— There's a saying: "Curiosity killed the cat." But did you know that for cats, curiosity is the hunting instinct… even protection? What if I told you that five curious little kittens not only survived, but also saved humanity?
— But, Master Shaman, that's impossible! How can cats turn into humans?
— Let's just say they had something special. If you want, I can tell the story. But I warn you: it's not like the magic tales of Evanghard. Do you want to hear it?
— Yes!
— Then listen closely. It all began at the Great Festival in the city… on the Solstice of Akolnest.
The city breathed celebration.
Decorations, dances, food, magic — and in the middle of the crowd, five tiny kittens went almost unnoticed.
Almost.
— Théo, wait! — called Dehvon, a Siamese with blue eyes.
— I can't, Deh! We're late! — answered the tricolour, darting between people's feet.
— Keep that up and you'll end up as carriage rug — grumbled Daylor, a black-and-white with odd eyes.
— Day! — shouted Dehvon, stopping abruptly.
A horse passed so close it nearly took his tail with it.
— Bet he's itching to see that! — Navi, the orange cat, bounced over stalls like they were runways, knocking down fruit without looking back.
— Don't joke about that, Navi! If Mom finds out, she'll kill us! — scolded Pearl, the eldest, his voice steady and refined.
Even while running, Pearl kept his composure.
His brown coat gleamed in the sun, and his little white paws — like tiny velvet gloves — moved gracefully through the chaos.
The afternoon light gilded the city.
Colourful ribbons danced between rooftops. Voices and laughter echoed in the main square, where children chased magic balloons. Musicians played flutes and drums that sparked golden lights with every beat. In the air, the sweet scent of bread and caramelized fruit.
Suddenly, silence.
— Ohhh!
— Look, Mama! It's her!
— She's here!
— I don't believe it, I don't believe it!
The noise returned, louder than before. Above the central fountain, a golden symbol formed in the air, and from it burst a light that blinded the square. When vision returned, there she was: Saoirse, the priestess of Evanghard.
Her curly hair shimmered with golden threads woven between the locks, and her gown seemed made of solid light. As her foot touched the ground, absolute silence fell. The entire city raised their arms, hands forming circles, in a perfect bow.
— I can't believe it… we missed her entrance — murmured Théo, head low, out of breath.
Dehvon, seeing his brother so down, tried to comfort him.
— You'll see her again. Someday.
— Yeah. In another decade — cut in Daylor.
Pearl lifted his head.
— Shh! I can't hear her! Is it that hard to stay quiet?
Saoirse spoke, her serene voice filling the square:
— Dear friends and siblings of Evanghard… let us celebrate together the Solstice of Akolnest.
She raised her arms, and a golden breeze swept gently through the crowd.
— On this day, a piece of the Sun fell upon our lands, blessing this earth with its magic…
Everyone was hypnotized.
No one blinked.
Except Théo.
Between the legs of the crowd, a white butterfly glowed with its own light — as if made of moonlight and stardust. It floated softly, straight toward him.
Théo rose. His eyes never left it.
And he followed it. Out of curiosity.
— Théo? — whispered Dehvon, trying to stay focused on the priestess's speech.
When he turned his head, Théo was gone.
Dehvon swept his gaze across the crowd but found nothing.
— He's gone — he said, tense.
— What do you mean, gone? — Pearl frowned.
— He was right here. He couldn't have just disappeared — Daylor glanced around.
— Went to pee — said Navi, completely unconcerned.
— Knowing Théo? No — Dehvon was restless. — He'd never miss the speech. He talked about it for a week.
Navi spotted a white tail with an orange tip vanishing around a corner.
— There! — he exclaimed.
They all started running, weaving through the crowd.
Théo, hypnotized, almost touched the butterfly perched on a crate. But his brothers' shouts startled it, and it flew off.
And Théo dashed after it.
— Théo, wait!
— Why are we always running after him? — Daylor whined.
Without stopping, Théo shouted back — It glows! — his voice brimming with wonder.
They all tried to catch up, but obstacles kept getting in the way — people, crates, horses, and more people shuffling back and forth — not to mention Théo himself, bolting ahead like a spark.
Then, suddenly, Théo stopped.
THUMP!
They all tumbled into a heap in the middle of a hidden garden.
— She was here! — panted Théo.
— Who? — asked Pearl.
— The butterfly.
Théo searched restlessly among the flowers.
The others exchanged glances and followed him through an arch of leaves.
The inner garden was even more breathtaking. Flowers everywhere, and at its heart, a great pink tree showering petals over an old stone well. Sitting on its edge, with glowing butterflies orbiting around her, a young woman.
As lovely as the blossoms of that garden.
But Navi broke the spell:
— That "butterfly" of yours is a bit big, don't you think?
The woman laughed, covering her mouth with her hand.
— A keen observation, Sir Orange Cat.
Her voice was sweet as the sound of a harp.
The kittens looked at one another, stunned.
No human had ever understood their tongue before.
— You… you understand us? — Daylor swallowed hard.
— Of course.
Théo stepped forward:
— Are you the butterfly?
The woman joined her hands at her chest:
— Yes.
— She must be joking — Pearl retorted. — Impossible. How could a mere butterfly do this?
Dehvon nodded, thoughtful:
— It's a bit suspicious.
But Théo's eyes sparkled, unconcerned with his brothers' doubts.
— Wow! How do you do that? Can we become humans too?
The woman smiled. — You can.
Théo spun around, euphoric:
— Did you hear that? — It was as if his dreams were coming true.
Théo asked again — But how can we do it? You… Can you do it? Turn us into humans?
And the woman answered, once more, with all the gentleness in the world — For such adorable little kittens as you, of course I can transform you — she said with a sweet smile.
Théo's eyes nearly popped out of his head, he was so happy hearing those tender words.
— I don't believe it, I don't believe what I just heard! Did you guys hear that too? She can transform us!
Dehvon stared at the woman — I don't know, Théo. This feels really suspicious.
— Exactly! — Daylor sneered. — It's always like this: they show up and say "wanna be human?" and then they put us to sleep and vanish with our seven lives, and we don't even get to use more than one.
— Exaggeration — said Pearl. — But it is concerning, indeed.
Théo's ears drooped. As if a bucket of cold water had been poured over him.
— She's not a fraud! — His voice trembled. — Just imagine: walking on two legs, talking, being seen, no one would step on us, and we could protect Mom — he paused — be more than just cats. She always wanted that. You know she did.
Théo sat before the woman and asked softly — If you turn us into humans… you won't hurt us, right?
— Of course not, my little kittens. But I can only do it if you truly wish it from your hearts. — She answered.
The brothers exchanged a long, silent glance, thinking of the youngest's last words: "We could protect Mom. Be more than just cats. She always wanted that. You know she did."
Could they trust this beautiful woman they had just met? There was a good chance this request would work out — but it could also be a trap.
Dehvon walked slowly to stand before Théo:
— We do. For Mom.
He looked directly into the youngest's eyes and said, his voice steady — And only for Mom.
The woman nodded and stretched out her hand; an ancient staff wrapped in golden leaves appeared in the air, and she began to float gently toward the sky.
— Remember — her voice suddenly turned deep and ethereal. — When great magic is given, something great will be taken.
The woman hovering above the kittens began to chant a spell, and a circle formed around them, trapping them in place.
The soft breeze suddenly turned into a fierce wind.
Leaves swirled.
The sky darkened for an instant.
The light grew so bright it slowly blinded them.
The air had changed — heavy as stone.
The kittens could barely hear or see what was happening; they couldn't even name what they were feeling in that moment. Was it fear? Doubt? Or anticipation?
— What did she say? — shouted Navi.
A flash exploded, swallowing the five who stood there.
Time passed — until a buzzing sound and a heavy silence surfaced.
— Ow…
He hadn't opened his eyes yet, but he already felt that something was terribly wrong.
The ground. Too hard.
His body. Long, warm, stretched out.
How strange, he thought.
Still with his eyes shut, he brought a trembling hand to his head.
Instead of the soft, familiar ears, his fingers sank into something unfamiliar: thick, long strands.
He decided to slowly open his eyes. His vision still blurred, he spotted the well in the distance, people passing by far away. When he looked at the sky, the afternoon sun burned so brightly that, by instinct, he squinted and raised his hands to shield himself.
That's when he saw them: long, jointed, and strange.
A chill ran up his spine.
His heart and breath raced.
He could barely breathe.
And when the truth crashed down on him:
— AHHHH!!
The scream cut through the air like a blade, and everyone in the square stopped to stare.