The Hunt For Freedom

On the night of my birth the feline goddesses rejoiced.  As I cried my infant cries the only clue to my feline heritage was my cobalt blue eyes. I am a werecat. My Pride is almost extinct they tell me, and I am one of the only werecats to be born in recent years that we know of.  My birth was celebrated by some, while others tore their clothes and cried out with rage.  It was foretold that a Princess would be born to save our kind.  Apparently, this is me.  Nobody asked if I wanted this, nobody cared that I just want to be a normal kid.  As I stand in our enormous kitchen drinking a tall glass of milk I watch the caterers setting up for my eighteenth birthday party.  This is when the fun will really begin.  Sitting down at our comfortable little kitchen table, I begin to think back on my earliest memories  of being "different."   "Katalea, come down from that tree!" My mother's voice billowed up at me. 

By the time the school year started I was no longer enrolled in our local elementary school.  Mom hold everyone, including Dad, that is was because of my crazy gymnastic schedule.  That was partially true, this year I was skipping a level at the gym  and my new hours were extensive. I loved every minute of my time at the gym,  but I was away a lot.  If we were homeschooling I could get my workouts done in the afternoon before the other kids could get out of school. Not to mention that I would have far less interaction with the other girls this way.  They were really not happy that I was skipping levels and getting one on one attention.  They had begun to say very mean thing when they thought I couldn't hear. I guess cats have excellent hearing because I heard them all. Needless to say, I was very excited about this homeschool development. Mom and I kept two sets of books.  Seconds grade books that I old show to my Dad, or the teac

"That is a great idea little one," he purred at me with eyes that showed kindness and love.   "This must be a lot for you to take in, how much do you already know?""I only know that Momma has family here, and that they are going to help me understand how I am half a cat." I said confidently, I had no idea how telling my words were.My Grandfather actually looked hurt, and my Grandmother emitted a guttural sound  like she was being strangled.Grandmother spoke for the first time turning to Mom.  "Do you hate us so much that you have denied her any knowledge of her heritage?" Momma burst into tears and dropped to her knees before her parents.  "I have been such a fool," she cried.  Between sobs she whimpered, "Can you forgive me?"It was hard seeing Momma like that, broken and desperate.  I was thankful my Grandfather showed compassion.  "Rise my child, your transgressions are forgiven.  You have

Jade and I became fast friends.  Her two years seemed more like ten when it came to knowledge about the werecat world and she was happy to help.  She stayed by my side during all the interviews and for that I was grateful.  When the Kalb family came in, we watched as they demonstrated Tahtib as an ancient and beautiful dance with ceremonial sticks.  They wore traditional Egyptian garments in whites and blue.  The fabric on their costumes moved with the body and created the illusion of water.  In my head I sarcastically thought that this dance would be so beautiful that my enemies would fall into a stupor at my feet and decide to leave me alone.   Jade was quick to interrupt my dismissive thoughts, "Stop making fun, and pay attention!  It's about to get good." I heard her voice clearly in my head. Her two year advantage  could also make her bossy!   I focused back on the dance just in time to see three black clad figur

The one bright spot in my life was still gymnastics.  I loved everything about it, from the sore muscles to the blistered hands, nothing could compare to the joy I felt doing what others feared.  Back flipping on a beam, no problem.....just don't ask me to talk about it in front of the class.   Most days, our workouts were silent as Coach asked us to focus more, talk less. This was a bonus in my book. Other than the stereo that always blasted, his voice was all there was to hear.  The girls on my team had been together for so many years now, they were more like sisters to me. We shared clothes, make-up, and music.  I had more leotards than I did school clothes, but I shared what I could. At the gym, I actually fit it.   Even the years that Dalya had joined the team didn't lessen my joy.  She was in a lower level than I was, and we worked out with different groups.  She had tried to turn Coach against me, but it had backfired on