Taking a moment to rest on their walk, the three cousins were now beneath a great oak that had first sprouted the very day that Quebec Castle had finished construction. Alexander lay next to Alan, cleaning himself, while Ian rested his head on Cnut's body, laying there with his tongue hanging out. Hippolyta was collecting pinecones, something that initially puzzled Alexander, yet he soon returned to his grooming.
"Hey, Alan?" asked Ian.
"Yes, Ian?" asked Alan.
"You like Gemma, right?"
"I daresay I have liked her for many years, and it might be more than that." Alan replied, taking a moment to pet Alexander, who merely continued with his grooming. "Why do you ask?"
"I feel the same about…" Ian looked to Hippolyta, still picking pinecones yet not so far away she would not hear. Hippolyta was the most loose-lipped member of their family and so naturally, no secret could be shared when she was around. Ian then whispered: "Beatrice."
"Uh, how about we talk closer to the river?" Alan inquired as he stood up, something that caused Alexander to stand as well and look up at his master's elder nephew. Alan looked down at him and asked: "Are you coming with us?" Alexander meowed a response and proceeded to rub against Alan's legs. "I guess you are." Alan and Ian walked down to the river, Alexander following. Once there, Alan inquired: "How long have you known you felt this way about Beatrice?"
"I don't know, how long have you known how you feel about Gemma?"
Alan was about to answer when a scream from Hippolyta caused boys to turn, yet it was Alexander who turned faster. His eyes wide and his ears fully erect, he saw Hippolyta being chased away from the oak by an absolute monster of an avian. She was being chased by a Canada goose.
"Good lord, not Lucifer!" exclaimed Alan.
Cnut rose to his feet and growled at the goose, who quickly turned to face the wolfdog, hissing at him. Cnut took a small step back and then Lucifer turned his sight on Alexander.
Alexander stared at the waterfowl. Yes, he knew that this was a waterfowl before him and not a gamebird, thus something that he could not hunt. Still, the aggression of the bird caused him crouch, as if reading himself to pounce.
Lucifer could only stare in puzzlement. What was this? This was not Roxana whom he had tormented every chance he got as well as everyone else who dwelt on the estate. This cat was a male and not rescued as Roxana had been. He had not arrived derma and cartilage with no light in his eyes and a difficulty expiring properly. Who was this?
"Alexander, uh… kill!" Ian exclaimed, pointing at Lucifer with hope that Alexander would obey him.
Alan merely rolled his eyes. He had talked with his uncle last night, he knew the order and so he uttered: "Alexander, slay!"
Like a ball from a cannon, Alexander ran forward and for the first time, Lucifer knew fear. He who had caused a Yumi-armed Captain Smith to turn the other way just by looking at him, was now turning to flee as even Cnut joined the chase. Northern caracal and wolfdog together chased a honking demon from the scene until Lucifer flew away, honking what could have been interpreted as a vow of revenge, at least that was how Ian and Hippolyta interpreted it. Alexander and Cnut did not rightly care, and Alan interpreted the honks as screams of terror.