Sing, O Muse,
of the last and the greatest
of the slayers of Giants,
and the course of her quest
through the quiet land’s coasts,
fell fleetly followed
by five fast-held friends,
for finding her fortune
that tales might be told
of her deeds of renown.
Rosy-Fingered Dawn,
Bright Daughter of Morning,
her glory did spread
along the horizon
as swift, silent Lalli,
the wily young cat-scout,
returned from his wand’rings.
Moon-kissed they were,
and wide were their ranging,
for warding the camp.
There awaiting him,
the protocol wardens,
with bath and with hose,
were strong, silent Mikkel,
the medic so massive,
and gold, sparkly Emil,
the fiery young Cleanser,
a Swedish soulmate,
to purify Lalli,
ere seeing his captain.
Decontamination past,
swift, silent Lalli,
the wily young cat-scout,
went into the cockpit,
that he might report,
to small, lively Tuuri,
the master mechanic,
the polyglot Finn,
on map and by word-hoard,
just what lay ahead.
It is DECIDED!
This word from their Captain,
that their course of action,
was fixed and unyielding,
emboldened them all,
from red-braided Reynir,
the budding young mageling,
to even their cat,
a feisty young feline,
of calico coat.
“Wait… Are you trying to say that our ancestor was among the Great Sigrun’s crew on the Silent World Expedition?” Three sets of young eyes poured scorn on their obviously duplicitous elder.
“I have told you this before, when you were almost too young to know anything at all. Do you not remember? And certainly I have told of how, ages ago, I myself had the privilege of sitting in the laps of all six of the members of that expedition.”
The scorn redoubled. “You and everyone else’s mother!” one of the youths guffawed. The others giggled at this sally.
“I don’t know about ‘everyone else’s mother’, but I, like my mother before me, was cooed at and made much of by the expedition crew when I was barely old enough to walk.” The elder drew herself up proudly. “But if you must have more proof than the word of your elder, go over to the mantelpiece and look at the pictures resting upon it.” She closed her eyes, the picture of blithe unconcern as the youths hurried off.
When they slunk back, the youths were obviously torn between humiliation at having been so wrong and awe at their elder’s proximity to the Great Sigrun. A strained silence clawed at the youths until one of them finally burst out, “What was she like?”
Before the elder could answer, a barrage of other questions poured forth from the youths, as though the first had been but the initial leak signifying a dam’s collapse. At last, the elder had to call the youths to order or be swept under herself. She then held forth for quite some time about what her mother and grandmother had told her about the few reunions the crew had managed over the years, and about each member of the crew individually.
“Remember, youths,” she concluded, lashing her tail stridently, “that you are of the line of the Incomparable Kisu, the Cat Beyond Grade A who braved the Silent World by the Great Sigrun’s side!”
