The Peculiar Powers of Smudge, the Guardian Cat of Luna Dream Catcher
By Will Hiatt, Copyright 11/2024
Heidi Williams and her sister Holly Blachowski were two of Point Place’s most eccentric residents. They owned and ran Luna Dream Catcher, a quirky, mystical shop that was sandwiched between a barber shop and a bakery on Summit Street. The sisters had transformed the space into a haven of magical treasures: shelves lined with shimmering crystals, bundles of sage and incense sticks, dream catchers twinkling with beads and feathers, and jars of polished stones that claimed to ward off anything from bad vibes to bad hair days. Locals swore by Luna Dream Catcher, believing that a stop in the shop brought good fortune—or at the very least, a little peace of mind.
And then there was Smudge, the shop’s plump and slightly grouchy tuxedo cat. Smudge had been “hired” as Luna Dream Catcher’s mascot and full-time snoozer, usually found napping on top of a shelf of amethysts or lounging in the sunny front window. Heidi and Holly adored him, but at closing time, Smudge had a habit of playing hide-and-seek, slipping into the strangest places and forcing the sisters into nightly cat chases. Most evenings, he’d appear suddenly from behind a row of smoky quartz, giving them his classic “I own this place” look.
One chilly October evening, as the sisters were packing up after a long day of enchanted trinket-selling, Smudge was nowhere to be found. They searched every inch of the shop: behind the dream catchers, under the counter, even inside the display of Himalayan salt lamps. Eventually, exhausted, they decided to leave him for the night, muttering, “Fine, Smudge! You win. But no more midnight snacks!”
With the shop quiet and empty, Smudge finally emerged from behind a stack of velvet tarot bags, stretched luxuriously, and settled down for a peaceful night of undisturbed slumber.
But at midnight, a flash of light ripped through the shop, waking Smudge from his cozy dreams of catching mice made of glitter and feathers. With a low yawn, he padded out to the front room, whiskers twitching with curiosity. The light was coming from a large dream catcher hanging in the front window, one that Holly had crafted from moonstone beads and delicate silver feathers.
Smudge crept up to it, his eyes wide. Before he could bat at it or give it a thorough sniff, the light swirled like a tiny, glittery tornado—and with a whoosh, Smudge was sucked right into the center of the dream catcher!
Inside was a strange, swirling void, and Smudge landed with a soft thud on an ethereal pathway made of shimmering stardust. In front of him was a floating, misty figure—a mysterious force with eyes like orbs of light.
“Welcome, Smudge,” the figure said, its voice echoing in the strange space. “You have been chosen as the Guardian of Luna Dream Catcher. From now on, you will have powers beyond the ordinary cat realm. You will protect the shop, and Point Place, from forces unseen.”
With a twitch of his whiskers and a slightly annoyed flick of his tail, Smudge seemed unimpressed, even bored. The figure, sensing this, added, “You’ll also get laser-like focus and unlimited napping endurance.”
That perk got Smudge’s attention. He gave a dignified nod, accepting his fate with a cat’s usual indifference.
In a flash, he was back in the shop, but he was… different. Smudge now felt an electric energy coursing through his whiskers and tingling in his paws. His eyes glowed with a strange, mystical intensity. He had powers, alright. And Smudge—former professional snoozer—was about to become Point Place’s newest and most unusual protector.
Over the weeks, Point Place residents noticed odd things happening at Luna Dream Catcher. Some people swore they saw ghostly figures dancing in the night, swirling in the window when the shop was closed. Others would drive by and catch glimpses of faint blue light glowing from inside, accompanied by the faintest meows echoing on the breeze.
Unknown to them, this was all Smudge’s doing. His new powers gave him the ability to spot and capture bad spirits, which he did with surprising enthusiasm. Every night, as Point Place slept, Smudge would patrol the shop, leaping at wispy shadows and chasing pesky spirits into enchanted jars that Holly had accidentally left open one evening. By morning, he’d have the spirits safely bottled up and neatly stacked on the “sale” shelf, awaiting Holly and Heidi’s “disposal” (which usually involved a trip to the mouth of the Maumee River to dump the jars).
But not all spirits went down without a fight.
One evening, a particularly nasty specter had wormed its way into town, conjured by a wayward customer dabbling in the metaphysical without reading the fine print. The spirit had entered Point Place through a homemade dream catcher made from “borrowed” materials: rusty nails, wilted feathers, and a few cursed marbles from an antique shop in the next town over. It was a recipe for trouble, and the spirit—a dark, smoky creature with yellow eyes and a sinister snarl—had set its sights on the heart of Point Place.
Smudge had sensed its arrival instantly. He’d been sleeping (of course) when a jolt of cold energy prickled his fur. His whiskers twitched as he bolted upright, eyes narrowing. The spirit was skulking outside, swirling around Luna Dream Catcher’s sign and spitting sparks onto the sidewalk. Smudge knew he’d have to confront it before it caused real harm.
With a steely determination only found in mystical cats, Smudge dashed to the front of the shop, unlocked the door, and jolted outside. Using his newfound power, he leapt at the spirit, paw extended in a swipe that released a shimmering light from his claws. The spirit hissed and recoiled, swirling into a dark funnel. But Smudge didn’t stop; he chased it down Summit Street, through alleys, and across town, his glowing eyes fixed on his prey.
After a wild pursuit, Smudge finally cornered the spirit near Point Place’s ancient oak tree. With a triumphant yowl, he pounced, using his magical “Paw of Peace” to trap the spirit in a tiny jar he’d somehow carried in his mouth (one of those enchanted jars Holly had left on the counter). The spirit squirmed and wriggled, but Smudge’s magic held firm. The evil entity was now just another jar-bound ghost, destined for a one-way trip out of Point Place.
The next morning, as Holly and Heidi opened Luna Dream Catcher, they found Smudge lounging on the counter, looking smug and slightly more regal than usual. Beside him sat an assortment of jars, each containing a faint, ghostly light swirling within. Holly chuckled. “Guess Smudge was on ghost-duty last night,” she said, shaking her head. “Good job, little guy.”
Word spread around town about Smudge’s midnight ghost-wrangling, seen by unnamed witnesses. People would stop by Luna Dream Catcher not only to buy crystals or sage, but to leave treats and toys for the town’s furry protector. And occasionally, when the shop was closed, people would slow their cars and peer through the windows, half-hoping to catch a glimpse of spirits dancing around, chased by Smudge, the fearless feline defender.
Over time, Smudge became a local legend—a mystical, slightly chubby guardian who watched over Point Place and kept it safe from things that went bump in the night. And he did it all with the poise and sass of a true magical cat.
Still today, Smudge’s message remains scratched on the wall for all to see. Heidi and Holly discovered it one morning as they opened the shop, the words etched in neat, clawed letters:
“In a world full of things we can’t always see or understand, remember that even the smallest among us can be brave in unexpected ways. Magic and courage are often found in the most unassuming places—and sometimes, all it takes to make a difference is a willing heart and a watchful eye.” …Smudge
Thank you so much Will Hiatt for creating such a wonderful story for us and Smudge!
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