Let Sleeping Cats Lie

IV. Luce inched forward carefully. They had never seen the memora sleep before. They were so cute: round and squishy like a potato. Luce desperately wanted to pet it, but they dared not disturb the beast. Instead, they leaned closer, eyes inches away from the sleeping memora. After staring (semi-creepily) for a few seconds, Luce backed up as softly as they could. They really needed the satchel the memora was resting on, but they couldn’t just move it! Hastily, they looked around for an alternative soft-thing. Luce’s eyes fell upon a sweater tossed casually over a chair. Perfect!

They grabbed the sweater, creeping closer to the memora again. They reached slowly toward the satchel, grabbing it between a single finger and thumb. The memora stirred slightly, twitching one stinger. Luce froze, holding their breath as the memora gently settled again. Once they were sure the memora wasn’t aware of them, they began to slide the satchel slowly—ever so slowly—out from under the memora. Then, quickly as they could, Luce placed the sweater behind it. The memora stretched and Luce’s breath caught in their throat. Their hand was an inch from a stinger, but the stinger didn’t move. Instead, the memora rolled over in a way reminiscent of a rotisserie chicken, and Luce let out the breath they were holding. The sweater was in place, and the satchel was almost free now! Luce gave one last tug at the straps of the satchel, and they popped free! Luce nodded, pleased with their work as they surveyed the still-sleeping memora. Perfect!