Learning to Love Time Loops Without Going Insane

“Who is that?!” Mother Scrump asked with a low purring sound.

“Who is who?” Andrew looked around, finally spotting the person in question. A large orange cat was lounging on a stack of books at the end of a row ahead of them. Andrew decided to ignore the question of the unshelved books in favor of the good news. They had found at least one of their allies. “That is Mr. Wiggles, good eye.”

“Can you straighten my collar, please, Andrew? I want to look my best when we meet him,” Mother Scrump looked at Andrew with a pleading face.

“What? Fine,” Andrew said, reaching down to adjust her collar. “There, happy?”

“Yes,” She said before pouncing forward and charging at Mr. Wiggles.

“Dammit, Scrump be careful,” Andrew yelled after her.

“She should be fine,” A voice said as the owner, a female Grylath, emerged for the row next to where her cat was lounging. “We’ve mostly cleaned up this area. So what brings you back to the library with such a cute new cat?”

“Ah, Serilina, good. Trouble, we’ve been cut off from Earth and need to find a way to get an object there. I was hoping Libby might have an idea. Do you know where they are?” Andrew asked.

“I suppose I won’t be too offended that I’m just chopped liver, but I get it. Libby is going to be a lot more useful on that topic than I am. Follow me, I’ll bring you to our rebuilding HQ,” She answered.

“Thank you, Scrump. Are you coming?” Andrew called to the cat.

“Oh, um, yes, I suppose I should,” She said, breaking off from her playful batting at Mr. Wiggles.

“That is so adorable,” Serilina said as she lead them deep into the stacks.