Synopsis: Booted Feline (a Team Girl Alternative Reality story)

Eile is the youngest daughter of a miller. When he died, the only inheritance she received was a pair of dice and the mill cat. Eile decided to try to make her fortune in the big city, and the cat went with her. However, she took only one loaf of bread which was gone the first night. The second night she considered eating the cat, but as if it divined her intention, it offered to make her rich and powerful if she spared it. She agreed, and the first thing it did was to flush out a rabbit for her supper.

The next night it took her to a tavern. There it used the dice to win money to pay for room and board for a few days. Using the dice again, the cat won for itself a pair of boots, a chevalier's hat and plume, and a smallsword. Finally, it trapped two fine partridges and took them to the castle of the local viscount, Mabuse. It offered them in the name of the Margrave du Chica, a rich and powerful lord who was traveling through the viscount's lands and wished to do her honor. Mabuse was pleased with having the favor of such a high noble and invited "him" to stay at her estate. The cat agreed to pass along the invitation, but did not wish to make any promises, being as the Margrave was very busy. To sweeten the deal, Mabuse offered the cat a bribe, a purse of gold coins, and it said it might be able to persuade the Margrave to meet with Mabuse along the way. Mabuse then inquired if the Margrave was traveling with "his" wife, and the cat stated its lord was unmarried, being quite young when the old Margrave died and now having just reached 25. Mabuse then presented Sunny, her ward, saying that she was of an age to marry. The cat praised her beauty and promised that the Margrave would be at the river crossing the next day at noon. If Mabuse and Sunny arrived there at that time, its lord would deign to visit with them for a time. Mabuse agreed to the rendezvous.

When the cat returned to the tavern and explained what it had arranged, Eile was mortified, but the cat assured her that all would be well if she did exactly what it told her to do.

The next day, the cat took Eile to the river crossing. It made sure they got there early, and told her to bathe in preparation for the meeting. Eile took off her clothes and entered the river, and the cat took the clothes and hid them. When Mabuse and her retinue arrived with Sunny, the cat shouted to them, saying that bandits had robbed the Margrave and tried to drown her. It begged them to rescue her, while at the same time implying it was Mabuse's fault for letting bandits roam free on her lands, and that dire consequences would befall her if anything happened to the Margrave, who was a favorite of the Emperor. Fearful and greedy all at once, Mabuse ordered her men to save the Margrave, and they pulled a startled Eile out of the water. She was given a coat to cover herself and Mabuse took her back to her estate, where Eile was placed in a sumptuous room and given elegant clothing befitting her "station". Sunny herself came to tend to Eile's "wounds", but quickly discovered she wasn't noble. Rather than be appalled, however, she was intrigued, and agreed to keep her secret. She also taught Eile proper table etiquette.

The dinner went well. Eile pulled off her masquerade, and any faux pas was covered over by the cat or Sunny explaining that it was proper courtly behavior, or a new noble fad, or the eccentricity of a great lord, and the like. Mabuse, being a rural lord and largely unschooled in courtly etiquette, and wishing to ingratiate herself into the imperial nobility, eagerly overlooked any strange or improper behavior. And in time, the freely flowing wine made it difficult for anyone to distinguish proper behavior from improper, or particularly care. After the dinner, Sunny escorted Eile to her room, and took advantage of her inebriation to seduce her.

That night, the cat removed its costume and went among the servants. From them it learned of a legendary mark ruled by a female demon named Ceithlenn. Though the local nobility disbelieved, the folk were convinced the legends were true, and often claimed that vanished travelers were taken by the demon, who had a taste for the tender flesh of young men and women.

The next morning, the cat meets with Mabuse and informs her that the Margrave must return to her lands that very day. When Mabuse asked where her lands lay, the cat replied that she owned the mark the peasantry foolishly believed belonged to a demon. Pleased with this news, Mabuse agrees to take Eile home. The cat then awakens Eile and Sunny to tell them its plan.

Eile is mortified to discover herself naked in bed with the naked ward of the viscount, but both the cat and Sunny hush her. It admonishes them not leave until noon, feigning hangovers if necessary. It then departs for the mark. Eile and Sunny talk about what happened, and both admit to having affectionate feelings for one another. To pass the time, they decide to make love again.

The cat races north, and soon enters the mark. It throws down and hides the skeletons erected to scare trespassers away. When it encounters peasants working in the fields, it coerces them into announcing to any who ask that these lands are owned by the Margrave du Chica. It does the same with a group of craftsmen and a squad of soldiers. Finally it reaches the palace. It bullies its way in and confronts Ceithlenn. She is intrigued by the audacity of the cat, since everyone else is so frightened of her. The cat challenges her, saying that being a demon, she should be able to change her shape. To prove it, she changes into a lion and attacks the cat, who hides behind a cabinet. The cat praises her abilities, but states that any third-rate sorcerer can change into a big creature, but only the really powerful ones can change into a small creature. Piqued, Ceithlenn changes into a mouse, whereupon the cat pounces on her, kills her, and eats her. It then goes off to alert the servants to the change in management.

Mabuse leaves at noon with Sunny and Eile, and heads into the mark. Along the way, they encounter peasants, craftsmen, and soldiers, all of whom say the land belongs to the Margrave du Chica. Eile gets more nervous the farther they go, but Sunny calms her by holding her hand. Finally they reach the palace, and they are greeted by the cat and the servants. Mabuse is impressed by everything she sees, but she is not convinced until the cat shows her the treasure room. Immediately she announces the betrothal of Sunny to Eile, and the cat throws a great feast. During the merriment, the cat negotiates a bridal pact with Mabuse, which includes grants of land and allowing Sunny to stay until the formal wedding. In exchange, Mabuse is paid a generous bride price in gold and jewels.

Later that night, as Eile and Sunny rest after making love, they discuss their future and discover that they really want to marry each other.

Epilogue: A week before the wedding, an imperial messenger arrives, and reads a summons from the Emperor, Medb, for the Margrave du Chica and her bride-to-be to come to the imperial city. Eile is certain she's dead, and even Sunny is worried, but the cat smiles, accepts the summons, and assures them both that all will work out if they do exactly what it tells them.