Seriously, this is one of the best starts to a good tale I've read in a while. From your comment, you won't be expanding it, which I find a shame. BTW, one of the many things I do for money is read slush piles and sort useful from not. I accidentally surfed onto your page and this caught my eye AND my imagination. How DO you deal with a feline familiar that doesn't even speak your language? Feel free to expand it and submit it to a magazine. You clearly have the talent.