In Search of the Cat King

In a small cottage next to a glistening stream, there once lived a young woman named Shauna. Her parents passed away when she was a child, but the wheat field and farm animals she inherited allowed her to earn a modest living. In the morning, she’d wake up early to milk the cows, feed the chickens, and tend to the crops. In the evening, she’d make cheese and bake bread, which she’d eat after setting aside the nicest-looking loaves to sell in the nearby village later.

One quiet evening, Shauna was sitting and relaxing in her rocking chair after a hard day's work. The moon was shining like polished silver, the air was a bit chilly but not unbearably so, and the owls were hooting softly in the distance. As she gazed through the window, she caught sight of a traveler limping down the road across the stream. His left leg was bandaged, his coat was badly torn, and he seemed just moments away from collapsing.

“The poor man will end up as food for the wolves at this rate,” remarked Shauna, quickly standing up and opening the door. 

After crossing the bridge over the stream, she ran over to the traveler and offered to let him stay at her home for the night. The young man seemed startled by her sudden appearance, but he thanked Shauna for her kindness and allowed her to lead him to her cottage. Once inside, she began treating his injured leg, and after re-bandaging the wound, she started making a pot of warm soup. She couldn't help but glance over curiously at her guest while preparing the food.

“May I ask where you are headed, sir? If you still have a long way to go, I can lend you some money for the rest of your journey.”

“Please, call me Aidan, and I thank you for your generosity. However, I’m certain there are no human settlements in the direction I'm headed besides the village across that stream. Any more coins in my bag will be unnecessary luggage.”

“It almost sounds like you're traveling to the land of na daoine maithe,” she said jokingly. “You certainly won't find any human villages there.”

Aidan visibly froze in his seat, and for a moment, Shauna was worried that she had offended him. As she observed the look on his face, however, she realized the words she spoke in jest had really been true.

“My word, you're actually going to the land of na daoine maithe, aren't you?”

“You're indeed quite the perceptive one.”

“Pardon me, but why on God's blessed earth would you travel to the land of the fair folk? Sticking your hand in a burning oven would be safer than going anywhere near them.”

“A dear friend of mine has disappeared, and I mean to find him no matter what it takes.”

“Has your friend been captured by na daoine maithe?”

Aidan fell silent for a minute, apparently thinking about what he ought to say next. In the end, he decided to tell Shauna the entire truth.

“Actually, my friend’s one of na daoine maithe. To be precise, he’s the king of the cats, or at least, that’s who he admitted he was before vanishing.”

Good heavens, this man is either not in his right mind or has formed one of the strangest friendships in history, make no mistake, thought Shauna.

“You say he rules over the cats. Does that mean he was living as your cat?”

“For the most part, yes. I've recently found out, however, that the man I've been playing chess with over the past seven months was actually him in disguise. To sum up, he spent two full years as my cat while also spending the last seven months of those two years as my human friend.”

“And you're telling me you never noticed your friend was one of na daoine maithe for two whole years? Forgive me, but I find it rather hard to believe.”

“I understand it sounds unbelievable. Even so, I swear I'm telling you the truth. The fact I've been able to freely refer to the king of the cats by his full title so far should prove my honesty.”

Truth be told, that single fact was more than enough to validate Aidan's words. Only humans who shared exceptionally close bonds with na daoine maithe were allowed to mention their official titles during conversations without being punished. The king of the cats clearly regarded Aidan as a friend, considering the young man had yet to be stricken by illness or killed on the spot.

“If you don't mind me asking, just how do you plan on staying safe in the land of the fair folk? They're not exactly a hospitable crowd.”

Aidan pulled out a small iron knife from his bag, along with a glass jar filled with salt. Both iron and salt were powerful repellents against na daoine maithe.

“Rather than venturing deep into their land, my intention is to meet my friend as far away from the central territory as possible. If he senses my presence and wants to see me again, we’ll meet near the border of the land. If not, I’ll journey further into the land until I find him or until I’m casted out by force.”

“By Jove, you'd be extremely fortunate if casting you out is all they'll do. The iron and salt you have might not be enough to shield you from their attacks.”

“Regardless of the danger, I must see the king of the cats again. I refuse to let him disappear from my life without explaining his reasons for leaving.”

It seemed Aidan was dead set on traveling to the land of na daoine maithe no matter what. After dinner, Shauna helped the limping man walk upstairs to her late parents’ room. Her own room was just across the hall, and she told Aidan he was free to call out to her for assistance at any time. She wondered if a night of rest would be enough to soothe the pain in his wounded leg, despite his assurance that he’d be able to walk normally tomorrow. All night long, Shauna lay awake in bed worrying over Aidan's fate. He seemed like such a brave and kind-hearted youth, someone who certainly didn’t deserve to perish in the land of na daoine maithe.

Her gaze landed upon her father's sword, which she always kept next to her bed at night in case she needed it. During her childhood, her father said his sword was created by a pious blacksmith to drive away evil spirits. The blade was forged with iron stored for years in a chest made of rowan wood, known for its spell-resistant properties, which was also used to make the sword's hilt. Because iron and rowan wood were hated by na daoine maithe, her father had bought the sword to protect his family against their malicious enchantments.

Shauna briefly considered lending it to Aidan before shaking away the thought. She could never forgive herself if she allowed anyone else to possibly lose or heavily damage her father's prized sword, not to mention Aidan's wounded leg would make it difficult for him to properly wield the sword in a fight. However, the weapon did indeed have the power to protect him from evil spirits during his travels. Shauna turned the matter over and over in her mind until sunrise before making her decision. She was the only one in the world who could wield her father's sword, and she wished to help Aidan return home safely.

I shall ask Aidan if I may accompany him on his journey.

Despite her warnings to Aidan earlier, she was actually intrigued by na daoine maithe, and her heart had always longed for adventure. In the morning, after breakfast, she showed Aidan her father's sword and expressed her wish to join him on his journey to the fair folk’s land. He protested strongly at first, unwilling to drag another person into his dangerous plans, but when she pointed out that he needed someone to help him walk on his injured leg, and how she was probably the only person willing to help him search for his magical friend despite the risks, he couldn't deny she would be of great assistance to him. He also knew her father's sword would greatly improve his chances of staying alive, and he had no doubts about Shauna's swordwielding capabilities, considering how the young woman had been able to survive all by herself in this lonely place since childhood. Eventually, he relented and allowed her to come along, on the strict condition that she kept her father's sword and salt with her at all times. There was very little in the cottage for them to pack aside from the sword, some clothing, and a few tools said to resist magic, so they decided to head for the village to buy more provisions as soon as possible. 

A few hours later, while enjoying a quick lunch at the village inn, Shauna warned Aidan not to breathe a word about their plan to visit the land of na daoine maithe to the villagers, as they, being well-intentioned yet stubborn, wouldn’t hesitate to stop their journey even if meant using force.

“Believe me, they'll lock us up in a shed until we solemnly swear to the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit that we'll never attempt to set foot in there again. They've already done this to a youth who also tried to travel to that land last spring.”

“Did the youth end up making the vow?”

“He did. Since he's still alive and well, the villagers believe they did the right thing. To be fair, the youth probably would have lost his life had they not stopped him back then.”

“And yet you wish to accompany me to the same place he wanted to visit. Are you not afraid of losing your own life?”

“You wish to see your friend again even if it means facing death. I wish to help you return home in one piece. I'm sure the youth had his own reasons for wanting to go as well, but unlike him, we won't let the villagers stop us.”

“I recall you also tried to stop me at first. Why the sudden change of heart?”

“I only gave you those warnings out of neighborly duty. To be honest, I've always been interested in the land of the fair folk myself.”

“Seems like you've got a reckless streak in you as well,” Aidan remarked light-heartedly, to which Shauna laughed as she held up her water glass.

“Perhaps. Cheers to recklessness,” she said, smiling like a mischievous child.

“And to our successful journey,” added Aidan, clinking his glass against Shauna's.

After some discussion, they decided to buy a horse and cart that could carry Aidan, whose leg was still healing, and their supplies to their destination. The young man apparently had more money than Shuana initially thought. He admitted his family was wealthy, but out of caution, he hadn't told Shauna about the gold coins in his bag earlier, though he'd originally planned to give her some money as a gesture of gratitude before leaving quietly. Now that they were traveling together, however, he thought it was alright to tell her about his finances.

“We have enough coins at our disposal, so let’s buy the fastest horse in this village.”

“Farmer Brennan often boasts about his horses. I'm sure we could get a fine one from him.” Shauna looked rather sullenly at her new friend. “If you're so rich, why didn't you purchase more expensive medicine for your leg wound from the apothecary? All you bought were common ointments, some medical herbs, and bandages.”

“This wound can't be treated easily by human medicine. It was left by a phantom hound I was unlucky enough to run into. I don't think it's a permanent injury, but normal medicine doesn't seem to have any great effect on it.”

“Do you suppose your friend can heal your wound if we manage to find him?”

“Possibly. I'm not really sure how cat magic works.”

“I sure hope he at least tries to heal your injury, since he called himself your friend for years.”

“He will, trust me. He always did his best to help me whenever I was in a tough spot.”

Aidan began talking about how his friend once dove into the lake in his cat form to retrieve his hat that had been blown away by the wind, and how on another day, when he was in low spirits after a disagreement with his mother, his friend played chess with him in his human form until nightfall to cheer him up. Shauna listened attentively to his stories on their way to and back from Farmer Brennan's horse stalls. It sounded like Aidan and the king of the cats truly had been good friends before the latter's sudden departure. Maybe there were compelling circumstances that prevented the king from explaining to Aidan why he left so abruptly.

The two travelers rode out of the village the next morning, with Aidan seated in the wagon alongside their bags, while Shauna was at the front steering the horse. Aidan had wanted to steer the horse himself, but Shauna insisted he rest in the wagon while his leg healed. The first two days of their journey along the road passed without incident. On the third day, while traveling down a hilly path, they came across an old woman lying face-down on the grass, and they hurriedly stopped the wagon to check on her condition. The woman was fortunately still alive, but she had a high fever and a sprained ankle. Shauna possessed considerable strength, and she lifted the woman into the wagon by herself with ease. Aidan did his best to comfort her as he gently rubbed ointment onto her swollen ankle.

“Everything will be alright, ma'am. We shall take you back to your house safe and sound, if you’d be so kind as to tell us where you live.”

“My house is behind the hill half a league ahead. The entire hill is covered with heather and stands right next to a water well, so you'll have no trouble finding it,” the old woman murmured.

The hill was eventually spotted, and after the wagon traveled around the heather-covered mound of earth, the old woman's home came into view. It was a small, dilapidated cottage with a gloomy air about it. Shauna started to remember the stories she'd heard as a child about spirits disguised as elderly women living in places like this, and she silently prayed she wasn't leading herself and Aidan to certain doom as she carried the old woman into the house.

The interior of the cottage was rather shabby but not as dreary as the exterior. A red and yellow rug covered the floor near the fireplace, the curtains were soft blue, and a skillfully embroidered quilt covered the tiny bed in a corner of the only room in the house. After carefully laying the woman down on her bed, Shauna told Aidan to boil a kettle of water.

“We need to steep the medical herbs in hot water and help her swallow the liquid at regular intervals. Also, she can't take the medicine on an empty stomach.” She looked around and noticed some turnips hanging above the kitchen table to dry. “Let's cut up one of those turnips and boil the pieces in a separate pot. We'll mash them up and feed them to her.”

The turnips and medicine seemed to improve the old woman's condition. She was sitting up in her bed now, and she thanked the travelers from the bottom of her heart for their help.

“If there's anything I can do to repay you both, please let me know,” she said, lowering her head towards them in gratitude.

Shauna replied a reward was unnecessary, while Aidan said her successful recovery would be more than enough to repay them. The woman then asked them to tell her where they were headed, as she might be able to give them useful advice if they were traveling to a location she was familiar with. Shauna glanced over with an unsure expression at Aidan, who smiled and nodded, encouraging her to speak openly to the woman about their intended destination. She then told the old woman they were traveling to the land of na daoine maithe to look for Aidan's friend.

“Good gracious, you're headed for the land of na daoine maithe? And you're sure your friend is one of them, young man?”

“Quite sure, ma'am. According to the entourage of talking cats who came to my house, he is the king of the cats who has inherited the crown from his recently deceased father. When I asked him if this was true, he assumed his human form and confessed his true identity to me, but before I could speak with him further, he suddenly vanished along with the other cats.”

“Is that how you found out your cat and your human friend were the same being?” asked Shauna.

“Yes.”

“Haven't you considered it might be wise to simply forget about his existence? Cats are devious little creatures who spend their lives causing chaos and then vanishing like smoke before their victims can catch them. Who's to say you weren't merely a source of amusement for your friend all this time?” asked the old woman.

“It doesn't matter what he thinks of me. It's because of what I think of him that I'm on this journey,” replied Aidan in a steady voice, though his hands were clasped tightly on his lap. “He's been hiding his true identity from me for years, and now he has disappeared without a word, but I still want to believe he wouldn't simply dismiss the memories of our time together as if they were nothing. If continuing our friendship is impossible, at the very least, I want him to say goodbye to me properly. After everything we've been through together, he owes me that much.”

Both the old woman and Shauna gazed silently at Aidan, who looked as if he wanted to cry but was doing his best to hold back his tears. He was clearly upset that his friend had left him so abruptly, yet the affection he still felt towards the cat king was driving him to head for the land of na daoine maithe, even if it meant risking his own life. The old woman looked up thoughtfully at the ceiling for a while, before pointing towards the cupboard across the room.

“May I ask you to open that cupboard and bring me the object on the top shelf inside it?”

“Of course.”

Shauna swiftly got up and went over to the cupboard. When she opened it, she was surprised to find a silver comb lying on the top shelf. She picked it up and held it out for the old woman to see.

“Is this what you wanted me to get, ma'am?”

“Indeed.”

After Shauna handed her the silver comb, the old woman began polishing it tenderly with a soft piece of cloth. She hummed an unfamiliar yet comforting tune as she wiped the tarnish off the comb, which almost seemed to glow in her hands. She turned to look at the two travelers still sitting next to her bed.

“Have either of you ever heard tales of the banshee who's said to live around these parts?”

“The banshee?” Shauna asked, looking confused. “Can't say that I have.”

“Neither can I,” said Aidan.

“Legend says the banshee wails and screams whenever someone is about to die soon. She herself does not cause death, but her cries are an omen of inevitable demise. Both humans and non-humans alike fear the sounds she makes, so she lives in solitude until the day she herself will cross over to the world beyond, though it's unknown if her immortal life even does have an end.”

One fact about banshees Shauna learned as a child slowly resurfaced in her mind. It was said the most cherished item belonging to the banshee was a silver comb.

Please don't tell me this lady's about to scream, she thought desperately. I knew there was something odd about her, but no good deed goes unpunished, I guess.

“Calm yourself, young lady. I assure you I'm not about to lament your impending demise. No need to cover your ears,” the old woman said in an amused tone. “The same goes for you too, young man. I only wish to give this silver comb to you both. It might be of use to you on your journey.”

“You wish to give your comb to us?” Aidan asked, sounding very surprised. “I thought the silver comb is the banshee’s most treasured possession. You're really giving us such a precious item?”

“The banshee is always willing to return a favor, especially if the ones who helped her are kind-hearted people like yourselves. Am I the banshee? Am I merely one of the rare friends the banshee has? I enjoy maintaining my privacy, you see, so I'm afraid I won't tell you the answer.” The old woman gave them a warm yet secretive smile. “This comb will ward off most spirits who fear the banshee, though it won't do anything against certain spirits like the dullahan, who are also heralds of death, or the Cù-Sìth, whose three barks always end in someone's passing. I imagine the Cù-Sìth was the one who dealt that wound to your leg, judging from the magic I sense from it.”

“It was indeed a giant, green dog that hurt my leg,” said Aidan, grimacing at the memory.

“The Cù-Sìth normally doesn't attack humans. I can only hope it'll be its usual self if you ever run into it again.”

After leaving plenty of medical herbs on the kitchen table for the old woman, the travelers bade her farewell and left the cottage. That evening, the two were sitting around a campfire and talking about the day's events. Aidan was warming his hands over the flames when he suddenly turned his head towards the woods.

“Listen. Do you hear that?”

“Hear what?”

“That rustling sound. It sounds like someone's running this way.”

Shauna grabbed the hilt of her father's sword, which hung sheathed from her belt, while Aidan grabbed his knife. They locked their gazes on the woods, expecting a beast to pounce on them at any moment. About a minute later, a bespectacled man came running out from behind the trees, panting heavily from exhaustion and looking very distraught. When he saw the two travelers staring in bewilderment at him, he rushed over to them and bowed down on the ground before their feet.

“Good sir and good lady, please help me. My little daughter has been kidnapped by na daoine maithe. I’ve finally managed to track them down in the forest, but their wily spells make it impossible for me to rescue my child. I'm begging you, please lend me your assistance.”

After a moment's consideration, the travelers agreed to help the unfortunate father get his daughter back. Together, the three of them entered the woods. The father led the way, with Aidan walking right alongside him, while Shauna guarded their backs. Nearly twenty minutes passed before the father stopped in his tracks and pointed towards a wall of shrubbery that stretched far across the forest floor.

“Behind those shrubs is where na daoine maithe are celebrating tonight. They've seated my daughter at their table as their guest.”

The three carefully made their way over to the shrubbery and peered through the tiny gaps between the branches. They could see tiny men and women dressed in colorful clothes, most of them laughing and flying around with insect-like wings on their backs, while some were playing musical instruments on a small stage. A banquet table covered with fruits stood in the center of the clearing where the party was taking place. At one end of the table sat a human child, about one or two years old, who seemed to be in a daze.

“Try tossing the banshee's comb into their midst. Then we'll throw handfuls of salt all around their party grounds during the confusion. If even that's not enough to weaken them, you must draw your father's sword,” Aidan said.

“I would prefer not to kill them if possible,” whispered Shauna, who was reluctant to invoke the fair folk's wrath by killing their kin.

“You don't have to kill them,” answered Aidan. “Simply brushing against iron burns their skin. Just swinging your blade around will be enough to scare them away.”

“Alright. I'm going to toss the comb.”

The instant the banshee's silver comb landed among the partying spirits, there arose a cacophony of terrified little shrieks and exclamations. Apparently, the mere possibility of the banshee being nearby scared them out of their wits, and many of them clamped their tiny hands over their tiny ears in a pitiful attempt to block out her howling omens of death. The handfuls of salt Aidan proceeded to toss in their direction poured down on their heads like hailstones, causing some to faint, while others flew away from the clearing as fast as they could. Within minutes, the clearing became devoid of any spirits, and the child, who was no longer under their spell, began to cry in fear. Her father hastily ran over to his daughter and gently scooped her up in his arms. 

Aidan picked up the comb still lying on the ground and looked about him in amazement. The rescue mission had been completed far more quickly and easily than any of them had expected.

“I can't believe that's all it took to save your daughter. Sir, perhaps you wouldn't have needed our help at all if you'd simply thrown lots of salt around.”

“I did have my iron sword with me, but it didn't scare the spirits as much as this young lady's comb did. Tossing salt around wasn't enough to distract them for long either. How can I ever repay you both?”

“No need for that. We're just glad your daughter has been returned to you safe and sound,” said Shauna. “If I may ask, how did na daoine maithe manage to kidnap your daughter in the first place?”

“You might not believe me, but it happened during a fight between a giant phantom dog and a huge flying cat. About three months ago, my daughter was suffering from a grave illness, but just as she was about to breathe her last, a big cat with black fur and glowing green eyes suddenly appeared before us inside her room. He pulled out a vial of golden liquid and poured it into my daughter's mouth. Immediately afterwards, she was restored to full health. I tried to calm myself down to properly thank the cat for saving my child's life. As I was about to speak, however, a monstrous dog suddenly burst in through the window and attacked the cat. They battled midair for a while before the cat flew outside, with the dog chasing viciously after it. Some spirits from the forest snuck into my house during the fight, and they stole my daughter away while I was distracted by the two spectral creatures clashing in front of me.”

“That cat you saw, did you happen to see a patch of white fur on his chest, and did he call himself the king of the cats?” Aidan asked the father, with a note of urgency in his voice. “Please answer me, sir. He might be the friend I'm searching for.”

The other man seemed surprised by Aidan's words, but he quickly replied, “I'm afraid he didn't tell me his name. However, he did indeed have a patch of white fur on his chest. I can also assure you I heard him call the hound the king of the dogs, if you're looking for him as well.”

“Did you ever see either of them again after that fight?”

“Unfortunately, no.” The father shook his head. “I still haven't been able to thank the cat for healing my daughter. If you manage to find him, please send him my warmest regards.”

Two days later, the travelers finally reached the hilly terrain where na daoine maithe were said to live. The countless green hills covering the land for miles all around them certainly created a mystical atmosphere fitting of legends. Shauna turned towards Aidan and saw that his expression was more grave than ever.

“Whatever happens, we must not damage any of these hills. Each hill in this place houses spirits, and damaging their homes would be the same as a death sentence for us,” he said.

“You said you'll try to have him appear before you without venturing too far into the fair folk’s land. We're on the outskirts of their land now, so are you going to try summoning him right here?” Shauna asked, drawing a circular symbol on the ground that was rumored to attract the attention of the Cat-Sìth, which was the true identity of Aidan's friend.

Before Aidan could answer her, however, a giant dog with shaggy green fur and flaming red eyes suddenly came charging towards them. Shauna slashed at him with her father's sword, but he seemed to be focused on attacking Aidan instead of her. Even as she successfully landed a blow on his hind leg, he kept chasing Aidan while ignoring everything else. The jar of salt Aidan threw at the dog's head merely shattered on impact and did nothing to repel the beast. In the end, the Cù-Sìth managed to pin Aidan to the ground. As Shauna watched in horror, desperately trying to think of a way to save her friend, the dog slowly opened his mouth.

“Young human, I shall be merciful and grant you one last chance,” he spoke in a regal voice. “If you swear to Heaven above you will cut all ties with the king of the cats and never look for him again, I will spare your life. If you refuse, however, be prepared to have your throat torn out. The choice is yours.”

Aidan glared at the Cù-Sìth and stated defiantly, “I will never swear off my bond with him.”

“Is that so? Then I suppose your mangled corpse will be the perfect gift for that despicable cat. He shall know the pain of losing someone dear to him forever. Stand back, human woman. I have no desire to kill you as well,” he warned Shauna, who was about to run her father's sword right through his back.

The blade drew some blood but dealt no heavy damage, and even the wound she'd dealt to his hind leg earlier was almost completely healed. Shauna realized with dismay that the Cù-Sìth couldn't be defeated with human weapons. Just as his teeth were about to tear into Aidan's neck, however, there was a flash of green light, and when the light faded, there was a large black cat with glowing green eyes lying on top of the hound's head.

“Release him, dog king. It's me you have a score to settle with, not this youth.”

The king of the dogs growled furiously and lunged at the cat, who was now floating above him. Though he was a fearsome warrior, he still found it difficult to keep up with a cat's reflexes. The two spirits were battling each other midair, just as the little girl's father had described, and stopping them seemed impossible.

“In the name of all things holy and righteous, please tell us why you're so angry,” Shauna shouted at the dog king using her loudest voice, so that he'd be able to hear her over the chaos.

The king of the dogs didn't turn to look around, but he answered as he continued attacking his enemy, “The cats were supposed to deliver the elixir their late king prepared as a goodwill present to my family, but this loathsome fiend used it on a human child, so there's no longer a way left to cure my ailing mother. She's on the verge of death, and it's all this heinous cat's fault we cannot use the elixir to save her.”

The golden liquid that saved the little girl's life three months ago must have been the elixir. Deep down, Shauna could sympathize with the dog's frustration at being unable to save his dying mother, for she herself had felt the same when her parents died. As her father's face came to mind, she suddenly remembered something he'd told her about his sword while he was alive. He mentioned the special iron in the sword's blade was said to drive away evil influences causing injury and sickness if placed on top of an ill person's body for one whole night without disturbance. The dog king was apparently immune to iron's harmful effects on na daoine maithe, so perhaps his mother was also able to touch iron safely. The sword's healing powers would possibly work on her as well.

“I think I might have a solution, if you'll give me a chance to explain, your highness.”

Shauna sheathed her father's sword, and holding it up towards the dog king, she told him everything she knew about the sword's properties. She then insisted he quickly take the sword with him back to his palace and try using it to heal his mother before it was too late. The dog king was stunned for a moment, but in the end, he accepted the sword and began flying back home at top speed. Once he was out of sight, Shauna and Aidan turned to face the cat king, who had now assumed his human form. He smiled rather awkwardly as he said, “I know you must have a lot to ask me. Let us go to my palace first, and I will answer all your questions there.”

The royal palace of the cats stood at the farthest end of the hilly terrain, but with the cat king's powers, the three of them reached the palace in a few seconds. When they arrived, a female cat with black fur and green eyes like the cat king came hurrying out to greet them. She was apparently the king's younger sister.

“I've been worried sick, brother. Where on earth did you vanish off to?” she asked, before noticing the two humans standing behind him. “My goodness, you've brought actual humans to our palace? Is that why you're in human form right now?”

“It's a long story. I'll talk about it once we're inside. Also, have the royal healer come and treat this young man's wounded leg within the next five minutes.”

The king of the cats spent the rest of the day explaining why he'd been living among humans for a while and why he'd left Aidan so suddenly. According to him, he never felt suited to inherit the throne from his father. He hoped if he disappeared from the palace for a year or two, his father would acknowledge his sister's leadership skills and make her his successor instead, but unfortunately, he still received the crown after his father passed away a few months ago. To make matters worse, he ended up enraging the dog king by using the elixir meant for his family to save a dying child. It would’ve only been a matter of time before Aidan learned about his true identity, whether from his cat entourage, who were getting fed up with their new king's vanishing tendencies, or from the king of the dogs, who might also attack Aidan for being his close friend. 

A few weeks ago, when his entourage finally tracked him down at Aidan's house, he realized he could no longer stay there without risking his human friend's safety, especially since his entourage had likely drawn the dog king's attention to this place. He therefore vanished along with the other cats from Aidan's house before the Cù-Sìth arrived. Though he'd fully intended to explain himself to Aidan as soon as things calmed down, he learned that the young man had set out to find him. He desperately tried to shield Aidan from the dog king's attacks, but his powers weren't enough to protect his friend from afar, and the best he could do for Aidan was to guide him indirectly to Shauna's house where he could rest safely for the night.

“You've protected my dear friend throughout his journey. For that, I offer you my deepest gratitude,” he said to Shauna, placing his hand over his heart and bowing as a sincere gesture of respect. “I'm sorry you had to part with your precious sword to right the wrong I committed against the king of the dogs.”

“You saved a child's life, and I sympathized with the king's grief over his mother's illness. I'd say I made a worthy sacrifice, so please do not feel guilty about it, your majesty.”

“Won't you come back home with me, Daithi? I missed you so much while you were gone, and my life just doesn't feel right without you. Please?” asked Aidan entreatingly.

Seeing the conflicted look on her brother's face at these words, the king's sister held his hand and said resolutely, “I don't mind inheriting the throne, brother, even if the court still has reservations about crowning a female leader. I'm far more knowledgeable about the affairs of our kingdom and relations with other royal families than you are. I promise I'll be the best queen of the cats this world has ever witnessed.”

The cat king smiled gently at her as he replied, “If you truly wish to be queen, I'll give you my crown regardless of the court's opinions. However, it’s too dangerous for me to keep living with humans if the dog king's mother doesn't recover. When we receive news of her fate from her son tomorrow, I shall decide whether to go back with you or not,” he said to Aidan.

In the morning, an official message from the king of the dogs arrived at the palace, announcing that his mother's health had been restored, so he no longer had a reason to end the cat king's life. After passing the crown to his sister, the former king of the cats went back to being called Daithi, which was the name Aidan had given him when he started living as the young man's cat two years ago. 

Using his magic, Daithi transported himself, Aidan, and Shauna back to Shauna's cottage, along with their horse and wagon. He then surprised Shauna by instructing her to pack all her things and load them into the wagon. Apparently, he thought a solitary cottage life wouldn't suit a woman as strong and adventurous as herself, so he decided she should come live with him and Aidan instead.

“Aidan's mother is always talking about how she wants a daughter. Come with us, and we'll see if she's willing to adopt you. You don't mind Shauna becoming your sister, right?” he asked Aidan, who looked just as startled by his sudden suggestion as Shauna was. “From what I understand, she's the main reason why you survived your perilous journey in the first place. I guarantee you won't find a sibling more reliable than her in the world.”

“That is true,” Aidan agreed wholeheartedly. “My father can handle the sale of your cottage and field, Shauna. He's an excellent real estate agent, and he'll make sure you get the best price for your property. You really should come along with us.”

Despite her confusion, the part of Shauna's heart that longed to have parents in her life again was screaming at her to accept the offer. She'd also secretly thought a few times during her journey with Aidan that it'd be nice to have a brother like him. In the end, she decided to go with Aidan and Daithi to Aidan's home, where she was warmly welcomed by everyone living there. During dinner, Aidan's parents heard all about Shauna's role during their son's travels, and they were more than happy to adopt such a courageous woman as their daughter. The former orphan spent the rest of her life living happily with her new family. Those who didn't know that Daithi was a Cat-Sìth found it sweet and rather amusing how Shauna and Aidan treated their cat like he was their human friend. The three of them continued to go on many adventures together, eventually becoming famous travelers throughout the whole continent.

“And they all lived happily ever after, as they say,” Shauna murmured to herself, as she serenely watched the stars twinkling in the night sky from her seat in front of the campfire, looking forward to the new adventures that tomorrow would bring.