LSFC: A Gathering of Guardians

He watched as Lily rushed inside, launching her keys and purse towards the counter and kicking her oxford heels off towards the closet. “I’m so late!” she said under her breath, racing for the bedroom. She screeched to a halt at the grey longhair cat sitting in the middle of the hallway, blocking her path. His glare told her she had yet again done something wrong.

“What now Sir Kipling? I’m late to meet Sebastian at the restaurant!”

He communicated to her with his one way telepathy and a single meow. “You’ve missed my scheduled bowl of cream.”

“Oh my gosh, by about 10 minutes you impatient thing. You can wait another 5 while I get dressed!”

She sidestepped the angrily flicking tail and ran to the bedroom to change into something more date-appropriate.

Sir Edgar Allan Kipling debated pooping in her shoe, but ultimately decided he did actually like that she was making an effort. Hers was a fragile, but loyal heart. Plus that Sebastian guy was fun to be around. They were a perfect match from the moment they met, despite their continual extended denial of any affections.

He headed for his empty cream bowl and sat in readiness in front of it, occasionally giving a reminder meow in case she found herself distracted by hair smoothing or earring searching, as she often was. Although repeatedly shouting “I know!” from the far room, it did not actually hasten her.

She finally appeared wearing a flowing blue summer dress and her normally severe bun had been loosened with pretty curled strands framing her frustrated face. “Cats are supposed to be good for lowering blood pressure, but you make things worse sometimes Sir Kipling!”

“Less whining. More cream.”

She let out a frustrated huff but followed through with the request and grabbed the small heavy cream container from the fridge. Focusing on the bottle in one hand with her wrist eduba in the other to retrieve the magic spell, he knew she was warming his evening treat up with eyes squinted.

He knew she said not to interrupt her when actively doing a spell in case it backfired, but this was important. “It’s been 6 minutes.”

That was met with another huff and mutterings amounting to changing the scheduled time to a scheduled time range, of which he’d never agree to. Lily poured the warm cream into his bowl and remained with hands on her hips while he lapped it all up.

When he licked his lips and looked up to her still standing there, he tilted his head. “I thought you said you were going to be late. Why are you still here?”

“Oh my gosh. Seriously? No tiny little ‘thank you Lily’?”

“Hm. It was satisfactory, albeit late. It could have used an ear scritch to make up for the tardiness. Now you may go.” Without waiting to see her face contort in the frustration he heard her exhale again, he happy cat walked with tail straight up towards his spot on the couch. He jumped up and curled into a content fluffy grey ball.

“So is this all you really do when I’m gone? Just nap? You sleep more than any cat I know Sir Kipling.”

He answered without lifting his head. “Yep. Have fun and say hi to the witch for me.”

“Right. See you later. Enjoy your nap before bed.” She sounded grumpy but that would change as soon as she saw that silly smile the witch wore these days. He was happy the human caught on to his not-so-subtle suggestions for a date tonight. It was always easier to do meetings and missions while Lily was out of the house. He certainly was an easy human to train.

Sir Kipling power napped while she gathered scattered items and then until he no longer heard her car in range. He stood to languidly stretch. Better get a move on or he’d be late as well. He padded to the bathroom and pushed his secret screen in the window open to the outside air.

In expert cat quickness, he hopped and dropped, slinked and squeezed the shortest path to the homestyle restaurant with the sign for ‘Featuring All-Day Breakfast’.

Sir Kipling’s white tipped ears poked over the window ledge, followed by an eye with a white circle around. He scanned the small restaurant until he recognized the back of her blue dress and dressy bun sat in the middle of the room. Good, the witch was smart enough to listen about this place after all. Sir Kipling knew his human would get a kick out of breakfast for dinner, and this one was close enough for Sir Kipling to get to and observe without much extra exertion before his meeting.

They were sat cozy with teacups in hands. He watched the waitress bring a brown tray with 3 plates. One for Lily, one for Sebastian and a third to share… of cheese scones? Sir Kipling was sure they’d never compare to Lily’s homemade ones. Sebastian was gesturing while talking again, an annoying habit when he was nervous. Hm, hands over his head, no doubt telling Lily how this had all been Sir Kipling’s idea. Even the wrapped ‘History of Ghosts, Spirits and the Supernatural’ book Sebastian had hidden somewhere was a great finale gift Sir Kipling had thought of. He was sure to get extra salmon at the next meal in thanks for his brilliance.

Looking up at the full moon, he quickly headed off through the back streets, avoiding questionable liquid puddles and ducking fences. The buildings grew sparse and an old dilapidated church came into view. The mossy tombstones and crumbling brick were illuminated by the rising light of the moon. He bounced through the tall grass and found the broken window in a window-well, squeezing inside. He first kept to the walls surveying the basement rec room, then took to chasing mice sounds until others started arriving.

A buzzing sound behind him made him internally groan with recognition at its source. Well, let the gathering of Guardians begin!