Strange Attractors - Kim Falconer [206]
‘Don’t frighten him,’ Grayson said, his voice soft. ‘He’s had a long journey and doesn’t know where he is.’ He opened his cloak and up popped the face of a feline. His head was broad, ears large and tufted, his fur a rich black with dusty grey undertones. Grayson knelt in front of the fire and lifted him out; his hindquarters were tall, tail bobbed. He was shivering uncontrollably.
‘Oh my goddess of the woods,’ Rosette said. ‘Where did you come from, you beautiful one?’
Drayco sat very still. He says his name is Gratch.
‘Gratch?’ Rosette and Grayson said together.
That’s how he says it.
‘Where did he come from?’
He says they were all hunting and he wandered into a tiny cave.
‘He’s freezing,’ Grayson said.
‘Hot water. A tub. We need to immerse him. It’s the fastest way to warm him up.’ Rosette grabbed Grayson’s arm. ‘You’re talking to him?’
He nodded, his eyes filling with tears.
‘Dray, get a message to Jarrod. We need more wood.’
They had a hot tub in moments, the patient not resisting when they slipped him in up to his neck.
Drayco, who is he? Rosette asked her familiar privately.
Drayco lowered his head to sniff the cub’s face, giving him a nose touch. Gratch immediately began to purr, the rasping sound of his little motor sending ripples across the water. I best hunt. My son is hungry.
‘Your son? How?’
Drayco rested his orange eyes on her. Scylla’s had a litter.
‘Scylla?’ Rosette said.
The baby cat’s head went up at the sound of his mother’s name.
‘It seems so.’ Grayson washed the cub’s fur, picking out twigs and thorns. ‘He says they were all calling for him—Scylla, Rowan, Nell and his siblings—but the cave whisked him away.’
‘Nell?’ Rosette whispered. ‘An’ Lawrence and Scylla? Temple Los Loma survived?’
Grayson washed clods of red earth from between Gratch’s toes. ‘It seems so, Rosette.’
They had him toasty warm by the time Drayco returned with a rabbit. When he’d finished he was sleepy but Rosette pestered Grayson and Dray for details, anything Gratch could tell them about where he was from.
‘It seems that Temple Los Loma did more than survive,’ Grayson said, taking her hand. ‘He’s sending me pictures of gardens, orchards, horses, goats and sword classes. Mostly he has images of Scylla, Nell and An’ Lawrence. They’re always smiling.’
‘Earth is thriving?’ Rosette’s face lit up.
‘What’s this about firewood?’ Jarrod said, slipping off his boots as he entered the cottage. ‘Grayson, you made it.’ He hung his coat by the door along with his compound bow. He stopped short when he spotted Gratch. ‘Who’s this?’ When they’d filled him in he was beaming.
The cottage was full of celebration that night. Even Mozzie stayed awake to listen to the songs and stories. When they finally made ready for sleep, Rosette took Grayson’s hand. ‘I know you were only going to stay a few days, to do Jarrod’s work and my totems, but would you consider staying longer?’ Her eyes drifted to Jarrod. ‘We’ve a very cosy setup in the barn now.’
‘You might appreciate the guidance, with this one to raise.’ Jarrod looked at Drayco. ‘He would benefit from his father too, don’t you think?’
‘I’m not sure.’ Grayson stroked Gratch in his sleep. ‘I would love the help, but…’
‘We can send for Maluka,’ Rosette said. ‘I would adore the female company myself.’ She smiled at him when he looked up. ‘Please? Dumarka is Gratch’s ancestral home. Let him grow up here, at least for the winter.’
Grayson closed his eyes and nodded. ‘I’d like that very much.’
‘And who knows—we might find a way back to Earth, with this little one to guide us.’ Jarrod laughed aloud, tussling the cub’s sleepy head.
‘We might.’ Grayson watched Gratch as he took a playful swipe at Jarrod’s hand.
‘Then it’s done,’ Rosette said.
Done and well done. Drayco stretched his forepaws out like a sphinx; little Gratch, awake now, attacked his tail as it swayed back and forth. I think he has a knack for finding lost ways.
RECOMMENDED