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Chapter Text

As the storm raged over the charmed ship, Plutonia, the captain, a young man named Imaginos, was giving orders to his crew when a large wave washed him overboard, sending the young shapeshifter into the roiling water below and causing him to hit his head on the railing as he tumbled into the depths. As he lost consciousness, his innate abilities took hold and he transformed into a small silver kitten that was less than two weeks old.

Tossed and tumbled in the waves, the kitten drifted further and further from the Plutonia as the storm raged on, unseen by his crew who were searching frantically for their captain.

When at last the storm subsided, a fishing boat cast its nets into the water, trawling for tuna. Bringing in the nets, the crew were amazed to find that they had not only pulled up a fine catch of tuna, but also an unconscious and sopping wet kitten that was barely alive.

Wrapping the poor creature in his coat, the captain, a wizened man in his sixties, brought him to the ship’s doctor.

“Miles,” he said, “I have a patient for you.”

Dr. Miles Jameson looked up from his paperwork and his eyes filled with pity and concern for the tiny bundle in the captain’s arms.

“Looks like he was born less than two weeks ago,” he said, after examining Imaginos. “We need to cut the trip short and find him either some formula or a nursing cat if he’s going to survive.”

“I’ll tell the crew,” the captain agreed. “Meanwhile, we’ll keep the kitten as warm as possible.”

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“Attention!” the fishing captain called out to the crew. “As you may be aware, we recently took on a new passenger. He is in dire need and so we are cutting this trip short for the sake of his health.”

A mixed reaction came from the crew.

“Now, now, we’ll have no moaning,” the captain told them. “This is a fishing boat. This isn’t a kindergarten. I know many of you are disappointed that we can’t get our regular catch this time. But we have a fragile life in our hands and I believe that that is far more important.”

“Aye!” One of the crew agreed, rallying others to him. “Human life is far more important than some fish.”

“But it’s not human! It’s a kitten!” another pointed out.

“All the more reason to get it back to shore,” a third argued. “A kitten that small and fragile cannot fend for itself.”

“Exactly,” the captain said. “We will be back ashore in a few hours. Hopefully our furry friend will survive that long.”

*****

The rain finally stopped as the ship reached the dock and the captain handed the kitten to the boatswain. “Bring our friend to the nearest vet,” he said.

The boatswain gave a nod as he accepted the frail little bundle. With a sense of urgency, he hailed a taxi and gave the driver instructions to drive to the nearest veterinarian.

Although loose animals were technically not allowed in cabs, unless it was a service animal, the driver was a softy and saw that this was a tiny sick kitten who needed help. So, taking pity on the boatswain, he drove to the nearest vet as requested and wished the boatswain luck on the kitten’s recovery.

*****

Examining the kitten the veterinarian frowned.

“Where did you find her?” he asked.

“Out at sea,” the boatswain explained. “She came aboard with our catch.”

“She’s lucky to be alive,” the vet said, a dark look in his eyes. “Although I would like to curse the bastard who probably threw her overboard.”

Although too weak to open her eyes, the kitten Imaginos could hear the voices of the boatswain and the veterinarian. Something they kept saying troubled the mariner-turned-kitten. Her? Why was that so troubling? Indeed, why did she care about anything they were saying? She just wanted to be fed and warmed up and taken care of. Right now, those things were all that mattered.

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Making sure of those same things was also, coincidentally, foremost on the boatswain’s mind as well. And as much as it pained him to think so, he knew that a ship at sea was no place for a kitten. Especially one who was probably traumatised by having been thrown in to drown. He thought about what to do and in the end, he decided to look for a family with a nursing cat who could become a foster mother to the young kitten.

Looking up from the kitten, he asked the vet, “Do you know of any cats who have just had kittens?”

The vet appeared thoughtful. “As a matter of fact, I do,” he replied. “There’s a barn cat just five miles up the road at the Millers’. The cat’s name is Tabitha. She just had a single kitten who passed away due to complications just a couple of days ago.”

“Would the barn be warm enough?” the boatswain asked, concernedly.

“Surprisingly, yes,” the vet assured him. “Animals instinctively know how to keep warm. Your kitten will be just fine.” he wrote down an address on a scrap of paper and handed it to the boatswain. “Bring the kitten there. I’ll call them and let them know you’re on your way.”

As she listened to all of this, the kitten let out a small mew as if to say that she didn’t like it. That she didn’t want to be separated from the boatswain or the salty smell of his coat. But they couldn’t understand her, and the boatswain was convinced he was doing what was best for her.

*****

Old Lady Miller watched for the cab as she petted Tabitha. “You’re going to have a new kitten, girl.” she told the cat, a young tortie who looked up at her with sad eyes. “I know you miss your baby. I’m sorry he didn’t make it. But this will be a new beginning for us both. Now, what shall we name her, do you think?”

Tabitha meowed and as the cab pulled up and the boatswain stepped out and paid the fare, a name drifted into the old lady’s mind as if upon the wind itself.

Imaginos.

“That’s a boy’s name, silly wind,” Old Lady Miller chastised. “I know! I’ll call her Maggie.”

She stood up as Tabitha leapt down from her lap and they walked up to the boatswain together.

“Good afternoon,” she said. “This is Tabitha,” she added, indicating the cat. “And this must be… oh, she is so beautiful and precious! The winds named her Imaginos, but I am thinking of just calling her Maggie. Feels more female.”

“Imaginos,” the boatswain mused. “A captain of a local ship had that name. He went missing just recently. But I agree. Maggie would be a much better name for this little darling.”

He lowered Maggie to Tabitha and let the cat sniff her new charge. For a moment, Tabitha seemed uncertain, then she gave Maggie a tentative lick and meowed longingly.

“Let’s bring her into the barn,” Old Lady Miller said. “I’ll show you where Tabitha’s bed is. I’m sure the poor dear must be hungry by now.”

The boatswain followed her to the barn and saw a bed of straw which Tabitha curled up on. Feeling uncertain, but urged on by the old lady, he placed Maggie beside Tabitha and watched in satisfaction as the kitten latched on and began to nurse.

“She’ll be fine,” Old Lady Miller assured him. “If you like, I’ll send you regular updates. Do you wish to have me return you to her when she’s out of danger, or shall I keep her?”

“I think you should keep her,” the boatswain decided. “I suspect Tabitha might grow attached to her and I’d hate to break her heart.”

Old Lady Miller smiled. “I think she’s already grown attached,” she said, looking down at Tabitha, who was grooming the suckling kitten.