By This Vow

by Fern

The invitation read formal dress. Having nothing to wear, I scurried to the Pet Wear shop and clawed through the racks. It was the soft blue velvet cloak which caught my attention. Looking in the mirror to check out how the cloak looked, I realized both it and I were almost perfect. A hat, I thought, is just what I need to complete my ensemble; only a hat with a feather will do for this so formal an occasion. It was not easy trying on hat after hat, but I found the hat, the perfect hat with a blue feather to match my cloak. I was almost ready to attend my first Meowing-In ceremony but one small piece remained. I had to learn to curtsy. Being a bit roly-poly, I wobbled and tilted a few times but I learned the demure, respectful curtsy fit for a queen. Now, to the ceremony. Having mewsed about what the ceremony might be, let me share my ideas with you. CLAW is overseen by the Honorable Queen Midnight and the Honorable Queen Tissy. Being a Marquesa gives me rank as part of their monarchy. One of the duties of rank is to pledge fealty and loyalty to our lieges. It is at the Meowing-in ceremony when I will kneel in front of my Queens and profess everlasting allegiance and devotion. Though we have all felt this way since joining CLAW, this will be the official declaration of our constancy in front of all other kitties. The Queens will most graciously accept our pledges and will thank us for our respect and for our promise of fealty. All of us will then attend the Meowing-In ceremony formal ball and eat and dance the night away as we celebrate our renewed bonds to our Queens and to each other.