"Thank you, Valdis," Trahearne said with utter sincerity. "Taking care of a winged kitten will make for a wonderful distraction. I've always appreciated that cats know when to give you space or when to ask for attention, and with any luck, this little one will be the same way once she's older." And in the meantime, she was bound to have the kind of energy that would keep him from dwelling on his own thoughts, which was even better.

The little batcat certainly seemed happy, her squeaky chirps and mews soft and contented now that she was getting a bath. She wasn't going anywhere for the moment.

Trahearne added, "As for Anani, I can't call him a 'mere' animal. He has a rare intelligence that I don't think I've ever seen in a house cat. The only thing I could compare it to are wild animals that bond with their owners on a level that could very well have subtle magic involved."