The Collar of the Two Skies Chapter 12

 Chapter 12

On the morning of June 28th, since it was Sunday, Anemo figured that seven o'clock wasn't too early to call his dad. His heart was pounding in his throat, but he dragged his stationary bike out into the back garden, popped his headphones in, and after a couple of pedals, made the call.

The fur balls watched the whole thing, lined up perfectly on the garden swing as if someone had ordered them to behave.

"He's finally calling him!" Mistral muttered, knowing Anemo was too far from the collar to understand them.

"Quiet, Mistral, don't start with your usual commentary," Aeolus scolded him. "The professor will probably come over, and then we'll see just how smart and clever you really are once we have an open connection with him!"

"Shh, boys! Let me focus on Anemo!" Remi snapped. "If I stay a cat forever because of you two..."

"But being a cat is awesome, Miss Remi! I mean... Bise. Look at me! I'm learning new things every single day, and I'm having a blast! Plus, I have friends..."

"Shh! Listen!"

It looked like the person on the other end had finally picked up because Anemo started talking a mile a minute, pedaling faster and faster.

"Hello? Dad, you won't believe this, my cats are talking... I mean... ugh, that's not the important part. Remi hasn't disappeared, she's at my house, but she turned into a cat! The necklace, Dad... I mean, that collar from your backpack isn't a replica... What? What do you mean you can't? In London? Right now?"

Anemo stopped pedaling completely and let his arms drop heavily by his sides for a few seconds.

"Fine. See you in a week, then. We'll survive somehow..."

"What did that mean? The professor isn't coming?" Bise whispered, mostly to herself.

Anemo climbed off the bike, left his headphones and phone on the garden table, and sat down right between the fur balls, placing his right hand on the white cat’s neck.

"Dad is in London for some history stuff about Egypt and some eighth dynasty. You guys do whatever you want, but I'm going to sleep for a week! I'm not here for anyone! Got it?"

Remi looked up, her blue eyes staring at him judgmentally, looking exactly the way she used to when she was human and Anemo said something silly.

"Excuse me? Is the 'God of Poetry' actually overwhelmed by this situation?"

Before Anemo could even think of a comeback, his jaw dropped. Aura Gale had just walked out of the house holding a container, talking at her usual lightning-fast speed.

"Good morning, my dear! Last night I made this wonderful cake, it's called 'smart cake,' and I just had to bring you some. I completely forgot your father is away for a week, and now I'm stuck with this huge tray of smart cake... my figure only allows me one slice, the rest is for sharing with loved ones!"

"M-Mom, how come you're here so early?"

"I just popped in, son, I can't stay. I'm heading to church... I'm meeting Anna and Daisy, and we're going together. It wouldn't hurt you to show your face there either, you know."

"I know, Mom, you're right, it's just that today..."

Fleur’s voice, who was always perched on the fence, echoed from number 47.

"Good morning, everyone! Who's coming to church?"

"At this hour? This early?" Anemo replied, getting more and more confused.

"Dad and I are walking to get our steps in, and Mom is coming too... what else can she do?"

"Yeah, looks like everyone is active today except me. I can't make it today, I need to sleep for a week."

*

After his mom, the girl with the topknot, and probably the entire neighborhood left on foot for church, Anemo expected to finally get some peace and quiet. Instead, a massive ruckus broke out in Noel’s yard. The pigeons and Skye the dog had some serious issues to clear up.

"What's going on? Do you guys know what they're arguing about?" Anemo asked the fur balls.

"Maybe the kid knows, I don't waste my time on trivial things. Speaking of clocks, my stomach is running like one... it says it's breakfast time!" the "noble" Mistral replied, leaping towards the kitchen door. But Sirocco wasn't as stingy with his words and happily offered to explain.

"Skye is super mad at Gogo because he insulted her a while ago. He swore at her and said some really mean things. The other pigeons are mad at Gogo too because he's embarrassing their whole species."

From Noel’s yard, the little dog’s voice sounded like a grumpy child.

"You drunkard! You should watch what comes out of that filthy mouth of yours!"

"I'll go find out exactly what's happening," Mistral offered, figuring that cooperating would get him to breakfast faster. So, he rerouted his path and hopped onto the fence facing Noel’s yard to gather all the gossip accurately.

About ten minutes later, he came back with the report.

"So, we actually witnessed their fight last time, and it turns out Gogo ate some sour cherries soaked in alcohol."

"No way!" Anemo chuckled, trying hard not to burst out laughing.

"Skye told me too," Sirocco chimed in, wanting to prove he was just as well-informed as Mistral. "M-Mrs. Mary was cleaning out the demijohns from the homemade cherry liqueur and accidentally dropped a few cherries in the yard. Gogo rushed over like a glutton and got totally drunk. Skye tried to warn him back then, but he was acting all high and mighty and told her... well, you know, to kiss his you-know-what."

"Oh, so now this Gogo of yours has become a pariah. Let's go eat, mes amis!"

But Sirocco didn't quite catch what the black cat meant and looked at Aeolus for help.

"A pariah? You mean the pigeons made a bet on Gogo?"

"No, kid! Being a pariah means being rejected by society, just like Gogo is being rejected by the other pigeons. If he had apologized, Skye probably would have forgiven him, but he's stubborn and has this foolish, pointless pride."

"I'm learning new things every single day!" Sirocco added, zooming straight toward the kibble bowl.