Astray

Chapter One

I slowly edged forward. Tail gracefully swishing behind me, not making a sound as I readily myself to pounce. Dark shadows cover me from my preys sight. I feel my claws coming out as I prepare myself to spring forward. It's finally where I want it.

Just as I'm about to leap I feel something wrap around me and squish me against something. I hear giggling an I look up to the little girl that has me snatched in her arms. I quickly retract me claws to avoid hurting her. My tail flicks back an forth though, showing my irritation. I look longingly at the bird as it flies away. I almost had it.

I let out a low rumble in my throat as a warning to the little girl. Hoping she would understand that I am not her number one fan at the moment.

"Kasey I think you should put the cat down." A deep male voice warns.

"B...but I want to keep her." The little girl, Kasey seems to be close to tears. I hear a sigh.

"You know why we can't." I hear sniffles an I look back up at Kasey. I swear my heart melted. The look she has sporting her face was one of complete and utter innocence with the biggest blue puppy dog eyes ever. Framed by long eye lashes and her little brunette curls. There is no way to resist that face. I hear another sigh.

"Fine but this doesn't mean we can keep her, you have to ask mom and dad. Plus we need to take it to the vet so it doesn't have like any diseases or something." My fur immediately sprouted up and I turned my gaze at him and hissed. I wiggled out of Kasey's arms and quickly bounded up on the wall and sat on my perch. Daring to let any of them near me.

I hear Kasey sobbing and yelling at her brother. "It's all your fault, you made her run away from me! All I wanted was a kitty, and you just scared off the only one that I could've had. I hate you!" Her brother circled his arms around her and lifted her up, despite what she said and her tiny arms went around his neck. He started walking away.Her eyes still watering immensely and her gaze turned towards me as her little arm reached out and she mouthed the word kitty.

I felt my heart tug in guilt. How could I ever make this little girl cry? I leaped of my perch and followed the two, making sure to keep out of sight.  I followed them for a long time, basically felt like a never ending road.The houses lessened as the city lights were behind us. The road soon ended with thick forests on both sides. The canopies cast eerie shadows down onto the ground as the darkness becomes a blanket, wrapping around us. I look around me, I think I might come to regret this decision.

I stare at her brother, his dark brown hair was in a mess from running his hands through it repeatedly and his bright blue eyes kept glancing back at his sister, as if trying to figure out what to do. He obviously cared about her. I quickly glanced away thinking about what he said earlier. There is no way I'm being taken to the vet. I shuddered at the thought.

The brother turned into a long twisty driveway, until the trees parted into an amazing looking house. It wasn't mansion size but it was massive. It was a creamy white color, accentuated by large arches and big bay windows.

He walked up to the door and gently opened it. I bounded over to the window and sat on the ledge, curious on what's going on inside.

I could hear tiny hiccups coming from Kasey.

"Daniel Knight explain to me right now why your little sister is crying!" I see Daniel rub the back of his neck.

"She saw a stray cat and she wanted to keep it, but I may have accidently scared it away when she had it in her arms." A women reached out to hold Kasey.

"Oh sweetie come here, we can get you a kitty if you want one." She looked up at the man next to her, glaring at him. Just daring him to object against her. Kasey looked up to what I assume was her mom and started crying even harder.

"I wanted that kitty! She was special and I know it! Danny scared her off though." Her bawls turned into body wrenching sobs.

The three of them in that room all looked at each other not knowing what to do. I looked at Kasey sobbing in her mothers arms and I knew what I had to do.

I balanced across the ledge of the window and looked up at the door bell. I leaped up and hit the doorbell with my paw. Landed gracefully on the porch. I sat down and stared up at the door waiting for someone to open it.

I heard voices inside. "Who could be here at a time like this?" I heard the man sigh.

"I'll get it" Kasey's father opened the door and looked out, seemingly irritated at being interrupted. Just when he was about to close the door, I let out a small mew. His head snapped down and stared at me with confusion. "Daniel what color was that cat?"

I heard Daniel respond. "It was black and white why?"

"Because I think that cat is sitting on our door step." I heard a loud squeal from inside. Little foot steps came bounding over to the door as Kasey ran out and scooped me up in her arms.

"Kitty! I knew you'd come! I just knew it!" She quickly ran inside and started up a set of stairs. I heard voices speaking from where we were just previously.

"So we're keeping the cat?" Daniel questioned.

"I don't think we really have a choice." Daniel and Kasey's dad responded with a sigh.

Kasey opened a door into what I assumed was her room and sat me down on her bed. I glanced around and the first word that came to mind when I looked around was, pink. Lots and lots of pink. Kasey laid down and pulled me up next to her, her arm draped over me. I heard someone walk in and sit down in a chair next to Kasey's bed.

I flipped over onto my other side and looked up at Kasey's dad. He picked up a book on her side table and began to read. "Once upon a time..." I heard the familiar story of Cinderella fall upon my ears. Something my own dad used to read to me. I began thinking back to the memory and quickly shook my head. Not the time to reminisce.

Kasey spoke up, "Daddy will I ever meet my mate?" Kasey's dad reached over and kissed her on the head.

"Of course you will princess, of course you will." He walked out, turned the light off and almost closed the door all the way. I could hear Kasey's soft breaths as she began to sink into a deep sleep. I rested my head down and stared at the wolf night light by Kasey's bed. All I could think about is...what is a mate?