Chapter 9: the home

"She said she'd rather go with Ms. Patricia today unless she can take that." Ericka said to Ms. Carol and glanced at Esther, the cat. "I think they'd love the cat, but I don't know if we're allowed to take pets with us." Ericka said to Lexi.

"I told you don't worry about it!" Lexi said to Ericka. "I'm taking Esther with me to the home."

"I don't know how they'll feel about a cat, but if they decide to not like it then you'll have to bring it back here. Then, I don't know what you'll do for the day. You're scheduled to be working in the home this week and I don't think you should go to Ms. Patricia until next week. It's just a few more days," Ms. Carol said to Lexi. Ericka was happy that Lexi wasn't completely getting her way.

They arrived at the home with little protests from Lexi. Esther leaped from Lexi's arms the second they walked in the home. Lexi started crying. "I'll be right back, my child. I need to check out this area," Esther told Lexi. It made her stop crying, but Esther just sensed another dragon close.

Esther paced up and down the dimly lit hallway. She sniffed at each room's door before moving along to the next room. It didn't take long before she found Ms. Nancy's room and the dragon that was hidden inside it. She jumped on the door with her front paws and let herself in. Ms. Carol was busy giving the girls activities of the day to even notice Esther entering that room.

"There you are. I told you to leave." Esther said to the room. She prowled up and down the room sniffing ever inch. She could sense that the dragon was there but couldn't quite see it just yet. Her fur stood on end as she sniffed near the closet. Her fur stood on end as she sniffed near the bed of the elderly lady.

Boom. The dragon jumped on top of Esther's back. Esther screeched in shock. 'Where had it- no - he been hiding?' It sunk its teeth down into her neck. Esther used her sharp cat claws to cut into the dragon's under belly. "This is my domain," he told her.

Esther bit into his neck. She couldn't risk transforming back into a dragon this close to the kids. She tossed him to the side, and he rolled. He looked up and down at Esther and transformed into a cat as well. "Now we're even in fight."

He reared up on his hind legs and growled at her. She jumped at him clawing into his neck and sinking her teeth into his shoulders. He rolled and switched to being on top of her. He clawed at her stomach. She bit into his shoulder harder. They rolled around for a few minutes, each having the upper hand if only for a few seconds.

"Sure," he hissed. "I'll leave this area." He growled in defeat and vanished with a smile.

"You better not come back here." Esther warned his vanishing silhouette. She turned to the lady on the bed still asleep and planted the idea that there was a rat problem in her head.

Lexi came tumbling into the room from hearing the noise of the cats fighting. She rushed to Esther. Esther had some blood on her, but no wounds that Lexi could find. Esther was thankful that she could heal so fast. "I'm fine, child," Esther said to Lexi.

Ms. Carol appeared at the door. "What happened here?" she asked Ms. Nancy. Ms. Nancy was still asleep! "Hey," Ms. Carol shook Ms. Nancy. "How are you feeling? What was all that noise in here?"

"I don't know," Ms. Nancy yawned. She looked at Esther. "That cat must have found that rat I've been talking about for ages. Thank you, cat."

Lexi smiled broadly at Ms. Nancy's approval of Esther. "This is Esther," Lexi told Ms. Nancy. "She's a good cat." She spoke slowly. Suddenly, she was afraid that Ms. Nancy would not like Esther.

"I took care of a bad thing in here, but I told her it was a rat and that she had been complaining about it for a while," Esther told Lexi.

"Esther talks to you too?" Lexi asked Ms. Nancy.

"All animals can talk, sweetie," Ms. Nancy said quietly. "You just have to know how to listen." Esther jumped on the bed with Ms. Nancy. Esther let Ms. Nancy pet her silently for a few moments.

"All animals can talk?" Lexi said again.

"Yes, Lexi. All animals can talk. Watch how Esther is going to purr and that lets Ms. Nancy know that she's happy." Ms. Carol said. Esther purred loudly at the touch of Ms. Nancy's hands. Lexi got jealous and started petting Esther as well.

Ericka appeared at the doorway angry. "I'm scrubbing dishes and you are in here petting a cat? Ms. Carol, why is Lexi in here with a cat instead of mopping the floor?"

"Ericka, sweetie, Esther here caught that rat I've been complaining about. Let us take a few minutes and celebrate that," Ms. Nancy said.

"Oh, I didn't even hear the noise," Ericka said looking at the blood on Esther's coat. "Is the cat okay?"

Esther proudly sat upright and licked at the blood on her coat to display her pride in catching the rat.

"You're such a good girl," Ms. Nancy cooed at the cat. "Thank you so much." Esther purred back in response.

"I'm glad that the cat was a good idea to bring," Ms. Carol hugged Lexi. "I think we have a rat problem here. Do you want to bring her here again tomorrow?"

"I guess. I feel safer with her here with me," Lexi shrugged.

"It's okay, child. I am only here to protect you and Lexi from danger. I don't mind taking care of a few bad things or stray rats." Esther said to a confused Ericka. She was sitting down on the ground looking about for obvious signs of rats. "It's okay." Esther told her again.