Episode Two Hundred: Campfire Song

Thinking of a life partner brought me some joy, yet my life was already so full of wonderful people. I’d need to really think about it. The shop didn’t give me many options, and I already had so much to do.

Someday, maybe. But not right now. 

Right now, I had bigger problems to focus on, like freeing the Cat, my Dad’s cancer, and making sure Indigo grew up right. I had plenty of time for love later.

“None of that now,” said my Dad, this time pointing at Onyx. “We are here to relax under the stars and enjoy one anothers’ company.”

Indigo chirped in agreement.

Onyx stared at her, along with my father.

“Did she just chirp?” he asked.

“Cats are weird,” I said with a shrug. I resisted glaring at her, but she just continued to stare back at my father. Onyx, she ignored.

“I’ve known some pretty strange cats in my day…” muttered my father as he petted Indigo, leaning back in his chair. “Oh, the stars are coming out.”

Above our heads, the snow clouds had cleared and darkness took over completely. Small specs of stars appeared here and there.

I relaxed back in my chair staring up, letting out a contented sigh.

The crackle of the fire, and the warmth from flame and family, made this about as perfect as it could be.

Onyx tossed more wood on the fire then took a seat as well. Sparkes rose in the air like fireflies, making me grin.

We used to get fireflies at our house. My mother once yelled at me for collecting them in a jar. That was the first stern conversation about how something needed to be free. I guess I took that to heart, much more deeply than she intended.

My father started humming under his breath, a common song he sang during our childhood. It fit more on a boat, but around the fire worked just as well.

“Many thousand miles behind us,

Many thousand miles before…”

Indigo blinked a few times as he sang, then watched, her mouth gaping.

His deep voice reminded me of many-a-night that he sang around the house, helping with chores. 

Onyx joined in.

“Ancient ocean heaves to waft us

To The Well-remembered shore.”

I couldn’t help myself and added my voice with the next lines.

“Cheer up, Jack, bright smiles await you

From the fairest fair,

And her loving eyes will greet you

With Kind welcomes everywhere…”

Once we finished the verse my father started again, and we all joined in from the beginning. There were several verses, but he always sang them in a random order that he preferred. 

We continued singing into the darkness, one song after another. As one finished, one of us would start another. Though we ran out of fun sea chanties and moved on to more popular music after a time, we just kept going.

Onyx, at some unseen sign, stopped adding wood to the firepit.

A light breeze picked up, cutting through the warmth from the fire and making me shiver. Warmth rose from the chair underneath me, heating me back up.

I patted the arm of my chair lightly in time to the music, sending my thanks to Betty.

Finally, my father’s voice trailed off, and he let out a sigh.

“I think it’s time for me to retire for the night.” He picked Indigo up and set her down on the ground. She scurried over to me as he stood. “Good night everyone.”

“Night, Dad,” I said, as I picked Indigo up and pulled her to my chest. 

She nuzzled under my neck.

“See you in the morning,” added Onyx. “I’ll be heading in once the fire's out. You probably should head in, too,” he added in my direction.

I flashed him a smile and hurried after my Dad. My muscles ached from sitting in one position so long. A wooden chair was only so comfortable, especially when the backside of you was a little chilly.

Inside, it was perfectly toasty, and Indigo leaped out of my arms before scurrying up the stairs. I followed, not worrying about my boots since any water just vanished immediately. Betty spoiled me, hardcore.

My father had already headed up the stairs and was out of sight. Which was okay.

This surprise was good. Really good.

Yet, I still didn’t see the Cat anywhere, and it worried me a little.

Once upstairs, I closed my door behind me and locked it. As soon as it clicked, a weight lifted off my shoulders.

“Hiding magic is hard,” I whispered into the room.

“Yes…” Indigo chirped from the edge of my bed. “I stuck.”

“What?” I hurried closer, and knelt next to the bed, bringing her closer to eye level.

“I can’t not be cat…”

“That’s not good…”

###

I waited from the shadows as Sable enjoyed the time with her family. The bonds between all of them were so tangible. It made my heart hurt, and reminded me of my forest and my children.

Still, I hovered in the shadows. Indigo did well, keeping to her cat form even around Sable’s father. Something about him made me want to help. The constant draw had to be magical, but didn’t quite feel like it.

Strange.

Finally, they split for the evening and I rushed upstairs, before anyone else. I darted into her father’s room, and jumped onto a chair at the end of his bed.

He entered, and paused when he saw me.

“Ah, I wondered where you got off too… you are free to bunk with me tonight, but I’m warning you, I snore.” He took off his shoes. “My wife bugs me about it, but I’ve tried all the nose things. Next is a fancy pillow that somehow helps, I guess. I think it’s already waiting for me at home.”

I averted my eyes as he readied himself for bed. Eventually, he climbed under the covers.

I waited until his breathing calmed down, and the massive snoring started.

His poor wife.

Slowly I crept along the floor and jumped up to the bed, not touching him. I sniffed. The heavy scent of something wrong with him hovered around him.

It almost reminded me of some of the problems my children’s children had.

That urge to help him increased as I studied him. Him being sick helped my goal of Sable leaving after her contract was up… yet… it wasn’t the right thing to do.

She loved him, and I could help. Using a loophole at least. This would help her mental health and my job was to protect the Shopkeeper and keep them healthy.

This just helped that.

I focused on that as I pulled at the bit of green energy inside me. It used to flow like a mighty river. Now all that remained was a trickle. Yet, this should only take a trickle.

Hopefully.