With most of the cats starting on the cleanup, Jax and Piper gathered items to take up to the cats at the waterfall.
“They’re going to need more blankets,” Jax said, gathering an armload. “The ones they’ve got are going to be damp from the mist.”
“They’re going to have to eat while they’re all up there,” Piper said, filling their packs with food.
“I’m still too worked up to stand around,” Piper said, slinging her pack. “Let’s get moving.”
“I’m right behind you,” Jax said, following her with his load of supplies.
The quiet of the trail was a welcome relief after the commotion in the village.
As he relaxed, Jax said with a grin, “You know I always enjoy following you.”
“And I love to be followed, Hon,” Piper said, slowing enough to rub shoulders with him.
“So what do you think about Kyron and Taniki?” Piper asked as they walked.
“I think they’re going to have to stop acting like they aren’t serious about each other,” Jax replied with a chuckle.
“Yeah, but it was pretty cute watching them dance around the subject,” Piper said.
“I can see one problem though,” Jax said. “Where are they going to live? Kyron has been living in one of the shelters, and Taniki’s home is… gone.”
“Well, at least for the short term, the best answer is for them to stay with Del and Vitto at their new cabin. They already think of Taniki’s kids as their own grandkids.”
“Yeah, that’s the obvious answer,” Jax said becoming aware of the sound of the waterfall up ahead. “That’s one less thing to worry about.”
As soon as they walked into the clearing, Jax immediately went to check on the kittens.
Piper had to smile; that was her Jax, alright. There was just something about him and kittens.
“They’re doing fine,” Cassy said. “I think because Kyron got them out first, they didn’t get all that much smoke.”
“That’s good to hear,” Jax said, relieved. “We brought more blankets and food.”
“I’m glad you thought of that,” Cassy said. “We were thinking of sending Baxter down to the village on a supply run.”
“How are things at the village?” Baxter asked.
“Well, the cook house is a mess, but the cats have already started with the cleanup,” Piper replied. “No one else was hurt, but Zelli and Kikki did find three other cabins that embers had landed on.”
“Man, it sounds like we just avoided a major disaster,” Baxter said, shaking his head. “We really were lucky, weren’t we?”
There were murmurs of agreement all around.
“When do you think you’ll be ready to bring everybody back down to the village?” Jax asked Cassy.
“If everybody keeps improving, we’ll be headed back around mid-morning.”
“Piper and I were talking on the way up here, and we figured you might as well take them to Del and Vitto’s place. They’ve got the room, and you know that’s what Del and Vitto would want.”
“I’ve been thinking,” Star said, “it wouldn’t be a bad idea to go meet the group coming from Falling Waters before they get here. You know, prepare them for what they’re going to find when they get here.”
“That’s a good idea,” Jax said. “Were you thinking of going yourself?”
“Yeah, I thought of taking Stony with me,” she said. “We could leave tomorrow after we get these guys home.”
“That’ll work. So, unless you have something else for us, we’ll head out,” Jax said, checking on the kittens one last time.
“Go on, you two,” Cassy said with a grin. “Those kittens are going to be fine.”
As the morning sun warmed the valley, the cats, who had spent the night around the plunge pool, breathing in the cooling mist, were starting to get restless. They sat around picking at their breakfast, still not quite sure what to think about their new situation.
Looking at her kids, Taniki came to a decision. “You guys look like you just crawled out of a bag of dirt. You all need a bath.”
“That must have been a pretty big bag,” Kyron said. “Because we all look like we spent time in there.”
“You do look pretty grungy,” Jen grinned.
“Okay, Miss Clean and Pretty,” Taniki said, “you can help with the kittens.”
“It’s time to get clean,” she declared. “Everybody into the pool and start scrubbing.”
The kids exchanged looks, shrugged, and dutifully waded into the plunge pool. Jen had the kittens in the shallow water at the edge of the pool.
Reaching out to take Kyron’s hand, Taniki said, “Okay, Hero, let’s go get clean.”
Joining the kids in the pool, they started trying to wash the soot out of their fur.
Looking up at Kyron, Taniki said with a shy smile, “I can’t reach my back. Can you help me?”
“Sure,” Kyron stammered, moving around behind her.
“Is this okay?” he asked, gently rubbing swirls in her fur.
“That feels good, but you’re going to have to work a little harder to get the soot out,” she replied. “When you’re done, I’ll do you.”
When the kids saw what they were doing, they decided that’s what they should do too. Even Jen waded in to get into the action, though she still kept an eye on the kittens playing in the shallows.
“You look pretty good back here,” Kyron said. “My turn now.”
Taniki moved around to scrub his back and froze. There were more than a dozen spots where embers had burned through his fur.
“Oh, Kyron, you’re hurt!” she cried.
“Well, yeah, a little,” he said, making light of it. “You might want to just scrub around those places.”
“Okay,” she said, smacking him on the shoulder where he wasn’t hurt. “Just wait until you’re healed up, then I’ll show you scrubbed.”
He turned around to look at her. She looked up at him… and then they kissed.
Soon all the kids crowded around Taniki and Kyron. Jen and Dev were holding the kittens, and they were all hugging and laughing.
Wet, smiling, and happy, the cats climbed out of the pool and started using blankets to dry off.
From up at the cave, watching with Gabby, Star smiled. “Now that’s something you don’t see every day… a bunch of dirty cats went into the pool, and a family came out.”
“I told you,” Gabby said, nudging her. “This place is magic.”