You pant in utter misery at the path you are taking : straight up! This must be the largest cherry tree you have ever dreamed of seeing. The smell is driving your stomach crazy, and your arms feel as if they are ready to come out from their sockets. But to no avail; neither pixie is about to let you stop. You ask for a rest, and they oblige, teasing you about your physical condition. You mutter to yourself and ignore them.
'Wow! Will you look at that!' A voice above you sounds, yet you are too exhausted to care. A thump and scrabbling on your branch finally causes you to turn your head. That may not have been smart, for you nearly fall out of the tree at the sight greeting your eyes : three large cats are walking towards you; three large cats. The lead cat sniffs you curiously, drawing back to sneeze.
'My word Kalika, whatever happened to this human? It smells worse than Peabody!' The other cats snuffle; you realize they must be laughing. Kalika grins, giggling, and even Rikale chuckles at this comment.
'Yes, well... This human has been through the woods, playing with dragons, unicorns, and what-not. It is a wonder that our companion still smells this pleasant. By the way,' Kalika says, turning to you, 'these are not mere 'cats', they are Senochs, a breed of large cat that lives in clans. Formalities aside,' Kalika turns back to the Senoch, grinning a bit evilly, 'how are you Renax? And the rest of the clan?'
'Oh, things are well. Actually, Pricilla gave birth to a cub only a week ago. You should really go see her. Pretty little thing. Lucius's daughter; only he can put up with Pricilla!'
'She really isn't that bad, Renax. Just vain is all. And can you blame her, with eyes like hers?' A large yellow cat in the back sighs dreamily. 'Violet... violet like... violets.' A chocolate brown female in the back smacks him with a paw,, sending him scrambling. You suppress a chuckle.
'Lucius,' the Senoch in the back says, 'shut up! We are tired of hearing your love-sick blather!' She whaps him a second time, for good measure.
'Quite right, my dear,' Renax says. 'This is my mate Chalsa. She is not cruel by nature, mind, only when it concerns Lucius!' Renax winks at his mate, who sniffs indignantly.
You ask about the cub, and Renax nods to you. 'She is further up the tree with her mother, no doubt. Quite a darling little thing, you really ought to go see her.' You agree with Renax on this point, excitement filling you at the chance to meet a Senoch cub! 'Here now,' he continues, 'Vineken can show you the way. Vinny!' the cat roars. You flinch at the moise. Within moments a lean, tawny Senoch leaps out of the branches onto the one you are resting on. He peers at you curiously.
'Renax, it's a human!' From the pitch of his voice, you get the impression this is but a youth. The older cat nods his head. 'What is a human doing here? And it smells! Ugh!'
Renax smacks the adolescent with a huge paw, quieting him for the time being. 'The human wishes to see Halta. And you, Vineken my boy, are going to guide this human to the cub.' The young Senoch gulps and turns to you.
'Well, come on.'
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