SOMETHING IS WRONG AT CRESSIDA LOCK!

Mati is worried. The young catling has been wandering around the market-place, pausing beneath stalls, those curious golden eyes of his glazing over as he enters into a trance. I may be a simple sort of tomcat – I sleep, I eat, I snooze, I rest. I find all these activities to be most diverting and occasionally tiring. Is it time for another nap yet?

But where wasn't I…? Oh yes – I was telling you that I may be a simple sort of tomcat, but I notice more than the other ferals realise. They think I’m an old fool. Well, perhaps so, but I know that something isn’t quite right. The moon has taken on a powerful yellow tint, it seems to be so full and low these days… surely no good can come of that? And yes, as I mentioned, I can see that Mati is worried. For Mati is a Tygrine, the last of his kind – a catling of exceptional sensitivity. He senses danger before it happens and hears voices from the feline spirit world, can you imagine that? A simple market cat like me could not begin to understand these sort of things... But I still have my instincts, indeed I do, I am a cat after all! And I know that something is amiss.

Mati is like a son to me, a dear and trusted friend, and I do not like to see him troubled. He has too many enemies for a cat so young, and worst of these is the Suzerain – the terrible Cat Lord of the Sa Mau. The Suzerain had better not come to Cressida Lock! I’ll have him, I tell you! I may be a silly old cat but I have fangs and claws and am ready to fight for what I believe in! My good eye is watching.

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