Empress

She set her paw down gently. Her tail whisked back and forth. The mouse was just past the layer of ferns. She crept closer. Her prey’s whiskers twitched and it lifted its head to the air. She was in risk of being discovered. Its head snapped upward and then she was upon it. It let out a squeak of fear. Her jaws sunk into its flesh. She savored the flavor, the mouse would never bother anyone again. Slowly she set to eating it, relishing in each bite, each burst of flavor. When she finished she buried what remained of the mouse. Slowly she meandered through the forest. Her belly was full and she was happy. Suddenly from out of one of the bushes burst her brother, Pumpkin.

“Empress, Empress! You’ll never believe it!”

“What is it Pumpkin?”

Her brother could be so rambunctious. She on the other hand preferred to keep her distance from new things.

“The humans have been giving me new treats! I got something called… pepperoni.”

“Nice.”

“They are such nice owners!”

“No they’re not! I told you! They are our subjects!”

“But… they feed us and they pet us!”

“Cause I command them to!”

“Come on Empress! They are really nice! Other cats in the neighborhood always have to live indoors! They let us be outdoor cats.”

“I don’t care! You’re an obedient dog!”

“Dog?! I’m not a dog!”

“Yeah you are! You’ll do anything for a treat, and you’re always obeying them!”

“No I’m not!”

“Yeah right. Mr. Obedient dog.”

“Well you’re… you’re a scaredy cat!”

“At least I’m a cat!”

Then she sprinted off to cool down. Pumpkin was so stupid! All he cared about was getting treats! She headed towards the road. She hated the noise the beings with round paws made, or the loud ones as she and Pumpkin liked to call them. She always stayed far away from them, so she knew it would be the last place Pumpkin would look for her, and right now she didn’t want to see Pumpkin.

She was so focused on her thoughts she didn’t realize the loud being that stopped beside her. She didn’t realize them getting out of the loud being. But she did realize when they started to pick her up.

“Hey!” she yowled. “What do you think you’re doing?!”

“I’ve got it!” the human shouted.

“Good, come, bring it in,” the driver replied.

“Let me go, you ugly rats! You little–”

Her insults were cut off as she was yanked backwards and into the loud thing.

“The poor thing must be lost,” the driver said with sympathy.

“Lost?! I’m not lost, you dumb human! I’ve never been lost in my life!” she hissed.

“Hey what’s this? It looks like it might have a collar,” the human who was holding her said as they reached their hand towards her neck.

Just as his hand got close enough she bit him, as hard as she could. They let out a yelp, and quickly drew their hand away. She started to squirm her paws free from its grasp.

“Hurry Sharon, it's getting free!”

“We’re here! We’re here!” the driver shouted as they ran out of the car and came around to the side of her captor. She squirmed as much as she could but the woman’s hands had soon clasped around her, and she was transitioned to a new person.

“Let me go you stupid human!!”

Soon she was inside what her owne–subjects called a house. She was placed down on the ground. She slid around on the wood look-alike surface.

“Hey… it does have a collar… you’re right,” the woman said.

“I tried to read it but it bit me.”

“Let me try.”

The woman reached a hand out toward her, she was tempted to bite it as well, but she knew this might be the only way for her to get back to her old home. Back to Pumpkin, who even though they disagreed with each other from time to time she still loved. So she swallowed her nerves down and let the woman read her tag.

“It says… “I am an outdoor cat, please do not feed me or take me into your home, if found hurt please call… 566 394 5739.”

She drew away from the human. This would be it. Would they let her go?

“She’s an outdoor cat?” the woman wondered aloud.

“It seems so.”

“Doesn’t that feel irresponsible."

“It does.”

“This poor cutie would be better off living with us wouldn't she?”

“Yes, it certainly seems safer.”

“Then she’ll live here!”

“NO!” she yowled. “I DON’T WANT TO LIVE WITH YOU DUMB HUMANS! I WANT TO GO BACK TO MY REAL HOME! TO PUMPKIN! TO MY–my owners…”

“Why, it seems to really be riled up about something doesn’t it?” the man asked.

“It’s probably excited to have a nice warm home.”

“No! No I’m not you ignorant human! I want to go back to my real home!”

She ran over towards a sliding door, she recognized it from her owner's house. This was where she could be let in and out of the house when she wanted. She started to jump up and paw at the door. It always got her owners attention. And after she did it they would always let her out. Maybe it would work with these humans.

“Aww the poor thing is nervous.”

“No I’m not! Let me out of this crazy place!” she cried.

Suddenly on the other side of the glass door appeared Pumpkin.

“Pumpkin? Why are you here?”

“When I heard you shout I ran towards you, only to see a car pull away with you in it! What’s going on?!” came Pumpkin's muffled voice through the glass.

“These dummies have catnapped me!”

“We got to get you out of there!”

“But how?”

“Hmm, that cat also looks lost. Do you think they know each other?” the woman asked.

“Maybe we should adopt them as well.”

“Yes! That’s a great idea, afterall this fellow would be lonely without a friend.”

“Pumpkin! They are going to open the door to catnap you too! Don’t come in! I’ll jump out and then we can run away.”

The woman opened the door and the man put an arm in front of her to keep her away. As if that would stop her. She jumped the man's arm and ran out to Pumpkin.

“Run!” she shouted.

And they did. Back to their home, and back to their owners. The ones that let them have their freedom.

“Hey Pumpkin, I’m sorry for fighting with you.”

“Me too.”

“I love you.”

“I love you too.”

And then they sprinted off into the forest.