Finding Hartagetu

Kara and Kendra followed their grandfather down a long hallway with odd looking pictures hanging on the walls. They emerged to the warmth of a large fire in a huge river rock hearth. A strange painting hung above the fire on the mantle. Leaning next to the hearth was an unusual looking walking stick with a very large nose, and eyes that seemed to be watching them. Their grandfather sat down, and looking up with a warm smile and outstretched arms said, “Welcome to our home”, as if he had been waiting a lifetime to say it. The fire was inviting on this cold wintry night, but they were not the first ones to be enjoying its’ warmth. There, asleep in front of the fire, lying next to the strange walking stick was the largest cat that either of them had ever seen. It was a caramel color with black markings trailing back from its eyes and nine peculiar lines like claw marks on its right hip. As they approached, the large cat opened his eyes and just stared at them. Not an uncomfortable stare; more like the look an old friend would give after not seeing you for a long time. Kara thought he looked as if he had been waiting for them, but that would be crazy. It was just a cat sleeping in front of a fire. The large cat raised its head and looked up at their grandfather. If Kara and Kendra didn’t know any better, it looked as if he smiled and nodded, which was totally ridiculous. What was even odder is that their grandfather seemed to wink and smile back! The large cat looked over at the girls with a look of satisfaction, then curled up and went back to sleep. Their grandfather looked over at them and said, “Kara, Kendra, I’d like you to meet Farow. He’s very tired, but he told me he thought your names were fitting and it made him feel very proud.” That seemed an odd thing to say and their grandfathers strange behavior disarmed them totally. Not knowing how to answer they just nodded and sat quietly,       staring at the fire with the cat called Farow sleeping in front of it.