca tilted his head up to the general while running a hand across his hair. He couldn''t help but take note of the man who had a very clean scent. In front of the general, this Luca folded rapidly like touch-me-nots.

    A gentle wind blew, making the scent of the food even stronger and Tarou couldn''t help but squeak loudly. The sound broke the spell rendering everyone speechless.

    ''I''m hungry!!! Food now, deal with the drama later!''

    The sound caught everyone''s attention.

    "The food is almost ready," Barca remarked almost instantly effectively dispersing the tension in the air. Despite his hunger, Tarou swore someone sighed in relief.

    ***

    Throughout dinner, the grey mouse couldn''t help but sneak glances at Boss. He retreated to a concealed corner after the incident earlier but he kept a close eye on the black cat.

    Tarou knew he couldn''t risk discovery. He has been exposed to the darker side of these humans -- he didn''t want to risk his life on another meal today. Instead of running away with his food, he decided to live on the edge and keep tabs on Boss. But he is close to regretting his decision when he looked at the cat.

    The black cat had its focus solely on the general who ate quietly in one corner, its eyes wide with admiration.

    ''Shameless. Why are you sighing while looking at that human!''

    ''I should talk to Boss about this kind of behavior. Humans need a firm hand.''

    Tarou wanted to rush towards Boss and school the cat properly after the humans leave the area. But when he saw the general take Barca aside, he changed his mind. He had to know what the two are going to talk about.

    Hiding under the leaves, Tarou couldn''t see everything clearly but he knew he would not miss a word in his position. A few moments later, Tarou heard Barca''s cautious voice start off the conversation.

    "Luca worries about you." The evening air blew through the leaves and Tarou heard a wolf howl in the distance. Eventually, Barca''s whimsical tone broke the silence.

    "Today reminds me of how cats followed you around when we were young. A mother cat used to treat you like one of her own." Barca chuckled before continuing, "Luca should have seen that."

    Tarou almost squeaked when he heard what the lemongrass-scented man shared. ''This cold man acting like a kitten?'' More curious than ever, he was intent on hearing more.

    "About the princess..." the general''s voice trailed as if dangling an important piece of information and Barca faced him completely, curious on what he had to say.

    "...you used to be in love with her."

    From his vantage point, Tarou saw Barca''s mouth gape.

    "I did not."

    "She''s Nini, the little girl living in the northern temple. You offered flowers to her every day like she was a saint," the general continued with an unusually mischievous tone.

    "How could Nini grow up..." Barca replied in disbelief before continuing, "She was the purest, gentlest girl. That haughty person? No. Just no."

    The general''s voice instantly turned somber. "She grew up. And so did we."

    "Times were different then," Barca agreed, his voice filled with longing.

    Breaking the nostalgia, the general''s voice turned sharp and serious.

    "The cat brought a letter. One written in the old Covin characters."

    "Cats also showered you with all kinds of presents back then," Barca retorted quickly, still stuck on some unknown memory.

    Curious, Tarou sneaked a glance on the humans. The general gazed at the black cat a few feet away who was napping peacefully. "The letter was meant for Princess Naisha. That''s how I knew her identity."

    ''So, the letter was of some value after all! Boss needs to know about this!''

    Barca shot the general a thoughtful look. "Do they harbor hopes of taking the kingdom back by force?"

    The general nodded before replying calmly. "The princess is supposed to be their bargaining chip. They plan to use Dinhi to strike back at the emperor."

    After a pregnant pause, the general continued without a trace of the usual iciness in his voice.

    "This plot must remain secret. The emperor should not have any reason to push Covin into a worse situation."

    "and the princess?"

    "She gave me her word."

    "Under duress?" Barca asked with suspicion. The general shrugged in reply. Unable to hide his amusement, Barca continued in a playful tone.

    "You should learn how to treat ladies better. The princess is a delicate beauty."

    "That did not seem to be the case when she lunged at me with a dagger," the general nonchalantly replied. Barca chuckled.

    "Fierce. That''s how a lady from Covin should be."

    "Is Prince Roupen aware?"

    "I think not." Shaking his head, the general continued in a complex tone. "Princess Naisha has a complicated birthright." With a sigh, he continued, "This situation is becoming too tangled."

    Barca nodded before looking out into the darkness lost in thought. Tarou also took the moment of silence to process everything he heard, making a mental note to report all the important details to Boss.

    Barca''s gaze darted back to the general as he revealed, "Jad, I think the cat has a pal." With a smile playing on his lips, the man continued, "That animal looked sad all day, but tonight a mouse appeared and the cat seems to have recovered."

    ''I''ve been discovered!'' Alarmed, he almost gave his position away with a squeak but another sudden gust of wind muffled the sound.

    "Maybe the pal came with Prince Roupen''s man," Barca opined.

    Tarou held his breath, placing one paw in front of his mouth for added caution. The last thing he wanted was to disturb the leaves and get caught eavesdropping.

    "Would you have noticed if the pal appeared earlier?" the general asked in amusement.

    Barca smiled.

    "Old habits. All those years in the temple made it second nature for me to keep tabs on our feline friends."

    Hearing the words clearly made Tarou''s mouth gape. He stood still underneath the cover of leaves even after the two men disappeared.

    How could humans be so attuned to animal affairs?

    These people were not normal. Shaking his head, Tarou knew one thing.

    He needs to get to the bottom of this.

 21 Grouchy Underling

    ?/????? \

    Knackered, Mina was curled on the ground close to the fire with her head resting on two paws and her eyes shut. But when she heard approaching footsteps, she snapped out of her relaxed state and became more attuned to her surroundings.

    When she detected a familiar scent and heard Barca''s gentle voice, Mina immediately started to melt back to her sleepy stance until she heard what the man had to say.

    "The cat doesn''t feel comfortable on your horse. You should be more considerate."

    ''Barca! In my next cat life, I''ll choose you as my human,'' Mina thought while feigning sleep.

    "Luca is not comfortable with the cat. You should also consider his feelings," the man continued. The general grunted in reply. Undeterred by the other man''s silence, Barca continued in a voice tinged with frustration.

    "Jad, sometimes, it''s easier to get a reply out of a cat than getting you to talk about things."

    Mina smiled secretly. The general would be the perfect example of a human icicle.

    "Were you teasing Luca earlier?"

    "No," the general answered firmly.

    Mina''s eyes were closed but she could imagine Barca''s satisfied smile after finally getting the general to reply to his monologue.

    "We need to keep the invaders out of our borders and we lack people. What we lack for resources, we could make up for strategy."

    "This could backfire."

    "The emperor wants to fortify Artha. Enemies would consider a more peaceful means if our reputation precedes us."

    "The emperor should see the brilliance of this plan but his ministers are superstitious. They may ask the emperor to burn you at the stake."

    Mina shifted her focus towards the two men and saw the general nodded slowly acknowledging the possibility.

    "Perhaps you have too much faith on the emperor''s decisiveness," Barca continued.

    "I fought beside him in several battles, and I am still alive."

    Barca patted the general''s back and replied in a tone filled with regret. "I''m beginning to detest all this fighting. Each victory leaves me less proud than the one before it." Turning to face the general, he voiced his concerns in a firm tone.

    "To create something from nothing, the illusion of a formidable army. It is a brilliant strategy but it is an unnecessary risk."

    The two men continued the discussion as they retreated to another location. Mina was becoming more curious about the general and she was about to trail after the man when a small squeak caught her attention.

    Mina detected Tarou close to the trees. She quickly made her way towards the mouse who lurked in the shadows almost blending in with the scenery.

    "They know about us," the mouse voiced in a hushed squeaked. Mina could only stay at the mouse in confusion.

    "The man who smells of lemongrass. He knows," the mouse continued in the same cryptic tone.

    "Barca?"

    "Yes, that man and your human." Tarou looked around before whispering.

    "They know about our relationship."

    Mina lowered her head towards the mouse, trying to find Tarou''s unique scent and just then, the voice issued another warning.

    "You should be cautious around them!"

    ''Confirmed. This scent is Tarou. I thought it was some other mouse pretending to be him.''

    "You''re acting unusual Tarou. We still need those humans."

    ''What''s wrong with this mouse? Tarou is acting grouchy all of a sudden!''

    "Is the rabbit hopping in your gut? Is this where all the bitchiness is coming from?"

    "My...what?"

    Cutting off Tarou, Mina reasoned.

    "Humans are reliable food sources. You just need to win them over. Let them think they''re in control and they will be in the palm of your hand."

    "Huh! You are in the palm of his hand." Tarou sputtered in disdain. "You are behaving like a dog! If you wag your tail, anyone would think you''re one."

    "I like dogs,"the cat stated as a matter of fact but she couldn''t help but wonder. ''Was she really acting too eager to please her human?''

    "You should have more pride. Humans need a firm hand," Tarou stated in the same tone a principal reprimanded a delinquent student. This started to make Mina''s eye dilate and she couldn''t hide the irritation in her tone when she retorted.

    "I''m Boss. I know what I''m doing." She paused, looking intently on Tarou before asking, "What is wrong with you tonight?"

    "Barca suspects I delivered the letter," Tarou snapped. Mina couldn''t help but gush.

    "Smart and sensitive. Just my type of guy." Mina''s response provoked Tarou''s ire again.

    "That human is dangerous. We should be more careful around them or they will take advantage of us."

    The mouse paused and looked her straight in the eye and continued in a determined voice. "You, in particular, should be more careful of your actions." Raising a paw and pointing at Mina, he continued. "You are giving us away."

    Mina felt something was off with the conversation with Tarou. When she realized how the mouse kept on telling her how to act she suddenly realized what was happening.

    ''This underling is questioning my authority.''

    Gritting her teeth, she snapped back, "You should know your place. I know how to deal with humans."

    "But the general, that man reeks of bloodlust. You should.."

    Mina cut off the mouse with a hiss.

    "If you don''t have anything useful to say, zip it."

    "Z-z-zip what?"

    Irritated, Mina raised a claw against the mouse and bared her fangs.

    ''This creature has the audacity to question my actions!''

    She wanted to scare the mouse a little but Tarou went all stiff in front of her, looking the same way he did during their first meeting. The mouse stammered a few squeaks revealing something so crucial Mina stood still and looked out thoughtfully into the darkness.

 22 Irreplaceable

    ?/????? \

    "W-w-we, y-y-you should stay out of the capital Boss!" Tarou yelled in a shaky voice. "C-c-cats are barely allowed there. Everyone thinks cats are familiar spirits --instruments of evil," he sputtered almost incoherently. Mina looked at the grey mouse.

    With her whiskers sideways, Mina revealed two fangs as if smiling at the vast darkness before her.

    ''Finally, an adventure!''

    "I''ll go where my human goes," Mina stated firmly after looking at the area where the general disappeared. She has been dead set on going to the capital, and she wanted to explore more of this world.The danger excited her.

    "Observing humans is one way our elders teach us about survival. Humans, they always put themselves first. They are devious creatures! That Luca gave your human a risky idea --using you to sow fear in people''s hearts --a devil general!"

    ''Devil general.''

    She loosened her hold on the mouse and sat beside him while crouching down in a relaxed position eager to learn more.

    Mina could imagine how easy it would be for the general to gain a reputation as a demon on the battlefield. If she gained his trust enough to accompany him in battles, she would be part of Artha''s history.

    All statues featuring the general would include her, in all paintings and portraits she will be there standing proud for all future cats to envy. She never heard of Artha in school, but she never paid attention to those excruciatingly long history lectures anyway. It should be somewhere in one of those dusty tomes in the library, Mina reassured herself.

    Oblivious to Mina''s dreams of greatness, Tarou disturbed her daydreams and continued to warn her.

    "People could condemn him along with you. It is dangerous! We still have time to turn back."

    "I have faith in my human. He will put my name in history."

    "Is fame more important than your survival?" Tarou asked in a series of shocked squeaks.

    "Perhaps someday, I will tell you all about it Tarou," Mina replied, her mind still caught up in imagining temples created in her honor.

    "But, can''t you see, the capital is the one place you should avoid!" Tarou insisted in a voice filled with urgency.

    "Have you ever been to the capital? When did you hear about this? Do you actually know how cats are received there?"

    "Well, no. I did hear that there were only a handful of cats in the capital, making it a mouse haven. My goal has always been to join my brothers in that kind of paradise," Tarou gushed excitedly before looking at Mina with wide, guilty eyes.

    "If you are so glad to finally be on your way to the capital, why are you discouraging me to do the same?" she asked in confusion.

    "Because I feel guilty about letting you walk to your death!" Tarou admitted. "I may be a terrible mouse but I have principles." Mina chuckled when she heard Tarou''s retort. This cute, chubby mouse talking about how ruthless he could be was too adorable.

    "These rumors of yours are unreliable," Mina concluded. Still amused, Mina asked, "Do you have anything else to relay?"

    "Your human had a situation with the princess earlier," reported in a resigned voice.

    Mina''s ears shot up when she heard what the mouse said. ''My human and the princess?'' Before she could ask Tarou for clarification, the mouse revealed another piece of information quickly.

    "B-b-barca... Barca that guy used to be in love with her too..."

    ''The princess is on a roll.'' Voicing her thoughts, she quickly asked, "Is the general interested in her?"

    Tarou seems to have missed her question and went on to spill more details. "Barca, your human, and the princess all come from Covin."

    "Covin?"

    The mouse answered without being prodded further.

    "It''s a kingdom in the west -- a mountainous area with the tastiest peaches and melons. It used to be a festive kingdom before Artha conquered the territory. The old emperor conquered the city because of its resources, leaving the citizens with nothing but the clothes on their backs. That''s what the people in my village said."

    "What is the kingdom like today?"

    "Covin''s people were known for worshipping animal and forest deities --Artha sees this faith as the work of the devil. After Covin fell, Emperor Katou who ruled Artha then, issued an edict banning all kinds of animal ownership except for cattle, horses, and the like. Covin suffered the greatest damage, almost every family there had a pet. Those people had to slaughter their animals lest they are labeled as devils."

    Mina nodded, signaling him to continue.

    "Many people in Covin refused. The day the edict was issued, Artha''s army spared no one. Covin was filled with dead bodies of all suspected devil worshippers holding their animals close to them. It was impossible to find a street not lined by human corpses and animal carcasses. The army burned temples trapping both humans and animals, but..."

    Tarou paused and looked at the black cat as if he blurted out something he shouldn''t. Annoyed at the mouse''s hesitation, Mina growled at him to continue. Tarou quickly resumed his tale, "they said one temple burned to the ground but people and the cats inside suffered no damage. The army retreated when they saw a black cat emerge from the embers. A deadly disease spread all across Covin followed shortly, killing almost everyone from outside the kingdom."

    Mina looked at him with an expression filled with awe and listened intently as Tarou continued. "That''s why raising a cat in the empire is illegal unless the animal goes through the purification rites."

    Mina had a lot of questions but she ultimately found herself asking, "What did the King of Artha do?"

    "Covin was sold by its king. At present, the kingdom has no monarch, only a governor from Artha. The living conditions are far from ideal."

    Tarou paused to catch his breath before squeaking. "That''s why I''m warning you against minding human affairs! You and him --that''s a lethal combination! "

    Mina stared at the mouse with amazement. This creature may be unreliable at times but he is the best resource for information about Artha, Tarou was like her Wikipedia in this world.

    Who would have thought that a mouse knew everything happening in the empire? Using mice to spy on the enemy would revolutionize warfare. Mina could help but pat Tarou gently, afraid she would make him tremble in fear.

    "Tarou, you are amazing!" she exclaimed. Mina gave Tarou another toothy smile while imagining how cats in the future would envy her.

    "Good work today. Continue reporting important matters to me."

    Finally feeling content for the first time after they were reunited, Tarou continued, "...And Boss. You are not the first cat to shower that human with gifts."

    The mouse continued cheekily, obviously trying to sow discord between her and the human, "Cats used to bring him things when he was young. One cat even treated him like a kitten."

    Mina grinned. She will find a way to groom her human to be one of the most notable generals in history. In the distant future, everyone will know about him and the cat who played a crucial role in his immense success.

    Looking at Tarou, she meowed with conviction.

    "I may not be his first or last cat but I will be the irreplaceable cat."

 23 Cats Can Dream Too

    ?/????? \

    After the conversation with Tarou, Mina sashayed towards a low hanging branch, finding the best position to scout the area. Mina saw how the colors in the sky changed as night melted to dawn and then she saw nothing but darkness.

    Unlike before, Mina felt more comfortable in the dark but the pitch black environment she was in made her struggle. She tried to call out to anyone. It took her a moment to realize that she was calling out hello in her human voice. Stunned, she tried to get a feel of her surroundings. Her hand felt something cold and solid. She skimmed the surface with her hand and a panel lit up in front of her.

    Slowly, a large square and several small squares appeared on the panel. Mina saw her human face in the large square icon. The image of the general wearing the sedge hat appeared on one of the smaller squares while Tarou appeared on another one. All the other squared were locked.

    When she pressed the square with Tarou''s icon, a stats page appeared revealing a string of information.

    Character: Mouse

    Weakness: Food, Poor Vision

    Strengths: Photographic Memory, Unlimited Memory Space

    She lingered on the buttons for a while before deciding to head to the main menu instead of choosing More. Curious, she clicked on the square with her image right away.

    ''This is so intriguing. I feel like I''m in a virtual reality game. This is awesome!''

    Character: Cat

    Weakness: Short term memory, Near-sighted, Far-sighted

    Strengths: Super hearing, Night vision

    Just when she was about to press the icon to show the general''s stats, an earthquake happened. She tried to grasp on something to steady herself but she felt her world sway violently. Losing her footing, she struggled even more violently until she heard a squeal followed by another violent shaking.

    Mina closed her eyes until the shaking stopped. She struggled again and this time, she finally broke free of the darkness only to be greeted by an almost blinding light.

    When her eyes adjusted to her environment, she found herself in a satchel fastened on the general''s horse. The other riders halted at their back and while she tried to make sense of what was happening, she heard another squeal from the general''s horse.

    Just then, she realized that her claws somehow damaged the satchel and dug onto the horse''s side, causing the animal some level of discomfort.

    "Nightmare."

    Mina was about to meow apologetically explaining what happened when she heard the general''s soothing voice.

    As Mina retracted her claws, she heard a horrifying sound. Just a few feet away, giant rocks fell down the slope on the path they were supposed to take. The spooked horse calmed down when he heard the sound. Everyone''s attention was diverted from the general''s horse to the valley in front of them.

    Still dizzy from all the earlier shaking, Mina''s head bobbed out while her paws clung on the side of the satchel. The next thing she knew, she was retching her guts out, catching everyone''s attention. The feeling was all too familiar to her -- motion sickness.

    She lost her strength afterward and collapsed back into the bag. She struggled to get back up, to a sitting position. She wanted to hop on the saddle instead of being inside the bag. While she grappled to get out, she felt herself being lifted up. Scared, she moved her paws but she clutched on nothing but air.

    Mina only felt herself calm down when she landed on something solid and realized she was right where she wanted to be. She eventually heard the general speaking in a soothing but accusatory voice only she could hear.

    "You wanted to travel in that satchel."

    Mina had no memory of making any demands on the general but she decided to let it go for now. After all, he scooped her out of the confining satchel.

    As she tried to find a comfortable position, she detected Barca''s approach. Mina''s attention was quickly drawn to a little head sticking out from one of the bags tied to Barca''s horse.

    "Boss, how did you know that the mountain will collapse?" the mouse asked in awe, not caring whether the humans heard him or not. The squeaks drew the attention of the general''s horse who was also looking at Mina with curious eyes.

    Despite feeling a bit wobbly, Mina sat up with pride looking down on Tarou and the general''s horse. She noticed that everyone else was staring at her with almost the same reverence Tarou did. She did cause a commotion and that saved them from being squashed by dislodged rocks.

    ''If not for that dream, I --along with these careless humans, could be under those pile of rocks.'' Shaking her head, Mina decided to bask in the limelight.

    "That''s why I''m Boss and you are not," she replied shamelessly. It was all a coincidence but after puking last night''s dinner, she wasn''t feeling humble.

    Not at all.

    Mina barely paid attention while the men discussed alternate routes to the capital. She had her eyes set on the scenery before her. She tuned out all the human whispers and discussions as her eyes roamed the area. Some small rocks continued to trickle down the slopes. The area was totally unpassable. And then, another thought hit her.

    ''Today I learned cats could have such cool dreams!''

    Now fixated on the dream, her mind couldn''t help but ruminate.

    ''Too bad I couldn''t click on this human''s icon.''

    Another silly thought popped up in her mind.

    ''Weakness: Mina''

    She found herself smiling but quickly chased the ridiculous idea away.

    ''Scratch that,'' she sneaked a quick look at her back and grinned, ''Human, I will be your strength.''

 24 A Horse Called Nightmare

    ?/????? \

    Unable to relax, Mina paid close attention to the rest of the journey. The area they traveled in was now outside the forest but she saw nothing but the hilly terrain. There were grassy but dry patches on the uncultivated land. The air was warm and when the wind blew, a layer of dust whirled like small, harmless tornadoes.

    Mina almost called out to Tarou to enlighten her about the area but the mouse hitched a ride with Barca. From her vantage point, Tarou is clearly having an enjoyable trip. Barca has been handling grains to the little mouse who was only too eager to reach for them. Mina could only shrug when she remembered how Tarou lectured her on separating human and animal affairs. Unable to conceal her interest, she heard her own curious meow.

    "I wonder where we are."

    "Barren lands," a voice answered through a grunt.

    "Nightmare?" Mina asked, startled with the reply.

    The horse grunted in response and suddenly Mina realized something.

    ''Did the horse just answered me?''

    ''This horse''s name is really Nightmare?!''

    ''Who names their horse Nightmare?''

    For the first time, Mina took the time to observe the horse who was black from head to toe. Nightmare reminded her of the sky at midnight, black with a tinge of blue. The horse had muscles everywhere and probably not even an ounce of fat. If the animal was human, he would be one of the lean guys with six-pack abs.

    ''Nightmare is the perfect picture of tall, dark, and oozing hot horse. He should have been called Dreamy. Or something.''

    While evaluating Nightmare''s assets, Mina couldn''t help but be curious about someone else too but she stopped the urge to feel the human behind her.

    ''What am I doing?!''

    She has been acting like a little lady from the modern era all day.

    ''It''s all because of that dream. Right now I am a cat and I should act like one.'' After slapping herself mentally, she couldn''t help but ask another question.

    "Have you been with the general for a long time?"

    "Five years," the horse grunted.

    "How long will it take to reach the capital?"

    "Before nightfall."

    "What is the general like?"

    Just when she asked the question, the horse continued to trot leaving her wondering if Nightmare did not hear the question or merely ignored her.

    ***

    The rest of the journey was uneventful. After taking a break to eat their meal, the group continued towards the capital. Nightmare grunted from time to time but he seems to be too focused on the road ahead that Mina did not have the heart to disturb his concentration.

    When they were about to approach a village, the horse stopped abruptly bending its head towards the general as if conveying a message. Mina extended her neck to see what was going on but it was too far to see things in focus.

    Nightmare became slightly unsettled before snapping at her, "You! Hide!"

    Mina felt her tail arch up in confusion. She looked up at the horse who signaled her with its head to go back inside the satchel.

    For the second time that day, she felt nothing but air beneath her feet. Worst of all, she was deposited back inside the most horrible place for a motion-sensitive cat.

    She was about to struggle and protest her rough handling when the general warned her to stay hidden. The horse resumed its slow trot and Mina couldn''t help but peek to see what was so important that she had to hide as the horse slowly continued on a small path cutting across a small village.

    "Demon! Demon!"

    As they came closer, Mina could hear the crowd shouting in voices laced with hate and fear. Behind the crowd, the leader chanted, beckoning the crowd to cast stones to drive the devil away.

    A child whom she thought was about nine or ten was buried up to his waist. His shirt, or at least what is visible of it, had dirt tracks. The boy''s head hung low and his dingy hair covered his eyes.

    As they came closer, she saw a white cat standing on all fours trying, covering the child with its small body.

    The villagers tried to come closer to the boy but the cat stood proudly challenging anyone who dares to throw the first rock. Each growl and hiss pushed the crowd away from the little boy but it did not stop people from attacking the child and the cat.

    Mina felt her entire body go numb as she listened to the chants and the sound of rocks coming in contact with its victims. The cat''s white coat was caked with dirt and blood trickled down the angry gash on the animal''s right ear, making it look like a mangled beast.

    With its tail and whiskers pointing downwards, the cat continued to protect the child even with a limp. The stood tall and firm in front of the pelting rocks.

    Mina stared intently at the scene and she heard the child''s small voice.

    "Go! Now! Go far away and never come back."

    The human sound was almost drowned by the vindictive chants.

    Looking up to the general, she did not see any change in his expression as the horses continued to move forward.

    ''How could these humans ignore the situation?''

    Mina wanted the general to stop the crowd or for anyone to step out to protect the child. She wanted to do something but she was too terrified, too afraid of voicing a single meow and attracting the attention of the furious crowd.

    Mina continued to take a peek at the crowd which was becoming smaller and smaller. But, for some reason, she could still hear the vindictive voices, louder and clearer than she did a while ago.

    Mina remained inside the satchel for the rest of the journey, lost in her thoughts until she heard varied and lively noises. Her head popped out of the satchel to get a closer look but the general''s voice issued a firm warning.

    "Stay hidden. We''re entering the capital."

    ''The capital.''

    Mina suddenly felt like she couldn''t breathe when she heard the word capital. The capital --the worst place for a cat. She felt fear creep into her spine and doubt clouded her mind.

    ''Did I make the wrong decision to trust this human?''

 25 I Am Not a Creature!

    ???????

    Mina remained hidden inside the satchel oblivious to the scents and sounds in her surroundings. She felt the horse stop for a while as the general conversed with the guards at the gate. The horse continued to move a few moments later. Even after pondering for a long time, she couldn''t shake off the gruesome image she witnessed. She remained motionless while running things over in her head.

    "We''re here."

    Mina felt the general dismount and she quickly tried to climb her way out of the satchel. She wanted to do nothing but curl up in one corner to sort out her thoughts. Without knowing how she found the strength, Mina jumped out of the satchel on her own.

    Meanwhile, Tarou who has been hanging out with the human who loved handing him food was sound asleep when they arrived. He didn''t even notice when the horse stopped. He was all too comfortable in the small space. When he woke up, everything was still. No more jostling, no more grunting horses, and no more dusty scent. He slowly crept out of the darkness but one of his paws was stuck on something. While struggling he couldn''t help but squeak in frustration.

    "Boss?"

    "Human?"

    "Anybody?"

    Vigorously gnawing on a free paw, Tarou felt annoyed and disappointed.

    ''How could Boss forget him again?''

    Tarou squeaked again, louder this time.

    ''They should hear him now. They will, right?''

    Fully expecting to see Boss or the Barca human, Tarou was surprised when he heard tiny steps from outside. He tried to get out of the bag but his paw was caught on something. A few moments later, he heard small squeaks coming from outside.

    "Did you hear that?" a high pitch squeak asked.

    "Hear what?" another squeak questioned. The second squeak emphasized every word.

    ''I seem to have two squeaky friends outside,'' Tarou thought. But he remained quiet. He was in a new place and he disliked socializing with other animals.

    "I heard something squeak. I think it came from there?" the high-pitched voice revealed with concern. The other mouse quickly replied with doubt.

    "There? Inside the satchel?" The mouse asked again, "Why would a mouse volunteer to stay inside that thing? That''s stupid."

    "Well...Maybe I heard wrong," the first mouse admitted through another piercing squeak.

    Tarou heard small footsteps retreat. He sighed in relief but before he could be comfortable with being left alone, he realized that he was still stuck. What if he gets stuck inside the satchel for his entire life?

    No, it can''t be. He had no food in there. There''s no water either! Realizing the gravity of the situation, Tarou squeaked loudly for help. He heard quick steps and soon enough, he saw two pairs of eyes peeking into the bag. He held his breath while waiting for a reaction. But the eyes continued to stare at him with wide eyes.

    "Do you see that?" the high-pitched mouse ask.

    "It''s not just your imagination," the other mouse squeaked back.

    The eyes suddenly disappeared and Tarou was engulfed in darkness again. Tarou continued to tug his paw to free himself. This time, he finally succeeded but the force caused him to tumble forward and he almost bumped into the curious mice.

    When he finally saw the two creatures clearly, he realized that he really had two squeaky creatures in front of him.

    "What is that creature?" a mouse with brownish-grey fur asked the other mouse with emphasis on every word like its companion had hearing problems.

    Tarou also took the time to observe the two creatures in front of him. The other mouse was a lighter shade of grey, like the color of the sky at dusk.

    ''This mouse must be the one with the high pitched voice.''

    "Are you...like us?" the grey mouse inquired through a high pitched squeak. The brownish grey mouse continued to examine him from head to paw.

    ''Of course, I''m a mouse. Are they blind?'' he echoed in his thoughts but outside, he looked like one confused rodent as he stared at them.

    It took Tarou a few moments before he could reply. He nodded slowly while looking at the two creatures.

    The brownish-grey mouse looked him again before exclaiming, "I''ve never seen a dumb mouse in my life!" Tarou''s paws clenched his fur while staring at the mice in front of him.

    Mustering enough courage, Tarou squeaked. "I-I''m n-not d-d-umb!!!"

    "Ooooh it CAN squeak!" the brownish-grey mouse remarked while clapping its paws.

    ''Of course, I can squeak! I''m a mouse!!!'' The two creatures looked at him, their eyes wider than before, expecting him to say something more. Seeing his reaction, the high-handed mouse asked, "Do you think we offended that creature?"

    Tarou finally found the courage to reply after the brown mouse continued to look down at him.

    "Mouse! I am a mouse, NOT a creature!"

    "He says he''s a mouse," the mouse continued while looking at its high pitch companion. The light grey mouse finally shushed the brown mouse and asked.

    "Are you really a mouse?"

    Tarou nodded eagerly which made the mouse squeak ''Oh!'' in the same high pitched voice.

    "If you are a mouse," the squeak continued, "why do you have small ears?"

    "He looks like a baby mouse too," the brown mouse remarked after giving him another disgusted look.

    "I am not small! You.. you are just large!" he retaliated.

    "It squeaks with a weird intonation too, it''s appalling!" the brown mouse commented. The high-pitched mouse elbowed its companion.

    "Who are you?" the grey mouse asked while looking intently at Tarou.

    "I am Tarou."

    "Even the name is weird!"

    ''Hey! Boss gave me that name!'' Tarou thought, feeling an immense urge to attack the brown mouse.

    "Kaia!" the grey mouse snapped before speaking in a friendly manner, "I am Aure, and this obnoxious house mouse is my sister Kaia."

 26 Tarou the Brave

    ???????

    "I''m not obnoooxious," Kaia protested, purposely prolonging the second syllable before continuing.

    "I''m brutally honest!"

    "It''s true, that mouse is different. He smells peculiar too!" she added with conviction.

    ''I smell better than you!'' Tarou thought while skewering the brown mouse in his head. He only held back because it was not his territory.

    "Kaia!" the grey mouse cried, reproaching her sister before looking at him apologetically. "Please pardon my sister''s behavior. She is not in the best state of mind."

    "Believe me Aure, my dear sister, this is one of my better days!" Kaia interjected before pointing one paw at Tarou. "And that mouse, what was that atrocious name again," the brown mouse squeaked offhandedly, "Ta-roo? Yes, that mouse Ta-roo is an odd one."

    Aure looked at him again, with almost teary eyes before squeaking more apologies.

    "Did you see a cat?"

    Tarou directed the question to Aure and ignored Kaia who gave him a critical look.

    "Cat? You mean the animal? Cat?" Aure asked with her eyes almost popping out.

    Tarou felt the need to clarify while looking at them. "I am looking for a black cat with gold eyes." Looking at Kaia who acted superior he was about to add ''Boss would put you in your place if she was here!''

    Tarou planned almost a hundred ways to torture Kaia but his thoughts were disturbed by an abominable squeak laced with disdain.

    "This is the capital. The Capital. There are no black cats here," Kaia revealed. Aure quickly supplied more information.

    "There are cats here but there are so few of them. There''s one in the Morning Palace, one in the Lumina Manor, two in the Grand Palace, and another one at a palace in the north. But none of them are black cats."

    "From which part of Artha is the mouse from, Aure? He is completely ignorant. A black cat at the capital! Any human with a black cat will be lucky to have a quick death." Kaia remarked while looking at him.

    Tarou could only grit his teeth in frustration. He remembered the young women in the village who are always criticized by their in-laws. He realized that he should have been nicer to them as he gnawed on a paw.

    "Stop gnawing! You will go bald! The Horror!" Kaia reprimanded.

    Tarou was at his limit and just when he was about to act on his rage, Aure took him aside, distancing him from the brown mouse.

    "Is she always like this?" Tarou asked in an irritated voice. Aure gave him another apologetic look before explaining.

    "Kaia is not a normal mouse. We lost her when she was a baby. She was raised in captivity by a human. She picked up some anno--er-- human habits. Even my parents were horrified." Aure confessed. "We retrieved her a few nights ago after her human died." After a short pause, she asked Tarou, "Where are you from?"

    "?Lumen Forest," he responded almost instantly.

    "We''ve never heard of that forest before. It must be somewhere remote!" Kaia remarked while coming closer to Tarou and Aure.

    Despite being irked, Tarou ignored Kaia and directed his question to Aure. "Did you see a black cat?"

    "There is something wrong with that Tarou''s memory. The cats in the capital are" Kaia started again. This time, however, Tarou would have none of her high-handedness.

    "No, there is nothing wrong with my memory! I am not looking for a cat in THE capital, Boss arrived with me," he exclaimed, clearly annoyed.

    ''If this mouse keeps on pestering me I will hack her to pieces with my teeth!''

    "You brought ...a cat? That''s bold!" came a high pitched squeak clearly impressed. Hearing this, Kaia suddenly retreated behind Aure. Tarou did not correct them, trying to take advantage of the situation. It was better if they thought of him as a brave and daring mouse!

    Aure replied stiffly while looking at him cautiously. "We did not see a cat on the way here but a while ago, I saw Nightmare heading to the stable."

    "Nightmare?" Tarou asked in confusion.

    "Nightmare, that horse lives to its name," Kaia squeaked before pausing abruptly. She elbowed Aure who continued.

    "Nightmare is a black stallion, he is the general''s mount."

    ''Oh, so the horse''s name is Nightmare. Maybe Boss is with him.'' Finally uncovering a clue on where Boss can be, he quickly asked for directions. After Aure gave the directions to the stables, he rushed towards the door. But before he could squeeze through a narrow opening, Aure called out.

    "You should follow the scent of horse dung. Its easier to find the stables with your nose."

    Making his way out of the room, he caught a whiff of something sweet and fruity. He scanned the room and saw wooden barrels near him. He popped back in to ask another question.

    "Do you live here?" he reluctantly asked Aure. The mouse shook its head.

    ''What if Boss is not there? What should I do?'' Tarou tried to control the anxiety and fear in his voice before asking Aure another question. "Can I look for you if I need help?"

    Stunned, Aure reluctantly answered. "We don''t live here. We were only surveying the area."

    "Aure, stop playing coy. My sister is expecting to see a human called Barca."

    Tarou''s eyes widened, he wanted to know more but he had other things to take care of. Kaia continued, "She fawns on that human so much, the male mice at the--"

    "It''s late! You should look for the cat Tarou" she interjected while covering Kaia''s mouth with a paw. "If you need help, wait for us at the orange tree tonight."

    ''That Aure mouse reminds me of wifey,'' he smiled while exiting the room with relief. It was nice to have other rodents to rely on, but the duo scared him so much he wanted to give himself a pat on the back.

    ''Today, I have been a brave mouse!''

    When Tarou left, Aure shot the brown mouse with a serious look before squeaking.

    "Kaia, we have to inform the elder about this development."

    "Yes, we do."

 27 The Cat Brain

    ?/????? \

    After jumping off the horse, Mina looked for the closest building she could hide in. Dodging all humans she met, she slipped inside one of the doors.

    Mina felt a calming presence when she entered the room. A faint light streamed inside from a small window in the corner. Alert but curious, Mina observed the room which had a few pieces of furniture, the biggest of which was the large bed. She circled the room, marveling at how everything looked antique. The room looked and smelled clean from top to bottom.

    Tired of discovering new things, Mina found herself drawn to the large bed. After making her way up to the soft mattress, she stretched her paws and curled up, burrowing into the sheets.

    ''This is the best place to rest a tired body.''

    After finding the most comfortable position, Mina continued to run hundreds of scenarios and thoughts in her head. She still had a lot to learn about this world. She should be cautious of everything and everyone --even her human.

    ''Could this world be harsher than the world where she came from?'' Mina wondered.

    Nothing made sense to her at the moment and she looked up and stared at the sky to look for answers.

    ***

    It was early evening when Mina woke up. She remembered looking at the sky before drifting off to a dreamless sleep. When she opened her eyes, the curtain which was originally at the side of the bed was closed halfway, covering the window.

    ''Did someone move the curtain?''

    She had to walk a bit to look out the window, where she saw a full moon on its way to grace the evening sky. Mina looked at the scene outside curiously. She saw the leaves sway outside and felt the gentle as it wind blew through the open window, causing the drapes to move with it.

    Mina''s eyes focused on the curtains that captivated her attention, pushing all her other thoughts aside. She couldn''t pull her eyes away from the moving cloth dancing along with the wind.

    ''Why? It''s just a curtain? Why is it so alluring?'' she thought, bewildered at how much power this thing had over her.

    Mina tried to exercise control of her thoughts but the curtains continued to sway slowly, putting her in a trance. She felt her paws move on their own accord as the moving curtains beckoned her to come closer. Before she knew it, she rushed towards the drapes. Her paws clutched on the soft cloth. The next thing she knew, she was heaving her small body up while twirling along with the curtains. As a stronger breeze blew, Mina snapped out of her daze.

    ''What did I just do?''

    Shocked by how she climbed halfway through the drapes, she loosed the paws holding her up. But when she felt herself slipping downward, she clutched on more curtain material trying to climb back up, afraid to fall down and get hurt. While she struggled to hang on to the curtain she couldn''t help but scold herself.

    ''Stupid cat brain!''

    With much effort, Mina was about to reach the edge of the curtain and climb into the bedpost when a strong gust of wind blew. As she continued to hold the curtain tightly, she couldn''t help but promise herself something.

    ''If I survive this, I will not climb on another curtain in this life!''

    After steadying herself, Mina tried to push herself upwards. But her tired paw loosened its hold and she fell back down.

    Mina panicked as she twirled along with the curtain. Before she could think of what to do next, she heard a ripping sound. Unable to help herself, she voiced her frustration in a long meow filled with panic.

    Just then the door was suddenly pushed open. Surprised, she loosened her hold on the curtain instinctively. At that moment, she stopped thinking and allowed her body to take over. Without knowing how she did something so extraordinary, Mina landed on the bed with her paws planted firmly on the mattress.

    ''It''s true! Cats always land on their feet!'' she thought, amazed at what her body could do and disappointed that she didn''t figure it out sooner.

    After her little episode with the curtains, Mina realized she was not alone and her eyes immediately focused on the intruder. She stared at the person who almost got her killed.

    Studying the human, she realized that it was a young girl who seems to be dressed too poorly to be the owner of the bedroom. The girl clutched her chest and stood motionless while holding the door open.

    Just then, Mina caught a whiff of something delicious from outside the room. At the scent, her tail twitched and she couldn''t help but jump off the bed with extra care and grace. She was about to strut out of the door without a word to the young woman but she thought it would be rude not to dismiss her. Before taking a step out of the door, she caught the woman''s gaze and meowed.

    "Servant, you are dismissed."

    When Mina disappeared in the darkness, the servant fell her knees buckled. For the rest of the night, the piercing gold eyes continued to haunt her.

 28 Old Friend

    ??¦Ø??

    Following the delicious scent of meat, Mina found herself climbing up the stairs, avoiding a human who seems to have been delivering food to a room on the upper floor. From the top of the stairs, she saw a door which was slightly open.

    Mina could see the faint glow of candlelight and she peeked into the room cautiously. From where she stood, a humble bed, smaller than the one from the room she was in, was visible. Detecting no movement inside, she took a brave step and entered the room.

    Mina scanned the room. There was a small table in the corner of the room and the delicious scent she detected seems to be coming from there. Her entire focus was on the meal in front of her that she almost missed the man sitting in the dark close to the open window. The man had his back to her and he seems to be focused on the moon.

    It was now dark outside. And tonight, the moon was extraordinarily big and yellow. Moonlight beamed from the window blending in with the warm light from the candle.

    ''Why is this man fixated on the moon?'' Mina thought as she observed the man who seems to be oblivious to the delicious feast inside his room. As Mina''s hunger grew, she made up her mind.

    There was a melancholic air about the man. With slumped shoulders, the man''s hunched back made her think that he had too many burdens to bear. From the back, he looked similar to someone who stood before the grave of someone who just died.

    ''Mina be strong. You just need a few pieces of meat and then you can leave the company of this creepy man.''

    The sooner she grabbed her meal, the sooner she could leave this man in peace. With her eyes fixed on the man, Mina inched towards the meal trying to be as quiet as possible.

    As she was getting to her first bite, the man suddenly turned. In shock, she swallowed the piece and her eye bulged in discomfort. It took her a few seconds to focus on the man, which she realized, was advanced in years. He could be as old as her grandfather if she had one.

    Mina froze, unsure of what to do or how to act. Seconds passed by but the man did nothing but look at her quietly. She couldn''t help but look at the plate in front of her before looking back at the man.

    Feeling bolder, she gobbled up another piece quickly before staring back at the man across the room. The man remained still while giving her a meaningful look.

    Unable to continue raiding the man''s meal, Mina stepped off the table. The man unsettled her and she wanted to leave the room and the man in solace. On her way towards the door, she glanced back at the man who continued to look at her like she was an apparition. Forgetting her original intention to use darkness as a cover, she stepped in an area where the moonlight streamed from the window, illuminating her form. As if he confirmed something, the old man gazed at her and smiled.

    "Old friend, I have been waiting for you,"the man said in a voice filled with longing.

    Mina turned to see who the man was talking to. She continued to stay in place, unable to say anything in confusion. She looked around, even behind her but there was no one inside the room save for her and the man.

    ''What? We are not friends?''

    She stayed silent, unable to advance or retreat while watching the old man.

    "Did they send you to be my guide?" the man said in a jittery voice.

    ''What is this man talking about? I''m just here for dinner.'' Mina thought with her eyes still fixed on the man who was advancing towards her. Mina''s ears were up and her tail curled up and she was ready to bolt if the man proves to be a threat.

    The man stopped advancing a few feet in front of her and crouched down. He said nothing but she heard something small drop on the floor, another droplet followed. The man wiped his face, and he sat still while looking at her.

    "I have been waiting for me for a long time," the man said, his voice filled with relief as if he was finally freed from something. Mina couldn''t help but feel like the man mistook her for someone else, perhaps another cat? Before she could set him straight, the man spoke.

    "Ten years has been a long time, my friend."

    Mina was still confused. Perhaps he was a senile old man? She stayed quiet while observing the person before her.

    ''Is this grandpa thinking I am the Grim Reaper or a spirit guide?''

    Should she pretend to be a spirit guide and maybe ask for more food?''

    ''This old man will share his food with a spirit guide, right?''

    Mina came closer to the man, kneading him before meowing as if to give him comfort. The man reached out to her. His hands looked rough and coarse but when they run over her fur, she felt a sense of satisfaction. His warm hands made her want to curl up close to him for a little while. This seems to have calmed down the man who slowly distanced himself from her, giving her enough space. She meowed while looking at the man asking him for food. The sound was a sweet, pleading purr.

    "It has been a long journey, I need sustenance."

    The man, whose tears were now dry, laughed. It was a great sound, filled with mirth. The man got up and reached for the plate and placed it on the floor. The man did not mind sharing his food with her, and she was more than happy with his behavior.

    "Old man, I do not know you, but I wish you would live for a long time." Mina meowed after her satisfying meal. The man got up and placed a bowl filled with water for her. She couldn''t help but feel pampered until the man broke the silence.

    "Devin, you heartless beast. You left me in this prison for ten years," he accused, looking as if he was wronged.

    ''How dare this man give me a name!''

    "I am not Devin. Call me Boss, grandpa."

    "Where did you pick up such language?" the old man scolded before continuing, "Why would you change your name to such a vulgar one, Devin is a better name."

    "This... grandpa! Devin sounds like the devil. Are you trying to get me torched?" Mina replied, seriously questioning the intellect of the man before her.

    "I have never heard you complain about that name before. Why are you complaining now?" he retaliated, challenging her.

    "You have a bad taste in names," she couldn''t help but retort until she realized something. The man has been answering her meows back. "Why can you understand me?"

    The man looked at her like quizzically, before answering back, "I have always been able to understand you."

    "How could you know me when I have never met you before!" Mina replied.

    Could a human understand her? It may just have been a coincidence. But she couldn''t discount the possibility that the man could actually interpret the sounds she made.

    ''If this man could understand me, he is a worthy ally! I need to get on his good side.''

 29 We Are Not Friends

    ?/????? \

    The old man suddenly rose and grabbed the candle placing it close to her. He took one of her front paws and placed the candle close to it. Mina panicked.

    ''What is this man doing? Is this how they punished liars in this era?''

    Realizing she has been caught, Mina had no choice but to come clean, suddenly threatened by the man''s actions.

    "I am... I am not Devin! Fine! I am guilty. I''m just here for the food!" Mina confessed.

    The old man continued to hold on to her front paw and turned it over as if looking for something. He released it right after his careful examination.

    Mina did not know what to do when the man started to survey her from head to paw. Feeling no threat from the man, Mina allowed him to take a closer look but she had to pose her body in such a way that she will look magnificent under the candlelight.

    "Did you follow Jadon to the capital?" the old man asked as if he already knew the answer.

    "Of course not, I rode on Nightmare," she replied quickly, trying to impress him.

    The man gave her a pensive look which confused Mina further. Realizing her focus drifted away from the most important issue, Mina enthusiastically hounded the man with questions.

    "Why can you hear me, old man? How do you know it was Jadon? Who..."

    He looked at her again, this time with lively eyes before answering her in an amused voice.

    "One question at a time, curious cat."

    Mina looked at the man with more caution. The wind blew through the open window, and the candlelight flickered. As Mina focused on the light beaming from the moon, a sudden thought occurred to her.

    "Are you... a ghost?" she asked, ready to bolt. The old man looked at her, and he cracked an amused smile.

    "Just, who are you?"

    "You are an unusual cat. I am just an old man waiting to die," he said with a bitter smile. "But fate seems to have other ideas. Perhaps I have another purpose in this world," he continued in a voice filled with mystery.

    "Old man, I am a not a regular cat. Actually, I am..." she stopped. This was a stranger and she should keep some things secret. She even had no idea who this man is or why he could understand her. These humans are devious, she should always keep that in mind. She knew it when she was a human herself, and this afternoon''s lesson taught her something too. This human intrigued her and, at the same time, he scared her.

    "You do not have to spill all your secrets, my friend."

    "We are not friends," she said in a firm voice. "You are a stranger."

    "In that case, I would be honored to be your friend," the old man replied while extending his hand to her. Mina simply looked at his hand before replying.

    "I have to think about it." After a short pause, she continued, "But first, tell me, why do you understand me?"

    "It is a gift which has been passed on from our ancestors."

    Mina nodded thoughtfully. Remembering something, she quickly started another barrage of questions. "You mistook me for Devin?"

    The old man nodded and she quickly moved on to another one, "And this Devin is a cat?" The old man nodded again, and Mina looked at him for a while before proceeding to ask, "You could understand him too?

    He nodded.

    "Do other people in your family possess it too?"

    "My only living relative is my grandson. He has been trained to communicate with cats since he was born. He had exceptional ability in interpreting cat behavior but he had no gift for Lingua Cattus." When he saw Mina''s forehead knotted in confusion, he quickly added, "that''s how we call the language of cats."

    "Do you talk to other animals too?" she asked, curious about learning more.

    "No. We can only communicate with cats."

    "Could other people understand me too?"

    The man paused before answering, "Perhaps."

    Excitedly Mina had to ask, "Does Jadon..."

    "He is a complicated man."

    "Grandpa, that is not an answer!" "Does he or does he not?"

    "I do not know."

    Mina looked at the man thoughtfully. What does this mean? If the general understood everything she said... she should be cautious about that man! Suddenly, her cat heart started beating rapidly and she became fully alert. Seeing how her tail turned stiff and her fur standing up, the man gave her more space.

    "You must be afraid. This...world is in turmoil. It is not the best time to be a cat."

    "My timing is always wrong," she replied bitterly. ''I trusted the wrong person as a human and I''m not sure if I made another wrong decision this time.''

    "The general --Jadon is playing a dangerous game. Whether you decide to follow him or not is up to you," the old man cautioned her.

    "Can you read my mind too?"

    "No. But you are clearly unsettled."

    "You can hear me but you do not hear my thoughts, right?"

    The man nodded and Mina felt some relief.

    ''So, even if the general understands the cat language, he is not a cat reader.''

    "But some people may be able to. I do not know if Jadon can read your thoughts."

    "Grandpa you just read my mind!"

    "I am old, I am supposed to be wiser than you."

    Mina didn''t want to admit it but the man made her feel warmth and comfort.

    "You can stay here if you want," the man offered.

    Mina declined the offer right away. "I have a room downstairs," she replied while smiling with satisfaction.

    "And you are happy with the arrangements?"

    Mina nodded. Looking at the man in front of her who has settled comfortably on the floor, she couldn''t help but ask another question.

    "Aren''t you scared of telling me all of these? I may be an evil cat, you know. You trust other peop--animals easily."

    The old man smiled bitterly while looking at her, "You remind me of Devin. He is always cautious of strangers."

    Mina simply looked at him and stretched before finding the best position to relax. Old men love to tell stories and this man was not an exemption. She could just tell. But before she could pry, she heard Nightmare''s angry sounds.

 30 It Wasnst Me

    ???????

    "Cheese... Meat... Fruits... Grains..."

    Tarou''s eye bulged as he looked at the heaps of food in front of him.

    "Cheese... Meat... Fruits... Grains..."

    ''Which one should I eat first?''

    Tarou closed his eyes and allowed his paw to make the choice but before he could grab a handful of food, a loud sound startled him and his magnificent hoard disappeared.

    "My foooood!!!!!!" Tarou screamed. When he opened his eyes, he saw a hoof descending on him, ready to stomp him to death. Suddenly pumped up, Tarou quickly dodged the hoof only to be subjected to a barrage of more hoof attacks.

    "What is your problem!!!" he squeaked while trying to find the best place to hide in the stable. Seeing the threatening hooves which aimed at him, he panicked and stiffened. Not knowing what to do, Tarou called out in a loud squeak.

    "Boss!!!"

    The door to the stall opened and the enraged horse planning to stomp him to death was startled. Finally, someone was here to save him. He knew Boss would rush to his rescue.

    ''Boss, you care for me after all!'' Tarou thought, thanking his lucky stars for allowing him to befriend a cat. So, when he caught a familiar lemongrass scent, he was surprised.

    ''Barca?''

    Well, it didn''t matter if his savior was human or cat. Without wasting time, Tarou ran out of the stall. Knowing that this human was friendly, he even squeaked to announce his presence.

    Barca looked at him and nodded in reply before moving closer to Nightmare.

    ''This human is really friendly! No wonder the high-pitched mouse I just met was crazy about this man,'' Tarou thought while looking at Barca who crouched down to check on the horse using the light from a lamp.

    Meanwhile, Tarou stayed outside the stall where it was safe. Everything that happened after he woke up was a blur and he barely had time to catch his breath. All he remembered was the violent attacks when he woke up.

    Today has been a long day for him and Tarou tried to wait for Boss in the stables. Unable to locate the cat, he stayed in a stall where he unknowingly fell asleep. The next thing he knew, there was a hoof descending on him with the aim of crushing him to death.

    Tarou couldn''t help but feel wronged, angry, and confused. On top of that, he had not eaten since they arrived. Despite all these complaints, the mouse peeked into the stalls and listened to what the violent horse had to say.

    "Nightmare, what''s wrong?" came Barca''s concerned voice. Tarou listened to a series of grunts and became as white as a sheet when what the horse said registered.

    "Cursed rodents! Kill that pest!"

    Tarou couldn''t help but feel wronged. He did not do anything to offend this creature. These horses have been torturing him for the past few days!

    "You are the pest!!! Not me!!!" he squeaked while maintaining a safe distance. Shortly after,the horse on the adjacent stall groaned in pain, catching Barca''s attention.

    Tarou had no idea what happened. He hid in one corner waiting for Barca to check on the other animal.

    When Barca headed to the other stall, Tarou followed him cautiously, making sure he will not be stomped on by the horse. As Barca examined the horse, Tarou caught a whiff of blood. He came a bit closer and saw that the area just above the hind leg''s hood seems to be injured. The injured area looked like it has been gnawed off.

    Tarou felt a chill and he slowly turned towards the other stall only to be greeted by Nightmare''s murderous look. He shuddered while looking at the enraged horse who grunted while looking at him.

    "Pest! Get lost!"

    At the accusation, Tarou couldn''t help but squeak defensively.

    "It wasn''t me! That... a horse''s hoof is not my favorite source of nutrition!"

    The horse continued to eye him with disdain. The injured animal in the stall continued to grunt in pain, looking at Barca with pitiful eyes. Tarou couldn''t help but take a closer look at the injury. It was unmistakable, a rodent made the teeth marks on the hoof.

    ''Did I mistake that for food?'' he thought, concerned that he was actually guilty of doing something so vile although he dismissed the idea right away. ''I didn''t even get the chance to have a single bite in that dream!''

    "It wasn''t me!!!" he insisted, making sure both horses could hear his squeak. He took another look at the injury and felt so nervous he subconsciously gnawed on his paw. Owing to his troubled thoughts, Tarou bit too hard. He winced in pain. But as he looked at the sore paw, something clicked.

    Tarou went closer to the injured horse which earned nothing but Nightmare''s wrath. He ignored the horse and found a thicker part of the hoof close to the injured area. He couldn''t help but stare at the hoof as if he was about to make a major decision.

    "This is disgusting!" he complained as he bit down. "But I have to make a point!"

 31 Boss, You Are Righ

    ???????

    Tarou bit as hard as he could, making sure that it would leave a mark.

    "Look for yourself! It was NOT me!" he squeaked at the human. Tarou hoped that Barca would be wise enough to understand his squeaks.

    Fortunately, the bite did not injure the animal further but Nightmare was eyeing at him as if he wanted to stomp him to oblivion when he gets the chance.

    Tarou squeaked as loud as he can to catch the attention of the human who seems to be caught in a trance.

    ''Is this human shocked because of how I bit the horse like a rabid animal?''

    "Hey, human, I did not bite that horse!" he squeaked but stopped momentarily. He did bite the horse BUT it was a teeny tiny bite. Tarou called his attention again, this time with a louder squeak.

    "Look! The bite marks are NOT THE SAME!!!"

    Barca looked at the mouse with knitted his eyebrows. He eventually shook his head as if he just had an absurd thought. When the man stared at him again, Tarou couldn''t help but squeal at the top of his lungs.

    "It was not me!!!" he even used a paw to point at the hoof. "Look!!!"

    Tarou was finally relieved when the man examined the hoof again, this time focusing on the area he bit. The man also looked at the injured area as if comparing the two. From Barca''s expression, Tarou saw that he was astonished.

    The bite marks in the injured area were clearly deeper and bigger. Tarou''s bite was smaller and it didn''t penetrate deep into the hoof. Tarou couldn''t help but give Barca a smug look, waiting for him to put the pieces together.

    "You did not bite him." Barca said slowly while staring at him before continuing, "Is that it?"

    Relieve Tarou nodded. "Human, I like you!" he squeaked. "You do not look intelligent, but you are not a bad nut!"

    Barca seems to be taken aback by something and he looked at the mouse closely. Just then, the stable door opened, revealing the figure of a cat in the moonlight. Looking at the newcomer, Tarou squeaked excitedly, forgetting the human in front of him.

    "Boss!!!"

    Barca turned around looking at the cat and then at the mouse who ran towards it. Before Tarou greeted the cat, he noticed that the human looked to be confused.

    "Boss!!! Where were you? How could you leave me again?" he whined through a series of squeaks.

    "I heard Nightmare''s alarming cries, so I rushed down here."

    Tarou couldn''t help but react to the cat''s reply."Nightmare? You care more about that horse than me?" Tarou responded in an exasperated squeak before launching more protests.

    "That animal almost stomped me to death!"

    "You...this is unfair!" Tarou continued pointing a paw at Boss before focusing his rage on Nightmare.

    "That...that horse called me a pest!"

    "I almost died!"

    "And all you care about is Nightmare!" he stomped his paw before walking out of the stables. As Tarou passed by the bewildered cat, he caught a whiff of something.

    ''Boss smells like meat!''

    With a sour look, he stopped and looked up at the cat. He felt betrayed.

    "You didn''t even ask me if I already ate!" he squeaked while looking at the cat. He did not allow Boss to answer before spouting another furious squeak.

    "I did not!"

    "Tarou!"

    He stormed off unable to conceal his displeasure. Perhaps realizing he was serious, the cat followed him closely without a word. After giving him a minute to huff and puff, he heard an atoning meow.

    "I should apologize. It has been a horrible day." He did not say anything, he continued to run at his top speed but the meows continued.

    "And for forgetting about your food."This caught his attention and he stopped close to a tree as the cat explained further.

    "I met a peculiar old man. He shared his meal with me."

    "You should have thought about me while feasting on the old man''s offering," he replied while foraging for food near the tree.He stole a glance at the cat who now found a comfortable position. Boss had her feet tucked underneath her body while looking at the sky. When he got his hands on something decent to stave off the hunger, the cat tried to strike up a conversation.

    "Tonight the moon is so bright. This place looks magical."

    Tarou caught a familiar lemongrass scent as he took a bite of the plant he found. But the taste was so unsatisfactory that he couldn''t help but spit it out. As if provoked, the mouse couldn''t help but comment.

    "I am hungry. I am eating some leafy thing which is not even half as tasty as the one in the forest. This is far from magical!"

    The cat looked at him as if he was being unreasonable but he couldn''t help it. He is hungry, tired, and edgy and worse the food -- this food was barely edible.

    Both of them stopped talking. Tarou secretly marveled at the moon tonight as he chomped on another random plant that tasted tolerable. Tarou did not want to admit it, but he was no longer annoyed, he was just being petty. Just as he was about to ask Boss something, he caught Barca''s scent.

    ''That human''s scent has been lingering for a while. He must be taking care of something close by,'' he thought. When the footsteps came closer, he slowly turned and Boss did the same.

    The man crouched down in front of him and opened his hands, revealing a pile of grains. Attracted to Barca''s offering, Tarou came close to the man''s hand, sniffing the food before squeaking with displeasure.

    "I hate this grain!"

    The man patted his head with a finger and offered his other hand. He revealed another pile of grains. This time, the scent immediately caught Tarou''s attention.

    "This -- this is good!"

    Barca placed the small pile of grains beside him and Tarou beamed at the guy. After giving the grains a loving look, he couldn''t help but squeal with glee.

    "Boss ... boss, you are right! You ARE right! These humans are the best providers!"

    He jumped around happily while looking at the heap of grains. This is like a dream come true!

    "My foooooooooooooooood!!!!!!!"

 32 Tarous Vow

    Mina stared at Barca when he crouched down to arrange the pile of grains in front of Tarou. She couldn''t help but feel that the man was being too attentive to the grey mouse today. Barca had an interesting look on his face - a mixture of amazement and confusion while looking at the mouse who screamed like a fangirl who saw her idol.

    Mina couldn''t help but observe Barca''s movement. When he lifted a finger to pat the tiny rodent, she squinted. The man was clearly fawning on Tarou. Meanwhile, the rat looked like he would create a shrine for the human before him just because of a pile of grains. Mina couldn''t help but shudder at the scene.

    ''Is this how I act in front of the general? This...this is too much! This mouse even had the gall to call me out for being too friendly with the humans and here he is acting like this.''

    When Mina saw Barca''s lips curl up in a smile while shaking his head as if unable to conceal his amusement, she couldn''t help but meow something in disdain.

    "Tarou," she meowed in a reprimanding tone, "you are worshiping that human as if he is some kind of god."

    Tarou looked at her with big eyes and an even bigger smile while holding the plant he was munching on before Barca arrived. As if he came up with a brilliant idea, the mouse grinned. After throwing the pile of grain another endearing look, Tarou went closer to Barca''s hand and placed his paw on the man''s palm. He looked up to the human before squeaking a bold proclamation.

    "I, Tarou, a brave and intelligent mouse would take you as my human. From this day forward, you should provide me with heaps of food!"

    The mouse looked to his left as if he forgot something. Tarou looked at his other paw and placed the limp, half-eaten plant on the man''s hand before squeaking.

    "In exchange, I will do my best to... assist you."

    ''And this was the creature who said they should stay out of human affairs,'' Mina thought.

    Just then another set of footsteps approached and Barca looked up. He placed his hand inside his pocket, taking Tarou''s offering with him. As Barca stood up to leave, Tarou called out endearingly to him.

    "Take care, my human! Don''t forget to bring me delicious grains! Piles and piles of them," he squeaked shamelessly while waving one paw."

    Shortly after, Barca walked towards a man who seems to be one of the stablehands while Tarou continued to circle his hoard. After circling around the pile, the mouse finally settled down and addressed the cat who has been glaring at him the entire time.

    "Boss, you saw that? Barca, that person, would be my human from this day on," Tarou exclaimed with glee while looking at her. Mina was speechless for a moment.

    "And here I thought animals should not depend on humans for food," she rebuked. But even her scornful statement couldn''t extinguish Tarou''s happiness.

    "That person is a good catch. Even the locals, I mean the house mice in the area, think highly of him. I have to claim him as my human before that high-pitch mouse decides to extort all the grains out of him. Since we have decided to move to the Capital, we need to adapt. Besides, I do not have to do anything to assist him, do I?" Tarou explained with conviction.

    Mina couldn''t help but feel like she has been underestimating Tarou''s intelligence but she wouldn''t let him off the hook easily.

    "What about human affairs?" Mina asked him. Tarou looked at her as if she lacked brains before explaining his stand.

    "Boss, human affairs are human affairs. Animal affairs are animal affairs." Mina nodded, waiting for Tarou to take back his words about meddling with humans. "But," the grey mouse continued with a glint of mischief in his eyes, "Food affairs ARE food affairs."

    As if he forgot something, Tarou continued, "Besides, those people would not even understand us. How can we even meddle with their lives?"

    "What if they could?" Mina retorted quickly. Tarou looked at her as if she was demented and let out a mocking laugh before replying.

    "Boss, the humans we just met happen to be sensitive to their environment. It''s not because they understand what we talk about."

    Mina looked at him and smiled. She may be a newcomer in this world, but she knew for certain that Tarou is wrong. While admiring the large moon in front of them, she told him about the old man she met and how he could understand every sound she made.

    ***

    After instructing the stablehands to check if other horses injured their hooves and to check the stalls for rats, Barca proceeded towards the house. When he entered the kitchen, he couldn''t help but overhear the servants gossiping.

    "The old man," one voice said, "I heard him talking to someone." The woman paused before adding, "I have been here for three years and that man rarely said a word."

    "Agnes saw a pair of golden eyes inside the general''s room. Could the man be talking to that creature?" another servant commented.

    Barca slipped inside making his way upstairs, trying to make as little sound as possible to avoid startling the servants. He entered the room and saw the old man standing in front of the open window while looking at the moon.

    "Grandfather?" he called out and the man turned to look at him.

 33 Can You Hear Me?

    "Tonight is a full moon. Are you thinking about Devin?" Barca asked while eyeing the old man with caution.

    The old man nodded. "I had an unexpected encounter tonight."

    Barca looked at the man who smiled before continuing, "The spirited creature looks too similar to Devin, it even bears the same mark."

    "So, you met Jadon''s latest follower?" Barca answered in a cheeky voice which quickly turned into a curious one. "Grandfather, is the cat...?"

    The old man looked at the evening sky before nodding. "I''ve heard that the cat even rode on Nightmare on the way here." As if reminded of something, the old man looked at Barca and asked in a serious voice, "Have you tried talking to Boss?"

    Barca gave the man a confused look and the old man added, "The cat."

    "Boss? The cat is really called Boss?" Barca asked in a surprised voice before throwing the old man a disconcerted stare as if he was deciding whether to come clean about something or not. In a split second, the look vanished and the young man''s expression quickly changed to an amused one.

    "Boss is an odd name."

    "Yes, it is," the old man replied while studying Barca. "It''s late. You should rest."

    After bidding his grandfather a good night, Barca left. But the old man''s gaze remained in the doorway even after the young man disappeared. Shortly after, another figure emerged from the shadows. The old man nodded to acknowledge the newcomer.

    "Jadon, you are here."

    "Grandfather," Jadon replied while stepping into the room. "I thought it was Devin at first. The cat also delivered this."

    Jadon reached into his pocket and handed a piece of paper to the old man. After giving the older man enough time to decipher the contents of the letter, he added. "We had to escort Prince Roupen and Princess Nairi to the emperor''s residence."

    Jadon stood in a relaxed stance while the old man shared his thoughts.

    "Covin has always been a peaceful place. The new emperor is a just man. It would be foolish to go against him." The old man''s expression slowly changed. His jaw moved forward and he spoke again, this time in a tone filled with bitterness.

    "That man plans to use the princess to cause problems in the empire. I have never expected Barca''s father to pose as the King of Covin or to act as the Governor after the invasion. He is no longer the man I knew." The old man focused on the scenery outside as if dousing his anger with the cold evening air. In a controlled voice, he asked, "How is the princess?"

    "She is well. Her heart is set on Prince Roupen but the emperor will never approve of this marriage."

    "Do not allow her to marry the King of Dinhi," the old man warned sternly before adding" or the Emperor. If needed, convince the emperor to honor an old betrothal agreement."

    Jadon gave the old man an intrigued look.

    "Princess Nairi has been betrothed to Barca since they were young," he added reluctantly.

    "I will not bring up this betrothal unless it''s absolutely necessary," Jadon reassured him. The old man relaxed as if satisfied with his answer. "The princess is one of the greatest threats to this world. Keep a close eye on her," he cautioned the young man in front of him.

    "Grandfather, when should we tell Barca about his father?"

    The old man pondered and looked down on an old tree from the window. Among all the trees in the manor, it was the only one devoid of trees. Everything else thrived.

    "When it''s time," he said in a somber voice, "or until we hear from the Network."

    ***

    After leaving the starry-eyed Tarou who couldn''t stop talking about how awesome his human is, Mina slipped inside the house to look for the general. When he saw the man''s familiar silhouette heading towards the room, she couldn''t help but tag along happily while meowing with excitement.

    "Can you hear me?"

    "Nod if you hear me."

    When the man continued to walk inside the room as if she was not there. Mina had to run quickly so she could enter the room. She couldn''t help but feel annoyed at how this man treated her.

    ''Is this person ignoring me for real?''

    When Mina saw the general lie down after she continued asking him if she could understand her, she became so enraged she unsheathed her claws. She was about to jump on the man in her annoyance but the man got up from the bed and headed for the door.

    "Come back! Come baaaaaaaaackkk!" Mina couldn''t help but meow. She had to know if he could actually hear her. She jumped off the bed to chase him but the door slammed shut in front of her.

    "You...you people always walk out!"

    "I need answers!"

    Her meows grew louder.

    "Human! I deserve answers!"

    "Heeey!"

    A series of loud meows resounded in the manor at the dead of the night. The drawn-out cries sounded like a distressed child abandoned by its parent. Even Tarou, who was busy transferring his pile of grains inside the tree root, could hear Boss from outside. He couldn''t help but give himself a pat on the back. Choosing to live outdoors was a stroke of genius. He didn''t want to be around when Boss was in a sour mood - the cat had the tendency to unleash its claws which scared him witless.

    True enough, Mina bared her claws and the door became her target. As her cries subsided, she unleashed her anger repeatedly on the poor piece of wood. She was so furious that she didn''t even notice when the door started to move until it almost touched her nose.

    ''He''s back!''

    Mina went on to face the man but before she could claw him, he placed a ball in front of her. Curious, she approached the ball. One thread fell off when she tugged it. She bit the edge and unraveled a longer strand. The entire thing was so exciting, she couldn''t help but be engrossed with it. It was only when the ecstatic feeling subsided that she found the time to jump back on the bed to observe her human. From his even breathing, she could tell that the general was asleep.

    "A ball of thread, that''s all I needed to get sidetracked," Mina whined. "This human knows how to distract a cat!"

    ''Fine! Maybe you''re too tired. Tomorrow, I need to test you out again tomorrow,'' Mina finally relented, allowing the man to have some peace and quiet as she played with her new toy.

 34 Am I Having a Concussion?

    After spending hours playing with thread and getting entangled with the thing, Mina found herself drifting off to sleep in a warm corner of the room. When she woke up, she could tell from a small opening it was a little after midnight.

    Mina stretched and gave the thread a sideways look as if to say that she would not be tempted again. She eventually realized that her stomach was churning violently.

    ''I''m starving!''

    It was the early morning hours but she couldn''t help but feel the hunger pangs. Studying her environment, she saw that the general was still in bed.

    ''Should I wake him up or not?'' she thought while staring at the man who seems to be deeply asleep.

    ''Would it be too harsh if I asked him to get me something to eat?''

    Mina made her way to the door to explore on her own but she couldn''t open it. This door was too heavy. She really needs to talk to that old man again and tell him to communicate with her human. The windows were also shut close. But even if they were open, she would rather take the stairs. All the landing on both feet business still feels scary to her.

    Left without a choice, Mina climbed up on the bed to find a warmer spot. Eventually, she drifted off to sleep.

    When Mina opened her eyes, she could see nothing but darkness.

    ''This feels familiar.''

    She took a few steps to the left and then to the right, but nothing happened. There was nothing but pitch blackness enveloping her. Unlike the last time she dreamed about this, she felt more at ease now. She tried to feel her way around the place until she felt a wall in front of paws.

    ''Come to think of it, the last time I had this dream, I had human hands, not paws.''

    Feeling bold, she jumped up while thinking ''Who gets hurt in a dream?''

    To her surprise, she landed on something solid. Startled, she tried to move around and the surface she docked on lit up.

    ''I''ve been here before.''

    ''This looks familiar.''

    As Mina walked across the panel to examine it, a welcome screen. Remembering how she saw different stats the last time she entered the space, she swiped through the panel again and saw a bunch of numbers that she could not decipher. Each swipe brought her to a different page. She couldn''t help but feel intrigued. While trying to make sense of the information, one paw pushed a button on the panel. Suddenly, the whole area lit up.

    When Mina looked around, she realized that she was standing on a panel with an unusual shape. The surface appeared to be rectangular at first but now that everything was illuminated, Mina realized that the surface was in the shape of a half moon. The buttons were even designed to look like craters of the moon. When she looked beyond the panel, the view almost took her breath away. It was the same thing she saw in pictures. The place looked like the milky way and she was suspended on one side of the path.

    Curious, Mina walked towards the edge of the curve but a sudden knock distracted her. Although she could barely hear the muffled sound, she managed to decipher the meaning behind all the mumbling.

    "Finally, a tech! It took the higher ups forever to send one."

    Thinking the sound came from below, Mina tried to look under the panel but her face came in contact with a solid surface. The impact was so strong, she thought her brains spilled out. She had to feel her head with her paws to see if everything was still there.

    "You alright there buddy?" the voice asked with urgency.

    The impact was so strong Mina felt like her whole face was smashed.

    Confused where the voice came from, Mina turned around and saw a monkey with reddish brown hair with a crazy smile on its face. When her eyesight became less fuzzy, she realized that the animal which appears to be an orangutan was pushing a cart towards her while suspended on air.

    "Don''t be embarrassed that. That has been happening to almost everyone," the rough voice continued while studying her. Still stunned, Mina just gave the animal a blank look.

    "You know, that thing," the orangutan said while pointing its lips and doing a headbang.

    "We''ve been getting several complaints about these Egg Pods. It''s the curved glass, always smacks you in the head."

    Mina could barely hear the talking monkey since she was too distracted by the pain in her head. The grumbling in her stomach didn''t help either. She closed her eyes willing herself to concentrate to make the pain go away.

    ''Is this how it feels like to have a concussion?''

    When Mina opened her eyes again, the headache was no longer there and she saw Jadon''s peaceful form. Light seeped into the room and she could tell that it was early morning.

    ''That was a weird dream!'' Mina thought while standing up on all fours. Just then, her stomach grumbled.

    ''I can''t do this. This human should serve his purpose! Even Tarou is mooching off heaps of food from that human Barca and here I am holding back my hunger!''

    Mina tried to make her way towards the sleeping person beside her and used her paws to wake him up gently. Since the man won''t budge, she tried to feel for his face with her paws, patting him awake. The disturbance did not disturb the man either, he just tried to swat the paw away.

    ''Should she just use her claws to wake this person up?''

    Mina looked at her paws and cleaned them off with her tongue. Realizing something, she placed the wet paw on the general''s face and he twitched.

    ''Well, this is weird but a cat''s gotta do what a cat''s gotta do.''

    Trying to push back her doubts, Mina went on to lick the sleeping man''s face. She thought that, at least, she didn''t slobber like a dog. This was like marking her territory, right?

    Mina felt the person''s face move a bit. Maybe she was doing something right. Meowing in between, she even tapped his face with her paw. She actually had no idea which part of his face she was touching.

    "Wake up, you lazy bum! I need food!" Mina meowed while trying to wake him up.

    ''Isn''t it his duty to keep her well fed?''

    Mina tried to get closer to the sleeping man. When she felt warm air close to her nose, she was caught off guard and her face bumped into the sleeping person in front of her. Mina felt a warm sensation on her nose and she felt the man stir beneath her.

    ''Finally!''

    Just then, someone pushed the door open and Mina heard a chuckle.

    "Did I interrupt something?" Barca remarked while leaning on the doorframe. "You should probably lock the door next time."

 35 Eat the Evidence

    Seeing Barca''s face reminded Mina of Tarou''s pile of grains and she couldn''t help but feel annoyed at the human in front of her. This Jadon was so useless!

    With the door finally open, she doesn''t have to rely on the general feed her. She should not be begging him! It would be beneath her.

    As she headed for the door, she heard some shifting in the sheets.

    ''So this human finally decided it''s time to get up.''

    Spiteful, Mina strolled towards the door ignoring both humans as she passed by. She could hear Barca teasing the general as she left the room.

    "You should have invited the cat for a morning meal. That animal looks pretty desperate to wake you up."

    "I feel worn out," Jadon replied, ignoring Barca who seems to be in the mood to continue poking fun at him.

    "At least you received a good morning kiss." As if remembering his purpose, Barca''s tone changed abruptly. "Get up, there''s urgent news from Serket."

    Jadon didn''t have to be told twice when he heard who sent the message. He gave Barca a concerned look as his sight traveled to the raven on the man''s hand.

    "Let''s head over to grandfather."

    ***

    Mina made her way up to the old man to voice her complaints. She was expecting to find the door closed but the man was standing in the doorway as if he was expecting a visitor.

    ''Do old people just wake up early? Or is this grandpa a mind reader?''

    "Hungry?" the old man asked before she could say anything. He quickly fed her a few pieces of bread.

    ''This grandpa is better than anyone.'' She admitted as she gobbled up the food he offered. While the bread was not entirely satisfying, it assuaged her hunger.

    "You should really tell the general to treat me better," she couldn''t help but quip in between bites.

    Shortly after, two pairs of footsteps made their way up the stairs. Amused, the old man looked at her and muttered.

    "Speaking of the devil."

    "A message from Serket?" The old man asked while looking at the raven on Barca''s shoulder.

    Jadon closed the door and the old man checked the area before shutting the window. He walked across the room as if checking for a sign of an intruder. Satisfied he lit up a candle and placed the bird on the table.

    Mina couldn''t help but be curious. Finding the best vantage point, she looked at the bird who released the worm caught on its beak. The worm wriggled around violently. Mina couldn''t make sense of what was happening at first but after a while, it seemed like the worm''s movement revealed a series of characters illuminated by the light from the candle. She looked at the old man who had a serious look on his face. Focusing solely on the movements of the worm illuminated on the table, Mina began to grasp the message as the worm continued to convey more information by wriggling around.

    "I am a slayer. I manage errant souls who escape from the Network! Why am I handling the nursery!"

    "The soul of an old man has been coming back every few days begging me to help him pass on! I have to turn him away every time and tell him to go back to his body and deal with life! That man is 150 years old!"

    "How are you doing your job? Why are there still so many people dying? The land is as fertile as it can get. The harvest is abundant. I have held up my end of the bargain."

    "Jadon should do a better job as a general! I better not see another hundred souls knocking on my rock because they died from battle.And you old man, produce the cure to the contagious disease or we will be overrun by the dead."

    "We are running out of soul pods. Everyone around here is complaining about housing human souls. Why am I deciding who gets reincarnated right away? I am the goddess of the battlefield, you incompetent imbeciles!"

    The worm stopped wriggling as if to signal the end of the message. Just when the raven was about to pluck it off the table, it started transmitting signals again.

    "I know Devin is back. Tell him to fix the mess he left!"

    When the worm stopped moving, the raven ate the worm and flew out after the old man opened the window shutters.

    Mina could only gulp. What did the message mean?

    Mina stared at the old man who seems to have understood everything. Jadon and Barca had blank looks on their faces although they seem to know the gravity of the situation.

    ''If these two didn''t understand that worm, why could I?'' The series of events has been too suspicious to MIna but she continued to listen and observe the people around her.

    "Serket is furious about the increase in orphaned souls," the old man spoke."We can''t blame her. She is a formidable sweeper, she could sting decayed souls without hesitation. Now, she has no choice but to take over Rebirths and Soul Placements."

    "Why did she send the worm to send a message this time? She always used the doves before," Barca asked with furrowed eyebrows.

    "Birds travel the fastest but they tend to sing their tales. We cannot afford any mishaps now because we are cut off from the Network and she has confidential information. It would be dangerous," the old man replied. This made Mina even more confused.

    ''Network? This era seems to be too ancient to have any network. Having a grapevine would make more sense than a network.'' Mina thought while observing the men in the room.

    "I believe Serket had a line for me," Jadon probed.

    "How would you know that? Are you into divining meanings behind worm movements now?" an astonished Barca asked.

    "Serket always has a line about how incompetent he is. They go way back," the old man answered as he turned to Jadon to relay the message.

    "She wants you to prevent massive deaths. The situation from her end is not ideal. There has been an increase in the number of human souls requesting passage. She could only approve a limited number of rebirths. You know what this means, right?"

    The general nodded.

    "We have to resolve problems in the empire through peaceful means no matter what," the old man continued.

    "I understand grandfather."

    After concluding the short discussion, it was as if nothing unusual happened. The windows were opened and the cool morning breeze entered the room bringing in the scent of the sumptuous meals being prepared in the kitchen below. However, the cryptic message bothered Mina too much that she forgot her hunger.

    Mysterious things have been happening around her. It was as if turning into a cat was just the tip of the iceberg. She couldn''t ignore this. She needs to enlist Tarou''s help.

    After making up her mind, Mina looked at the old man thoughtfully. When she turned to leave, the old man simply threw her a meaningful look as if he knew that she knows something but he was waiting for her to ask him about it.

    Despite her curiosity, she kept mum. She had to think things over before discussing things with this old man.

    ''Never trust strangers.''

    Mina could hear her mother''s voice at the back of her head, cautioning her against the evils of the world.

    She needs to keep her guards up. After all, this old man and everyone in this world was a stranger from the start.

 36 Saved By One Nightmare

    Tarou felt the shift in temperature, signaling the start of another day. It took the tiny mouse almost all night to make the tree nook feel homey. He has been busy moving his pile of grains and testing out which plants around the area were good enough to eat. After he cataloged the plants from the most palatable to horribly inedible, dawn was breaking over the horizon.

    From his position, Tarou noticed that the activities in the manor began at the crack of dawn. There were people going about their chores even while it''s still dark outside. Since the early morning hours, there has been much activity in the stables as opposed to other areas outside the manor.

    The manor was a lively place teeming with activity, but Tarou found the place relaxing. The tree he claimed as his own was more comfortable than the small nook in the hut where he first met the black cat.

    Tarou caught the scent of ripe fruits waiting to be harvested. He could tell from the scents surrounding the area that there were a wide variety of plants in the estate. He caught the scent of herbs, fruit trees, and flowering plants.

    From the fruity scents and the aromatic herbs, even a mouse like him would think that he is in one part of the forest. Combined with the delectable scents wafting from the kitchens, Tarou couldn''t ask for more. Human food for convenience and ripe fruits and grains for a healthy mouse diet. He seems to have hit the jackpot by following Boss to this place.

    The satisfied mouse continued to bask in the delicious scents of his new home, he detected a despicable smell which made him stiffen in terror.

    As if a beautiful dream was replaced by a terrible one, Tarou opened his eyes. His whiskers detected movement towards him and true enough, he heard a series of neighs shortly after. Among the series of neighs, one stood out from all the rest.

    "Mouse" a loud, trumpet-like sound neighed.

    The greeting caught Tarou off guard. He couldn''t help but detect the air of superiority from that particular neigh.

    Only one highhanded horse would greet him in a sarcastic manner.

    ''Nightmare'' he muttered under his breath as if it was a curse. True enough, he heard a gallop headed towards him and the scene from the night before flashed through his mind. He could still remember how Nightmare looked at him as if he couldn''t wait for the opportunity to turn him to dust.

    Conflicted on how to deal with the situation and terrified that he would flee into the wrong direction, Tarou''s body froze on the spot.

    ''Don''t stomp me....please please please,'' the tiny mouse begged in his mind, still clinging on to the tiny hope of escaping unscathed.

    Clip...

    Clop...

    Clip...

    Clop...

    The sound of the horse hoof coming in contact with the ground made Tarou''s heart beat faster and faster. With each step, dust rose up from the ground and Tarou could see dark, powerful hooves closing in on him.

    The sound struck fear in his heart but he stood firm as if to take a stand. His paws were shaking with fear so powerful it rendered him immobile.

    ''Paw move, move!'' he scolded.

    Tarou wanted to seek cover somewhere, but he was frozen in place. His paw wouldn''t move no matter how much he wills it too.

    As Tarou tried to wait for his death to collect him, he caught the scent of his human but the man seems to be too far to help him this time. Just one more step and he will be squashed under Nightmare''s foot.

    ''What''s the better way to die? Staring death in the face or closing your eyes hoping for a peaceful way to go?''

    While going back and forth between these thoughts Tarou saw the horse show descend and he only managed to have his eyes go half closed. He squeaked as loud as he could but the human Barca seems to be too far to hear him.

    "Human, Bury me with my treasures!"

    Tarou crouched down to reduce the impact and waited.

    One... two... three...

    Tarou has almost reached the count of twenty but nothing happened. The clip-clop sound already stopped. When Tarou opened his eyes, he was under some sort of shade. He saw strong, black legs on all four sides.

    Shortly after, he heard a thunderous chorus of clip-clop sounds as several horses made their way out of the stables. Tarou could see the legs of different horses as they passed beside Nightmare who seems to have no plans of moving. Tarou had no intention of leaving his position either in fear that one of the horses would squash him if he flees.

    It was only after the last horse left that Nightmare decided to leave Tarou and catch up with the rest of the horses. As Tarou looked at Nightmare''s swishing tail as he went to follow the rest of the horses, he couldn''t help but think about what just happened.

    ''Did that Nightmare just save me from being stomped to death?''

    ''Why?''

    Just then, one of the stablehands brought out something and placed it on the ground before going back inside. Tarou could hear a combination of chattering and hissing from what the young man delivered.

    When Tarou went closer, he saw a rodent as large as a kitten with a thick body, short ears, and blunt snout. The rodent seems to have detected Tarou''s movement as it turned to look at him. Tarou looked at the creature captured inside a small prison, but what surprised him was the rage in the rat''s eyes. All those emotions seem to be directed entirely to him.

 37 400 Mouse Years Later

    The stablehands brought out more rats captured in traps. Some rat lay immobile inside what appears to be a large cage. The rats who were barely conscious looked at Tarou. It appears like a rat purge was happening inside the stables.

    ''Could this be the result of what happened last night?''

    ''So, that human believed that I wouldn''t gnaw off horse hooves!''

    The thought made Tarou glow. Barca was the best human in the world but he wouldn''t reveal it to anyone, not even to Boss.

    Just when his mood brightened up, the mouse who looked more energetic than the rest of its gang continued to struggle inside its cage.

    ''This mouse must be their leader,'' Tarou thought as he studied the creature whose fierce red eyes were full of loathing. He wanted to get closer to the rat to gloat about his victory but the animal''s piercing gaze deterred him from doing so.

    The hissing and chattering started again and Tarou could make out some curse words directed at him. Soon after, the weakened rats in the larger cage joined in. The sound made Tarou cringe but he didn''t back down.

    Unable to continue holding the rat''s gaze while listening to the haunting sounds, Tarou covered his eyes with his paws. The noise made by the captured animals was starting to get to him and he crouched down to muffle the noise, willing the voices to go away.

    "Rats!" a low and hoarse squeak called out in disgust. The sound silenced the voices and made Tarou look up to see the formidable force that conquered the rat.

    Tarou detected the parade of small paws headed towards him. As the figures came closer, Tarou realized two of the three rodents were familiar ¡ª they were the mice who gave him directions to the stables. The one heading the parade was a mouse with a cane. Kaia and Aure trailed after him. The older rat stopped in front of the energetic mouse caught in the trap who was about to start another violent round of chattering. Without any hesitation, the old mouse lifted his cane and poked the rat''s eye, silencing him before squeaking one word.

    "Newcomer."

    Tarou heard the words clearly but he was unsure who the man was referring to so he looked to the right and then to the left. Tarou looked at the mouse as if he needed some sort of confirmation.

    "Yes, you," the old mouse reiterated. Tarou simply stared at him. What did this old mouse want him to do? He felt confused and he didn''t know how to act.

    "Tarou, you should show the elder into your home," Aure squeaked in her high pitch voice which she was clearly trying to tone down. Relieved at finally knowing what to do, Tarou motioned the party to follow him into the tree hollow.

    ''How did these mice know I made my nest here?'' he wondered but kept mum. He was a stranger to this place after all. There are always systems in place for mouse communities to know what''s going on.

    After entering Tarou''s home, the older mouse circled and smelled him. His elder''s whiskers wiggled and his ears perked up as he continued circling Tarou who stood up on two paws as a sign of respect.

    "Elder?" a tentative squeak asked in a high pitch tone.

    The older mouse did not acknowledge the statement but he looked Tarou in the eye while saying in a gentle voice.

    "You should take cover inside the manor. That space is always rat-free."

    Out of the blue, the old mouse pushed Tarou''s tail aside using his cane and was about to continue sniffing him.

    "What are you doing you old mouse!" an alarmed Tarou squeaked as he backed into a wall. The old mouse just looked at him like his existence was a surprise. As if nothing happened, the Elder fired another question.

    "Why would you prefer living outdoors?"

    Still cautious, Tarou did not leave his position but he answered the older mouse after thinking things through. "I have easy access to food here."

    Seeing the blank look on all three rodents, he explained his reasons. "I am not fond of stuffy manors. When humans starve and there is nothing to eat, they tend to divert their focus on mice."

    Before he could speak another word, Kaia interjected. "Mouse meat? That is unheard of!" Waving her paws with disdain, she continued.

    "Beef! Lamb! Chicken! Pork! Even servants eat these kinds of meat! How could you accuse humans of eating mice!" the female mouse continued as if Tarou was speaking nonsense. Tarou tried to maintain his cool. He knew Kaia had the talent for testing anyone''s nerves.

    "It''s the drought. Hunger makes people lose their minds."

    "What is this buffoon talking about elder? No one in the capital would eat a mouse. They would barely touch meat from an undernourished cow." Kaia insisted while talking to the older mouse.

    "You have been living inside a bubble. People do vile stuff when they become desperate. People would even fight over fresh dead bodies if they want to survive!

    "That is unheard of!" Kaia retorted with revulsion. "You must have come from a barbaric place if you observe such practices!"

    "You are the ignorant mouse!" Tarou retorted before looking at the older mouse. "Elder, you should school the young ones!"

    The old mouse tapped his cane thoughtfully while looking at Tarou. "My dear fellow, you can''t blame Kaia from thinking that way. My father and his father before him have lived a life of abundance. We have never experienced starvation or drought."

    "How could you not?"Tarou reasoned.

    The capital was one of the places hit the hardest during the drought. Even the village where he lived struggled and there was a forest close by where people could forage.

    "Grandfather, you must be mistaken. The drought made life hard even for the polished folks at the capital."

    This caught the attention of the old man who gave Tarou an unusual look.

    "Child, my family has been in the capital for 10 summers. The last drought happened 10 years ago. Only my great grandfather would know about it."

    Ten years ago.

    The words echoed in Tarou''s mind.

    It couldn''t be 10 years ago. For a mouse like him, 10 years is almost as long as four centuries, 400 years.

    Tarou tried to dig deep into his memories, trying to find clues. Lost in thought, he ignored his visitors. Feeling the need to give Tarou some space, Aure called out to the older mouse who stared at Tarou with concern.

    Tarou was lost in thought and he was clearly uninterested in striking a conversation. The older motioned his young charges to leave Tarou''s home and they filed out silently. However, Aure noticed that the older mouse lingered outside the tree nook and she couldn''t help but be curious.

    "Elder, is something wrong?"

    "That mouse smells peculiar," the older mouse replied. Hearing those words, Kaia reacted almost immediately.

    "That''s what I''ve been telling Aure. That Tarou mouse is weird."

 38 Call Me Ancestor

    Long after his guests left, Tarou continued to think about what the elder told him. He tried to make sense of everything but he couldn''t come up with any logical conclusion.

    ''It''s impossible!''

    ''How can I still be alive for 10 years?''

    Mice like him rarely live for three human years. No one has heard of a mouse who lived for four years.

    Ten...ten years!

    ''This...it couldn''t be possible!''

    ''How could ten years pass without him knowing.''

    Tarou tried to remember as far back as he could. His earliest memories were of Wifey who had the gentlest look on her face. They lived in a small nook inside a house in the village. He could even remember seeing baby mice who were constantly messing up their small home.

    Tarou winced at a bitter memory of how hard it was to steal food then. The granaries and storerooms were emptied out. Humans were rationing food. Even mice found it almost impossible to find something edible. When the villagers had nothing to farm, fish, or forage, they resorted to eating almost anything including locusts and mice. It was a terrible time.

    Wifey reminded him constantly to steer clear of humans when the food shortage became so severe that humans hunted mice for food. Stealing between mice camps were also common. As one of the weakest and slowest mice, he was always the one who stayed behind to guard any food they have left. Walking down memory lane reminded him of the last day he saw Wifey.

    It was an ordinary day. As usual, she reminded him to be careful of humans, even of children. That day he couldn''t resist leaving their home when he caught the scent of something delicious. He almost ran into a human but he found a hiding place. He remembered running, running, and more running. It took him hours to find the exit.

    When he finally returned to their home, he was extra cautious. He tried to stay away from humans as much as possible. It was also during that day that the princess arrived. The princess seems to have been from a country with an abundance of food and grain. All the servants praised her beauty and the Kingdom of Covin where she came from. Best of all, the entire village was festive and one of the largest manors prepared a sumptuous feast. He was so happy when he caught a whiff of various dishes. He tried to eavesdrop on different conversations to know what''s happening. He was very excited to tell Wifey about it but she was not home yet.

    When he went to visit the storerooms and the granary that day, everything was filled to the brim.He even caught the scent of apples, Wifey''s favorite fruit!

    Unfortunately, stashing food in their home inside the house would be too risky. Humans were all over the place.

    Instead of heading home with his haul, he tried to look for a tree nook just outside the village where he could store food. After finding a place that would serve his needs, he headed back home to tell his family that they would no longer starve but something happened.

    Tarou could still remember the raging fire that enveloped the village that day. Everything disappeared almost instantly. Nothing remained but ashes.

    When he snapped out of his daze, he found himself staring at the pile of grains in front of him. He felt another wave of nostalgia but he shoved the sad memories aside and focused on the present. He should focus on what he just learned from the elder.

    The elder mouse knew nothing of the drought. The elder''s father or grandfather never experienced it too.

    If the drought happened 10 human years ago, he should be about 400 mouse years ahead of this time. This means that the family he knew would be long dead by now. Maybe, maybe it''s time to accept that the Wifey in his memory no longer exists in this world.

    Kaia and Aure should kowtow to him. Even the elder should show him respect!

    ''How about Boss?'' the little voice in his mind hinted. Soon after, Tarou started daydreaming on how to tell a certain black cat that he is 400 years his junior. It was actually 10 human years but 400 years sounded more intimidating.

    ***

    "Tarou!"

    "Tarou!"

    "Taaaarouuuu!!!!"

    Mina called out urgently. Given the lack of response, she crouched down to see if Tarou was at home. When she looked inside the small nook, she saw the mouse grooming himself absentmindedly. Tarou''s furrowed eyebrows made it clear that something was troubling him.

    "TAAAARROOUUUUU!!!!"

    Mina couldn''t help but call out louder to catch Tarou''s attention. Tarou almost lost his balance when he heard the cat''s impatient call. Seeing the cat, Tarou absentmindedly strolled out of the nook.

    If Mina opened her mouth, she could eat up the small mouse without any effort. But this time, Tarou didn''t seem threatened of the cat''s sharp fangs or deadly claws. He simply walked out fully expecting the cat to give him enough space to exit the tree.

    Mina couldn''t help but notice the change in Tarou''s attitude.

    ''This underling is becoming bolder than ever. He doesn''t even feel afraid of becoming my next meal.''

    Tarou looked up to her eyes before gazing at the dirt under his paws, Tarou seems to be stalling. The mouse looked up to her again and instead of looking back down, he looked left and right. Tarou eventually asked her to crouch down before speaking in hushed squeaks.

    "Boss if you woke up 400 years later, how would you feel?"

    Mina looked at Tarou as if he was demented.

    ''What was this mouse trying to get at?'' She couldn''t reply right away. Tarou walked back and forth while waiting for her answer.

    ''Is this mouse seriously thinking what it would be like if he traveled into the future?'' Mina wondered while studying the restless mouse. ''Where would he get that idea?''

    Mina had never seen Tarou look as serious as he did now.

    ''What was going on in this mouse''s mind?''

    "Why would you think it''s possible to wake up 400 years later and still be alive?" Mina asked while trying to gauge Tarou''s reaction. The unexpected question made her wonder about another possibility.

    ''Did something unusual happened to this mouse too?''

    Maybe she was not the only one with secrets. She was from the future, she was certain of that. If she traveled back to the past, maybe it''s possible for a mouse to travel 400 years into the future.

    This time, Mina was the one who wanted to pace back and forth while waiting what Tarou had to say but she kept her cool. She couldn''t betray her own emotions.

    Tarou hesitated before communicating in disturbed squeaks while looking up to her.

    "Because I am. Boss, call me ancestor."

 39 Underling Forever

    ''Ancestor?''

    ''Did I hear this mouse correctly?''

    Mina looked at the mouse who had a determined look on its face while standing on two paws.

    ''Tarou did say ancestor right?''

    An unsolicited thought immediately popped up in Mina''s mind. She could imagine standing behind Tarou with a feather fan. While imagining a scene where she is the fan-bearer on the right side of the king, she couldn''t help but include Barca in the feature. The gentle human would probably be feeding the gluttonous creature with excellent grains. Knowing Tarou, he would be sitting on his mouse throne while patting the human.

    Mina looked at Tarou again while shaking her head as if she''s chasing the thought away.

    Whether Tarou is 400 years old or not, he would be her ancestor. After all, she is from the future. Looking at Tarou with a distrusting look, Mina tried to sound as unconvinced as possible while confronting him.

    "Why would you think you''re an ancient creature?"

    Tarou hesitated before squeaking.

    "It''s the elder."

    Mina gave the grey mouse a sideways look as if prompting him to explain further.

    "A mouse they called elder visited me today. He... he said my memories do not make sense. According to him, they were from 10 summers ago."

    For a mouse who only cares about food, it felt unusual to listen to Tarou admit that he did not make sense. It took Mina some time to digest what Tarou said. Ten summers ago... this means ten years. She couldn''t help but give Tarou a sideways look.

    ''This mouse was trying to take her for a ride.''

    "Ten years. Your memories were from ten years ago," she repeated. Tarou nodded quickly and Mina couldn''t help but clear her throat while eyeing Tarou. "And these mice friends of yours are teaching you how to dupe me?"

    Realizing he was caught, Tarou instantly appeared more docile as if he was playing coy. "Ten summers, that''s how long 400 years are if you''re a mouse." Needing to redeem himself, Tarou explained what happened and how he arrived at his conclusion to divert the topic.

    "You make friends so quickly!" Mina couldn''t help but exclaim. While she was playing with curtains and thread, this little mouse has been making new friends. The only friend she made was an old, suspicious man who could understand wriggling worms! Then there''s the maid who almost fainted although that girl is not exactly her friend.

    "I am NOT friends with them," Tarou replied with disgust. "They are not very likable."

    Mina realized that she held her breath while waiting for Tarou''s reply. She was surprised at how relieved she felt when Tarou denied being close to his new mice friends. She felt like she could forgive this fluffy thing from making her believe his 400-year white lie.

    ''What was I thinking!''

    ''Why would I be jealous of mice? That''s beneath me!'' she reminded herself.

    ''Tarou is an underling Mina, an underling. It''s not like he''s your best friend.''

    ''Between you and a piece of cheese, Tarou will choose the cheese unless there''s meat lying around which smells more delicious.''

    ''Why would you care so much about that kind of person, er, mouse.''

    "I''m telling you, Boss, those mice should be worshipping me. I am like a god to them. Even people should make me an altar. I am four hundred years old," Tarou squeaked with so much excitement.

    Mina secretly thanked Tarou''s preposterous dream of being treated like royalty for pulling her out of her sentimental state. Just then, Mina saw something rushing towards them, specifically towards Tarou who was so busy chattering away, he failed to sense the incoming threat.

    Mina could sense an evil intent from the approaching creature. She saw something glint in the light. The shiny thing looked like teeth?

    ''Sharp teeth!?''

    Instinctively Mina raised a paw to slap the approaching creature before it could hit Tarou who is still prattling mindlessly. The sudden appearance of her claws made Tarou stiffen but the sound of a body hitting the ground made the grey mouse turn to see what happened. Looking at the direction of the fallen creature, Tarou''s eyes widened.

    They could hear the hissing of the rat who flared at Tarou with flaming red eyes. When the rat stared at him, Tarou''s courage disappeared and he ran behind Mina.

    "Boss that rat hates me. Your ancestor is in danger."

    "You have to be dead if you want to be my ancestor."

    "Boss, I am your underling. I am everyone''s ancestor but you are my ancestor. Boss! I... I will be your underling for four hundred years!" Tarou pleaded. Seeing no change in Mina''s reaction, the mouse tugged on her paw. "Boss! I will be your underling forever!"

    ''Is this mouse more afraid of a rat than a cat?''

    Mina took a closer look at the rat. She seems to have made substantial damage but the rat was still alive. Looking closely, the villainous rat looked less attractive than her underling. It had bald patches on its body and vicious bite marks on its paw.

    When the rat attempted to launch another attack, Mina panicked because she didn''t want the rat to get close to her. Clueless on what to do, she used her claws again. This time, the impact was harder and when the rat crashed on the ground, it could barely move. Seeing that the rat can no longer do any harm, she turned around to check on Tarou. Seeing that her underling was still shaking, she couldn''t help but drag him back to reality.

    "Hey! Snap out of it."

    "Boss, those rats hate me!" came Tarou''s concerned reply.

    "Rats... mice... aren''t you supposed to be friends? Close enough to share the booties?"

    "You know nothing Boss. That...that rat has been giving me an evil eye because I ratted them out. They are out to get me. What if they hack me to pieces while I sleep? I''m a poor, unfortunate mouse."

    "You are their ancestor, what are you afraid of?" Mina retorted. Of course, she wouldn''t let any rat touch her underling but she needs to teach him a little lesson. This Tarou is becoming too out of hand, he needs to know who''s Boss. But instead of lording over the mouse, Mina heard something totally unexpected.

    "Boss!" Tarou suddenly called out, "I remember something!" The grey mouse stood on two paws and his eyes were as wide as saucers. Tarou''s whole expression screamed that he had an epiphany.

    "That, the last day I remember spending with my family, the day elder said happened 400, uhm, ten years ago... That day, I followed a rat. That''s how I discovered a strange hiding place."

 40 Follow the Ra

    Mina gave Tarou a quizzical look. "You followed a rat and ended up 10 years into the future?"

    ''Interesting. Could there be some kind of portal in this world where you can travel to the past and the future? Like a time machine?''

    Mina couldn''t wait to hear more as Tarou continued to wrack his brains for more memories that could be useful.

    "Yes, it was a rat. I saw it disappear somewhere. When I saw a human, I slipped into the same hiding place. Let me tell you Boss, that place was a huge maze. It felt like forever before I could find the way out."

    ''Did Tarou truly enter the time machine or is this mouse trying to deceive me?''

    Judging from Tarou''s expressions however, it seems like he was as invested in figuring out what happened as she is. Taking some time to digest the new information, Mina finally had an idea.

    "Do you remember exactly where that place is?" she asked. If Tarou entered the hiding place and traveled 10 years into the future, it should be the time machine they are looking for right?

    Tarou started gnawing on one of his paws before letting out a hesitant squeak.

    "Boss, that place is miles away from the capital. It''s closer to the forest where we met."

    The forest? It took them more than one day to travel from the forest to the capital.

    "Unless," Tarou beamed, "we get a ride to my old village."

    ''Why didn''t I think about a time machine when I first arrived?'' Mina thought while observing Tarou.

    ''If I was transported here, it makes sense that I was revived in a location closest to the time machine if it did exist.''

    On second thought, Mina realized that when she arrived, her first priority was to get acquainted with her new body and environment. She really had no plans on returning back to her time.

    Being human again had its benefits but there''s a little voice telling her that life in this world was better.

    ''What would I do if I go back?''

    Her life wasn''t that glamorous. She escaped a fate worse than death, it was a pathetic life unless...

    She smiled when a brilliant idea hit her.

    ''If I return five years before my time, I could change my life and undo everything.''

    Mina could imagine how things would turn out so much better if she could change things back. After thinking of all the possibilities, she was dragged back to reality. Her actions could have serious consequences and she wasn''t even sure if Tarou was genuinely from the past.

    ''How would I even manage to control where I go? What if I travel to the ice age? Or the age of dinosaurs?''

    The thought of making a wrong turn and ending up in a worse situation made her shudder.

    ''I''ll be fossilized. Displayed in some museum! Researchers will show my remains as Exhibit A, human remains found inside a dinosaur''s stomach or something.''

    Mina''s mind was swimming with all the possibilities that her head started to hurt.

    ''How will I know if time travel works? And how it works?''

    "Boss! Boss!"

    The sound Tarou made caught her attention and brought a potential solution to her problem.

    ''Tarou could try it out first, right?'' With a sinister smile on her face, Mina asked Tarou a serious question.

    "What would you do if you can travel back to the past?"

    Tarou answered almost instantly.

    "Bring back wifey to the present, of course. You wouldn''t want to be in that time Boss. It was too chaotic!" the grey mouse exclaimed. "Me and Wifey! We will harvest grains together and eat together in my new home," the mouse continued.

    ''Well, Mina, it wouldn''t be too unethical if you let Tarou in first right?'' she thought to herself while listening to her little friend''s reply. ''This grey mouse can try out the portal first to grab his family back. If he succeeds you can try it for yourself.''

    Still reluctant, another unbidden thought crossed her mind.

    ''He wants to do it anyway.''

    At this, Mina looked at Tarou who was giddy with excitement.

    "Boss, do you also think there''s a way to return back to my time and bring back my family?"

    Although Mina had doubts if there is a portal and if it works the way they want it to, she didn''t have the heart to dashTarou''s hopes. It would be too cruel.

    "I not certain" came Mina''s noncommittal reply. ''We have to test this theory. We could try to see if the portal is still in the same place or if it works. That would be the logical thing to do," she added in her mind but she blurted out an entirely different thing.

    "How do we get back to your village from here?"

    Without missing a beat, Tarou replied with confidence.

    "The same way we left. By horseback." Tarou squeaked the words out as if he was talking to a one-celled organism andMina couldn''t help but admire him. This mouse has been getting bolder and bolder.

    "What do you suggest?"

    "Let''s ask one of the horses to join our cause."

    "And which horse do you have in mind?"

    Tarou actually had no idea and he blurted out the first thing he thought of.

    "Nightmare"

    "Would he know the way?" Mina asked without thinking.

    ''Am I seriously considering this?''

    "Boss. He''s a horse. He''s a dumb horse if he doesn''t remember the way. It''s like a mouse not knowing how to find the way home."

    ''How would horses be related to mice?'' she wondered but stopped herself from asking Tarou. The little mouse seems to be in a mood to show off his intelligence and superiority today.''

    ''If he only knew.''

    "How would we get Nightmare to agree with this plan?" Mina asked, still unconvinced of Tarou''s methods.

    "Boss, that''s where you come in. You are the Boss! Of course, that part will be up to you." Tarou looked at her with his eyes glittering as if he believed she could make anything possible.

    ''This mouse deceived her again!'' Mina could feel her ears flatten on her head and her slight annoyance showed when she rephrased Tarou''s suggestion.

    "So we are going to steal a horse."

    "Borrow. We need to get back here so we need a horse to get back from the village to this Manor," Tarou corrected while waving his paws and Mina felt the urge to shoot him down again so she retorted right away.

    "So, Tarou, you want us to do this with only me, you, and a horse?"

    While Tarou nodded happily, Mina could feel a migraine coming on. Tarou''s suggestion was straightforward. They only needed to go back to the village and check if it''s possible to bring someone back from the past. Unfortunately, accomplishing this task with just her and Tarou would be difficult even with Nightmare''s help.

    Just then, she heard incoming footsteps and saw the general and Barca coming their way. Tarou was still looking at her expectantly while she stared at the more imposing figure between the two.

    ''This, this human. If he could only understand her, he would be useful at this very moment,'' she thought. Looking at the general, she was reminded of how he ignored her early this morning. He didn''t even offer her anything to eat. Unlike Tarou who was waving at Barca, she couldn''t help but hiss at the general when he passed by.

    "Hey, human! How dare you leave me hungry! Useless, useless human."

    As her angry meows continued, the man looked at Barca who nodded in understanding. Mina couldn''t decipher the meaning behind their silent communication but before she could obsess what it was about, the general''s strong voice issued a command directed towards her.

    "Try to stay out of sight. People here are not very fond of your kind."

    The man continued walking away after the reminder but Mina couldn''t help but stare at the direction where he left. Every time she finds a reason to hate the man, he finds a way to prove that he has a heart.

 41 Fluttering Hear

    "Rat! Where are you?" Tarou squeaked while dying with curiosity. He saw slight movements and immediately ran towards the direction of the animal Boss subdued with a claw. Unfortunately, he saw nothing when he arrived at the scene.

    ''That rat will come back and bite me into pieces.'' Tarou shuddered at the thought.

    With slumped shoulders, he headed back to where Boss was at. The cat was still giving the general a hateful stare and he saw the man signal Barca with a look before heading off on his own. Tarou couldn''t help but be amazed at how the general could understand and give orders without saying a word. The man was like a mind reader!

    Unfortunately, all these qualities did not improve Tarou''s impression of the man. To him, the only admirable human was Barca.

    Thinking about how the human realized right away that rats were eating away horse hooves, not him, Tarou''s glum mood was replaced with excitement and admiration.

    "Human, you got rid of the rats!" Tarou squeaked when he was closer to the cat and his human. Barca turned to look at the mouse after hearing the squeak. Tarou detected movement from the man and shortly after, one finger descended giving him a pat on the head.

    "Good job with the rats. The stablehands never figured out why the horses kept on complaining at night. Those vicious creatures have been gnawing off their hooves," the gentle voice explained.

    Tarou couldn''t help but dance around with glee. This human surely knows how to make a mouse''s heart flutter. Tarou tapped the finger in return as if to tell him that he''s glad to be of help. Tarou couldn''t help but look steal a glance at Boss after the short exchange. As expected, the cat gave him a disgusted look.

    ''It''s not my fault you chose the unappreciative human, Boss,'' he thought. As if to add insult to the injury, Barca said his favorite word.

    "I''ll be back with food."

    "Happiness! This is paradise!" Tarou squeaked while looking towards the direction where Barca disappeared. Shortly after, the cat nudged him and spat a vindictive meow.

    "Daydreaming about your human? Your priorities shift so quickly!"

    Tarou looked at the black cat who was in a surly mood. Without hesitating, the mouse revealed his inner thoughts.

    "Barca is one of the best humans I''ve ever meet."

    "You only think so because a gluttonous mouse like you will be over the moon with just a few grains."

    "A person like him deserves a woman as gentle as Wifey." Tarou looked pleased with himself when he said those words. "As my human, I will try to help him find someone who is worthy of him," Tarou promised and he meant every word.

    "You sure have a lot of time," Mina commented. "Those humans are involved in something secretive. You should not trust him so easily."

    After a short pause, the cat gave him another firm warning.

    "He might sacrifice you. Before you know it, you will be a dead mouse."

    Tarou looked at Boss who had a serious look on its face.

    ''Isn''t that supposed to be my dialog?'' Tarou thought. Since he decided to be under the cat''s wing, he knew that this particular animal was more intelligent than others. He always doubted humans, he was a mouse after all! But Boss told him it will be useful for them to associate with the two-legged creatures. Now, Boss appears to have a change of heart.

    Tarou glanced at the black cat and realized that Boss thought more like a human than an animal. He knew it was dangerous to get too close to humans even to Barca who has been nothing but kind. After all, he had firsthand experience on how it was like to be hunted by humans. Feeling the need to start a conversation, Tarou called out with a hesitant squeak.

    "Boss? The rat earlier, it disappeared."

    The cat didn''t look surprised when he voiced his thoughts. Instead, the animal looked at him as if he was an idiot.

    "The rat wasn''t dead. Of course, it will escape, it''s not stupid."

    Tarou was not convinced but he did not dare to question the cat''s logic. He was afraid that Boss is still in the mood to smash unsightly things or rodents. Seeing an approaching figure, Tarou shelved all his suspicions aside. Barca bent down to give him more food and there was also a bowl of meat for Boss.

    "Human, you are the best human in this world!" Tarou couldn''t help but squeak. "If you could just help us rally Nightmare to our cause, you will be better than the best!" he added, sucking up to the human who was now preparing water for him and the cat.

    Tarou sensed that the human crouched down lower, closer to him as he placed the bowl of water in front of him. He found the gesture funny because it seems like Barca was paying attention to his squeaks.

    Receiving water in a bowl was so unusual Tarou couldn''t help but remember drinking water right from the source be it a small spring or pond or the shallow part of the river. Shortly after, Tarou felt a warm but gentle touch on top of his head.

    "It will get better when you get used to this place. Although there are more plants in the forest, this place isn''t too bad either."

    Tarou couldn''t help but marvel at the man''s words before squeaking, "But I would love to visit the forest to find something important."

    Tarou heard the man take a deep breath and felt another gentle pat on his head before Barca walked away.

 42 Too Good To Be True

    Mina took her time polishing off the food Barca gave her. The taste was so good, it was unlike anything she had ever tasted. It was surprising how she could enjoy the meal when she still felt spiteful by how gentle Barca was with Tarou.

    The man was actually acting like a doting owner!

    It was so unfair!

    Why did she choose her human based on fighting ability when she only needed someone who can feed her?

    At least Tarou knew where his priorities lie. Mina begrudgingly swallowed a piece of meat while looking at Tarou. The grey mouse was beaming while digging into his food with wild abandon.

    Noticing that Tarou was about to look at her, Mina nibbled on the last piece of meat, trying her best to look as composed as possible. From her peripheral view, she could see the mouse hesitate but she paid him no heed.

    ''Let him seethe. He deserves it!'' she thought, still bitter over the treatment Tarou received from his human.

    "Boss," Tarou squeaked while pointing to a shady area close to the gates, "Nightmare and the horses went that way."

    Mina looked at the grey mouse who acted coy. This creature must have his wits back after stuffing his gluttonous self. If it were a normal day, she would have ignored Tarou but it wasn''t. She is as curious as he is if it''s possible to jump through time.

    After swallowing the last bite, she groomed her paws and motioned the mouse to follow her. As instructed by the general, she took extra care to stay out of sight. The general must have issued the warning for a reason and she didn''t want to cause trouble.

    When they arrived at the area Tarou pointed at, Mina quickly spotted Nightmare. To her surprise, the animal was prepped for a journey.

    "Nightmare!" Mina meowed while passing through a row of horses to reach the black stallion who stood by himself under the shade.

    The animal acknowledged her with a low-pitched guttural sound. Mina rushed quickly towards him, afraid that the horse will leave soon.

    "Nightmare, where are you going?" Mina asked with a concerned meow. Before Nightmare could answer, Mina heard a series of squeals and grunts from the horses and she had to look back to see what was going on.

    Dust rose as the horses stomped on the ground. In between, she could hear a frightful squeak shouting "Boss!"

    "Tarou," Mina said with a sigh when she spotted the mouse who finally made his way to her side.

    "Boss, I really hate..." Tarou started squeaking with spite but stopped abruptly. The mouse seems to have detected a familiar presence and curbed his tongue.

    "Hate what?" Mina asked as if to goad the tiny creature. She could feel her horns growing out of her furry head but she couldn''t help it.

    Tarou looked up to Nightmare and then back to Boss, "running around. I hate running around." Mina studied Nightmare but it seems like the stallion was not offended as Tarou tried to cover up his blunder.

    As if sensing that the cat and mouse pair were staring intently at him, Nightmare sat down and crouched lower. Mina studied the horse first before asking him again where he was going. Nightmare stared back at them before grunting one word, "Around."

    Mina was caught off guard.

    ''How do you propose a trip to a horse?'' Mina gazed back at Nightmare and then to Tarou who seems to be expecting to see how she worked her magic.

    "I...we need your help," Mina stuttered in a barely audible meow. Nightmare looked at her as if prompting her to go into more detail. "We need to find something in the forest."

    "That''s a long way from here," Nightmare replied with a series of grunts. Mina wracked her brains trying to figure out how to make the stallion agree to make the trip.

    "It''s important," she added sincerely after realizing that she had nothing to offer the animal. If she were human, she would have just stolen the horse. But right now, she was a cat and she needed Nightmare''s to help her.

    The horse chewed on something while mulling over her proposal. After taking almost forever to finish chomping his food, Nightmare replied.

    "You can hop on. It''s on the way."

    Mina stared at the horse. Nightmare made it sound as if they just need a ride back to the stables. Before Mina could reply, Tarou, who seems to have recovered from all the running, squealed.

    "Boss! You''re the best! I knew you''d make it work!"

    ''But I did not even do anything,'' Mina thought while feeling dumbfounded. She never thought asking Nightmare a favor would be that easy.

    ***

    After Mina and Tarou found a comfortable position inside the saddlebags, Nightmare stood up and walked towards the open gates. Mina anticipated difficulties in asking Nightmare to bring them to the forest and in getting out of the manor. To her surprise, they did not encounter any hiccups. Not with Nightmare, not with the gates, not even with how to stay seated while on horseback.

    When Nightmare stepped out of the gates, she could hear the one of the guards question if they should stop the horse and bring him back inside. If the guard rushed to stop them she would have felt better. But an older guard shot him down quickly before explaining the circumstances.

    "Nightmare maybe the general''s horse but he is a free horse. He gets to roam around on his own."

    Despite the guard''s words, Mina couldn''t shake off the unease she felt in her bones. It was as if someone prepared everything for them.

    As the horse disappeared, a strange figure peered out of the windows.

    "Those animals will have an exciting adventure,"the old man said while looking outside.

    The younger man beside him followed his line of sight before asking in a worried voice, "Will they be safe?"

    "We will know when Nightmare returns," came the old man''s reply.

 43 Wesre Here!

    After leaving the manor, Mina stayed still inside the bag with Tarou. She knew how dangerous it could be for her to be seen by anyone, so she had no choice but to bear with her choice of conveyance. Tarou seems to be adapting well to all the jostling since she did not hear him complaining while sitting inside another pocket.

    Nightmare seems to be traveling at top speed but the ride was smoother than the first time. Mina had no idea how long they have been traveling but she could sense that the change in the temperature. Feeling unusually hot, she decided to poke her head out of the bag and realized that they have covered quite a distance.

    The sun''s position indicated it was past noon and they were far outside the capital. Nightmare did not speak a word throughout the entire ride and Mina had no idea how to strike a conversation either.

    Soon, it was nightfall and they had to rest somewhere. Nightmare found a spot close to a small stream. Mina took the opportunity to stretch after a long journey as the horse grazed close to the water source.

    Out in the forest, Mina realized something and gazed longingly at the path where they came from.

    "I miss my human servants!"

    There were no humans close by to hand her some food. Mina couldn''t help but wonder if the day had come to prey on smaller animals. Concentrating on her surroundings, she could sense small rodents, probably squirrels, close by.

    Thinking about sinking her claws on a small creature and eating the carcass almost made her gag. It was too primitive and coarse. Detecting the attractive scent of different plants as the wind blew, she made up her mind reluctantly--tonight she would have to settle for a vegan meal.

    After thinking about what to eat for dinner, Mina realized that Tarou is nowhere to be seen. Seeing no movement from the other pocket, Mina called out Tarou''s name through a meow. A few seconds later, there was some shifting inside and a small head with bunched cheeks poked out. The mouse looked around until it saw her suspicious stare.

    Tarou gave her a guilty look before disappearing back inside the pocket. Mina heard intense chomping and grinding. When the sound stopped, Tarou reappeared. After struggling to get out of the pocket, the mouse crawled on all fours while making its way to her. Mina took note of how Tarou''s stomach hit the ground with each step.

    Looking up to her with a docile look, Mina knew that the mouse has been on a binge again. Shaking her head, she couldn''t help but reprimand Tarou with a hiss.

    "You are eating again?"

    Tarou couldn''t hide his guilt and nodded slowly but his face lit up a moment later.

    "Boss, there were provisions inside that bag. I couldn''t help myself." Tarou''s squeak sounded polite on the surface but she knew he wanted to tell her it''s not his fault that food was readily available.

    Mina gave Tarou a look that conveyed her ill will towards him and his bulging stomach.

    "This world is unfair," the cat meowed to herself while looking for something edible.

    *****

    After resting for a few hours, the three unlikely travel companions were back on the road. In the cover of darkness, Mina did not feel the need to hide inside. With her head popping out of the bag, she could feel the cold air as Nightmare galloped towards their destination. Mina could hear Tarou''s snoring and the sound of Nightmare''s hooves as it hit the ground.

    "Nightmare," Mina meowed unable to suppress her curiosity, "do you always go this far on your own?"

    The horse grunted but the noise didn''t mean anything. After covering some distance, the horse slowed down to a walk and Mina finally heard his clipped reply, "It depends."

    Mina felt the same feeling of unease as she digested Nightmare''s answer. Someone seems to have laid everything out for her.

    ''Could it be the old man? The general? Barca?''

    As she bounced the thoughts on her head, she slid back into the pouch and decided to call it a night.

    ***

    When Mina opened her eyes, it was the early hours of dawn and Nightmare was making his way into the forest. She saw the familiar clearing as the horse passed through the area. With Tarou''s guidance, they eventually found the place where the time lapse happened.

    Nothing looked unusual in the place Tarou indicated. In fact, it looked so similar to many areas in the forest that anyone could easily confuse it with another location. Before Mina could doubt Tarou''s memory, the mouse squeaked to ask Nightmare to crouch down so he could descend.

    "We''re here! It''s here!"

    As if injected with chicken blood, Tarou quickly slid down the horse happily. When he reached the ground, he hightailed into the bushes close to an old hardy tree.

    "Tarou?"

    "Tarou?"

    Mina called out when she detected no further movement under the thicket. Shortly after, Tarou''s cheeky figure appeared out of a hollow log lying on the forest floor. The mouse carried a bunch of plants using his mouth.

    "Boss all my favorite plants are inside this log. We really have to take some back home!" Tarou squeaked with excitement. After depositing the plants he gathered on the cat''s feet, the mouse disappeared back into the log.

    "Tarou, aren''t you supposed to try to see if you can go back in time?" Mina released an irritated meow while looking at the rat. Looking at the log, Mina knew she was too big to fit inside. She could not drag Tarou back out and demand that he concentrate on the task.

    "Boss! I remembered something!" Tarou squeaked as if he made a major breakthrough. Mina asked him to spill the beans right away thinking it was a crucial piece of information. The grey mouse popped back out while munching on a plant that he gazed at with adoration.

    "This hiding place made a strong impression on me because it had the most delicious plants I have ever tried!"

    Mina could only shake her head while studying Tarou who couldn''t conceal his joy over rediscovering this place.

 44 Crawl Over the Enemy

    After his bold declaration, Tarou disappeared inside the log again. As Mina studied the plants Tarou brought out, she was amazed. No one would think that plants would grow inside the log. Sunlight could peek through the small holes from one opening and through the tiny holes, but it seems impossible for plants to grow inside. Before Mina could launch into a scientific study on how those plants sustained life, she heard Nightmare''s impatient neigh.

    It has been a while since Tarou disappeared inside again and so far, she did not detect any movement. Mina was about to shake the log to see if Tarou was still there but she hesitated.

    What if she changes something and the portal becomes useless?

    She let out another meow and called out again. This time in a more impatient tone.

    "Taroooooouuuuu!!!!"

    The log shook and a familiar head appeared. The mouse was chomping on a bunch of items greedily as if someone would steal it away from him. After a loud swallowing sound, Mina could hear annoying squeaks.

    "I deserve to eat up first right? What if I get lost in that maze again? I need nourishment!"

    After his bold declaration, Tarou disappeared back inside. Left without a choice Mina looked at Nightmare helplessly. Unfortunately, the horse who instigated her to call out Tarou refused to look at her and walked stealthily away, pretending to chomp on a random plant.

    "Fine! You win! Eat up! I don''t care if you die of gluttony!" Mina muttered as she lied down to look at the sky under the shade.

    *****

    Tarou was happily gathering items inside the log to prepare another bunch of items. He cleared off a section of the log and felt satisfied with his work. While he took a break to munch on some of the most delicious plants, he sensed some movement.

    ''I should do this quicker! Boss is an impatient cat, who knows what that vicious creature would do if I delay further.''

    Tarou quickly munched on his food but he paused when he sensed movement inside the log. This time it seems like the object in motion was closer to him than earlier. His grip loosened over the plant he was chomping on when he saw a familiar pair of hateful eyes.

    "Rat?"

    Tarou blinked, not knowing how to react.

    ''Impossible! The rat should be miles and miles away.''

    Tarou sniffed and as he suspected, the animal had the same scent and feel like the one who attacked him earlier. As the rat''s ears stood up, Tarou could feel impending doom. This rat would devour him. He had to think quickly. With a dead end on one side and a vicious rat on the other, there was nowhere to run.

    There was no chance of rescue either.

    Thinking hard, he finally came up with something.

    There was only one choice.

    Crawl over the enemy.

    As the mice rushed forward Tarou looked for the perfect time to slip beside the rat.

    Running towards the exit, Tarou pushed himself to run away from the enemy. Boss and Nightmare were waiting for him, he would be safe as long as he made it out of the log.

    Unfortunately, before he could get out of the log he slipped and fell.

    Tarou didn''t even have time to think about how he fell or why. As he hung in mid-air there was excruciating pain as if his body was being torn and twisted apart. As he fell the pain was all he could think about.

    *****

    After a few more minutes, Mina finally lost her cool. The sun was almost out and Tarou has been inside the log for a long time.

    ''Could that mouse be sleeping when he is supposed to be looking for the portal?''

    Mina couldn''t help but look at the pile of food Tarou brought out earlier.

    ''This mouse is too greedy! I should teach him a lesson when he gets out of that log.''

    Mina tried to be patient for a few more minutes but her annoyance won. Despite her misgivings, she went over the log and shook it gently to get Tarou''s attention. When nothing happened, she gave the log a more violent shaking, this time calling out Tarou''s name.

    Mina detected some movement from inside. Shortly after, a huge head with a large gash appeared. She caught a whiff of blood from the creature. It took her a few seconds to realize that the head didn''t belong to her underling.

    ''Where is Tarou?'' Mina was starting to panic in her head although she continued to eye the creature who appeared. Gazing intently at the animal, she had a sense of familiarity.

    ''This rat seems to be the one who attacked Tarou earlier. How did it get here?''

    She was about to attack the rat when but the rodent hopped out of the log and disappeared under the bushes. Knowing any pursuit would be in vain, Mina didn''t pursue the creature. However, the black cat walked around the log, while juggling her thoughts.

    ''If the rat came from inside, Tarou may be in serious danger.''

    "Tarou!" Mina called out while peeking inside the log. She did not hear any reply or sense any movement.

    ''Something is wrong! Tarou could be injured!'' Mina couldn''t help but imagine the small grey mouse bleeding from rat bites. She shook her head and looked at the log. Mina never attempted to enter the hollow log because she wouldn''t fit in comfortably. But looking at the situation she didn''t have much choice.

    Eyeing the size of the opening she knew this was not going to be an easy feat.

    Entering the log would be like squeezing into a pair of skinny jeans when you have thick thighs. Possible but totally uncomfortable.

 45 Into the Void

    Darkness, it was all Tarou could sense when he opened his eyes. He didn''t feel any pain which was a good sign. It was another narrow escape from the vicious rat.

    He closed his eyes and opened them again.

    "Move to the back!" a loud voice echoed.

    "Hey, no pushing!"

    "I was here first!"

    Tarou was startled when he opened his eyes and heard the cacophony of voices. He landed on his back and he could feel a damp and slippery surface. Feeling the ground with his paws, he felt the moisture. Paying closer attention to his surroundings, Tarou could hear something dripping. There were indications of small movements inside. He could also detect running water from outside and the overpowering scent of wet soil arrested his sense of smell.

    Examining his surroundings, Tarou had no idea where he was. He could tell that the sun would never reach this place which appears to be underground. Insects crawled close to where he was and something knocked him off his paws. He tried to stand up to see what was happening. He could see nothing which was not unusual but he could hear several impatient voices fighting about who deserves to be first in line.

    "What is this place?" he wondered. The squeak was so loud, it echoed across the space and came back as a booming noise that surprised even him. Placing a paw on his mouth, Tarou couldn''t help but slap himself with his free paw.

    The voices stopped momentarily but one shrill voice which from a creature who sounded to be scarier that Boss filled the space.

    " Argh!Another newcomer! What are those humans doing!!!"

    The chorus of voices resumed but Tarou had no idea what everyone was talking about.

    "I was here first! I deserve a spot!"

    Exasperated and clearly annoyed, the same vicious voice snapped at everyone.

    "Silence or I''ll eat up all your souls!" The threat stopped the noise inside. Everything was so still and only dripping water can be heard from inside. Tarou was still confused about what was happening.

    ''What is this place?''

    ''Why am I here?''

    "We have no vacancy here newcomer! Go back where you came from."

    Tarou knew he was the newcomer this voice referred to but he still had no idea what to do. It didn''t take a minute before the silence was replaced with complaints and mumbling. He could hear tiny voices whispering close to him.

    "Serket is feisty today."

    "She''s in one of her cranky moods."

    "I would be if I was here. She has been taking over soul management on her own."

    "Stop mumbling. I''m scared of getting stung to oblivion."

    Hesitant but afraid to stay in the place any longer, Tarou used his gentlest and smallest voice to ask.

    "How do I even go back where I came from?"

    "Back, you say?" the figureless voice asked. Tarou nodded, not knowing where to look. Almost instantly, he felt a force push on the chest and he was falling again head first. This time, however, there was no pain.

    *****

    Squeezing inside the small opening was no small feat. Mina swore never to look at canned meatloaf with disdain as she tried to fit inside the log.

    "No animal, dead or alive, deserves this torture!"

    It was undoubtedly a snug fit but Mina managed to reach further into the log with great effort. A tiny figure partially covered by a bunch of half-eaten plants caught her sight.

    "Tarou?"

    The figured remained unmoving. Afraid that the small mouse was badly hurt, Mina reached out a paw to check on him. Extending her paw as far as she could, she was about to flip Tarou over to see if he sustained injuries. But as her mouse was about to reach Tarou, she felt a void. It was as if the figure of the mouse she saw was a hologram. Mina struggled to inch closer and closer. Peering through the void, she became curious. Before she could figure out what was happening, she fell into an abyss and she had no idea if she could manage to land on her feet.

    When Mina gained her consciousness, she felt so stiff as if she has been staying in the same position the entire night without moving. She could feel herself going in and out of consciousness but she never managed to open her eyes. Her eyelids felt so heavy.

    Mina did not feel any pain but she didn''t know if it was a good sign or not. She opened her eyes slowly, not knowing what to expect. It took her several seconds to process what she saw next -cool but piercing blue eyes reminding her of the sky on a clear day.

    Mina stared back, unabashed, feeling as if the image before her would disappear.

    "General Jadon," a voice called out with sarcasm. Mina sensed the struggle in the man''s eyes but he eventually turned around. The words didn''t even register in Mina''s mind but she felt a sense of loss when the man turned around.

    "Greetings, Your Highness," the man before her replied after he faced the person who entered the room.

    Mina heard one step followed by another. With each sound, she could feel her head hurt so much that her vision became blurry. As Mina closed her eyes, she could hear the sarcastic man''s voice once again.

    "Doesn''t she look perfect? She looks as if she''s just sleeping."

 46 Trapped

    Mina felt intense fatigue. Although her lids were too heavy, she was conscious. She could feel her teeth chattering. It was as if she was inside a freezer. The coldness she felt seeped into her flesh. She wanted to call out for help but she couldn''t move. She heard voices around her but she could barely make out the words as she struggled to find warmth.

    Using all her willpower, Mina tried to move her hands to call out for help. She felt cold, sharp air moving around her body, making it hard even to breathe. With each second, the feeling became more intense. The air surrounding her became thicker. She could feel herself suffocating as she stood motionless.

    ''Will I die?''

    After struggling against the unknown, Mina felt her mind lose the will to stay strong. Mina was about to let the coldness take over her when she felt the air grow thinner. There was no warmth but some of the coldness dissipated. Her mind became clearer again and she could hear receding footsteps.

    With each step, she felt more comfortable.

    With renewed vigor, Mina used all her willpower to call out for help. Finally, she felt her eyes open halfway and saw two figures leaving. As the first person made it out of the doorway, the one trailing behind him looked back at her. She saw the same blue eyes she did when she first woke up. Looking at him intently, as if to get the message across, she used all her remaining strength to call out to him.

    "Help!"

    Mina yelled the words with all her might but her cold lips barely moved. She did not make any sound. Not even a whisper. And with the last ounce of her strength, she was dragged back to nothingness again. This time, however, she lost all consciousness and felt her world go black.

    *****

    ''I''m falling! Falling!''

    Tarou tried to brace the fall with his paws but when the free fall stopped, he did not feel anything. His paws were still covering his eyes, afraid that something will go wrong.

    Tarou stomped a paw and felt something solid. Sniffing while uncovering his eyes, the familiar scent of his favorite plant assaulted his senses. The dirt under his paws felt familiar and so did the scents.

    "I''m back!" Tarou squeaked, jumping around. He felt the change in temperature and from the darkness surrounding him, it seems that hours have passed.

    "That was creepy! What was that place!" the mouse mumbled through squeaks. Tarou was about to run towards the exit when he remembered something, and he paused mid-air. He looked around, more cautiously this time. He was about to sigh in relief when he noticed a large figure blocking the way.

    Tarou inched closer and sniffed.

    ''Boss?''

    ''What is Boss doing here?''

    Tarou could only shake his head while looking at the cat in front of him. From the animal''s position on the ground, it was clear to see that the cat expended immense effort to enter the space.

    ''What happened?''

    ''It''s not like Boss is a stupid...''

    Tarou''s thought process stopped suddenly and he used a paw to poke the cat in front of him. The animal did not move. He tried to use more force this time, but there was still no response. The grey mouse panicked, and he stomped around with both paws on his head.

    Tarou eyed the cat''s extended paw. When he placed both paws on the leg, he noticed the animal''s temperature. The cat felt cold to the touch.

    Running out of ideas, Tarou did the first thing that crossed his mind.

    "Please, please don''t kill me!" the mouse chanted as he bit the cat''s paw as hard as he could. He could feel the deafening sound of his heartbeat as he did the daring feat but there was still no response.

    Scared but still impatient, Tarou waited, expecting the cat to stir or make any movement but nothing happened.

    "BOOOOSSSS!!!!!" Tarou called out while holding the cat''s ear up. Losing all sense of fear, Tarou crawled under the cat and pounded just behind the cat''s front leg.

    "NOOOOO!!!!!!!!!!!!!!"

    Tarou could feel something clouding his vision as he continued to pound the cat. He didn''t remember how long he assaulted the cat''s body but he did not get any response. With a clearer mind, Tarou thought about his next move.

    ''Nightmare!''

    Tarou could only shake his head. Looking at Boss who covered the entire opening, Tarou knew it would be impossible to get out to ask for help.

    When he turned, a small opening on one side of the log caught his eye.

    ''If I gnaw everything off, it might work!''

    Tarou mouse was about to start doing real work when he felt a gentle push.

    As he felt the familiar falling sensation, Tarou could only wince.

    "Ugh! Not again!"

 47 Finally, Some Warmth

    When Mina gained consciousness, she felt numb. It took her a few minutes to feel anything. The atmosphere was still chilly. Unlike the biting cold that rendered her numb earlier, the chill was tolerable. Her teeth were no longer chattering although making any movement still took much effort.

    It took her eyes a few minutes to adjust to the darkness in the room. She was eventually able to make out the silhouette of some pieces that would most likely be furniture.

    ''There''s something wrong with my sight.''

    Mina had to strain her eyes to see the things around her but everything still looked dark. Since she became a cat, the world looked better at night time. This time, however, she could barely see a thing in the dark.

    Trying to feel her paws, Mina noticed that her claws wouldn''t appear. After a second try, she was able to make a fist.

    ''That feels like a hand.''

    Trying the same thing with the other hand, Mina was surprised when she replicated the motion.

    ''Hands? I have hands?''

    Mina wanted to see if she was back in her human form but she could barely move her neck. Seeing no other choice, she willed her hands to move upwards to where she could see it.

    Lifting one arm used up much of her energy but Mina persisted. Extending her arms, she felt something solid. Thankful for the support, she glided her hand over the smooth surface.

    ''Glass? Could this be glass?''

    Finally, the hand came into view.

    ''Hands! It''s really a hand!''

    Mina continued to glide the hand upwards to confirm something else.

    A wall.

    There was an invisible wall between her and the world outside. Mina tried to feel through the space with the other hand. As expected, she could feel the same barrier from the other side. She looked outside, trying to make sense of where she was.

    Mina felt her body shake. This time, it was not from the chilling temperature but from the fear that crept through her bones.

    ''Where is this place?''

    ''This glass makes me feel like I am in some kind of experiment?''

    Mina''s hands remained plastered on the invisible wall as she considered several possibilities. While she was lost in thought, she could feel a difference in the temperature. The chill enveloping slowly dissipated and the temperature seems to be warmer.

    Mina blinked.

    Unlike earlier, the blink felt easier to do. She moved a finger and tapped the invisible wall. Although the movement barely made a sound, it gave her some hope. With greater willpower, she tried to tap the wall again.

    ''Maybe someone else is here too!''

    Mina paid more attention to the area in front of her. She detected some movement from her peripheral vision. Unsure, Mina continued to observe her surroundings and to her surprise, the human figure made its way towards her.

    Mina could barely blink when she noticed that a person was right in front of her. It was too dark to see the person''s appearance. There were no light sources nearby. But as the person looked into her eyes, she knew that his eyes were blue.

    ''These...these were the eyes I saw earlier.''

    Not knowing what to do, Mina stared at the person who continued to hold her stare.

    ''Did this person come back for me?''

    Mina tapped the glass, letting him know she was alive and needed help. As the person came closer she felt warmer, making it easier to make small movements. It was as if someone was embracing her and sharing body heat.

    The person in front of her continued to study her. Impatient, she tapped the glass again, this time louder. The tap made a distinctively loud sound.

    The person on the other side placed a hand on the area Mina tapped on.

    Although there was a wall between her and this person, Mina''s felt a warm sensation when the person outside placed his hand on the other side of the wall. It was as if someone held her hand. A warm current coursed through her veins, thawing the chill inside her body.

    Mina stared back in confusion and slowly retracted her hand. But when she stopped touching the wall, she felt the chill again. She placed her hand back to its original position almost immediately.

    Mina didn''t know how long the man stood outside the glass. She basked in the warmth he offered without hesitation.

    Just when Mina was about to address the stranger in front of her, she heard some movement from outside. Sensing the same thing, the stranger quickly stepped away and disappeared from view. However, before he could escape, Mina couldn''t help but notice the light stagger in his steps.

    When Mina lost her source of heat, her body started feeling tired. Mina didn''t struggle as her eyes closed of their own volition. Unlike earlier, she did not feel fear as her world turned black. But before she could slip to an unconscious state, she felt a slight discomfort as if someone was tapping on her chest.

 48 We Meet Again

    When Mina opened her eyes, she was in another dark space. There was a lingering chill in her body but it was tolerable. Unlike earlier, she couldn''t make out any figure as there was total darkness. However, her body felt lighter. She could move freely although she couldn''t see a thing. Unable to do anything, she tried to feel her way through the darkness.

    Mina sat down cautiously. When she saw nothing blocking her path she raised one hand above her. As she was lowering her hands, she felt something solid right then in front of her.

    ''A wall. But this... it feels like I was transported in another location.''

    Mina trailed her hands on the wall, slowly rising up to feel how long it extended. While stuck in a squatting position, she felt nothing but air. Her hands continued to feel through the area until she touched a cold and flat surface

    ''This feels familiar.''

    While swiping through the entire area, Mina pushed something down and almost instantly, the entire area lit up.

    ''I''ve been here before!'' Mina couldn''t help but exclaim. ''This is the Egg Pod.''

    The last time Mina dreamed about this place, there was a magical view. To confirm her suspicions, she leaned forward with excitement. But before she could enjoy it, she banged her head on the glass. Clutching her head, she crouched down on the floor and slipped out of consciousness.

    When Mina opened her eyes, she saw a pair of eyes. The eyes were the color of midnight and they belonged to a fury, red-orange creature whose hands were on either side of her body.

    Mina shot the animal a questioning look while recalling a vague memory.

    ''This creature seems familiar.''

    Before Mina could figure out why the animal felt like someone she knew, the orangutan broke the silence.

    "We meet again! I bet you got smacked on the head for a second time!" the monkey chattered with confidence before reassuring her, "Don''t worry, that is a regular thing inside these Egg Pods."

    The monkey scanned her body calmly to check if she was alright but there was a change in the animal''s expression when the creature saw her foot. Alarmed, the animal bolted away on its hind legs while using its furry hands for support. As the animal walked towards the direction of a cleaning cart, a flash of recognition appeared in Mina''s eyes.

    ''It''s the cleaning monkey!''

    While Mina assumed a sitting position, she saw the orangutan flip the cleaning cart. As if by magic, the mop, pail, and rags were replaced with an emergency medical kit complete with an oxygen tank. Mina shut her eyes momentarily, wondering if she was in a dream but when she heard a rummaging sound, she had to open her eyes again. What she saw was the same monkey searching for something inside one of the pockets of the kit. After taking out a green pouch, the orangutan walked back towards her.

    Now closer, the orangutan handed her the bag, which looked similar to a blood bag but with green liquid inside. As if remembering something, the monkey offered a wide straw, the same one used to serve bubble tea, with another hand. The monkey looked at Mina and nodded as if to tell her to take it. Mina simply stared back while thinking that it was a ridiculous situation.

    ''If a monkey handed you a drink, would you take it?''

    Before Mina could do anything, the monkey punched a hole on the bag with the straw and handed it over to her.

    "You need this."

    ''Did this monkey just treat me like an invalid?''

    Before she could think of a wise comeback, the animal gave her another instruction.

    "This works better than an emergency heat patch."

    Mina couldn''t help but look at the monkey in front of her who was still extending the suspicious drink. She felt more confused than ever.

    "You''re lucky! If you didn''t do first aid thawing, you could be trapped in that place."

    ''Heat patch...first aid thawing...trapped...''

    Taking one of her hands, the monkey wrapped it around the drink. The pouch surprisingly felt warm and Mina took it quickly and wrapped another hand around it. While indulging in the heat from the bag, she could hear a light chuckle.

    "You''d feel better if you take a sip."

    The monkey stayed beside her and did an Asian squat like it was its natural sitting position.

    "Soul transport is faster but it depletes your energy. It can induce fraying. Take it easy next time, especially in this junction."

    While Mina listened, she sipped the liquid subconsciously because she didn''t know how to respond to the monkey''s statement. She needed some time to wrap her head around all the information she learned.

    With her first sip, Mina felt as if a liquid fire entered her throat and she coughed. Some of the liquid spurted out of her nose.

    "Oh!" the monkey slapped its forehead with a hand. "You should swirl the straw around first or else... that happens"

    The monkey eyed her and mumbled something. It sounded as if he was mocking her for being clueless. Based on the way the monkey''s nose went up and down while giving her a sideways glance, it seems like she was right.

    Mina took the time to examine the orangutan as she calmed herself down. Her sight was eventually drawn to a badge hanging on the animal''s neck like a medal. There were four letters on the badge KINO and the monkey''s image appeared below. It looked similar to an ID.

    "KINO?" Mina asked tentatively as if to confirm something. The monkey looked at her and then at the badge.

    "Yep, that''s me, Keeper of Internal Nodes. I do the cleanup and maintenance around here but I''m allowed to do emergency first aid."

    "What does the O stand for?" Mina asked while stirring the liquid with the straw. She could sense the gooey consistency of the mysterious liquid.

    "That stands for my class."

    Mina looked at the creature in front of her and tried to guess.

    "Outstanding?"

    Well, you can say that but technically it represents my kind.

    "Orangutan?"

    The monkey nodded and Mina concentrated on her drink and sipped slowly. This time, she felt a warm sensation flow into her body, warding off the chills. It was similar to the feeling she had when the blue-eyed stranger pressed his hand on the glass.

    Mina couldn''t help but wonder about that person''s identity. She could only recall his blue eyes, everything else was blurry in her memory. While thinking about eyes, Mina remembered the black eyes that greeted her earlier and her gaze landed on the orangutan who was about to head back to his cleaning cart. Unsure of how to address the animal, Mina blurted the first thing she thought of.

    "Kino!"

    The monkey turned around after hearing Mina call out.

    ''I guess, I can call this orangutan Kino. It seems offensive to shout Monkey!''

    It took Mina a few seconds to form coherent thoughts. She had been to this place three times, it couldn''t be just a dream. Raising the bag, she couldn''t help but ask, "How did you know I needed this?"

 49 Strange and Stranger

    KINO, the orangutan, studied Mina before answering.

    "There were signs of fraying on your soul."

    "How can you tell?"Mina asked instinctively. The monkey gave her a meaningful look after the words slipped from her lips.

    Mina could read the monkey''s thoughts clearly. The way the monkey''s nose moved up and down as his eyes focused on Mina''s head betrayed Kino''s thoughts. They were all shouting ''Seriously?!?''

    "Well," Kino walked towards her and pointed at the edge of her toes. "The signs are there."

    Mina looked at the same area Kino pointed but she couldn''t see a thing. She looked at the monkey who stared back at her with an equally shocked gaze.

    The monkey slapped his forehead with a furry hand while looking at her. "The impact earlier may have caused more damage than I expected."

    ''Does this monkey think I lost my memory?''

    ''I remember everything but I can''t understand a thing!''

    ''Should I tell him I have no idea what''s happening?''

    Mina wanted to ask a million questions but she couldn''t figure out how.

    The monkey shook his head while eyeing her. "Do you even remember anything?"

    The question surprised Mina but it gave her a way out of explaining her lack of knowledge.

    ''Should I say yes and pretend I have amnesia?''

    The monkey prodded her for an answer with a sharp look.

    ''Will this monkey think I am pretending to have amnesia because I''m stupid?''

    Mina could only stare at him helplessly as if she was an abandoned cat in the middle of nowhere. It''s not like she can bitch her way out of this situation.

    ''Would he assume I have amnesia that''s why I''m acting stupid?''

    Mina could feel a coming headache as she tried to think about all the possibilities in her head. Subconsciously, she closed her eyes and placed both hands on either side of her head. Kino, who seems to have sensed her frustration, sighed.

    "This situation is highly irregular but isolated cases happen," the orangutan commented with resignation. "I''ve been telling them for ages, these Egg Pods pose immortal damage!"

    "You wouldn''t be able to go anywhere in your condition. I still have to finish checking this junction, I''ll get back here to, er, give you a refresher."

    Mina could only nod in agreement. As she saw the monkey leave, she felt relieved. She needed some time to sort things out in her head. Her gaze was fixed on Kino who was pushing the cart outside the pod while walking on an invisible path. It was as if the monkey was walking on air.

    While looking at the orangutan''s disappearing figure, Mina focused on sipping green liquid. The chill was completely gone and she felt more agile and energetic than she could remember. However, she couldn''t help but wonder what the concoction was and why it was so effective.

    ''This actually tastes like a herbal tonic.''

    ''Maybe I can make this myself by gathering herbs in the forest.''

    ''The forest...''

    ''Tarou!!!''

    The sudden realization brought Mina back to reality. She almost forgot why she was accidentally transported out of the forest. She wanted to save Tarou but before she could reach the mouse, she was transported to a cold prison. She shuddered at the memory of being trapped in that place. she didn''t want to go back there ever again. She would rather be looked down by an orangutan.

    ''Tarou...''

    ''What could have happened to that underling?''

    *****

    For the second time, Tarou could see nothing but darkness. There was something unusual about his surroundings. Using his paws, he tried to feel around the area until he felt a coarse texture on his back. He turned around and confirmed the presence of what appears to be a wall in front of him. The rough surface reminded him of tree trunks on the forest, although the surface was flatter and smoother. As he tried to figure out where he was, Tarou felt the surface move and his entire body was jerked forward.

    Afraid of falling headfirst into the ground, Tarou extended his paws to caution the fall. What he didn''t expect was the presence of another wall behind the first one. Instead of falling straight to the ground, he smacked his face on something soft but solid. This wall was narrower than the first one since both of his arms felt nothing but air. He just had the misfortune of smacking his face right where the wall was located.

    Coming down from shock, Tarou noticed several things at once. The wall was dripping and it smelled so good. He inched closer and felt something soft come in contact with his nose. Attracted and curious about the smell, he licked the wall.

    ''Herbs?''

    Tarou tried to sniff again and he couldn''t be mistaken.

    ''Human?''

    When Tarou looked up, his head smacked on something solid. His skull felt like it would break!

    "Waaaaaaahhhhhhhhhh!!!"

    A loud yell, which shocked even him came out of his mouth. He was about to run of fright when he felt something clasp the middle of his body, strapping him close to a wall. Alarmed, Tarou flapped his arms to escape, but he was rendered motionless when he heard a familiar voice close to his ear.

    "What are you doing here?"

    Tarou froze at the sound.

    He could not be mistaken.

    The sound was far from the gentle voice that Barca used when talking to him. It was tougher and harsher but Tarou knew it was him.

    It was his human''s voice!

 50 Humanese

    Without him knowing the arm that kept him confined moved to his wrist, dragging him forward. He almost tripped while looking at the unusual surroundings.

    Just then, Tarou noticed that his senses were not as sharp as usual. He could still catch a whiff of a mixture of herbs but it wasn''t as strong as how his sense of smell used to be.

    ''Did the fall temporarily affect my senses?''

    While thinking about the unusual circumstances, Tarou noticed a source of light in the corner close to what appeared like a large tub of water. Through the light from the candle, Tarou could make out the things in the room.

    For the first time, the world looked clearer and bigger to the little mouse. Tarou couldn''t help but gape at all the things he saw.

    ''Wow! This looks different!''

    Tarou was so amazed by his surroundings that he forgot what happened earlier. He studied everything his eyes laid on. Attracted, he walked faster towards the lighted area where he could observe things in greater detail. To his annoyance, something tugged on his paw, keeping him in place.

    ''What is wrong with this thing!''

    Tarou couldn''t help but look back to the object clasping his paw which was barely visible in the shadows. Before he could bite the thing off, he witnessed something more shocking.

    The warm thing anchoring him to the same spot was a hand.

    ''Wait!''

    Tarou crouched down to see the thing better and his eyeballs almost popped out of their sockets.

    ''I lost my paw!!!''

    Tarou studied the objects again and all he saw were hands.

    ''What happened? ''

    Tarou couldn''t help but flex what was supposed to be his fingers. Realizing the uniqueness of his situation, Tarou looked up to the person beside him and realized that the human appeared smaller and he was two heads taller than him. He could vaguely see the man''s appearance.

    "Human?"

    Tarou called out tentatively as if trying to test something. The words came out in the human language, not as squeaks which surprised him even more.

    Caught off guard, the person clasping what was supposed to be his paw walked closer to him and stepped out of the shadows. With his face illuminated partly by the fading daylight and the candlelight, Tarou could finally see how Barca looked like.

    What Tarou saw next knocked of the breath out of him. The man had the most expressive eyes. The candlelight reflecting on those eyes made him look fiercer. Tarou was bewitched, he could stare at the man''s eyes forever. As the man returned his gaze, Tarou sense that those eyes wanted to ask him a thousand questions.

    Tarou felt the hand around his hand tighten, jolting Tarou back to reality.

    ''I can speak! I can!''

    Realizing his luck, Tarou didn''t waste time. Who knows how long he could speak "humanese."

    He should take advantage of this situation and ask for help! He could just think about all the unusual things later.

    "Human! Human!!!" Tarou shouted with urgency. He looked at the man again who looked more confused as ever.

    ''I forgot, humans tend to be slow when it comes to shocking things.''

    Tarou gave the man a pitiful look before shaking his head.

    ''What if this man was someone else? Barca couldn''t be this stupid, could he?''

    Indecisive, Tarou started speaking in a human voice which felt so foreign to him.

    "Barca? Is it you?"

    Tarou felt the grasp on his wrist loosen and focused on him but his eyes looked as if he was lost. He could see that the man was still in shock and he couldn''t help but start to feel annoyed.

    ''How long will it take him to snap out of it?''

    ''How do humans get other humans to pay attention?''

    ''That''s it!''

    ''This thing works every time!''

    Tarou pushed Barca towards the wall on the side. Perhaps due to the unexpected shove, Barca was pushed back and Tarou saw him gape like a fish.

    ''Am I doing this right?''

    Tarou gripped his side and felt the soft cloth.

    ''Am I wearing what humans call clothes?''

    Tarou was about to study what clothes he wore but he felt a light tug trying to push him away inside his mind. Realizing that something could happen anytime, Tarou focused on the task ahead. Barca still looked at him as if he could do something magical like fly the way birds do.

    Barca needed to focus. Making up his mind, Tarou raised one hand and placed it on the man''s cheek, and waited for him to react. Unfortunately, Tarou did not get the reaction he wanted. Barca appeared even more dazed after what he did.

    Tarou pouted. It always worked in making humans pay attention. Maybe he needed more force. Usually, when a human''s hand lands on another human''s face, it was followed by a forceful sound. With renewed vigor, Tarou raised his hand again and this time, his hand landed on Barca''s face with a loud Pak!

    Barca finally focused. Elated with his success, Tarou was about to question him if he was indeed Barca when he started to feel dizzy. It was as if he would pass out anytime. Alarmed, Tarou launched into full panic mode.

    "Listen, Human. Boss, Boss is in danger!"

    Tarou noticed Barca appeared confused again and he couldn''t help but stomp on the man''s feet. He had no time to waste.

    "The forest close to the village where the Princess was kidnapped. You must come! You...

    ''...must save Boss!''

    Before Tarou could finish saying everything, he felt as if someone flicked him on the forehead and he lost consciousness.

 51 Urgent News

    Suddenly, the person in front of Barca went limp and he had no choice but to brace the fall. He didn''t even get the chance to get a close look at the person''s face. He didn''t know how to position his arms since the person in front of him had long arms and legs.

    The entire situation was awkward. As he was about to lay the person down on the ground the door creaked. Distracted, he was about to look at the direction of the door when the man on his arms stirred.

    Bang!

    Barca who was still awkwardly cradling the man''s head when an alarmed voice broke the silence.

    "It was open!"

    The young maid who blurted out the first thing she thought of stood on the doorway with her eyes focused on Barca and a tall, young man. The lamp on her hand almost fell down and the light illuminated her red, flushed face.

    Not knowing what to do, Barca couldn''t figure out how to release the young man''s head without injuring him. The young man was struggling to set himself to rights which added to Barca''s confusion. After a long time, both men finally got up. The maid who witnessed the entire scene remained in the same position. Even in the darkness, it was clear that she looked at the two men in a weird way.

    With the light from the maid''s candle, Barca finally saw the appearance of the person who disturbed his bath. It was a young, willowy man. Noticing Barca''s intent stare, the young man moved further to Barca and placed his hands in front of his body, as if to shield himself from assault. With furrowed brows, Barca stared back at the young man''s ridiculous reaction.

    Looking closely at the maid who entered, Barca recognized her to be Agnes who was in charge of the kitchens. Being more familiar with her than the young man, Barca directed his question to the maid.

    "Do you know this man?"

    The maid, who seems to have just snapped out of a daze, nodded but said nothing else. Barca couldn''t help but prod her for more information since the young man was unfamiliar to him.

    "He was hired not long ago," the maid answered timidly while trying to conceal her surprise. Hearing her answer, Barca focused on the young man and continued questioning him.

    "Why were you lurking outside?"

    The young man who heard Barca''s inquiry panicked and he couldn''t help but sound defensive when he saw the maid give him a weird look.

    "No, it''s not like that!"

    The young man looked at the maid and then at Barca before pointing his fingers towards the man.

    "When I woke up you were holding me in your arms."

    "You passed out after you pushed me against the wall and ..." Barca''s voice trailed off when he recalled what happened. This young man slapped him so hard earlier and was now acting like he was the one who was mauled and abused.

    The maid couldn''t help but look at the young man and then at Barca who was only wearing a robe.

    "Uhm... I did not mean to intrude," the maid said in a small, apologetic voice while looking from one man to another. She stepped back slowly and was about to leave when she heard Barca speak in an authoritative voice.

    "Close the door."

    The main reluctantly reached for the door. While doing her task, she could hear the young man''s horrified voice.

    "You... man... I''m a man!"

    "Yes, that!" Barca exclaimed, "Why are you calling me human?"

    "Me? I''ve never met you until a few minutes ago!" the young man reasoned.

    "You even told me to save someone," Barca reminded him. The young man gave him a sideways glance.

    "You must be mistaken. I did not." the young man said firmly. Barca studied him as if confirming if he was telling the truth.

    "Who are you?"

    "I am Eilan. I have been hired to take care of the horses." The young man explained while throwing Barca a serious look. Barca asked no further questions but he pondered all the information he learned.

    As the silence lengthened, the young man, Eilan, cautiously eyed the door from time to time. With one foot forward, the young man was prepared to bolt out of the room if Barca did anything unusual.

    While the two men measured each other with weird looks, slow footsteps could be heard from outside. The clip-clop sound pulled Eilan out of his defensive stance.

    "The... the horse, Nightmare, he arrived back in the manor earlier. I was about to inform you."

    "Is that why you were lingering outside the door?"

    Eilan nodded.

    As if by cue, something nudged the door and a majestic black horse came into view. Nightmare peeked inside and looked at Barca and then the young man in front of him and let out a loud, unapologetic neigh.

    Barca looked at Nightmare who seems to be walking in place and shifting his weight from one foot to another. Seeing no immediate reaction from anyone, Nightmare kicked the door and let out a loud, sharp sound.

 52 Interrogation

    The interrogation in the room halted and Nightmare stepped inside as if he had every right to be there.

    Eilan couldn''t help but look at the horse and then at Barca. Nightmare motioned with his head, moving it slightly upwards as if telling the man that they had to take care of something. Seeing the gestures, Barca straightened himself up and nodded at Nightmare, before speaking to Eilan.

    "Do you remember anything else after you went to look for me?"

    The young man''s gaze went up to Barca''s face. "I remember losing consciousness while trying to look for you. When I woke up, you were holding me!" he answered in a voice full of suspicion.

    Barca listened thoughtfully at his answer and studied the young man who looked ragged and extremely tired.

    "It may have been the heat. You''ve been taking care of horses the entire day. Take better care of yourself," Barca reminded Eilan, in his usual gentle tone.

    "You may leave." Eilan blinked, surprised at the sudden change in Barca''s tone. It was only when Barca spoke again that he snapped out of his daze.

    "Take Nightmare with you and give him food and water. He had a tough journey."

    Eilan nodded and went ahead to bring Nightmare out of the room. Barca studied them before getting dressed.

    While rushing out of the room, he stopped to stare at the looming figure heading out of the stables.

    "You''re back early!" Barca called out in greeting as a looming presence walked towards him. Jadon gave him a serious look. Barca nodded in understanding before revealing that he too had something to report.

    "I''m also on my way to grandpa. Something happened earlier."

    ***

    After resting for a long time, Mina finally recovered her strength. Seeing the panels in front of her and the swirling view which looked too similar to the Milky Way, she remembered where she was. She was still inside the egg pod and there was nothing else to do inside the space but to enjoy the view and maybe tinker with the panels. With everything she just went through, she was hesitant to explore the panels, who knows where she would end up in.

    Mina paced around the pod thinking about what happened to her and why. Even after wearing herself out, she still couldn''t find the answer. There was no way to tell the time in the pod and she didn''t know how long she has been staring in space while trying to organize her thoughts. Tired from all the thinking and pacing, Mina resumed the same position she had earlier.

    Just when she was about to pull her hair out in frustration, she saw Kino who was wheeling his cleaning cart towards her.

    ''Finally! Someone who can provide some answers!''

    Mina stood up wanting to embrace the orangutan who was pushing his cart begrudgingly.

    "You''re back!" Mina called up when Kino entered the pod.

    "Have you been sitting there the entire time?" Kino asked with much confusion when he saw that Mina remained in the same position as when he left.

    Mina nodded without hesitation which made Kino shake his head vigorously. Wasting no time, the monkey pulled out a stick and something rectangular resembling a small sandbox from his cart. Mina couldn''t help but wonder what the monkey was up to.

    Kino placed the miniature sandbox in front of Mina and crouched down across on the other side of the sandbox. Mina realized that the sandbox contained soil instead of sand. Seeing the unusual items, Mina became even more confused.

    "Kino, what are all these things for?"

    "I prefer illustrating things in my natural habitat," the orangutan answered while waving the stick in the air.

    Mina''s brow furrowed after hearing the monkey''s reply but she stopped asking questions and waited for Kino to start explaining things. Kino looked Mina in the eye and turned serious.

    "So, state your name."

    "Why?" Mina couldn''t help but feel threatened with the question, not that saying her name was all important.

    "Your name, please. You need to sign a non-disclosure agreement for all the information you are about to learn," Kino explained while looking at Mina impatiently.

    "What''s with the change in attitude?" Mina snapped. The monkey has been friendly earlier but right now, he was acting as if she was some dirt he wanted to get rid of.

    "This is the standard procedure," the monkey explained.

    "Boss."

    Kino glanced at Mina and shook his head.

    "Try again."

    Mina felt guilty when she heard Kino''s reply.

    ''How could the monkey know she lied?''

    "We don''t have all day." Kino''s impatient voice brought Mina back to reality. She couldn''t help but feel small in front of the monkey.

    "Mina"

    "Sounds more like it."

    Kino pulled out a tablet from the side of the sandbox which amazed Mina. After swiping through the screen a few times, Kino grabbed her hand and placed it on the device. There was a loud beep. After hearing the sound, Kino took a deep breath before glancing at Mina with a smile.

    "Sorry, buddy, that was necessary."

    Without explaining what the procedure was for, Kino gave Mina a toothy smile. "Now, tell me, what exactly do you remember?"

 53 Nothing and Everything

    ''What exactly do you remember?''

    Mina repeated Kino''s words in her mind.

    ''What do I remember?''

    ''Should I tell him the truth?''

    Mina eyed the orangutan who prompted her to say something with its eyes. Mina looked at her toes while trying to figure out how to start explaining or what to say. She wriggled her toes from the big toe to the little toe while trying to organize her thoughts.

    "Hmpf!"

    The loud sigh caught Mina''s attention and she looked up to Kino who was shaking his head while looking at her.

    Mina felt as if she was being skewered under Kino''s intense gaze. The silence suddenly felt too much and she couldn''t help but say something. Without thinking further, Mina said the first thing that came to mind.

    "I think It''s impossible to tell if the two little toes next to the big toe are moving without looking at it!"

    Kino slapped his head in frustration and used the stick to hit Mina on the head.

    "Hmpf!"

    Mina knew she couldn''t stall forever and she needed answers. Throwing caution to the wind, she found the courage to ask one question as she hugged her knees closer to her body.

    "Where am I? What is this place?"

    Kino''s face lit up while looking at her and the monkey gave the stick an adoring look.

    "Never fails."

    Mina couldn''t help but hear the monkey''s muttering. At that moment, she felt like one of those old, humongous, TV sets that had to be slapped to have a clearer display.

    Using the stick, Kino drew a large circle on the soil inside the sandbox. Mina''s whole face scrunched up while looking at Kino draw a small dots on one side of the large circle. Kino studied her for a while before pointing the stick to the small dot.

    "Here. We''re in this Deadend, er, Checkpoint Node."

    "The wha-at?" Mina couldn''t help but ask again.

    Everything was just too confusing -this place, Kino, and even how she seems to be ending up in the pod.

    "This is the place where dead things go when they leave their shell, er, body behind. Where we are now is the Checkpoint Node." The monkey emphasized his statement by pointing repeatedly on the small dot.

    "This is where we monitor any irregular activities in the entry points surrounding this area." Kino explained patiently while encircling the area surrounding the small dot.

    "So," Mina finally said after a long silence as she tried to grapple with all the new information Kino has been throwing at her.

    "I am in the Checkpoint Node. This Egg Pod is the checkpoint node." Kino beamed at her in the same way a mother smiles when their baby calls her "mom" for the first time.

    "What exactly are these entry points for? How many are there? Why is there a checkpoint?" Mina asked, this time more curious than confused.

    Kino traced the big circle he drew earlier. "This, this entire circle is the Meerkat Network. Souls travel to different areas in Existence through this network."

    Pointing the stick on the small dot, he continued to explain. "This, this small dot where we are is one of the checkpoints. Not all souls are allowed to enter the Network. Some are turned away, others have to be ...dealt with."

    Mina nodded, either confused nor enlightened.

    "Is this... the afterlife?"

    Kino scratched his head and shifted on his feet. "I am not fond of calling it "that" but yeah humans call it the afterlife."

    "If this is the afterlife, does it mean I''m dead?" Mina couldn''t help but wonder.

    "That''s exactly why I hate calling it afterlife! Are you dead?"

    "Am..."

    Mina was about to answer Kino when the orangutan took out a banana, peeled it and fed it to her. She had no idea where the banana came from and how Kino managed to do the feat in just a few seconds.

    "Stop having stupid thoughts. Leave the thinking to philosophers."

    Kino looked at her again and mumbled.

    "This is exactly why human souls are harder to deal with. They introspect too much."

    Mina couldn''t do anything but eat.

    "The soul enters Existence through thousands of entry points in the Meerkat Network. Sometimes, some souls detach from their shell it prematurely because of an external force and they have to be sent back. Others are not allowed to proceed and have to be handed over to the Chimaeras.

    Mina was in the middle of chewing when she heard Chimaera and she couldn''t help but mumble a question with her mouth full. But the only discernible word was myth, lion, and goat. Using the stick, Kino hit her head again.

    "You only remember useless human things. Chimaeras, they''re the ghost sharks inhabiting that Void."

    Kino pointed in the evident blackness in the middle of the view below them.

    ''The void looks like a black hole to me.''

    "Some souls like yours and mine remain in the Network for various reasons."

    Mina was about to ask him about the reasons but Kino was quicker.

    "Don''t ask about the reasons, there are thousands of them and you can''t expect me to remember everything!"

    "Why am I here then? Am I a soul too?"

    Kino had both hands on his head and was about to pull out his hair when Mina asked the question but he answered anyway.

    "I am not sure. I bet the higher-ups sent you here because this Checkpoint Node has been idle for years. Yes, you are a soul right now because you are stupid enough not to wear your shell when traveling to this pod."

    "I don''t even know how I managed to travel here."

    Mina complained not caring if Kino thought she was stupid or not.

 54 Exposed!

    "Of course, you don''t! Did you forget that you forgot almost everything?" Kino exclaimed before asking another question in alarm.

    "Do you remember what I told you a few minutes ago?"

    "Huh?" Mina shot Kino a blank look, confused on what he was referring to. When the monkey lifted the stick, Mina shielded her head with her hands before saying something.

    "I remember! I remember! You told me about the nodes, the Checkpoint Nodes!"

    Relieved Kino placed the stick behind his back. Mina saw something and she quickly forgot about Kino''s stick antics."

    "Who''s that?" she asked, genuinely curious. When Kino didn''t answer, Mina repeated the question.

    "Who''s that?"

    "Where?" Kino asked in a tone as if he was just humoring Mina.

    "That!" Mina pointed at the opening of the pod. Following the direction of her fingers, Kino turned around and all Mina could hear was the monkey''s troubled voice.

    "Uh oh."

    The pod opened and a young man entered. Mina couldn''t help but stare at him. He was a tall guy with small eyes and an angular jaw. She couldn''t tell the color of his eyes because his eyes were too small but he could sense that this guy did not look too happy when he entered the pod. With skin as white as snow and hair as black as ebony - he would be the perfect male version of Snow White. He was wearing a black suit which, paired with his other features, made him look like a formidable force.

    Mina stared at Kino to ask him who that person was but the monkey disappeared and the cleaning cart was slowly inching further from her pod. She couldn''t tell when Kino bolted away but the monkey moved at an amazing speed.

    The man blocked Kino''s path and pulled him out of the cleaning cart by his scruff. It was as if he was carrying a kitten.

    "Hey Buddy! Long time no see!"

    Mina looked at Kino who greeted the newcomer reluctantly. Her eyes eventually settled on the person who just entered the pod.

    ''Was this Kino''s supervisor or something? The guy looked furious. It was like he would feed Kino to sharks and feed those same sharks to a T-Rex. He was that furious.''

    "You!" The man''s booming voice echoed inside the pod.

    "You annoying orangutan. Everyone has been on red alert because of you! I have been detained for a long time because of your antics!"

    The man shook Kino but the monkey appeared oblivious and his expression didn''t change even with the accusations. Before Kino could reply, the man realized there was another creature in the pod.

    "Who''s that?" The newcomer''s tone shifted when he realized Mina was also in the pod. He eyed her with suspicion before shifting his gaze to Kino. The man continued to hold Kino by the skin on his back and based on Kino''s expression, the position was uncomfortable.

    "Let me go! You think I''m a cat or something?" Kino exclaimed while flailing both his arms and legs but the man ignored the monkey''s words and asked again.

    ''Who''s that?" He motioned towards Mina. Mina, on the other hand, wanted to disappear to somewhere else. Who knows who that man is.

    Despite his uncomfortable position, Kino still managed to slap his head. Without missing a beat he smacked the newcomer on the head.

    ?"

    "That!" The man clearly lost his patience for Kino''s antics and he didn''t make any attempt to conceal it. He pointed at Mina with his free hand before turning Kino to face her.

    "Ah... that!" Kino reacted in realization. "I almost forgot. They sent her here, didn''t they?" Kino turned to face the man and looked at him as if he was being ridiculous.

    "How come you don''t know!" The monkey continued to mumble and Mina could hear stupid and idiot.

    "No one sent anyone else here! That''s why I''ve been pleading to return because that stupid follower of mine might be screwing things up big time."

    "Isn''t she your follower? Why else will she have access to this pod?" an intrigued Kino asked.

    Mina felt as confused as ever. She wanted to speak up to defend herself but Kino''s sarcastic remarks kept getting in the way. The guy''s suspicious look was slowly turning into an angry one. His voice was full of malice when he replied to Kino''s question. His gaze shifted from her to the orangutan who looked exasperated.

    "So, I see. You devious orangutan! Did you send someone else to hijack my shell?"

    To everyone''s surprise, Kino laughed.

    "This node sure is interesting! We have one memory loss patient and one paranoid patient in the pod!"

    Unable to get free from the man''s firm grip on his neck. Kino used his hands and feet to hang on to the guy''s body and come closer. He gave the guy''s back a few pats before speaking with concealed chuckles in between.

    "Devin, Devin! I will leave this problem in your hands. I am but a bored orangutan looking for some fun!"

    Taken aback, the man''s eyes almost disappeared when he heard what Kino had to say. Finally free, the monkey climbed down his body with ease before walking away while pushing the cart.

    "By the way, there has been no inner or outer movement in this pod while I was watching over it for you in the past 10 human years." Annoyance passed through the monkey''s face and he quickly added, "I can''t find a way out of this pod! I didn''t get to do monkey business outside the network!"

    After a few more complaints Kino waved his hand and walked towards his cart. When the monkey was almost out of the pod where his cart was waiting, his steps paused and he looked back to give Mina an amused look.

    "My friend, I leave you to the capable hands of the person in charge of this node. He should be able to tell you more about everything" After winking at her Kino continued to wheel his cart away before yelling at Devin.

    "Thanks for taking over my place for a while, I didn''t have as much fun as I wanted to! And Devin, that," Kino pointed at Mina before adding, "is the first soul I''ve met since I came here."

    When Kino''s words sank, Mina stared at the human in front of her. Just like her, she could tell that he was in his soul form.

    ''Is this Devin? The cat everyone was talking about?''

    ''Should I ask him?''

    ''Mina, just do it! Or you might end up in some scary place in this ... whatever this place might be.''

    Not knowing how to get the man''s attention who was still staring at the disappearing monkey, Mina blurted out the first thing she thought of.

    "You!" Mustering enough courage, Mina went on to ask, "Are you the Devin who works with the old gramps from Covin?"

    The question surprised the man in front of her who quickly turned to ask her something back.

    "How do you know that person?"

    "You see, I came from some other time, not that time but I think I died," Mina explained. Realizing how confusing she might sound, she tried to phrase things differently and said everything all at once in rapid succession.

    "There was an explosion and I think I died, in my time. When I woke up, I became a cat and I met that old man, Barca, the general, I mean Jadon. They thought I was you at first because of something."

    "Wait!" Devin interruped. His eyes became wider and Mina could see hints of gold in them. In a gentler and more relazed voice, the man added, "Start from the beginning."

 55 The Monkey Who Never Lies

    "You became a cat?" Devin couldn''t help but feel taken aback with the sudden revelation. "Did you take over my shell?"

    "Uhm... that could be the case, yes."

    Mina reluctantly admitted. She was not sure about anything after all.

    "Wait..." Devin couldn''t help but feel overwhelmed by the sudden influx of new information. "That stupid orangutan said you don''t remember anything."

    "I asked him what this place is and he assumed I bumped my head on the glass and lost my memories," Mina explained. She hoped that Devin whom everyone seems to rely on will realize she was a victim in all of this too.

    Mina stared at Devin while waiting for his reaction. The man looked attractive despite his knitted brows. Even if he had the power to possibly feed Mina to the sharks, she couldn''t help but admire his appearance. He would look perfect in front of any magazine cover.

    ''Mina! Stop being distracted!'' Mina tried to keep her thoughts from straying but she couldn''t resist the man''s magnetic aura. She sneaked another glance at Devin who now had one hand on his chin while mulling over their current situation.

    "That''s not it," Devin started, "That orangutan you just met could tell at one glance what the problem is."

    Mina looked at him as if he was saying something ridiculous.

    "If he says you have memory loss, you most likely lost your memories."

    It was Mina''s turn to be surprised. "But this may be a special case. I remember everything that happened before all these crazy time travel supernatural weirdness!"

    ''Are you crazy, I can even remember who shit who''s pants in preschool!'' Mina wanted to add but she restrained herself, it might not sound too funny to Devin. Who knows what this creature is thinking

    "How far back do you remember?" Devin continued to prod which made Mina feel like something was wrong.

    ''How did the entire situation became all about what she remembered? Wasn''t it supposed to be why she was transported to this world? This...this entire thing was not about her.''

    While Mina continued to mull over the situation in her head she heard Devin''s cutting voice.

    "Do you remember anything unusual back when you were in your world?"

    "No. There''s nothing of that sort. I''m just a regular girl with a regular job and maybe a highly irregular sense of judgment when it comes to relationships." Mina couldn''t help but since when she mentioned the last part. "Looking back, nothing unusual happened to me, I didn''t even stand out. I''m just like everyone else."

    "That can''t be right!" Devin insisted. You might have missed out something important.

    Mina finally snapped.

    ''What else did this person want her to remember? He acted as if he''s talking to a liar. I had an uneventful life alright!''

    "So what if I''m just a boring person with no excitement in her life!" Mina couldn''t help but be defensive about how she lived her life.

    "Stop right there! No nagging, you remind me of some raven I know." Devin interrupted.

    "Argh, I forgot I have to explain everything."

    After a short pause, Devin went on to explain.

    "You see, not anyone can take over my shell. You need the necessary security clearance. Since I don''t remember authorizing you to take over, someone higher than me might have given you the clearance. Otherwise, you won''t be able to enter that world as a cat."

    "How could that be possible?" It was Mina''s turn to be shocked. "Why would I be involved in all these afterlife bureaucracies?" she wondered aloud.

    "You see," Devin insisted, "that monkey never lies. You should try to remember."

    "How could I remember something that I don''t remember?" Mina exclaimed with frustration.

    ''This man was only making things more complicated. Isn''t he supposed to be the one with all the answers? Why is he making things even more confusing!''

    "How can I have a special identity when I remember everything ever since I was a child!" Mina protested.

    Devin looked at her as if sympathizing with her plight. "Even if you remember everything from the moment you were in your mother''s womb, you could still be missing something. A memory before your current life."

    "You mean I was reincarnated or something?" Mina suggested.

    "Reincarnated? Of course not!" Devin replied quickly. "If you received enough authority to use my shell you wouldn''t be a candidate for reincarnation."

    Appalled at the man''s reply, Mina couldn''t help but shoot him another question.

    "How could that be the case, did I live such a vicious life in the past?"

    "That''s something that only you could answer."

    "How did this become all about me again? I''m a victim in all these!" Mina complained to which Devin had another reasonable answer.

    "Didn''t everything start because of you? You managed to throw off the balance in the Network. This Network is the afterlife as humans are so fond of calling it. If it''s not your time to go yet, Baba will take you back to your body and you will wake up."

    A fluffy hologram of a black sheep appeared before Mina and the sheep escorted what appears to be a soul to a hospital bed. While Mina looked at the images, Devin continued.

    "If you''re supposed to die, some other creature will escort you to where you are supposed to go."

    The hologram disappeared and it was replaced by a miniature model of what she saw from the pod.

    "You can''t go back to another time. Each era is built like your esophagus, but with a stronger stopper. It''s impossible for souls to do a backflow."

    "What if there''s reflux?" Mina asked in a serious tone. "And I''m the regurgitated soul?"

    While asking the question Mina couldn''t help but wince at the comparison.

    ''Seriously, we''re going to compare this entire network to an esophagus? What am I supposed to be -- the vomit? This Devin guy is not creative at all!''

 56 Special Existence

    "If I did what does I traveled back to an earlier time, what does that mean?" Mina asked in utter confusion.

    ''If there was no way for a soul to travel back to another time, what happened to me?''

    "There are several possibilities," Devin looked as if he was preparing to list a hundred things without getting impatient. Unlike Kino, this person could explain things better but he seems to be too long-winded which made Mina feel frustrated, to say the least.

    "Could there have been some error in the network and I was catapulted back in time?" Mina suggested. It was a logical explanation after all. Devin started at her with the same look Kino gave her before hitting her with a stick.

    "No. Not possible. No errors were detected. I was in the control room all this time."

    "So, WHAT?!"

    Mina grabbed a bunch of hair and pulled it upwards. This person was starting to gnaw on her nerves.

    "Hmmm..." Devin said thoughtfully. "What was it like to be in a cat''s body?"

    ''Why won''t he just answer the question, this is annoying!'' Seeing him looking on patiently, prompting her for an answer, Mina gave up and answered truthfully.

    "Like a cat. Faster. A different field of vision. More interested in some things than others."

    "Strings?"

    "Small moving things?"

    Devin suggested and Mina couldn''t help but nod. She was about to launch a barrage of questions to prod him to reveal more when the man spoke again.

    "It seems like you''ve adapted quickly. Some souls retain the abilities they had in their original form even if they enter another body," Devin explained.

    "If your soul molded right into that shell, that means you have even better abilities than other souls manning the network."

    ''So his questions have some point after all.'' More curious than annoyed, Mina went on to ask.

    "What happens if I had a regular soul?"

    "Regular souls could rarely enter another body - human or animal. Rookie souls in the network can only enter empty shells. Rookie souls can possess unconscious human shells but once a person regains consciousness, they will be kicked out of that body."

    ''I never thought possessing a body can be that complicated! Horror movies are all wrong!!!''

    Before Mina''s thoughts could wander further, Devin continued to explain.

    "My shell is special, it''s not completely empty. A bit of my soul remains in that body."

    "You mean, your soul was there when I possessed it? How come I did not get kicked out?" Before Devin could reply, Mina quickly added, "I''ve never felt another presence!"

    "That''s what makes you special. Not anyone can enter my shell, not even a rookie unless they have the authorization to do it. I have to leave a bit of my soul in that pod to allow the soul in that body to access this pod. That''s how you end up in this place."

    "What does that mean?"

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    "It means that your neither a regular soul or a rookie soul. You must be a higher level soul."

    "How could you know all of that? I think you are mistaken, I am just a regular soul. I mean..."

    In the middle of defending her stance, Mina remembered something important. "Wait, I was inside some forest with a friend and we were trying to figure out how to travel through time."

    Devin questioned Mina with a look and she continued explaining.

    "This friend - a mouse. He remembered being transported 10 years into the future and we were trying to figure out how it happened. We ended up in one part of the forest and some unusual things happened."

    "What did the mouse tell you?" Devin asked.

    "The mouse told me he wanted to bring his wife back from 10 years ago and we were trying to do that." Mina couldn''t see the sense in concealing anyone from Devin. If there was someone who had all the answers, it might be him.

    "Is that everything the mouse told you? Are there unusual things about this mouse?" Devin prodded.

    "This mouse only thinks about food! Food! Nothing but food!" Mina complained before she remembered something more important.

    "I saw the mouse lying inside the place where he traveled through time."

    "How did the mouse look when you saw him?"

    Mina tried to recall the moment before she fell into the portal. Tarou was covered partially with half-eaten plants. The mouse appeared to be unconscious and Mina had no way of knowing if the animal was badly hurt. She looked up to Devin not knowing how to describe the scene.

    "The mouse was lying inside the log. Before I could get to him, I was transported to a cold, cold place."

    "Hmmm..." Devin clasped both hands in front of his body and walked around the pod. Mina was amazed how Devin could avoid bumping into the glass but she kept mum and waited for the man to speak.

    "Your account is too vague, it would be better to watch what happened." Devin finally said.

    "Whoa!" Mina couldn''t help but exclaim in awe. "You actually monitor the world? Do trees have CCTV cameras or something? Or is it in the cloud or..."

    Before Mina could add anything else, Devin cut her off. "There is no such thing."

    "Oh..." Mina couldn''t conceal his disappointment.

    "But," Devin said with a hint of mischief in his eyes, "you were there and you can show us what happened."

    "Me? What about me? Who''s us?" Mina asked in succession.

    "Yes, you. Your memory of these events are vivid enough." Devin clarified before adding, "By us, I mean you, me, and Kino who never left this pod."

    "Kino? But Kino''s..."

    Before Mina could finish her statement, Devin grabbed something beside him and took off what appears to be a sheet, revealing a monkey''s naughty face.

    "Since you''re still here," Devin said while looking at the monkey, "you should help her project her memories." At Devin''s suggestion, Kino''s face brightened up. He hugged the man with both hands and gave Devin a big kiss on the cheek before exclaiming.

    "Buddy! You''re the best!"

    Mina could only shake her head while looking at the scene before her.

 57 Back to the Star

    Kino looked more than happy to help out and Mina was curious what will happen next. Before Kino could say another word, Devin intercepted.

    "If we do this, we can see everything from your memories," he explained. Without any hesitation, Mina nodded.

    ''Who cares what they see? It''s not like I have anything to hide.''

    "Where should we start?" Kino couldn''t hide his impatience. "I haven''t done this in a while."

    Devin looked at the orangutan and then to Mina. As if asking for permission, he asked another question in a gentle voice.

    "Can you show us what happened since you arrived in the new world?"

    Mina took a deep breath and tried to remember everything from the moment she arrived in the new world.

    ''I''ve been a cat since I arrived in that world anyway, there will be no embarrassing scenes.''

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    Mina berated herself for thinking those stupid thoughts. Before she could recall anything she wanted to hide, she heard someone clearing his thought while smacking his lips. Kino was giving her a look that screamed: "what''s taking so long?" She couldn''t help but roll her eyes at the orangutan in front of her. She looked at Devin who sat on a chair which seems to have been conjured out of nowhere.

    "I agree. Let''s do this."

    Kino guided Mina close to the panel and placed her hand in one place. A bunch of things flashed into the screen and Kino pulled something underneath the panel and pulled out several wires with different tips. The monkey finally chose two wires with testing clips on the edge - one was red, the other was black.

    Mina lifted the hand on the panel to point at the wires to ask a question but Kino slapped the hand back.

    "Stop moving."

    After giving her a stern warning, Kino attached one clip on her right ear and the other on her left.

    "I''ve tested these clips on earthworms, they are more comfortable that clip-on earrings."

    Mina who was about to question the monkey''s sanity couldn''t help but be amazed.

    "Kino, what are you?"

    "This is nothing," Kino replied while trying to push several buttons on the panel. "I''ve been wanting to test this method of memory projection since I escaped the lab." While Mina followed Kino''s movements, she couldn''t help but glance at Devin who tried to suppress a chuckle after Kino said his piece.

    After fiddling with more things, Kino broke the silence.

    "We''re all set."

    At these words, Devin snapped his fingers and darkness descended on the pod. Disoriented with the darkness, Mina was about to use her hands to reach for someone but she felt a pressure on the hand placed on the panel.

    "Keep that hand in place or I''ll restrain you."

    The warning made Mina remember what she was supposed to do and she settled down. She heard some shuffling but her focus was eventually diverted on the warm sensation on her ears. Before she could say anything, she heard Kino''s voice.

    "The initial discomfort is normal. Bear with it."

    Slowly, one part of the screen lit up and she saw a thatched roof on the screen and a familiar hut. It was where she first arrived when she came to the other world. Her memories were streaming across the screen. She heard some movement and shortly after, Devin was beside her.

    "How is this possible?" Mina couldn''t help but exclaim. Everything on the screen was exactly what she saw and experienced. Mina looked at Devin, expecting him to say something but it was unexpectedly Kino who spoke first.

    "Have you heard people saying their life flashed before their eyes?"

    Before Mina could ask another question, she heard a shushing sound from the man beside her. Mina had all sort of questions but she suppressed the desire to ask.

    "This method is quite outdated but it works," Kino explained in a hushed voice. "If you want, I can look into the memories you lost," the monkey suggested. Before Kino could say anything else, Devin shushed him again. Mina could sense the man''s irritation and she didn''t dare to say anything else and simply focused on the screen in front of her.

    ''No! No! Skip! Skip!'' Mina couldn''t help but panic inside when she saw the scene. It was that time when she asked Tarou about her gender. Before she could say something, she heard Devin whisper close to her nearest ear.

    "For the record, my shell is a male cat."

    Mina could feel herself blush.

    ''Why did I even ask that thing!''

    She tried to conceal her embarrassment on what happened next - Tarou assumed she liked him!

    ''Tarou. That mouse looks more adorable in my memories. I hope that underling is safe.''

    ***

    When Tarou woke up he was back inside the log. His mind was blank when he opened his eyes but when he finally become fully conscious he felt a splitting headache.

    ''Was it all a dream?''

    Tarou remembered being inside a human body and talking to Barca but something forced him out. He had no idea how long it has been since he lost consciousness but it was dark outside.

    He looked around and noticed the unconscious cat.

    ''Will Barca realize it was him asking for help?''

    Tarou took the time to observe the cat closely. Boss had one paw extended forward.

    ''Was Boss trying to reach me?''

    Tarou couldn''t help but feel touched. This cat has been acting crude and spoiled but was actually kind. Tarou went on to pat the paw. He knew he couldn''t leave Boss.

    It would be too cruel.

    He could only hope that Boss will return from wherever he is or for help to arrive.

 58 Its Official

    Mina couldn''t help but feel different emotions while watching everything that happened to her on the screen. It felt too surreal. Kino made some remarks here and there but nobody paid attention to the monkey which eventually made him shut up.

    It wasn''t until Mina saw the scene where she was transported to the cold place that she felt uncomfortable.

    ''That place looks are eerie on a screen as it did in person.''

    With her eyes fixed on the screen, she saw a man head towards her.

    ''I remember this! That guy, he saved me!''

    The man''s image was hard to recognize from her memory projection. She was dazed then and what she saw seems to be too foggy for anyone to recognize the man. Mina couldn''t help but glance at Devin whose eyes were fixed on the screen.

    Mina waited for Devin to say something. It was actually Kino who jumped and pointed on the screen.

    "Wait that ...that man! This scene, it looks like you were trapped in a human body. Your field of vision is the same as a human!"

    "What do you mean by that?" Mina asked in shock.

    There''s a change from this to this.

    Is that an actual person trapped inside the glass? How could that happen?

    Mina looked at Devin and Kino did the same. The man had his hands on his chin, mulling over something before speaking.

    "I don''t know whose body that is but that man there... I know him, that''s Jadon."

    "And the other one?" Mina quickly asked while pointing at the man beside the general.

    "Is that...Barca''s father?" Devin replied with reluctance. Mina couldn''t help but doubt Devin''s words.

    ''Barca''s father?'' Unable to conceal her surprise, she asked out loud, "That man is his father?"

    "You''re in charge of that place yet you''re not sure!" Kino chimed in, clearly looking down on Devin.

    "That man appears a bit different. He was the most obedient creature in that plane. He is so squeamish, how could he leave a body lying around the hall," Devin remarked absentmindedly with his gaze fixed on the man who appeared on the screen.

    "Did the old man agree to this?"

    The question was clearly rhetorical and Devin looked as if he blurted the words while trying to make sense of everything in his mind. Mina couldn''t help but give him a reply, even if it was uncalled for.

    "I don''t think so. As you can see, grandpa doesn''t live there anymore." Mina paused and studied Devin whose eyes were still fixed on the screen. "So many things changed since you left," she added in an accusative tone.

    No one spoke for a while as all three focused on the screen until the images stopped.

    Devin had a grim expression as he stared at the now blank screen.

    "How could all of that happen? There are a lot of Network people there - the old man, Jadon, Serket, the dumb follower, how could they let things go out of hand?"

    "Why are you asking me? I''m not even one of your Network people!" Mina couldn''t help but burst in anger.

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    ''I don''t even belong there and you are dragging me to this whole mess!!!''

    Mina felt so wronged and annoyed. Just as she was in the middle of rolling her eyes, Devin looked at her. Scared of the way he looked at her, she couldn''t help but roll her eyes in the opposite direction as if wanting to rewind what just happened. Pressured, Mina couldn''t help but blurt something out to ease the atmosphere.

    "Eye Exercise."

    Devin seems to have realized something because of her outburst and he slowly tilted his head towards Kino, who was sucking his thumb while trying to dodge Devin''s gaze.

    "What will happen now?" Mina asked.

    "They better handle the situation right," Devin replied.

    "To me!" Mina clarified.

    ''It''s not like their problems are any of my business. What would I even get out of that?''

    Kino finally spoke up after remaining silent for a long time.

    "We have to know first why you''re here."

    "Can''t you just go back to the real world and check?" The words seem to have come out of Mina''s mouth but as soon as she spoke she wanted to take all the words back.

    ''What if I make him angrier? Bad Mouth!''

    "I can''t."

    Mina couldn''t control her annoyance when she heard those two words.

    "You can''t? Why not? Isn''t that your job."

    Kino gave Devin a sympathetic look as if he knew what happened. Ever since she was catapulted to this new world, her emotions were all over the place. She has always been a reasonable person but after she became a cat, it was as if she developed another personality. Like she was a princess and everyone had to do her bidding and she was fully aware of it.

    "I''m not allowed to leave the Network."

    "Why not?"

    Mina''s thoughts were all jumbled up as she questioned Devin''s answer. From his tone, there was nothing that could change his mind.

    ''Isn''t this Devin fellow too selfish? People were waiting for him but here he was refusing to do his part. If this was not selfishness she didn''t know what is.''

    "I''m getting married," Devin hissed and gave Kino a meaningful look.

    Mina was astounded.

    ''Shouldn''t he be happy if he''s getting married?'' Still rolling her eyes, Mina went on to question him. "Couldn''t you do both?"

    "No," Devin replied immediately before adding. "You don''t wanna know the details believe me."

    "What will happen then?" Mina looked from Devin to Kino before adding "to me?"

    "Right now, I can''t look into your matter," he explained apologetically

    Mina felt relieved. I don''t want to go back there anyway!

    "We have to look into your lost memories. It could help us figure out why you''re here."

    Mina gulped.

    ''What if my fate becomes even worse if I recover my memories?''

    "If you turn out to be a special soul you might have to report to someone in the Network," Devin continued.

    ''No! I can''t agree! What if I turn out to be a criminal!''

    Mina was about to protest when Devin continued.

    "But..."

    She couldn''t help but look up in anticipation as if prompting him to continue.

    "...since my hands are tied, I have a favor to ask."

    Mina''s eye sparkled. This was the opportunity she was looking for.

    "If I agree what do I get in return?"

    "In return, I will grant you a favor."

    Devin did not allow Mina to say anything as he continued to speak in an enticing voice.

    "It could be any favor as long as it does not violate any laws in the Network."

    "Deal."

    Mina extended her hand towards Devin with enthusiasm. When their hands touched Mina felt something burning on her arm but the pain disappeared a few seconds later.

    ''What was that?''

    "Devious Devin! You always know how to take advantage of the situation," Kino mumbled.

    Before Mina could reply to the monkey''s remarks, Devin gives her a pat on the back.

    "Mina, Welcome to the Network!"

    "From this moment forward, you will be my new underling."

 59 The First Task

    Mina spaced out after hearing Devin''s confusing conclusion. Before she could ask anything, Devin snapped his fingers and Mina felt something tighten around her neck.

    Mina couldn''t help but touch her throat when her hands grazed on a small thing attach to the choker. The sound of a small metallic thing hitting another metal caught her attention.

    "Is this --a collar?"

    Kino who has been sitting in one corner couldn''t hold back his guffaw when he saw Mina''s exasperated expression. The monkey couldn''t help but share his opinion while studying Mina.

    "You will look fully domesticated when you get back to your cat body."

    "All I need is a bow and I''d be the perfect birthday present right out of a pet shop!"

    Mina''s complaint didn''t affect Devin who looked pleased with his handiwork.

    "You''d need that collar to get in and out of this place at will. Otherwise, you''d continue to leech off energy from Jadon to access this place."

    "Who''s leeching off energy from that guy?"

    Devin calmly studied Mina who was pacing around the pod while being all worked up. Ignoring her, he explained.

    "The collar should be helpful in many ways. I will leave that to you to figure out."

    "What happens now?" Mina inquired while fiddling with the bell.

    "You need to find the place where you got trapped, it can help up figure out what happened in my absence. For that, you''ll need Jadon''s help."

    Mina listened to Devin''s instructions until an idea curbed her enthusiasm.

    "O....Wait!" Eyeing Devin with suspicion, she couldn''t help the direction where her thoughts veered towards.

    "If you have control over life, death, and time, why don''t you give me power. A wand? Fairy dust? Or something to put things back in order."

    Kino slapped covered his ears and closed his eyes when she heard what Mina had to say. Devin''s lip curled upwards in amusement while looking her in the eye as if she was some interesting specimen. All Mina could do was stare back at the two of them.

    ''Didn''t they even think that it''s possible to put everything back in order when they intervene?''

    "Have you ever heard about free will?"

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    Mina believed in democracy and she was no stranger to free will. She gave Devin a look that screams who-doesn''t-know-about-that-and-now-what?"

    "Rule No. 51 A in the Meerkat Network rule book states that no agent is to interfere with the free will of any living creatures. We can''t compel anyone to follow our mandates."

    ''Rules? Being part of the network means being subject to these rules too!''

    "The collar should warn you if you are in danger of violating any of the network''s rules."

    Devin walked from one side of the pod to another while studying her. Mina could feel her knees weaken as if she''s facing a terror teacher who is about to shuffle name cards and choose a student to answer a question.

    "As for the methods you suggested, I''m sorry to disappoint you but those things are not possible. We can influence human minds but it takes energy to compel a single person to believe you. But changing the mind of a whole nation will require too much energy loss and we can''t afford that."

    Before Mina could say another word, Devin continued.

    "The agents from the Network mixing in with regular humans have excellent skills in politics - that''s the best way to control the minds of any kingdom. That means, you, my newest recruit, needs to heed the current laws of the land while doing your mission."

    "The old man and the rest of the network''s agents should provide you with the guidance you need to blend in with this era. They should know what you are when they see that collar.

    Mina couldn''t even get a word in as Devin continued to issue commands.

    "Oh, if you could inquire where my little disciple went, I would appreciate it!"

    ''He thinks he''s all that great! They can''t even deal with the issue of that ancient realm.''

    "Hey! Why do you get to call all the shots? At least give me something to work with. After all, I am doing you a favor."

    Devin studied Mina as if he understood what went inside her mind. Before Mina can issue another complaint, Devin cut through the chase and reprimanded her.

    "Do not act rashly. The world you entered is not like the modern era. Doing that will put the other agents in danger."

    Mina rolled her eyes. There were way too many rules in the afterlife. This was way stricter than being alive. Before she could continue to berate Devin in her mind for being too stingy.

    "Now, where were we?"

    ''Isn''t he done yet? This guy was too dense! Argh!''

    "The place where you were you almost died of heat loss - find out what happened there." Devin issued the order calmly as if he was just asking her to pass the salt.

    Mina cringed. She could still remember how it felt like to be trapped in that place.

    "You have the Network now and our people will naturally be involved."

    Mina felt some relief when she heard what Devin said.

    Annoyed at being cut off and ordered around, Mina''s annoyance flared.

    "Are you done? Would that be all your majesty?"

    Devin didn''t even flinch when he heard Mina''s sarcastic reply.

    "Yes, that would be all. Now, do your job. There are people waiting for you on the other side."

    With these words, Mina couldn''t help but think about Tarou. That worrywart was probably fretting like a mother hen right now. The image of her little friend came to mind. Mina felt a warm sensation envelop her body as she slowly slipped out of consciousness.

 60 Melancholic Tarou

    Lightning streaked across the sky. Tarou had no idea how long he has been staying with Boss inside the log. He finally managed to create a small opening to get in and out of the space.

    Tonight was extraordinarily cold and gloomy and Tarou couldn''t help but hug himself while eyeing the unmoving body beside him.

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    "Boss?"

    The mouse squeaked with apprehension as the resounding sound of thunder echoed around the log.

    "Boss..."

    Tarou whispered, "are you still breathing?"

    The little mouse could feel fear creep into his system as the rain poured out in torrents. The wind howled outside as if threatening the small creature. Although there were no enemies inside the log, Tarou felt too alone.

    He could survive on his own but he can''t abandon Boss. He hugged the cat''s fur and closed his eyes earnestly. Steeling himself, Tarou distanced himself from the cat and placed a leaf close to the opening of the log. The mouse waited for several droplets to fill the leaf with a bit of water.

    With careful steps, Tarou protected a few drops of water and headed towards the unconscious cat. The mouse pried the cat''s mouth open.

    "Boss, you need to at least drink water."

    Unfazed, the little mouse delivered water to the cat until his little body couldn''t do it anymore. Tired, Tarou collapsed close to the cat''s paw and took the time to catch his breath.

    Phew!

    Tarou stared at the cat in front of him before squeaking cheekily.

    "Boss, it''s raining hard, your butt''s outside, aren''t you cold?"

    The mouse wagged a small paw in front of the cat''s nose as if trying to feel for something. Looking back at the darkness, the mouse couldn''t help but curse.

    "I knew it! Those humans! Should I hold out and wait for help?"

    As expected no one answered. All Tarou could hear was the howling wind which seems to be blowing with a vengeance. The mouse shook his head with indecision and found a dry spot to call it a night.

    Just when his small head hit the soft cushion of leaves and soil an ear-muffling sneeze echoed inside the log. The impact was also enough to make Tarou cling to the ground. Shocked and confused, the mouse bumped into one corner of the log.

    "Hey!!!" Tarou lost all the melancholy he felt earlier. It may have been a small bump but he almost had a heart attack. Getting up and brushing off the dirt on his fur, he looked around the area with irritation. As he was about to complain loudly, he heard another sneeze.

    Now alert, Tarou engaged all his senses while waiting for what would happen next. He took a step back when his gaze focused on the direction of the unconscious cat. A pair of golden eyes looked at him with such intensity that he fell back on his butt. Landing with a thud, he couldn''t help but rub his bottom.

    "Ah...ehh...."

    Tarou couldn''t find the words as he pointed towards the cat who just opened its eyes and let out a yawn. He was utterly speechless while looking at Boss.

    "B-b-boss!!!"

    The excited squeak resounded inside the tight space and Tarou immediately ran towards the cat, encircling it without fear.

    "You''re back!!! You were out for days!"

    Tarou squeaked with exasperation but he was secretly relieved. The cat studied him for a few minutes without saying anything.

    ''Did he overdo it? Is Boss mad?''

    The black cat extended his paws as if going for a stretch before pulling its body out of the log.

    Tarou could hear another sneeze while looking at the cat''s receding figure.

    Who could blame the cat for waking up with a sour face? It was an uncomfortable position after all! Realizing this, Tarou felt a sliver of fear.

    Not willing to stay far from the Boss, Tarou quickly left the log and tailed the cat. The mouse saw the black cat heading towards a thick tree cover and he quickened his pace to keep up.

    "Boss! Wait!"

    For some reason, the cat walked in an unusual manner.

    "Boss!" Tarou poked the cat''s paw after feeling that everything was too surreal. When Boss slapped his small paw away and hiss, Tarou felt so happy he didn''t care about the cat''s violent reaction.

    "Where have you been?" Tarou asked, oblivious to the cat''s brooding mood.

    "My muscles!" Tarou heard the cat mutter under its breath.

    ''Boss don''t blame me for leaving your butt exposed. It''s not like I can drag you to shelter.'' The little mouse was staring at his feet while waiting for the cat to react.

    "Believe me you don''t wanna be there."

    When Tarou peeked at the black cat, he noticed how Boss seems to be looking for the best position. He secretly sighed in relief while studying the cat who finally settled on the best position. He waited eagerly for Boss to continue.

    "I met a bunch of boring peop¡ª- ani-- forget it. Right now, the most important thing is to go back."

    "Where do we go?" Tarou asked. He had the same question earlier but at least now, someone else will call the shots.

    "Back to the capital. There''s much to do when we return."

    "We''ll go baaaack???" Tarou confirmed. Boss has always been sucking up to humans and if they had enough food there, it wasn''t a bad deal for him anyway. While thinking about going back, he remembered how that horse Nightmare left them to fend for themselves.

    "Boss, you should teach that Nightmare a lesson when we''re back. I''ll deal with that guy Barca when we return. Unreliable human."

    "What are you so grumpy about?" The cat had a serious look on its face while staring at him intently.

    "Humans are selfish. How dare he ignore my plea for help! That human --- he''ll see."

    As Tarou issued the challenge he looked at the raindrops which continued to pour.

    It was the same forest, still enveloped in darkness but this time, he felt better. With a sideways glanced he followed the cat''s movements and smiled with satisfaction before letting out a threatening squeak.

    "They''ll see."

 61 Red Looks Becoming

    Mina felt disoriented when she opened her eyes. She saw nothing but darkness for a while. It took her a few minutes to realize where she was -- and it was not the best place to be.

    Half of her body was exposed getting rained on. She felt numb, tired, and utterly cranky when she opened her eyes. She didn''t even notice the little mouse who tagged behind her when she tried to seek cover.

    Observing her surroundings, Mina felt different than she used to. Her night vision was still there but she felt something change inside her. It was as if she regained a bit of her humanity --it was like one of those days when she started PMSing. She didn''t even want to talk to the ''little annoying mouse.''

    Mina knew she was being bitchy but this was one of those days. Finding the most comfortable position, her paw tried to feel around her neck. Everything felt too surreal and she wanted nothing but to call it a night.

    ''What did she get herself into?''

    Watching the raindrop and trying to be oblivious to the curious looks that Tarou kept on shooting her, Mina felt herself drift off to sleep.

    Tomorrow.

    She will deal with all her jumbled thoughts tomorrow.

    ¡ª-

    The first rays of sunrise lined the sky when Mina opened her eyes. She stretched her paws, yawned, and did some mindless grooming. There was a gentle wind around her. It was as if last night''s debacle didn''t even happen.

    Feeling itchy, Mina continued grooming when she heard small scratchy sounds followed by a grunt.

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    Curious, she scanned her surroundings closely.

    "Urghhhhhh...."

    "Who''s there?"

    Now alert, Mina meowed with caution while observing her surroundings.

    "Phew!" She heard a small squeak followed by heavy breathing. Realizing something, she looked below her and tried to search for her small friend after engaging her senses. Following the scent, she entered a small thicket and saw the mouse trying to form a mound of food.

    With a small meow, Mina tried to get Tarou''s attention who was focused on the job ahead.

    "Boss!"

    Mina saw Tarou''s eyes bulge while staring at her.

    "Erm! Surprise!"

    From the looks of it, Tarou was more surprised than her.

    "We''re you hiding food?" Mina meowed with malice.

    ''This mouse will always think about food first.'' She couldn''t help but shake her head while observing the small feast.

    Observing the food closely, Mina couldn''t help but admire Tarou. Each type of food was in a neat pile -- and there were several piles. It probably took him hours to prepare the feast which appeared like a small picnic.

    Running swiftly behind one of the trees. The mouse brought something else with great effort.

    Mina could hear Tarou grunt as if he was putting all his energy on bringing the item. Mina saw a small paw anchored to the ground first. When he saw another paw appear, the mouse appeared to sway to one side. To avoid falling, Tarou quickly planted another foot forward, proving just how heavy the item was.

    Tarou laid the item in front of Mina before catching his breath.

    "Now, everything''s set!"

    With cheery squeaks, Mina stared at the mouse who should be covered in sweat because of all the labor had he been human. Tarou''s eyes roamed around the small feast and Mina could see him with a big smile.

    "Boss! You must be hungry -- it''s been ages since we sat down for a decent meal."

    Tarou''s tone conveyed so much happiness that Mina couldn''t help but feel ashamed of her behavior last night. She looked up to see the sky and back at the happy little mouse in front of her.

    Mina noticed that Tarou limped while trying to find the best position but the mouse did not even wince while trying to settle down.

    "What''s wrong with your leg?"

    Looking at her, Tarou simply gave her a cheeky smile. "This?" Staring at the injured paw, Tarou simply shrugged.

    "Boss, let''s eat!"

    Mina couldn''t shake off the feeling that something was off but she stared at what Tarou gave her.

    "What''s this?" she asked although she had an inkling what it was.

    "You need your meat! You''ve been out for days! Boss, I know how you cats are -- you can''t survive on plants alone."

    Tarou beamed while squeaking back. The wheels finally clicked on Mina''s brain.

    ''Did this mouse leave early to look for my food?''

    Her pointed stare softened while studying Tarou who seems to be licking the injured leg. Before she could investigate further, the mouse looked at her.

    "Hey, Boss, what''s the deal with your collar?"

    "Huh?"

    Suddenly lost, Mina touched looked at Tarou before touching the collar. Yes, the collar --what''s even the use of this collar, she had no idea. Mina had no idea what to say. Luckily, a pile of food caught Tarou''s attention.

    At that moment, a flaming red bird landed close to a pile of grains and invited itself to the feast. The little mouse was busy munching on his food and paid no heed to the feathered creature who decided to partake in their food.

    Mina was fascinated with the creature especially by how it''s color.

    ''What an offensive scarlet color!''

    Mina couldn''t help but comment on her mind while observing the bird. Realizing the cat''s pointed stare, the bird flapped its wings and chirped.

    "Hey cat, red looks becoming!"

    It was only when the bird made a sound that Tarou paid attention to the grain thief.

    Laughing at such a high note, the bird chirped and looked at Mina again before flying away.

    "Your collar''s red color is more offensive than my feathers."

    "Ungrateful scarlet!" Mina meowed loudly at the bird which was now out of reach. Now out of reach but still audible, Mina could hear the bird mumble.

    "Pot calling the kettle black."

    Before Mina could meow back with a vengeance, Tarou squeaked.

    "That bird is called Scarlet?"

    "No! That bird''s color is scarlet." The automatic reply startled Tarou.

    "Scarlet? What''s that?"

    "Like red but more outrageous." Mina meowed offhandedly before digging into the meal.

    "What''s red?" Tarou squeaked. Mina stopped chewing midway stopped.

    Instinctively, one paw reached for the collar.

    "Oh, now I see red."

 62 A Free Ride

    After gobbling up as much as he can, Tarou could barely stand up. Just as he was planning to enjoy more downtime, Boss gave him a death glare which prompted him to stand upright.

    The black cat didn''t have to say anything but stared at the road leading back to the Capital. Tarou tried to suppress his grunts while feeling his bloated stomach.

    ''If I knew we will set out right away, I wouldn''t have stuffed myself like a pig.''

    Tarou could see Boss sashay out of the thicket towards the road and he couldn''t help but kick the ground. He closed his eyes and pulled on his fur while staring at the elegant and sleek backside of the vicious cat. Before he could curse Boss, Tarou heads a snappy meow.

    "Move it! We have a long way to go."

    Tarou''s mouth almost dropped to the ground as he ran towards the cat to keep up.

    "Are you--we planning to walk all the way?"

    Mina couldn''t suppress an eye roll. She was in a hurry and she wanted to get to her task right away.

    "We can''t wait for those humans forever." With a firm meow, he silenced Tarou who looked as if he had a hundred unique complaints about what she planned to do.

    Mina continued to walk but she heard a resigned squeak.

    "Goodbye, my yummy treats."

    Mina''s eyes roamed around the area. Unliked before, she could see everything with the clarity of a human''s vision. The collar had its uses after all. Having cat vision had its uses but she missed the way her human eyes saw the world. A squeak disturbed Mina''s moment and she couldn''t help but look at Tarou, who was now rushing to keep up with her. The mouse seems to be dragging one paw but the creature looked more wronged than pained.

    "Hey, Boss going on horseback is way more convenient."

    Tarou squeaked while struggling to keep up with Mina''s strides.

    "I mean Nightmare''s stride is like twelve of yours. Let''s not even mention the length of my stride, I have to make at least eight strides to keep up with you."

    "Urgh!"

    "And those steps are all large steps for me."

    Tarou had to catch his breath after the successive squeaks. Mina walked faster, teasing the small creature who struggled to keep up with her pace. When she looked back, she could see Tarou''s eager face trying to run towards her direction. The mouse was clearly displeased which made her smirk.

    They''ve covered much distance since that morning but both f them knew that it will take them days to reach the capital with their pace. Mina finally relented when she saw Tarou struggle with his hurt leg.

    ''This mouse!''

    ''He is so annoying I forgot he got hurt while gathering food.''

    "You''re slowing us down!"

    Mina meowed before stealing a glance at Tarou who tried to keep up with her to no avail. Seeing how the mouse struggled with each step, Mina stopped in her tracks. Tarou who was speeding up like he had a rocket on his butt bumped into the cat who stopped abruptly.

    Mina looked back just in time for Tarou to see Tarou fall flat on his butt after bumping into her hind leg. The mouse was splayed on the ground and Mina tried to stifle her laughter at the sight. Embarrassed, Tarou tried to get up as fast as he could but his bulging tummy weighed him down and he simply plopped down on the ground.

    "Come up!" Mina crouched down to allow Tarou to sit on her back.

    Tarou''s head suddenly shot up and he sniffed the air. Smiling, the mouse made a small squeak.

    "Boss don''t worry about me."

    He thumped on his chest while saying the words with confidence.

    Slightly annoyed at how the proud mouse rejected her offer, Mina couldn''t help but quip back.

    "You''re wasting time."

    "Trust me, Boss. We''ll get there."

    Mina smirked at the confident squeaks and she continued to walk towards their destination, now at a slower pace. Observing what the mouse is doing from time to time, Mina couldn''t help but notice how Tarou moved closer to the middle of the road.

    ''What was this mouse planning?''

    Mina didn''t have to wait long to know the answer. Shortly after, she heard soft hoofbeats. Tarou looked at her and smiled, our ride is here. Mina couldn''t help but feel amazed.

    Nightmare was a loyal horse after all. However, what came into view was not the majestic horse but a grey donkey with an unusually happy disposition. When the cart became visible, Tarou jumped up and down as if to get the animal''s attention. Mina was too awed and she simply stood on the side of the road.

    "Hey, brother!" The donkey gave Tarou a toothy smile and nodded. The animal dragged a cartful of hay and stopped momentarily.

    Mina found it unusual for the donkey to appear out of the blue. She should have heard him even from a distance. How come she didn''t catch the sound of the animal.

    "We''re on the way to the capital," Tarou replied in small squeaks and the donkey simply nodded while chewing on something.

    "Come on up, I can you a free ride. But we have to wait for someone."

    Excited, Tarou looked at Boss with a proud smile.

    ''This mouse seems to be arranging everything today but it does come in handy.'' Mina stared at the cart and then at Tarou. Without thinking twice, she bit Tarou on the neck like a kitten and jump up on the cartful of hay.

    Mina and Tarou found the best place on the cart but the donkey continued looking for food in the area. Mina was about to ask Tarou why the donkey is not moving when she heard someone running. From the sound, it sounds like the creature has a large frame.

    Looking at the direction where the sound came from, Mina eventually saw a middle-aged man running towards the cart. Mina and Tarou hid under the hay to avoid getting seen.

    The farmer looked relieved after setting eyes on the cart. He wiped the sweat from his brow and stared at the donkey who seems to be sneering while looking at him. The man shook his head and boarded the cart before prompting the donkey to leave.

    With a grunt, the donkey started moving but started to mumble.

    "This man gets annoyed easily, it''s so much fun to tease him."

    Tarou and Mina hid under the hay. Mina shot Tarou a questioning look --how would a mouse become friends with a donkey?

    "That''s Pest. We''ve seen each other around ."

    Tarou volunteered more information about the donkey.

    "That donkey''s sole purpose is to annoy the farmer. I think the farmer secretly likes him because he''s still alive, isn''t he?"

    "It''s a good thing you remembered my route." The donkey groaned while moving. The words were clearly for Tarou but he did not react.

    "I didn''t, but I could smell him from a distance." Tarou squeaked just loud enough for Mina to hear and winked at the black cat.

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    ''This Tarou sure is devious.''

 63 Is He Attractive?

    It took Mia and Tarou two days to reach the gates of the capital. It was a bumpy ride and they had to thank the donkey for being naughty enough to make convenient stops at places with the most fragrant meals.

    The farmer was not thrilled about the animal''s behavior. And this made the donkey even more determined to find the most expensive restaurants to make a stop.

    Mina and Tarou couldn''t complain about it either. The vicious mouse, in particular, was having the time of his life sneaking into the restaurants to sample different food varieties.

    As the familiar scene in the capital greeted them, the donkey couldn''t help but strike a conversation with his charges.

    "We''re delivering hay to a manor owned by some old man from a kingdom called Covin. Where do you have to go?"

    Hearing the donkey making a friendly sound, the farmer couldn''t help but look to the left and the right. Mina was also curious about the donkey''s destination.

    ''Could it be possible?''

    Before Mina could reply, Tarou quickly squeaked back his answers.

    "We''re headed on a manor. An atrocious horse named Nightmare lives there. That''s the most notable thing about that place."

    "Nightmare? One proud horse who groans at everyone with disdain?"

    The donkey didn''t hide his feelings while grunting and speeding up slightly. The farmer had to hold on tightly due to the donkey''s sudden change in speed. But, his demeanor became more relaxed after the animal''s small tantrum.

    Tarou squeaked in agreement and the donkey groaned in reply.

    "We''re headed to that place."

    Mina''s ears instantly stood up. She has been paying more attention to the farmer than the donkey''s grunting but when she heard where they were headed, she felt weird.

    It was too much of a coincidence!

    ''Could the collar have something to do with it?''

    She was about to touch the item when Mina realized she knew the answer.

    The collar had nothing to do with it. The collar will only affect her ability, not the circumstances around her.

    ''How did I even know that?''

    Halfway through thinking about it, she knew the answer ¡ª again.

    It''s the collar.

    Annoyed at the collar''s sarcastic comeback, Mina couldn''t help but react fiercely. Tarou who continued to torch Nightmare while making him like some evil creature in front of the donkey was shocked when she meowed with ferocity.

    Tarou immediately stopped squeaking and retreated to the far side of the cart while eyeing her with caution. The mouse probably thought he was becoming too irritating for her.

    When they heard music playing and the sound of people milling around, Tarou immediately found a place to observe the outside world. The mouse may not see anything the way she could but he was the best spy when ferreting information.

    Mina, on the other hand, knew she had to hide under the hay. She was not exactly welcome in this place and even if she wanted to see what was happening, she had to be quiet down and wait for Tarou''s report.

    As the cart continued to move outside of the festive area, Tarou retreated back inside the cart and ran towards her.

    "Hey, Boss! Did you hear those humans --there''s going to be a big celebration at the end of the month."

    Mina stretched and stared at the mouse, prompting him to continue although she had no idea exactly the celebration will be.

    When was the last time she checked the date in this place?

    No. She never even bothered to track dates after she arrived.

    Why would it even matter to a cat like her?

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    Breaking out of her inner musings, she stared at Tarou who was now shifting his weight from one paw to another in excitement.

    "All the dignitaries from the Kingdoms in Artha will gather here."

    Looking outside towards the direction from where they left, Tarou squeaked in disbelief.

    "Those ladies right there are trying to fight over who buys the best cloth to make new clothes. They said they could count the number of handsome guys here with one hand."

    Mina couldn''t help but wince when she heard Tarou''s report.

    ''Seriously, aside from food, this mouse is the best when it comes to gossip.''

    ''I had no idea there was a lack of good-looking men in this place.''

    Tarou continued to squeak, excited to share more information he heard while gossipping. She barely listened as Tarou told her about which lady had the highest chance of catching an eligible man.

    Mina couldn''t help but take a peek at the scenery when she realized that they were entering an area which didn''t have much activity. She was about to continue observing the way when Tarou''s report caught her attention.

    "They''re also hoping to catch the General''s attention, by that I think they''re referring to your human. That human is too cold, is that kind of person attractive to ladies. I bet my hu..."

    Tarou''s squeaking stopped abruptly and Mina couldn''t help but look down on the mouse who seems to have bitten his tongue.

    Realizing that the cat gave him an interesting look, Tarou scratched the fur behind his ears and started to shift faster between his feet.

    "Uhm..." the squeak was tentative at first and Mina was becoming more curious what nonsense the mouse was going to say next.

    "Boss, since you like men so much, do you think the general is attractive?"

    Mina looked at Tarou earnestly.

    ''Where was this question coming from.''

    ''This gossipmonger!''

    Before she could warn Tarou, the collar felt tighter around her neck as if begging for her attention. She became too distracted with the sensation that she stopped what she was about to say and paid attention to the latest transmission from the collar.

    ''The Network allows agents to fall in love.''

    Mina cringed when she realized what the collar just told her.

    ''I don''t even have plans to attract that man! How dare you make assumptions.''

    ''Who knows how that man actually looks like?''

    It''s not like she had a thorough look at him. Her cat eyes were no good. But after all the gossip she heard, she started to become really curious.

    "Seriously, underling," she meowed with sincerity, "I have no idea."

    They were now on the path towards the manor and Mina had a glint of mischief in her eyes as she stared at Tarou who was looking at her with curiosity.

    "But, we''re about to find out."

 64 About Your Human

    Mina yawned when the cart came to a stop. Stretching her paws, she looked around the place after she felt the cart''s motion stop.

    Tarou who has been energetic earlier was too quiet. She tapped the mouse who was curled in a ball.

    ''When did this glutton fell asleep?''

    Annoyed, Mina pushed the animal with a paw. She smiled with satisfaction as Tarou rolled towards the edge of the cart and bumped on a bale of hay.

    "No!!!"

    Mina heard the loud squeak and saw Tarou reach out one paw into the think air as if grasping for something before opening his mouth and chew. She couldn''t help but shake her head before sneaking out of her hiding place to study her surroundings.

    They appeared to be in front of a barn. But before she could continue observing the place, the cart tilted to one side. Alarmed, Mina jumped out of the cart. She saw the farmer go down and circle around to unload the hay.

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    The unsuspecting Tarou who was lost in dreamland had no idea that the bale of hay where he was resting on was about to be unloaded.

    Mina, who just landed on the ground, momentarily forgot about Tarou. But when she saw a small, round and furry object roll out of the cart, she couldn''t do anything but let take its course.

    ''Oh, Tarou!''

    Just then, she saw the mouse open its eyes. Disoriented to find himself rolling on the ground. Tarou appeared to be panicking to get his footing back. Tarou used his paws to hold one to something stable on the ground but every time he reached for something, he always held on to some loose rock.

    "...eaaak..."

    Tarou''s pleading cry as he rolled further away amused the black cat who grinned from ear to ear.

    Feeling slightly guilty about having fun over Tarou''s misfortune, Mina was about to rescue the poor mouse but she was too late.

    Everything appeared to be moving in slow motion as a stablehand rushed towards the cart to help the farmer unload the bales of hay. Mina could hear a young, well-built man greet the farmer in the background but her eyes were focused on Tarou.

    Her little underling seems to have exhausted his good luck for the day. She couldn''t help but close one eye.

    Mina mentally crossed her spirit fingers as the stablehand lifted one foot off the ground. She found it hard to look as Tarou, who was slowing to a stop, came closer and closer to landing on the area where the young man''s foot was about to land.

    "Me..."

    Not knowing what else to do, all Mina could do was shout a warning which stopped midway. The mouse who now had both paws up in the air seems to be too shocked to make a sound. The shadow of the young man''s boot cast a shadow on the mouse.

    ...ow."

    With some stroke of luck, Tarou landed in front of the man''s shoe, barely avoiding death by getting squashed.

    Before Mina could sigh in relief, she saw Tarou flying from the impact between his round belly and the young man''s shoe. Mina could only slap her face with a paw as she stared in horror as the mouse left the ground.

    "Squeaaaaakkkk...."

    The mouse was clearly panicking and had all paws extended like he was skydiving while being suspended in the air. Tarou appeared to be swimming in the air frantically.

    Mina cringed while looking at her little friend. Focusing on Tarou, she prepared her body to save the mouse from another dizzy ride. Just when she was about to do it, she hesitated.

    Before she could decide what to do, Tarou landed with a small thud right in front of another shoe.

    Mina rushed towards Tarou, prepared to bring him to safety, but the mouse had other ideas.

    Tarou had enough of the rough ride.

    Afraid of being tossed around again, he tried to stand up quickly to get out of the way. A dizzy Tarou climbed over the shoe in front of him with two paws extended forward like a zombie walking without any sense of direction. Tarou appeared to be slipping off the show. His small body rocked back and forth but he tried to maintain his balance to walk forward until he sensed something solid before him.

    ***

    "Aahhhh..."

    Tarou let out a squeak as he clung on to the solid material in front of him. He could still see stars after all the action earlier and he wanted to do nothing but hold on to something still. It took him a few seconds to catch his bearings.

    ''This! This is a terrible nightmare!''

    The surface he grabbed on felt soft but it did not move. It felt like a fabric used for clothing. Trying to get a feel of his surroundings, Tarou caught a whiff of a familiar scent of herbs.

    Before he could take stock of the situation, he felt slight movements and he felt something pull the skin behind his ears. Tarou could do nothing but raise two paws up as he stiffened in fear.

    The next thing he knew, his feet were on something soft and warm.

    He could smell human.

    "Little friend."

    The gentle voice instinctively made Tarou look up. Although he could not see a thing, the smell was too familiar that he should not be mistaken -- it was the human.

    Annoyed, Tarou turned his back on the person talking to him. He felt something poker his tummy but he did not budge.

    "Hmpf!"

    The squeak was small but it was loud enough to convey Tarou''s annoyance.

    ''Was this human trying to pacify him?''

    ''Ha!''

    Tarou turned to face him and it so happens that the man was about to poke him. Just when the finger was about to touch his potbelly, he crouched down and bit hard enough to hurt.

    "Useless! Unreliable! Selfish human!" Tarou spat the accusations one after the other as he released the finger.

    "Done venting?" the gentle voice replied while rubbing the top of Tarou''s head gently. The mouse turned his back again, still annoyed. "How did you..."

    "Tarou! Tarou!"

    Tarou, who was waiting for the human to explain himself, was distracted by the frantic meows.

    "Boss, I''m alright!" he squeaked enthusiastically, reassuring the cat. He even felt touched. Boss seems to be more caring now.

    "Tarou!"

    "Boss?" he squeaked back with uncertainty.

    ''What was Boss getting frantic about?''

    "The human holding you..."

    "What about him?" Tarou squeaked back.

    "...he''s way too handsome."

 65 Lukewarm Reunions

    "Neigh... neigh..."

    Both Mina and Tarou were distracted when they heard the sound which was followed by loud hoofbeats.

    Nightmare appeared out of nowhere and stopped in front of Barca. A stablehand who was holding on to the reigns dashed forward and almost fell to the ground when the horse stopped suddenly. The man finally caught his breath and before anyone could ask him if he was alright, his knees buckled and he sat on the ground. Meanwhile, the horse approached Barca and focused on the small figure on his hands.

    Tarou who turned to see what the commotion was all about, could not avoid the horse''s intense stare. A short while after, everyone close enough heard a sweet, guttural sound from the aggressive horse as his eyes continued to study the small creature on Barca''s palm.

    Unperturbed by Nightmare''s large eyes, which was half the size of his body, Tarou rattled his tail and bared his teeth as he turned away towards the horse. Mina who witnessed the exchange saw how her petty underling stomped and harrumphed after the horse greeted him.

    Nightmare neighed while trying to rub against Tarou as if to comfort the little creature.

    Barca who was eyeing the horse with amusement looked at the sulking creature and smiled. As if he was pacifying a small child, he patted Tarou on the back.

    "Nightmare has been pestering me to go after you. He''s been restless since he came back."

    Tarou looked up to the man who spoke the words gently. Still aggrieved, the mouse shook his head.

    Knowing how petty the mouse can be, Mina found herself a cool corner and start grooming.

    ''Huh! You think Tarou will accept that explanation?''

    As she predicted, Tarou stomped his paw and geared up for an attack.

    "I don''t care! You -- you''re useless!" the squeaks were small and audible. Turning to face the horse that has been trying to get closer to him, the mouse squeaked more complaints.

    "You!!! Traitor!"

    Mina licked a paw while staring at them. She might as well allow Tarou to let off some steam. The scene was quite disturbing. A temperamental mouse was being coaxed by a pretty boy and a handsome horse.

    Trying to ward off the weird thoughts away, Mina studied the male specimen holding Tarou. His hair was swept away from his face and secured by a cloth headband. The guy had a pretty side profile. With a soft jawline, thin lips, and slim eyebrows, the man would look beautiful if he wore a dress. Handsome may have been the first thing she thought of when she saw the man but from where she sat she could see that the more appropriate word would be pretty.

    "Pretty and Petty," she meowed while staring at the human who continued to pacify the mouse who seems to have no plans of stopping his tirade. Nightmare who rushed towards them excitedly was looked at Tarou then at Barca as if seeking help. But the human was too focused on the little rodent.

    "Typical male."

    Licking her tail, Mina couldn''t help but make another comment after she saw Nightmare walk towards the stable.

    Nightmare tried to communicate with the mouse but after getting the cold shoulder three times, the horse seems to have given up hope and strutted away. The stablehand who was clueless on what to do while Nightmare wooed a mouse quickly followed after the horse. He seems to be clearly relieved that the animal marched towards the stables.

    She was halfway through licking another paw when she sensed that someone was standing beside her.

    ''What''s with me lately? How could someone sneak beside me without me knowing?''

    Pivoting to the right, Mina came to face to face with a pair of legs.

    ''Of course, I''d see feet, what was I expecting!''

    Mentally scolding herself, she looked up and met the gaze of a man who gave her a familiar vibe.

    "You''re back."

    The words made her realize who this man was and she scowled.

    "Stupid General!"

    Mina meowed with a vengeance. For one second, she had the urge to give him the cold shoulder just like how Tarou treated Barca. But she was not a little mouse who needed to be pacified. Besides, this person was not a gentle person like Barca who would indulge her capriciousness.

    Their team up with most likely be Desperate and Inconsiderate.

    Out of the blue, Mina remembered what Tarou said earlier about the general. The woman said he was attractive, was he really?

    Curious, she decided to check out the general in the name of trying to gauge if women in the current era had good taste. As she paid closer attention to the man''s appearance, the first thing she noticed was his thick eyebrows. It made him look strict and unyielding. His disarming gaze coupled with his prominent cheekbones and strong jaw, his looks were intense.

    While running his gaze from the man''s legs to his face, Mina couldn''t help but note how well-built the man is. All the while, the man simply waited for her to do something but all Mina could do was ogle him.

    ''How would he look like with his shirt off?''

    Mina slapped herself with a paw. Realizing what she just did, she tried to pass it off as part of her grooming and continued to lick her body.

    "Grandfather wants everyone upstairs."

    At the sudden announcement, Barca looked at Jadon who stood beside the cat. Tarou also looked towards the direction of the voice. Even Mina who was pretending to be a clean freak couldn''t resist gazing at him after he said the words loud enough for Barca to hear a few feet away.

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    The man caught him staring and looked her in the eye.

    "That means, you need to go with us too."

 66 The Naughty Collar

    "Ehhh... Ehhh... Ehhh"

    Mina couldn''t control the coughing sounds after hearing what the man had to say.

    "Come on." The man gave her a quick lookover and crouched down as if to pick her up. Showing him her tail, Mina turned her back and walked towards the manor as if to snub the man.

    "No thanks."

    Mina wanted to give herself a pat in the back when she heard herself meow. The sound came out as haughty as she imagined it to be. Concealing a toothy smile, Mina walked away with a spring in her step.

    ''He''s not even that attractive. Women these days have unusual taste!''

    While Mina walked forward she found herself looking behind her subconsciously but she felt something tighten around her collar.

    ''He''s not attractive, stop looking back.''

    Stopping on her tracks, Mina pulled on the collar with an annoyed expression.

    ''What was wrong with this thing? Isn''t it supposed to provide guidance only about the rules?''

    ''What''s wrong with this cat? Isn''t it supposed to just complete its mission not lust after ancient boys?''

    The collar''s answer streamed to her subconsciousness and Mina couldn''t even understand how it happened. It was like having another voice inside her head.

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    But not really.

    There was no other voice up there. Instead, she immediately knew the answer to her question. It was like having a second conscience.

    ''Are you alive?''

    ''I''m just a collar. I exist to guide you through this mission.''

    Mina couldn''t help but wash her face with her paws as if trying to get rid of an imaginary itch. This collar ... argh!

    ''Then why would you comment on areas you are not even needed for?''

    The internal monologue with an inanimate object which doesn''t even talk was starting to get on her nerves.

    When all else fails, she will return to the pod and demand that they give her another guide --a less-opinionated one.

    ''Rule No. 5. Perform missions without delay.''

    ''I am not delaying anything.''

    ''Uh huh''

    ''Hey! Are you actually alive?''

    ''I am a collar. My purpose is to guide a member of the network.''

    ''What kind of monster did that Devin gave me?''

    Before Mina could roll her eyes because of how intrusive the device was, she felt another thought stream into her consciousness.

    ''He does look attractive, you can''t deny it.''

    Mina wasn''t able to resist looking back after the collar''s urging. She felt like the collar was chuckling in silence so the sound won''t be transmitted to her consciousness. As she looked back, she couldn''t help but be caught in a trance.

    The general walked in an imposing way --like no one has the right to walk on the same ground that he did. The slight breeze made his hair sway and Mina couldn''t help but admire the man who was masculine from head to foot.

    ''See?''

    Her ghost self was twirling inside her cat body.

    ''Changed your mind? He will welcome you in his open arms.''

    ''No!''

    ''You know you want to.''

    ''Shut up you annoying thing!''

    The meows came out sharper and stricter than she expected and the meows caught the attention of Tarou who continued to scold Barca. When Mina realized that her sudden outburst didn''t happen inside her mind, she backed away from the crowd before running towards the room of the old man like devils was on her heels.

    ''What''s wrong with this collar? Is it possessed? Why would a simple rule book be giving unsolicited advice?''

    ''As long as your stream of consciousness is open, I can communicate with you.''

    Annoyed, Mina tried to bite the collar but ended up chasing her tail. I really need to visit that high and mighty Devin as soon as I can.

    ''You can but you can''t deny that the general is attractive!''

    Unable to hold back her emotions, Mina deliberately smacked everything in her path by slapping her tail back and forth. Unfortunately, stomping her paws and swaying her hail was not enough to calm her down. She couldn''t help but voice out her irritation.

    "Meeeeoooooowwwww"

    The frustrated sound echoed inside the mansion. The sound was almost the same as a wailing ghost. Two maids who were trying to start a fire to prepare a meal were taken aback.

    "Ghooooooost!"

    Sounds of pots falling and shrieks could be heard from the kitchen and two little mice who were planning to steal some food simply rolled their eyes.

    "Ghaaaad! These huumaans! It was a mere cat!" the high-pitched squeak was extraordinarily loud and the grey mouse beside her had to place a paw to stop her from saying another word.

    "Keep it down. They might catch us." The warning came in small, soft squeaks which fell on deaf ears.

    "Cat? Could it be that oddball Tarou''s cat? "

    More focused on what the other mouse had to say, the other mouse ignored the high-pitch squeaks and thought about what her companion squeaked about.

    "Miceeee!!!!!"

    "Waaaaaaahhhh!!!"

    "Kaia!"

    The maids who finally quieted down was engaged in another round of screaming.

    With quick steps, the mice run towards safety with the grey mouse dragging the brown mouse with her. Running outside the kitchen, the two creatures finally had time to catch their breath but a nagging squeak caught their attention.

    "Hey, human, walk faster! I can''t see Boss."

    Hidden behind the shadows, the two mice kept quiet until they heard two pairs of footsteps disappear in the distance.

    "Aure, my dear, I smell something weird."

    "Kaia, I just heard the oddest thing. Did you hear Tarou order Barca?"

    "Some mouse is issuing orders to your pretty booy! Oh, Aure! This is ... an emergency!"

    The high pitched squeaks were the only thing that could be heard in the hallway. Aure tugged on the other mouse, but her companion continued to blab.

    "Of course, my dear! We still have an ace who can deal with that Tarou -- the Elder."

    Afraid that the maids will find them, Aure dragged the blabbing mouse away to safety.

 67 Not So Welcome

    Mina stood outside the old man''s room. The climb up the flight of stairs calmed her down a bit and the collar was on its best behavior after her outburst.

    Shortly after, she heard the stairs creak followed by the sound of footsteps.

    The door to the old man''s room was closed and instead of nudging it open, she decided to wait for her human. Standing proud like an emperor waiting for a servant to announce his presence, she waited with a smile in her face.

    Now in a better mood, Mina couldn''t help but bare her teeth while staring at the man who was now on his way towards the room.

    Mina heard footsteps before her and moved her tail in glee when she spotted the man''s familiar figure. The general looked down on her and when he did, she cranked her head towards the door as if telling him to go on and make a move. As if understanding her meaning, the man proceeded to open the door.

    "Yes, human. Treat me like your emperor." The proud meows echoed in the halls just when another set of footsteps were heard.

    "Boss!"

    Mina turned when she heard the excited squeaks and Tarou was standing with two paws up in the air. She looked at Tarou and after giving him a slight nod, walked inside the room as if she was on a red carpet.

    As if by coincidence, the man was seated on a chair facing the door and smile when he saw her.

    "That''s a beautiful collar."

    Mina could feel the collar beam with pride. For some reason, she felt like the collar has been more active now that she''s interacting with more people. It was like the collar had a life of its own. To make matters worse, it seems to have access to her consciousness. There was no way to plot against it and she knew that it was only a matter of time before the collar acts up again.

    When Barca entered the room with an excited Tarou, the old man looked at Jadon who was standing beside him.

    "Serket will arrive shortly."

    The words appeared to be carrying such weight and Jadon nodded in understanding. Mina simply observed everyone''s demeanor.

    ''It seems like something happened while I was out of town, what could it be?''

    While Mina looked at the people in the room with an inquisitive look on her face, everyone settled down and took their place around a small table in the room. The old man lit a small lamp and placed it on the table and Mina came closer to join the rest of the group. As if on cue, she heard loud flapping sounds followed by the window shutters closing with a loud noise.

    Darkness descended on the room and the only source of light was the lamp in the middle of the table.

    When Mina focused on everyone around her, the first thing she saw was a feathery creature standing close to the lamp.

    Moving closer and jumping on the old man''s lap, she observed the newcomer. The bird''s face came in a bright yellow hue but the abdomen had a light green color.

    Tarou who was still previously perched comfortably on Barca''s hand suddenly appeared alert and on guard. The bird was flapping its wings slowly as if trying to get rid of dust while walking around the table.

    While making these small movements, Mina noticed the bird''s colorful feathers, which were also yellow with black patches. The tail had multiple color layers from dark blue to bluish-grey to greenish-black. She couldn''t help but marvel at how majestic the creature looked while observing the people in the room with its clear grey eyes.

    "We''re all here."

    The old man''s words confirmed Mina''s suspicion. The bird was the one called Serket.

    "Grandpa, make this quick. I have to attend to official soul business." The sound mimicked human language and Mina couldn''t help but feel impressed. Carrying itself with arrogance, the feathered creature paused close to the general, just a few inches away from Mina who was now standing to the old man''s lap to observe the bird whose eyes paused when it saw her.

    "That collar."

    The squawk caught Mina''s attention. The bird had its eyes dead set on the collar hugging her neck and it appeared to be looking with her in disdain. The bird''s tone did not sit well with her and Mina couldn''t help but feel defensive.

    "I know, it''s a beautiful collar and red is my color."

    Meowing back rolling her eyes, Mina couldn''t help jump on the table to get a better look at the bird. The old man gave Mina a gentle pat as if telling her to calm down but she couldn''t help but give Serket the eye.

    "And this is?"

    The parrot directed the question to the old man but before he could say anything, Mina hissed back.

    "Devin sent me."

    ''How dare this parrot talk to be like I''m some unwanted guest.''

    "Why would he give you that collar?"

    Mina was taken aback.

    "What do you mean you an annoying parrot? It''s not like I requested that Oh So Mighty Devin guy to hand me an annoying contraption."

    "That..."

    "Serket, this --"

    The old man intercepted, wanting to diffuse the tension in the room but Serket flew towards Mina and pecked her.

    "Boss, look out!"

    Mina heard the loud squeak warning her and saw a sharp beak coming towards her at the same time.

    ''Arrrggghhhhh. This arrogant bird was attacking her for no reason!''

    On impulse, Mina felt her feet leave the ground and jumped on Serket with her mouth ready for an attack. But before she could bite him in anger, she felt something intercept her and hold her body back. Mina tried to move but someone was holding her tightly. Annoyed she let out a furious hiss and came face to face with the bird who pecked her nose gently.

    "Scram kitty!"

    The two creatures - a black cat and a flamboyant bird - both an angry expression.

    Not wanting to give in, Mina meowed wider and fiercer and the bird had to move back.

    "Scared now?"

    "Your breath reeks. I had to get some air."

    Mina bated her teeth and studied the bird who was flapping one wing while covering its waiting for the right time to jump for the kill.

    "Parrooooooottt...."

    Before she could, she felt a soft tap on her head.

    "Serket!"

    The general''s loud voice caught Mina off-guard and she couldn''t help but smile at the parrot who instantaneously backed down after being reprimanded.

    "We have more important things to deal with."

    When Mina looked at the person holding her, she could see him looking at her intently as if telling her to clean up her act.

    "Behave."

    Mina couldn''t help but obey and relax while staring at the parrot.

    ''You, just wait! You will look better on a stick!''

    Realizing what just happened, Mina moved to look at the general again and glared at him, slapping his hands off her body but he wouldn''t budge.

    ''Was this man treating her like a dog?''

    Her anger was in the middle of flaring up again when she heard the old man speak.

    Find authorized novels in Webnovel£¬faster updates, better experience£¬Please click www.novelhall.com for visiting.

    "Jadon is right, we need to investigate the anomaly in Covin."

    The statement was like a bucket of cold water and Mina''s anger disappeared. Of course, she had better things to do than wage war with a parrot.

 68 A Mysterious Piece of Ar

    Mina calmed down but the general continued to hold on to her. She couldn''t help but stare at him in annoyance but the man won''t be fazed.

    \"Let''s continue.\" Mina felt the hand holding on to her when the general spoke.

    \"Serket,\" the warning was clear on the man''s tone and Mina concealed a smile while looking at the parrot who had to suppress a squawk at the last minute.

    \"Give grandfather some face.\"

    The bird reluctantly stood across Mina and found the perfect pose to display its majestic wings.

    ''How dare this bird put display those colorful feathers!''

    Mina looked at her paws and saw her shiny black fur. Absentmindedly, her eyes strayed back to Serket''s feathers who appeared to be smoothing out her feathers. She marveled at how those feathers could look so beautiful and the bird caught her doing it.

    They looked at each other in the eye who looked at her with malice. A few seconds later, Mina noticed that the parrot''s beak was moving and she tried to read the mouthed words.

    ''Stinky cat''

    ''Stinky cat?''

    The words kept on repeating and Mina could feel her body tense up as the parrot kept on mouthing the same words.

    ''How dare...''

    Mina felt her hind legs crouch down instinctively.

    \"Grrrr...\"

    Unable to suppress the sound, Mina was ready to strike but something continued to hold her tighter.

    \"Ehem...\"

    When the old man cleared his throat, Mina couldn''t help but pay attention although she continued to be annoyed at the parrot who was making subtle gestures to annoy her.

    \"Juvenile!\"

    Mina mouthed the words back unable to suppress herself but not wanting to create a scene. If she made any more aggressive movements, the person holding her might chain her up like a rabid dog.

    ''Just you wait, you parakeet! I''ll feed you to a falcon!''

    Mina''s thoughts were starting to wander to all the ways she could torture the annoyingly beautiful parrot.

    \"Now, now. We have to discuss the anomaly in Covin.\"

    The old man''s voice was calm as if unfazed by the tension in the room.

    ''Covin?''

    Mina who was still trying to wiggle out of the general''s grasp paid attention to the old man.

    As if understanding her inner thoughts, the old man gave Mina a slight smile.

    \"Yes, Covin. Jadon found something unusual in the governor''s residence.\"

    Mina was all ears now and she gave the general an inquisitive look. Serket who also stopped annoying Mina looked at the old man and then at Jadon and went on to ask about what happened.

    \"By unusual, what do you mean?\"

    \"It has something to do with why we''re here.\"

    After giving Serket a meaningful look, Jadon continued.

    \"It has something to do with the missing fairy.\"

    The general''s words rendered the bird with shock. Forgetting the feud with the cat, Serket walked one step at a time towards Jadon.

    With her wings placed behind her, the arrogant bird appeared to be lost in thought. Just when she was in front of Mina, she looked up towards the general.

    \"You mean...\"

    \"Yes. I sensed Morrigan''s presence.\"

    It was time for Mina to feel confused at that moment.

    ''What was the general talking about?''

    She looked from Jadon to Serket and back.

    ''What were they talking about?''

    Not knowing anything about the matter, she looked at the old man to ask for help. Grandfather was running his hands over his chin.

    \"What do you plan to do?\"

    Mina can old study everyone in silence.

    ''What was happening?''

    \"Grandfather,\" the general had a thoughtful tone while looking at the old man, \"you know we were sent here to look for Morrigan. We have to investigate Covin first.\"

    The old man nodded before speaking his thoughts out loud.

    \"Something blocked the main portal for souls that leads into the Network and this Morrigan that you are looking for suddenly appears in Covin.\"

    \"I have the same thoughts. The blockage in the portal and Morrigan''s disappearance -these two things may be related.\"

    ''What were these people talking about?''

    Mina felt confused.

    ''Who was this Morrigan and why is it related to Covin?'' She was about to ask the old man to explain but the general spoke before she could.

    \"The governor was boasting about a certain sculpture in the main hall.\"

    Mina gaped. ''Why are they talking about sculptures now?''

    \"A sculpture?\" Barca looked at Jadon with confusion.

    \"The work of art appeared as if it was a real woman leaning on the wall.\"

    Barca stared at the general thoughtfully and looked at his grandfather before voicing out his thoughts.

    \"We never had a woman''s sculpture in that hall.\"

    ''A woman''s sculpture in the hall?''

    Mina was starting to think about what the humans were talking about too.

    \"A sculpture. There was none before.\"

    Mina looked at the old man who also sounded a bit disturbed about the sudden appearance of the sculpture. But more importantly what was this sculpture like.

    \"The sculpture appeared life-like and eye-catching.\"

    ''Wait!''

    ''Was it...''

    Mina couldn''t help but move to take a better look at the man holding on to her.

    ''Was it dressed or argh! naked like other ancient art pieces?''

    \"It seems to be calling out for help.\"

    His expression did not change as he explained the situation but Mina''s thoughts were elsewhere.

    \"I returned to the hall to touch it.\"

    ''Whaaaat?''

    ''Whyyyy?''

    \"I felt something inside\"

    ''And then...''

    Mina felt like she was watching an interesting scene in some fantasy film and waited to hear what happened after.

    \"but I couldn''t be too sure. There were people entering the hall and I had to leave.\"

    ''That''s it!''

    Boring. Mina rolled her eyes at the general and went on to see how the rest of the humans reacted.

    \"I need to go back to Covin to investigate.\"

    The general''s voice was firm and full of conviction and Mina finally heard something that made her feel excited.

    \"Now we''re talking,\" Mina meowed enthusiastically. \"I''ll go too!\"

    She struggled to look at Jadon as if urging him to take her with him.

    Mina felt a hand rub her head teasingly. The warmth made her remember something and she couldn''t help but think out loud. \"That cold place...that was scary. Scratch that, I won''t be back in there.\"

    The old man who heard her muttered meows stared at Mina.

    \"What do you mean Boss?\"

    \"Pffft....\"

    The old man calling her Boss threw her off guard and she suppressed the urge to laugh although she couldn''t suppress all the sound.

    Squawk!

    \"Show some respect!\"

    The loud sound surprised Mina.

    When she turned her head, she saw the parrot shouting right into her ear. It was so loud that her whole body vibrated because of the sound.

    Annoyed but trying to focus on the topic, Mina ignore the bird and looked at the old man.

    \"The general is right. There is something unusual in Covin, I accidentally ended up in there but ...\"

    Mina tried to look for the right words to explain what happened. She can''t replay her memories like what Devin and Kino did to tell the old man about what happened.

    ''Just explain, these people know how these soul funnels work, it''s not like they''re as ignorant as you are.''

    The collar''s reminder made Mina realize that the annoying thing was right.

    ''You''re welcome.''

    ''Urgh, and you''re annoying.''

    Mina looked at the old man who was looking at her as if to prompt her to say something.

    \"Grandpa,\" she meowed with hesitation, \"it''s like this.\"

 69 Unconvinced

    Mina described what happened to her as detailed as possible. Thanks to the memory recap she was forced to do because of Devin and Kino, her memories felt more vivid.

    Contrary to how she imagined things would turn out, everyone was actually paying attention even Tarou. Mina was doubting whether the mouse was faking it or not as the creature nodded vehemently.

    \"Boss! I had no idea, you are.. are you a god or something?\" Tarou''s admiration was clear from his enthusiastic squeaks and Mina almost lost her footing when she heard what the mouse had to say.

    Mina could only shake her head. Tarou sure did say extreme things but she couldn''t help but smile inside, choosing this mouse as a disciple was indeed a good choice.

    \"Hmpf!\" The chirpy sound clearly showed how disapproval. Accompanied by the sound of a flapping feather, it didn''t take Mina along time to figure out that Serket was about to unleash her toxic tongue.

    \"How can we even verify what this cat is trying to claim?\" Serket looked at Mina''s direction before opening her beak.

    \"We know nothing about this ¡ª Although this soul is inside Devin''s shell, it may be someone else trying to lure us.\"

    There was nothing but silence in the table.

    Mina knew that Serket had a point.

    She was a stranger to them and everything she said made sense, at least to Mina''s rational self. Unfortunately, while she was trying to mull over all those things in her head, her animal instincts took over. Before she knew what was happening, she had one paw aimed at the bird''s head.

    It was too late to stop.

    The parrot was caught off guard and tried to evade the paw by lifting its wings to cover its face.

    Mina panicked. It was as if her paw had a mind of its own and as much as she wanted to be the rational person she knew she was, her body was making her appear like a rabid animal.

    Serket backed away while giving her the eye but Mina''s world suddenly shifted when someone grabbed her away from Serket.

    \"Take this!\"

    Mina was too busy trying not to panic at the sudden tug and she barely heard the small squeak.

    \"Squawk!\"

    \"How dare you mess up with Boss!\"

    When Mina settled down, the scene at the table was still chaotic. Serket trying to fend off something clinging on her leg. Tarou was dead set on attacking the bird and Mina looked anxiously at the scenario.

    Was this how she was acting earlier?

    Mina couldn''t help but pity Serket who was fending off Tarou desperately.

    Her underling was loyal to a fault. Not that she was complaining but she cringed while imagining the pain.

    I''m so sorry Serket.

    In desperation, the parrot used its wings and appeared to be using a lot of energy to fling something and a mouse trying to get hold of the bird''s feathers rolled out.

    \"Tarou!\"

    Mina meowed in alarm when Serket finally removed Tarou''s paws on her feathers. The burst of strength caught the mouse off guard. With horror, Mina stared as the little mouse rolled towards the edge of the table and was about to fall off.

    Due to some miracle, Tarou stopped the motion and got up with a renewed desire to attack Serket. Now prepared, Serket was also poised to attack the mouse this time.

    Mina could only slap her face with a paw. This meeting has been turning into a riot.

    Why can''t they talk like rational peo-- creatures

    Tarou would probably sustain more injuries with all the excitement was worried about her underling.

    \"Tell the mouse to behave himself.\"

    The words were said in a voice only Mina could hear but she was shocked at what the man said.

    \"Your mouse friend will only listen to you.\"

    How dare he order me around?

    But wait --Is this man recognizing my authority too?

    Mina tried to sneak a glance at the general''s expression but he had the same stoic look he always had.

    On second thought...

    \"Tarou,\" Mina meowed loud enough for her underling to hear. \"You are still injured, don''t get too excited.\"

    By some miracle, all the trace of aggression left Tarou. With sparkling and teary eyes, she looked at Mina in disbelief.

    \"Boss! You...you care about me.\"

    Mina felt something warm on top of her head.

    Was this person petting her?

    \"Good job.\"

    Hearing the words unexpectedly made Mina feel proud and she looked at the general with eyes full of admiration and happiness.

    ''Good boy!''

    Mina caught on the sarcastic comment from the collar and snapped out of her daze. She was supposed to be a cat, why was she acting like some lap dog. Argh!

    And this collar knew it!

    ''Stop dawdling and talk about Network business.''

    The reminder was so firm that Mina felt a bit scared of the collar. After all, this thing was wrapped around her throat!

    \"I am uhm ...Devin''s executive assistant of some sort. Offsite coordination is below my pay grade but since you guys have been incompetent, I had to do the dirty work myself.\"

    Mina tried to explain her role in a series of meows but she was also trying to send another message to Serket.

    You parrot are beneath me!

    \"Hmpf!\"

    Mina didn''t miss Serket''s reaction.

    \"Argh!\"

    The squawk appeared to be a prelude to another session of bird versus cat. Fortunately, grandfather stepped in and spoke.

    \"Now, now. Let''s talk about this as civil people\"

    Serket was quick to retort at the older man''s words.

    \"That''s not a person, that''s a stinky feline.\"

    \"You''re a hairy bird! You...\"

    Mina felt a sudden rush of current in her body that paralyzed her being. She couldn''t even say another word.

    Serket who has her wings spread wide open also appeared to have been restrained by an invisible force and appeared like a docile bird perched on the table waiting for some nutritious treats.

    The sudden transformation caught Mina off guard but she felt alarmed herself. It was like being caught in a nightmare where she could hear see and feel everything but was unable to move or talk no matter how she struggled.

    ''Calm down!''

    The collar streamed a series of thoughts in her head. ''That''s a warning.''

    ''Did Serket felt the same surge of energy too?''

    The collar was silent but from the looks of it, she was not the only one who was reprimanded.

 70 Clearly the Winner

    Serket glared and Mina looked at her with constricted pupils, tracking her every move. The bird had her head up, its colorful body rigid and her feathers flared out while maintaining eye contact with her.

    Sensing Serket''s territorial stance, Mina stared back at her. Everyone exchanged meaningful glances across the table and Mina couldn''t help but anticipate what the bird would do next.

    \"Are you done?\"

    The general''s booming voice echoed in the room and Mina felt a bit guilty when she heard the question.

    Alarmed, the first thing she thought of doing was licking the paw resting on the table.

    Curious on how the aggressive parrot is faring, Mina sneaked a peek and saw that the majestic display of feathers was no longer visible. Serket was leaning back and her wings were shut tight as she stretched her neck.

    So, this bird fears the general too?

    She felt delighted with the realization.

    She was not the only one who cowers before this man, he must really be someone scary.

    \"Barca\"

    Without saying anything else, Mina knew that it was a command. She had no idea what happened to Tarou after the ruckus but her little underling was back to his docile and gluttonous state.

    The mouse was eating out of Barca''s hands greedily as if it was the most important thing in the world.

    How could this creature shift priorities in a split second?

    Mina still had no idea how her little underling''s mood can change in a split second but who was she to judge?

    Looking at Tarou''s state and Serket''s current mood, it was clear to see who won between the mouse and the bird.

    One was eating all his worries away and the other one had a sour look on its face.

    Unable to hide her satisfaction, Mina purred.

    Serket was eyeing the general but when the bird heard the sound, it gave her the evil eye. Mina shrugged and licked another paw with a satisfied smirk, annoying the bird further with her actions.

    With the collar still trying to restrain her, Mina didn''t want to commit a mistake. The electric shock was quite uncomfortable after all.

    She had to take it easy and concentrate on what she should be doing.

    From her position on the general''s lap, Mina could only see the table by standing on two paws. While she struggled to see what was going on, she rolled her imaginary human eyes at the man.

    This person was not one to carry a poor cat like her in his arms like a baby.

    This man! Argh! He is not helpful at all.

    Moreover, she didn''t like this position.

    Argh! Annoying!

    While doing her internal monologue, Mina happened to glance at Serket who glared at everyone.

    This bird must be angry with the world.

    \"Now, let the cat speak and we will reserve judgment.\"

    The old man''s voice stopped Mina from all her internal struggles and she straightened up at the mere mention of the word cat.

    It wasn''t much of an identity, but she was the only cat around there.

    Should she talk now?

    The old made nodded towards her and Mina sighed in relief.

    Grandpa! You should give me cues you know.

    Mina cleared her throat. She placed two paws on the table to anchor her in place while the other two were struggling to stand firmly.

    She surveyed everyone sitting on the table, but it was too hard to see how the general looked like. If she shifted and looked him in the eye before talking, it would be too much work. Despite her hesitations, Mina addressed the people around her.

    \"I have instructions from Devin. He agrees with uhm this assessment. We need to investigate the anomaly in Covin. Since my personal assessment corroborates the general''s, we believe that this investigation is crucial in restoring the balance in this world.\"

    \"I see,\" the old man replied thoughtfully. \"We are on the same page then. Now, what would you like to say Serket?\"

    Grandfather spoke as if he was addressing a preschooler who just threw a tantrum. His tone was gentle and patient.

    Serket was crouching with her head down and her tail feathers flared as she hissed her reply.

    \"How could you even listen to this cat. Why would we trust¡­ it?\"

    \"There is nothing wrong with this decision and I see no harm in an investigation. We had our suspicions that Devin had a hand in this.\"

    This time the reply did not come from the old man but from the general. As usually, he retained his usual composure.

    \"So, what do you propose?\"

    Serket challenged Jadon openly, the bird''s eyes shot fiery looks at the man. Mina could only see Serket who was clearly holding back.

    Mina couldn''t sense any change in the man''s heartbeat.

    He appeared to be totally calm.

    \"I will be in charge of this investigation,\" the general spoke with finality.

    Mina tried to resist the urge to hug him when she saw Serket''s expression turn so sour. The bird''s face appeared to have changed its color.

    This human!

    Of course, he should be in charge! He is my human after all.

    Mina''s smile became even wider when another thought occurred to her.

    In case she gets caught inside that cold place, he would know how to fish her out too!

 71 Compromise

    \"Why would you call a meeting when you have already decided things on your own?\" Serket cried in a loud and coarse voice.

    The bird''s whole body was as straight as a pole and with her crest up, Mina could sense her utmost displeasure. She knew that the man behind her was still the figure of authority, but Serket seems to be second in command.

    ''You should be more like her.''

    The collar''s sudden intrusion surprised Mina, but she ignored it and focused on Serket instead.  The general already made his position clear and Serket was clearly not happy about it.

    Serket may be a bit scared of the general, but Mina could see that she was not a pushover.

    Curious about how the rest of the humans reacted, Mina studied everyone in silence.

    The old man was thoughtfully running one hand over his chin. From the looks of it, grandpa had no say in all of this.

    So, Mina glanced at the next human present ¡ª Barca.

    As someone following the general and the old man''s successor, it would be interesting to know what Tarou''s pretty boy thinks about all this.

    Mina subtly turned towards the young man. But when she saw the scene in Barca''s corner, she almost slipped off the table.

    The young man and the little mouse appeared to be in their own bubble.

    As expected, Tarou was munching on some grains while cradled on Barca''s hand. The greedy creature looked especially gleeful while the human kept on patting his head like he was a good dog.

    This man! He is treating that glutton like his baby!

    ''Focus.''

    The collar''s firm reminder was so effective, Mina stopped berating her underling.

    Is Barca actually not included in this discussion?

    As if sensing her gaze, Barca looked towards her and flashed a beautiful smile.

    This man... he''s too unaffected.

    This is just too weird.

    Mina studied everyone again but Serket along with the humans appeared to be oblivious to Barca''s carefree attitude.

    \"Of course, you, our dear general call the shots when it comes to this investigation.\" Serket''s low, guttural growl jolted Mina back into reality. \"It''s not like I''m qualified to assist you with this.\"

    \"You will play the same role in this mission.\"

    Hearing the words, the parrot''s face became a bit relaxed.

    \"Here I thought that this dutiful assistant will take over that too.\"

    Mina cringed at Serket''s whining.

    \"You will be in charge of communication,\" the general clarified. \"I will be in charge of the cat.\"

    Serket flapped her wings and squawked her reply.

    \"Grandpa, what do you say?\"

    The old man had his hand rubbing his chin thoughtfully while looking at the general and then back at her. It was as if he was lost in thought and Mina could sense that he was not paying attention to the discussion.

    \"Grandpa, what is it?\"

    Serket repeated the question when she realized that the old man did not react right away.

    \"Hmmm...\"

    The noncommittal reply from the old man made everyone feel even more lost.

    \"Meow! Grandpa!\"

    The loud sound finally pulled the old man out of the clouds. He looked at Mina who waved two paws in the air as if she was drowning just to catch his attention.

    \"Yes.\"

    The monosyllabic reply made the three of them exchange confused glances.

    Jadon cleared his throat.

    \"Grandpa, I was just saying that I will be in charge of Devins''s little assistant while we try to investigate the happenings in Covin.\"

    \"Of course.\"

    The old man replied in his usual tone but Mina sensed that he was agreeing out of habit. It appeared like grandpa was just saying yes because he did not understand what they were discussing.

    Did the man even understand what was going on?

    Before Mina could form another theory, the old man spoke.

    \"Of course, the two of you are more familiar with the situation. It''s only fitting to do this together.\"

    The old man looked towards Mina''s direction before setting his sights on the colorful parakeet.

    \"Serket should take charge of the communication lines in case we run into an issue.\"

    Maybe it was just my imagination.

    After a short pause, grandpa continued, \"But we have to wait until after the celebration.\"

    The old man looked at her again as if he just discovered something, but he did not say anything else.

    There was nothing but silence inside the room until a mellow, chirping sound from outside the window broke it.

    \"Would that be all?\" Serket asked while looking at everyone on the table. \"I have urgent business to take care of.\"

    Mina who was observing her surroundings felt Serket''s pointed gaze. After a short pause, the bird shifted her gaze to the general before adding, \"Unlike some people.\"

    Paying no heed to Serket''s sarcastic remark, the general looked towards the source of the sound.

    \"Is there trouble on your part?\"

    \"Nothing. Just the usual.\" Nodding towards the general, Serket was poised to leave when the old man stood up and extended his arm towards her.

    \"I will walk you out.\"

    Realizing the old man''s intention, Serket flew towards him, ignored his extended arm and perched on his shoulder.

    \"That parrot is such a prima donna!\" Mina meowed with annoyance while jumping on the table as the old man and Serket left. She hardly noticed that she has been free to move around all this time and took the chance to stretch her paws.

    Mina couldn''t help but feel bad for the old man while listening to the sound of the small, careful steps accompanied by the creaking sounds from the stairs.

    \"How dare that Serket force grandpa to walk her out. She can do it on her own and she doesn''t even need to take the stairs.\"

    \"She has wings!\"

    Mina couldn''t help but badmouth the parakeet while looking towards the direction of the door.

    Just then, the general stood up and looked at Mina intently.

 72 Lured

    \"You should control your temper.\"

    \"My ... what?\"

    Mina''s moods were getting haywire ever since she went back from the network.

    Something changed, but she couldn''t point out what it was. Instead of arguing with someone who couldn''t understand her, Mina hissed at the general before turning her back, choosing to face the other side of the room.

    \"Jad, what do you plan to do? You can''t just visit Covin. You need to stay in the capital for the emperor''s celebration.\"

    \"I will be there.\" Jadon glanced towards the table where a black cat was lounging in comfort. \"With Devin''s little assistant.\"

    \"What are you planning to do?\"

    Tarou stopped nibbling on his food when he felt a slight tremor. The comforting hand tightened around his little body.

    \"You want to appear in public with a black cat?\"

    \"Yes.\"

    \"Eeek! Eeek! Eeek!\" Tarou squeaked as Barca squished him.

    The little mouse gasped for breath for a few more seconds before the hand released him. The current in the room made Tarou tremble, and the mouse hugged a piece of grain.

    \"I will bring this assistant to the celebration.\"

    No one spoke and Tarou couldn''t dare to make a sound.

    \"You know you must do the purification ceremony first¡ªif the emperor agrees.\"

    \"Meeeeoooooowww!\"

    The loud incorrigible sound broke the tension in the room. Everyone saw the cat extend its paws as if to catch something.

    After a few playful antics, the cat found a comfortable position and stayed quiet.

    Tarou looked towards the direction of the cat with longing, but he suppressed any sound. The hand holding him relaxed.

    A small chuckle disturbed the silence. To mask the sound, the general cleared his throat.

    \"There may be a way to avoid those rituals.\"

    \"What do you mean?\"

    \"We will know tonight.\"

    The cat was still fast asleep on the table, oblivious to the meeting. The general headed towards the door with unhurried steps. But before he could disappear from Barca''s sight, he took a step back, stopped and gave Barca a firm look.

    \"You need to speak up in these meetings.\"

    The general spoke his piece with conviction and walked towards Barca. The young man sighed inwardly.

    \"And those meetings¡ªI could hardly get a word in. Serket disapproves of my role and she makes it impossible for me to understand her half the time.\"

    Barca tried to avoid the general''s gaze and stared at the listless creature on his palm.

    \"Grandfather is still the guardian of this realm. My role as a successor is not official.\"

    \"You are grandfather''s successor.\"

    Barca''s spine straightened at the general''s tone.

    \"Work on your self-esteem.\"

    Although barely discernible, the sound of hoofbeats rushing towards the manor caught everyone''s attention. Even Tarou, who tried to act like he was not there, subconsciously bent his little body forward to hear better.

    \"Serket is all talk. You should not feel inferior in front of her.\"

    Jadon tapped Barca on the shoulder and glanced momentarily at the black cat who started snoring.

    \"I''m leaving. I have work to do.\"

    Barca could only stare at the direction where the general disappeared. Then, his gaze fell on the sleeping cat. He tilted his head in one direction and gave the small mouse a pat.

    \"These meetings with Serket... that creature she frightens me. I never thought parakeets could be that frightening.\"

    Barca talked while pampering the little mouse with gentle pats.

    Tarou sensed his human was back to his normal self, but what was he mumbling about?

    \"This little assistant sure is courageous.\"

    Unsure, Tarou looked up at his human.

    ''Was Barca attracted to Boss?''

    This human has been studying the black lump on the table.

    Tarou stopped chowing down more food to get better in identifying Barca''s moods. He may not have the best vision, but Tarou was an expert in feeling things, people, food, the air, and more.

    His human was restless during the meeting. He sensed that Barca was ill at ease even before the ruckus. He noticed the changes in his breathing and his hand betrayed him. He took shelter on the man''s palm after all.

    \"Human, you are... that...\"

    The small successive squeaks attracted the man''s attention.

    \"A pompous bird scares you?\"

    Tarou sensed Barca''s full focus on his little self after his squeaks.

    \"Serket can be ruthless, my little friend. You were brave today.\"

    The little mouse bowed his head, uncertain about the human''s words.

    \"But you should not get on her bad side.\"

    ''Did this human think he couldn''t hold his own in a fight?''

    \"I will bite that bird to pieces! That Serket is not allowed to bully Boss!\"

    Tarou saw the man smile at him. He rubbed his eyes, but all he saw was the usual blurry view. Perhaps it was just a figment of his imagination.

    \"Would you like to eat more?\"

    The gentle voice was barely audible. Tarou ignored him and munched on some food.

    ''Am I too weak? I''m not!''

    \"It''s so useless talking to you, you don''t understand a thing.\"

    Tarou stomped and took a large bite. With his mouth stuffed with food, the mouse mumbled his complaints.

    \"You''re such a disloyal human! Aren''t you supposed to come to my rescue when I ask for help? Or are you such a stupid person? Didn''t you get my message?\"

    Tarou''s taste buds rebelled at the grain''s bland flavor, but he forced himself to swallow it down before throwing away the remaining piece.

    \"I don''t like this at all.\"

    The mouse slumped down and stopped eating.

    As if by magic, something else appeared before him.

    It smelled better and tastier and it dangled right in front of his nose.

    Tarou''s head bobbed to the direction where Barca dangled the food.

    Without hesitation, Tarou got up and tried to reach but the food was out of reach.

    \"I want that! Give me...!\"

    The demanding squeaks echoed in the room, but Tarou had his full focus on the tasty treat.

    He wanted that!

    He needed to eat that.

    \"Human!!!\"

    The mouse channeled all his displeasure in the squeak.

    \"Give me that! I want that!\"

 73 Something Shady

    Sensing food nearby, Tarou grabbed the grain and held it firmly.

    He knew the scent and but he couldn''t remember what it was. The mouse shelled the seed in a flash and took a large bite without hesitation.

    \"Sunflower seeds!\"

    Tarou brought the seed closer to his nose and sniffed before taking another large bite.

    \"Do you like this food?\"

    Tarou, who had a greedy look on his face, nodded.

    \"Is it delicious?\"

    Tarou nodded several times while sinking his teeth on the snack.

    \"What do you think about Serket?\"

    Tarou barely heard the question because he was too focused on the loud munching sounds ¡ª it was music to his ears. Tarou looked up when he heard the human''s voice and blinked.

    \"My boss is the best!\"

    With two paws reaching up, the mouse pleaded with Barca by wearing his most adorable look.

    \"More!\"

    Tarou caught a whiff of the same yummy snack but it was gone in a second. Remembering how Barca dangled it for a long time before giving in he immediately jumped to grab it. But before he could reach it, the snack moved away.

    \"Foood!\"

    Tarou couldn''t get the taste of the sunflower seeds out of his head.

    The fresh taste...

    It was all he could think of.

    The one he just tasted was more delicious than any food he tried.

    \"The cat fought with Serket.\"

    Barca''s voice was gentle like usual but Tarou gave him a blank look.

    ''What''s wrong with this human now?''

    Tarou looked at the man with pitiful eyes.

    \"Humaaaan...\"

    \"Why?\"

    Tarou''s head shifted to the right.

    \"I want more food!\"

    The small insistent squeaks echoes inside the room.

    Tarou looked up at the human in front of him. When he sensed the grain dangling in front of his nose he jumped at the chance and bit hard. He tasted something odd ¡ª like raw meat tinged with a unique taste.

    Tarou felt a sudden force that propelled him backward, forcing him to almost fall off Barca''s hand. With some luck, the little mouse kept his feet firmly on the human''s palm. Tarou heard Barca hiss and when he looked up, he felt the man''s intense gaze.

    With his brain clicking in place, Tarou focused on the familiar taste on his mouth.

    ''Did I just...''

    Tarou rubbed his eyes while trying to get a sense of the human''s mood but everything appeared normal. He looked at Barca again but his blurry sight made it impossible to assess the man''s mood. However, he could hear the man''s even breathing and nothing else and caught a whiff of a mild coppery scent.

    ''Was this human calm even after getting bitten?''

    Frustrated, the mouse gnawed on his paw while trying to think of an escape route. Before Tarou could decide whether to jump or wait for Barca to take his revenge, he felt a soft pat on his head.

    Tarou looked up at the human again. And then, he caught the alluring scent of sunflower seeds right in front of his nose.

    ''Where''s the food? It should be close by.''

    \"Why was Serket fuming earlier?\"

    Tarou caught the strong scent of the sunflower seed. It was right in front of him!

    Without thinking twice, he extended his paws to grab it only to end up empty-handed.

    The snack appeared to have disappeared out of thin air.

    \"Human, you are more annoying than that bird!\"

    \"You don''t like this snack?\"

    Tarou sniffed and sniffed to find where the snack disappeared to. There was a faint scent which means one thing ¡ª the seeds should be close by.

    \"You! That Serket is jealous of my Boss! You unreliable human, you''re jealous of my food!!!\"

    The long drawn out squeaks did not faze Barca who smiled as he placed a few seeds close to the greedy mouse.

    \"Here you go, my little friend. Serket seems to have a strong opinion about the cat.\"

    Tarou, who finally had his hands on the snacks, was lost in his own world. The little mouse quickly peeled the seeds.

    \"Boss is awesome, he is the assistant of some Devin. Following that black cat was the right choice.\"

    With a proud look on his face, Tarou started to eat the food while talking about his great foresight. Before he knew it, all the seeds were gone.

    Patting his stomach, the mouse couldn''t help but sniff around to see if there was more food hidden somewhere.

    \"Too little!\"

    As if remembering something important, he looked up to the human in front of him.

    This human is acting unusual.

    Tarou paused.

    Why is he asking me too many questions?

    A sudden thought crumpled his small face.

    Could it be?

    Is he...

    Is he talking to himself because no one likes him that much?

    Did he go crazy?

    Tarou couldn''t help but look at Barca with pity, but when he caught the scent of more food coming closer towards him, he shook his head. With a smile showing off his teeth, Tarou sniffed and caught his human''s familiar scent and squeaked some of his thoughts aloud.

    ''This human supplies the best foods!''

    ''I''ll stick to him even if he''s crazy!''

    \"Don''t worry, human, I won''t abandon you.\"

    \"Then, I''ll hold you to that promise.\"

 74 Tell Me About I

    Mina was playing with some red yarn in her dream and rolling around gleefully on a warm mat. Unfortunately, something snatched her plaything and she hissed in annoyance.

    How dare you take away that plaything!

    Perhaps it was how loud her meows went or how ferocious she was while snatching the ball of yarn, but it didn''t take long for her to snatch it back. Satisfied, Mina brought her yarn and played with it while rolling around the floor.

    Purring with happiness, she stretched the thing, bit it, and rolled around until her furry body was entangled with the thread. Mina was about to twirl the red thread on her paws became longer and furless. Her eyes widened as she saw them transform into her human hands.

    The sudden change alarmed Mina and put her on high alert.

    The red thread tightened across her body.

    Mina tried shouting for help but before she could make a sound, something dragged her into a void and all she could do was brace her fall.

    ***

    Mina expected to feel some pressure when she finally landed on her feet but there was nothing.

    Slowly, she opened one eye. Finding it difficult to figure out where she was, she decided to just open both eyes.

    Still unused to the sudden change surroundings, she

    \"Wha-at?\" Mina meowed with hesitation.

    \"Welcome back!\"

    Mina gave Kino a blank look. Detecting her unusual mood but ignoring it anyway, the monkey did not hesitate to pry about Mina''s business.

    \"What happened since you left?\"

    The enthusiastic voice finally made Mina realize what was happening.

    She was back in the pod.

    \"Why am I here?\" Mina meowed while squinting.

    \"Aren''t you supposed to be the one to tell me why you''re here?\"

    Kino was sitting on a comfortable chair with his feet placed on the edge of the table. Mimicking a lazy boss, the monkey leaned back comfortably.

    \"Can''t I access this pod at any moment?\"

    When Mina hissed, Kino moved the wheeled seat away from. All the while, his eyes focused on Mina''s flickering tail.

    \"How do I end up here every time I nod off?\"

    You wanted to be here.

    Aren''t you supposed to give a notice when you drag me here?

    But you''re here now?

    Do you even know what you really want me to do?

    Of course, I do!

    Kino stared at Mina and cleared his throat but the cat continued to wear a sour look while grabbing the collar. Realizing what could be happening, Kino stood up from his head, making sure to make as little noise as possible.

    Mina suddenly looked at the monkey who was now on his feet while trying to push the cleaning cart.

    \"This collar is useless! It''s highly intrusive, it couldn''t even help me with my mission.\"

    With eyes constantly straying towards the opening of the pod, Kino spoke with caution.

    \"What would you need its assistance for? You''re already doing great!\"

    Wary of Mina''s pointed stare, the monkey spoke again before Mina could reply.

    \"For someone who''s not actually part of the Network.\"

    Mina looked sideways before mumbling something in reply.

    \"How could that be? I did nothing yet.\"

    \"Now, now, buddy, you''re a cat and all but you are still alive and ... actually useful.\"

    Useful. Hmpf

    \"Shut up!\"

    Kino gulped air, he took a large step towards the exit when Mina hissed. Seeing that the cat grabbing the collar with much greater force.

    \"Want a drink?\"

    \"Forget that drink.\"

    The monkey eyed the doors with longing while studying the cat tugging on the collar.

    \"Make this collar behave.\"

    Kino''s eyes widened but he answered anyway.

    \"I can''t.\"

    Mina could sense the collar laughing at her when she heard those two words. She was about to forcefully take it off through any means when she saw a fury, human-like fingers stop her.

    Startled, she looked up to see Kino in front of her.

    \"This collar is special. It''s the only way to help you access this place from the human world. You need to keep it with you at all times.\"

    Realizing how close he was to the cat who emitted killer vibes a few seconds ago, Kino slowly backed away while trying to act like his usual self.

    \"Now, now, you must have something you want to learn when you decided to come here.\"

    You said take me to that plaaaace

    You''re still unreliable

    You''re welcome.

    Kino raised an eyebrow while studying Mina as if waiting for her to speak first. After calming down and ignoring the collar''s quips, Mina tried to catch the monkey''s eye but Kino seems to be avoiding her stare.

    Mina waited for Kino''s gaze to settle on her but to no avail.

    This time, Mina couldn''t help but make some noise and clear her throat.

    \"Kino!\"

    The cute meowing sound made Kino, who had a hand over his chin, pay attention to the creature inside the pod.

    \"Could you tell me something about Serket?\"

    Under Kino''s studious gaze, Mina shifted her weight from one foot to another. The monkey finally looked at her, this time Kino''s human-like eyes held a lot of meaning and Mina saw his teeth appear as his lips curved upwards.

    \"I could. But... I want something in return.\"

 75 Not So Secre

    Mina glared at the monkey who was clasping both hands together while looking at her.

    \"Ahhh... Serket, you say...\"

    Mina''s eye''s followed the monkey who walked with both hands and legs on the ground. She couldn''t help but notice Kino''s shrewd appearance.

    \"Buddy, I didn''t know you''re interested in gossip.\"

    As the kiss squeak sounds continued, Mina could feel her the increase in temperature in her ears.

    \"Serket...\"

    Mina ignored her annoyance with Kino''s taunting instantly and placed her full focus when the monkey communicated with smacking sounds.

    \"How should I put this...\"

    Kino was just a few inches from Mina and she could smell his wet fur but she was more interested in learning more about Serket than nagging an orangutan.

    \"These days I''ve been missing my stick. This place... Stingy creatures! I''ve been putting up with walking all this time and now, they took my stick away!\"

    Mina couldn''t help but back away from the monkey who was making big gestures with his hands.

    \"They say it''s dangerous!\"

    Kino took a step closer to Mina and placed both hands on his head. Mina could only follow the monkey''s erratic movements.

    \"It''s just a stick!\"

    The monkey was about to extend a hand towards Mina. The unexpected movement caught her by surprise and she couldn''t help but fend off the monkey by slapping his hand away.

    Even with her paws retracted, she felt the moment her paw got in contact with the animal''s skin.

    What if she annoys this monkey and he gives her a hard time?

    Mina wanted to take her paw back, but Kino was quicker. The monkey''s grip tightened around her paws and looked her in the eye.

    \"Wh-what?\"

    \"You''re my savior!\"

    Releasing her paw, Kino turned around and all Mina could see was his furry back.

    \"Help me scratch my back.\"

    Mina''s eyes bulged.

    \"Here, here.\"

    Kino pointed on a small portion in the middle of his back and Mina

    What''s wrong with this monkey?

    His hands are so long!  He can reach his back!

    \"Kino, what do you know about Serket?\"

    \"That lethal scorpion?\"

    The question piqued Mina''s curiosity and all she could do was observe Kino whose fingers were pointing at a spot on his back.

    Mina stared at her paws and started scratching.

    \"That Serket, she stings without mercy.\"

    Kino continued to point to a different place.

    \"Don''t mix things up. Serket is just an annoying bird.\"

    Mina made a face as she spoke. Kino remained silent for a while but before long, she saw the monkey''s fingers point to another section on his back.

    Mina tried to hold back her temper. This monkey may prove useful when she becomes human again.

    And, she didn''t want to burn bridges this early.

    Seeing that Kino was just looking outside the pod while scratching his head, Mina continued.

    \"She likes to hoard the spotlight\"

    Mina did not stop scratching the monkey''s back while trying to juggle his memory.

    \"And is giving the general a hard time.\"

    \"Not to mention narcissistic.\"

    The scratching became more intense as Mina spurted one line after another.

    \"Serket, she''s???\"

    Kino winced as he asked great difficulty, but before he could continue, Mina spoke again.

    \"She''s a parrot, a parakeet perhaps, with an atrocious color.\"

    Mina took a step closer to the monkey and continued attacking his body. Her chirp-like meows were growing louder and although the noise was not sinister, Kino couldn''t help but distance himself from Mina who continued to meow her grievances.

    \"Her wings --those wings -- the color is so blinding.\"

    \"It will hurt your eye.\"

    Mina spat the lines in a series of passionate meows.

    \"You need industry-grade goggles.\"

    With each line, Kino took a small step away but Mina was quick to follow him and her paws never stopped scratching the orangutan''s back. The monkey''s expression turned completely black when he noticed that they circled the pod.

    \"You''ll be repulsed with that bird!\"

    As Mina''s paw came in contact with his back, Kino felt a sharp pain. This time, he took a big step forward.

    \"That''s enough scratching, Buddy.\"

    The monkey winced and turned around to study Mina, his eyes losing their previous myrrh and looking ready for business.

    \"Are you are envious of Serket?\"

    \"Of who?\"

    Kino raised an eyebrow while smoothing his back. Mina returned the monkey''s stare before starting another tirade.

    \"How could a wonderful creature like me be jealous of that... that bird?\"

    \"So, you''re not jealous?\"

    \"That''s not the point!\"

    \"I scratched your back, now you scratch mine! What do you know about Serket?\"

    \"Serket you say?\"

    Kino dragged his words and stared at the world below.

    \"Interesting.\"

    With one hand on his chin, he turned and engaged Mina in a staring match before finally speaking.

    \"Did she appear as a bird now?\"

    Kino''s hands rested on his chin.

    \"She had a preference for being a scorpion you see.\"

    \"Are you sure you''re talking about ...Serket?\"

    \"Yes. Why else would those people hold a meeting with her?\"

    \"That''s true. Hmm... Then, the rumors may be true.\"

    Kino had a thoughtful look on his face while pondering over things.

    \"I''m not sure if I should be telling you this.\"

    Mina hissed but before she could lash out, Kino continued again.

    \"Serket can take on different animal forms.\"

    \"Serket? You mean that... that bird can...\"

    \"It''s not exactly a secret. That''s her punishment.\"

    \"Punishment for?\"

    \"She violated some rules and got that straightlaced Jadon in trouble too.\"

    \"So she severed ties with the Network?\"

    \"No. But she''s on probation and,\" Kino looked at the pod''s entrance before gazing into Mina''s eyes, \"according to the grapevine, she can''t use her human form.\"

    Mina gave Kino a blank look.

    \"Fine!\" The monkey had both hands in the air and mumbled.

    \"Why am I always the one explaining everything.\"

    Mina raised a paw and licked it while eyeing Kino.

    \"Fine!\"

    \"Since Serket can''t stay human, she has no choice but to jump from one form to another. She can''t stay on one form for too long or she...\"

    Kino sighed and gave Mina a serious look.

    \"Or she might get too used to her form and forget ... some things.\"

    \"Is that...\"

    Mina''s thoughts were all jumbled and it took her a few seconds to compose her thoughts.

    \"If I remain like this for a long time, I would start acting like one?\"

    \"Weren''t you already starting to act like one?\"

    Suddenly bewildered, Mina could only give Kino an alarmed gaze.

    \"You... you mean?\"

    Kino nodded.

    \"Exactly.\"

 76 More Truth Bombs

    \"Hmmm...\"

    Mina studied her paws while digesting the latest truth bomb from the monkey. Gazing up, Mina opened her mouth.

    As her mouth opened wider, she noticed the monkey''s scrunched up face. Mina closed her mouth with reluctance and threw Kino a helpless look.

    \"When you possess another body, your soul needs to snap in place.\"

    Afraid to get an earful, Mina was about to turn her ears away from Kino but the monkey''s statement made her change her mind.

    \"Acclimating to a new shell chips off part of you. Naturally, you''ll lose part of yourself to fit into a new body.\"

    The monkey who had a glum expression closer and tapped her head thrice.

    \"You need to forgo some memories to connect function in a new shell.\"

    Mina could barely understand Kino''s statement after the monkey''s finger connected with her head.

    ''My skull is not a gong!''

    \"I''m noticing some pattern here.\"

    This time, Mina''s expression was not too pleased when she cut off the monkey''s explanation.

    The regular meowing sound was softer than usual but there was an edge to it.

    \"That''s a miracle!\"

    Kino had two hands in the air and a wry smile on his thick lips.

    \"You''d spare me from all these long-winded lectures. As you know...\"

    \"Explaining is hardly your favorite activity.\"

    Mina hissed and glared at Kino.

    \"I know!\"

    Kino simply bobbed his head towards Mina''s direction.

    \"You''ve grown up my not-so-feline, not-so-human comrade!\"

    Kino was not fazed by Mina''s intense gaze. The monkey did not even straighten his hunched back.

    \"Don''t gloss over the important details.\"

    Mina''s eye widened as she tried to catch the orangutan''s attention.

    \"If I overstay my welcome in this cat body, I will lose my memories?\"

    \"Haven''t we already established that fact?\"

    The monkey''s sideways look made Mina uncomfortable, but this time she was not afraid to ask questions.

    ''I''m so thankful this orangutan lost that stick or ... I don''t want to think about it.''

    It''s not like you don''t deserve it.

    Mina praised herself for getting better at ignoring the collar''s unsolicited comments and placed her full attention on Kino.

    ''Oh well is there anyone else in this pod who could help him scratch his itch. Hmm...it''s not much of an advantage, but it''s something.''

    Such lewd thoughts!

    Shut up! Mina reprimanded the collar who suddenly intruded in her head.

    Focusing solely on Kino,  Mina emphasized each word as she ruminated aloud.

    \"You mean, I came here from my world and bham! I lost some memories.\"

    ''Great, I don''t remember losing any memories but this monkey says I did.''

    Mina shrugged at the thought and she could feel one side of her lip curl up. With her gaze fixed on Kino who was casually scratching the back of his head, Mina continued.

    \"Now, you say, if I overstay in this body, the same thing will happen.\"

    \"Poof!\"

    Mina opened one paw for emphasis and instinctively unsheathed her claws.

    \"I will lose my memories - again.\"

    Kino''s eyes followed the movement of her sharp claws. With a bony hand, Kino wrote a large checkmark in the air.

    \"Full marks!\"

    While the monkey''s voice echoed in the pod, Mina''s inner thoughts were all jumbled up.

    ''What kind of world is this? Losing memories left and right like some soap opera.''

    Mina''s internal musings only stopped when she heard Kino speak once more.

    \"In the second case though, it''s more about losing the essence of your being.\"

    ''Really now?''

    \"Perhaps you''ve lost your memories too, and you remembered it wrong.\"

    The remark came out faster than Mina expected it to. She eyed Kino warily, trying to gauge the monkey''s response.

    Instead of replying quickly, Kino found a spot and crouched down.

    He said nothing, but his gaze wandered outside the pod as his hands caressed his chin.

    \"Perhaps.\"

    Kino had a somber expression when he replied absentmindedly.

    Mina felt like she had to hold her breath and not make a sound so Kino will continue speaking.

    It was unlike the usual Kino who either berated her for knowing absolutely nothing or praised her like she was a rare gem.

    Mina was about to break the almost deafening silence when Kino jumped up.

    \"I''ve been in the Network for decades, walking these halls, pushing my cart...

    \"...hanging upside down from a tree would probably make me feel ridiculous now.\"

    Kino pressed his lips together while staring at Mina whose face showed a wide range of emotions.

    \"As for you...\"

    The orangutan''s cheeks bulged and his lips tightened.

    \"What about me?\"

    Kino paused and rubbed the side of his head over and over.

    \"You...you are a cat!\"

    The orangutan surveyed a clueless Mina from top to toe before shaking his head.

    \"No...no... it wouldn''t be too bad.\"

    \"It''s not too bad to be a cat.\"

    \"Maybe something that ...crawls?\"

    Mina instinctively answered although she had no idea what Kino was thinking.

    \"A snake?\"

    \"Hmmm... a snake... no, something else.\"

    \"Pffft....or a worm...  \"

    \"Kino!\"

    ''This is ridiculous! What is this monkey up to now?''

    \"Wriggling on... pfffft... dirt... when you pfffft...\"

    The monkey couldn''t hold himself back this time and collapsed in laughter.

    \"Pfffft....eat pffft... dirt\"

    After uttering the unintelligible words, the orangutan rolled on the floor while holding his stomach.

    As Kino''s laughter became louder, Mina''s tail swung faster.

    Mina couldn''t hold back herself back.

    Going back on all fours, she circled Kino, hissed, and rolled her eyes.

    \"Stop!\" Mina had both paws on the air as she struggled to stand up on just two paws.

    Kino tried to control his laughter as Mina hissed another warning.

    Even under Mina''s strict surveillance, it took Kino several minutes to take control of his emotions.

    When the occasional guffaw escaped, Mina bared her fangs which made the monkey try harder. Sounds of anger and mirth bounced inside the pod for some time.

    The hissing only stopped when Kino regained his composure and started smoothing his face.

    With her ears shooting up from her head and her tail curved up, Mina finally found the words to voice out her thoughts.

    \"Do I become a cat, a real one, if I stay here for a long time?\"

 77 You Shouldnt Be So Catty

    Mina paced in front of the monkey who appeared to have no plans of giving her an answer straight away.

    Before Kino could come up with something, she couldn''t help but ask another question.

    \"How long do I have until I become 100% cat?\"

    Anxiety seems to be creeping into her whole body as she blurted another question.

    Kino let out a sigh and placed a hand on his head as if he was getting a headache from looking at Mina.

    \"Relax, Buddy. That collar is not just for show.\"

    Mina who was on the verge of asking another question she stopped midway to size up Kino.

    \"Without this collar?\" With one paw holding on to the collar, Mina couldn''t stop her mouth''s persistence overpowered her restraint.

    \"Does this thing even work?\"

    \"What will happen to me without it?\"

    \"Will...\"

    Kino harrumphed and gave Mina warning through an intense gaze which silenced her right away.

    \"If you''re stuck in that body without the collar... you should be more cat than human right now. But...\"

    The abrupt stop made Mina''s ears standing straighter up as Kino''s last word hung in the air.

    \"With your way of questioning, I don''t see that happening anytime soon.\"

    \"Well... as for being a cat, well,  you can''t jump from one animal shell to another with ease like Serket.\"

    \"She can do that?\"

    Mina''s eyes widened. But Kino did not care about her shock.

    The monkey simply scratched his chest and waved his hand dismissively.

    \"She... She''s special that way.\"

    Seeing the impressed look in Mina''s eyes, Kino shook his head.

    \"But she''s probably not as awed as you are.\"

    Mina rolled her eyes, but she saw Kino giving her a reprimanding look.

    \"Serket would be annoyed about not having a human form.\"

    \"And you... should not be resenting her anyway.\"

    \"This is not about her! It''s about me! What''s going to happen now?\"

    Eyeing Mina who stopped walking back and forth again when he started speaking but was about to take another step, Kino looked alarmed.

    \"Your collar...\"

    Kino motioned towards Mina''s throat and paused as if he was waiting for something.

    Seeing how Mina was about to start walking back and forth again, he continued albeit reluctantly.

    \"...one of my greatest inventions, by the way, keeps you tethered to a... hmm... human psyche.\"

    \"So, stop fretting.\"

    Kino gave himself a pat in the chest and beamed, revealing a toothy smile.

    \"Aren''t I great?\"

    \"First... we''ve got memory loss.\"

    Mina couldn''t help but feel like she was on the most ridiculous tv show on the planet.

    \"Now, I got tethered to a human psyche...\"

    She couldn''t help but give Kino a disturbed look while trying to make sense of the monkey''s latest truth bomb.

    Was this monkey trying to make fun of her?

    Mina''s eyes narrowed while considering different possibilities.

    \"You need to stay grounded to your human form.\"

    Without warning, Kino crouched in front of Mina.

    \"Buddy, your soul is more flexible than your body. Would you rather stay as a kitty or get a shot at becoming a human again?\"

    Her nose was almost touching the monkey''s nose and she could smell his breath.

    \"Something isn''t right, though.\"

    Without hesitation, the monkey kept examining the collar close enough for Mina to bite his face if she wanted. But the thought of having Kino''s fur inside her mouth felt distasteful even in her imagination.

    \"You should feel less catty with that collar on but it seems like this thing is malfunctioning.\"

    Kino reached out to touch the collar on Mina''s neck and tried to examine it while ignoring Mina who struggled with all the monkey''s antics.

    \"I forgot!!! No wonder... \"

    Kino could only shake his head before finally letting Mina''s collar go and stepping back while mumbling.

    \"the human psyche we''re using is not exactly the model of virtue.\"

    Kriiiiing... Kriiing....

    A loud noise broke the silence and Kino immediately sprang up to his feet and frantically circled the pod. Mina on the other hand was still thinking of the monkey''s words and was slowly understanding their meaning.

    \"What...Whose...I''m actually...what does this tethering business even mean?\"

    Pushing his cart, the monkey was out of the pod in just a few seconds.

    \"Look at the time! I need to go!\"

    \"W-wa-ait! Just one more question!\"

    Kino reluctantly turned with a constipated look in his face.

    \"Wha--where--\"

    Mina scrambled to form a coherent question as Kino tapped his foot on the ground. The monkey raised his hand and pushed his cleaning cart forward. He already covered some distance when Mina finally came up with a valid question.

    \"Who--Whose human psyche am I using?\"

    \"The only one available.\"

    Kino continued pushing forward but he replied without even turning his back.

    \"And that is?\"

    \"Monkey!!! You...\"

    Mina ran out of the pod, wanting to go after the orangutan.

    \"KINO!!!\"

    Mina had to use significant force to call out loudly. She could feel her entire body vibrate to make sure Kino heard her question but the monkey continued to move forward.

    Just when Mina was about to throw a tantrum, Kino turned around.

    He was too far for Mina to see but for some reason, she could feel that the monkey had a smug look on his face.

    \"Serket, of course!\"

    Before Mina could ask something else, Kino was already too far away and he appeared more like a small hairy dot from where she stood.

 78 That Sound

    \"Bllllllloooooooooowwwwwwwwss!!!\"

    \"Huh?\"

    Mina heard a loud distorted sound.

    \"Blllllllooooooooooooooooooooooowwwwwwwwss!!!\"

    Mina winced. Her eyes scanned the whole area as the persistent voice gradually disappeared.

    But there was no one else in the pod.

    ''Where did the sound come from?''

    ''It was as if...''

    \"Boooooooooooowwwwsss!!! Boooooooossss!!! Boossss!!!\"

    Mina could feel pain with each soundwave.

    Covering her ears and closing her eyes had no effect against the persistent sound.

    This time, the ringing in her ears persisted even after the voice disappeared. Her back twitched as she tried to put her emotions under control.

    It took Mina a long time to get up from her protective stance. Still cautious, Mina rose from her hunched position and slowly opened her eyes.

    ''What was that sound?''

    Her back twitched and her eardrum throbbed at the mere thought.

    \"That sound...\"

    Her weak meow echoed in the pod. The bouncing sound slowly lifted the fog in her brain.

    \"Bbbbbbooossssss?\"

    With alert eyes, she scanned the pod but saw no other creature.

    \"Tarou?\"

    Caught off guard once again, Mina lost all sense of feeling when another loud cry assaulted her eardrums.

    \"Boooooooooooosssssssssssssss!!!\"

    This time the sound made her entire body hurt.

    Mina could only see the blinking monitor inside the pod but soon even the illuminated screen became blurry.

    ~~~

    \"Wake up, Boss!''

    Jolted awake by the familiar squeak, Mina was up in all fours.

    ''I was just in a pod a few seconds ago...what happened?''

    \"Finally!\"

    The small squeak coupled with a light touch on her leg pulled Mina back to the present.

    \"Come on, Boss!\"

    A small mouse circled around her hind leg while scolding her but she simply stared back and studied the place.

    \"How did I get back here?\"

    ''I was just in the pod and ...How did I get back here so quickly?''

    Mina hissed inside her head expecting to hear a reply.

    \"Boss!!!!\"

    More like a screech than a wake-up call, Mina subconsciously felt her head hurt at Tarou''s squeak.

    Her eyes narrowed while examining the small creature.

    ''Seriously? This underling of hers should be taught a lesson.''

    Mina ran towards Tarou with a sinister intention but the mouse made her forget those thoughts with a few squeaks.

    \"Boss, I can feel it!\"

    This time, Tarou spoke in soft and gentle squeaks.

    \"Something is about to happen...\"

    A brilliant flash illuminated the whole room and Mina barely caught Tarou''s next words over the loud crack of thunder.

    ''Waiiiit... was it... was it Tarou who called her back in the pod ?''

    ''But ...''

    ''Collar, how... is this even possible?''

    Mina hissed while interrogating the collar but there was nothing but silence inside her head.

    No snide comments or snappy remarks either.

    Tarou, on the other hand, looked outside the window before running towards the door.

    \"Boss, hurry!\"

    This time, the little mouse squeaked louder and Mina felt the ground rumble followed by the sound of hooves.

    \"Boss, this is an emergency!\"

    Mina could only stare at the little mouse who stood listlessly near the door while gnawing one of his paws.

    \"Why...\"

    \"We can''t waste any more time, we need to move now!\"

    Tarou''s squeaking stopped Mina from voicing her thoughts.

    \"Did a war break out, what are you panicking about?\"

    Mina found herself jumping off the table reluctantly and headed towards her little underling with a scrunched face.

    Sensing her movement, Tarou made his way out of the room.

    ''Just wait until I catch you!''

    Without pausing to think Mina followed Tarou who ran down the wall with ease. Even with her enhanced sense of sight, she could barely make out the silhouette of the little creature.

    ''Did Tarou ingest a speed-enhancing drug?''

    \"Hurry up Boss!\"

    \"Why are you in such a rush?\"

    Wanting to learn why the little mouse was in survival mode, Mina could only quicken her pace when she saw the distance between her and Tarou.

    Mina hissed after hearing the alarmed squeak from a distance.

    \"We can''t let other rodents beat us.\"

    \"Is war about to break out?\"

    \"This is war!\"

    Tarou let out a loud squeak before slowing down to a stop and slipping inside an open room.

    When Mina looked around, she realized that they were right outside the kitchen. For some reason, a brick propped the door open, making it easier to slip inside.

    Mina couldn''t help but notice the absence of the kitchen staff. But before she could figure out the unusual scene, a sytong scent caught her undivided attention.

    ''It smells divine in here!''

    Tarou shook his head and tugged on her fur.

    \"Boss quick, grab what you can.\"

    ''How dare this...''

    The mouse pulled on Mina with as much force as he could muster but she didn''t give in.

    \"Don''t be distracted by food!\"

    \"Meeeow...\"

    ''Why is this mouse ordering me what to do?''

    A soft breeze entered the window, making the delicious smell of food stronger and more delectable.

    Mina''s stomach rumbled.

    While she internal struggled on what to do, Taro disappeared from her side.

    \"Boss!\"

    The shrill sound irritated her ears and she looked down on the little creature that reappeared.

    \"Guard this.\"

    A small pile of food ended up right next to her.

    She had no idea how many times Tarou scuttled back and forth while she was trying to sort her thoughts while trying to get some answers from the collar. The next time she looked down, there was a small pile of food right next to her.

    When Tarou reappeared with another haul, he eyed Mina and shook his head before squeaking with bitterness.

    \"You need another underling ¡ªsomeone who could feed you.\"

 79 Mini Casualty

    Tarou couldn''t help but shake his head while hunting for more food.

    ''Ha! Even a weak creature like me has more common sense than Boss!''

    Just when Tarou deposited more food in his stash, his whiskers twitched. The small mouse ran towards a dark corner before squeaking a warning.

    "They''re here!"

    tak...

    tak...

    Tarou let out a deep breath when he heard the approaching footsteps. He scratched his stomach but something felt strange.

    There was no other movement in the kitchen except for his scuttling.

    ''Then, Boss...''

    ''Could Boss be...''

    With the sudden realization, Tarou reluctantly left his hiding spot and rushed towards Boss.

    Tarou scratched his head at the sight.

    The absentminded cat sat in front of the door as if to welcome anyone who enters.

    "Boss, quick, hide!"

    A sense of dread crept up Tarou''s fur. He couldn''t help but gnaw on a paw as the heavy footsteps approached the kitchen.

    tak...

    tak...

    With both paws, he dragged the absentminded cat towards a concealed area in the kitchen.

    When he felt the cat move, Tarou felt relieved. He fled right away without looking back.

    Just then a foot entered the doorway.

    Tarou could see everything from his new spot. And he could see the black cat, sitting in front of the doorway like it was the most natural thing in the world.

    ''Didn''t Boss?''

    Tarou gnawed on a paw while waiting.

    ''Of all places...''

    "Boss, you''re asking for death!"

    Tarou warned Boss through barely audible squeaks but the cat remained in the same spot. But she stood firm ready to face the incoming enemy head-on.

    ''What is Boss thinking?''

    ''I dragged Boss away but this cat is so stubborn.''

    ''If this cat dies...Well, it''s not my fault.''

    Tarou winced when he felt pain from gnawing his paw.

    ''I can''t let this happen.''

    Tarou tapped a paw on the floor while considering his options but before he could come up with anything, he heard another footstep.

    ''Boss can''t die just like this...''

    ''All my abundant days could come to an end without Boss.''

    Tarou sensed that the enemy was getting closer and closer to Boss.

    Immovable and calm, the black cat remained seated in front of the doorway.

    Tarou could hear his heartbeat. The fast pounding was like a stampede.

    Tak...

    Tak...

    With each step, Tarou heard the human huff.

    ''The footsteps... stopped?''

    "Humans!!!"

    Tarou covered his mouth to muffle his unexpected squeak.

    The cat looked up at the human who barged into the kitchen calmly. The human looked down to the cat on the floor, sizing up the animal.

    "Huh!"

    The almost indistinct human sound conveyed a challenging tone. Tarou saw a large woman carrying a large smoking pot. Behind her, there was another woman behind who was holding on to a huge basket.

    ''Boss may have a chance!''

    Tarou''s eyes sparkled as he assessed the situation. He looked at the women and then at the cat and the smoking pot.

    ''But Boss might become blotchy and bald.''

    Tarou shook his head but a catty hiss disturbed his thoughts.

    "What''s your business here?"

    Boss meowed like a king talking to a lowly servant and Tarou couldn''t help but take a closer look.

    There was no movement from either party.

    The food carrying women and Boss was at a standstill.

    Curious, Tarou moved out of his spot but stayed behind Boss. With the slight change in position, a delicious scent assaulted his nostril.

    But before he could savor the scent, the woman behind pointed at the black cat and shouted at the top of her lungs.

    "Demoooooon!!!"

    Tarou saw the black cat look at the two women lazily. Boss appeared bored while licking a paw.

    The mouse snickered.

    Boss can be dumb most of the time but this cat''s combat power exceeded his expectations. He continued to survey the area.

    With Boss in the way, these humans couldn''t do anything to him.

    He could continue raiding the kitchen!

    Just when he thought everything was under control, the woman in front moved forward.

    "Martha stop! Something unlucky will befall us!"

    Blood drained from Tarou''s face when his gaze caught something on the floor.

    All his hard work was right in front of the human.

    His stash!

    How could he miss it!

    "It''s just a cat. Don''t believe all that nonsense."

    The human''s reply made Tarou panic.

    "Noooo!"

    Hearing the urgent squeak, the black cat couldn''t help but look down on the floor as if realizing something.

    "Aaaaahhhhhhh....."

    In record time the cat who stood like a statue in front of the doorway disappeared into an inconspicuous corner. Her shining eyes betrayed her location but her body merged with the shadows.

    "It''s too late!!!"

    With a crestfallen face, Tarou watched the pile of food he collected was reduced thin skid marks on the brick floor as the woman''s right foot slipped forward.

    The woman gripped the pot''s handle tightly. Her knuckles turned white as she tried to maintain the pot''s balance not willing to spill the contents of the pot.

    Half kneeling, the maid used her left foot for support and placed the pot on the floor.

    The lid fell off the floor and a few drops of soup spilled from the pot. The maid finally loosened her grip on the pot''s handle when she found a stable position. Her tensed shoulder slumped as she tried to keep her breathing in order.

    The other woman stood like a frozen statue on the kitchen''s doorway. Tarou stared at the cat''s twitching tail while staring at the maid and scaring her off with a sinister meow.

    Not knowing what to do, the maid grabbed something from the basket, looked at the cat, and stared at the item on her hand. After deliberating, she tossed it to the black cat staring at her and rushed out.

    After a few seconds, the maid reappeared in the kitchen sneakily. She grabbed the hand of the other person on the floor dragged the other woman outside in record time.

    The sound of running echoes in the kitchen and Tarou stared at Boss who walked closer to the pot on the floor. He couldn''t resist the temptation either and ran towards the delicious food.

    It was a red stew and it was hot enough to burn his tongue.

    A bit of soup spilled on the upturned lid on the floor.

    Without losing any second, Tarou rushed towards the site of the accident and sampled the spilled stew on the floor.

    "This soup..."

    Tarou struggled to squeak and looked at Boss who was about to sample the soup right from the pot. He was too familiar with the look on the cat''s face.

    Boss was ready to pounce.

    His squeak made the cat stop and turn towards him. Tarou looked at the mighty black cat who was about to attack the fragrant soup with watery eyes.

    "Boss... this soup..."

    "What''s wrong with the soup?"

    Tarou swallowed and looked at the cat whose greedy eyes suddenly turned serious at his squeaks.