Misty the Scared Kitten (6 page)

Grandma turned to Kitty. ‘I think your first task in becoming the new Guardian should be to help your friend Misty,’ she said. ‘I’ll help you if you need it. But I have faith that you can find a way to make it right.’ She looked around the circle. ‘If we don’t stop Fang and Claws soon, they’ll take over the whole town!’

A day later, and Kitty’s parents had arrived home that morning from their trip, bringing back lots of new things for their shop. But Mum and Dad were both tired from their long journey so, to Kitty’s delight, they went to bed early that night. Grandma followed them upstairs, yawning loudly and winking at Kitty.

As soon as the house was quiet, she sprang out of bed and pushed her window open. She was going to try using the necklace to turn into a cat this time! Then she could go and see how Misty was getting on. Taking a deep breath, Kitty grasped the charm on her necklace, and quietly read the words on it:

‘Human hands to kitten paws,

Human fingers, kitten claws.’

She closed her eyes as the tingling feeling shot through her body. When she opened them again, she’d turned back into a cat! And she hadn’t even sneezed! Kitty felt pleased she was getting better at this, and she purred proudly. Then, with one easy leap, Kitty landed lightly on the window sill.
From here, she could jump down on to the kitchen roof, and then into the garden. She hesitated for a second, the breeze ruffling her fur. It looked like a long way, but she knew she could do it!

Once her paws hit the grass, she bounced straight on to the Wendy house, then padded along the fence until she reached Jenny’s garden. Misty was peering nervously through the cat flap. As soon as she saw Kitty, she jumped through.

‘I came as soon as my family went to bed!’ miaowed Kitty. ‘Any sign of Fang and Claws?’

Misty shook her head. ‘No, thank goodness!’ she replied – but as she spoke, Kitty felt her fur standing on end. She whirled round.

‘I thought we told you this was
our
garden,’ sneered Fang, his cruel eyes narrowed. Beside him, Claws hissed threateningly. The Persians had crept
up behind Kitty and Misty without them noticing!

‘Kitty, quick! Let’s go back inside!’ whispered Misty fearfully.

Kitty shook her head. ‘You have to stand up to them,’ she said under her breath. ‘We can’t let bullies get away with it.’

Misty looked a little unsure, but with another encouraging miaow from Kitty, she took a brave step forward. ‘S-stop being so unkind,’ Misty began. ‘You have your own garden to play in!’

Claws prowled closer to them. ‘Well, we want yours too,’ he hissed. ‘And you can’t stop us!’

‘That’s where you’re wrong,’ Kitty said, moving to stand next to Misty.
‘Misty has friends here in the neighbourhood. We won’t let you push her around!’ Kitty fluffed out her fur. She could sense Misty feeling more confident too.

‘Yeah!’ Misty added, looking Claws and Fang in the eyes. ‘Why don’t you just go back to your own garden?’

Fang looked puzzled, then surprised. He glared at Misty. ‘Whatever, new cat. You just wait …’ he hissed, but then he finally turned and jumped up on to the fence. ‘Come on, Claws,’ he said, slinking away. Claws let out one more growl before following his brother.

‘You did it!’ said Kitty happily, bumping her head against Misty’s. ‘Well done!’

Misty purred gratefully. ‘At least they’re gone for now,’ she said.

Kitty noticed movement on the fence. She saw a little black cat with a patch of white fur jump gracefully down into the garden.

‘Well done, girls!’ Bullies are always caught unaware when you stand up to them. Let’s hope they don’t come back.’

Kitty turned to her grandmother. ‘Thanks, Grandma. What are you doing here?’ she asked.

‘I was just taking a midnight stroll. It’s my favourite time to be a cat!’ Grandma replied, trotting towards the garden gate. ‘Why don’t you and Misty join me on my walk, and I’ll show you around?’

Kitty purred happily in agreement, and both she and Misty followed Grandma out of the gate, down a quiet alleyway and on to Willow Street, where Kitty’s parents had their shop.
Kitty was excited to be spending time with Grandma as a cat, especially as Grandma pounced and ran through the streets!

‘Keep up, kittens!’ Grandma called, chuckling, as she raced along the top of a high wall.

As they padded along excitedly, Kitty noticed lots of curious, furry faces peering at them and smiling. ‘Good evening!’ Grandma called out to cats as they ran past. ‘This is my granddaughter, Kitty, and her friend Misty, who’s just moved to the neighbourhood!’

‘It feels like every cat in the village must be out here, Grandma!’ said Kitty, looking around. Cats were play-fighting in the street, and even snoozing
in the moonlight. She recognised a few of them from the Cat Council.

‘Almost!’ replied Grandma. ‘Cats love coming out at night when there are no humans around.’

Suddenly, Kitty felt something drip on her head. ‘Oh, what’s that?’ she said, looking up.

Next to her, Misty let out a hiss. ‘Rain!’ she
miaow
ed, sounding alarmed. ‘Quick! Get inside!’

Kitty giggled as all the cats began to race for cover, sheltering under trees and squeezing underneath cars. ‘It’s only a little shower,’ she began. But when a second drop landed on her fur, she shuddered. ‘Oh! But it feels horrid!’ she exclaimed, surprised.

‘Let’s go home,’ Grandma said, looking at the dark cloud gathering above them. ‘It’s going to pour. You’ll soon find out there’s nothing we cats hate more than getting wet!’

Kitty stared at Grandma. ‘Cats hate getting wet,’ she repeated. ‘Grandma, you’re a genius. You’ve just given me a brilliant idea. I think I know how to make Fang and Claws go away for good!’

The next day was Saturday, and Kitty rang Jenny’s doorbell after lunch. She and Grandma had searched their garden shed that morning, and found what they were looking for. Together, they’d carried the big cardboard box down the street to Jenny’s house.

‘Ooh, what’s this?’ asked Jenny’s mum when she answered the door.

‘My old paddling pool!’ Kitty explained. ‘Grandma and I wondered if Barney might like it? It’s really good fun on a warm day!’

‘That’s so kind of you. I’m sure Barney will love it!’ replied Jenny’s mum. ‘Why don’t you come inside and we can set it up in the garden?’

Kitty caught Grandma’s eye and winked. This was exactly what she had hoped for. Everything was going to plan so far!

Grandma left Kitty at Jenny’s house, and her mum blew up the paddling pool and filled it with water. Jenny and Kitty giggled as Barney squealed and splashed water everywhere happily. ‘He loves it!’ said Kitty.

‘I don’t think Misty does, though,’ said Jenny, pointing. Misty was curled up in a patch of sun at the other end of the garden, eyeing the paddling pool nervously.

‘At least she’s out in the garden today,’ Kitty said, smiling at the little cat.
Because she knows Fang and Claws won’t come back with people around!
she thought.
But if my plan works, Misty won’t have to worry about those terrible cats any more.

At the end of the afternoon, Jenny’s mum lifted Barney out of the paddling pool and wrapped him in a fluffy towel. ‘Time for dinner, then it’s bedtime for this one!’ she announced. ‘Kitty, your grandma has just called to say your
dinner will be ready in ten minutes, so you’d better get home. Thanks again for the paddling pool!’

‘You’re welcome!’ replied Kitty, smiling.

Before she left, she nudged the paddling pool just a little further to the right. It had to be in the perfect spot for her plan to work – just underneath the fence …

After washing up that evening, it was time for Kitty to put the next part of her plan into action.

‘I think I’ve left my book in the garden,’ she told her dad. ‘I’ll just pop outside and look for it.’

‘Good luck, Kitty-cat!’ whispered
Grandma, as Kitty slipped out through the back door.

The sun had set, and the stars twinkled in a pretty violet-coloured sky. Making sure no one could see her, Kitty whispered the words on her necklace.

‘Human hands to kitten paws,

Human fingers, kitten claws!’

As soon as Kitty had turned into a cat, she jumped on to the fence and ran along it until she reached Jenny’s garden.