It was a pretty ordinary Friday night, the sort of Friday night I spend in Awenia when Nathaniel has business in Mysthaven.

Ordinary in that I was the last person out the pub.

Ordinary, in that I was the last person out the pub. But some of the brownies and the other Sidhe and I had got into a debate about — do you know, I can’t even remember, because it wasn’t important, even though it seemed vitally so at the time — and we weren’t afraid to drink an awful lot of mead while having this debate. We never are.

I looked out across the flower meadow.

At this point, I’d said goodnight to everyone, sent them on their way, and then, completely by chance, I looked out across the flower meadow.

Hey! You can’t park that thing in my meadow!

“Hey!” I screamed. Not my most sober or Queenly moment ever. “You can’t park that thing in my meadow!

I don’t know how I expected them to hear me through all that…. well, here is what I saw:

Oh, HELLS no.

Oh, HELLS no. No way was a dilapidated airship setting down in my flower meadow.

Except, of course, it was.

Well, obviously I did the most intelligent thing ever. I stalked right the fuck over there to check it out.

Once the thing had settled down, I banged on the door (rather loudly, I admit — and it did make a satisfying clanging sound).

Don’t get your panties in a wad: I’m comin’, I’m comin’.

A strong American accent came through the crack in the door. “Don’t get your panties in a wad: I’m comin’, I’m comin’!”

The door swung open to reveal a very large and, if I’m honest, ugly ginger cat. I mean, ugly is perhaps a strong word. He was ungainly, perhaps. Or maybe just unbeautiful. My search for adjectives notwithstanding, I just stared at him for a moment.

“Well never mind, then,” he said. “Forget that: it seems you’re not wearing panties at all, young lady.”

Oh, that was it. Ugly and cheeky? This cat was about to get a piece of my mind.

I drew myself up to my full height. “I may look like a young lady, O Ginger One, but I am also the Queen and ruler of this land, Awenia. And I would very much prefer that you not park an unsightly airship in my flower meadow.”

The night wind picked up as another cat poked his head round the door.

The night wind picked up as another cat poked his head round the door. This one was black with eerie yellow eyes. “We heard,” said the black cat in a much better-modulated voice than Mr Ginger over there, “that Awenia was a new Realm we could come and explore and possibly find a home in.” She rubbed her cheek against the edge of the airship door. “We have a clan of sorts, and we search for the right sort of place to settle.” She looked up with her big eyes; I could have sworn there was an imploring smile there.

I thought for a moment. “Well, how many of you are there?” I asked.

Ginger shrugged. “See for yourself,” he said, nodding his head into the interior of the airship.

Only nine?

“Only nine?” I said. “That seems a small number for a clan of cats.”

“Two of us are expecting kittens,” said the black cat proudly. “The black ones are all my children, except for that one lying on the floor: that’s my sister; she’s never been right.”

“I heard that!” yowled the floor-sitter. “You just don’t believe these kittens came from aliens!”

“No, darling; I do believe it,” said the black cat. “In any case, Felines and Fae work well together, do we not? And our initial survey of Awenia shows very few cats here. Why is that?”

I considered. The night wind was sobering me up nicely.

I haven’t really given the matter much thought….

“I haven’t really given the matter much thought,” I said at last. “The truth is, I love cats and I’d love to have more cats about. But the fact remains you can’t leave this ship here. I have a little pocket universe we can stash it in if you are amenable to that.”

“Oh, pish-posh,” said Ginger. “For that matter, we’ve got our own. No need to come barrelling down on us like the Realm Police.”

I sighed. “I am the Realm Police,” I said. “We’re a small Realm, only just getting started, but I have great plans for us. Those plans could include you, if you like. Tell you what. You take the remainder of the night to look around the Realm, see if you find what you’re looking for, and in the morning we’ll discuss airship storage Is that all right with you?”

The black cat started purring her head off. I guessed that was a good sign. Of course, I didn’t want to insult them by offering them pets or treats, but when she butted her head against my hand, I couldn’t resist a little cuddle.

Town’s that way, I said.

“Town’s that way,” I said. “Pub’s just closing so you’ll likely find food. Sheep and cattle behind the pub in the green, please don’t terrorise. We have a lot of birds, and I can negotiate a hunting schedule with you if you prefer live prey. Queen’s gardens in front of me; you’re welcome to roam there though you may find more pixies than anything edible. There are residences throughout, a nice book forest if you like to read, and my castle is on the opposite Realm corner. You never know what you’ll find there. I only ask that we meet again tomorrow, decide whether you’ll stay for a visit or a trial at living here, and work out what to do with the airship.”

“Agreed!” said the black cat, perhaps a little too quickly. “We are indebted to you for your hospitality.”

I frowned. “Hospitality is a right, not a privilege; there is no need to claim debt.”

The black cat wiggled her ears at me. “Different rules for cats, My Lady; different rules for cats. We’ll talk more tomorrow.” She let out a little screech, and the other seven cats came scurrying out the door. She and Ginger stayed behind to watch which directions they ran in; then the two of them went off in another direction entirely.

And they left the damn door open. Like a mug, I closed it behind them, making sure it wasn’t locked. I had a feeling this story would be continuing.

Style Card:
Body: Maitreya
Head: Vista Bento Mesh Head, Lia
Skin: 7 Deadly s{K}ins, Java, in Marshmellow (Java was the Group Gift for May at the 7 Deadly s{K}ins Main Store. It should still be available there for another day or so!)
Ears: Lumae, Leevi Long Ears
Clothes: Noble Creations, Desert Princess (Desert Princess was at last month’s We ❤ RP event, and should be up at the Noble Creations Main Store soon!)
Hair: Tableau Vivant (in order of appearance), April I, Tempest, April II
Foot Jewellery: Astralia, Queen Legs
Circlet: The Plastik, Evenida Circlet
Wings: Naminoke, Rose Wings White

Airship: Death Row Designs, Steampunk Airship (Available NOW at Uber!)
Cats: Cica Ghost, gingers and light cats from the 50 Cats exhibition; black cats from the black cat family, all available at C I C A !)

Location: Awenia, just off the high street, sometime after midnight.