ìThanks for offering to watch Piotr for me, Blair. I wasnít sure what I was going to do with him.î

ìNo problem, Stacie. Glad to help. You got a ride to the airport?î

ìYeah. Rafeís waiting for me downstairs. Henriís with us. This bites, you know? Having to go all the way to West Virginia to extradite a prisoner.î

ìHere, letís put the carrier down here. Iíll walk you back downstairs.î

The door shuts behind the Humans. Iím glad. He-Who-Bears- Watching leaves with the strange female. <sniff> Okay, not so strange. Iíve tasted her scent before, on him, He-Who- Bears-Watching,often. More often here lately. Better than the last human female scent that I caught a few times. <shudder> Bad odor. Really bad.

<sniff>

Wait a minute! Whatís this? Another of the People here? In MY domain? Without MY blessing? Okay, where is it? <sniff> Male. People. Smells nervous. Hmm.

I enter the large open space. No, I wonít tell you how I get in. Thatís my secret. It drives He-Who-Hunts crazy. He has tried to figure out my secret. If Iím not careful, one day he just might. <sniff> Ah! Over there! By the portal to the long steps. What is that? Oh!

ëWho are you?í

ëME? Who are YOU?! You who enter my domain?í Heís of The People. Large. Gray. Short fur. Large, scared looking, blue eyes. Handsome fellow. No, not like me. Iím gorgeous!

ëNot my idea. Hers. She-Who-Speaks-Kindly. My Human.í

I move in closer to the contraption that the stranger is inside of. ëYour name? I am Avatar. My Human, She-Who- Moves-Like-Us, calls me Saint Germaine, Sanjee, or Gee.í

ëI am Blue-Fire-Burning-Bright. <sigh> Though my Human calls me Piotr.í

ëPiotr. I like that. May I call you as such?í Heís settling down, the nervous smell going away. I can no longer see where he has placed his paws on the floor of the container. Good.

ëYes. Please. May I have the pleasure of calling you by your true name?í

ëOf course.í What was that? My ears prick up, hoping to catch the sound again, but it doesnít repeat. I return my attentions to Piotr. ëHave you any idea how many cycles of the light/dark/light you will be here?í

ëA few. She-Who-Speaks-Kindly brought my magical cans and my training prey. See? Iíll gladly share with you, Avatar.í

He must be younger than I. He knows the skills of sharing, this is good. I watch as he pushes a fake-prey towards the metal open spaces on the front of the box he is in. It looks somewhat like a true-prey, but the scent is wrong. <sniff> OH JOY! MindJourney! He has MindJourney! ëPiotr, your offer is great. I accept.í I curl my long black, exceptionally silky, tail around my front paws as I seat myself in front of him. ëIn return for your Sharing, I shall tell you a tale. What would you like to hear?í

ëTell me of this strange place, Avatar. These Humans that abide here, are they kind? I am detecting more than one, correct?í

Ah, he is quick, this one. ëYes. You do well with the basic skill.í I lower myself to the floor, placing my handsome chin upon my deadly paws. ëThe one who left here with your Human? He is He-Who-Bears-Watching. Very clever, for a Human. Warm up his heart and you shall find that he gives great ear rubs.í

ëI liked his scent. Reminded me of Home. I think I will be able to deal with him. The other? The one I scent but have not seen? What of him?í

Yes, he is quick, this Piotr. Let us see how quick. ëWhat does the scent tell you?í

ëA test? You test me! Thank you!í <sniff> <pant> <SNIFF> ëHmm, you called him He-Who-Hunts? Iíve not scented his like before. He must be an exceptional Human.í

I smile. This member of a tribe I do not know is truly gifted. ëYes, He-Who-Hunts is almost of The People. Much like my Human, She-Who-Moves-Like-Us. When he returns, you shall see of what I speak.í

ëYour Human, does she come here? I smell her on you, but also on the wind in this place.í

See? What did I tell you? Heís gifted! ëYes. She comes here. Not as often as Iíd like, that is why I make my own way here.í

ëPortals? You have access to Portals?í

ëMany. When He-Who-Bears-Watching returns, Iím sure heíll release you from this, what ever this is,í I tap the contraption with my nose. ëAnd Iíll show you where to find them. But you mustnít use them without my accompanying you. Some are uncontrollable and will lead you astray.í

ëMy word. Iíll not use the Portals, but I would like to know where they are.í

ëGood. Relax, Piotr. Rest your body. My tale will be long and you need to pay attention.í I wait until he settles, watching as he makes the nest more to his liking. It looks soft and inviting, I long to touch it, but I wonít. That would be rudeness. Soon he has laid his body down, curled into a round shape. His blue eyes fix upon mine. Now I can begin my taleÖ

When I and She-Who-Moves-Like-Us, first came to this place, I was but a small kitten. And Iíll admit this - I was scared, yet curious of this newness. In my frightened curiosity, I made several mistakes. But they were mistakes that proved beneficial to She-Who-Moves-Like-Us. And that, my fine friend, is what our Mission, as a member of The People, is all about. The Goddess, Bast, put us here on the World to help the Humans.

Oh, I see by the look in those blue eyes that you doubt what I say. Let me try to explain.

When The People first arrived on the World, Humans were very odd creatures. Very odd, indeed. Not far removed from the rest of the non-People. And they were stupid beyond belief! Cringing in fear when the clouds gathered overhead and the bright bolts crossed the Vault of Bast. And when the Goddess voiced her displeasure!? Oh, dear! Letís just say you didnít want to be downwind of them.

But through our careful guidance, letting the Humans watch us while we hunted, they learned. Quickly did they learn. Now, I make no claim to fully understanding their coarse voices, but I think I have learned enough to make sense of what they mean. No! Donít try that! Speaking True-Tongue to them will only add to your confusion. <sigh> I know, I know. With heads as large as that, youíd expect them to be able to ëhearí us, wouldnít you? But they donít. No, I donít know why! Maybe Bast, in Her Great Wisdom, decided that the Humans are not yet ready to understand True-Tongue. Iím sure that when they are ready, the Goddess will teach them.

<sneeze> Excuse me! Hehe. He-Who-Hunts likes to think that his HomePlace is clean, but Iíve never met a Human that could truly clean. I mean, have you ever noticed the Human tongue? Itís too smooth! How do they expect to clean themselves proper-like with such a soft tongue? Yes, He- Who-Hunts comes close, but did you see the size of that ghost mouse? It was HUGE! But I travel astray from the Road of the Tale.

After a while, the Humans began to trust The People. We worked with them, side by side, even tolerating their strange attraction to the Enemy. Dogs, I think that is the Human name for the Enemy. Most Humans, in the Land of the PERFECT Mountains at least, trusted The People to guard their places of Goddess worship. This we did with great pride of place. Some of The People even chose to follow their chosen Human on the Final Journeys. <sigh> Times have changed, we are no longer revered as representatives of The Goddess, never let the Humans forget that fact. Never.

What was that? Quit muttering child! Speak up! Oh, many apologies! Thank you, I did wander a wee bit off the Road again, didnít I? Here, take your fake-prey back. The MindJourney is too intoxicating for me. Now, where was I? Ah, yes! You wanted to know about this place, my domain, the Humans that live here.

He-Who-Bears-Watching, youíve seen. And tasted his scent. Quite nice isnít it? For a Human, he carries himself well. Youíll learn more about him, later. Let me tell you of He- Who-Hunts.

<snicker>

Sorry, just revisiting the first time he saw me! Bast was having it out again, the Vault was really rolling! I had accidentally found one of the Portals, one of the uncontrollable ones, and somehow ended up outside this place. Right over there. Past the clear-solid-air and getting my fur horribly wet! One of the bright bolts stuck the World close by, I could feel the energy discharge in my bones, it was that close! By the time Bast spoke her mind, the Human had jumped to his feet, I swear! He looked right at me! In the name of the Goddess, what I tell you is true! He-Who-Hunts looked out into the storm, thru the clear- solid-air and SAW ME! ME! The Avatar! Scared me so badly that I, well, I lost my dignity for a moment. Yes, yes. I arched in fear, my soggy fur rising as best it could, and I hissed at him. Heh. When Bast spoke, she must have heard my cursing, the Portal reopened and I dived into it, not caring where I ended up! As long as it was dry and far from that Human!

No, I donít know how He-Who-Hunts couldíve seen me. He just did. And, I think he may have heard me another time as well.

By the time I found a controlled Portal and made my way back here, to this newness, I had to find some way to get my chosen Humanís attention. She-Who-Moves-Like-Us and I had traveled here inside one of the noisy metal boxes. I knew that if I was truly in my new HomePlace, Iíd be able to find the metal box that belonged to my human. So I jumped from box to box checking for scent. I must have hurt one of the boxes, for it screeched at me! I ran, not knowing what else to do, I ran!

Once I recovered from my second fright, I realized that the box that has screamed had carried my Chosenís scent. But I was too tired from the sudden Flight to answer when She-Who- Moves-Like-Us called out to me. So I found a small Portal and pulled it closed behind me, traveling to the Temple of Healing, to recover.

Yes, the parts you need to know of are coming up. Now, let me tell my tale, Piotr.

Once I had recovered and returned through the Portal, I found my Chosen Human and greeted her with much joy! And I marked her again. Silly Human had somehow managed to rid herself of my mark. Probably in one of her daily fur denchings. So after many rubs along her legs, I allowed her to pick me up, and started to mark her face. She gives good belly rubs, you know that? Not many Humans can. They are either too rough, or too light and tickle you. Not She-Who- Moves-Like-Us, no, she got it right from the very moment I chose her.

Then, I met He-Who-Bears-Watching. There was just something about him that called to me. Iím not sure if it was his scent or something else, but I pounced on him. Marking him. Heís good, for a Human who has a GhostWolf following him everywhere. And I do mean everywhere! And his fur! Oh, joy! A Human with more fur! Lovely, soft, silky fur. Ah, but I nearly left the Road of the Tale again, didnít I?

I have come here, to this HomePlace many times. She-Who- Moves-Like-Us and the Humans that live here, in this very space, seemed to be getting close. Friends. This made me glad. I know not what happened to my Chosen in her past, but I knew she was lonely. That she had found Humans to like, to talk with, this made me joyful. <sigh> But that was nearly ruined. Something she did, something that caused her to stink of fire and filth, caused both He-Who-Bears- Watching and He-Who-Hunts to get very upset with her. Their voices raised in volume, hurting my ears so much that I had to lay them back along my head to lower the sound. I hated them, all three of them, at that moment. With a growl I tried to speak of my pain, but they would hear nothing of me.

My Chosen wept afterwards. She tried to hide the tears from me, but I knew. Then, just when she needed my comfort the most, she left, giving me over to the care of another Human. For many, many light/dark/lights I stayed with that Human. Trying to teach her to Hunt, but she never learned. I was never so happy as I was the day that Human returned me here, to the HomeArea.

Oh, I still make trips from time to time, between this HomePlace and my Chosenís HomePlace. If only to watch as He-Who-Hunts tries to discover how I manage to appear inside this HomePlace when all the doors are closed and secure. Ah-ha! You hear that, my dear Piotr? That is He-Who-Bears- Watching returning. Soon, youíll be out of that box and Iíll be able to truly show you everything you need to know while youíre here!

Heís nearly at the door, look sharp and you too will see the GhostWolf that walks with him.

See?!! See?! I told you true! Opps! Sorry, friend Wolf. This is Piotr, heís a guest. Yes, yes. Heíll be his most gracious self while here. Wonít you, Piotr? There. Are you happy now, Friend Wolf? Thank you. I shall.

<sigh>

Friend Wolf is correct. I need to tell you of He-Who-Huntís rules for visiting before he returns.

Rule number oneÖ

Poor Piotr. Heís sound asleep. I donít blame him. The list of Rules for Visiting He-Who-Hunts is long! I rattled off over 80 different Rules. In the midst of my ramblings, He-Who-Bears-Watching came over and opened the metal squares and Piotr would be able to explore this HomePlace when he awakens.

Ahhh! Yes! I hear, I hear! Piotr! Wake up! Wake up!

Remember Friend Wolf? Good. He-Who-Hunts is about to return, with him comes another Friend. Wait until you see this Friend!

I momentarily forget my manners when He-Who-Hunts steps through the door. I rush him like an over eager kitten fresh to the Hunt Training would, and with my claws only half extended, run up his clad leg and into his arms. He cuddles nicely. I purr my pleasure. My Chosen is with him, as are the other Friends. Oh! I should have warned Piotr of my Chosenís Friend. Poor fella, look at him. Heís in shock.

I was too the first time I saw He-Who-Huntsí Friend. Imagine! A Human with a Friend that was of The People! And FriendJaguar even more handsome than I! And then there is She-Who-Moves-Like-Usí Friend. If I was of the ClanTiger, Iíd be seriously jealous. But Iím not, neither is Piotr. He recovers quickly.

<sigh> Now the questions begin.

I cuddle closer to She-Who-Moves-Like-Us as she carries me to our HomePlace. Iím tired. Piotr asked many questions, we explored, and, yes, we shared a meal. And not from one of his magic cans either. No, He-Who-Bears-Watching prepared meat for us! Fresh water meat! <sigh> Lovely Humans that Iím lucky to have chosen.

You know, I must find time to visit the Temple of Knowledge soon. While relaxing in He-Who-Huntsí lap tonight, I know I caught a True-Tongue flash from him. And for it to happen while I was cleaning my fur! A little disconcerting, let me tell you! I nearly bit myself! You wouldíve too, if you had seen the Temple of Knowledge in a True-Tongue vision flash from a Human!

Ah, Chosen has placed me in my favorite spot. Iíll just curl up here and take a little nap. You know, this is the first time Iíve ever had a chance to try my Avatar skills on a captive audience. Iíll have to try that again. Someday. For now, I just want to sleep.

So, if you donít mind, Piotr? Let me close my mind and rest. Iíll speak with you again. But later. Much laterÖ.

Jim Ellison chuckled as he watched Saint Germaine settle in his spot on the couch in Aliciaís apartment. ìTo look at him, youíd think that heíd been giving Piotr the grand tour with the extensive narrative. Heís boneless, Al.î

Alicia Andreson smiled at him, ìJim? For all we know, he may have. Remember? Blair said that before he let Piotr out of the carrier they sat there ëtalkingí to each other for an hour.î

ìCats donít talk, Al.î

ìOh? Donít they?î She stepped past him and led the way out of Saint Germaineís room, pulling the door nearly shut behind her as they left. Once back out into the living room, she turned to face him. ìNow, I believe you owe me a rematch, Ellison.î

ìSet up the board. Iíll grab us a couple of waters from your ëfridge.î

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