I’ve heard regarding them are dreadful. Since
the beginning of time the werecat and the
werewolf have been natural enemies. Werecats
are merciless fiends, really, and yesterday con-
firmed that.”
I exhaled. I believed him and was grateful
that my new friend didn’t want to eat me. But
something else still plagued my mind.
I was thinking about last night.
Magnus folded his arms behind his head
and bit down on the stem. “What is it?” he
queried, narrowing his eyes.
I decided to tell him, and he listened with
sustained attention while I related last night’s
scene to him. “I thought it was a nightmare at
first, but now I’m not so sure,” I said, gazing
absently across the stream.
“That’s weird,” he mumbled. He sat up on
his elbows and was thoughtful for a moment.
“It was probably just a nightmare, especially
after your horrific adventure in the woods.”
“But if not a nightmare,” I said, a vague
shiver creeping through me, “then why would
the werecat target me?”
Magnus’s features hardened as he con-
sidered this. “I don’t know,” he responded
gravely. “Like I said, werecats are fiends, mer-
ciless and terrible, though I couldn’t tell you
why. That’s just the way they are. I guess it
knows I’m too much of a match for it, and it’s
determined to satisfy its hunger for any power
over me by at least getting the very thing I
kept it from.”
“Which is me,” I said faintly. “Well, I’ve
never been much of a cat person anyway,” I
added, in an attempt to lighten the mood. But
Magnus’s expression remained unchanged.
Something in his face appeared troubled. I
wanted to probe further when we both heard
footsteps walking across the lawn toward us.
“Mom says lunch is ready,” Bat
announced when we both turned at his
approach. Magnus tossed aside the stem and
rose to his feet to take his leave.
“Mom also said to invite your new friend
inside to join us,” my brother added with a
playful little smirk.
Magnus smiled as he looked from me to
Bat. “Can I take a rain check?” His demeanor
was friendly and resigned, but his eyes
betrayed some disturbance.
Bat shrugged. “Suit yourself, but you’re
missing out on the best grilled cheese on the
planet.”
I rolled my eyes and followed Bat inside.I DIDN’T SEE Magnus for the remain-
der of that day, and all I could think about
was that look in his eyes. Why did he seem so
worried? Did it have something to do with my
nightmare?
I shuddered as I recalled that menacing
yellow glare and fangs.
I went to bed that night but didn’t sleep. I
was filled with too much foreboding. Once or
twice I drifted, but something in my subcon-
scious would jerk me wide awake again.
I climbed out of bed and walked around
my room for a few minutes to keep myself
alert, then went and stood near my window.
My heart palpitated nervously. What in the
world was I waiting for?DEMEANOR MEANS THE WAY
SOMEBUGGY ACTS AND APPEARS.