Episode 129 - Cats

## Cats

A black background with a sparse white border made of thin white lines, perhaps meant to resemble short hair or claw marks. Within the border two busts of cats can be seen, both depicted in white and forward facing. The one on the left is a long-haired breed with white eyes, and the one on the right is a short-haired bread with red eyes. Below these images but still within the border the words "129.CATS" are depicted in white

### Author

William A Wellman

However unfortunate it may be, the theme of tonight's episode is Cats.

> ***Content warning**: Cats, Sad Dogs, Freezing to Death, Emotional Manipulation, Bugs, Body horror, Consumption of Inedible Materials (frogs)*
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## Intro - The End Begins

Nikignik speaks to the Dreamers, reminding them that he had warned them months ago that they were now at the third act in their narrative, and it was socking how fast they come here. Nikignik asks the Dreamers what they had done that day for they fell asleep to his familiar nightmare, that he hoped they'd enjoyed it. He tells them that he did not know he'd prefer they remembered their nightmares, that they gave them purpose to wake up the next morning, or that they do not as there was nothing left for them in the world, it would be a mercy to end their tired days. It was a choice, though one that the Dreamers had little say in now, rather one that was in the hands of those in the northmost Hallowoods and beyond (see Episode 120 - Wilds). And it was Nikignik's choice too, for he had interfered (see Episode 103 - Crossroads), though he was not sure he was ready to make it.

Nikignik confesses that they did not love all the members of their narrative equally, telling them of one was was even now in the North, watching not to share with the dreaming universe but to catalogue for a dark parliament. There were many threads to see through to completion, and they tell the Dreamers that they would get the most distasteful out of the way first.

## Story 1 - Thirteen Lives

Nimbus thinks to themself of how they come from the Dream-City of Distant Kazanth, how they were always watching and recording for the great council of cats. He thinks of how mission was tiring work, which could be summarised as to report on what was happening on earth, if it was becoming a place that cat kind could occupy. Nimbus sat on a ledge of ice to a cave beneath the artic, overlooking a pool of water, and within it Creep looked back up at them, though feared them too much to risk reaching out and touching them. Nimbus thinks of this as a good thing, as Creep remembered '*the old fear which all indescribable life* [shared]'. Nimbus is suddenly above where Diggory Graves was stuck below the ice (see Episode 122 - Creeps) and in the process of freeing themself (see Episode 126 - Recoveries), but she disappears before they crack though the top layer of ice and emerge into the snow. Nimbus sat on the back of Clara Martin's broom, along with Dogsmell and Percy Reed (see Episode 128 - Haunts), the former of which was sent from Downing Hill Public Library, the latter notices him with confusion and love. Nimbus sits beside Riot Maidstone as she crawled through the snow (see Episode 127 - Hooks), and they silently urge her forward, that she was closer to her destination then she thought. He appears in one of the crated that Mort carried on his back (see Episode 125 - Recollections), Cindy Lockheart notices him and briefly regards him with respect, as they were both survivors and soldiers. Nimbus appears with Polly and Yaretzi as they made their way through the northmost Hallowoods, and he thinking to himself that he hoped they survived as they could be used as an example to for others to follow.

He goes further south to an abandoned house overlooking Lady Ethel Mallory as she made her way along the street, investigating anything living or shiny. They appear in a room at Scoutpost Two with Jackie, who felt as if she'd been forgotten about. She doesn't give Nimbus any attention at their arrival, and Nimbus only feel they could offer her the small comfort of sharing a space with her briefly. They appear in the lap of Danielle O'Hara as she slept, wandering in her dreams searching for Riot. He leaves before she began to sir for a hole in a fallen log, watched as Grug, twisted to the point of almost appearing human, walked past.

They take a break before returning north to visit Tivali, wishing to perhaps preform the last part of her documentation with her, but she understood Tivali to be busy with Winona Carline, and so she briefly touches noses with her before returning to her rounds. He goes back to the northmost woods, where Heidi and The Faceless King stood side by side overlooking Jonah Duckworth's fallen yellow hat waiting for him to return. She appears in Olivier Song's pack as they hovered in the sky, the storm and the power it took to summon it (see Episode 124 - Educations) having destroyed them. She wishes there was more she could do to help her, but such was the problem with Indescribable life, it destroyed everything it touched. From above, what is described as an 'azure angel' descends and collects Olivier. Nimbus returns to the cave, watching as the temperature began to slowly rise with the removal of the tempest, and Creep smiled up at them, boiling to the surface as the end began.