Chapter 6

The cat looked up from his place by the fire. The witch stood by the window, glancing out as the sun set. She did that every evening, and every evening she dropped the curtain with a sigh.

"It doesn't look like she's coming back", she said.

"Told you so, she would give up."

It had been over a month since Ren had left, and there had been no trace of her since. Maybe she had found a place in a village as the witch wanted, or his spell had worked. Either way, it was for the best. Stray girls wanting to learn magic had no place in their life. They never had.

He wrapped his tail around him. He still remembered the first girl that had come to them, and how she'd knocked on the gate and begged to be taught. The witch had watched her from the window and asked him what he thought they should do. He never knew if she was truly considering it, but he quickly said no. He didn't want someone coming to live with them, someone who the witch might start to like. She was the first, and only, friend he'd ever had, and the thought that he might lose her to someone else was terrifying. If that person took his place by the witch's side, he had nothing left.

There was a knock on the door and he looked up. They didn't expect anyone. The witch glanced at him and he shrugged.

"Strange...," she murmured as walked out the kitchen.

He heard the gate open and the witch talking, and soon after two pairs of feet returned. The witch came first, and she looked at him apologetically before gesturing for the other person to come inside. At the sight of her, he stood up and almost hissed. It was Ren who walked through the door.

She wasn't supposed to have returned! Hadn't she got lost? The witch gestured for her to sit by the table. How...? The cat glared at them. How could she have found her way back? He squinted at her. This required investigation. He couldn't leave her out of sight now, he would keep an eye on her from now on, and follow her around wherever she went. Nothing she did would slip his eyes.

Soon after, Ren stood up and said she would leave for bed, and he followed her out into the corridor and left the witch by the table. She never noticed him slipping after the girl. All she could think about was why Ren had come back, and how. She had almost given up on her when she didn't return, thought that she must have escaped. So when she saw her standing there, the basket filled to the brim with herbs, she'd been so surprised she'd simply invited her in.

What would she do now? She still didn't know if she wanted to teach her. Should she simply throw her out? But then, what if she found someone else that would show her? But the cat would never accept having her stay with them.

She still sat by the table when the cat returned. He must have left when she didn't see it. He went to lay by the fire.

"She's staying for the night, " she said.

"I know, she told me."

"Told you?"

"I followed her to her room. She started to speak to me. "

"Oh... You didn't speak back, I assume?"

"Of course not."

She turned to watch the fire. What would she do with Ren?