Jez dumped Rowena on the bed. "We have got to stop having these little heart-to-hearts," she told the blue-spotted black cat sternly.
"What? I think they're rather enjoyable." Rowena started licking her paws and passing them over her ears.
"Can't you just pretend to be a normal cat?" pleaded Jez. "Just for once?"
Rowena looked affronted. "Oh, first it's 'why didn't you tell me you could talk?' and now it's 'why won't you shut up?' I don't have counterspell, Jezabel."
"It's Jez," she said automatically.
Rowena rolled her eyes. "Whatever." Her cute fluffy face turned serious. "What do you think the boy meant by what he said about someone out to get him?"
Jez sighed. "If you mean Scott, then I have no idea. He sounded pretty freaked, though."
"And worried about his girlfriend," agreed Rowena. "Did you know about that?"
"Truthfully, no." Jez sighed and lay down on the bed, her hands behind her head. Rowena curled up on Jez's tummy, her face turned towards her. "Is everyone in a pair except me?" whispered Jez, extracting one hand from behind her head to stroke Rowena's soft fur.
"I could do a bit of recon for you," offered Rowena. "You know, check up on things, gather information, report back with interesting tidbits."
Jez frowned. "Like spying?"
"No! Just ... observing our surroundings." Rowena batted at Jez's hand playfully. "Come on, Jez, please? Pretty please with mouse guts on top?"
Jez laughed. "Ew! But okay, you can 'gather information' or whatever, if you want."
"Cool!" Rowena stretched, giving Jez what might have been a grin before snuggling down and taking a nap.