CHAPTER TWO HUNDRED AND FIVE – THE PROP CAT

The drums thundered to an abrupt, discordant halt as the scene descended into chaos. Claire threw an apologetic look at the ringleader before rushing off after her sister-in-law. Jasmine was hot on Theodore's furry heels, chasing him around towering pyramids of circus equipment as the cat deftly weaved and dodged between the cluttered props. "Get her off the stage!" one performer shouted in alarm as Jasmine barreled past, nearly upending a teetering stack of juggling pins. Another man dressed in an outlandish jester costume leapt forward, arms outstretched to block her path. "Hang on there, missy! You can't just-" But Jasmine was locked onto her target, blind to all else around her except that familiar black and white form streaking ahead. With a well-timed leap, she sailed straight over the man's head, leaving him gawking in stunned surprise as she continued her relentless pursuit. "Jasmine, stop! You're going to hurt yourself...or worse, the poor cat!" Claire pleaded desperately,