Odds And Ends (random book)

'Staatsgebiet'

2016
WattyWarriors
unknown

unsubmitted entry for an unknown WattyWarriors contest

Result - did not submit; advanced by default

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"Do what's best for you, and get out!"

The trinket hanging from the end of her collar jingled in the warm breeze. The grey and white she-cat stood a tail's length from a smaller, brown tom. The tom was scratched in several places, as was the she-cat. Both were panting, legs shaking.

"No one's coming to help you this time," the she-cat shouted. "See? The Twoleg warriors have blocked off the whole thunderpath. So do yourself a favor and leave before those become more than scratches."

"You can't just come in here, kill my prey, on my territory," the tom responded. "You always do this, Bonbon. You always have to make it a fight."

Bonbon shook her head. "It would've ended much faster if someone came out from behind the tree and helped me!"

She swiveled her head around towards one of the massive Twoleg nests, standing as tall as the pine trees planted next to it. Behind one of them was a fat, white cat. His collar was stiff and brown, and his fluffy fur blew around in the breeze.

"Why don't you just let it be?" he shouted. "We have a whole thunderpath's worth of alleys to explore this time. Why did you have to pick the one that belonged to Howard?"

"Because someone has to put this–"

Howard bowled into her before she could finish. Both cats tumbled into a puddle along the side of the thunderpath. He had Bonbon grappled by the head, pressing as hard as he could.

"Get off my territory!" he shouted.

"I told you to leave," she responded.

Bonbon snapped her rear leg into Howard's belly, the other slammed just between his legs. He yowled, leaping off her and out of the thunderpath. He collapsed on the grey path next to it, closing his legs and struggling to stay upright.

"I told you," she said, "to do what's best for you."

He gritted his teeth, growling at her. Howard slowly began to back away from her, moving towards a nearby alley.

"Cheap shot, kittypet," he grunted.

"Not like I would've lost," she shouted back. "I just wanted to win with fewer scratches."

"Fine. Take your stupid alley, kittypet. I'll find a better one, closer to your Twolegs!"

He turned and limped between the large structures. The darkness of the alley quickly hid him. Once he was out of sight, Bonbon climbed out of the puddle and shook her fur. It was covered in small, black specs. She winced as they stung at her cuts.

The fat, white cat emerged from behind the pine tree and walked towards Bonbon.

"That was a cheap shot, you know," he started. "Kicking a tom there really hurts, and there's better ways to beat one than that."

"Well when you find that 'better way', tell me," she responded, shaking her fur again. "In the meantime, if I find Howard near our Twoleg nest, I'll gladly kick him there five times over... and who are you to criticize the way I fight?"

He yawned, plopping down next to Bonbon. His stiff collar scratched at the stone below. "I'm just saying, you've beaten toms bigger than him without doing that."