The next day, when Sif made to return, he was surprised to see many more priests than usual outside the building. They were all acting as though looking for something.

Upon seeing him, even the annoying man only turned his head a brief second.

" Oh, hello, cat," he said. Seeing that Sif had yet to move, and was watching him distrustfully from a distance, he continued. " You haven't seen any wicked beasties around, have you? The lord of storms-"

An older man approached him, then, and spoke. It was the lecturer.

" That's your cat?" he questioned.

" Well, sir, I've tried to make it so," the young man said.

" And you see it outside every day?" the lecturer questioned again.

" Yes," the young man said. " Why?"

" And where does it come from, when you see it?" The lecturer now had an indignant tone of voice.

" From back around the... Oh," the young man's voice trailed off as he seemed to realize something.

Sif realized it, too, and he got up, quickly trotting away.


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