The Rat and Cat Show

Episode 1: prologue

??? Pov:

"Your order will be initiated immediately with a focus on achieving the target."

That was all I heard. At least until a door was opened for me and I was left standing in the middle of the door frame. In front of me stood a man, about 6 feet tall. He had brown hair, a narrow nose, and a mouth whose outer corners barely moved. He was wearing a white lab coat.

"Here's your Backpack, I think it's clear that none of them are allowed to see it, isn't it?"

"Yes" Why does my voice sound so strange? Is that even my own voice? What the fuck is going on here? Who am I?

"Didn't you read your plan?"

Huh? Of course I read it, you've told me that hundreds of times, was that wrong?

"You mustn't talk, you little rat. You nod and otherwise you don't open your filthy mouth. Got it?"

Does he have to speak to me in such a disgusted tone? Who is that anyway? My head feels so strange, as if I've just got out of bed. I've been awake all day for the last few days and haven't slept a wink.

"Well, it contains pens, a notebook, a map, a small monocular, a flashlight for the dark forest. A few food supplies for the next few days and a first aid kit in case of emergency."

I try to memorize everything, after all, these items are of crucial importance to me.

"And you know the rules, every evening at 8 p.m. sharp, i.e. when it gets dark, you come into the Dark Forest. You place the sheet filled with your observations on each critter in front of the spot marked in red and then fuck off."

He pushed the Backpack in front of my face and stared into my eyes. The Backpack is heavy, at least five kilos. 'Are there really only the things listed in there?

He analyzes me for a few more seconds and I take a step back, after all, I'm still standing in the middle of the door frame. He seems to see it as an opportunity and slams the door in my face.

In the last few days, I've learned everything I need to know for this job. Everything about the surroundings: the so-called Critter Valley. There were roads, large meadows with hills, a lake and even a small beach. But there are also borders. To be on the safe side, I have a map in my Backpack anyway. This whole place here is bordered by a forest, the Dark Forest. You can hardly see there, navigating here is "completely impossible" according to the man in the smock.

This is exactly where I've just been let out. I can't even see the door that has been slammed behind my back. The only sign that I'm still somewhere is when I hear the click of the flashlight in my right hand. But it doesn't help much, I now only have a small circle in front of me and visibility is no better. I can see a few trees, grasses and a formally flat ground beneath me.

'This is where I'm supposed to bring my observation report at the end of each day?

The Backpack I've been given is heavy. I'm still holding it in my hand, so I'd better put it on. I set off first, according to the map I just have to walk straight ahead and then enter the normal forest.

Vines and leaves are everywhere, although they are not all the same color...

But that's understandable, after all, this world isn't real and only exists for the Smilling Critters

This is logical, the world is not just a place of lush grass, permanently good weather and a group of friends who think they are animals. War, disease and darkness are everywhere, this world is not exempt.