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"Moiraine," Siuan called, "Time for chores, pufferfish."
"Coming," Moiraine called back. "Momo wants to come with us, by the way. I tried to put her on your bed but she wouldn't stay."
Siuan laughed, re-entering her- no, their bedroom, before scooping Momo off the bed. "The only sister around in the kitchens right now is Verin," she said. "And we know we can trust her. So we could bring her with us, and just hide her in the pantry or something if someone arrives."
Moiraine smiled, hugging Siuan from behind. "Okay, love," she said. "Should we go? If we take the back stairs to the kitchens, no one will see us."
They slipped out their door, down the stairs and into the kitchens, to find Alanna and Sheriam waiting.
"Light," Sheriam laughed, when she saw the cat in Siuan's arms. "I heard that you guys found a cat friend for Jenny, but I didn't realise you actually did. Aww, look at her, she's adorable! You've really got the best pets."
Siuan passed Momo to Sheriam. "Her name's Momo," Siuan said. "Because Moiraine found her, and Momo is a cute version of her name."
Alanna added, "And because Siuan is absolutely smitten with Moiraine and loves having an excuse to have her in everything."
Siuan chuckled. "That too," she said.
Moiraine lifted Momo out of Sheriam's arms and held her out to Alanna, who shook her head.
"I would," she said, "But then I'd want to keep cuddling her and we'll never get any work done otherwise."
Moiraine laughed. "That's okay," she said. "Siuan, you mind taking her for a minute? I'll grab us some aprons."
Siuan kissed Moiraine's cheek and took the little cat out of her arms. "Of course." She sat herself down on a kitchen stool and set Momo on her lap, stroking her dark fur and smiling as Momo purred contentedly.
Moiraine returned with the aprons, dropping one around Siuan's neck, covering Momo. Momo squeaked and stuck her head out the side of the apron, causing everyone to laugh.
"Sorry, Momo," Moiraine said, donning her own apron and taking the cat from Siuan, before trying to set her on the kitchen counter they were standing near. Momo resisted, instead clinging to Moiraine with her paws and tail.
"She's not staying down," Alanna said. "You'll have to carry her."
Siuan took Momo off Moiraine, positioning the cat on her shoulder. "There we go," she said. "Now we can clean pots and things, and she'll still be on you."
"Thank you," Moiraine said, reaching for a pot. "Come on, let's start scrubbing. If we all do some, it shouldn't take too long."
"Siuan?" Moiraine asked, working at a burnt pan, "Would you mind assisting me here? I don't know what Momo's trying to do, but she's getting in the way of things. If it were any other time it'd be adorable, but not when we're trying to scrub things."
Siuan looked over at Moiraine. The cat was climbing over her shoulder, trying to make her way into Moiraine's apron pocket.
Alanna snickered. "This is so cute," she said. "She's trying to get into your apron pocket. Oh, this is adorable!"
"Like one of those little animals from who knows how many ages ago," Sheriam pointed out. "I've forgotten what they're called, but the babies stay in the mother's pouch until they're big enough to go around on their own."
"Kangaroos!" Alanna almost shouted. "I remember something from last week's lecture. The one about the Land of Madmen!"
Moiraine groaned, trying to not to laugh. "Can someone please help me with this... situation?" She was up to her elbows in soapy water, and Momo had finally succeeded in squeezing herself into Moiraine's apron pocket, her head and front paws sticking out the top.
"No," Siuan grinned, looking like she was about to melt. "Because you look absolutely adorable with a cat in your pocket. And I don't want to get Momo dirty- then we'll have to clean her, and we can't channel to do it in case some Aes Sedai shows up. Oh, all right. Is it fine if I pop her on your shoulder again?"
"Please," Moiraine said. "I don't mind that, as much. At least I don't have some warm, wriggly thing in the front of my apron."
Siuan placed Momo on her shoulder, and the cat soon started occupying herself by playing with Moiraine's hair. Sheriam snickered, pausing in her scrubbing to heap a small pile of soap suds on Momo's head. Half of them missed, ending up in Moiraine's hair, and the two girls laughed, before Alanna proceeded to flick more soap suds at them.
Siuan channeled briefly, sending bubbles flying around the room in a pattern, before dividing the weaves three ways and sending a pile of bubbles towards each of the others.
"Siuan!" Moiraine giggled, before tapping Siuan's nose with a soapy finger, covering it with suds. "There we go. Now we're even."
Siuan leaned in to kiss Moiraine, giggling against her lips. "I love you," she said. "I love how adorable you are."
Alanna swatted Siuan's arm. "We're still here," she said. "Take Moiraine upstairs if you want to keep going."
Moiraine laughed. "Don't worry," she said, drying the pan and grabbing another one. "We can wait. Hang on, there's someone coming in. Quick, one of you put Momo in the pantry or somewhere! Alanna! Help me get her out of my hair or something!"
"A bit late for that," Alanna whispered as the door swung open. "Hello, Merean Sedai. Did you need anything?"
Merean shook her head. "I was just wondering what all the racket was," she said. "But you seem to be doing fine- Moiraine, where'd you get that cat? Novices aren't allowed pets."
Moiraine blinked innocently. "She's not mine, Merean Sedai," she said. "I don't know where she came from." It was just as well that none of them had sworn the Three Oaths yet.
Merean narrowed her eyes. "Then what's she doing in your hair?"
Moiraine shrugged. "Cats like me, I suppose. She came in through that window-" she pointed at an open window- "and we let her keep us company."
"You're sure she's not yours?"
"No, Merean Sedai. I promise, I have no idea where she came from."
Merean sighed. "Alright," she said. "Well, that's enough chores for now. You, Siuan, go with her and put her outside, will you? I'll send in Ellid and Myrelle to finish up. Alanna, Sheriam, you're done here too. Pass me your aprons and I'll bring them to the laundress to wash."
"Yes, Merean Sedai," Moiraine and Siuan said at the same time, looking at each other with mirth in their eyes. "Thank you, Merean Sedai." They walked out the kitchens together and instead of to the Tower grounds, upstairs to their bedroom, where they finally set down Momo, Jenny padding over to her cat friend.
The two girls looked at each other, then after a second, they collapsed into fits of laughter. They'd managed to avoid a close call... again.