Dixie

The latest cat on The Heron is Dixie, she is very energetic and loves a good fight, she has always been this way since she was a kitten. The story of Dixie joining The Heron is one I still don't have all the answers to. My previous cat Daryl had grown too old for adventures and took to living on land, we had many an evening where I would sit on the dock telling stories and he would purr along happily, it was during one of these evenings that my story was interrupted by several dogs barking. I turned and saw three big dogs running around the top of the deck. I first thought they were chasing each other but as I walked closer a small black ball of fluff seemed to be chasing them.

This was Dixie and I used my best captain voice and yelled "stop that, right now" the dogs obeyed, well they were dock dogs they knew an order when they hear it, but Dixie hissed at me. I was amazed, this tiny kitten no bigger than my hand was ready to fight me. I scowled, "those be fighting noises" I growled and I'm sure Dixie gave me a nod "be here tomorrow night and we'll duel" I replied not thinking for a moment that she would return but she did.

Next night I was wearing my full Captain outfit and stood on The Heron, Dixie strided up the dock and regarded me with her cat stare. "I don't want to fight you, I want you to join me crew" she looked at me, then nodded and walked off, I was down hearted, as I had high hopes we would have great adventures together.

You of course will guess that she did return, but it was a long month later before she did, she was a lot bigger and at first I didn't recognise her, but those eyes glared at me and I nodded and she climbed aboard. I often think about that month and where she went, she has never told me what happened, in fact she very rarely speaks at all, at the start she told me her name and since she warns me of danger but that is all. I guess she is saving stories for the dock when she's grown tired of the sea.