Alley Cats Runaway

#3 Preparation for the Worse

It started at the break of dawn when dad nudged me awake. I let out a groan. "Get up you, it is about I had trained you to survive in the Alleys." I stagger to my feet. "But we already have sessions at sunhigh! We don't need more training." I protest. Dad just gave me a stern look. "What about Frost? He had followed you about 3 or four times in a row. According to you, Patches went into the sewers and you never found him because Frost came up. Now if it wasn't for Sparrow, you'll be dead right now" I flinched at his tone. I rarely hear my dad getting all jumpy and nervous so this must be real. "Did you find Patches?" I asked.

"I'm afraid not dear."Slipping around him, Mama came in all weary, her grey coat was covered in dust. When I came back home a great search went up for my brother. So far we haven't got any luck but it's still going on."Come Nutmeg, let's get to work, first of senses." My dad directed."Senses? What's wrong with mine?" I ask with my eyes in slits my ears flattened. Dad just gave me a hard look saying: Because I say so Sighing I followed him out of the shelter. We walked down the alley side by side. "Will Jay and Violet be. training too?" I asked. I won't be training by myself! "Yes, we'll meet them at the park." I frown. A public place? "But dad won't there be dogs and people who might wanna adopt us?" I hear a rumble of laughter erupt from his chest. "That is the idea Nutmeg. You're to recognize the scents and sounds to recognize danger." I let out a purr. This is gonna be too easy! I have been all over the city, I know nearly every scent recognizable and the sounds! Dad will just have to put me in advance into the fighting and stuff.

We met my friends by a big tree that stood in the middle of the park. It's thick trunk base shown it was a old tree, not too old that it will tumble down but the right age for tree climbing. Dad had us facing the giant as he paced behind us. "Tell me what do you see." Jay scoffed. "A tree, obviously." dad flicked his ears in irritation. " Yes it is but what do we do with trees?" It was Violet's turn. "We climb them?" She suggested. Dad nodded. "Exactly now do you know why we climb trees? What about you Nutmeg any thoughts?" I blinked. Staring at the tree brought bittersweet memories of Patches and I challenging each other. Then a dog came in view and I remembered how we climbed to the highest branch. "Refuge, we can out run our chasing opponent by climbing a tree." A purr escaped dad's chest. "Yes, exactly Nutmeg. Dogs are our enemies when it comes it, we must use trees to our advantage or we will quickly lose a battle. Now, I want to see each of you to climb as high as you can, pretend I am a dog. Now go!" We raced up the base of the tree and sprang up, digging our claws into the bark. Scrambling with ease I got to the first branch. Panting I looked down to see Violet clinging to the trunk with fear. "Hurry up Nut, I can't hang on much longer!" I looked up to the branch above me. It was high and the bark was smooth. Looks like I have to jump it. Wiggling my haunches I made a massive leap and stretched out my foreclaws as far as I could. My claws snagged at the branch and I swung a leg over to the top. "I didn't know climbing trees would be so exhausting !" I say to my friends. Jay was already at the 1st branch waiting for his sister to jump. I took one more look at the ground looking for my father. He wasn't there. Where is he? The branch above me swayed, shaking loose leaves of the branches. I looked up to see him, his warm amber eyes gazed down at me smugly. I took another leap and settled beside him. "How did you do that?" I asked between breaths. He shrugged. "Practise Nutmeg, that's all to it." He led me up to the next branch that was the thickest of all. We waited for the others than we all took a break. "Very good guys! It may took time and effort but if you practise everyday, you'll get stronger and quicker." Since we were were out of breath we just nodded. My father sat up straight and continued. "Now we are in a high spot let check how strong those little muzzles are. When. you are ready tell me all that you can smell. For an alley cat to survive it must recognize any scent, such as finding food or water, knowing if it is poisoned. Scent can also help you in knowing what threats and dangers are out there, cars for example or borderlines, knowing if there is some cat's territory. But today I want to focus on direction, knowing where you are so that you won't get lost in this big city. So who wants to go first?" He asked us. Jay 's ears perked up."I'll go. Okay let's see, I can smell people obviously since we are at the park. I can smell squirrels, a couple of mice, rats, a dog, no wait the dog scent it stale so maybe it was here yesterday." Dad nodded in approval. "'Very good Jay, anyone else?' Violet raised her snout then wiggled it in disgust. "'I smell garbage and a skunk east of here! Pew, those animals really so take a bath! Yuck!" She hissed. My turn. I took a deep breath and let all the scents enter my nose. I noticed the mice and the squirrel that Jay was talking about and the nasty skunk Violet mentioned. Then I noticed other things they didn't say. "I smell birds, they're really close by and I smell... Frost, but his scent is stale." I said in relief. Walnut noded. "Very good, all of you. Now we are going to hunt them.b Nutmeg, since you smell the bird you try to find it, remember you must be light of your feet and be quick because birds can sense the vibrations when you walk. Jay you try to find the squirrel, Violet the mice andleave the rats for me, remember be light abe be quick! Met up here afterwards."
"Yes Walnut."
"Sure dad." we saids in unison. "We followed him down the tree and scattered. I sniffed the air and caught the bird sent again, following its trail to one of the benches. It was a mother robin, she perched on the bench with her growing up chicks practising their flying skills. Aim for the chicks, they can't fly away properly like their mother. I slid into a hunters crouch but the more I watched them the less I wanted to kill them for prey. I watched them fly off in search for food. Now what am I going to bring? My answer popped up from the ground. I grey plump squirrel all alone in the grass chewing at some nut. Letting out a slight purr, I holding my thick tail still as I stalked forward. Soon I was in pouncing range. With no seconds to spare I leaped. The squirrlel gave nothing but squeak of terror before I snapped its neck. It fell limp at my paws. The oozing blood from its neck made my mouth water but I shook my head. I must let dad inspect it first before eating it. I raced across the park to the tree where the others were waiting. I dropped my catch on the pile with the others. Jay twitched his whiskers at my catch. " Have you forgotten what a bird looks like Nut? 'Cause this is not a bird." He teased me. I snorted. "Of course I do Jay, I just lost it that's all" I lied. "Regardless, food is food." My father said. "Now time for next phase. Beside me I have two rats, one is safe to eat the other is crow food. Now just using your nose you got to tell me which is which." He sat back, allowing us in turns take a sniff. The one to the left smell like it has been underground but yet smell tasty. The one to the right smell funny. We pointed with our tails to the rat to the right.
"Good job, you saved us from food poisoning. " My dad said proudly.
"Now take a break and eat your catch." We settled down and began to eat. "Have you found Patches yet?" Violet asked between bites. I shook my head sadly. I felt Jay's tail rested on my shoulder reassuring me. "Don't worry Nut, he'll show up eventually."
My mind went back to the last time I talked to Patches. I remember how strange he was. Saying he was finding out the truth behind the banishment of Frost. What did he ment by that? Doesn't he not trust Dad?