Judy and Danny

“Why are you bitting me?” he yelled at the cat.  “I’m trying to save your lives.”

Danny exhaled loudly, walked over to Judy, and jumped onto her desk.

Judy was typing, her head full of new ideas.

“DO YOU WANT TO DIE?” he shouted.  “MEN, RIDING RHINOS, ARE ON THEIR WAY HERE.  THEY HAVE LONG SWORDS AND MAGICAL WEAPONS AND THEY ARE COMING TO KILL YOU AND THE FUR BALL.”

“Wait a second,” said Judy.  “Could you say that last part again?  I didn’t get all of it.”

“Did he just call me a fur ball?” hissed Danny, his fluffy tail, swishing violently back and forth.

The knight strode to her desk, grabbed her by her arm, said, “Forgive me, but WE HAVE TO GO NOW.  Get the cat while you can.  We’re leaving.”

She pulled on her arm and said, “I think you have the wrong apartment.  Are you like a singing telegram, or is this some kind of birthday thing you’re supposed to do as a surprise for someone?”

He picked her up, threw her over his shoulder, grabbed the cat and they all disappeared.

“HEY,” said Judy, when he put her down.  “I was WORKING.”

“ROOOOWARRR,” said Danny, who bit him in the ankle, the second his paws hit the ground.

The knight bent down and stared at the cat.  “You bite me again and I’ll dropkick you into the next universe.  Got it?  I’m saving your furry ears, so show some gratitude, or…”

“You touch one hair on that cat’s body,” growled Judy,  “and I’ll tear out your heart with my bare hands, and…”

“Welcome back,” he said bowing to her.

“Did I just say that?”

“You did,” he said, relief in his voice.  “Your cat is mean.”

“He’s not.  He’s just showing you who’s in charge and he’s protecting me.”  Danny, hearing the praise, held his head and tail high, as he strutted around her legs.

“A fur ball with an attitude.  I like it,” he said, bending to pet Danny.

“Uh,” she said, grabbing his hand.  “Not yet.”

He nodded.  “Your pegasus is ready.  There’s been fighting since you left.  I was sent to bring you back before there’s no hope, and this reality is destroyed forever.”

“How long have I been gone?”

“Too long.  Everyone is waiting for you.”

Her black pegasus bobbed his head and nickered, when he saw her.  He stamped his feet and then pawed at the air.

“I’m happy to see you too Baby,” she said, kissing his face.  Then she tucked Danny into the side pocket on her saddle, got into position and whispered, “Take me home.”

The knight, threw himself into his saddle and took to the air.

Danny crouched down, as far as he could go, and visualized being back in the apartment, asleep, in his favorite basket.

“Hey,” said Judy, the wind carrying her voice away.  “You’re a warrior cat, you don’t need to sleep in a basket.”

“Rrrowrrr,” he said softly.  Which in cat, meant something like, “Fat lot you know.”