*Kitty Claws, perched on the Steinweigh tenses up and examines the scene. What happened to texokie? DID THAT RAT EAT HER??*
*KittyClaws ears perk up when she sees TEXOKIE arrive at the Quanteen. She is delighted to see that TEXOKIE looks normal; everyone else seems not to be themselves. Why, the Mother of Dragons actually had the nerve to shoo her away just because KittyClaws took a tiny taste of a lovely looking tuna.*
*Gleefully, KittyClaws takes off to welcome TEXOKIE back to the Quanteen, but before she can reach her, TEXOKIE disappears into the Quanteen Qloset. KittenClaws hears the sounds of a great wind behind the door and then an awful howl..fearing for her friend, she scratches at the bottom of the door, not caring that the Quanteen Qarpet seems to be getting shredded in the process.*
*Finally, KittenClaws efforts have paid off and the door begins to open, but what is this!? A Rat! The other Quanteeners have gone mad at the thought, their hysterical laughter filling KittenClaws ears. KittenClaws runs to the Steinway - not to hide, but to gain ground. No giant rat will hurt TEXOKIE and live to tell*
~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~
*After everyone - including texokie - has milked the hilarity out of what texokie chose as a last minute expedient costume, and the crowd is hitting the Qanteen buffet table... and also because it is DARN HOT in the cape and Rat mask, she takes them off. She decides to wait until later to put them back into the Qloset. Why tempt fate a second time the same evening? She drapes them over the back of the rocking chair.*
*Mother of Dragons (and Dragonlets), seeing texokie shed her costume decides to do the same. Hers is darn hot too…. And would seriously interfere with wrapping herself around the goodies she seriously wants to put on her plate! Everyone admires it one last time and she excuses herself to go to her office and take it off. All are in agreement that she was as excellent a Tuna as a Mother of Dragons (and Dragonlets) could be!*
*One of the FReeQs has a camera and waylays her before she makes it to her office, and takes a picture for the Qanteen SQrapbook:*
*Texokie folds up her cape and puts it under the Steinweigh. She puts the neighbor child’s rat mask on top of it so it won’t get crushed.*
*Then she straightens up and comes nose to nose with Qanteen Qat, Kitty Claws, who is peering intently at her from the highest point on the Steinweigh - right next to the music holder. Texokie almost feels as though she is prey, the gaze is so intense. She speaks soothingly to her little friend and reaches out to pick her up, which Kitty Claws generously allows.*
*The two end up in the rocking chair while waiting for the crowd around the food table to thin out a bit. As hoped, texokie is delighted to hear the roaring purr which Kitty Claws is known for, and which has become a favorite past time of many FReeQs to listen to from the same rocking chair. Ssschev and bagster have each located a red laser pointer, and now Kitty Claws is beset with decision; WHICH ONE DO I CHASE????? Grey Whiskers sees the dilemma, and joins in the chase. Such a helpful sort he is!*
*Texokie, seeing that the quiet moment with Kitty Claws is concluded, notices that the line to the buffet is diminished. There actually are a lot of good things left to choose from, and she makes her way to the end of the line, which moves quickly. She fills up her plate (choosing some special treats for the Qatz too) and goes back to sit in the rocker to watch the Qanteen Qatz go absolutely frickin’ NUTZ! All are thinking of our Qanteen Qat, Cats PJs, and wishing her well while she’s mending, and hoping one day soon she can join in the mad chase for those elusive red dots*