And humans couldn't track anywhere near as good as cats, so this was a chance for her to show off her talents. She distinctly remembered the look and smell of the she-human she was seeking.
Nobody bothered her until she arrived at what Mommy-human had called the "Castle gates". The humans blocking her way were obviously guards. But they looked to be far too big and clumsy to stop one as small and nimble as herself.
Mairead sat and watched the guard-humans carefully for a few moments, waiting for just the right moment to dash between their legs like a streak of black lightning.
After that, it was almost too easy for her to find the human den and the right room inside it. Sure, there were many, many humans living in this den. But the one she wanted was fairly fresh, and rather distinctive as well. To Mairead's feline nose, it was obvious which way she should go next.
Danette was half asleep when she heard the meowing and scratching at the door to the room. *It must be Midnight*, she thought to herself. She felt Connor get out of bed and investigate.
He watched the cat look him over from head to foot before he stepped aside to let her enter. His attention was immediately drawn to the note. He watched, amused as the kitten hopped from the floor onto the divan where Dani was laying.
Mairead meowed at the object of her search and Dani opened her eyes. "Oh well hello there. What's this?" she asked as she shifted to a sitting position. She untied the ribbon and unfolded the note and read it.
Danette groaned and looked up at Connor. *It's from Kay. She wants me to come to her quarters at the HQ for dinner tomorrow. She wants to learn to control her gift.*
Connor smiled at her gently. *I suppose that you should honor her request darling, but you are not going alone.*
She nodded. She wasn't going to argue with him, especially when he used the tone that she had come to know as Connor the Keeper talking. She knew he wouldn't let her go alone, especially after their last episode in the Terran Zone.
Connor retrieved a sheet of paper and a pen and handed it to Dani. "I think you should give her an answer".
Dani nodded and began to write: " Dear Kay, I would be more then willing to help you. The Lady knows, I would not like to see you suffer as I had when I was younger. I beg you in the name of the One we both serve, to allow my freemate to come with me to help. He is will be able to answer questions that I may not know. We would be honored to join you for the evening meal."
She signed it, "In the service of the Bright Lady, Danette Lanart-Aldaran". Then Dani gave the pen to Connor and tied the letter around Mairead's neck. She looked the cat in the eyes and said "Give this to Kay." The kitten meowed and jumped down.
Connor and Dani watched Mairead disapper and Dani sighed. "Rest a bit more, love." Connor told her as he tucked the blanket up around her. Dani nodded as she gave him a kiss. He watched her drift off, troubled.
Meanwhile, Gilgamesh had just finished a long groom after a particularly satisfying snack obtained in the castle kitchens. It wasn't unusual to find that the less astute kitchen staff would forget to put away all of the ingredients for the evening's meals, but tonight... a whole fish intended for the seafood pie that was to go into the ovens had been "discovered" by Gilgamesh, just sitting out in the open, cleaned, boned, and ready to eat.
Never one to waste such generosity, he had dragged it off into a corner and eaten most of it, before the usual shouts and curses began to come from the main room of the kitchens. Deciding he really didn't need to finish _all_ of it just this minute, he quickly made an exit out an open window.
It was just past twilight, and the shadows were disppearing into night when he caught some movement out fo the corner of his eye. With the trianed instincts of a fine hunter, the big cat quickly stalked behind the creature - rat? too small for mouse...
It rustled in a very non-animal way, and smelled strongly of -? Human, certainly, and - ?? cat? he advanced behind it more quickly now. Clearly, it nust be young - the wariness of a more experienced night wanderer was lacking.
Mairead was in a hurry to get back. Already she missed the warmth, food and love of her new home. It would be good to get rid of the note tied to her neck-ribbon. However, the ribbon itself was something she very much wanted to keep.
With her head so full of imagined creature comforts, she wasn't paying very much attention to the scenery around her. Nothing had happenned on her way here. Even those silly guard-humans hadn't even TRIED to catch her.
In fact, if it hadn't been for the expression of amusement from the younger one, she might have wondered if both men had fallen asleep with their eyes open. So she fully expected her return trip to be equally as quiet.
Meanwhile, finally, Gilgamesh got a glimpse of the intruder - yes, small one indeed. Feelling in good spirits, with a full belly and a ngiht ahead of him full of adventure, he decided to play.