20 Feb 2022, 18:20
Home Is Where Your Cat Is
In all the bustle of receiving her letter, choosing what to take to Hogwarts, packing her trunk, and mentally preparing herself to leave the comfortable nest of home, Freya had left one thing unconsidered. Lounging in the middle of her four-post bed, surrounded by clothing and books yet to be packed, was a peacefully napping kneazle and her three most recent kittens.
Freya paused from folding the jumper in front of her and admired the drowsy creatures, realizing quite abruptly that their soft purrs and inquisitive chatter were the real backdrop to her life here at Sterling Manor. The pride of kneazles her grandmother and mother maintained was an extension of their family, a bloodline that traced back nearly as far as their own, and Freya's stomach dropped in sudden sadness to think she would have to leave that behind when she left for school. How many nights had a warm, soft figure leapt up onto her bed and nuzzled in beside her or sat consolingly with her through childhood's little disappointments and frustrated tears. She knew their names and personalities and stories like they were her own siblings.
Setting aside her packing, Freya padded out into the hall and down the grand staircase to see about finding her grandmother. Along the way, she noticed more keenly than ever the imprint the creatures had on their life here; slowly blinking eyes watched every step on her path through the manor with languid interest.
"Mormor?" Freya asked softly at the door of her grandmother's study, ducking her head inside. She was greeted by the sight of the stately, snow-haired woman perched on the edge of her ornate walnut desk, holding up an orange kitten to the warm morning rays of sunlight that filtered in through the nearby window and turning it this way and that to observe it's markings and colouration.
"This one's just like her dam," Valfreskja Siggisdottir announced in response, smiling at her grand-daughter in welcome. "Good morning, my love. You're despairing the thought of leaving them, aren't you?"
Freya huffed a laugh despite herself at her grandmother's usual unerring insight and stepped into the room to join Valfreskja. She picked up the kitten's coal-black sibling and inspected him as her grandmother did.
"Spot on, as always, mormor. There's not a thing in my letter about kneazles being allowed. Lizards, however... perfectly welcome." Freya added, biting back no small amount of resentment.
"I'll miss these little beasties terribly," she continued, her pert features seeming to crumple into a genuine sadness she hadn't expected. Freya nuzzled the little black kitten to her cheek and sighed.
Valfreskja took this all as if it were going according to plan, which it was, and nodded solemnly at her grand-daughter's woes. Setting the kitten down and reaching over to pluck the one Freya held away to join its littermates, Valfreskja took Freya's hand and tugged her into a gentle embrace.
"My little one," she said gently, "You'll be just fine. I know this to be true because you, too, are just like your dam. Your mother came to me with just the same worries as you have now as she was leaving for Hogwarts."
"And? Surely kneazles weren't allowed then, either..." Freya said, leaning back from where she was tucked warmly under her grandmother's arm.
"No, they most certainly were not." Valfreskja replied, ruffling Freya's mass of chestnut curls as she pushed off the desk and rose to cross the room. An unfamiliar figure caught Freya's attention as she followed the silver-haired woman, but Valfreskja fanned out the silk gown she wore and blocked Freya's keen gaze before she could piece anything together.
"That information doesn't help you, I know," Valfreskja laughed, and stepped aside with a flourish to reveal an elegant feline, all soft white and marbled with coal and possessed of a very different constitution than her family's kneazles. At Freya's apparent confusion, her grandmother bit back a chuckle and explained.
"Cats, plain cats, are allowed. Not that there's anything plain at all about this lass..." Valfreskja said admiringly. "I visited Ernest and Anita Whitticker at their Menagerie yesterday and I just had a feeling this one needed you as much as you need her." In their family, 'having a feeling' could be far more reliabily counted on than usual.
Freya and the cat spent a moment sizing eachother up. The cat was petite, slender, and emminently regal, though she still had traces of the softness of kittenhood about her and Freya knew enough about the family business to guess she was not yet a year old. Her eyes were the color of the full moon on a cold, clear night and Freya at once felt drawn into them as they regarded her with mutual curiosity.
"Oh, mormor," Freya breathed, stepping forward to offer her hand to the cat for inspection. "She's like the deepest of winter in one small body." Her grandmother nodded in agreement, pleased at Freya's clear appreciation of the animal.
The cat canted her delicate nose forward to sniff at the tip of Freya's fingers for no more than a scant heartbeat before unfurling herself from the pillow she sat upon and taking an unbothered leap across the distance to Freya's shoulder. To her credit, the girl remained stock still as this happened but the surprise of such easy acceptance was writ large across her features.
"There now!" Valfreskja exclaimed, gesturing in satisfaction at her own eye for these things. Freya grinned at her grandmother, reaching up to gingerly stroke the cat that had made such easy purchase of her shoulder - and her affection. "What a natural pair you two make," Valfreskja added. "Which, of course I knew the moment I saw her. She shares your birthday, you see."
Freya tipped her head sideways to inspect the snowy face that was so close to her own in wonderment at the quiet confidence and simmering curiosity that peered back at her. It felt oddly like she was seeing a feline reflection of her own self.
"Skaði," she whispered to the cat, because there was really no other name that would do for the regal creature but that of the fierce, proud winter goddess.
The cat contemplated this for a moment then made a small, satisfied "mau" in response and butted her cheek against Freya's. Valfreskja barked an incredulous laugh.
"Well, that's simply that then, isn't it. A fine name for a fine lady. You two had better run along and get acquainted... your train leaves tomorrow, and I'll bet my last galleon you're not done packing." Ushering the slight girl and her precious cargo out of the office, Valfreskja waved off the gratitude when Freya paused at the door and pushed to her tip-toes to press a kiss to her grandmother's cheek.
"Thank you, mormor. She's perfect. You're perfect," Freya repeated to the cat on her shoulder who had comically stiffened her legs to balance at Freya's sudden gesture.
"Och. Go on," Valfreskja chuckled, gently pushing the pair the rest of the way out the door. Freya paused once more, though, with a hint of hesitance casting a cloud over her pleasure.
"Mormor, this is so kind of you, but..." Freya trailed off, reaching up to stroke Skaði's cheek hesitantly. Her grandmother raised a brow that Freya knew to be one of encouragement to continue speaking.
"Do you think we could visit the Menagerie before I go? I'd very much like to get Skaði some supplies of her own. A collar, her own bed. I shouldn't like to take one from any of the pride. I'll use my own galleons..." Freya asked hopefully.
"That's very conscientous of you, my dear. We most certainly can, and it will be my treat. Save your money for the sweets trolley tomorrow," Valfreskja grinned, collecting her cloak and satchel without a second thought. "Come along, we shan't even tell the others we're going. Just the pair of us, don't you think?"
Freya beamed conspiratorially up at her grandmother and nodded, then reached up to lift Skaði gingerly off her shoulder and back into the cushion she had previously been lounging upon. "There you are, lovely. Have a wee nap and I'll be back before you know it," the girl told her cat, who mau'd her approval of the plan, curled up, and closed her full-moon eyes without another word about it.
"Well," Freya chuckled, turning back to her grandmother who held out her hand to apparate them away to Diagon Alley. A disconcerting heartbeat later, they were standing directly outside the Magical Menagerie and Freya shook her head slightly to clear the odd feeling side-along apparation always caused. The street was bustling with young people and their families doing last-minute school shopping and she peered around, wondering if any of them would be first years like her. Perhaps someone she might call a friend years from now...
The bell on the door tinkled pleasantly as they stepped into the Menagerie, and Freya sniffed lightly at the familiar, animalic scent wafting through the store.
"Valfreskja! Back so soon! Nothing wrong with the wee kitten, I hope?" Ernest Whitticker rounded his counter to greet them and shake his grandmother's hand. Her grandmother seemed to know everyone in the usual magical creatures circles, and Freya smiled up at the kindly man when he nodded at her as well.
"Nothing at all, she's brilliant. My granddaughter here, Freya, would like to purchase some supplies for Skaði - that's what she's called her - so they're set up properly at school." Valfreskja replied, her gaze proud and amused all at once.
"Certainly! Just this way, Miss Sterling, you'll find everything you need. She's a fine lass, that cat. I can see now why your nan thought she'd be a good pick for you." Ernerst replied, and led them towards a section of the shop where the walls were piled high with every sort of accoutrement one could need for their pets. Freya felt like she hummed and hawed for ages over the perfect things for Skaði, but in the end, Ernest was paid for a handful of purchases and Freya emerged from the shop loaded with bags containing a delicate collar and nametag, a plush, luxurious pillow bed, a pair of porcelain food and water bowls, and all the treats she'd need to get her through a school year.
"There now. Do you feel sorted, my dear?" Valfreskja asked. When Freya nodded with relief, feeling infinitely better about being able to care for her new companion, her grandmother smiled and offered, "A stop at Fortescue's, then, perhaps?"
"Erm, if it's alright, I'd like to get home, mormor? Skaði is waiting, and that last galleon you were going to bet about me not being packed yet could well double... I've got two of us to see after now!" Freya laughed, and as her grandmother took that to be a very fair point, she apparated them home to Sterling Manor and the preparations for their new life.
(1837 words)
Freya paused from folding the jumper in front of her and admired the drowsy creatures, realizing quite abruptly that their soft purrs and inquisitive chatter were the real backdrop to her life here at Sterling Manor. The pride of kneazles her grandmother and mother maintained was an extension of their family, a bloodline that traced back nearly as far as their own, and Freya's stomach dropped in sudden sadness to think she would have to leave that behind when she left for school. How many nights had a warm, soft figure leapt up onto her bed and nuzzled in beside her or sat consolingly with her through childhood's little disappointments and frustrated tears. She knew their names and personalities and stories like they were her own siblings.
Setting aside her packing, Freya padded out into the hall and down the grand staircase to see about finding her grandmother. Along the way, she noticed more keenly than ever the imprint the creatures had on their life here; slowly blinking eyes watched every step on her path through the manor with languid interest.
"Mormor?" Freya asked softly at the door of her grandmother's study, ducking her head inside. She was greeted by the sight of the stately, snow-haired woman perched on the edge of her ornate walnut desk, holding up an orange kitten to the warm morning rays of sunlight that filtered in through the nearby window and turning it this way and that to observe it's markings and colouration.
"This one's just like her dam," Valfreskja Siggisdottir announced in response, smiling at her grand-daughter in welcome. "Good morning, my love. You're despairing the thought of leaving them, aren't you?"
Freya huffed a laugh despite herself at her grandmother's usual unerring insight and stepped into the room to join Valfreskja. She picked up the kitten's coal-black sibling and inspected him as her grandmother did.
"Spot on, as always, mormor. There's not a thing in my letter about kneazles being allowed. Lizards, however... perfectly welcome." Freya added, biting back no small amount of resentment.
"I'll miss these little beasties terribly," she continued, her pert features seeming to crumple into a genuine sadness she hadn't expected. Freya nuzzled the little black kitten to her cheek and sighed.
Valfreskja took this all as if it were going according to plan, which it was, and nodded solemnly at her grand-daughter's woes. Setting the kitten down and reaching over to pluck the one Freya held away to join its littermates, Valfreskja took Freya's hand and tugged her into a gentle embrace.
"My little one," she said gently, "You'll be just fine. I know this to be true because you, too, are just like your dam. Your mother came to me with just the same worries as you have now as she was leaving for Hogwarts."
"And? Surely kneazles weren't allowed then, either..." Freya said, leaning back from where she was tucked warmly under her grandmother's arm.
"No, they most certainly were not." Valfreskja replied, ruffling Freya's mass of chestnut curls as she pushed off the desk and rose to cross the room. An unfamiliar figure caught Freya's attention as she followed the silver-haired woman, but Valfreskja fanned out the silk gown she wore and blocked Freya's keen gaze before she could piece anything together.
"That information doesn't help you, I know," Valfreskja laughed, and stepped aside with a flourish to reveal an elegant feline, all soft white and marbled with coal and possessed of a very different constitution than her family's kneazles. At Freya's apparent confusion, her grandmother bit back a chuckle and explained.
"Cats, plain cats, are allowed. Not that there's anything plain at all about this lass..." Valfreskja said admiringly. "I visited Ernest and Anita Whitticker at their Menagerie yesterday and I just had a feeling this one needed you as much as you need her." In their family, 'having a feeling' could be far more reliabily counted on than usual.
Freya and the cat spent a moment sizing eachother up. The cat was petite, slender, and emminently regal, though she still had traces of the softness of kittenhood about her and Freya knew enough about the family business to guess she was not yet a year old. Her eyes were the color of the full moon on a cold, clear night and Freya at once felt drawn into them as they regarded her with mutual curiosity.
"Oh, mormor," Freya breathed, stepping forward to offer her hand to the cat for inspection. "She's like the deepest of winter in one small body." Her grandmother nodded in agreement, pleased at Freya's clear appreciation of the animal.
The cat canted her delicate nose forward to sniff at the tip of Freya's fingers for no more than a scant heartbeat before unfurling herself from the pillow she sat upon and taking an unbothered leap across the distance to Freya's shoulder. To her credit, the girl remained stock still as this happened but the surprise of such easy acceptance was writ large across her features.
"There now!" Valfreskja exclaimed, gesturing in satisfaction at her own eye for these things. Freya grinned at her grandmother, reaching up to gingerly stroke the cat that had made such easy purchase of her shoulder - and her affection. "What a natural pair you two make," Valfreskja added. "Which, of course I knew the moment I saw her. She shares your birthday, you see."
Freya tipped her head sideways to inspect the snowy face that was so close to her own in wonderment at the quiet confidence and simmering curiosity that peered back at her. It felt oddly like she was seeing a feline reflection of her own self.
"Skaði," she whispered to the cat, because there was really no other name that would do for the regal creature but that of the fierce, proud winter goddess.
The cat contemplated this for a moment then made a small, satisfied "mau" in response and butted her cheek against Freya's. Valfreskja barked an incredulous laugh.
"Well, that's simply that then, isn't it. A fine name for a fine lady. You two had better run along and get acquainted... your train leaves tomorrow, and I'll bet my last galleon you're not done packing." Ushering the slight girl and her precious cargo out of the office, Valfreskja waved off the gratitude when Freya paused at the door and pushed to her tip-toes to press a kiss to her grandmother's cheek.
"Thank you, mormor. She's perfect. You're perfect," Freya repeated to the cat on her shoulder who had comically stiffened her legs to balance at Freya's sudden gesture.
"Och. Go on," Valfreskja chuckled, gently pushing the pair the rest of the way out the door. Freya paused once more, though, with a hint of hesitance casting a cloud over her pleasure.
"Mormor, this is so kind of you, but..." Freya trailed off, reaching up to stroke Skaði's cheek hesitantly. Her grandmother raised a brow that Freya knew to be one of encouragement to continue speaking.
"Do you think we could visit the Menagerie before I go? I'd very much like to get Skaði some supplies of her own. A collar, her own bed. I shouldn't like to take one from any of the pride. I'll use my own galleons..." Freya asked hopefully.
"That's very conscientous of you, my dear. We most certainly can, and it will be my treat. Save your money for the sweets trolley tomorrow," Valfreskja grinned, collecting her cloak and satchel without a second thought. "Come along, we shan't even tell the others we're going. Just the pair of us, don't you think?"
Freya beamed conspiratorially up at her grandmother and nodded, then reached up to lift Skaði gingerly off her shoulder and back into the cushion she had previously been lounging upon. "There you are, lovely. Have a wee nap and I'll be back before you know it," the girl told her cat, who mau'd her approval of the plan, curled up, and closed her full-moon eyes without another word about it.
"Well," Freya chuckled, turning back to her grandmother who held out her hand to apparate them away to Diagon Alley. A disconcerting heartbeat later, they were standing directly outside the Magical Menagerie and Freya shook her head slightly to clear the odd feeling side-along apparation always caused. The street was bustling with young people and their families doing last-minute school shopping and she peered around, wondering if any of them would be first years like her. Perhaps someone she might call a friend years from now...
The bell on the door tinkled pleasantly as they stepped into the Menagerie, and Freya sniffed lightly at the familiar, animalic scent wafting through the store.
"Valfreskja! Back so soon! Nothing wrong with the wee kitten, I hope?" Ernest Whitticker rounded his counter to greet them and shake his grandmother's hand. Her grandmother seemed to know everyone in the usual magical creatures circles, and Freya smiled up at the kindly man when he nodded at her as well.
"Nothing at all, she's brilliant. My granddaughter here, Freya, would like to purchase some supplies for Skaði - that's what she's called her - so they're set up properly at school." Valfreskja replied, her gaze proud and amused all at once.
"Certainly! Just this way, Miss Sterling, you'll find everything you need. She's a fine lass, that cat. I can see now why your nan thought she'd be a good pick for you." Ernerst replied, and led them towards a section of the shop where the walls were piled high with every sort of accoutrement one could need for their pets. Freya felt like she hummed and hawed for ages over the perfect things for Skaði, but in the end, Ernest was paid for a handful of purchases and Freya emerged from the shop loaded with bags containing a delicate collar and nametag, a plush, luxurious pillow bed, a pair of porcelain food and water bowls, and all the treats she'd need to get her through a school year.
"There now. Do you feel sorted, my dear?" Valfreskja asked. When Freya nodded with relief, feeling infinitely better about being able to care for her new companion, her grandmother smiled and offered, "A stop at Fortescue's, then, perhaps?"
"Erm, if it's alright, I'd like to get home, mormor? Skaði is waiting, and that last galleon you were going to bet about me not being packed yet could well double... I've got two of us to see after now!" Freya laughed, and as her grandmother took that to be a very fair point, she apparated them home to Sterling Manor and the preparations for their new life.
(1837 words)
What animal do you wish to purchase? Egyptian Mau
What do you want to name it? Skaði
Is this a boy or a girl? female
What is your pet's date of birth? December 21st, 2020
23 Feb 2022, 15:01
Home Is Where Your Cat Is
Pet Granted
Look after Skaði well.
PC: Aaron Jones | iNPC: Madeleine Nakamura | Former staff account: Marcus Iwasaki
2nd Gen PC: Idalia della Torre
Best way to contact me? Discord or owl Idalia