Cat's Eye

Chapter 2

True to his memory, the long fringe of grass parted like a curtain drawn back, revealing an archway of towering trees and a path that curled low along the forest floor. Packed smooth as a serpent's scales by the feet of passing travelers, small poofs of weeds poked up here and there, the encroaching claws of the forest trying to take back what belonged to it. The Cat didn't blink, leaping up onto the path in a single bound, small puffs of dust lifted each time his paws slammed the surface. His eyes constantly flicked back and forth, scanning the lumpy bushes and gnarled tree roots for a place to hide.

At least here on the path, the silvery moonlight broke through the leafy roof in small patches, creating milky pools every few feet. It kept the shadows he needed most at bay, but also lit up every obstacle in his path. Jumping up and over a rock large enough to serve a family dinner on, the cat twisted his ears back flat, trying to block out the steady drumming of hooves far too close to his back and focus ahead. There had to be somewhere, anywhere he could hide for a few moments until they passed.

Something murky, like old fish that were shoved in the bottom of a barrel, tickled his nose and the Cat paused. Wait... that wasn't old fish, but water. Real water that was still as freshly glazed glass. His whiskers shifted forward, the end of his nose quivering as excitement rushed fast and hot through his veins. Yes! Water would be the perfect hiding place.

The air hissed as his tail slashed back and forth, so eager that he couldn't keep still a moment longer, and he dashed off. Using an added hint of his claws for extra grip against the ground, the burning protest of exhaustion faded to the back of his mind, the faint ribbon of mist and the rolling thump of the necklace against his chest pushed him on.

The path suddenly hooked sharp to the left, and the line of trees broke apart to reveal a pond. Its ripping edges blurred pure silver against the muddy brown and lapped at the side of the path like a lazy tongue. Creating soft grooves in the side where the dirt and grass gave away to the water. The break in the trees grew even higher overhead, letting the mirrored surface reflect the beauty of the full moon high in the night. In another time, another place, the Cat would have found it beautiful. Cozy even, and perfect for hunting stray birds hidden between the roots. But now it would be the perfect hiding place until the King and his men passed by, and he could start searching for a way to revitalize his mistress alone. In peace.

After all, cats hated water. So who would think that a cat would hide in water?

The cat licked his lips, a brief taste of the air confirming that nothing horrible lurked beneath the surface, and left the promise of fresh salty fish clinging to his tongue. Stepping one paw then another into the water, instant cold ripped savage claws through his toes and ankles, and he bit back a hiss. The clammy chill sank higher as plush fur matted down, revealing the lumps and knobs of bones hidden under the skin, and the weight of the necklace lifted. Floating around his neck like a bejeweled serpent born from the watery depths.

This had to work. He couldn't keep running forever. The Cat was strong, or so he told himself as he forced his legs to keep paddling, but not as strong as a horse. No, he needed to be smarter. To use his brains instead of his brawn, and create his own hiding space in plain sight. Keeping his legs churning, the Cat swam by the gnarled roots of a tree where it reached down into the water. Each limb was as thick as a man's body, and sprouted off into a dozen smaller fingers, each one of those splitting again until the ending roots became as fine as his own whiskers. But inside the cage of roots was an egg-shaped pocket of air, and a broken purr leaked out of his chest.

Perfect.

Parting his jaws, the Cat sucked in a gulp of air and dove deep. Slithering through the gaps in the roots, the invading tips clawed at his shoulders worse than any briar, and the surface below was pitch black. The moonlight was completely absent as he swam forward with nothing but his whiskers as a guide. Tilted forward as far as they could reach, each whisker trembled in anticipation, fighting back against the rippling surge stirred up by each swing of his legs. The Cat popped out of the water with a gasp, its eyes stinging and the salty taste of pond scum clinging to its lips. I made it! Surrounded by a darkness so deep that he couldn't see where he began and the water ended, the nest of tree roots that had looked so gnarled from the outside had smoothed out, curling around the cat's body like a protective cocoon. Keeping him safe from prying eyes, for now.