Misty the Scared Kitten (5 page)

The biggest cat was a tabby tom, who
miaow
ed sharply to get everyone’s attention.
He must be the Guardian
, Kitty guessed. Then she noticed a small, dainty black cat with a white patch by her ear, her tail curled neatly around her paws. She was sitting quietly, but Kitty had a feeling she was important. Before Kitty could find out, the tabby tom made an announcement in a deep, serious voice.

‘As our new members have arrived, it’s time to open our meeting by saying the Miaow Vow,’ he said.

Kitty listened in wonder as the cats recited what sounded like a poem.

‘When you miaow,

We promise now,

This solemn vow,

To help somehow!’

Once the Vow was finished, the tabby padded forward. ‘My name is Tiger,’ he miaowed importantly.
‘My human is Mr Thomas, on Beech Lane.’

Kitty’s eyes went wide. ‘That’s my head teacher!’ she whispered to Misty. ‘I didn’t know he had a cat.’

A plump, fluffy grey stepped up next. ‘I’m Smoky,’ she said in a friendly miaow. ‘I love naps, sleeping and snoozing. It’s nice to meet you.’

Another jet-black cat stepped forward. His green eyes were friendly, but he seemed shy. Kitty thought she’d seen him up on the hill in town, near her school. ‘My name’s Shadow,’ he miaowed, and Kitty replied with a friendly miaow of her own.

As each cat introduced themselves, Kitty found herself purring happily alongside Misty. Now only the small black cat with the white patch was left. Kitty noticed the cat was wearing a collar that looked exactly like her own. ‘Misty, look!’ she whispered. But before she could say anything else, Tiger spoke again.

‘Welcome to you both,’ he began. ‘I understand, from the scent message we
found earlier today, that you called this Cat Council?’ He nodded at Misty. ‘Please, tell us how we can help.’

‘Yes. My name is Misty, and I have a problem,’ she explained. ‘I love my new human, Jenny. But last night, I met two nasty cats in my garden. They chased me and my friend Kitty, and said they’d turn us into dog food!’

The gathered cats hissed at Misty’s story, their whiskers shaking. ‘Did they have fluffy, white fur?’ a silky Siamese named Biscuits asked nervously.

‘Yes!’ replied Misty. ‘Do you know them?’

‘I’m afraid we do!’ sighed Tiger. ‘We’ve had problems with Fang and Claws for months. We’ve tried to give
them a stern talking-to, but they just ignore us and after a while they’re back to their old tricks!’

‘Not long ago, they sneaked through my cat flap and ate all my special treats,’ explained Biscuits sadly. ‘They made a huge mess in the kitchen. My human got very cross and shouted at me!’

‘They jumped into our garden when we were playing,’ added one of the tiny honey-coloured kittens. ‘We were so frightened that we hid in the shed!’

Tiger exchanged a glance with the small black cat with the white patch. ‘Enough is enough. We’re going to do everything we can to make sure that Fang and Claws stop this once and for all!’

Misty purred gratefully, then turned
to Kitty. ‘My friend has something she needs to ask about too,’ Misty said, nudging Kitty with her nose encouragingly.

Kitty looked around. ‘Er, hello,’ she said hesitantly. ‘I’m Kitty. I hope you
can help me. You see … I’m actually a girl. I turned into a cat last night, for the first time ever. And I don’t know why!’

An excited murmur travelled through the circle. ‘Another one!’ breathed a little tortoiseshell next to Kitty.

‘Well, you’ve come to the right place,’ Tiger told Kitty solemnly. ‘Our Guardian can help you.’

All the cats nodded respectfully as the small black cat with the white patch stepped quietly into the circle.
So she
is
the Guardian. I was right!
thought Kitty.

‘Welcome, Kitty,’ the Guardian miaowed. ‘You have a very rare gift. The lucky humans who possess it can be wonderful friends to cats. In fact, I
sense that you might even have what it takes to be our
new
Guardian.’

‘
New
Guardian?’ asked Smoky, puzzled. ‘But what about–’

‘I have decided to step down as Guardian of this Council,’ the black cat explained. The other cats gasped. ‘I am getting too old, but I had to wait until the right cat came along to take my place. Now, I believe she has.’

Misty purred, excited for Kitty. But the other cats seemed upset. ‘B-but you’ve been our Guardian for years!’ protested Biscuits. ‘What will we do without you, Suki?’

Suki!
thought Kitty.
That’s the same name as
–

Suki held up a paw, and the circle
fell quiet again. ‘I am sure Kitty will be an excellent Guardian,’ she said. ‘I know she is kind, thoughtful and brave, and will serve our Council well.’

‘But
how
do you know that?’ asked Tiger curiously. ‘We’ve never met Kitty before.’

Suki’s eyes twinkled. ‘Because she’s my granddaughter!’ she announced proudly.

There were gasps around the circle. Kitty stared at the black cat in disbelief.
‘Grandma?’

Finally, Kitty understood why Suki had a collar like hers. ‘It’s your necklace!’ she exclaimed.

‘I have waited a long time to tell you our secret,’ Grandma miaowed happily. ‘The females in our family have had this special ability for hundreds of years. I became a cat for the first time when I was your age, so I knew you were ready!
But you
must
keep it a secret, Kitty. If any human finds out about your gift, the magic will be broken, and you will never be able to turn into a cat again.’

‘I understand,’ Kitty replied solemnly.

Grandma purred proudly. ‘Then you are on the right path to become our Cat Council’s new Guardian!’

The rest of the circle had listened in silence, amazed. Now Kitty realised all the cats were purring together, a deep rumbling noise that she could almost feel in the grass under her paws. Grandma chuckled. ‘I think the Council approves,’ she whispered.

But something was bothering Kitty. ‘I’d love to become the Guardian,’ she
said. ‘The trouble is, I don’t know how to help cats with their problems. I’m still getting used to being a cat myself!’

‘You will learn,’ Grandma reassured her. ‘You just have to trust both your human and cat hearts, Kitty. Listen to them, and you will be a wonderful Guardian. I promise.’

Kitty thought of something else. ‘Each time I’ve turned into a cat, it was because I sneezed! Could it happen when I don’t mean it to? Is there an easier way?’

Grandma nodded at the charm on Kitty’s collar. ‘With practice, you will be able to turn into a cat and back whenever you want,’ she explained. ‘Just say the words.’

Kitty felt dazed. There was so much to remember!

‘Now it’s time to make your Guardian Promise,’ Grandma told her. She held out her paw and asked Kitty to place her own paw on top. ‘Kitty, do
you promise to protect and help all cats, whenever you can?’

‘I promise,’ answered Kitty, feeling very serious.

‘Then you may walk among catkind as one of them,’ declared Grandma.

Suddenly Kitty was surrounded by the whole Council, all purring happily and wanting to bump heads with her. It felt strange at first, but Kitty quickly understood they were doing it to be friendly, and shyly bumped heads back.
I’m going to be the new Guardian!
she thought to herself, feeling a rush of amazed pride.

Misty was the last cat to rub heads with Kitty. ‘Well done, Kitty!’ she miaowed happily.