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 Posted: Sun Jan 31, 2016 2:27 pm
((This is a private RP between my Ekaterina Hopscotch and her sister Irina Knucklebones. Please do not post unless invited, thank you.))  & 
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Posted: Sun Jan 31, 2016 2:59 pm
Awakening slowly, Ekaterina Hopscotch gave a lazy stretch, admiring the den she had established in their new home. Cyan eyes flickered over the walls of vines and their morning glory blossoms, lingering on the cubbies in roots and branches that had been filled with various objects. Glimmering metal and reflective surfaces like glass and crystal, shimmering jewels and dark leather-bound books. The trinkets were strewn about in an order that few aside from herself might understand, the presence of ticking pocket watches being the most notably placed items. Soft morning light reflected off of crystal faces and metal shells, and the rhythmic tick of moving hands a soothing reminder of the relentless march of time.
Likely awake well before dawn, the white rabbit that was the keeper of all these clocks was already fussing over them, his nose and whiskers twitching as he wound each watch with care. Before placing them back in their nook, Oolong compared them to the golden watch carried in the pocket of his blue waistcoat. Nodding his approval, he placed the silver watch he'd been working on back in its place and moved on to the next watch. Katya watched him in fond silence, tilt her head as she watched him bypass the rest of the collection to work on the only things that interested him.
The mirrors and small boxes he ignored, as well as the dainty bottles and assorted teacups. There were brushes and small vases, sea shells, plucked flowers and even a few books as well as bottles of ink and quill pens. All matter objects to either remind her of the home she left behind or enable the herd to record their new life. But the rabbit only cared for his clocks.
"I trust everything is in order?" Katya murmured after several moments passed, filled only by the sound of ticking. "And things are progressing more or less on time?"
Standing from her resting place, the dark coated mare began stretching. Shaking out her silvery mane, she flicked her twisting tail and flexed her paws, plucking her hat from its resting place and tossing it in the air. With a bit of luck -but mostly a lot of practice- she managed to catch it on her head, grinning as it settled into place. "Aha, there we go then."
When Oolong continued winding watches, the Cheshire grew somewhat impatient. "Come along now, Oolong, surely the watches are all set? We should be going, Irina and Chai have their reports to make and you do so hate being late."
Using her nose to sweep aside the curtain of vines that led out into the clearing, Katya paced out into the morning sunlight. She knew her sisters were scattered throughout the herd lands, but there was a certain grove she and Irina had taken a specific liking to. Chances were, at this time of day Irina would be meandering to that clearing now, likely with some rations from the previous day.
Setting out with that as her destination, Katya resolutely did not smile when she herd frantic scrabbling through the underbrush. "Hello Oolong, nice of you to join me."
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Posted: Sat Apr 30, 2016 4:14 pm
As ever, the burgundy Cheshire cat was more than content to while away her morning hours among the wild morning glories and curtains of honeysuckle and ivy. The woods were quiet and still as she paced along, waiting for the morning mist to burn away or otherwise retreat into the deeper woods. There were groves here forever touched by the drifting veil of mist, cast in eternal twilight that fascinated her. But as time drifted along she left them behind, navigating the low branches of the old, hunched oak to reach her favorite napping spot. Splaying herself out on the wide expanse of bark, she let her tail drape down and flicked it idly, waiting for amusement to happen her way.
Having had a much later evening than any of her sisters, Irina Knucklebones remained over her favorite heavy branch, her hind legs comfortably trailing into the air below. The sun was slow to penetrate the branches overhead, leaving her comfortably shaded even as the faintest dapples of light began to break through. Resettling her crossed forepaws and shifting her chin to watch the progress of her rabbit companion in the brush below. Chai favorited gathering flowers for tea in the early hours, and she could see him carefully selecting honeysuckle blossoms and colts foot with eagle-eyed precision.
"If you can find some violets, I'll candy them for teacakes later." She called sleepily, cyan eyes drifting shut around a yawn. "They're Katya's favorite though, so you'd have to find quite a few, if any of the rest of us want to have one."
Chai gave no notice of hearing, merely continued to hop along, and while waiting for him to reply Irina dozed off. It wasn’t all that important at the moment, they could discuss it later… Word Count: 297
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Posted: Sat Apr 30, 2016 5:09 pm
“Hopefully we’ll get there before she falls asleep, since I doubt she did much of that last night.” Katya remarked softly as they paced along. “Otherwise she’ll be grumpy we didn’t bring tea.”
As they paced along, Katya noticed that Oolong was hesitating from time to time and glanced up at her in silent question. He was clewing on a sprig of clover, the purple blossoms peeking out of his vest pocket as well. At least he had brought his breakfast along, he probably wouldn’t like any of the snacks Irina would have saved. She was more prone to having meat pies than teacakes at this hour of the day, everyone knew that unattended teacakes found their way down Kit’s gullet. No one really had the inclination to fight her for it either, it was fun to spoil the sister they’d just recently learned they had.
“I trust that if anything out of the ordinary or otherwise nefarious had occurred in our lands, I would have heard about it by now. So truly, this is merely a formality. If you do not wish to accompany me because you’d rather eat your breakfast, you are welcome to stay behind.” She offered when the white rabbit hesitated to eat another mouthful of clover. “You can go find Kit to see if she has any cakes left? Or look in on the garden to see how the carrots are growing? Truly, I am able to go speak with my sister without you.”
She laughed when Oolong gave her a speaking look, shrugging. “I just wanted to give you the choice, my friend. Maybe you and Chai can head off to the garden once we get there and you can be sure I won’t get lost on the way. I can’t wait for there to be foals in the herd again, maybe you’ll run around and keep an eye on them, and worry less about me.” Word Count: 322
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Posted: Sat Apr 30, 2016 8:49 pm
Hearing the distant snap of twigs, Irina stirred with a flick of her large ears. Blearily she lifted her head and shook herself to try and jar herself awake, realizing that she had yet to give her report to Katya. As soon as she covered her rounds made over the night, maybe she could get some decent sleep.
“Is a cat’s work never done?” She complained softly to Chai –whom ignored her, as usual- with a lift of her head. “Well, at least we can have breakfast together before I go off to nap, that’s worth something. And maybe she’ll have something for me to do later, rather than just walk in big circles? Something shiny to steal or hide would be nice. Times like this that I miss the old days, it’s far too peaceful here for me to have any fun. Not that running from mad axmen was fun, but it did keep you on your toes. And oh the things I could find at the Thieves Market, right Chai?”
She glanced expectantly down at the rabbit, and pouted when he was frowning at her. “Come now, I used to find you some delightful things! Some of Oolong’s favorite watches were from the Thieves Market, after all. Bought or traded for fair and square, no matter how they came to be there. I have some honor, you know that.”
Resettling on a branch, she let her attention drift as she considered the possibility of a local Thieves Market, or a Black Market of a similar nature. “It might be worth investigating.” Word Count: 263
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Posted: Sat Apr 30, 2016 8:55 pm
Up ahead, there was the low sound of a Cheshire’s voice and the occasional rustle. Cheered by the idea that she wouldn’t be waking her sister –cats didn’t like to be woken from their naps, Cheshires or no, important reasons or no- the dark coated Queen quickened her pace. “Come along, Oolong, before we are indeed too late to hear the news. Soon it will not be news at all, of course. But I should very much like to hear it before it becomes so, or becomes not, as the case may be.”
For his part, the rabbit said nothing, but hopped along faithfully beside her with a flick of his long white ears.
Wandering into the glade just in time to hear her sister muttering, Katya flicked an ear and cocked her head to the side. Surely Irina was pondering things either mad or mischievous, but until she asked she’d have no clue. Being a rather impatient kitten when it came to her sister’s secrets (at least the ones Irina would agree to share), Katya couldn’t help but blurt out.
“What might be worth investigating, sister dearest? Don’t tell me you’ve thought of something wonderful to do, and would be leaving myself and your other siblings out of it? That just wouldn’t be kind at all, and I’d be very cross indeed.” Katya hesitated for a moment, then laughed, breaking any illusion of displeasure she might have had. “Do come down from that branch, won’t you? And tell me you’ve still some meat pies left? I grabbed some biscuits, just in case, but a meat pie would be so nice and I do believe Kit has eaten all the ones left near the fire for night snacks. We shall have to bake some more, the rabbits and I.” Word Count: 299
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Posted: Thu May 12, 2016 8:47 pm
Taken by the idea -the merest possibility, even- of a local Thieves Market, Irina let her mind wander to what she knew of the area. It certainly wouldn't be something you'd set up too close to the darklands, where all the Skinwalkers seemed to come from and rumors of a cursed tree were hushed with truth. No, not there. But not too high up in the mountains either, for not all the best thieves had wings or the patience to trek so far with their stolen goods. Even merchants or those that would fence the items for the thieves probably wouldn't relish scaling the cliffs to do it, and what of the snow in the winter time? No, no, no, and again certainly not. The mountains would never do. What else?
"The forest themselves would be a good place to host it, truth be told. Though, I think our forest is the best forest there is, and wouldn't you agree, Chai?" She murmured, lifting her head and eying the canopy with a possessive fondness. "But in the forest would be a better place than the plains. Too wide open, sweeping grass and not much else there, no cover or places to display the wares... And the desert? Pah! Sandstorms would sweep everything away, and if you had something fine like a lovely little pocket watch... well, where would you be if it filled up with sand?"
She stared expectantly at the rabbit, who made no reply at all. Of course, the next moment her sister appeared, and Irina grinned wide as she dropped out of the tree to greet her.
"Big sister, big sister!" The burgundy Cheshire cat crowed, rubbing her cheek against her sibling's with a giggle. "A delight and an honor to see you, my sister, my Queen. And no one has chopped your head off, so it came along too! How nice for you both. As for the things I am thinking, I keep them to myself unless I don't. This shouldn't be a surprise to you at all."
Giving her sibling a disapproving tsk, Irina glanced at Oolong and gave him a nod. "Oolong, lovely to see you. Chai is up to his ears in the clover and hasn't listened to a word I've said all day. I'm sure he'd be delighted by sensible company, and we'll be much happier over here being nonsensical if we know you're taken care of."
Waving the rabbit off with a sweep of her tail, Irina grinned at her sibling. "You left them all out where Kit could get to them? Then I am sure they are gone indeed, snacked up or swept away with her when she went wherever she goes. Fresh ones do sound lovely, but I have a few I grabbed and wrapped up for us in just this case. I also have some berries that Chai and I picked while we were patrolling, and I have a pot of tea of course. With the biscuits, I think we will have a fine meal indeed."
Hopefully she could distract Katya with tales and treats and tea, and have no need to explain her thoughts of Thieves Markets and stolen trinkets. At least, not yet, not until she knew if there was one. Ooh! Or she could start one! Wouldn’t that be a treat? Word Count: 556
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Posted: Thu May 12, 2016 9:08 pm
Ekaterina grinned widely as she watched her sister drop back down to the ground, giving the branch that was Irina's favorite perch a final assessing glance before turning her attention to the other cat. Katya wasn't as prone to lying about in trees as her sister, then again, she was fairly certain that Irina was the one most likely to be found among the branches. Katya herself had a den in a tangle that was once two or possibly three old oak trees, part cave and part trunk and all hers. She delighted in her den and the curtain of branches and flowers that obscured the doorway, and had no need to climb into the trees to catch a nap.
Then again, there was something to be said for a scout among the branches. Perhaps it was Irina's way of making sure none of the cards were sneaking up to chop their heads off? She wasn't sure and didn't bother asking, if Irina had seen something like a Jabberwock or a Horror Bird on the branches, she'd have said so. She also would have looked far less gleeful about it... Unless of course this was Kit in disguise due to some elaborate prank. But it didn't seem like Kit. It looked and smelled and sounded and acted like Irina, and even dressed up as someone else Katya wasn't sure Kit would admit to eating all the meat pies.
"Little sister, little sister." Katya returned with a wide Cheshire grin and a sweep of her tail. "And you here without a paw left in a trap or your tail caught on a branch. I am glad all of you could make it home safe and sound again. How silly you would look if you managed to leave your ears behind! But perhaps you could hear things at a distance better. If you ever decide to try it, do let me know, for I am so curious."
Listening to Irina speak to Oolong, Katya gave a little sneeze of amusement and watched as the white rabbits bent their heads and seemed to confer amongst the clover blossoms. She was sure they had much to share and discuss, for rabbits were secretive creatures. But punctual, secretive creatures, and ever so clever besides.
"I wouldn't say I precisely left them out for Kit to get them." Katya argued with a pout of her lip, following her sister back toward the kettle and snacks. "I left them by the fire on the warming stone with a few coals. It would keep them warm but not burn them, and they'd not go stale. Then, in the morning we'd all have meat pies for breakfast whenever we decided we were hungry, and I could bake some fresh ones today."
She brightened at the sight of a glistening pile of berries, mounded on a little white handkerchief that was already beginning to show staining. They looked especially juicy and sweet, and her mouth watered for proper fruit pies and tarts.
"Are there more berry bushes, Irina?" She asked, leaning down to snatch up a berry while her sister fussed over the kettle and produced cups from seemingly nowhere. "I think I should like to make berry pies, or tarts if there are. Fresh black berry tarts and wild berry pies! The folded ones all crusted with rough sugar and golden brown. Alas, nowhere for fresh cream yet but still the pies would be a delight!" Word Count: 577
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Posted: Mon Jun 27, 2016 6:51 pm
Irina pushed the contemplation of the Thieves Market to the back of her mind, wordlessly resolving to investigate -and if possible, instigate- such a thing in the future. It wasn't the sort of thing best done around Katya, and with Katya here it would wait.
"I certainly would not leave my lovely ears anywhere... I would be most devastated to do without them. And you have a point, my face would certainly never be the same without them there. Though if they could hear things far away and the rest of me could know those things, it would be a useful trick indeed." The burgundy Cheshire hummed, tilting her head and flicking her tail as her bright eyes narrowed thoughtfully. "I'm certainly not trying it today, but if I try it in the future I shall remember to send my grin to tell you so before the fun begins."
Skittering toward where she had set up tea and the other snacks, Irina left the rabbits to their discussions as she listened to Katya speak haltingly of the fate of their beloved snacks. Any snacks that were not jealously guarded were subject to fall victim to Kit's voracious appetite. This was well known and widely accepted among the rest of the sisters. Still, for the most part they would not begrudge her the indulgence, for she had gone so long without the treats they had delighted in as kittens. They could spoil her now, so they did.
"You didn't keep them safe, so Kit ate them." Irina shrugged. "I bet they were delicious too. Oh well, it’s good for her but bad for me. At least we have some leftover treats, and fresh sweet berries, and always glorious tea. I trust you're still planning on baking fresh meat pies later today? So we will have a delightful dinner, and perhaps some tea sandwiches between now and then to tide us over."
Watching Katya's eyes snap wide with glee, Irina allowed herself to preen. She had pleased the Queen, surely she was the cleverest and bestest sister ever. Fresh berries piled high was a quick way to Katya's heart, and she hadn't even seen the ginger, mint or lemongrass, yet. Those would be wonderful in tea or pastries, hopefully she could talk Katya into baking up some of her delightful lemon-ginger cookies.
"Hmm? Berry bushes?" Irina murmured, jarred back to the presence when it became apparent her sister was waiting for a reply. "Of course, dozens upon dozens, and will within our territory. The best thing about our forest of course, that it has so many delightful things. Sweet mint and chocolate mint and black berries wild berries and raspberries and honeysuckle..."
The burgundy Cheshire purred happily, kneading at the grass with her forepaws as her tail lashed about in excitement. "Tarts would be delightful. Do we need to get fresh honey from the trader? I can seek him out after my nap, if so. Anything to help you get your baking done." Word Count: 501
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Posted: Mon Jun 27, 2016 7:52 pm
Katya tilted her head, further contemplating the possibility of Irina without her notable ears. True enough they could make parts of themselves vanish, but leaving her ears somewhere else entirely would surely be quite a feat. Even more impressive than seeing a grin without a cat, which was practically an everyday occurrence where they came from. Ah well, time for such things later.
"You'd look rather bereft without them, but I think a trick such as that would almost be worth it. If you could hear whatever happened near where you had left your ears, you would quickly become the best spy in all the land." She tilted her head thoughtfully, giving a wide grin. "But I would miss them so; they should definitely stay for now. But if you do learn such a trick, I trust you will teach me? In addition to inviting me along to see the whole thing, of course. I'd be cross if you left me out. You'd have to bake me apology cakes, and bring me trinkets."
She sighed loudly at the commentary regarding Kit and the meat pies, wishing she'd made some cheese tarts or fresh crumpets to supplement their breakfast. Maybe she'd make some up while doing meat pies and berry tarts. She'd have to send an envoy to trade for fresh cheese from one of the nearby herds, and maybe they'd have fresh cream or milk as well. So much to do and so much to remember.
"Yes, I am still planning on baking fresh meat pies later today. I might even make some cheese tarts too, if we can trade for fresh cheese. If you can find me more berries or direct me to the bushes, I might work up some berry tarts for us too. Or perhaps some scones? My petite fours need work, but I could try for them too if we can trade for vanilla." Katya hesitated in her daydreaming, perking at the mention of herbs. "You found mint and honeysuckle too? Perfect! If we can get a good supply together, I can make us all kinds of delightful things."
The sight of lemongrass and ginger and mint made Katya purr, bounding over to her sister to jostle her fondly. "You truly are the bestest, Irina, do you know it?"
“What should I make first, Irina? Fresh berry tarts? Fresh raspberry scones with Chamomile and honeysuckle tea? If we can get cream and honey and cheese I’ll bake fresh cheese tarts and try my paws at making a custard. Or a berry soufflé? When was the last time we had honey cakes? Mixed berry muffins would be good…” She gave a delighted little shimmy and lipped up some more berries, swallowing them down and giving her sister a fond cheek rub. “Who can I send to fetch honey from the trader, and to speak to the herd about cheese and cream? You’ll need to rest, and Kat is busy… Maybe Sera will go for me? And later if I leave you some berries will you make jam? You’re the best at it.” Word Count: 515
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Posted: Sat Aug 06, 2016 5:08 pm
Sensing her sister was imagining her without her lovely, lovely ears, Irina pouted and flattened them as much as she could, as to ensure they escaped her sister’s notice. With a flick of her long tail she managed to tap her sister’s shoulder in warning, making her tone soft and sulky. “Katyaaaa! Stop it! I can see what you’re thinking, you know I can, and it’s not at all flattering to me.”
Though Ekaterina agreed that the loss of her ears would be a tragedy, it seemed as though the dark-coated Cheshire felt the entertainment value was high enough that the trick was worth pursuing. Irina rolled her eyes when Katya spoke of her legacy as a spy, fighting the urge to sniff haughtily. Surely that was a fact her dearest sister knew, even if it was a secret from the rest of the land?
“I am surely the best spy in all the land, regardless of whether I chose to part with my precious ears or not. So there, sister dearest.” Irina muttered with a secretive grin. “Still, I am glad to hear you too would miss my delightful ears. I think that you had best remember how delightful they are, in case I never learn this trick. Still, if such a thing is possible, then I shall learn to do it. And if I do learn how, of course I will show you. It would be infinitely easier to share the secret, rather than go through the trouble of making apology cakes and apology tea and fetching you apology trinkets.”
Irina shifted on her paws, ears flicking thoughtfully at the mention of her sister’s baking plans. She would play envoy herself if it would get her some of Katya’s cheese tarts, but berry tarts and meat pies would be delightful enough. And then Katya had to continue with the list, making the burgundy cat grin wide and lick her lips.
“I would be happy to jaunt over to another herd to trade for milk or cream so you can make tarts. Meat pies and cheese tarts would be lovely, but berry tarts and scones and petite fours would be good. We would need vanilla beans or extract and probably some more crystal sugar for those. Your mixed berry and wild berry scones were always best dusted with crystal sugar and fresh out of the oven.” She made a show of licking her lips and grinning widely at her sister. “Perhaps with fresh honey? Oh Katya if you’ll let me nap and give me a list, I promise I will fetch all the things you need to make me tasty snacks. I’ll even save some for the rest of our sisters and we can take some to our allies.”
The fact that Katya seemed pleased with her findings made Irina purr and preen, stretching lazily before giving a wide shark-like grin. “I did and I did and I did. Yes, I am. The bestest sister you have, so you should make me all the tasty things. I hope you do make me many delightful things to reward me for all of my hard work, and then we can make more to take to our friends. Perhaps the oh-so-handsome Glimmer Glitch or the delightful Arcadius?”
Shuffling on her paws, the burgundy Cheshire twisted her tail idly around her leg. “Can you do everything? I’ll trade for honey and cheese after my nap for a custard, if Sera is busy or painting the roses red again. But berry tarts or scones with chamomile and honeysuckle tea would be nice. And honeysuckle lemon crusts on a pie?”
Swayed from her list of edible treats, Irina tilted her head. “Well, if I am the best and you are sure, I would be delighted to make you fresh jam this afternoon. But that means you will probably have to be the one to visit with Falmari and ensure we get our honey. He doesn’t know the others as well as us, but he does have some of the best honey in the area. Maybe trade for some combs? They’re nice on fresh bread with tea. And Jam, always jam. Irina’s special berry blast jam!” Word Count: 700
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Posted: Sat Aug 06, 2016 6:03 pm
Ekaterina grinned widely at Irina’s over-the-top pouting as well as the obvious flattening of her sister’s ears, as though she hoped to hide them from Katya’s notice. “It was amusing, at the very least. Since you don’t have the ability to part from your lovely ears, we can’t really prove how flattering it would or wouldn’t be. Then again, if we floofed up your mane, no one would notice if you accidentally left your ears somewhere. So, it might be a pretty good strategy one of these days.”
Even if Irina had a point, Katya rolled her eyes for show. “I am not sure you are the best spy in the land, but I am sure if you weren’t the way to win that title would be the ability to leave your ears somewhere and hear what they are hearing when you are nowhere around. And then there would be no way to catch you doing your listening and you could learn all kinds of secrets. Secrets can be traded for good things, sometimes. Still, it’s a heavier trade than most people realize, so I suppose it is better that you do not. But, I am glad to hear that you promise to show me if ever you should learn. It is difficult work, having to be mad at you. I prefer to avoid it whenever possible.”
“I know you’re happy to work as an envoy, but you really do need to sleep. You were patrolling all night, and brought me many lovely herbs and things besides. So many fresh berries you picked while wandering, and the lemongrass will be wonderful.” She hesitated, admiring the collection of treats and glancing up to keep an eye on Chai and Oolong.
“Do you have any recommendations on who we should reach out to for vanilla beans? I was thinking White Leaf might have them and some new teas? I can load up a few sachets of flavors and send them along with a couple of cookies? That way whomever was trading could bring back some vanilla beans and some more teas. White Leaf always has new teas, I’d hate for us to miss out.”
Stretching idly, the purple and cyan cat snapped up another one of the berries as she tilted her head thoughtfully, eyes narrowing. “Don’t tease me about either of them, they are charming friends and you should behave yourself. As for delivery, there is no good talking of that if we can’t find or gather all the ingredients first. Catri might do, she is always happy to help me. Especially if I’m having you deliver things after… You really are going to need to rest up. But you make a valid point about Fal, he does know us best. Kit might think it fun to stalk him, Catri isn’t too scary but it doesn’t really matter. It’s not really about that, anyway. It’s always good to send someone he’s most comfortable with when trading, good manners and all.”
Irina’s agreement to making jam had Katya purring in a pleased way, nodding her head decisively. “Good, you will make me the best jam after you have rested. Or you might rest in the jam…And while that might be comfy for a minute, but then you’d be sticky and look a mess, afterwards.” Word Count: 552
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Posted: Wed Sep 28, 2016 7:11 pm
"You are rude." Irina murmured, pouting at her blue-pelted sibling and snapping in an idle threat. "I think you are no longer my favorite sister... You may never be again, actually. I think I shall replace you, perhaps with Serafima? She is your twin and therefore the resemblance is quite striking. There would be very little change to adjust to, really. I am very nearly red and she would be unlikely to paint me, which would really be the only concern. Yes, I think that plan is most suitable."
Her sister's doubt made Irina send Ekaterina a wounded look, drooping her ears in her most pathetic display. She made her teal eyes wide and sorrowful, sniffling loudly. "You doubt my skills? I am most certainly the best spy in the land, and your doubt only wounds my heart. Favorite sister or not, you should have more faith in me. Such a thing should not be contingent on where I leave my lovely ears. As for the work of being mad at me, I am being mad at you at the moment, so you are free of that burden."
She dropped the act a moment later, inclining her head in mute acceptance of Katya's words. Her sister did have a point, to an extent, as much as Irina could handle in her various wandering ways it was difficult to be in multiple places at once. It was even harder to do so with little to no sleep. “You do raise a compelling point, I must rest some time.”
"White Leaf is good, and strong allies of ours. Dayunsi and his son Nidawi are quite skilled and their gardens well-stocked, Tori too. It would just be a matter of what they had ready for harvest, or prepared for trade. It might take some wandering to get what we need.” Tilting her head thoughtfully, the burgundy cat gave a shrug. “White Leaf would be a good place to start, since it would be nice to trade for some new tea varieties if they had them. It would certainly be a shame to miss out, that is true.”
Irina gave a stretch, unsheathing her claws and elongating her back with a lazy twist of her tail. She held the pose for a moment, relishing in the unwinding of her muscles, then relaxed and straightened. “You make a valid point that a nap is needed, yes I dare say a nap is just the thing for me… Still, someone must go for tea and things, and it cannot be you. I am sure that Kit is busy with fighting, Charl is busy with hunting, and Sera is busy with painting… who knows what Catri does but it keeps her quite busy indeed. It is a shame we have not managed the trick of being in two places at once. Think of all the fun that could be had! And how useful it could be too. Still, sister dearest, I think we need to appoint someone to act on our behalf when it comes to trading with our friends and neighbors.”
Making exaggerated calf-eyes at her sister to imply innocence, Irina let the matter drop rather than arguing that she rarely behaved. After all, her sister was well-aware of this as Ekaterina was hardly the model of behavior herself. “If I did decide to rest in the jam, I might find someone to help me clean my glorious pelt afterwards. I am sure there is a stallion or two with a sweet tooth about this place.”
She gave her sister a wicked grin. “Wouldn’t you agree?” Word Count: 600
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Posted: Wed Sep 28, 2016 8:05 pm
“That may be false, that may be true.” Ekaterina shrugged with a lazy flick of her tail. “I can’t deny it all. Or I could, but where would be the fun in that? So it may be or it mightn’t be. As for being your favorite, or no, that is fine by me. I am quite sure I shall be Sera’s, and if you cheat and sway my beloved twin to your side by the fact that you are very nearly red, why then I shall claim Catri and Charl and ensure I am their favorites. I will bake something so deliciously wonderful for them that they have no choice but to name me the best sister that has ever existed, and I shall be sure that you do not get a crumb.”
Katya giggled at the look Irina cast her way, fighting a wide grin at the loud sniffles. “I do not doubt that you are the best spy in the land, and I am sorry I hurt your heart. If it is damaged irrevocably I am sure there are two or three that would be happy to dine on it… We could always do mother’s trick and find you a new one, or three? There must be some here that are not using theirs, I am sure they would hardly notice the lack. Still, if you will be mad then I shan’t have to be, and that frees up a bit of my afternoon. It is a dreadful task to bake while angry, you know. The crusts always turn out bitter and the pies overdone. It just won’t do.”
Katya poked delicately through the gatherings of items, tossing a berry with a dainty claw and catching it with a snap of her jaws. She hummed thoughtfully at the listing of their allies, nodding faintly to show Irina she was listening. Well, she was sort of listening. There was a little ditty about the flowers dancing through her head, and that was proving much more interesting than her sister’s pouting. She flicked her ears in agreement at the mention of their allies and suppliers, tossing another berry and catching it with a low purr.
She cocked her head at Irina’s words, lifting one paw and unsheathing her claws to consider them as she watched the burgundy Cheshire out of the corner of her eye. “Of course I do, I usually am quite clever. Remember that, will you? Or I shall find a way to invade your dreams and remind you incessantly, and then neither of us shall be in good humor for we won’t have had the chance to rest. Mostly because I will be nagging you and you will assuredly be listening.”
She trailed off with a huff, frowning. “Still, since we cannot yet be in two places at once, you make an excellent point. An agent for trade and alliances might be just the thing. I am not yet sure whom we should ask, but they should like to travel very much, and like to return home to us equally so. Maybe they should like us more, so they always return? But either way they should like to travel and to visit, and that means they should be a pleasant sort. That counts out, well, you know whom that counts out of matters. Some of them wouldn’t do at all, with all the head-chopping or the drowning or the in general biting and chewing and such. Most uncivilized, not that we mind at all here. But some other heads might, and if they withheld tea because of it, I would be most sad.”
She gave a soft giggle and a shake of her head as she leaned over and shouldered her sister. “No sleeping in the jam, for the rest of us would like to have some too. Still, if you decide to keep some for yourself and your sweetheart, I wouldn’t tell a soul.” Word Count: 658
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