Episode One Hundred and Ninety: Be a cat

Indigo’s claws dug into the wooden table, but it smoothed out almost immediately after.

“Being a cat is dumb,” grumbled Indigo.

The Cat laughed, a deep laugh that filled the room. “You are correct, little one. Being a cat is hard. I guess it’s so hard, you cannot accomplish it.”

Indigo jerked back, then her eyes narrowed.

The Cat turned away and padded closer to me. His tail flickered in the air like a banner as he leaped onto the couch. 

“How’d your attempt work out trying to use rock magic for something it really doesn’t like to do?”

I jerked back a little.

The Cat’s eyes widened at my sudden movement, and he placed a paw right on my leg. No verbal apology, but one all the same. He did not look at Indigo.

Indigo bristled as her scales all glistened. Her form shivered, and then a cat stood there, ready to launch themselves at the Cat. She wasn’t as purple, but there were still purple tints to her fur. Her green eyes still had a slight dragon shape to them as she pounced at the Cat’s tail.

Before she could land, Lady Twilight plucked her out of the air and patted her on the head. 

Indigo immediately turned back into herself. 

“That was much better.” Lady Twilight’s eyebrow rose in the Cat’s direction.

“You asked for my help with the lesson, did she not make more progress?” he asked.

Indigo cocked her head to one side as Lady Twilight set her back on the table. She chirped once.

“Of course I knew you could do it. You only needed motivation.” The Cat nodded at Indigo and turned back to my journal, which still sat on the couch. “How goes your notes?”

I picked up the journal and my pen. “Haven’t started them yet, but I have plenty to write about.” 

“I have found stones to be very blunt with who they are. They aren’t ones for trickery, like Fey or dragons. The Fates are different.” His green eyes glittered, then he casually leaped to the floor and wandered away behind the couch.

“The Lord is correct about stones and stone magic.” Lady Twilight’s lips pressed together as she eyed the ceiling yet again. “The Fates have done many things with their magic, though. It’s difficult to categorize their magic. Maybe research the things they’ve done in the past, to get a sense of the breadth.”

Getting a research project wasn’t high on my list, but a starting point was nice. Anything to figure out how to save the Cat and use my magic for more than hints about daily tasks. 

“I can do that.” The book I’d received from Indigo for the solstice, and the Lorestone, would make things a little easier.

Indigo chirped a few times. “Aurora?”

“We’re going to head out. She is smaller than you, and lives in a much less magical place.” Lady Twilight motioned around her. “This place lets you recharge your magic faster. She doesn’t have that ability, because of the world she’s in.”

“Is that healthy?” I asked, thinking of the little dragon.

“It will be fine in the longer run, it just means she will grow slower.”

“Does she need an audiobook player?” 

Lady Twilight smiled. “Don’t worry about Aurora, I have her taken care of.”

Indigo launched herself in the air and twisted in tight curves around us several feet up.

“Now, with her you have your hands full.” A chuckle softened the statement, as did the bright pride shining in her eyes.

“Indigo is amazing.” I traced her flight pattern as she rose, weaving in and out of the beams. “She is growing so fast, though she isn’t getting bigger, just smarter.”

“That’s because you are doing a good job.” Lady Twilight stared at me. “You are a fantastic Aunt. Do not let anyone tell you otherwise. Indigo is thriving in your, and the Cat’s, care. She will be a fearsome dragon.”

“Fearsome? How about…” Words twisted in my mouth, and something different came out. “Luminous.”

The word hung in the air, and Lady Twilight bowed her head, pulling Aurora to her chest. When she glanced up again, her eyes went to Indigo. “Luminous.”

Indigo twisted about and aimed directly at me. 

“Dragon, you spoke dragon again, I felt it!” She crashed into my chest, pulling back at the last second. “What you say?”

The word waited in the back of my mind, yet something warned me against telling her. That it wasn’t time yet.

“Something for when you’re older,” I kept my voice soft and stared at her when I said it.

“Elders do that sometimes.” She nodded slowly. “And you are a Lady now.”

I chuckled as I gave her a squeeze. “I’m not a Lady.”

This time Indigo pulled back, her eyes wide. She shook her head frantically before nudging me with her snout.

“You are too! Two dragon clans called you such!”

“Little Indigo is correct. The Clan of Knowledge and the Chromaflame have both called you a Lady. Per dragoncred, you are a Lady.”

“Honor, so much honor!” Indigo carefully leaped onto the table, but caught sight of Aurora sleeping and lowered her voice. “Happens to grown dragons. Someday.”

“You are Lady Sable, dragon kin.” 

A burning from the magic inside my chest almost caused me to jump. 

“What the…”

The Cat’s voice came from behind. “That’s your soul hearing part of your true name.”

True name? I guess I had a true name now. Whatever that meant.

He appeared on the back of the couch, like he’d been there all along laying along the ridge. His whiskers twitched. “This is why names are so important, especially when you have magic.”

I didn’t regret naming Betty or Indigo, no matter what the Cat said. He was lucky I kept with the Cat for him. Then again, he had a name, it just remained hard to remember. Lord Felix or something like that. 

“We are off. I don’t want to worry Aurora’s mother.” Lady Twilight shook and her robes flowed all around her. She appeared so young and carefree with the dragon in her arms.

“When you return?” asked Indigo, her wings flapping excitedly behind her.

“You need to practice your glamour. When you have it down, I’ll be back.”

Indigo glanced away from her, wings drooping.

“I will send over several readings as well.”

This time the little dragon acted more enthusiastically. 

“Well, till next time then.” I stood as well, but Lady Twilight hurried out. By the time she crossed through the archway, I sat back on the couch tucking my feet under me. After she’d already left I remembered the school. Next time.

“How about a movie? I need something relaxing after all of that.”

“Popcorn!” Indigo leaped in the air.

“Yes, we can have popcorn.”

She flew out the archway without even pausing to listen. “Me make!”