The Rough Tongue

Have you ever spoken with a cat? And by spoken, of course I mean with all your senses. You can’t just listen to a cat and expect to gain anything from the conversation. No, you have to watch, follow their gaze, feel their fur, smell the air.
I mean, you don’t have to do any of these things of course. But if you want to truly master the Rough Tongue, it’s required. And if you want to walk The Shadows without speaking the Rough Tongue, well then, you’re a damned fool.
There’s good news though; it’s easy to practice! After all, cats learn their mother tongue from birth, and there is no shortage of teachers willing to share their knowledge.
Next time a cat refuses to enter an area, do not just get frustrated, yell, stomp your feet. Stop, listen, smell, do your best to determine why your feline friend is distressed. (75% of the time there is a bad smell, and a bad smell might be the only warning you get in life.)
Has your house cat ever brought in prey that she’s particularly proud of? Has she done it more than once? Have you bothered to learn her words for the prey? Because you can - if you stop and pay attention, you’ll learn that cats have as many distinct words as humans. One of my personal favorites is “snake.” Boy do cats ever get excited when they catch a snake!
You’ve noticed, I assume, how a cat’s eyes shine in the night. Have you ever stopped to watch what they watch, see the world through their perspective? You’re going to have to - how else will you see the folds in between The Shadows, that you may slip through.
Does your cat purr for you? (Cautionary note: If you house a cat and they’ve not purred for you, you may want to rethink your current path. It’s quite likely that you’ll not be welcome to speak the Rough Tongue or tread The Shadows.) If they do, and I’ll assume that is the case, take heed of the purrs. There is healing power in those rumbles, power you might one day come to possess.
In the end, I cannot teach anyone the Rough Tongue, I can only offer guidance on how to begin. But if you truly desire to, you can learn - and I’m sure your feline companions would agree.