Approaching Quebec Castle, Alexander saw some automobiles he did not recognize. The closer he got he then saw people he did not recognize. These were the wedding guests no doubt arriving a few days early. Captain Smith was there welcoming them as was Ms. Lombard, Mr. Cook, Ms. Armstrong, Herman and Verna welcoming them, with even Alan Carter and Ian Smith, Captain Smith's nephew, Hippolyta, Captain Smith's daughter, and Gemma, Mr. Cook's daughter, there as well. Also, present was Alexander's mate Roxana, the wolf dog Cnut, his mate the rough collie Emma and the great horned owls Herod and Cleopatra, both of whom were currently perched on one of Captain Smith's shoulders. Roxana looked less than impressed with the number of strangers and was looking from behind Ms. Lombard with ears flattened and eyes narrowed.
The guests were relatives of Captain Smith, relatives of Ms. Lombard, relatives of Mr. Cook and Gemma, relatives of Ms. Armstrong, relatives of Herman, relatives of Verna and some friends of Captain Smith from Toronto.
There was Captain Smith's brother and Ian's parents Conan and Zenobia Smith and Ian's younger sister by five years Natasha. From where he stood, Alexander could see the five-year-old girl approaching Roxana. She did not growl or hiss, but nonetheless, the Asiatic caracal did not seem to want anything to do with the little girl and even backed away as Natasha got closer to her.
Then there was Ms. Lombard's family consisting of her father Rando, her mother Hermia, her uncle Boniface, her aunt Helena, their son Adalbert, his wife Titania and their one-year-old daughter Emmeline. Curiosity stoked upon seeing a child so young, Alexander approached, stretched up on his hind legs and placed his front paws upon Titania's body as he attempted to sniff the baby.
Alexander's attention was soon taken by a boy of six approaching him. He was Mr. Cook's grandson and Gemma's nephew Theobald. Nearby were his parents Adela, Mr. Cook's elder daughter and Gemma's elder sister, and her husband Stephen. Still with his front legs upon Titania's person, the Northern caracal watched as the Theobald approaching. Eventually he returned to all fours and walked on over and sniffed the boy's hand as soon as it was held out.
Feeling a hand upon his back, Alexander turned his head in the direction of the hand's owner, making a chirping noise as he did. There did he see a man in his early-to-mid fifties with his wife of equal age standing over him. They were Ms. Armstrong's parents Macbeth and Merida.
The approach of a few more people caused Alexander to turn his head to his right. It was the Petit father consisting of Herman's father Lennox, his mother Elinor, uncles Donalbain and Duncan, his aunt and Donalbain's wife Aisling and Donalbain and Aisling's children: three-year-old Clark, two-year-old Apollo and the eight-month-old Orion, who was in his mother's arms.
Feeling a bit crowded, the Northern caracal moved towards three other people: the Gillespie family consisting of Verna's uncle Ross, aunt Fiona and ten-year-old cousin Julius. When no one came close and start to crowd him, Alexander knew that he was safe.
Alas, the crowding soon began again. The Dupont children Mark, Elizabeth, Pierre and Samantha all stepped forward, only for their parents Owen, a friend of Captain Smith, and Emilie to step in.
"Now, now, children!" exclaimed Mr. Dupont. "I think Alexander would like to get used to us without all of the crowding!"
Meowing a reply, Alexander was thankful. The students never crowded him, why then did these children and sometimes their parents wish to crowd him? There were some things about humans he simply could not understand.