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Zara glared at her. Until now she’d been too worried about Pixie to think much about their fight. But it felt like this was all Amina’s fault! If she hadn’t been so horrible at the party… And then tried to grab Pixie… Right now Amina looked as though she really needed a hug – but Zara couldn’t bring herself to make her sister feel better.

[Êàðòèíêà: img_37]

Zara had liked hiding away in small, tight places ever since she’d been very little. Something about them made her feel safe and secure, especially when she was upset. She always slept with toys piled around her too. Mum said it was just one of those things that made herher. She also said it would be good if Zara could tell someone she was going to disappear off somewhere, or perhaps she could leave her foot sticking out, so she didn’t panic everyone.

Zara didn’t think about that when they got back to the house. Mum and Dad went into the kitchen to make some tea, and Amina disappeared upstairs, and Zara just couldn’t bear the thought of going to bed. She knew she’d only lie there worrying about Pixie – and being angry with Amina. She’d be waiting to feel the soft weight of a kitten snuggled against her foot or curled up behind her knees. She needed some time to be on her own.

They hadn’t been living in this house long enough for Zara to find all the best places, but she knew there was a big cupboard in Dad’s office, one that filled in the corner under the stairs. At the moment it had boxes in it – stuff that hadn’t been unpacked yet. Dad said he had a feeling they’d still have boxes by the time Amina and Zara left home. Zara was pretty sure that even with the boxes there was space for her to curl up in there. There were some toys in one of the boxes too, she thought – Amina’s massive cuddly unicorn and her llama. She could use one of them for a pillow.

Zara slipped into the office, noticing vaguely that Dad’s desk was covered in presents everyone had brought. The party seemed such a long time ago now. The cupboard didn’t quite shut properly because of the way the boxes were piled, but there was still room enough for Zara to huddle herself inside. She could hear the murmur of voices from the kitchen next door, Amina talking to Mum and Dad – and then the front door banging. Probably that was Amina going to put out Pixie’s litter tray in the garden. It was a good idea, Zara admitted to herself. She hadn’t remembered the book said that. She supposed Amina did care about Pixie, really. Zara leaned up against one of the boxes and sighed – a sigh that seemed to come all the way from her toes. She was so tired.

Her eyes were just closing when she heard faint footsteps padding across the office– and someone else climbed into the cupboard next to her.

“I thought you’d be here,” Amina whispered.

[Êàðòèíêà: img_38]

Zara gazed at her sleepily.“How did you know? I’ve never been in this cupboard before.”

Amina shrugged.“I just knew. Um… Are you talking to me? I mean – are you still upset?”

Zara sighed. Was she? She didn’t even know any more. Eventually she shook her head – and then realized that Amina could hardly see her. “Only a bit. Not like I was… I’m just worried about Pixie. I still don’t understand how you knew I was here.” She felt Amina shrug.

“I don’t know either. I just did. Dad went out to call for Pixie again and Mum’s looking for a local Facebook group to post about her being lost. I suddenly thought that I hadn’t seen you for a while. And then I remembered this cupboard. Can you shove up a bit? The corner of this box is sticking into me.”

Zara shuffled her bottom further in, and reached inside the box of toys to grab something for Amina to lean against. Then she blinked and moved her fingers again, very slowly.

There was soft fur under her hand– not toy fur, but real.

Kitten fur. Warm, silky,real kitten fur.

“Pixie,” Zara whispered, screwing up her eyes and trying to see in the dim light from the hallway. “Pixie, is that you?”

There was a faint, hesitant purr and Pixie butted her head against Zara’s hand.

“Pixie’s there?” Amina breathed, her voice shaking with relief.

“Yes! Oh, Pixie! You’re here! You never went outside at all. I bet you’ve been in this cupboard the whole time.” Zara half-laughed. There was a strange, wonderful feeling of lightness inside her as all the worry and panic lifted away. She reached out to grab Amina’s hand so she could touch Pixie too. “There – that’s not one of the toys, it’s her!”

[Êàðòèíêà: img_39]

Amina was now laughing with her.“We’ve been looking everywhere for you, Pixie.”

“I suppose we should go and tell Mum and Dad,” Zara said slowly. She didn’t want to, though. She wanted to stay here with a sleepy, purry kitten and just breathe for a while. Her and Pixie and Amina.