<Episode 43>
Upon arriving at the training grounds, Kitty began stretching. She hopped in place to warm up when suddenly the air grew warm around her.
"Miss, are you cold?"
Clyde's question came unusually brusque.
Eliot reacted instantly to the approach of Threat #2.
"Clyde, the young lady is training. Step back."
"But she might catch a cold without a warmth spell."
Eliot sensed the natural intimidation radiating from Clyde.
'This one's also gone mad over the young lady. Need to stay alert.'
Though long past adulthood, Clyde stood as tall as Eliot. Unusual for a mage who should be reading books, he'd built a physique more befitting a warrior.
'Tsk. Typical foxes.'
His velvety voice and considerate nature perfectly disarmed the innocent cat lady's heart.
Now that their numbers had grown, the foxes' magic had become stronger and more refined. They employed bizarre spells beyond wolfkin imagination to curry Kitty's favor.
"Warmth spells hinder training. They'll make the young lady too pliant."
Kitty, drowsing in the cozy breeze, jolted awake with a start.
Clyde chuckled, steadying her back.
"Temperature control is possible, of course. Still cold, Miss?"
"Just...a little."
Kitty answered while eyeing Eliot. Smiling smugly, Clyde retreated several steps.
Eliot sighed deeply at the display that somehow managed to not technically disrupt training.
"Let's begin today's session."
After rigorous strength training came magic control practice.
Kitty poured her warm energy into a translucent glass orb, face scrunched in concentration despite poor results.
"Miss, you'll get wrinkles straining like that."
Undeterred, Kitty gritted her teeth and forced more magic through. The orb filled eventually, but with appalling inefficiency.
She stole glances at Eliot and the surrounding wolf knights.
'Disaster. So cats really are worse than wolves at magic?'
But cats pulled the Goddess's chariot!
She'd hoped to match them in magic if not strength, yet even this failed. The frustration stung.
As Kitty sulked, Clyde materialized beside her.
"Imagine a stream flowing from forehead to fingertips. It helps."
His finger touched her forehead. Instantly, her chaotic magic stabilized.
With a gentle smile, Clyde trailed his finger down her cheek, nape, arm, until it reached her claws.
"Wow, it works now!"
Eliot massaged his temples as Kitty beamed.
"Clyde, helpful as you are with magic control, give her space."
"Glad to be of service."
"Miss, next lesson."
Eliot bodily interposed between them. Having taught archery and daggers to proficiency, he'd move to essential beastkin combat techniques.
"Shift to animal form. Now that you've basic magic control, we'll practice combat as a cat."
Kitty's blue eyes sparkled like galaxies.
"Does this mean I'll learn Sir Jackal's backward leap with 45-degree downward strike?!"
"Not immediately...but perhaps with effort."
Transforming in a poof of excitement, Kitty became a cloud-like fluffball.
Every eye in the training yard locked onto the pristine puff standing wolf-straight, thanks to Jackal, Karis, Theo, and Deon's coaching.
Plump marshmallow paws, bubblegum nose, and perky ears combined into lethal cuteness. Her voluminous fur rippled in the breeze as Eliot called for a table.
'Still too small compared to wolves.'
Kitty gulped and straightened further, resolving to compensate with agility.
Eliot lifted her stretchy cheese-like body.
"Your winter fluff's impressive. Wish you'd gain muscle instead."
"But my claws thickened!"
She plopped a pillowy paw on Eliot's forearm. Envious sighs rippled through observers.
Eliot carefully pressed the pink jellybean pad.
Squish—
A grain-sized claw emerged.
"Sufficient for combat drills. Let's practice frontal paw strikes."
"Yes!"
"Positions."
"Yes!"
The wolves had reached enlightenment - interpreting kitty mews as dignified howls.
"Left first! One!"
"Nyat!"
"Two!"
"Nyawn!"
Each swing of her cotton-swab paw drew rapturous stifled gasps.
'If she pounces like that, I'll collapse from cuteness...'
'Is cuteness her secret weapon?!'
Unperturbed by sparkling stares, Kitty continued until Eliot called time.
"Enough for today."
"Whew..."
Exhausted, Kitty flopped down just as Clyde moved to lift her—
"My student. My responsibility."
Ethan materialized, scooping her up. Clyde's eyes narrowed to slits.
"Your obsidian coat will be ruined."
"Not your concern."
Their glares clashed frostily. Used to their rivalry, Kitty proceeded calmly.
"Thank you for today, Sir Eliot!"
From Ethan's arms, she raised both paws. Static from his coat fluffed her fur into a dandelion puff.
Eliot tapped each pillowy pad, suppressing a smile.
Squish—
"Training doesn't feel complete without the Squish Five."
"Right! See you tomorrow!"
As Ethan and Clyde's scorching glares turned toward Eliot, Ben approached.
"Sir Eliot. Urgent matter."
"Report."
"The foxes rescued today awoke. They weren't sent by leopards."
Ben's tone brooked no delay.
"A cat named Jerian ordered them to retrieve the young lady's hair. Their leader, it seems."
At "Jerian," the blood drained from Kitty's face.
The recovery room housed fox beastkin piled five to a bed.
Eliot blinked. "Clyde, bedding shortage?"
"We heal faster clustered."
"Then behave. Tails down."
Normally Kitty would marvel at their luxurious tails, but not today.
In human form, she approached the indicated bed. The foxes bowed.
"You invaded Gridwolf for Jerian? Not leopards?"
They nodded grimly.
"Jerian used Blue Moon on us. Not sure if real..."
"Wait, he has Blue Moon?!"
"Same blue gem technique as prior foxes." Identical to leopard methods.
Kitty's face darkened further.
"He demanded 'Kitiya Gridwolf.' Rambled about verifying something."
"Ordered hair retrieval when capture failed. We're grateful you saved us."
Kitty's heart raced.
Jerian.
Her eternal nemesis sought her first.
'You come to me when I planned to hunt you?'
Emerald eyes glinted dangerously as a fox added:
"He said you'll soon harbor his agents. Probably planting spies as maids..."
Kitty's gaze sharpened with Gridwolf's signature edge, her voice mirroring Karis's regal tone:
"Wouldn't be proper to ignore such hospitality."
None intervened. All knew Kitiya Gridwolf's adorable appearance belied lethal prowess.
