A Cats Tale

  Chapter Ten

  Mom and Grandpaw came into view as we approached with other guardians. They were relieved to see me at the lead. “I thought we had a fight on our paws!” Grandpaw Anubis chuckled, as he clamped a paw on my shoulder, “Glad you could make it! Welcome, welcome all to the Valley of the Kings!”

  Mom rubbed up against me in her welcome and said, “What took you so long, and where are the girls?” I proceeded to tell her and Grandpaw of the events that had taken place since I parted with her on the road behind Thebes, the look on their faces ranged from shock to disbelief.

  They looked around at the others with me, and Mom cried, “Your sisters and the others were killed?”

  I told Mom to relax, “The girls and the rest are fine as well, they decided to find homes in Thebes. We…” I swung my paw around to the other nine, “decided to join you here as guardians.” Once again Grandpaw and Mom scanned the rest of the group, I noticed Mom’s gaze remained just a touch longer on Ra than the rest.

  “Welcome to the guardians of the kings! I am Anubis and if there were a leader here, then I guess I would be he.” Grandpaw said, “Life is tough here and food is scarce, but we can use all the help we can get!”

  The others came down from their hiding spots and everyone introduced himself or herself. “Mom…” I said, “This is Ra. He saved my life from the advisor.” Mom thanked the older cat with a long side rub that ended with her tail curling under Ra’s chin. “I thought so.” I mused to myself.

  After the introductions were made Grandpaw gave us the layout of the area. He showed us the various tombs and where the spring was, and where the best places were to hunt for food. I pulled Grandpaw away after things had settled down and told him that I would be responsible for guarding the new tomb of my king and of the reasons why. He told me about teamwork and such, but conceded that the new tomb area would be my primary protection area.

  As he padded off I called out thanks, but he returned, “No need, I can see that this is something that the Gods have determined you do.”

  In the days that followed the guardians watched in secret as numerous caravans entered the valley with crates piled high of the kings’ possessions. Finally came the day of the funeral procession and the long chariots of the queen and the advisor, or should I say, the new king. Then I saw the cart carrying the kings’ sarcophagus. The tears flowed down my eyes as I said goodbye to my friend, revenge seething closer and closer to the surface with each drop that fell into the dust. “Soon…” I vowed, “Very soon.” Not one of the funeral party guests saw or discovered us in our hiding spots, but I could see Mom struggling to hold herself back as Cheo and a slightly pregnant Isom, being held by that tall servant, passed by. It was only by seeing him did I realize that the procession also contained other royal visitors who came to pay their final respects. Poor Isom must have also had to endure the news of the tragic fate of her former friend at the jaws of a crocodile. I noticed Mom leaning closer to Ra, burying her face in his fur.

  A few days went by before the thieves decided that they had paid their respects long enough and entered the valley seeking new treasure. I had taken to positioning myself within the new tomb during the day, at the end of the tunnel, the secret panel in front of me. This position gave me the advantage of seeing any light entering the maze long before anyone got close. The thieves that failed to flee at the sound of my echoed howls and roars soon found themselves running for their lives as swift claws raked their backs and backsides. One thief got so turned around in the maze that he ran headfirst into one of the false turns and knocked himself out cold! Ra and I had a good chuckle as we dragged him clear of the tomb. When the thief awoke and noticed he was now outside the tomb, Ra and I, who were concealed inside the dark of the tomb, let out roars that would have curled your tails! The thief also had the ability to change colors as well, but his color was sheer white! The panicked thief must have told others of this miraculous event because the tomb went unmolested for many moons afterwards.

  During this lull in action Ra and Mom became closer and I noticed that she was beginning to get a bit chubbier in the belly. “Well,” I thought, “it’s about time she gets a chance at happiness!” Grandpaw was having trouble catching food as his joints became stiffer with age. I began delivering food to him, but not that he could see… it was always just sitting there knocked out as he turned the corner of a rock. I always saved that last pounce for him. Mom would see me do this on occasion and would give me a smile and a wink. All was well in the valley and I again began to think of revenge. I decided that it was time to return to the palace, to check up on the new “king”. Ra wanted to come along, but I told him that this was just a scouting trip. I reassured him that he would be with me when the king received justice. With Ra keeping and eye on things in the valley I set off for “home”.