<Chapter 33>
Thanks to Theo and Deon diligently brushing me, I was able to get through my shedding without any problems. I returned to my daily routine and learned various things from Iden.
Even though I skipped class 'cause I was shedding like crazy, Iden surprisingly didn't get on my case too much.
'That wolf is so hard to read.'
After I'd nailed the alphabet and gotten okay at writing, Iden started teaching me more about what was up with the beastmen and the Blue Moon.
"The beastmen still haven't cracked how the Blue Moon works. They're just messing around with fake ones, so they're not getting anywhere."
I jotted down the important stuff in my notebook and thought about it.
Every time I learned about the Blue Moon, there was something that felt strange.
‘Surely Jerian also used the word Blue Moon often, I think.’
Jerian always said 'Blue Moon' when he was talking to the big cats who followed him around, or to those random guests who showed up sometimes.
'But Sir Jackal and Iden said the leopards had the Blue Moon.'
Is Jerian close to the leopards?
No, thinking that way was a bit strange. Cats were driven out of their homes during the leopards' rampage four years ago and pushed to more barren lands.
That day a leopard bit off the end of my tail, it wasn't just me who got hurt by them. All the cats were scared of leopards and hated them.
'Mom said Jerian was the one who stepped up to make sure the cats got out safe.'
That's how he ended up being the leader of the cats.
If so, Jerian shouldn't be on good terms with leopards either.
'But Jerian talked about the Blue Moon, and the Blue Moon is with the leopards…….’
As I kept thinking about it, Iden asked.
"What are you so curious about?"
"How did you know I was curious about something?"
As expected, can geniuses see it?
"Your tail is curled up in the shape of a question mark."
"Ah……."
My tail, which I didn't even realize had come out, was curled in a question mark shape. I got off the chair and spun around to catch my tail.
Only after spinning around three times was I finally able to grab my tail. As I rubbed and rubbed it with my hand, my tail disappeared with a poof.
When I sat back down, Iden was staring out the window at something far away.
"Teacher, what are you looking at?"
“…….”
"Iden?"
"Just tell me what you were curious about."
"Hmm……."
I thought about it for a second. Even though Iden knew I was a cat, I wasn't sure if I could really tell him what I was thinking.
But even when I was shedding like crazy, Iden didn't tell anyone I was a cat.
'He's kinda nice, too. I bit him, and he didn't even hold a grudge.'
And Iden, who lost his mom to the leopards, might actually help me get revenge.
I stared into Iden's blue eyes for a while before I spoke.
"Teacher. Is the Blue Moon also related to cats?"
Iden looked surprised when I said 'cat.'
"It's not unrelated. The Blue Moon is the Goddess's holy relic, and cats used to pull her chariot."
"Holy relic?"
"It's what you call sacred stuff left behind by gods. Like the things in lullabies."
"Ah, Teacher, couldn’t you sleep without lullabies when you were young too?"
"Not really. I just memorized it because it’s a song with the Goddess’s legend.”
Yeah, a sweet lullaby doesn't really fit Iden.
Iden added a few words in a bored voice, like he was just listing facts he didn't care about.
"I read it in a book a while ago, but among cats, there are cats who use the same name for generations while waiting for the Goddess to appear, or something like that."
“…….”
Am I imagining it, or is Iden testing me? It just hit me that my dad and brother have the same name.
"Cats touched by the Goddess are said to be immune to the Blue Moon."
"Iden... you seem really interested in cats?"
"I just happened to find out while looking for a way to subdue leopards."
Now I get why Iden thought little me was a spy when we first had tea.
'Leopards are misusing the Blue Moon in some way, and the only animal known to be immune to the Blue Moon is cats… wait.’
The moment I realized something, my tail popped out in the shape of an exclamation mark.
'Could it be that my special ability Mom talked about is…?'
Even when I saw the fake Blue Moon in Mr. Gridwolf's office, I didn't feel grossed out. I actually felt a warm energy.
And I woke up super early from that catnip, even though I should've been out for hours. Now that I think about it, Dad used to brag that he never got drunk, no matter how strong the booze was.
'Are Dad and Brother special cats, and did I inherit that ability?'
Sir Jackal said Dad was looking into the Blue Moon. That makes sense if he was immune to the madness.
I looked down at my paws. I thought about Mom, who went to heaven before she could explain everything, and my heart hurt.
'Did Mom tell me to go to the wolf territory because she knew about my ability?'
If I don't get taken over by the madness, the wolves, who want to get rid of the leopards, might see my ability and take care of me.
Of course, even if I have the ability to not be affected by the Blue Moon, that alone is not enough to take revenge on Jerian.
'If I’m just thinking about stabbing Jerian, it would be better to ask Sir Elliot to teach me how to wield a dagger.’
But if that jerk is working with the leopards, I could use the wolves' help. It'd be way easier than me, a cat, trying to take on Jerian's whole crew by myself.
I made up my mind, clenched my fist, and said to Iden.
"Um, Iden? Could you help me out a little?"
Iden looked kinda amused and leaned in closer.
"Kittia. Do you trust me?"
"Well... you're my teacher, aren't you?"
Iden smiled, looking pleased, and fixed my hair.
"Keep thinking that way in the future too. Among the people you can trust, I’m the only one who can help you."
His blue eyes, all satisfied, got this soft look.
"So, what kind of help do you want from me?"
"Jerian, um, the cat who's acting like the boss of all the cats, I saw him talking about the Blue Moon with some random guys."
Iden's eyes got all serious as he listened.
"Not the leopards, but the leader of the cats was talking about the Blue Moon? Did you hear what they said?"
"I didn't catch all of it, but I'm sure he said 'Blue Moon'."
Iden thought for a second, then figured out what I was gonna ask.
"It’s an important matter, so I’ll tell Sir Jackal.”
"Um…….”
"I'll make it sound believable so they don't figure out you're a cat, so don't worry."
That's exactly what I was waiting for Iden to say, so I nodded fast.
If I told Sir Jackal I overheard Jerian, he'd know I was a cat.
I smiled, all happy, and Iden petted my head once before closing the book we were studying.
"That's it for class today. Sounds like the peanut gallery's about to show up."
Right after Iden finished talking, someone knocked on the study door. The only people who would come at this time were Theo and Deon, so I didn't bother to ask.
"Kitty, is class over?"
"The best big brothers ever, bringing snacks right on time, aren't you, Soft Paw?"
As expected, the visitors were Theo and Deon.
The two of them placed the snacks they had brought down one by one. Salmon jerky, donuts, and lastly, warm milk with strawberry jam.
Smiling, I hopped over to them. Deon cupped my face in his hands and squeezed.
"Soft Paw, you can't be kissing us all the time. Your big brothers' hearts will give out, and we'll die!"
Since Deon was squishing my cheeks, I could only make fishy faces instead of answering.
Oh no, kiss failed.
I used to kiss Mom, Dad, and Brother all the time, so I felt kinda bummed, but what can you do?
When I stopped making fish faces, Deon let go.
"Okay. It would be a problem if my big brothers died."
"Ah… even saying it like that is too much."
I poked Deon with my soft paw and then sat down in my seat. Theo handed me pretty tableware.
Iden was looking at the three of us like he was totally bored, and that's when I noticed his clothes were different.
"Oh, Iden, are you wearing a cool fur thingy?"
"Wow, you noticed that fast."
I looked around and saw that Theo and Deon had those fur things on their shoulders, too.
"I heard wolves grow those fur things when they get their thick winter fur and turn human."
Come to think of it, all the wolves I've met lately have been wearing those. Suddenly, my shoulders felt naked.
Theo, who saw me checking out the fur on all three of them, said.
"Kitty, baby wolves don't grow those fur things, so don't worry about it."
"Hmm…….”
"And Kitty, your hair's gotten way thicker, too, you know?"
Theo was all happy, saying my pigtails were puffier. Hmm, so wolves grow those fur things instead of their hair getting thicker when they go into beast form in the winter, huh?
I could pass it off as being young now, but once I become an adult, everyone will know that I am a cat.
"But I'm making those yarn balls, so I'll be seven soon..."
"Yarn balls?"
Ah, wolves probably don’t call round balls of fur yarn balls, do they?
"I meant fur balls!"
"Ah, really? But seven years old. Is it Kitty’s birthday?"
I kinda nodded without thinking. I wasn't trying to get them to celebrate, but Theo and Deon wouldn't let it go and kept asking for the date.
"No wonder. It’s common for wolves born in winter to have pale and light fur."
"Ah, is that so?"
"So when exactly is it? It’s not far off, right?"
"Um…… it’s a week later."
I checked the calendar and mumbled it. Then, Theo, Deon, and even Iden looked surprised.
"A week later? It’s really not far off? What do you want?"
"But I already have a lot now?"
"Soft Paw, you sometimes talk like an adult. Baby wolves are supposed to constantly want something."
Theo and Iden didn't say anything, like they agreed with Deon.
I see. Baby wolves are supposed to be greedy.
I really wanted to have those cool wolf fur things like Theo, Deon, and Iden, but that's not something you can just get by wishing.
I thought hard about what I needed and said.
"Then knitting supplies would be good after all! If not that, then sewing supplies would be good too."
"Soft Paw, is there something you want to make?"
Deon asked. I smiled brightly and told them about my future plans.
"Not really, but I'm planning to learn some skills for when my temporary adoption's over and I have to leave Gridwolf and live on my own. The knitting needles in the mansion are too big for my hands, you know?"
“…….”
The three wolves' eyes went all weird.
