Kalewala of Nekots - Shadow Eclipse

By Ukko, I had messed everything up!

Divine Fua, why had you saved me? I should've just died on the spot. It would've spared me from all this humiliation. Never in my life had I felt this awful—not even when the other Nekots came up with the Niko curse.

How could I have transformed back in my sleep?!

What had I even dreamed about?

I wanted to disappear. Dig a hole and sink straight into the earth. Wait... the tiny window above the toilet! Maybe I could've squeezed through it as a cat—

No.

First, there was a fly screen. Second, I couldn't do that to the boy. He had just had the shock of his life. I had to calm him down, not freak him out more. Besides, I owed him my thanks. Running away now would've been wrong.

I sighed and pulled on the clothes he had given me. A faded red T-shirt, black shorts, checkered sweatpants, and a black sweater with a white embroidered logo.

When I glanced at myself in the mirror, my reflection looked... wrong. Paler than usual. Shadows under my eyes, even though I had slept soundly. Or—wait. Had I slept soundly? There had been something. A cave? No, a ravine. Somewhere dark. Taipo's forest realm, maybe...?

I stared at my reflection until my cat ears faded into human ones. My pupils returned to normal. A quick glance downward confirmed no claws, no tail. Just a pale, exhausted human staring back at me.

So that was what I looked like as a person.

It was strange. I had barely ever transformed before. Back home, there had been no need. Last night, in that alley, I hadn't even had time to check my reflection.

But now I knew I couldn't afford another slip-up like that.

With a deep breath, I unlocked the bathroom door and crept back into the bedroom.

Empty. The bed was made. Dishes clattered in the kitchen. I paused at the doorway, inhaling sharply. Only one way to go.

In the kitchen, my host moved like lightning, already changed into clean clothes and surrounded by buzzing devices. Nekots had lived close to nature, so those electrical things were just strange to me.

"Hey!" He waved me over with a smile. "That fits you well. Kahvia?"

Kahvia? Oh right. Other Nekots told me about this coffee-drinking-thing humans have. I nodded, not trusting my voice.

Soon we were sitting across from each other at a small table. Steam rose from mugs of dark liquid in front of us.

"So... you're really a Nekoto?" he asked, his green eyes—pine green? Emerald? Vihreä?—studying me curiously. His brown hair fell into his face, giving him a faint resemblance to Taipo's folk. Was he...? No. Humans could have vihreä eyes too.

I nodded.

"The Nekots in the stories were always..." He trailed off when he caught my expression. Sorry, bud. That topic was a sore spot.

"Anyway," he changed the subject, "what are you doing here? Don't Nekots stay in the Fua Valley until they grow up?"

I wished things were that simple.

Silence stretched between us as I hesitated. Should tell him? Was I even allowed to? My gaze dropped to the coffee cup in front of me. I took a sip.

The Nekot code said gratitude should be shown. He had helped me. Fed me. Given me shelter. I owed him the truth.

"You're right. Nekots are usually white. I'm... different." My voice came out low, almost a whisper. "I'm the only one with black fur. And on top of that, my Sykuru started earlier than anyone's ever has. That's why I had to leave the Fua Valley. I need to find a Hatâ—fast."

More silence.

I took another sip of kahvia to busy myself. The warmth steadied me. It was good.

"So..." the boy said after a moment, "you're looking for your Hatâ?"

I nodded.

"And this Hatâ... am I it?"

Oh.

I hadn't thought of that.

For Nekots, a Hatâ could be any suitable being who was able to care for us. Humans were preferred—they lived like us and cooked delicious meals. We were cats, after all. But this boy? No way. If he were my Hatâ, the sacred ribbon would have—

The air shimmered.

The dim spots of light in the room, the drops of water from the sink, even the rising steam from our cups floated around me.

Piru!

Everything condensed into tiny threads, which wove themselves tighter and tighter around my neck until a golden leash had materialized. A leash with a loop floating toward the boy.

His eyes widened. Slowly, he raised a hand, reaching for the loop.

"STOP!" I blurted. "If you accept the bond, you'll gain my magic and servanthood. But you'll also take on all the duties of a Hatâ. That means caring for me. And satisfying my Sykuru."

His hand paused mid-air. He looked at me—really looked at me.

I gripped my mug tighter. My claws scraped the surface. Claws?! Oh, come on, not again!

I drained the mug in one gulp, but he was still staring. Something about his expression had changed, but I couldn't read it. Like I said, emotions were a mystery to me.

Then his eyes sparkled. His fingers closed around the loop.

Oh, no.