"Kat!" Titus's voice hailed her almost as soon as she made her return, "there you are, I thought you were off running riot. Come on, there's someone you should meet, you'll like him, he's a ringy like you."
"A ringy?"
"Ringtailed Lemur actually," a man stepped in to stand beside the cat. He was clearly a ringtailed lemur, but unlike any Kataryna had seen before. Everything about him was pale - from his pure white pelt to his paler-then-pale blue eyes. It was his pupils that startled her, however, eyeing her from behind wire-framed spectacles. They were pink in color. He was an albino. He extended a hand to her, "my name is Arron and it is a pleasure to make your acquantince."
Kataryna grasped his hand and the vision hit her like a rock, instant giddiness overwelmed her. In her mind came a fleeting image, blurred almost beyond recognition. Something as black as sin itself dropping down and swinging a knife at her. She wheeled back, her knees giving way beneath her, and would have tumbled, had not Titus caught her.
"Kat?" He asked, "are you okay?"
She blinked, feeling her vision returning to normal and stood up, completely embarrassed. Arron's forehead creased in worry, his pale eyes regarding her with concern.
"I'm fine," she whispered, "I think the smoke has gone to my head." It was a feeble excuse as the smoke was nowhere near her.
"Are you sure?" Titus sounded almost like a dotting mother. "You better sit down."
She sat - it was easier that way. What had happened to her? Had Anubis's tear done more to her then give her wings? She shuddered, despite the warmth of the evening.
What was happening to her?
"Anyway," Titus continued, "as I was about to tell you before you had your little incident, Arron here is not only devastatingly gorgeous," (a clear exaggeration, but it made Arron blush, and when an albino blushes, he really blushes), "but he's also a bit of a writer. A pretty darn good one too."
"Thanks," Arron was a disturbing shade of red, "I'm not that good, Aranaya has the real talent."
"Aranaya?" Kat rose her eyebrows (being completely unable to raise one at a time). "We met."
"So you were off causing trouble then, Babe?"
"Please don't call me that."
"My apologies milady." He bowed in a rather exaggerated fashion.
"Or that."
Titus grinned. "Anyhow, Aranaya and Arron here are a bit of a team - he writes, she draws."
"Illustrates."
"Okay, illustrates. Same difference. At present they're working on a fairy-tale collaboration. I must say, I've seen the manuscript for their version of 'Billy Goats Gruff' and it's spectacular. Indeed, I'd drag our sexy, young friend here off for drinks in celebration if he'd let me"
Arron pushed his glasses up his muzzle. "Sorry Ty," he said, "I don't swing that way."
"Mores the pity," Titus grinned, "but there's only one way you swing, eh Arry-boy? And that's right towards the lass with the name-that-sounds-like-yours, yes?"
His colour had recently cleared, but now it flared up again. "I admire her,' he admitted.
The felid did a little skipping hop, "see, he admits it." He ruffled Arron's hair - not that it wasn't already ruffled quite enough. "So, do you think she knows, Katti-dear?"
"I have no idea," Kat sighed. "We didn't exactly have a scintillating conversation. So you live here too, Arron?"
"Live here? Arry only owns this delightful treetop retreat. Now would you like some punch, cos I sure think I would."
Arron grinned, "yes, Kataryna, I own this place, and be assured that when you grow weary of cohabiting with that foul felid, I can surely find you a place here."
"Ooh," Titus drew back his lips to reveal his long canine teeth. "She's my girl, right, you're not to go stealing my heart and my girl."
Kataryna was beginning to wonder if she was caught up in some sort of argument or it was just an elaborate game. She sat down for a moment, she still felt a little faint over the episode that had occurred when she had touched Arron's hand. What had it meant? Her temples throbbed and she rested her head in her hands. The comforting sounds of Arron and Titus bickering in a friendly fashion washed over her head.
There was something special about the albino ringtail lemur - that was for sure. She could not guess what, but she knew that such feelings could not be mere hunches - for mere hunches meant something now. Why had this burden been placed upon her?
Why had she done it? Why had she tried to take her own life?
The sounds of "Farewell to the Crown" broke through her thoughts with clarity. She remembered that song too - and many parties spent dancing like a maniac. The urge stirred in her - but what was the point in dancing? Where was the joy?
A single tear trickled down her cheek, and with it the thought "one tear is scarce alone." Anubis had said that to her, hadn't he? She felt a hand on her shoulder and looked up to see Arron smiling down at her, his ruffled white hair hanging in his face.
"Wish to dance?" He asked.
Kat wiped her eyes dry and accepted his hand. She could not be with Daniel, but she should still embrace life. What was the point in moping? What really did it achieve?
He led her onto the dancefloor - well, the grass area that could be conceivably labelled a "dance floor". Luckily the weather had been fairly dry of late, for else the entire area would have been churned into mud. Titus and his "Jackaroo" friend joined them and the four of them linked their arms over each other's shoulders and kicked and jumped in time with the rhythm. With the action of the dance, Kat felt as though a weight was lifting from her shoulders. She had not realised how much she missed it.
"...farewell to the crown, we say farewell to the crown...." Voices joined in disharmony as Furrs leapt and danced and spun each other in mad circles. Finally the last chords parted, leaving the dancers panting and gasping in exhaustion. A slower song now, one she did not recognise. As she made for the welcoming shadows, Arron grabbed her, drawing her into a close dance. She did not want to close dance with anyone but Daniel, but there was something about his posture and expression that spoke to her. He was not grabbing her because he was attracted to her physically, it was more he wanted to talk with her.
"Kataryna," he whispered, "you are special, I can feel it. Like a guardian angel." He chuckled at what he clearly took to be a joke. "Something happened when we shook hands - what was it? What made you recoil?"
She shook her head, not wanting to talk about her oddities. "An image, like a dream - but fleeting," she finally said. "I think something attacked you."
He nodded, not seeming particularly concerned. "I think perhaps you have the Sight," he replied. Although he tried to keep his voice calm, it was betrayed by a slight quiver. "I fear I am going to need your help." He paused. "I know Titus would not allow just anyone to live with him. So, who are you?"
"I am Kataryna Lemur," she replied. "Noone of importance."
Arron shook his head. "I would beg to differ," he hissed, "I sense you are of great importance. Please consider telling me. Something bad is coming and it is not me that will get burned."
He paused, his pale blue eyes glistening in the firelight, the pink pupils almost seeming to blaze.
"It is Aranaya."
And with that he pushed her aside and strode away; long, purposeful steps. Kataryna stared after him, confusion creasing her brow. It was then that she saw, in the shadows, unnoticed by both of them, Aranaya standing there, staring in her direction.
And in her eyes - jealousy and anger.