Twiggy

Chapter 18

      Dogs. They were barking in the distance, with such evilness that I woke with a start. The moon was still high in the sky. I had my claws launched into the ground, and I could see that the other cats were stirring beside me. Puff had his fluffy pelt spread out even bigger. He looked like a badger, his fur was so big. Comet's blue eyes were wide with fright. "What are we going to do?" She inquired.
      Puff was the first to answer. "We have two options," he said. "We could go and hide up the tree with Silver Sky and the kits, or we could create a plan to lead them away. Far away, to be more specific."
      Comet was nodding along with what he had suggested. "I think we should try to lead them away. If we let them find where we live, we would always be stuck. And Silver Sly isn't ready to move yet."
      I agreed with my sister's plan. It was a smart one, as long as we didn't get caught up in the dog's teeth. My leg was still injured, though, was the problem. It was mostly better, but sudden movements could jar it. If I got hurt while the dog's were chasing me, I would be a goner. Puff quickly climbed the tree to inform Silver Sky where we were going and to stay in the tree. Then he climbed back down. "Let's go," he mewed.
      As we headed along the trail we continued to hear barking. We soon devised a plan. "There's about five dogs, I think," Puff mewed. He was becoming the smart one of the group. "So one cat will go jump in front of them, then run forward. The dog's should quickly sprint after them. We don't know the exact layout of this territory yet, but I know that there's a road nearby."
      "There's a river, too." I said.
      "Yes. So one cat will hide by the bush by the road and lead the dog's onto it. Hopefully a human will do something with them. Uh. . . . that leaves one spot open. I think Twiggy should take that. He doesn't need to be injured again."
      "What?" I exclaimed. "No! You and Comet are both younger than I am, so no! This is not happening any circumstances!"
     Puff snorted. "Well apparently were smarter than you in some way. We know you shouldn't be running so soon."
      The dog's howling was much louder now. Puff motioned for me to get into a tree. I did, but only because I wanted to. Not because he said. The bark wasn't smooth, but it wasn't rough like old trees would be. I assumed it was just over a sapling, because it was still quite tall and had rippling green leaves. I nestled into a intersection between the two sturdiest branches I could find. There was a spindly caterpillar climbing around the stick and eating leaves. It was black and yellow. The colour of bees. My instinct reaction was to swat at it, but I didn't.
      I heard Puff and Comet talking down below. "Come," Puff purred. I was curious. I peered down from the branches to see them walking calmly side-by-side to there positions, tails twined. They're so young. Why are they doing this?
      As I imagined Silver Sky, a shocking shiver went down my spine and I decided to go see her. I jumped across the branches until I came to the hole in the tree. The silver tabby I had fallen for was licking our son and daughter with such fondness it made my heart melt. Her gentle tongue caressed them, and they squealed. I made my way over to the tree, when I suddenly fell. It wasn't very far, and I didn't get hurt, but the dog's had apparently heard me. I heard snuffling and crashing through the bushes.
      I jumped to my paws and scurried into the tree. I had just made it when I saw a savage looking dog poke it's head around the corner. It was black and brown, with short bristly fur. It had a short stump for a tail, and ears that looked unnatural. Did humans do that? It bared its teeth up the tree and growled. Then, without thinking twice, it tried to climb the tree. Thankfully it had no success.
      I sat on a branch outside the den. Silver Sky now had her head peering agitatedly out. "What, did you ruin their plan now?" She narrowed her blue eyes at me before vanishing. What happened to the loving mother I had just seen?
      I poked my head into the hole and was greeted by claws. "Ouch!" I yelped.
      "Oh, it's you." She mewed. "I thought it was some violent rogue or something, judging by the way your fur looks." I could tell she was just trying to get at me, but it was really biting at me. Her plan had worked.
      "No you didn't. Don't kid with me, I wanted to see the kits."
      "What kits?"
      "Our kits?"
      "What are you talking about?"
      "Stop, Silver Sky."
      She rolled her eyes. "Fine." She paused. "But only because I'm nice." I waved my tail. That's new. Then I looked into the hole, which smelled like kits- a lovely smell of their mother and poop- and Silver Sky herself. It also had the smell of trees. The only thing I could hear was Sap and Lark squeaking. Suddenly, Silver Sky's face light up. "They're eyes are opened!" She exclaimed.
      I looked to them. Lark had blue eyes, like I had guessed, while Sap had a beautiful orange. I stared in awe for a few seconds before I heard yapping. "I should probably go help," I mewed with embarrassment. She nodded, not saying anything.
      Puff and Comet were in the bushes. Comet burst out with a burst of speed I had never seem from her. It was as fast as the river itself, during a flood. The four dogs sprinted after her, snapping at her heels with slavering jaws, hungry for cat.
      Puff soon followed, probably trying to reach his destination.  I started to tree walk to the road. Sure enough, Puff hid under a large rock. When Comet came through with all the dog's following, the tom leapt out, while Comet climbed the tree. The very one that I was in. When she saw me, she glared. "Why'd you make that noise?" She ordered. "We had everything in place- the dog's, ourselves- and then you decided to mess it all up!"
      "Sorry," was the only answer I could come up with. She shook her head, but we both went back to watching. Puff was dancing on the black stone. There were no monsters in sight yet, but I could feel the tree rumbling. The dog's were trying to get at him. He stood in the middle, on top of the yellow stripe.
      "It makes it less likely for him to get hit." Comet explained. "Cars don't usually drove there." It made sense to me. Soon, a big red monster appeared on the horizon, steadily climbing closer. When it reached the point near Puff, he leapt onto the far side, the dog's trying to follow. The monster slammed into the largest one with its large black paw, and it flew into the air. When it landed, I could hear a bone crunch, even from the tree. It was dead.
       The other dogs ran away whimpering, tails tucked between their legs and ears pulled back. Puff approached the dog. We leapt from the tree and raced over to where he was. Blood crept from just above the dog's eye in a thin stream. It's eyes were still glazed open, staring into the sky with no emotions. Puff lowered his head. "You were a worthy component." He whispered with soft admiration. "I hope you find shelter and food where you are now," then he touched his nose to the dog.
      "What are you doing?" Comet hissed. "That's a dog, not our prey!"
      "Like I said, he was worthy. He wasn't doing anything wrong. That's just what dogs do. They chase cats. Just like we chase mice."
      I spoke. "Honestly, I think you're right." Then I touched my own nose to the dog. "Thanks for letting us live."
       Comet shook her head, probably thinking that he didn't let us live, we killed him. The only reason he hadn't killed us was because we killed it first. We always say respect to our prey, though, don't we?
      We turned our backs to the dead dog, leaving it behind as reminder for everyone that even the strongest can be conquered.