"I knew this would happen! Why didn't you listen to me?" the bird complained, flying out of his pocket.
Aidan' eyes moved quickly around the enclosure. His head frantically moved in all directions. "Chirp, please help me. Can you ask the animals where the cat is?"
The bird raised his beak. "Oh now you let me talk," he pouted.
"Chirp, please!" he added stressed.
That is all he had to say. The tiny bird quickly landed in front of the chickens and inquired about the felines. One of them let out a high-pitched cluck.
"I knew it," Chirp said, turning to the prince. "The cat can turn into other animals. There he is among the pigs."
The prince nodded and hurried in that direction. One of the boars raises his head from the mud. From a far, his appearance was indistinguishable from the rest of the swines. Only a scar over his eyes gave him away. The young man ran, hoping to catch it by surprise.
Still, the tom cat spotted him. Surprised to see the stranger figured him out, he quickly disappeared behind a bale of hay.
The geese began to quack in fright. One goose among them was not theirs.
"There he is!" the bird chirped, flapping his wings excited. The panting man leaped towards him, but the goose managed to escape by the skim of her feathery tail.
The chase continued. Over and over again, whatever shape the cat turned into, the animals would expose the tom cat. Chirp would immediately convey their message to his friend. "There he is! There he is! He turned into a roost-" he uttered before the disguised creature flew over. He tried to peck his tail but the bird quickly took notice. Chirp flew higher, visibly shaken.
"Are you alright?" the prince asked as he tried to jump the attacking rooster.
"No," he replied. "There he is, among the sheep," the tiny bird shrieked spiteful.
Aidan then jumped on him. Sadly, no matter how quick, the cat was quicker. Still, he had managed to prevented him from grabbing any of the birds. And that was all that was required. The chase continued for what seemed ages.
The old woman came out of the house and watched all of this, a little baffled.
"I thought you told me it is a regular house cat," Aidan yelled chasing after the shape-shifting feline.
"He is," the woman said calmly, sitting down onto her rocking chair and taking her knitting kit.
"Then what is this?" he said pointing to the lamb changing into a chicken.
The bat queen glanced at her cat and returned to her knitting. "Don't other cats do that?" she said.
While that was happening, a large white paw was stepping on the wet floor. Zora was followed by her three wolf friends along with her human one. They had their noses in the air, sniffing cautiously while princess Anna was riding on her back.
"How long is this going to take?" Anna muttered, sitting feeble over her.
"I can smell farm animals. Just wait a little longer," she replied.
Anna pressed her lips suspicious. She could not see anything. Lacking the wolf's superior sense of smell, she could do nothing but trust her companions. The path they were on was so narrow, she could touch both walls when extending her arms.
Zora walked tense. Worried about her husband and keeping the clingy wolves at bay, she took every step hoping for a miracle. To her great amazement, the path became brighter.
The prince panted, exhausted by the chase. The old woman sat, focused on her needle work.
"How long till sunset?" the prince uttered, resting only for a moment before the feline pounced again.
The bat queen glanced at the candles. "Eventually."
"Eventually?" he yelled desperate. "How much time is eventually?"
"Now young man, be patient."
"Patient? I have been running for a very long time. Surely, the sun had set by now!"
"Just a little longer. Two, three, four hours... Keep it up. You are doing a wonderful job," she added with a friendly smile.
Four wolves watched from the entrance. Zora gasped, seeing Aidan.
The hungry wild animals watched the livestock salivating. "Oh, I can't take it any longer," the second one said, leaping. His brothers followed.
Zora growled. "We eat when I say we eat. Understand!"
Aidan turned and exhaled relieved. "Zora, help me! Quick get that goose," he said pointing to a bird running faster than it should. With her incredible speed, she ran down the path and grabbed it. The tom cat wailed, trapped in her teeth.
The old woman stood stunned. Her eyes widened in horror and disbelief.
Prince Aidan turned to her smug. "I doubt he will be causing any more trouble today."
"That wasn't the agreement. Let him go!" the bat queen yelled with a high-pitched demonic voice.
"Not even once did we agree that there should be no outside help. Just that all the poultry is safe," he stated.
Baticia glanced at the hungry wolves sneering at her. She pressed her lips furious.
"Now, tell me how to defeat the dragon and your cat will be spared," he added stern.
The short old woman extended her arms growing three times the size. Her skin became dark and hairy. Her fingers grew long and bat wings formed. Very soon, a hideous bat creature flew over them. Zora looked at the three wolves who barked, ready to fight.
The prince took a deep breath and addressed the flying creature gallantly. "Now, now, dear host. There is no need for such hostilities. I do not wish to fight you. Simply tell me what I want to hear and I will be on my way."
"Let him go first," the large bat screeched.
Aidan and Zora looked at each other. "Do not worry about him. My companion will happily hold on to him for as long as necessary. That way, your poultry will be safe, as per our deal," he said in a smooth tone of voice.
"You let go of him. Now!" she bellowed letting out a large painful shriek, making them run for cover. Zora closed her eyes, clenching her jaw in fear. The cat meowed in pain.
"Oh!" the large bat squeaked. "I am so sorry, my darling."
The prince, who was hidden behind a small stone wall, popped his head out. "Some master you are. Treating your beloved animals like this."
The bat calmed down, faking a smile.
"Now, let's talk before you hurt him even more," the prince said, confidently standing up.
Riddled with guilt, the bat transformed into a woman again. "Alright, a deal is a deal," she said staring at him resentful.
"Go back to the crossroads and enter the tunnel that goes to the right. There you will come across an invisible knot in the ceiling. Cut it and you'll get rid of the dragon."
"Is that all?" he said, slightly stunned.
"Yes," the creature added serious. "I would not lie about something like this."
"Is it far away?"
"No, not really," Baticia uttered.
Aidan thanked her with a deep bow. "Thank you. That is all I needed to know."
Zora looked at him with the furry feline still in her mouth.
"Excellent, I will return quickly. In the meantime, I leave my companions in charge of your birds."
The wolf princesses turned to him in shock.
He winked back. "Be careful. That cat is tricky. Make sure that he does not escape. I'll be back before you know it."
Not able to speak because of the frisky fur ball, she nodded slightly crossed. The old woman collapsed into her rocking chair, weak and distressed. As the two stared each other down, the prince's footsteps quickly echoed down the wet floors again.
His faithful bird followed.
"I have to ask you something," Chirp said.
"Ask away," he replied.
"How do we know where the knot is? The old bat said it was invisible," the little bird chirped.
As the prince ran, almost in complete darkness, he smashed his head, letting out a painful moan.
"What is it?" said the bird startled.
"I think I hit something," the prince replied, rubbing his hurt forehead. He stretched his arm out and touched something that felt like rope. "I think we've arrived," he said, ecstatic. He drew his sword and stopped.
Chirp flapped his wings, anticipating a strike. "Well, what are you waiting for?"
"I do not know. Every time I've pulled out a sword so far, I've never been able to use it," Aidan replied. There was a short pause. Only the sounds of the cave could be heard.
"Looks like nothing's going to stop you this time. Chirp!"
"You are right," the prince said. Then he swung and cut the knot in half. Instead of falling, the knot flew up through the hole holding it. The opening was wide and purposely drilled, going through the cave all the way to the surface. When the rope was completely pulled up, Aidan looked through the large hole. What he saw made him roar with laughter.
The tiny bird flinched. "What are you laughing at, you lunatic?"