out.
He replaced the old crystal chandeliers with imported mobiles, which almost always showed depictions of cats from faraway lands. He hoped someday to be able to travel to those places. Some of them made music when the wind blew across them like chimes. Caterwaul loved these best.
He had giant bird feeders constructed so he could gaze out the window and watch birds. After all, who doesnât like to stare at birds? he thought. He installed scratching posts in every room of the castle and filled them all with hundreds of cat toys. There was no doubt who was master of the castle now.
Last, he created an exercise room complete with balance beams, rings, and all sorts of gymnastic equipment. If there was going to be a whole slew of visitors, Caterwaul wanted to be sure they could keep themselves in decent shape.
The humans working at the castle all knew Caterwaul was in charge, and they did whatever he asked of them. Caterwaul got along well with humans. However, out of the entire castle staff, the one Caterwaul liked most was Orris the chef. He considered Orris to be a friend, and he believed the feeling was mutual.
Orris often would sit at the koi pond beside his new master, who punched and prodded at the waters. He watched as the black cat swiped at the fish the way a boxer throws out his jab, and every now and then, Caterwaul would hook one of them on his claws.
If and when this happened, the cat would give the fish to Orris to prepare for an elaborate dinner. It might not be the same as one of the former queenâs feasts, but still it gave Orris the practice he needed. However, this was something that did not happen often. Caterwaul, unlike most felines, liked to practice catch-and-release.
With every passing day, the castle became more Caterwaulâs creation. He wondered what the queen would have to say if she saw it, then he briefly paused a moment to silently reflect upon his companion.
Caterwaul thought about what might have happened to Druciah. He missed her terribly. She had been good to him. The thought that she and her entourage might have been killed and eaten by a giant turtle disturbed him. But he was confident that if she were still alive, he certainly would have heard something by now.
7
To the Hollow Oak
A fter resting a few hours to regain strength, the party followed the possumsâ directions until it happened upon an enormous oak that was hollowed out with a huge door on it. The sun was just coming up over the canopy, and the queen and her entourage could see they had entered an unnatural place. Here the forest looked as if someone or something had spent a great deal of time carefully managing the surroundings. With the sun high in the sky, one could see the area around the hollowed-out tree was full of brilliant flowers and bushes, carefully arranged as if done by a professional gardener. The landscape was breathtaking, to say the least.
Remembering the prime ministerâs warning, the queen and her followers tried to slip by it, making very little noise. But they were in a forest, and because of this, no matter how they tried, they were doomed to dislodge something. Suddenly there was a snapping sound. Warwick Vane Bezel III accidentally stepped on a rather large twig, breaking it like a pretzel stick.
Suddenly the giant door swung open, and a large, enraged turtle leaped at them from the inside of the tree. The turtle was enormous. It was about as long as a man, or longer, with a head which must have been two feet wide at the least.
As he roared angrily, the queen noted he had a very attractive and multi-colored woolen scarf flowing over his shell and claws, which were carefully manicured and polished to a brilliant shine. His beak sparkled in the light, and he was wearing what appeared to be glitter all over his reptilian face. Then, of course, there was the eye makeup.
âDonât any of you touch anything! I have everything just the way I want it!â the turtle
He replaced the old crystal chandeliers with imported mobiles, which almost always showed depictions of cats from faraway lands. He hoped someday to be able to travel to those places. Some of them made music when the wind blew across them like chimes. Caterwaul loved these best.
He had giant bird feeders constructed so he could gaze out the window and watch birds. After all, who doesnât like to stare at birds? he thought. He installed scratching posts in every room of the castle and filled them all with hundreds of cat toys. There was no doubt who was master of the castle now.
Last, he created an exercise room complete with balance beams, rings, and all sorts of gymnastic equipment. If there was going to be a whole slew of visitors, Caterwaul wanted to be sure they could keep themselves in decent shape.
The humans working at the castle all knew Caterwaul was in charge, and they did whatever he asked of them. Caterwaul got along well with humans. However, out of the entire castle staff, the one Caterwaul liked most was Orris the chef. He considered Orris to be a friend, and he believed the feeling was mutual.
Orris often would sit at the koi pond beside his new master, who punched and prodded at the waters. He watched as the black cat swiped at the fish the way a boxer throws out his jab, and every now and then, Caterwaul would hook one of them on his claws.
If and when this happened, the cat would give the fish to Orris to prepare for an elaborate dinner. It might not be the same as one of the former queenâs feasts, but still it gave Orris the practice he needed. However, this was something that did not happen often. Caterwaul, unlike most felines, liked to practice catch-and-release.
With every passing day, the castle became more Caterwaulâs creation. He wondered what the queen would have to say if she saw it, then he briefly paused a moment to silently reflect upon his companion.
Caterwaul thought about what might have happened to Druciah. He missed her terribly. She had been good to him. The thought that she and her entourage might have been killed and eaten by a giant turtle disturbed him. But he was confident that if she were still alive, he certainly would have heard something by now.
7
To the Hollow Oak
A fter resting a few hours to regain strength, the party followed the possumsâ directions until it happened upon an enormous oak that was hollowed out with a huge door on it. The sun was just coming up over the canopy, and the queen and her entourage could see they had entered an unnatural place. Here the forest looked as if someone or something had spent a great deal of time carefully managing the surroundings. With the sun high in the sky, one could see the area around the hollowed-out tree was full of brilliant flowers and bushes, carefully arranged as if done by a professional gardener. The landscape was breathtaking, to say the least.
Remembering the prime ministerâs warning, the queen and her followers tried to slip by it, making very little noise. But they were in a forest, and because of this, no matter how they tried, they were doomed to dislodge something. Suddenly there was a snapping sound. Warwick Vane Bezel III accidentally stepped on a rather large twig, breaking it like a pretzel stick.
Suddenly the giant door swung open, and a large, enraged turtle leaped at them from the inside of the tree. The turtle was enormous. It was about as long as a man, or longer, with a head which must have been two feet wide at the least.
As he roared angrily, the queen noted he had a very attractive and multi-colored woolen scarf flowing over his shell and claws, which were carefully manicured and polished to a brilliant shine. His beak sparkled in the light, and he was wearing what appeared to be glitter all over his reptilian face. Then, of course, there was the eye makeup.
âDonât any of you touch anything! I have everything just the way I want it!â the turtle
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