Up the stairs and back into Jon's room. Leopard led the way, followed closely by his orange and black siblings. The room was a whirl of white, orange, and black as Leopard introduced DeForest and William to his territory.
There was the chair with the soft cushions, perfect for a good stretch and claw sharpening, though Jon did not seem to appreciate that last bit. There was the desk, cluttered with human stuff and, of course, there was the bed - a cat's paradise, soft and warm and covered with a quilt that could be kneaded for hours.
Oh, the joy of reunion! The three cats chased each other around the room, up and down the bed, across the desk scattering pens and papers, into the closet, out of the closet, onto the chair, off the chair. It was a glorious pandemonium that only cats can truly appreciate.
After much chasing and pouncing and mock-battling, the three balls of fur, exhausted and panting, found themselves on the bed. Leopard, DeForest, and William lay sprawled, their bodies forming a furry, purring triangle.
It was then that Leopard remembered. The warm stone! There it was, just where he'd left it. Curiosity piqued, he disentangled himself from his brothers and poked at the stone with a paw. It was still warm, though not as warm as it had been.
"Mew?"
Leopard looked at his brothers. Could it be? Could this stone have something to do with their unexpected reunion? The mere thought of it was thrilling, sending a ripple of excitement through his fur.
He gave the stone another poke, then gently butted it with his head. DeForest and William looked on with interest, their eyes wide and alert.
It was a mystery, an enigma, a conundrum. It was intriguing, it was exciting... it was a warm stone, and that was good enough for Leopard. With a happy purr, he curled up around the stone, tucking it under his chin just as he had before. His brothers joined him, DeForest snuggling against his side and William curling up at his tail, forming a circle of warmth and companionship.
As he closed his eyes, Leopard couldn't help but feel a contentment he hadn't felt in a long time. If the warm stone had somehow granted his wish, then he was eternally grateful. If it hadn't, well, it was still a good, warm stone, and he had his brothers with him. And for Leopard Nimoy, that was more than enough.
