The Cat and the Dragon (猫と竜)

Absolutely not.

Why don't you get it, Uncle?!

I want to explore outside of the forest!

So you wish to go to the human country near here?

No, not that! I want to go where no cat's been before!

And I want to have my own territory there!

I have said it a thousand times... Outside of the forest is fraught with peril.

On top of humans and bears, there are many magical beasts, too.

For example, in the mountains to the north...

You're talking my ears off...

But!

No means no.

Boo.

I knew the biggest hurdle for leaving the forest would be the winged Uncle.

But I'm not giving up!

No matter how long it takes, I'll persuade him!

Winged Uncle!

No.

I'm begging you...

No.

U-Uncle!

No!

I really want to go!

And I'm saying no!

Okay, you win.

You mean I can go?!

Under one condition...

I shall mark you so I know where you are. Is that agreeable?

Of course!

I'm off!

My goodness...

I did it. I did it!

I'm finally leaving the forest.

I'm going to find a place just for me!

The White Cat and the Girl

The White Cat and the Girl

This is it.

The mountains the winged Uncle was talking about,

where magical beasts greater than bears roam around!

It may be dangerous, but I might find an amazing area for my territory!

In that case, I'd better fuel up and regain my stamina first.

That being said,

it's nothing but field mice around here, and I'm sick of them...

Maybe there're birds or squirrels over there! Maybe even some fruit!

Even more than I hoped!

Let's see, to hunt most efficiently...

Hm?

A human girl?

I didn't sense her presence at all, though.

Oh!

She's made herself totally undetectable!

Who exactly is she?!

Brilliant!

She's quite a hunter.

But at that height...

Is she all right?

Wow, what a sturdy girl.

Hey, you're pretty reckless.

Now you're hurt.

A kitty spoke.

Did I hit my head too hard on the way down?

I doubt that, since I am speaking, after all.

Wait... Do kitties talk?

Of course we do.

My dad, my mom, my siblings... we all talk.

I see. So kitties do talk...

Putting that aside, you hunt so recklessly.

You're bound to hurt yourself!

I'll be fine. I'm sturdy.

Well... Still, it's insane.

You've got to be more efficient.

I don't know any other way to hunt, though.

So this is fine enough.

Didn't your parents teach you?

I don't have parents, since I'm an orphan.

An orphan.

One bird isn't gonna be enough.

I gotta get enough meat for everyone.

Oh, so you live with others, then.

Yeah.

How many?

Six kids and one teacher.

This girl's figured out how to hunt by herself, and that's no small feat.

And for her family, no less.

So including you, it's a pack of eight?

It is eight people, but a pack?

I'm going to help you hunt!

Huh?

Us meeting like this must be fate.

You sure you can hunt? Even though you're a kitty?

Because I'm a kitty.

Cats are great hunters, didn't you know?

So cool!

White kitty, you're so good at hunting!

I guess.

My skills are good enough that my winged Uncle let me to leave the forest.

I mean, I'd still run if I met a bear...

But someday, I hope to defeat a bear like that one hero—

Wait, what are you doing?

Dressing it. If I do it now, we can make it all into soup and there'll be no waste.

Soup, you say!

I know what that is!

A while back, a city cat recommended it, so I tried it!

Oh, I know.

Listen, white kitty, wanna join us for dinner?

I do! Dinner, please!

Big Sis, welcome home!

I'm home!

Wow, a kitty!

It's a kitty!

And so much meat!

And the kitty's carrying it!

White kitty, are you helping our big sis?

What a good kitty.

I'm not the help!

I'm the one who caught this prey.

The kitty spoke...

Of course I would.

Guess what? Today...

this kitty caught almost all of these!

Wow!

I did catch one bird, though.

Gallie, you went on a hunt, too?

You get hurt every time without fail.

How many times must I ask you to refrain from doing that anymore...

Oh, good. They have a proper guardian.

No, no, it's all right, Reverend!

I didn't get hurt at all!

That's a lie.

You scraped the tip of your nose.

It seems you looked after her.

Thank you so very much.

Well, that girl sucks so much at hunting that I figured I'd help.

Then she said I could have some of the soup!

Is that so?

She cooks wonderful soup.

Of course, please join us for dinner.

Hold it right there, Gallie.

I'm not done with you yet.

Reverend, I've gotta start on the soup...

No. You will first listen to what I have to say.

Please think things through more—and more often.

Yup, she's getting scolded.

Well, if I were her guardian, I'd have done the same.

Kitty!

He's so white and so shiny!

Hey, if I pet your head like this, it feels nice, right?

Me petting your back is nice too, right?

What about your neck?

I'm gonna pet your tail!

I am an adult. They're just kids.

It's the duty of a mature cat to play along with children...

Is your tail just fur? This doesn't hurt, does it?

No! Anything but the tail!

Come on, soup's on!

Yay!

Here's yours, white kitty.

My first soup in years!

Vica everno arciwi.

Let us eat.

Yum!

Big Sis's soup really is the best.

I put aside a portion with less seasoning for you. Was it still too hot?

This girl...

She's not just "the girl who sucks at hunting."

She's also "the girl who makes awesome soup!"

Hey, everyone!

It's almost time for bed.

Get ready.

Okay!

Mr. Cait Sith.

Hm?

If you'd be okay with it, may we talk in my room?

A magic lock?

Yes.

Reverend, you used to be an adventurer?!

Yes. Some of these belonged to my friends,

but I used to go adventuring in all kinds of places...

I've even been to your forest before!

Wow! I didn't know that!

I see. So you're looking for a new territory of your own.

Yeah! It took me days to persuade the winged Uncle.

Ah, the Imperial Dragon that protects you.