Just a little closer, now, and she’d reach her objective. She froze as a pair of narrowed brown eyes swung her way, trying to appear nonchalant. She raised one dainty paw and began washing it for good measure. Out of the corner of her eye, she saw her second in command begin his own approach to the target. An ear flick, and the other female member of their squad flowed like a silent ghost between the couch and the coffee table, halting to lay in readiness at the far corner.

The narrowed brown eyes swung away. The primary target relaxed. Once more, the hypnotic movement of enticing yarn and needles flashed.

No! She had to focus on the mission! It was vital to the survival of all involved! If she failed, they would all suffer!

Calming the racing of her heartbeat, she flicked her tail. Her second halted where he was and stretched out. Slowly, ever so slowly, he scooted forward over the rough terrain of the carpet until his head was nearly touching the primary target’s foot.

Another ear flick. The fourth member of their party melted out from under the table to the containment unit that held their allies. Hiding her actions behind the casual rubbing of her face and body against the side, she deftly used her hind paw to loosen the release catch of the containment door. A soft chuffing whirr signaled the beginning of phase two of their operation.

She stood up and executed a perfectly sinuous stretch and yawned. The operative at the foot of the coffee table moved with perfectly matching grace, slipping up to rest on top of the secondary target.

Secondary target grunted softly and shifted. All halted once more. The operative covering him recovered swiftly, going into “cute” mode. Her tail thumped against the couch, her eyes went round a limpid and she rolled over, displaying her lovely belly. As anticipated, target two was quickly nuetralized by the “Awww” factor. He indulgently scratched her belly and then once more relaxed back into complacent acceptance of his environment. The operative winked at her commander. Secondary target taken out. No resistance. No casualties.

She casually turned her head to the right. Their allies were out of containment! Finally!

Operative number four masked thier flight under the table by suddenly leaping forward, landing right in the middle of the main room’s floor, her tail fluffed twice its size, her ears and eyes wild. The primary target focused on her, pausing in her activity.

She moved then. Leaping over her second in command’s back, then up and onto the primary target. Startled, the primary target dropped the yarn and reflexively caught her. She clawed her way up to her familar nesting spot, ignoring the yips of pain. She gave the signal then. A short yipping yowl.

Bear leapt into action. Landing in the primary target’s lap. Nia rolled over and splayed herself over the secondary target’s chest as he huffed in surprise. Silky whirled and seemed to literally fly through the air to land on the couch above his head, placing her paws around his neck. Koko zipped out of his hiding place to scramble up to cover the left side of the primary target’s neck. Draco, older and slower, yet the most formidable, stood up to his full height at the hand of the secondary target and gently yet firmly grasped the flesh in his teeth.

A shocked sort of silence reigned for one heartbeat. Then the primary target growled.

She turned her head and gently, yet with firm force, closed her needle sharp teeth over the flesh of the primary target’s jaw. Bear squirmed around, effectively pinning her arms against her chest. They knew she could use deadly force against them, but also knew she never would. Not in a million years.

“I’m not amused!” The priimary target growled again.

*Surrender!* She sent as forcefully as she could. *We have you outnumbered!*

Silence again. One heartbeats. Two.

“What’s this about, Precious?” A weary sigh.

*You’ve forced our paws. You’ve been seriously draining your reserves. If you continue, we’ll all suffer for it.*

“Precious.”

*The shields, Bonded! Your blood!*

“Was mine to give.”

*We’re your familars for a reason, Witch!*

“I could not ask that of you.”

*It wasn’t your decision to make!*

“Kat, what the hell is going on?!” Devin grumped, holding up a pissed off, chittering ferret as Nia tried to keep him prone and Silky nipped at his hair. “What the hell is wrong with them? How’d the ferrets get out?”

“They’re a bit perturbed with me for being considerate of them.”

“What?!”

“Remember the full-moon ritual I did last week?”

“Yeah. You sealed the house. So?”

“I hurt their feelings because I didn’t use them in it.”

Devin stared at her as if she’d lost her mind. Then he snorted and flopped back against the couch arm, cradling Draco against his chest.

“I told you so.” He snorted again.

“Shut up.” Kat replied in a mild tone of voice and freed one hand to gently pry Precious off of her jaw. She looked the enraged Felifox in the eye. “That level of magic would have hurt you, Precious. And them. Do you think I’d deliberately endanger you, any of you?”

*Not your decision!* Precious hissed and sank her claws into skin. Bear whined anxiously, eyeing his commander dubiously.

Kat gathered the small Felifox close and tucked her under her chin along with Koko while she scratched Bear’s ears.

“You are my children as well as my familars.” She said gently. “I love you. I’m not like most witches or mages. I’ll not willingly ask you for sacrifice. That is my decision. As your mother. As a witch, it is not. But, please don’t ask me to choose.”

*You can die!*

“Yes. I could. And you, my tiny little one, are not going to let me, are you?”

*No. Not your decision to leave me alone!*

Kat smiled wearily and gave Bear a shove. He landed on the floor with a good natured grunt. She stood and crossed over to the couch.

“Budge up, Devin.” She sighed.

“What now?” He grumped.

“The children are feeling a bit insecure and unloved.”

“Why me?”

“‘Cause you’re special?”

“No I’m not. I’m cursed. That’s what it is. Cursed, I tell you.”

But he made room for her. She curled in behind him. Somehow, all of the familars found places to cuddle in as well. Precious and Koko stayed curled up in Kat’s hair. Draco nestled inside Devin’s shirt. Silky stayed curled up at his head. Nia curled up on his legs and Bear on Kat’s.

Angel walked out of her room, yawning as she headed for the coffee pot. She stopped dead in her tracks at the sight that greeted her in the early morning light. Then she grinned. Tiptoeing to the bookshelf, she carefully lifted up the camera and primed the flash. Holding her breath, she carefully captured them all in the sights and clicked the button.

Pandemonium erupted at the brilliant flash of light. She was already in her room, the door firmly shut and locked as the thuds, barks, yowls, yelps and curses broke the tranquility of the morning.

She grinned down at the preview pane of the digital camera. It would be worth it.

6. Non-Negotiable