Page 186 of I Ran Away to Evil 2
After saying that, she looked up into the tree. “Momo, thank you for coming. We have a lot to talk about.”
“We do,” Momo replied, his voice softer and higher pitched than Slake’s. He was so much fluffier than Slake, too, with a big poof of fur on his chest and wide eyes that made him look like he was permanently startled or confused. He took a step on the branch and slipped, but righted himself and tapped the branch twice as if saying he’d meant to do that.
I managed to keep a straight and respectable face.
Momo’s poofy tail flicked twice and then he jumped down, landing in a patch of grass. Slake yawned and closed his eyes, choosing to remain in the tree.
“I’m sorry to say,” I told Slake, “that you missed all the fun last night.”
The grimalcat opened one eye. “If you think we were going to take one step into a magical rainstorm crafted by storm giants, then Intelligence must be your dump stat.”
“It was truly dreadful. I could never,” Momo agreed as he bound around to the front of the bench, sitting and staring at us with his very wide eyes.
“Good to know.” I grimaced. “In case I ever need to escape a grimalcat.”
Slake snorted. “There is no escape. We cansmellyour intent.”
“It would make for a good hunt,” Momo added. “Now, let me get a good look at you.”
I held Bronwynn’s hand while she exchanged a very long stare with the fluffy grimalcat, his eyes glowing a steady gold.
“Hmm … yes. I see,” Momo said. Whatever magic he was doing had Bronwynn held fast.
What did I know about grimalcats? They saved children, dealt in lives, were incredibly powerful and fickle and rare.
And there were two right in front of me.
Momo sneezed and froze, his gaze going distant. We waited patiently.
Finally, the grimalcat sneezed a second time and was back. “You are living my life very well, but I don’t like this part here. No, no at all. What a mess.”
Bronwynn’s face fell; she looked incredibly guilty. I regretted not going and lifting Donna here bodily. Where was the murder horse when you needed her?
“I’m sorry,” my bard said.
“Mm.” Momo blinked slowly, the light of his powers dimming. “I guess that is the way of things.”
“What does that mean?” I asked.
“Momo,” Slake called down from the tree, momentarily startling the brown grimalcat. Momo shivered in puffy consternation and gave Slake the side-eye.
“I know, I know. But I can’t. Even for you, old friend,” Momo argued. “There’s no help for it; I’m going to have to eat her.”
I stood up so fast it startled the cat. Momo’s claws popped out, his hair rose, and he flinched. Bronwynn’s hand on my arm held me back from doing something I might regret.
“You can’t eat her,” I spoke up, putting my own arm out to block my bard. Slake leapt down from the branch, walking over to the brown grimalcat, who looked like he was still a bit frazzled at my outburst. Momo glared at me with his wide eyes, and for some reason, my [Keen Senses] was warning me that I was in more trouble than when I’d watched Lithnilheim rampage across the city.
Slake circled Momo, and after a full turn around, sat beside him, facing the couple.
“Actually, technically, he can,” Slake said.
Momo nodded, settling himself and looking around. His eyes caught on a white butterfly nearby but dragged themselves back to Bronwynn. “You have lived a wonderful life, have you not?”
“I have,” Bronwynn assured the grimalcat.
“And followed your dreams?”
“Yes, but—”
