The Cat's Out Of The Bag

Chapter Nine

"Just going for a quick walk." I call, watching my Mom as she looks at me skeptically.

"Okay, just not for too long."

"O-okay! Bye!" I can't keep the excitement out of my voice as I close the door and run to school, four hours after it ended.

Just as planned, I make it there in around twenty minutes. Evening is already falling into night, and I frantically search the park next to my school, it getting darker and darker by the moment.

It gets so bad to the point I fear I may not even be able to distinguish Estrella from the shadows. But just as I turn to home, I hear a soft half meow, half purr.

I look back and a black cat is emerging from behind the fence, trodding towards me, tail straight up in the air.

"Estrella!" I say, crouching down and welcoming her with many pets. A part of me can't believe it's been days since I last hung out with her like this. I almost forgot how soft her fur was and the touch of her nose. Almost.

As I go in for another pet, my hands close on empty air and I look down to see Estrella vigorously rubbing against the ground, purring with much delight.

"Aha, you are one of those dirty cats. One who sees dirt and jumps right in." I laugh, realizing that this must be the reason Estrella had been so dirty after just hours of being on her own.

She must have found a mud puddle while out and made herself at home.

"Hungry?" I ask, holding out some actual cat food.

Estrella meows eagerly, and jumps up on my lap, clawing at the bag of food.

I giggle and for a moment it feels like just as it had when I first met Estrella, when she was just a random stray that showed up and not my best friend's missing pet. Back when I never had any worries and my dreams of taking her home to live with me could truly be a reality.

Now, knowing it was all futile, watching her purr and rub her head against my hand, I can't help but let a few tears fall.

"Oh, I'm sorry. You're over here crying for food while I'm actually crying. Here."

I throw some of the food at her. She sniffs it for a moment, even licking it, but she backs off and lays on my lap, purring and exposing her belly just as she did the day I bathed her.

"Wow, am I really that pitiful?" I laugh, but something blossoms in my heart, and suddenly the tears won't stop. I keep wiping them, but they just keep coming back.

Estrella looks at me with what might be concern for a moment, but then she leaps off my lap to eat the food.

I laugh, petting Estrella as she gobbles up the food in moments. She's just as hungry as she was the day after I met her.

What has she been eating while I've been gone? Has she been eating?

I suddenly notice ribs poking out of her stomach, and then notice how tightly her long fur clings to her frame.

"Aw, sweetie. Haven't you been using those strong claws of yours?" I say, scratching her chin as I pour out more food, which she finishes within seconds.

I look to my phone.

7:15

The sun is already down, and nightfall has begun.

"I'm sorry baby, it's getting kind of late. I wouldn't usually take this long on walks."
My heart aches as I scratch Estrella behind the ears, and she purrs passionately, leaning into my touch.

Without thinking, I grab her and pull her into a hug.

I hear her purr vibrate as she leans into me, even kneading her little paws into my arm.

"You are just so sweet. I wish I could keep you." Ugh. More tears.

As I go to wipe them off, Estrella jumps up and licks them away, her sand-paper like tongue tickling me.

I laugh, petting her. I don't think I've ever been so happy but so utterly distraught at the same time.

But as some random totally depressed person said, all happy things must come to an end. And so I soon force myself to put Estrella back onto the ground and walk off.

I keep catching her following me, and I throw some food in her direction and try to hurry on.
But then something pricks my leg and I look back to see Estrella with a claw in my foot, holding me back.

"Ow, you little beast!" I exclaim, slowly removing her claw from my skin, wincing as a droplet of blood follows.

It stings, but I still laugh.

"Okay, you get a pass since you're totally adorable." I smile, but it quickly drops.
It's almost eight, and I see a text already from my mom.

It's quite late, and I want you home within fifteen minutes.

"Oh, shoot! I really have to go, Estrella! Please!" I plead, and I swear she gives me a skeptical look through golden eyes.

"I-if I get home too late, my mom won't let me come out and see you again! Please! I promise I'll be back tomorrow!" With that, Estrella jumps off my lap and I give her one more hug and kiss before running off.

                       *     *     *     *     *

I'm in my bed now, kicking my feet as I watch videos of cute cats to try and distract myself, but it's no use.

Suddenly my phone buzzes and it's Riley, calling me.

I frantically pick up and for a few moments all I hear is wind and gasping. Then, her voice.

"I-I think I j-just saw Star. I think I Just saw Star!"

My stomach does a weird flip, and a part of me believes it was just a shadow she saw or a trick.

"W-where?"

"Next to the school, that broken white fence! I was just walking, and I heard a loud meow, and saw a black tail for a moment. Oh my gosh, Natalie! It could be her!" She sounds so happy, so exhilarated...

"You must come help me find her now! Bring food, too!"

* * * * *

Riley doesn't ask how I quickly got cat food when I in fact did not have a cat, she just grabs it and shakes the bag aggressively to the shadows.

It's really dark now, and Riley's flashlight and the lamppost nearby is the only thing blocking out the darkness.

"Star! Star! Come here, girl! Riley's got treats! Yummy! Mmm!" Riley desperately calls to the darkness, her eyes watering and voice cracking with sorrow.

My heart feels like it's going to burst and I soon realize I can not take another moment of this agony of Riley calling for her missing cat when I know exactly where she is and what will get her to come out.

I need to do something, for my friend.

"Let me try." I say quickly, not letting Riley answer as I take the bag and slowly walk into the darkness, shivering.

"S-Star!" I try her name, but I know deep inside it's futile.

There is only one name she would respond to, only one voice she would seek out.

"E-Estrella!"

Like a rocket, a mass of black fur shoots from over the fence, and I am quickly face to face with Estrella, right in front of Riley, her former owner who thought she was missing all along.