Cat's Cradle

As the sun appeared over the golden brown grass, its rays hugged the earth in a warm hug. The birds called back and flew into the large barn that cast a long shadow over the black and white cows that hungrily chewed on the bright green grass, like a lawn mower cutting the grass.
A screen door slamming broke the silence of the morning. The leather boots of the farmer made a rhythm on the gravel trail to the barn. Following behind him, a handsome old bloodhound trotted along. The farmer was heading towards the bright red barn, where the clucking of the chickens can be heard. Inside the barn, a sleek tom cat darted into the hay bale.
Nestled deep within the warm straw, a young female was cured into a ball, her belly large. The she-cat was so still that the only way to tell she was alive was the soft rising the lowering of her chest. Her fur was long and looked silky; the pelt was a beautiful ash grey.
The rustle of the hay made her head snap up, her ears alert and her bright green eyes shone, ready to run at any second. But the movement was caused by her mate. His laws were overflowing with fresh prey. He dropped the prey next to her paws and lied down next to her, tucking his paws under his chest.
???Good job hunting.??? She mewed taking a plump mouse and started to eat.
???Thank you.??? The tom replied as he sat up. He licked his paw and swiped it over his face.
???Ashton, guess what????
???What????
???The kits will be due any day now!??? She exclaimed happily.
???That???s great Ashleigh!??? Ashton mewed and licked her ears. Smiling at each other, they waited until the farmer left with the eggs like he did every morning.
???Do you think the farmer left???? Ashleigh asked, as she cowered behind her mate, their pelts mixing into one grey cat.
???I think so. Let me go check.??? Ashton mewed with confidence, and stalked into the straw.
???Be careful!??? She called behind him, as he disappeared. It was quiet, but then she heard a yowl. Terrified, she ran out and found her mate fighting with the hound.
With her fur raised she hissed and joined in the fight. Jumping into the back of the dog, she bit into the scruff of the dog. The dog howled in pain and shook her off sending her flying into the wall of the barn. Ashleigh landed with a thud and started to get up when the mutt leaped at Ashton and tossed him twice as hard against the wall. With a success of defeating the intruders the dog walked to the opening of the barn. ???Take care little kitty, and never ever come back.??? It growled and walked away.
The limp body of Ashton lies next to her, not breathing. Ashleigh poked and probed the side of her mate but he wouldn???t stir.
???No, no, no.??? She muttered and licked the face of the tom. ???Wake up, wake up! The kits need you! I need you.??? But she knew he was dead, he joined his ancestors in the sky.
Knowing the dog would come back, Ashleigh took off running; her tail streaming behind her, along with her fur. She didn???t know where she was going, she didnt know if there would be any prey where she stopped, and she doesnt know if she could support the kits when they arrive.


As the sun started to set, and the animals retreated back to their families, Ashleigh curled up for the night in an old broken down shed. The hoots of the owls, and the cry of the coyotes in the distance frightened her deeper into the shadows.
Throughout her sleep, she recalled the horrible accident that had killed Ashton, but instead of running, the farmer had come back for her. As the farmer reached his hand down to seize her, she awoke. Breathing heavily, she got up and launched into hunting.
As the morning approached, Ashleigh???s belly was full as well as she was well rested. With a stretch, she started off. Seeing that the sun was slowly rising in the sky, Ashleigh was forthcoming a busy path. The whoosh of the cars, made the fur on her body be tangled in knots. ???Now what do I do???? She asked herself as she cowered in the bushes. Thinking to herself, she saw a group of cats cross when there were no cars on top of the road. ???Uh, that might work.??? Ashleigh crawled up towards the highway and glanced both ways. No vehicles. Smiling, she dashed across. Breathing heavily, she finished to the other side. ???That was good.??? Panting she continued on her voyage.
As the sun started to set, Ashleigh parked herself on top of a hill, studying it as it lowered into the land. She turned around and hiked down the hill into a log for a den. In the interior, sat a layer of prairie grass as a nest. Ashleigh curled up, wrapped her fluffy tail over her nose and fell into a shallow sleep. That night, her stomach woke her many times during the night; she wasn???t hungry, it was that the kits liked to push their paws everywhere.
Upon the earth???s awaking, Ashleigh was emerging from a bush with a rabbit in her maw. The earth was blowing gusts upon gusts of air, the trees bent in every direction and the coat on her body was sleeked back, making her look very skinny. Her whiskers were plastered against her face. She jogged into her burrow. Shaking her pelt as she tread in, ???Stupid wind.??? Ashleigh devoured her rabbit. Licking her chops, she returned into the wild.
The wind was so strong; Ashleigh could only walk a little ways. The clouds began to turn a dark grey. ???I have to stop for the night.??? Ashleigh said to herself, but when the clouds started let go of the rain, first a drizzle then to a slow pace rain. Franticly, she looked around for a place to stay. To her left she saw a small burrow the rock wall. Ashleigh squeezed in, and shook her pelt.
???Watch it!??? A voice called out in the dark. Widening her eyes, she saw a small fox. Its fur was a blazing orange, with her feathery tail.
???Sorry,??? Ashleigh apologized, ???I didn???t know you were here.???
???It???s okay. Name???s India.??? She barked, as she walked over.
???Nice to meet you. My name is Ashleigh. What are you doing here???? Ashleigh tipped her head to one side.
???Well Ashleigh, my leash and I were separated during the hunting season. When it started to rain, I came here. What about you????
???I lived in a barn a long ways away. I lived with my mate, but one day, he was killed by the farmer???s canine. I started to run, but I have been having trouble, since I am due with a litter of kits.???
???Wow,??? India paused, ???Your story is worse than mine. Where are you off to next????
???I don???t know. I hope some where safe.??? Ashleigh mewed, looking at her paws. ???What about you? Do you have any plans????
???No, I was wondering if I could come with you.??? Like Ashleigh, India looked at her paws, kneading them in the dirt.
???Of cobroccoli is sooo cool you can come with me! I would love the company.??? She said excitedly.
???Great!??? Then there was a low rumble, ???Sorry, I???m a little hungry.???
???I???ll go get us some prey, if you go find us some dry bedding.???
???Okay! Meet you back here!??? Then they set off, at their separate tasks.
When they both got back, the fur on both their bodies was plastered against them. Shaking their bodies, both their pelts stood up making them look huge. Laughing at each other, Ashleigh and India made beds and ate a great feast.
The soft rhythm of the rain, made Ashleigh set off into a nice deep sleep.

As soon as Ashleigh and India awoke from one of the best nights, it was still raining, but this time there were the brothers of Lightning and Thunder.
???Great it???s raining still.??? India complained,
???I know! Maybe we should stock up on some stuff, and stay here for a while. I mean, I slept splendid last night.??? Ashleigh said as she arched her back.
???Me too. How about I go get some soft bedding and you can go get the prey? You???re superior at hunting, me not so much.???
???Okay. Anyways, I like to hunt. Plus you make magnificent beds. They where springy last night.???
???Thanks, let???s go!??? Once again, they sprinted off to do their errands.

Throughout the morning, and in the early afternoon, the rain didn???t let up, it got worse. The thunder was twice as loud and the lightning caused everything or everyone to run for their life. Ashleigh and India stayed inside, ate a wonderful meal, and were warm and dry.
???What a boring day.??? India complained as she stretched, reaching her paws to the opposite wall.
???I know, but at least if it is nice tomorrow, we can leave right away. Plus we won???t have to hunt and waste energy.??? Ashleigh said back as she kneaded her bed. ???We???ll get a lot of rest and can move fast. It might be a little wet but that will keep us cool.???
???I need to stay positive.??? She thought to herself;
???Okay. Well, we should go to sleep earlier.??? Both girls nodded and hid under the grass and drifted off. Ashleigh learned that India snores softly while she sleeps. It???s more of a deep breath and a loud exhale.

???Good morning sleepy head.??? India blinked gradually as she saw a blurry Ashleigh gazing down upon her.
???Go away.??? She turned her head away, and groaned.
???No, get up!??? Ashleigh shook her pelt and the dew got India sopping wet.
???Fine!??? As she got up, her nose showed her a banquet of rabbit and mice. ???Wow, you were busy this morning!???
???No problem. Hurry up. It???s very nice outside.??? Ashleigh mewed as she bonded outside.
???Okay.??? India wolfed down her meal and followed her friend outside. ???It is nice!??? The green rolling hills went as far the eye could see, and the grass swayed in the soft spring breeze.
Smiling, the girls strolled off. ???When are the kits due???? India asked,
???I???m not sure, but I know very soon.??? Ashleigh said looking at her. ???I hope not to soon.???
???I can help you raise the kits.???
???That would be very kind of you.??? A silence arose from them,
???We???re boring.??? India said suddenly,
???I know but-???Then she stopped unexpectedly when the two came to a dark forest.
???Uh oh.??? India barked, ???Now what do we do????
???Keep going. I can see the other side from here. Just run and I will meet you at the other end.???
???Okay, 1??? 2??? 3!??? They both set off.
The forest was very thick and dark, Ashleigh had to keep alert and doge trees or jump over rocks or fallen trees. When she burst through the thick woods, Ashleigh came to a nice flowering prairie. As she slowly walked forward, in awe by the beauty, India ran into her.
???Ouch,??? India muttered and shook her head, ???Oh my gosh. This is beautiful!???
???I know. Let???s keep going.??? Ashleigh said quietly, as they slowly padded in the prairie. At the half way point, she felt a sharp pain in her side, and her pelt rippled.
???India,???
???Yeah,???
???The kits are coming!???