Snowball, that stupid little beast, had scrambled up one of the cherry trees and clung to the end of a branch dense with reddening buds, only a few of them daring to bloom. He meowed at the sight of them, the branch swayed, and Verity shrieked, which scared him even more. Pounding footsteps behind them slowed and stopped.
“A kitten,” Kell said. “You came running at a child’s distress over a kitten?”
“He’ll fall!” Verity howled.
Saeldian sighed but rubbed Verity’s back. “He’ll be fine. He would have come down by himself once he got bored.”
Jubilee jumped for a branch and dangled from one hand. Snowball was crying now, and Verity shook her head at the adults, who were not listening. “I called for him, and he wouldn’t come!”
Lorzok laughed, but gently. “Cats understand their names perfectly well, but you can’t tell them what to do. You can only present a tempting offer.”
Verity looked at Lorzok, filled with hope. “You’re really tall. Can you reach him?”
Lorzok looked up at the cat with a measuring eye. “I can tell he’s just a little too high for me.”
“If you put me on your shoulders, I could!”
“He’ll scratch you to ribbons,” Jubilee called. “He’ll scratch me to ribbons instead, I guess.”
Saeldian put their fists on their hips and called, “Jubilee! Did you really climb a tree after a kitten?”
“She loves this kitten.” Jubilee retreated to the sturdier portion of the branch. “I have to go get him.”
“I swear I have to do everything around here,” Saeldian grumbled. “That cat is terrified now, with all this fuss. He’ll never come to you in that state.”
In answer, Jubilee let go of the branch she was on, dangling by her hooked knees. “So you’re volunteering? Good.”
“I did not—”
Kell chuckled. “I think you did.”
Great.
Jubilee landed on the grass with a thump, then knelt with her arms out. Verity dashed into her and plastered herself to her big sister. Over Verity’s shoulder, Jubilee gave Saeldian a look.
Saeldian huffed. “Fine.”
Their knee-length skirting became a short jerkin, and gloves covered Saeldian’s hands.
Kell scoffed. “Rescuing a kitten is a fashion show?”
“I can’t show up to the dance with scraped hands, and Lixettia just did my nails. If I chip them now…”
“Oh, this is too good,” Kell said with a chuckle.
“She’s just a kid,” Saeldian said. “Come on.”
Kell gave his most embellished gesture of invitation. “Whatever rescues Snowball.”
“Ass.” Saeldian rolled their eyes and stood under the lowest branch. They caught hold on their second jump.
“You’re getting better!” Jubilee called.
“Shut up.”
Verity twisted around to watch as Saeldian swung their legs a little, getting enough movement to jackknife them up and over the branch.
“Youaregetting better,” Jubilee called. “That’s the smoothest jump I’ve ever seen you do.”
