The door creaked as Galleytrot and I fell silent, Sassafras letting himself into the gloom our conversation created. His silver fur immediately stood on end, tail thrashing as he looked back and forth between us.

We quickly filled him in on the details while he curled up on the end of the bed to listen.

"You have to tell your mother," he said the moment I was done. "She needs to be brought up to speed on this."

I knew he was right and instantly felt better. Of ...