"Those are some vocal babies," Nathan observed, amusement clear in his voice.
Harper nodded, watching as the kittens tumbled past their mother's chair. "Maine Coons are known for being very vocal cats. They chirp and trill and make all kinds of sounds."
On screen, the ball of fighting fur rolled dangerously close to the coffee table. Melanthe sighed, reaching down to separate her children before they could knock over the water pitcher. She captured them with practiced ease, lifting each kitten by the scruff. The gray kitten went limp immediately, while the brown tabby let out an indignant squeak.
"That's quite enough of that," she said, settling back in her chair and arranging the kittens in her lap.
The studio lights caught their thick fur, highlighting the silvery sheen of the gray kitten's coat and the rich brown stripes of the tabby. For a moment, they sat perfectly still, their golden eyes wide and innocent as they gazed up at their mother.
Then, as if nothing had happened, the gray kitten turned to her sibling and began methodically washing the ruffled fur around its neck. The tabby closed its eyes in contentment, tiny paws kneading the air. After a few moments, they switched roles, the tabby grooming its sister with the same focused attention.
Their mother's lap proved too comfortable to resist. Within minutes, both kittens had curled into tight balls of fluff, their tiny bodies rising and falling with deep, peaceful breaths. The tabby's paw draped over its sibling's back, while the gray kitten's tail wrapped protectively around them both.
Another "aww" rippled through the studio audience at the sight of the adorable kittens. Gently, Melanthe placed them in the stroller.
Marianna turned her attention back to Katerina. “I understand you’re willing to Change for us into your animal form, for our viewers to see?”
“Of course,” Katerina said easily. She moved her gaze to the audience, an amused glint in her eyes. “You might not want to get distracted,” she warned. “It doesn’t take but a few seconds.”
She waited a minute, scanning those watching, until apparently satisfied, she nodded. “Here we go!” She announced cheerfully, not moving from her seat in the armchair. Then she was gone, the caftan she’d worn collapsing to lay in soft folds around a large, tricolor calico, with long, thick fur, huge tufted paws, and large tufted ears.
There was a gasp from the audience. Paying them no mind, Cat rose, stepping daintily over the silken fabric, and leaped in a smooth, fluid movement to the coffee table before the sofa. She lay down, casting herself gracefully onto the surface, her fur gleaming in the lights. She blinked her wide, golden eyes at the audience, only the tip of her tail swishing gently to and fro.
Marianna looked like she might pass out. “I… didn’t think it was real,” she said, the involuntary words seemingly wrenchedfrom her. “I saw the videos, of course, but I… I didn’t believe it. Not really.” She visibly collected herself, and leaned forward in her chair, looking at Troy. “May I… may I pet her?”
He nodded, smiling. Marianne reached her hand out, hesitating a moment, then her fingers lightly brushing the long fur. “Oh, she’s soft!” she exclaimed.
Cat rolled onto her side, eyes half closed, purring lightly. Marianna stroked her with more confidence, and Cat’s purrs increased.
“Cat just won over half the women in America,” Nathan said, nudging Harper and laughing. “Who could resist that?”
Marianna looked at Troy doubtfully. “And Katerina is still in there? I mean, she can hear and understand us?”
“Oh, yes. The cat’s instincts will be stronger in this form. For instance,” he said, a wicked curve to his lips, “if I were to flash a laser pointer around the room, she’d go insane chasing it.”
At that, Cat turned her head, ears flattening, and she hissed at him. Troy laughed, as did Marianna.
“As you can see, the human part of her is perfectly aware of our conversation.”
“And made her opinion known pretty plainly, too,” Marianna said, snickering faintly.
“Yes, Cat is actually a very dignified feline, proud in the way only cats can be. She considers cat toys of any kind to be beneath her, but laser pointers are her weakness.”
“Which you just outed over national television,” Marianna pointed out.
“I expect to find hairballs in my shoes for the next month,” Troy said, nodding. “Cat believes firmly in retribution.”
Marianna laughs. “That sounds like every cat I’ve ever had. But… you love her anyway.”
“Yeah,” he said gently, his eyes on the cat before them. “I do.” He held his arms out. “Come here, pretty kitty.”
With aprrow, Cat rose, and leaped into his arms, purring like a mad motorboat. She clung to him, her broad, tufted paws resting on his shoulder, his large arms cradling her, and she shoved her head roughly against his jaw. Yet another chorus of heartfelt “aww’s” rose from the watching audience.
Harper laughed. “And there goes the other half of the women in America,” she said to Nathan.
After another minute of cuddling with Troy, Cat jumped down gracefully and trotted off stage, her tail held high. A murmur rippled through the audience.
"She'll be right back," Troy explained to Marianne. "Shifters don't transform with their clothing - as you saw earlier. She's gone to get dressed."
