"He loves me, he loves me not.
He loves me, he loves me not.
He loves me, he loves me not.
He loves me!!!"
Penelopeia tossed the stem away and laid back against the tree. "Great, so he loves me, but WHO is he?" She sighed itirrably and scratched her belly. Her fur was dappled in the sunlight and the light filtered red through her closed eyes.
"But why am I even looking? I haven't even gotten through my first year yet, and I'm already looking for a mate." She opened her eyes and stood up. She was tall and gangly, with fluffy silver fur shot through with russet. She always had wanted to be a beauty like her mother, but so far she was shaping up to just another face in the crowd.
"Penny!" She grimaced at the name. "What is it, Mother?"
Raven stalked up to her. "This is the third time this week that you've missed dance lessons, and no daughter of mine is going to grow up without proper grace and deportment."
"I skipped the lessons because Miko is a blathering idiot. And I'd much rather be taking magic lessons instead."
"You'll talk of no such thing while you live in my household. There is no such thing as magic!"
"Yes, there is. I can do it!" Penelopeia clenched her paws into fists.
Raven raised a delicate eyebrow. "Oh really? What can you do then? Read minds? Change shape? Fly?"
Penelopeia shook her head. "No, but I can disappear." And with that, she did.
***************************
"Help! Help! Somebody, HELP!" A tall, black tom was thrashing about in the water.
Penelopeia started from her nap, her eyes searching for the creator of the cries. "I'm coming! I'm coming!" She plunged headfirst into the water--unlike most cats, she had been swimming since she was tiny, and her instincts served her well now. Surfacing below the tom, she shoved him up out of the water and toward the shore. As soon as they reached an area where he could stand, she dragged him to his feet and pushed him onto shore.
"Are you all right?" She asked with characteristic bluntness, and grinned when he nodded. "The river's fairly deep here--you should've known that."
He shook his head. "I wouldn't know--I'm not from around here."
"You still should've had the good sense not to fall in." She gazed at him. He was tall and scrawny, much like herself, and he couldn't have been much older than she was. She felt a not too unpleasant feeling in the region of her stomach, and was keenly aware of how close they were.
"Anyway, thank you for helping me.....where I come from, no one would have stopped to help me." He paused and took his first good look at her. A thought crossed his mind that she was the most beautiful queen he had ever seen."What's your name anyway?"
"Penelopeia. And you?"
"Odysseys of the Mountain Tribe."
"You're of the Mountains?" She backed away, frightened. The Mountains Tribe wastheir oldest rivals--not quite enemies, but not quite friends.
"Yeah, and let me guess--you're of the Forest Tribe, right?"
"Exactly. So I guess that means we can't be friends."
"I never had many friends anyway--doesn't bother me."
"Same here. I like being alone."
As if on cue, Odysseys reached for her and she fell into his arms. They kissed hungrily, the sudden longing for each other overpowering. *He loves me......* she thought insanely, remembering her flower. When they broke apart, it was only for air and not for any attempt to escape each other. "Will you be here tomorrow?"His eyes searched hers hopefully.
"If you will."
"It's a deal."
**************************
"You little strumpet! Consorting with a Mountain triber?" Halftail slapped his daughter across the face as Raven watched, her face tight and drawn. "How could you betray us like this?"
"You two are the only ones holding on to this prejudice! Get over it!" She wiped blood from her mouth, and spat at her father. "You're so miserably afraid of anything you can't control--"
"BE QUIET!" Halftail roared with fury and kicked her in the side. "If I ever hear of you even LOOKING at one of those filthy creatures, I will disown you!"
Penelopeia fell silent--this cold hatred where love had always dwelled seemed to steal her voice away. "Father..........I'm sorry....."
"I have nothing to say to you, child. Leave us."
Penelopeia stood up and ran from the room, her tears blinding her.
Halftail turned to Raven. "Was I too harsh with her?"
"No. You are completely right. In fact, I think you were a little too kind. A good beating never hurt anyone."
"I believe you are right, Raven. I will follow her to make sure she is not disobeying us."
*****************************
Penelopeia laid in Odysseys's arms, blissfully unaware of time. They had made love in the sunlight, and everything was standing still. She sighed happily and buried her face in his chest. He woke slowly and smiled down at her, amazed at the confident depth of his love for her. They had known each other less than a day, and already they were sure that they wanted to spend eternity together.
She rose slowly and languidly, grudgingly pulling herself away from him. "I should get back...." she said, a cloud of sadness passing over her face. "I don't want to."
"Then don't--come with me!"
She stared at him in shock. "Do you know what you're saying? We're so young, and you know nothing about me!"
"I know that....and that's why I want you to come with me, and tell me everything about yourself--but do it very slowly," he tapped her lips with a finger, "so that it takes a very long time."
"Unfortunately, you don't have much time, mountain beast!"
"Father!" Penelopeia grabbed Odysseys's paw and held it tight. "What in the name of the Everlasting Cat are you doing here?"
"Getting rid of this foul thing so that you may learn the error of your ways!" He slashed Odysseys across the face, and though the younger tom was strong and agile, Halftail had the advantage. He threw blow after blow at Odysseys, grinning wickedly at his cries of pain. Suddenly, Halftail was thrown backwards as Odysseys let loose a brilliant burst of light from his paw.
Staggering to his feet, Halftail glared at him. "You little faery cat! Magical! Well, you can have my little bitch daughter too, because I give her to the earth!" He stormed away as Penelopeia crawled after him, sobbing. "Father, Father--" He slapped across the face, sending her to the ground. Weakly, she struggled up and struck him back.
"Don't you ever hit me again!" Unconciously, she drew her arm back and sent a volley of fire at Halftail. He dodged, but cringed as his fur charred and fell off. "Leave us, you monster!" He turned and ran away.
"Penelopeia! You're magical!"
"So are you!" They embraced each other, panting with exertion and happiness. He stroked her face. "My darling, we must go, now. It is no longer safe for us here."
"But where?" Her brown eyes held his, filled with tears. "Who would take us in?"
He thought for a moment. "I have a friend--his name is Deuteronomy, and his father is the chief of a tribe to the south. We could go there, and live." He raised her chin so that she had to look him in the eye. "Will you come with me? I can't imagine life without you."
She took a deep breath. "Yes. Yes, I will go. Only let me walk beside you forever."
"As it was meant to be."
And so began the journey of a lifetime.......