Moon Shimmers(40)

“Yeah, I am. But…”

“But you are looking forward to this. I can hear it in your voice, behind the fear. And Menolly and Nerissa are moving. And I—I’m changing, too. We’re growing up, aren’t we?” She sounded almost teary.

I stared at the ceiling, trying not to cry. “I guess this time was always going to come. If we had stayed in Otherworld, Trillian would have still come back to me. And you… From what our father’s spirit told you, you’d still end up with the Autumn Lord. And Menolly? Who knows what her path would have been, but she would have moved on, eventually. Life changes. It has to, or it stagnates. And that’s worse than dying.”

“When are you going to Otherworld? We have all the spirit seals now. It’s time for you to go hunt down the Keraastar Diamond.”

I bit my lip, sorting out my feelings. “Iris said my bruises would be a lot better by Sunday. I suppose I’ll leave then. Menolly won’t be able to come, but would you go with me?”

Delilah laughed, squeezing even harder before she let go of my hand. “Just try and stop me. Now, before Shimmer leaves I’m going to go thank her and say good-bye. I’ll give her your regards.”

I nodded. “I’d go with you, but right now, lying down feels like the best thing in the world.”

As Delilah left, Trillian entered the room. He gave me a thoughtful look. I smiled at him and closed my eyes. I didn’t feel like talking—I had too much to think about. He took the hint and tiptoed past. I didn’t think I’d be able to nap, but within a couple moments, the ache of the injuries and the adrenaline of the day settled, and I drifted off to sleep.





THE WHISPERING WOKE me up. It was faint, but constant. I yawned, easing myself up with a grimace. My ribs ached like fire, and I spotted the ointment Iris had left for me. I had changed into a skirt and loose tank top when she examined me earlier, so it would be easier to reach my ribs, and now I was grateful for my foresight. I eased the tank up enough to slather a layer of salve across my ribs. The ache began to ease and I was able to catch a deep breath.

The whispering continued. I glanced at the clock. It was nearing 8:30. I had slept for ninety minutes, but it felt like more. As I pushed myself off the sofa, Delilah bounced in, her furry tail twitching with curiosity.

She was gorgeous when she was a cat—a big golden tabby, with long flowing hair. At one point when she had gotten skunked, Iris tried to get the smell out with tomato juice and she had ended up with patchwork-colored hair—from pink to icy blond. Now, her warm golden ginger colors were back, and she spied me looking at her and bounded over, leaping into my arms.

I laughed, nuzzling her head. “You love the full moons, don’t you? It gives you a chance to play without guilt or care.”

She licked my face, purring loudly, and I caught the same love in her eyes that was always there when she was in her two-legged form. Delilah had started off far too naive for her own good, but now, even though she had retained some of that innocent, optimistic worldview, I missed our little kitten who thought everything had a good side.

I tossed her lightly on the sofa and picked up a feather toy that I found in the corner. We played for a few minutes, me dangling the toy for her, her darting this way and that to catch it. The next moment, she danced on her hind legs as I held it up, then leaped into the air and caught hold of the feathers. I let her drag it away as I headed into the kitchen.

Hanna was there, humming brightly as she handed me a cup of coffee. “I know you’ll want this before you go. And here, eat this, too.” She placed a plate in front of me with honey cake on it. One of her specialties, the cake was rich with the flavor of honey and raisins and chopped walnuts. The frosting was more of a crumble, with brown sugar and oats and coconut. I bit into it, letting the crumbs melt in my mouth. It was still warm—fresh out of the oven.

“This is so good. I want a second piece.”

“How about a sandwich instead? You need to be fortifying your strength for the night’s run.” She set a roast beef sandwich down in front of me, along with a bowl of beef barley soup. Pieces of carrots and celery and fresh peas floated in the broth, and the fragrant aroma made me salivate.

“Oh, yes. That smells wonderful. How are the kittens?”

“The vet said they’re all in good shape, considering they were feral. He gave them their shots and it seems that the black and the white ones are male, and of course, the two calicoes are female. He places them at about six weeks. They’re snuggled up in your suite. I put them in Maggie’s old playpen—they shouldn’t be able to get out of that, and they have their litter box and food and water.”