Chapter 1
Cats Can’t Be Tamed Either
The morning of June 22nd was far from ordinary for the House of the Winds, and by no means was it quiet. Anemo came downstairs groggy, disheveled, and at an unusually early hour for a writer who mostly worked through the night. First on the list was his daily coffee—pink salt and whipped cream—but as he passed through the kitchen on his way to the press, he noticed that alongside his two cats' bowls, three little animals were now lined up instead of two. Next to Mistral and Sirocco stood a white cat, a Turkish Angora (most likely), with piercing blue eyes.
“Are you still here, kitty? I feel bad for you, but I promise I’ll find your family. Let me take a photo! I’m sure your people are looking for you!” he said. Then, grabbing his phone, he addressed the toms, waving his free hand as if directing traffic.
“Come on, boys, let me get a photo of 'The Duchess' so I can post it in the groups... maybe we’ll find her home.”
“Quel idiot!” Mistral grumbled. “Of course her family is looking for her! Her mother has been calling all night, but look at him—how is she supposed to answer? Meow? This 'Duchess,' as you call her, isn't some common stray; she’s Remi Storm, you fool!”
“Let it be, Mistral, it’s better he doesn't know,” the white cat meowed timidly.
“You just have to help me return to my human form, and that’s it—all the problems will be solved.”
Anemo managed to snap one photo of the newcomer, then another, and another...
“You’re overdoing it now; you never took this many photos of us. What, are the kid and I not photogenic enough?”
“Leave him alone, Mistral, or better yet, keep him busy until I get my coffee bean! I’ve been reading all night; I can barely keep my eyes open!” Aeolus squeaked, sneaking up behind the "photographer."
“If only he’d leave the house, you’ve got to help me search the internet somehow; we can’t just leave Miss Remi like this.”
“But why? Remi, Mi-Miss Remi, don't you like being a cat?” Sirocco asked. “Stay here with us in the House of the Winds, and Anemo will find a beautiful wind-name for you too... just like he did for us.”
“She doesn't need one, Sirocco. Have you forgotten? She’s a Storm.”
Fleur walked in from the courtyard as if she owned the place, carrying a new bowl for the white cat.“I knew you were awake! Good morning, everyone! Oh, what a beautiful kitty!”
“Are you here, Curly? We have that meeting with the kids at the Blanch library at 12:00. Are you coming, or are you 'escaping like Remi too?” Anemo made sure to remind the girl, then muttered more to himself: “Leaving like that, without telling anyone, without even a goodbye... Let me try calling her anyway. She promised she’d take me to a movie tonight since, well, those women who can't be tamed feel entitled to initiate things themselves...
”The moment Anemo put his phone to his ear, dialing his childhood friend, a sound erupted from the living room:
“Lleva, llévame en tu bicicleta, Óyeme, Carlos, llévame en tu bicicleta, Quiero que recorramos juntos...”
“What is Shakira doing in your living room, Mr. Anemo?”
“Remi? Are you here? Remi...”On the armchair, the writer’s tiny handbag, a pair of sunglasses, and her phone seemed to be mocking everyone in the house.
“She left all this here?”
The front door then joined the fray, belching out its shrill doorbell ring. Without a second thought, thinking perhaps Remi had returned for her things, Fleur opened it immediately. But on the threshold stood someone no one would have expected.
"Anemo, Mr. Anemo... there’s a Mister... — she paused for a heartbeat, her eyes scanning the stranger’s long, weathered coat until they lit up with the perfect find — Trench at the door. He’s looking for you.
*
"I think life wanted to teach me a lesson,” Remi thought, huddled on the living room windowsill. I couldn't help myself; I just had to put on the first trinket I found in the grass... I don’t know what I was thinking, I was practically hypnotized by this collar—which, definitely, isn’t a replica! How on earth did I turn into a cat, and more importantly, how do I know how to jump and purr? And how can I even understand these furballs?"
“Poor Aeolus... good thing I didn't eat him!”
“Tell me about it?” Aeolus replied. “When I saw myself in your claws, I nearly had a heart attack. Who else would have done your research for you? Sirocco?"
Aeolus had plenty of camouflage in the fur of the house’s newest resident. After the initial scare, things had settled down, and it was actually quite comfortable to have a conversation with someone as intelligent and well-read as Miss Storm—except their friendship was sparking jealousy in the black tomcat.
“Shh! Let’s hear what Anemo is saying to Mr. Trench!” Mistral whispered. “Tufty is at it again, she’s performed another baptism. He said his name is Daniel Frost, a detective.”
“I heard... Mom reported me missing!” the white cat sighed.
“Our scatterbrain actually thought that ‘detective-wannabe’ showed up because he posted on social media about finding a white cat. Can you believe how naive this guy is?”
“Don't be mean, Mistral!”
“Mean? You don't see he’s trying to copy Columbo?”
“What’s a Columbo?” Aeolus asked. “Co-lum-bo... like a pigeon, one of Noel’s? I made friends with one, his name is Gogo. He’s sharp, that one—he’s seen it all...”
“As usual, kid, you’re clueless...” Mistral cut him off. “Columbo was a lieutenant from an old police show. You don’t even need to look twice at Trench to see he has the same hobbies as our guy... a mystery novelist. I’m going to go eavesdrop some more; if he happens to mention his wife... I’ll faint.”
Remi began to chuckle softly.
“After all, a cat's life isn't so bad. How do you guys know about Columbo? I think he was popular in my grandmother's time... Does Anemo watch shows like that?”
“You guessed it! If Anemo watches Columbo for inspiration... we watch too,” Aeolus replied, watching Mistral, who was faking a faint at the "border" between the hallway and the living room.
“Does that mean Mr. Trench is talking about his wife? ... Honestly boys, you’re making me laugh despite all my troubles. Come on, help me get this necklace off... this cursed collar. Maybe then I’ll turn back.”Remi jumped from the windowsill onto the plush carpet, letting herself be surrounded by the three "winds," who were far more skilled in feline matters than she was, having just "landed" in this new dimension.
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