Chapter 2: NEEKO DRAKE: Rise of the Nine King

Chapter 2: NEEKO DRAKE: Rise of the Nine King

FANTASY / YOUNG ADULT

When I originally posted the first and second chapters of NEEKO DRAKE at my old blog location they were separated by months. (The fact of this being because I was still working and writing on chapter 2.) But now, that I'm re-posting everything in this new blog, I thought that I would place these chapters together as they should be. As I update this blog I will continue to try to do this, and group like writings together where possible.
In this chapter of NEEKO DRAKE: RISE OF THE NINE KING, you get to catch a glimpse of just what cats DO dream. I hope you enjoy the dream. I really liked telling it.
I would also like to thank my wife Catherine for designing the NEEKO DRAKE cover. I think that she did a wonderful job. Thank you dear, I Love you.

Enjoy.

- Author of Worlds -
Brennon Thompson

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Neeko could see it through his closed eyelids. It was bright, very bright. Opening his eyes quickly he winced ready for the blinding pain of the light. It never came.

The static in the air crackled and popped, drawing his fur outward towards the glow. Tiny sparks dancing off each hair of his coat, yet he felt nothing. It surrounded him, the light, golden in color and shimmering. Letting off little sparkling trails here and there. Reminding Neeko of many, many shooting stars as they shot off this way and that. Feeling a purr building in his throat, he could not resist. Watching their beauty, his purr grew louder.

“Do you hear that?! It’s going to attack!”

“It’s not going to attack. You nervous little whelp. “But sir, that sound!”

“It’s purring my young boy. It’s happy.”

The sound of voices perking up Neeko’s ears, he strained to hear.

“It stopped purring!” It attacks! We’re going to die!”

“Silence!”

The echo of something hard hitting something else, quite hollow bouncing back to Neeko’s ears. Where was he? And to whom did those voices belong? More questions he thought. Sleep was getting him nowhere. Sighing, perhaps he would be handling this in a more direct way after all.

Taking a step forward he did not move. Looking down at the floor. Great he thought, more slick tile. What is it with people and their tile floors? But it wasn’t tile, it was stone. So why wasn’t he moving? Neeko was getting tired of all the questions.

Leaping forward he instantly got his answer. He hit the light stopping with a snap. That thing was solid! Sliding down the invisible solid something he landed on the stone floor with a thump all four of his legs sprawling out in different directions. Cats don’t always land on their feet.

Sitting up and shaking his head Neeko looked at the light, hissing and mowing all at once. “Oh how I wish that thing wasn’t there!” The light instantly flickered and faded away, the sparks sputtering to nothing, all around him now, darkness. Blinking a couple times confused he slowly walked forward. What was going on? Had he just wished that thing away? Nah wishes are crazy; those are things of silly kitten dreams. Taking a couple of steps more a thought occurring to him. Still? Mowing and licking his lips, a slight smile curling upwards. “I wish that I had a big fat tuna fish.” Looking around in the darkness for his fish. Nothing. Oh well it was worth a try, he thought. Neeko stopped, his eyes affixing on the two glowing pinpoints coming towards him.

“Sorry, my furry friend we don’t have a tuna for you.”

Tilting his head to the side, Neeko was perplexed. Had he been understood? Cats couldn't speak. Understand speech, sure every cat could do that, but actually speak that was unheard of. Neeko heard a pondering meow emerging from his mouth. “Can he understand me?”

“Of course we can understand you.” Said a small voice.

Neeko’s eyes slowly trailing down to meet that voice, almost staring at the floor before he stopped. This person was short indeed. The two locking eyes as his vision came fully back to him. He had expected someone of much greater height. He thought. Shocked, Neeko instantly jumped backwards, meowing! “And Human!”

Blinking a few times to make sure that he was seeing what he knew he couldn’t be. But somehow it was still standing there after each blink, watching him.

“Human? How insulting!”

Crouching low on all fours Neeko watching intently and waiting. It spoke again.

“As you can clearly see we are no more human than you. We are mouse, well actually mice is the proper term. But looking at you I can see that now, is not the time for all things...” The mouse paused. “...proper.” You call us mice and we will call you...” The mouse looked upward at Neeko, starring. Finally breaking his silence, with a sound of a long whistle. “...Cat.” Taking a deep breath the mouse continued. “Yes. That shall serve our purpose for now.” He Smiled.

Still crouching and watching, Neeko was not about to move. This was odd. But the oddities did not stop with this talking mouse, it only seemed to begin there. The mouse was only about three inches tall, four if you counted the pointed hat that sat upon his head. His fur was graying and almost white in color. Especially the center, it was all white, appearing much longer and thicker than the rest. Two great tufts of hair spouting out from either side of his hat ran wildly and randomly towards the floor. Inspecting more closely Neeko, realizing that this mad hairdo was no hairdo at all. It was a beard. And it was tucked under that hat. The mouse had his beard parted in the middle and pulled up on each side, stuffing the ends under that pointy hat of his. The strange mouse leaned against a long gnarled stick using the piece of wood like a cane, supporting him and standing upright. His two dark eyes starring a hole into Neeko, studying him, appearing quite serious indeed, but the end result being anything but. How could he take this little mouse serious looking the way he did? That beard, that hat, mixed with that stern look on his face was all too comical for Neeko. Feeling a smile beginning to materialize on his face he bit his own tongue to keep the smile from taking full bloom. Biting a little too hard Neeko grimaced.

Looking up at the cat’s obviously unimpressed and somehow pained expression, the bearded mouse relaxed his body, slumping against his cane. Now looking shorter and much, much older. Sighing heavily, he mumbled quietly to himself. “What’s the use?” Clearing his throat, he continued, speaking louder now. “Come on. We have a lot to tell you, a lot to discuss.” Taking a few steps backwards he waited on the cat.

Neeko did not move. His head tilting sideways more bewildered. Pondering.

Stopping the mouse sighed again. This time sounding more annoyed than anything else. Shaking his head and looking up. “Fine! What is it, that you want to know?”

Neeko sat unmoving, still starring in silence.

The mouse rapped his stick against the stone floor to get the cat’s attention, seeing the feline flinch with each rap of his cane, he knew that he had it now. Speaking loudly and directly like he would to his students in class. “Well speak up lad! You can’t ask questions if you don’t move your lips.” What’s the matter, cat got your tongue?”

Opening his mouth, the cat ran his tongue slowly over each sharp tooth. The muscles in the mouse’s body tensing up. Watching, and hoping, had he gone too far? Cursing under his breath, wishing he had used another phrase, any expression but that one. Closing his eyes tight felt the breath of the cat drawing closer, the heat of the air dampening his fur and wilting his hat. Oh no. Not again. He thought.

Trying slowly, Neeko still unsure of the whole thing. “My name is... Owe!” Wiggling his nose and sneezing a few times (always a few times never just once), Neeko let out a tiny yelp. That hurt! He thought. Still twitching his stinging nose, he looked around through pain induced squinting eyes to find the reason. Looking downwards now seeing two blurry mice where only one had been before.

Great, he thought, first I run into something that’s not there and now I’m seeing double. This day was starting to feel all too familiar. His mind floating back to that day, Neeko shivered. Hoping this day didn’t end the way that day had ended. Wishing any fate but that.

* * *

It was during one of his many daring escape attempts from the little red headed girl. She had wanted to play dress up and Neeko would have none of it. He had tried simple hints at first, walking away, meowing, showing his claws (Never intending on using them of course.), but nothing worked. Nothing ever did. When that girl got an idea in her head that involved her little kitty boy she was unstoppable. All he accomplished was getting picked up and held. Squirming and flailing about he did manage to break free. Turning himself in midair as he fell he landed on all fours and instantly took off. Looking for a place to go, a place to hide, that’s when he seen it. The blinds were drawn back, and the sliding glass door was open! He could see the tall, unmowed grass of the front yard beyond the open door. He would hide in there. He ran underneath Father’s reclined chair, feet up in the air, asleep. Bless you Father, you sweet, snoring, lazy man.

Bam! Glass is hard against a cat’s head.

Neeko sat there like a lump. Looking up he could see the smudged imprint of his face on Mother’s otherwise perfectly cleaned glass. Opening his eyes he saw them. There were two of them! Two sets of curly red hair coming toward him, walking side by side. He closed his eyes, knowing it could get no worse. Neeko passed out.

When he woke up he knew that he had been wrong, dead wrong. This was worse, much worse. There he sat in a pink bonnet with bows. A matching lacy doll dress, and bootees on his paws, two of pink, and two of blue. The red headed girl giggled and smiled. Petting her fancy little kitty, seeming very proud of herself. Neeko just sat there, the snoring of Father coming from the other room.

* * *

“It's not moving. I stunned it!”

This was a different voice, higher and nervous.

“Don't make it angry, you wouldn't like it when it's angry. Now sheath your weapon and come away from there before you get yourself eaten.”

The tiny mouse backed away slowly like he was told, until he was standing next to the pointy hatted mouse. Still holding the sharp looking weapon between him and Neeko.

“Put your sword away Farburr. This lad here is our guest. And we wouldn't want to get off on the wrong foot, now would we?”

“No Master.” Without another word the tiny mouse sheathed his sword.

Rapping his cane more for playfulness than effect, the old mouse continued, with a smile in his voice. “Now! Where were we?” Looking between Neeko and his companion with a twinkle in his eye, he thought for just a moment. “Ah yes. We have a lot to discuss my feline friend. Now if...”

The doors at the end of the Hall opened, echoing loudly through the room as they came to rest against the wall Startled, Neeko looked up along with the others. He had not noticed the doors before. A mouse with brown fur and a green cape marched in. Right up to the old mouse.

“Master Majellan the...” The sound of silence echoed through the hall as the mouse stared. “What in Char is that?!”, he asked, looking up at Neeko.

“Why Sargent, that there is a cat.”

“It doesn't look like any cat I've ever seen.”

“And just how many cats have you seen Sargent Miles?”

“None actually. But I...”

“Precisely Sargent. How do you know that...” Stopping, the old mouse pointed up to Neeko with his cane. “...is not exactly what a cat is supposed to look like?”

“Well...I...” The Sargent stuttered as he spoke, now unsure of himself.

The corners of Majellan's mouth turning upright slightly in a smile as he continued. “That's right. You don't. Enough of this Sargent. There will be time for this later. Now come, what was it that you had to report?”

The Sargent once again remembered that he was a soldier. Snapping to attention he spoke with trained discipline as he gave his report. “Master Majellan, the forces of the Nine King has been spotted beyond the city walls. They tried to hide in the underbrush, but were spotted by children who were picking berries in The Brier.”

“Will those Rats ever learn? Sighing heavy, Majellan called for his young companion. “Come Farburr. And bring our new friend along as well.”

Farburr was unsure, once again looking up at the cat and then back at the two standing by the door.

Eyeballing the little mouse, Neeko did not move and just sat there. He was so confused by the whole situation he didn't know what else to do. The little mouse (Farburr was it?), seemed to be just as confused and did exactly the same thing.

“We haven't time for this!” Majellan bellowed with annoyance. “Farburr get over here! And that goes for you too Cat! I'll answer your questions later. But right now we have more pressing matters.”

Neeko and Farburr looked at each other, both appearing lost.

“Move!” The old mouse barking the order at the two.

And for some reason, both cat and mouse, hurried to do as they were told.

© Brennon ThompSon, 2009