Fangs and Fur

Dili Darise

A witch who likes to keep her age and power hidden from the people of the cozy mountain town where she’s made her home. Adept in natural magic and passionate about healthcare, she works for her best friend in a nurse practitioner’s office, providing aid and producing medicine. She is well known in her community for her caring demeanor and reclusive social habits.

Hadrian of Poeninae

A vampire who prefers to wander where he pleases rather than settle down with a harem of his own. Despite his solitary lifestyle, he’s quite sociable and loves to share a pint with eager conversationalists. Driven by the mysteries of the ancient world buried beneath the modern one, and by a grudge he cannot get over, he passes his endless days nursing old wounds and searching for the next big adventure.

Toadstool

A witch’s familiar, who also goes by “Toad” for short. As with all familiars, magic drew him toward Dili as a kitten, then he chose to follow her. At seven years old, he has had plenty of time to learn Dili’s habits, mannerisms, and preferences, but most importantly, her strengths and weaknesses, too. Though overprotective of his witch, he’s quite independent and fond of solo-adventures.

What happens when a kitten dreams of magic?

A romp through spring flowers. Sun-dappled snoozes, puddled between warm bellies and twitching paws. A fluttering leaf, a stray bit of string, and an adventure beyond his mama’s watchful eyes.

These are ordinary kitten dreams. He had those dreams, like all kittens do, but only sometimes, for he was not an ordinary kitten.

It was his ninth life. Most cats don’t know which life they are living, so it was extraordinary that he knew it was his ninth life. Naturally, he also dreamed extraordinary ninth-life dreams.

Castles with battle and birthing tents with cries. Loving vows and wrenching betrayals. Personal disaster and natural catastrophe.

But most extraordinary of all was magic. Even dreaming, he did not know what magic smelled, tasted, sounded, felt, or looked like, but he knew it was just as extraordinary as he was.

Unfortunately, felines did not need magic. Cats were perfect already and had no need for it.

Two-legs used magic. Those strange creatures who were both stinky or scented, quiet or loud, kindly or unkindly. Those pitiful creatures who drove scary rumblers on the roads and left trash everywhere they went. They were the ones who had magic.

But he wanted magic anyway. Badly. So badly that he burned for it.

A witch who just wants to run her business.

A vampire with a secret that leads right to her door.

And a cat who has his own agenda.

This story originally debuted as a weekly read along on the website. It is going through extensive professional editing in preparation for official release in 2027.