The Story of Tiberius

Chapter 73

For a month and a half, Tiberius and Ivory would hang out together up on the rooftop everyday once the sun had gone down and the moon began her reign with her subjects the stars. The red tailed hawk and the sphynx cat had become close friends in the time that they knew each other. And it didn't matter what the weather was outside. Ivory made it her mission to visit Tiberius every night, never once failing. The pair would play around on the roof sometimes, carefully though due to the hawk's talons. If it was raining, they would stay in the shed and talk to each other about their interests. They comforted one another when one was feeling down and they would share jokes and stories to lighten the mood. Their favorite pasttime was gazing up at the stars above.

It was one of those nights perfect for stargazing. Laying on their backs on the rooftop, Tiberius and Ivory had their eyes on the stars high above their heads. Watching one shoot across the sky, Tiberius murmured, "You better make a wish." He glanced over at the feline laying beside him. Biting her lip while her forehead scrunched up as she thought, Ivory replied, "I wish-"

"You're not supposed to say what you're wishing for out loud or else it won't come true," Tiberius pointed out. Making a sound that was a mix between a purr and a chuckle, Ivory gently batted him with one small paw on his beak. Looking back up at the stars, she replied, "Honestly, I don't care. I want it to come true so badly that I might even yowl it at the top of my lungs."

"Oh really?"

"Yeah. Want to hear it?"

"I have a feeling you're gonna tell me even if I say no."

"You know me so well."

"We've only known each other for a month and a half."

"Fair enough."

"Alright, what did you wish for?"

"I wished that," Ivory spoke softly while Tiberius listened, "I could have a life where I was free, like you." At that last part, she had turned her bright blue eyes towards the red tailed hawk, who had a look of surprise on his face. Finding his voice, the hawk mumbled, "You're more free than what I am. I'm domesticated, remember?"

"Yet you have more freedoms than I could ever have with... the Alley Cats..." Ivory murmured. Her voice was heavy with sadness. Tiberius knew instantly that she was talking about her mate Rex the Ruthless. There were some nights where the hairless feline had come up to the roof with tears in her blue eyes. One night she had several bruises after having been in a fight with her mate. She often would tell the hawk how badly she wanted to leave the Alley Cats but she was too scared to be on her own and too afraid of what Rex would do to her. Seeing that her eyes were already tearing up at the thoughts she was having in her head, Tiberius quietly wrapped one wing around Ivory and pulled her into an embrace. Hugging the red tailed hawk back, the cat looked up at him and sighed softly as she mumbled, "What would you wish for?"

Gazing up at the stars above when she had asked that, Tiberius thought for a moment before looking down at Ivory and replying softly, "I think I would wish for the same thing as you. A better life."