Chapter 4 - Remembering
“Nightcat,” said the children, all running toward him. They hugged him and stroked his soft, silver fur.
“I’m so glad to see you,” said Celesta.
“I’m so glad you’re our cat,” said David.
“Me too,” said Nightcat.
“I remember when we first got you,” said Richard.
“I don’t remember that very well,” said Keziah. “Could you tell us about it, Nightcat?”
“I was only a kitten, then,” said Nightcat. “The dragons had started taking over the country. Great Aunt Esmeralda wanted to keep me safe because I was the youngest of all her cats. So she brought me here to Kitty Castle with some of her special things. We rode here on her fastest horse. Then she went back to her house for another load. She was going to bring the rest of her special things and the rest of her cats but she never returned. I never saw Great Aunt Esmeralda or my parents again.”
“Aww…That’s so sad,” David said.
“Yes. I’m afraid Great Aunt Esmeralda might not have survived.”
“I wonder what other things Great Aunt Esmeralda left here?” said Priscilla.
“And I wonder why they’re so special,” said Keziah.
“Were your parents magical nightcats like you are now?” asked Richard.
“No. They were just normal cats. I hope they survived. I wish I could see them again one day.”
“Richard, what was it like when we first got Nightcat?” asked Celesta.
“It was great,” said Richard. “We’d never had a cat before.”
“When he was a kitten, he used to sleep in my bed. That was five years ago. I was six and you princesses were three and David was only just born.”
“That’s why I don’t remember it,” said David.
“Even I can hardly remember back then,” said Keziah.
“Do you remember Great Aunt Esmeralda?” asked Priscilla.
“I remember that she had lots of cats!” said Keziah.
“I sort of remember her,” said Richard. “She had green eyes and curly white hair.”
“Was she nice?” asked Celesta
“Yes,” said Richard. “She was very nice.”
“Do you remember what her special things were?” asked Keziah.
“No,” said Richard. “I don’t remember.”
“I don’t remember much about her special things either,” said Nightcat. It’s hard to remember because I was so young.”
“Was it scary riding on horseback to the castle, when the dragons were starting to come?”
“Yes,” said Nightcat. “The dragons were overhead and they were swooping at us.”
“Were the dragons the same as they are now? What was it like to live here before the dragons came?” asked Priscilla.
“The dragons were smaller at first and so they weren’t as dangerous. They used to be all cat-sized.”
“It was nice before the dragons came,” said Richard. “You could go outside and play whenever you wanted to. I used to have lots of friends who lived in the village. But now I never see them anymore.”
“And we used to have flowers in front of the castle; I remember that,” said Celesta.
“And grass,” said Keziah, “and trees.”
“The only place trees grow now is in our courtyard because the dragons can’t get there,” said Priscilla.
“And in the glass greenhouses,” said Richard. “That’s where the farmers grow food now, so the dragons can’t burn it.”
“I think I have a photo album up on the top shelf in my closet,” said Celesta.
“I’ve always loved history,” said Keziah, “but this is way more fun.”
“Let’s get it!” said Richard.
They went to Celesta’s closet but the children couldn’t reach the album because it was too high up.
“Fly up and get it!” David said to Nightcat.
“Just climb up on my back, Richard,” suggested Nightcat. “Then you’ll be able to reach it.”
Richard climbed up on Nightcat’s back and got the photo album.
“How exciting!” said Celesta. “Let’s look inside.”
They opened the photo album.
“Whoa!” said David. “Grass was green? I thought it was brown!”
The princesses and Richard laughed.
“Only dead or burned grass is brown,” said Keziah.
The first photograph was of Richard playing outside.
“Whoa!” said David. “What’s that?” he asked pointing to a picture of flowers.
“They’re trolls,” said Richard.
“No!” said Keziah. “They’re flowers! I have some dried flowers pressed in a book. Let me show you!” Keziah wandered off to her room.
“You’re right,” said David. “It used to be very pretty outside.”
“Yeah,” said Priscilla. “I miss playing outside.”
Then Keziah returned with her flowers.
“These are my favorite flowers,” she said, pointing to dried snapdragons.
“Can I touch them?” asked David.
“Sure,” said Keziah. “Just be careful. They can break.”
David touched the faded, dried flowers.
“I hope flowers can grow outside again one day,” said Celesta.
“Oh, look,” said Nightcat, staring at the next photograph. “It’s Aunt Esmeralda!”
The children all crowded around to see.
“And she’s wearing a tiara,” said Keziah. “I wonder if that is one of the special things that she left here.”
“It might be,” said Nightcat. “She would often wear it or keep it close to her.”
They flipped the page.
“Awww...It’s you as a kitten, Nightcat,” said Priscilla.
“You were so cute,” said Celesta.
“It’s getting late,” said Richard. “Let’s put the photo album away.”
“Nightcat, just fly up and tuck it back onto the top shelf.”
“I have a problem,” Nightcat admitted.
“What is it?” asked Keziah, looking and sounding very worried.
“I don’t know how to fly.”