Chapter 3: The Elder and Esther

The Elder and Esther paced the perimeter of the sleep shed for the kids. The Elder couldn't wait to reveal his new name to Esther. "I am now Tim" he said to her.

"They finally gave you a name?" Esther replied with just as much excitement. "Isn't it against the rules for an Elder to have a name?"

"Well, we have to fit in as cats and the only way I can do that is if I let them name me."

"I gave them my name, but oh that's right you don't remember yours." Esther laid down in front of Lexi. "I'm sorry. It didn't seem right when they kept calling you Elder either. I think it just took this long because you blended in with the other cats at the barn watching Avery and Charlie."

Tim jumped in the bed with Esther and put his head down on hers. "I have lived as an Elder for two hundred years. I have forgotten what it's like to have a name."

Esther laid quietly for a few moments. "I can't imagine what it would be like to forget your name."

"It was just wiped from my memory. I can't remember my past at all. I only know my life as an Elder. I don't remember if I had hatchlings. I don't remember if I had a mate." Tim sighed. They soon fell asleep.

They woke up to a scratching noise and discovered their rival the rogue dragon that continually tried attacking the kids at the door as a cat. They let him in. "I'm Vincent." He told them. They eyed him, but let him in.

"Why are you here?" Tim asked.

"I wanted to get to know you better Elder." Vincent said.

"I am Tim now. I have been named by these humans." He smirked at Vincent.

"I was an elder once too." Vincent began.

"No. Elders do not have names. You have a name so you can't be an Elder." Tim's hair stood on end.

"I'm not here to fight Tim. I've want to join this group and help watch the humans." Vincent bowed down his head to Esther and Tim.

"Why?" Esther said without feeling. "Do you see how easily they welcome us as cats? You would have to forever give up your Dragon form and pledge to stay as a cat."

"I can do that." Vincent said.

Tim just stared blankly at Vincent. "You will have to understand that you can never stop being a cat. If you see anyone violating this rule, you are to cover it up, attack, and then banish them from this area. We live peacefully among the humans. Our job is to keep the pests away. If you do that, the humans will give you free food and water. There's also a barn in the animal farm for all the cats to stay. That was Avery's idea. You'll see him all around the animal farm."

Vincent nodded, "What qualifies as a pest?"

Tim breathed in deeply, "Observe the other cats here. There are a few real cats here. We are to attack, kill, and eat rats and mice. Our presence is enough to scare away most of the snakes. The food isn't too bad, but the rats and mice taste even better."

Esther stretched and yawned loudly, "The kids will be up soon. I don't want you to scare them Vincent so you should leave."

Lexi moved in bed, searching for Esther. She grabbed her and held her tightly. "There you are, my beautiful Esther" she cooed the cat.

Charlie moved around in bed too searching for Tim. He sat up rubbing his eyes at the new cat in the room. "Umm… Tim?" Vincent was also a dark colored cat, but he was more of a tabby. Tim was almost a solid black cat with a few grey hairs from age. Charlie grabbed Tim and immediately began petting him. "Aren't you usually with Avery?" he looked down at Tim.

Avery struggled to sit up and Tim ran to Avery. Vincent looked lost and abandoned. Charlie put his hand out to new cat, and Vincent ran up to Charlie. Vincent was amazed at how good it felt to be pet. 'No wonder the other rogue dragons were showing up here as cats' he thought.

Granny knocked on the door and everyone jumped. Ben was curled up in a corner all by himself closest to Avery. The little girl was hidden under a blanket on the side of Lexi. Lexi moved the blanket from the girl despite protests. "It's time to wake up," Lexi whispered, "Granny has brought us food"

Esther put herself in front of the girl and the girl grabbed on to Esther to pull herself up. Scarlet, the bird, still in her hands. Lexi grabbed Scarlet and helped the little girl stand up. She brought the little girl to the bathroom while Avery worked on waking up Ben. Charlie set the table and Granny beamed with pride at how everyone was getting along so well. She opened up the basket and took out the huge bowls with cat food already in it. "Looks like we have another dweller in here now." She poured out water into another huge bowl and the cats ran to eat and drink.

Ben finally woke up after Lexi and the little girl returned from the bathroom. Granny reached to brush the little girl's hair, but the girl cried and hung on to Lexi. "I'll get it later Granny. She doesn't like to be touched." Ericka entered the sleep shed.

Avery brought Ben to the bathroom after Charlie had his turn. The new kids sat down at the table. Ericka had brought a pad for the little girl to sit on that she used in the past for Lexi. They all sat down to eat their morning mush.

"Do you know where everyone is going today?" Granny asked Ericka.

"I think the little girl will stay with Lexi in the pottery barn in the morning and then they'll come to the home in the afternoon. I think Ben is going with Avery this morning and maybe Charlie this afternoon. We took them both to pottery last week, but the little girl has such a bond with Lexi that it might be easier if she just stays with Lexi for now." Ericka answered to the best of her knowledge.

"Ben. Do you want to go see the animals or come with me to the iron forge this morning?" Charlie asked Ben.

"I want to see the animals first!" he had instantly fallen in love with Vincent. "I can take this cat too?"

"Of course. The cats are free to go wherever they want." Charlie said.