“Is anyone going to tell me what you’re talking about?” Rufus said.
“Well, now, Mr. Cat,” T.H. said. “It’s as simple as catching a cedar waxwing who’s got himself drunk on fermented berries. You see a girl standing here, and I see a girl who used to be a kitten and who, before that, used to be a girl.”
He looked at the half-eaten sandwich in Lillian’s hand.
“Are you going to finish that?” he asked.
“I dreamed,” Lillian told Rufus, “that I got bit by a snake and I was going to die, except these cats saved me by turning me into a kitten. But then I couldn’t figure out how to be a girl again because, even if I did find some magic to make me a girl, I’d be a girl dying of a snakebite. So then I went to see Old Mother Possum, and she… she turned everything back to before I got bit, and then…”
Lillian suddenly jumped to her feet and turned to T.H. “Do you know what this means?” she cried, then went on before he could answer. “If my dream was real, I can just go back to the possum witch and ask her to undo whatever it was that she did!”
“But if she’ll do it—and I’m not saying she will—you’ll be a kitten again.”
She nodded. “That’s not the point. If I’m the one that gets snakebit, then Aunt won’t. She’ll still be alive! I’d rather be a kitten forever if it means Aunt doesn’t have to die.”
“Are you saying this is all a dream?” Rufus asked. “Because it doesn’t feel like it to me.”
“Me, either,” T.H. said. “Interesting, isn’t it?”
“No,” the cat said. “It’s confusing. And more than just a little disturbing.”
“That’s it,” Lillian said. “I’m going back to Black Pine Hollow and Old Mother Possum. Now.”
“Hold on there,” T.H. said. “What’s the hurry? If you run off now, those bears will chase you down before you get as far as the berry patch.”
“Aunt doesn’t have to be dead,” Lillian said. “Don’t you understand? All those horrible things don’t have to have happened.”
“Yes, yes,” T.H. said. “That’s clear. But really, I’ve got to ask you again, what’s the hurry? However long it takes to get to Black Pine Hollow won’t matter. If you do manage to convince the possum witch to help you turn the clock back a second time—whether it’s today or a week from today—it will still be like no time has passed for anyone.”
“It’ll have passed for me,” Lillian said. “But if it makes you feel any better, I’ll wait until they’re all asleep before I sneak out.”
T.H. nodded. “That makes sense. Do you want some company on your journey?”
“You mean with you walking at my side instead of skulking around in the underbrush nearby?”
“You need to let that go. I didn’t know who you were then.”
“But you were still following me.”
He gave another nod. “Because I was curious. I saw all the cats watching you, and I felt some connection to you, but I didn’t know what it was. Now I do.”
Lillian was so giddy with the thought that she might truly be able to make it so that Aunt had never died that she decided to stop teasing him.
“I’d be happy for the company,” she said.
“Now about that other half of your sandwich,” T.H. said.
Lillian laughed and laid it on the bench. “Be my guest.”
“I’ll wait for you in the woods,” T.H. said, munching happily. “Where the path starts.”
Lillian nodded. “I’ll see you tonight.”
CHAPTER SEVENTEEN
The Big
Black Spider
It was hard, hard, hard to go through the rest of the day pretending that nothing had happened and she wasn’t going to run away tonight. But it had, and she was.
It seemed impossible that the possum witch had been able to turn back time. But it made sense. It was why both she and Aunt Nancy felt there was something unbalanced with the world—and it did have everything to do with her. It explained why the cats had been staring at her. They’d known the problem all along. They just hadn’t been able to tell her.
But she knew now, and she was the only one who could fix things—so long as Old Mother Possum would help her. So long as she could.
Lillian didn’t know much about magic. Maybe a witch couldn’t do the same spell twice in a row. But there had to be a way to make things right again. She’d do whatever it took to bring Aunt back. She’d live her whole life as a kitten. She’d even die as a snakebit girl.
Later that afternoon she went out to the well for water. On the way back, skinny Star came up beside her and followed her up onto the side porch that led into the kitchen. Lillian glanced around to make sure no one was looking.
“Hey, Star,” she said in a soft voice. “How’re you doing?”
She patted the cat and it arched its back, purring, before it backed away.
“You need to stop that,” she said. “I can’t think straight when you’re petting me, and I’ve got a message for you.”
“What kind of a message? Is it from T.H.?”
“Like I’d be delivering messages for a fox.”
“Sorry. Who’s it from?”
“Rufus says if you’re going to go, you’ve got to go now. The bears think you’ve been spying for the spider woman, but they weren’t sure. Now Joen says he’s got proof.”
“I’m not spying for anybody.”
“That’s as may be, but it doesn’t change anything.”
“What kind of proof would he have?”
“I don’t know,” Star said, “but he’s got a bottle in his pocket that he’s guarding real careful.”
Lillian’s heart sank. “You mean like a little brown bottle for tinctures?”
“No, it’s bigger than that, and the glass is clear. But that’s all I could see. I don’t know what’s in it.”
It was the wrong time, but Lillian knew she had to run now. Except just then the kitchen door opened. Star darted away and Lillian was left alone to face Mother Manan.
“What are you doing out here, girl?”
“I was just getting some water and petting the cat.”
“I don’t remember petting cats being part of your chores.”
“No, ma’am. Ah—was there something you wanted?”
The bear woman nodded. “I need you in the parlor.”
Lillian considered bolting, right there and then, but she knew how fast Joen was, and Mother Manan would have him on her tail as quick as you could shake a stick. The whole plan was to sneak off so that no one would know she was gone until morning and she was miles and miles away.
Sighing, she picked up the bucket and followed Mother Manan into the kitchen. She left the bucket there and continued on to the parlor with the old woman.
Of course Joen had to be in there, too.
“What did you want, ma’am?” Lillian asked.
Mother Manan lowered herself into her chair. Joen’s eyes were still mean, but his mouth had pulled into a satisfied smirk. It didn’t look any more pleasant than his usual scowl.
“Joen found something in your room,” Mother Manan said, nodding to Joen, who pulled a jar out from behind his back.
Lillian couldn’t see what was inside because of his big fingers. But then he put it down on the table. There was a big black spider inside—the kind you could sometimes find on logs down by the creek below Aunt’s farm, or in the outhouse, with a body the size of a man’s thumb and fat, hairy legs.
“I’ve never seen that jar before,” Lillian said truthfully.
“And the spider?”
Lillian picked the jar up and noticed how Mother Manan gave a little shiver when she did. Even Joen looked—well, not exactly frightened, but wary.
Lillian peered inside the jar at the poor trapped spider.
“I can’t tell one from the other,” she said. “Besides, there’s spiders everywhere.”
“Not in LaOursville. We’ve managed to keep them scarce here.”
; Lillian shook her head. “Well, I didn’t bring it in. Why are you so upset about spiders, anyways? They eat bugs and such, not people. Or bears.”
“And yet,” Mother Manan said, “when the spider woman was a little girl—about the age you are now—she ate my great-great-great-grandpappy.”
“That’s just a story. And even if it were true, it happened too long ago for Aunt Nancy to have been that little girl. She’d have to be ancient.”
But as she spoke, Lillian remembered the Creek boys’ story. John had been joking when he said that Aunt Nancy was that little girl—hadn’t he? And didn’t they say back home that Aunt Nancy had been living on the rez for centuries?
“You yourself told us the spider woman sent you,” Mother Manan said. “And we want to know why.”
“I told you the why. She said that the spirits told her that you might be able to interpret my dream. It sure wasn’t to bring spiders into your house. Whyever would she do that? Even if what you’re saying is true, it all happened too long ago for anybody to care about it now.”
“We don’t forget,” Mother Manan said with a low growl. “And neither does she.”
Lillian sighed. Of course they didn’t. If there was one thing these hills could breed, it was a feud that went on long after anybody should remember what started it.
“Well, I’m not part of your stupid feud,” Lillian said. She stood up, still holding the jar. “Now pardon me,” she said, “but I need to get my blanket and stuff.”
She didn’t think they’d actually let her just walk off, but she figured it was worth a shot. Like Aunt always said, you don’t get anything without trying for it first.
“You’re leaving?” Mother Manan said. “What about your dream?”
“I don’t need you to figure it out for me—not that I believe you were ever going to keep your side of the bargain. Shame on you. Looks like you need to find yourself a new slave.”
“You watch your manners!” Joen told her.
Lillian simply turned away. The hair prickled at the nape of her neck again, but nobody came after her as she went to gather her blanket, canteen, and food pouch.
“What that girl needs is a good licking,” she heard Joen say in the other room.
“And if she calls the spiders down on us?” Mother Manan retorted. “You have any idea how many are living in the woods around us? Probably thousands.”
“So we lock her up. I have ways to make her tell us why the spider woman sent her here.”
Lillian slipped into the kitchen and put bread, cheese, and apples in her pouch. She thought she’d free the poor spider as soon as she got out the door, so she picked up the jar once more. Just as she was about to leave, she came smack up on Joen, blocking her way. He looked smug, hands on his hips.
“Just where do you think you’re going, little missy?” he said.
“A place you’ve never heard of. It’s called Mind Your Own Business.”
He glared at her, lines furrowing his brow. “I’ll teach you a thing or two about how to talk to—”
“That will be quite enough, Joen,” Mother Manan said from behind him.
His glare held for a moment longer, and then he ducked his head down and stepped out of Mother Manan’s way.
“Yes, ma’am,” he said.
Lillian had to hide a giggle at how easily the big tough bear man was chastened by the old woman.
Mother Manan moved closer.
“Saying you’re not in the spider woman’s employ,” she said, “what’s made you turn against us today?”
For a long moment Lillian could only stare at her, too surprised to speak. Then she shrugged. “There’s really no point in talking about it. None of this matters anymore.” She tried to pass the bear woman, but Mother Manan blocked Lillian with her staff.
“Tell me why, at least,” the old woman said, “you were willing to work all this time in the hope that I would interpret your dream, but suddenly you have no more interest in what it means. Unless, of course, someone else interpreted it for you.”
Lillian shook her head. “No, I worked it out for myself.”
“I see. So what did it tell you?”
“Nothing that would mean anything to anyone except me.”
The old woman bristled. “My patience isn’t endless, girl. Tell me now, or we’ll see how a few days locked in a dark cellar will loosen your tongue.”
“All right,” Lillian said.
Except what she did instead was kick the bucket of water across the floor, pop the lid off the jar she was still holding, and toss the big spider at them. They screeched and jumped to either side as Lillian darted between them. Joen made a grab for her, but he slipped in the water and crashed down hard. She leaped right over his reaching arm and sped out the door and across the packed dirt in front of the houses.
CHAPTER EIGHTEEN
Escape!
The bear man came after Lillian, but she had a head start. Despite his size, he was obviously hurting from the fall and slower than the fleet-footed girl who’d run hundreds of races with the Welches’ dogs, spent months learning how to repair a farm, and worked so hard for Mother Manan that her strength and stamina were at their peak.
His legs were longer, but she was more agile. For every two steps the bear man took, she took three, and slowly but surely she drew farther ahead of him. The forest grew near, but Joen was still close behind her. She couldn’t keep this speed up forever. Maybe Joen could. And then he’d catch up and drag her back to LaOursville.
“Help, help!” she cried out, hoping T.H. might hear her.
She didn’t know if he was around. It was so much earlier than they’d planned for her escape. And she didn’t think the fox could do much if it came to a fight with the bear man. She glanced back. Joen was still coming. Was he closer?
She sped up. Pain stitched her side as she pushed herself to keep running. She was past the berry bushes now and under the first few outlying trees. Ahead of her, the path cut through the cliff. Another glance back showed Joen still in pursuit.
“Help!” she called again.
She was surprised when she got an answer from a completely unexpected quarter. A strange thrumming sound made her glance back again to see a cloud of birds descending on the bear man. Mostly small ones—robins and sparrows and wrens—but there were even a few crows and jays in the unruly flock. Joen had to slow down, batting his hands around his head.
Lillian ducked under a branch that she was about to run into. She steered herself back onto the path and turned to look once more as she heard an unholy screeching.
Along with the birds, cats of every shape and color had come out of the grass and were launching themselves at the bear man. Joen stumbled to a halt. He dropped to his knees, pulling cats off. But for every one he pulled off, two more were scratching and clawing at him while the birds buffeted his face and pecked at his nose.
Lillian stopped to look at the astonishing sight. She leaned against a tree, gasping for air. What had gotten into the birds and cats? They didn’t even all get along in the first place. So why had they suddenly joined forces to attack Joen?
Then she remembered all those weeks of putting out saucers of milk for the cats and throwing extra feed to the wild birds. Perhaps this was their way of saying thank you kindly.
Lillian grinned. Maybe the cows would be coming along next, or an apple tree man was stirring in his woody home, getting ready to give Joen a good bang on the head.
“What are you waiting for?” a familiar voice asked.
She turned to see T.H. stepping out of the underbrush.
“Where were you?” she asked.
“On my way to finding out why you needed help.”
“I’m okay now,” she said. Then she motioned with her chin to where Joen was still trying to fend off her rescuers. “Have you ever seen such a thing?” she added.
“No. And if you ever want to see anything again, you’d be smart to keep moving. Cats and birds can’t hold a be
ar man forever. We’ll want a good head start before he comes tracking us through the forest.”
He was right. Lillian pushed herself away from the tree.
“Thank you, thank you!” she called back to her rescuers.
She set off at a jog up the trail, T.H. trotting at her side. They slipped through the cleft in the rocks and then they were in the forest proper, tall trees rearing up all around the path.
“Why was the big lug chasing you?” he asked after they’d put some distance behind them.
“I had to run away before they locked me up in a cellar. They found a spider in my room and said I was a spy for the spider woman, which is what they call Aunt Nancy up on the rez. And Mother Manan was mad that I wouldn’t tell her about my dream, or what it meant.”
She glanced back down the path. There was still no sign of Joen.
“Do you really think he’ll follow me?” she asked.
“Depends how mad you made him.”
“Really mad.”
“Then I think he’ll track us for as long as it takes to find us, and he’ll probably have a gang of his friends in tow.”
Lillian knew T.H. was right. Joen had been set on bullying her, and he was too stubborn to give up. He’d do whatever it took to bring her back, holding to his task like a hillside of kudzu, as Aunt would say.
But Lillian was more determined than she’d ever been to make things right again. She needed to get back to Old Mother Possum.
“How can we lose him?” she asked.
“Oh, I know a trick or two about avoiding folks dogging my trail,” T.H. said. “The big question is, will he be tracking us with his nose or his eyes?”
“I don’t understand.”
“Will he be a bear or a man?” T.H. clarified.
Lillian tensed. Bad enough to have that big man chasing after them, but if he could also be a bear… well, she didn’t know how they’d get away from him.
“How good are you at climbing trees?” the fox asked her.