Being Wild

The meadow

Dappled sunlight penetrated the thick canopy of trees. Sparta kept her eyes wide open for any sign of movement. Huddled at the entrance of a small hole at the feet of a old gnarled tree, she waited for her chance. If she moved, her black fur would scare any sign of prey nearby. Sparta closed her eyes, shutting out her vision for better hearing. Then, she heard scampering of tiny feet. Opening her eyes slightly, she spotted a brown blur moving to and fro of the tree roots around her. Unsheathing her claws, she wiggled her haunches in prepare for a spring. Sparta opened her eyes completely. The mouse was in front of her, but stopped as soon as she opened her eyes. Before the mouse could resume its searching, she sprang. The mouse regained its senses and darted away. Her forepaws landed where the mouse was before, and Sparta pushed with her hind legs as soon as they touched the ground. Sparta kept slamming her paws towards the mouse, but it always got away just as she landed her paws there. Then a tabby coat shot out of a low branch of a pine tree, and landed square on the mouse. Sparta skidded to a halt as the cat bit the neck of the brown squirming body. It shot out a leg, then lay still. Sparta grumbled as she noticed who the cat was.

- Rocky! That was my catch! , Sparta growled.

Rocky picked up the mouse and put it to her paws. He sat down and spoke.

- You would have lost it anyways, it was heading for a snake hole, he meowed.

Sparta rolled her eyes. She sat down and started cleaning her forepaw.

-Anyways, Rocky resumed speaking, I wanted to show you two something awesome.

Minka appeared from behind a tree, obviously excited about something. Sparta lifted her head to see her friend happier than ever. She stopped licking and stood up.

-Come on, Sparta! This placed is so beautiful!, Minka meowed excitedly, coming over to nudge her friend's shoulder.

Curious and confused, she followed the two cats to the mysterious destination. Walking behind them, she then heard this incessant ''zzzz'' noise high up in the trees. It was so annoying. After a while of this ''torture'' (for Sparta), Sparta raced ahead.

- Sparta! Come back! Rocky meowed alarmed. He raced ahead, signaling his tail for Minka to join.

Racing in the undergrowth of the forest floor, Sparta ran. Her last obstacle was a thicket of ferns. Springing through and landing on the other side, she breathed hard and listened. No noise of those, those...buzzing things, Sparta thought. But, the black cat hadn't looked in front of her yet. Then she did. Tall green grass went overhead and waved in the weak breeze. Twitching her ears, Sparta heard thumping of paws approaching. The she-cat turned to see her friends scrambling out of the bushes behind her. Settling beside her, Rocky said heavily,

- Why.... why did you....run?

Sparta looked back. Well, they were annoying, she thought. Who knows how long they would keep buzzing. Finally, she answered:

- Those loud buzzing noises back in there.

Rocky looked surprised. - Really? Those are cicadas; they buzz all the time in warm weather!

Sparta looked ashamed. Really, they were just insects. Then she perked up. Pointing with her nose, she motioned the green barrier separating them from the forest. - What's this?

-That's what I was going to show you, Rocky said. It's the meadow.