Kesi was on a mission. This mission was one of the most important missions in her life. It was up there with learning how to make poisons, perfecting snake charming, and even killing her father so that her brother could take over the circus. This was another moment that would forever define Kesi. She will look back on this day for the rest of time.
She had to find the damn cat.
The last Kesi was here, it was to find a book to match the quality of her previous one. She didn’t find that. Instead, she had a lovely tea party with a man… a man who likely was the owner of this cat. The cat… who Kesi would never forget. The cat defeated her, but if Kesi was known for anything it was her determination. Kesi would never back down from a challenge. Kesi. Will. Win.
“You!” She said when she saw the creature. Well, creature was perhaps harsh. Cats were glorious, every Egyptian knew this to be fact. But right now… it was her enemy. This cat… will pay.
”Meow?” said the cat, turning its head to the side. Kesi’s eyes narrowed into slits. It was trying to play innocent? How dare he! Kesi was no fool! She recognized the cat. He could not trick her. Kesi may be terrible with names, but faces she was good at. And this face haunted her dreams since she had last laid eyes on him. There was no escaping Kesi.
“It’s time for a rematch!” Kesi declared, sitting right in front of the cat. The cat looked at her suspiciously, before sitting in front of Kesi as well. He was cautious… good. He must know what was at stake here. Kesi would not fail. Kesi would succeed, and then the cat would be embarrassed that a human surpassed his abilities. He wouldn’t be able to look at his cat friends again without being humiliated.
“Three… two…” Kesi closed her eyes as she counted, resting them for these last few seconds.
”Meow!” said the cat and Kesi’s eyes flew open. She stared at its beady yellow eyes. Her own dark ones didn’t even twitch, didn’t even move. Last time it was practice, this time it was for real. Kesi trained for this. She would not be bested twice.
Thirty seconds passed and Kesi was feeling good. So was the cat, evidently. They just sat and stared. Kesi briefly wondered if the cat would run away from home. Surely it would feel ashamed having brought dishonor to his household. He’d be a loser. He’d be nothing.
One minute. Kesi held firm. She could feel her eyes drying a bit, but it was nothing that she could not handle. Kesi briefly thought about who was next. Surely this cat wasn’t the best at staring. How low on the rungs was he? Did the Queen have a cat, perhaps?
One minute thirty seconds. She could ask Hamidi. Hamidi would know all about this. He was a great cat tamer, there was none better. Though Kesi wondered if it was a secret? Was it like an underground battle? Was this Kesi’s tryout?
Two minutes. Her eyes were really stinging now. Kesi didn’t know how much longer she could last. This cat was good. If he wasn’t a champion… then how on earth would Kesi beat the champion? She had so much training left to do.
Two minutes ten seconds… “Yes!” Kesi threw her arms up in the air in victory as the cat slowly blinked. Her eyes slammed shut and sweet moisture found its way to her once again. “In. Your. Face! In your face, cat!” Kesi jumped up to her feet.
”Meow…” With his head hung in shame, and tail between his legs, the cat walked off. Today was a glorious day for Kesi of the Tempest of Set. Today Kesi achieved the impossible. Today, Kesi beat that cat.
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