Portia recoiled behind the cottage and clapped a hand over her mouth to suppress a giggle. Pepi lept onto the log bench beside her, stared, and meowed.
“Pepi, shh!”
Too late.
“ Found! ” A voice called from behind. Portia started and whirled around. Faust lifted her head from the grass, tongue flickering out to sense the air. Pepi sprung from the bench and sat next to her.
“ Helped! ”
“Is that it now? You two teamed up?”
Faust bobbed her head in affirmation. “ Scritch! ”
Pepi peered up with wide eyes. Portia’s willpower faltered. The pair’s clever schemes didn’t get enough credit.
“Fine.”