Cats of the City

Chapter 4

Seoul stalked along an alley way, searching for food.

He had been out looking since noon and the sun was beginning to set.

He sighed and was afraid of returning without anything. Boston already didn't trust him. He sat down, exhausted, and watched the humans.

They all seemed happy about something and Seoul wished he shared their enthusiasm. Something suddenly moved by a brick wall and he flew into a crouch. Was it a mouse? Or something else?

He readied himself..then pounced! He sank his claws into the fat, plump body of a rat. He purred triumphantly and eyed his catch. He hadn't ever caught a rat as big as this!

"Nice rat you have there." An unfamiliar voice sounded behind him. Seoul tried to keep his fur from rising as he turned. A black long haired cat was smirking at him. "What are you smirking about?" Seoul asked nervously. The cat had a roguish look to him and his eyes looked ominous.

The cat grinned widely, "Oh nothing. Just smirking. I'm Cheshire, and well let me guess. Why your that little immigrant cat!" Cheshire laughed.

Seoul glared at Cheshire. "I have a name and its not 'immigrant cat'!" He grumbled. Cheshire shook his head, "Now, now Seoul! No need to get mad. Now just hand over that rat, and I won't hurt you."

Seoul gasped, "B-but...this is the only thing I've caught today. And I'm starving!" Cheshire laughed menacingly, "I am better than you! I was born here and you weren't. Which means I'm better and I deserve more!"

Seoul was shocked, "No cat is better than the other! Just because I wasn't born here does not mean you are better than me! But if you like, we can share this rat?" He offered politely.

Cheshire didn't seem interested, "Give me that rat! And I would never share food with you!"

Seoul realized he was going to have to fight for his food. He let his claws slide out and he hissed. "Catch your own." He hissed. He hoped that Cheshire couldn't smell his fear.

"Go ahead, claw me! Boston is looking for any reason to get rid of you. I'm his brother, and if you even put a paw on me, you'll be on the streets for good!" Cheshire grinned like a fox.

Seoul didn't know what to do or how to respond. Seoul then had an idea, he backed away from the rat. Cheshire laughed and moved towards the rat. Then at the last moment, Seoul snatched the rat up.

Then he ran, he ran as fast as his legs could carry him. He took a sharp turn then jumped on to a stone wall. He looked back and didn't see Cheshire. I must have lost him! Seoul thought happily.

He sighed with relief, then something ran past him, for a moment he was afraid it was Cheshire. He blinked and looked around, but nothing seemed to be there. He jumped off the wall and started to head back to the barn.

Once he got to the barn he hurried to find Moss, Egypt, and Cecily. He did not want to meet Cheshire again. He tumbled over to Moss and Cecily who were resting by one of the horse stalls. "You will not believe what happened to me!" Seoul grumbled the licked his paw and ran it over his head.

"What a rat! Where did you find that?" Cecily cried. Seoul smiled, "In a alley just a little ways from here..but.." He sighed.

Moss looked up, "Spit it out Seoul."

"Cheshire wanted me to give him the rat simply because he was born in America and I wasn't. He called me 'immigrant cat'!" Seoul said. He was frustrated and confused.

Moss and Cecily exchanged a glance. "I wasn't born in America either, but Cheshire has never acted that way towards me." Moss said with a confused look on her face.

Cecily shook her head, "He just wants to feel important and feared, like Boston." Moss nodded in agreement. But Seoul wanted to prove that Cheshire was not better than him just because of his place of birth!

Suddenly a loud angry and terrified cry came from the hay pile where Boston stayed. Every cat looked up, alarmed. Boston and a cat that Seoul hadn't met were standing on the hay.

"Is that..?" Moss whispered. Cecily nodded in awe, "It is!" Seoul stared at them then looked back to the brown and white cat standing by Boston. "Who is that?"

Cecily answered, "That is Alexander, or Alex for short. He and Boston are enemies this can't be good!" Her silver eyes were cold with worry.

"Alex was a spy for us but something happened and..Boston attacked him." Moss whispered. Seoul looked back at Alex, he had a dangerous, rebellious look in his blue gaze.

Boston growled something at Alex then shoved him down the hay pile and grumbled, "Some cat let this cat into our part of the city. Can't any of you do your jobs?" Alex got up and held his head high, "Don't blame these cats! They have been busy hunting and caring for the kittens and the old. Do not ever try to blame them." He raked his gaze across the barn.

Seoul narrowed his eyes and wondered how Boston was going to react.