Free The Society of Secret Cats by De Kenyon Page B

“ In this dream, it is everywhere. Beware the forest, but beware the things that are not in the forest even more. You are about to come upon the Wolfish-kin soon, by the way , if you should continue in this direction . ”
    “ Why are you following us? ” I asked.
    “ Because I want to get out of this forest as much as you do. I far prefer the safe little dreams of little girls than that of the Great Forest and its kind. I could get eaten up in two snaps out here. ”
    “ You ’ ll get eaten either way, ” I growled. “ When we get back, I will crunch you right up. ” I let Jaela slide down to the ground.
    She looked up at the spider-kin. “ You have a face. ”
    She was right; among the many spider-eyes and the snapping jaws, a pattern of splotches on the hairs of the Aranea formed a face, a lovely cat-lady ’ s face that seemed to wink as the wind rippled the hairs.
    “ Stop that, ” I said, and the cat-lady ’ s face laughed.
    The spider said, “ I suppose, ” and the face faded into the spider-hairs .
    Suddenly, the forest seemed to part like a pair of gauzy curtains across a breezy window, and a dream-walker stepped through: a cat.
    “ Hello, cousin, ” said the cat politely. She had calico fur and a collar made of something shimmering and bright, like fish scales. Her tail was like the thinnest, most delicate, beckoning finger, and her smell was like rich perfume. “ I see you are in some difficulty. ”
    Nevertheless, I stepped between her and my girl. “ Who are you? ”
    “ I am Slide, ” she said. “ I am a member of the Society of Secret Cats, and I am here to return you and your charge to your own dreams. ” She walked closer to me, but I did not step away from my girl.
    “ I have no intention of hurting you or your child, ” Slide said. “ However, if you would follow me, I will guide you back to the lands you know. ”
    She stopped within paw ’ s reach and tilted her head b ack a little, baring her throat, which, among cats, is very much like a bow.
    I cleared my throat — I felt awkward, like my fur was out of place. I brushed my paws down my sides quickly, then picked up Jaela and purred to her for a moment, almost more to reassure myself than her.
    “ We will be all right, ” I told her. “ I will keep you safe. ”
    “ Ferntail, ” she said. “ I don ’ t like that cat. She will scratch me. ”
    I looked back at Slide, who was licking her paw and bathing her face with it. I didn ’ t see any reason not to like her, but it was all very strange.
    “ Lead on, ” I said. What else could I do?
     
    Slide did not take us through the curtains of dream, the way she had come. Apparently, it was a way that could only be used by the Society of Secret Cats, and not by humans. If I were to go through such a way, I would have to promise my loyalties to the Society, and leave Jaela behind, to be guarded by a mere kitten instead , and that I could not bear. Jaela was like a kitten to me, even though at six, she was old enough to be my mother.
    As we walked through the forest, I saw that the Aranea followed us. The way the spider-kin traveled was to wait until we were almost out of sight, then cast a thin line of web, almost invisible, through the trees. As the line of web touched a far tree, a little bit ahead of us, the web would disappear, and the spider-kin would appear where the web had touched. In such a way, the Aranea could travel as fast as we.
    We did not travel as fast as we had when I had run. As I said, I am very fast.
    “ Do you need to slow down? ” Slide asked, after a time. “ Or to rest? ”
    “ Not a bit, ” I said , running at a pleasant speed . “ Keep going. The sooner Jaela is back in her bed, the better. ”
    We ran and we ran, and the sounds of the Azdaja faded behind us.
    “ Now are you tired? ” Slide asked.
    “ No. ”
    We ran and we ran, for a short way or a long way, and through the gaps between the trees, I saw that the moon never moved, that