cornered youth. âHow am I sâposed to eat that? I want real food.â He swung his fat paw and struck the little guy in the head, knocking him over. âGo and bring me back something I can really sink my teeth into.â
It was obvious to Caterwaul that he was witnessing a cat shakedown here. The bigger kitten was literally throwing his weight around. The smaller kitten looked weak and emaciated, and he was obviously terrified. Caterwaul wanted to intervene, but he didnât want to rush in without knowing what was going on backstage. Bullies like the gray-and-white rarely operated alone.
The gray-and-white was a kitten still, but looked to be almost as large as Caterwaul. He was sure that he could take the fat cat, providing he could make the fight last. He knew the obese kitten would tire and then it would be over. But if there were a whole group of them lurking close by, the outcome would be different. Because of this, Caterwaul chose caution.
Slipping out of his pack, he searched for a good place to hide it. There was enough food to last him for several days, and considering these circumstances, he did not care to lose it. But there were other things in the pack, besides the food, that he was really fearful of losing: the elements he needed to perform his array of spells and enchantments. He hid the pack under a pile of leaves and straw to keep it safe.
He crept closer. Perched on a rotten old sawhorse, he scoured the area visually for signs that the gray-and-white might have accomplices. Sure enough, hidden in the tall grass not ten feet away were two other young tomcats. One of them was a gray-and-black stripy of medium build, and the other one was larger and marked over most of its fur with yellow blotches. Both cats looked as if they had seen a few fights. The stripy was covered with scars, and the big yellow cat had a droopy eye and was missing a major piece of his right ear.
They were both staying out of sight, ready to jump in if there was any trouble. If he had a prayer of helping the tiny cat, he would have to create some form of diversion to draw the other two cats away. Only with them out of play could he move against the gray-and-white.
The obese kitten grabbed the smaller one by the scruff of its neck. There was plenty of loose skin. The smaller kitten was obviously starving. Caterwaul returned to where he had stashed his pack and removed from it a small pouch made of folded paper. Tucking it into his collar, he moved to outflank the hidden cats, hoping to come at them from the behind.
Caterwaul knew that he probably stood little chance against the two of them, but he had a plan he hoped would work. He moved out in a semicircle of about one hundred yards, and then made a beeline to a spot some twenty feet behind where the cats were concealed. He then proceeded to thrash about in the tall grass making sure to create as much noise as possible. The hidden cats moved to see what the ruckus was about.
Up on his toes in a fighting stance, he issued his challenge. Caterwaulâs tail and fur were up and at attention as he hissed at the two, who continued moving toward him defiantly. He was confident that at least one of them would strike at his throat.
Leaping toward the onrushing cats, Caterwaul drew in a deep breath and struck out with his claws bared. He landed on the back of the big yellow and struck at its head. His momentum from the jump, however, caused him to miss, and he was easily shaken off, landing on his back on the ground. At that instant, the scarred-up stripy made his move. This was obviously the leader of the two. He flashed his teeth at Caterwaul, who noticed that his incisors were bigger than they should have been. They appeared to him like daggers.
As Caterwaul predicted, the stripy slashed for his neck. The catâs claws tore directly into the paper pouch, tearing it open and releasing its contents. Once exposed to the air, the contents produced a bright flash. A
It was obvious to Caterwaul that he was witnessing a cat shakedown here. The bigger kitten was literally throwing his weight around. The smaller kitten looked weak and emaciated, and he was obviously terrified. Caterwaul wanted to intervene, but he didnât want to rush in without knowing what was going on backstage. Bullies like the gray-and-white rarely operated alone.
The gray-and-white was a kitten still, but looked to be almost as large as Caterwaul. He was sure that he could take the fat cat, providing he could make the fight last. He knew the obese kitten would tire and then it would be over. But if there were a whole group of them lurking close by, the outcome would be different. Because of this, Caterwaul chose caution.
Slipping out of his pack, he searched for a good place to hide it. There was enough food to last him for several days, and considering these circumstances, he did not care to lose it. But there were other things in the pack, besides the food, that he was really fearful of losing: the elements he needed to perform his array of spells and enchantments. He hid the pack under a pile of leaves and straw to keep it safe.
He crept closer. Perched on a rotten old sawhorse, he scoured the area visually for signs that the gray-and-white might have accomplices. Sure enough, hidden in the tall grass not ten feet away were two other young tomcats. One of them was a gray-and-black stripy of medium build, and the other one was larger and marked over most of its fur with yellow blotches. Both cats looked as if they had seen a few fights. The stripy was covered with scars, and the big yellow cat had a droopy eye and was missing a major piece of his right ear.
They were both staying out of sight, ready to jump in if there was any trouble. If he had a prayer of helping the tiny cat, he would have to create some form of diversion to draw the other two cats away. Only with them out of play could he move against the gray-and-white.
The obese kitten grabbed the smaller one by the scruff of its neck. There was plenty of loose skin. The smaller kitten was obviously starving. Caterwaul returned to where he had stashed his pack and removed from it a small pouch made of folded paper. Tucking it into his collar, he moved to outflank the hidden cats, hoping to come at them from the behind.
Caterwaul knew that he probably stood little chance against the two of them, but he had a plan he hoped would work. He moved out in a semicircle of about one hundred yards, and then made a beeline to a spot some twenty feet behind where the cats were concealed. He then proceeded to thrash about in the tall grass making sure to create as much noise as possible. The hidden cats moved to see what the ruckus was about.
Up on his toes in a fighting stance, he issued his challenge. Caterwaulâs tail and fur were up and at attention as he hissed at the two, who continued moving toward him defiantly. He was confident that at least one of them would strike at his throat.
Leaping toward the onrushing cats, Caterwaul drew in a deep breath and struck out with his claws bared. He landed on the back of the big yellow and struck at its head. His momentum from the jump, however, caused him to miss, and he was easily shaken off, landing on his back on the ground. At that instant, the scarred-up stripy made his move. This was obviously the leader of the two. He flashed his teeth at Caterwaul, who noticed that his incisors were bigger than they should have been. They appeared to him like daggers.
As Caterwaul predicted, the stripy slashed for his neck. The catâs claws tore directly into the paper pouch, tearing it open and releasing its contents. Once exposed to the air, the contents produced a bright flash. A
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