A cat jumped down from Tom's head.
"Oops!" said Tom in surprise.
"You're not a fur hat.
You're a cat!"
"Sorry about that," Tom said to the cat.
"But I must go now.
I need to find that map!"
Tom went deeper and deeper into the forest.
He looked behind branches and under roots.
Everything looked dark and spooky.
"Where is the map?" Tom thought.
Snap! Snap! Crunch!
Tom froze.
Something was coming!
He backed up slowly.
Tom tripped and fell. "Oof!"
Sticks snapped and leaves crunched.
Tom closed his eyes.
Suddenly—crash!
A creature burst through the trees!
It was the cat!
Tom climbed to his feet.
"Hello," said Cat.
Tom's jaw dropped.
"You can talk!" Tom said.
"Cats have nine lives," Cat said.
"In each life we can talk to one person."
"And you picked me," Tom said.
He bowed. "Thank you, Cat."
Then Tom looked around the Dark Forest.
He sighed. "I'm lost."
"I can lead you out of the forest," said Cat.
Tom grinned. "You can?"
Cat nodded. "Sure."
"Do you know where the palace is?" Tom asked.
"I do," Cat said.
She climbed into Tom's pocket.
Together the new friends started walking.