Even cats dreamt from time to time.
In his dream, Dyaho surveyed his new domain. However, he could only remain for a short while. Immediately after making a circuit patrolling, a familiar pair of hands came to scoop him up from his slumber. That act alone did not rankle him, but when he caught wind of the fact that the hands were attempting to stick him inside a cage, he wriggled and writhed.
It wasn’t that he disliked being in the cage. In fact, he could even be said to enjoy it. He simply wasn’t in the mood at times, and this was one of those times.
“Sorry, Dyaho, this’ll be goodbye for some time,” said the housemate. “I was planning to live together with you at the new manor, but that’s not in the cards anymore. You can rest easy, though. I won’t be taking you with me to every corner of the galaxy anymore.”
Now awake, Dyaho opened his eyes, stretched, and leapt off its fluffy cushion toward the hallway.
They were at the Cats’ Refectory in the Royal Palace of Clybh. Dyaho was sure what happened in his dream happened in reality, but a cat’s sense of time was not so solid, so it didn’t have a clear idea how much time had elapsed since then. It felt like the distant past. In reality, its domain hadn’t changed in many moons. It had come to regard this place as something of a safe haven.
Sercruca had once been nice around him, but she’d gradually turned aggressive once again. Dyaho was hard-pressed to care anymore, though. Cats were not monogamous, after all. Before now, he had no real choice in a mate. Now, he had his pick of the litter.
They were Dyaho’s true family. They could be annoying, but whenever Dyaho went to sleep, he was relieved to have them around. His friends were gathered at the drinking fountain. They weren’t doing anything in particular. They were just lying languorously down. Dyaho joined them. He sipped of the water, and laid himself down.
Such idle comforts. Such easy living.
He recalled his housemate, and hoped he, too, might roll in the lap of indolence.
Then Dyaho fell asleep again.