The cat moved slowly toward Chakik, carefully placing each paw as it closed the gap between them. The little squirrel was surprised to find himself marveling at the way the cat moved. It’s body was fluid graceful motions as it stalked him, it’s sleek tail a smoothly curving line behind it. Why he would think about this strange beauty when he should be running for his life puzzled the little squirrel, but he continued to lay flat against the ground, motionless, awaiting this new fate. The cat continued it’s purposeful approach until it was nearly on top of Chakik. It peered down with gleaming jade green eyes and sniffed at him.
“You are not one of them, are you? Hrrrmmmm?” the cat purred. It took the little squirrel a moment to break his mind free to try and respond.
“Um..wha…what?”
“You are much too dirty to be one of them,” it said rather sweetly, as it continued to watch him intently. Chakik slowly turned his head too look at himself, he was completely caked in dirt and debris from being buried alive, he had not even had a chance to think about himself since he was released from that prison. He realized his cheeks still held a large quantity of the rock squirrel’s food in them, and began to spit it out as fast as he could. The cat jumped back a bit as acorns and other nuts and food piled up between them. “Merrrrow, no, you are definitely different.” The cat sauntered around the pile and again was right on top of Chakik, who sat up slowly, sensing no danger from this intriguing creature. He tried to shake some of the dirt from his tail but it was smashed in too deeply. The little squirrel looked up timidly at the cat marveling again at its shiny black fur; steaks of purples and dark blues glinted in the light where it’s body curved.
“I’m Chakik,” he said, not knowing what else to do or say in such a strange situation. “Your fur is beautiful.” he found himself blurting out, as nerves and shock got the better of him. The cat eyed him curiously, sat down, and laughed, showing it’s mouthful of very white, very sharp teeth.
“Hrrrmmmm. Why thank you… Chakik.” it said, running it’s tongue over those sharp teeth as it said his name. “You are a long way from home little one.” Chakik wondered how the cat could possibly know that, but said nothing. There was a long pause as the cat simply sat and stared at the squirrel, after a minute Chakik realized he had been holding his breath and let out a huge sigh. The cat grinned at this, again showing it’s teeth, Chakik shrunk back from it a bit. “Don’t worry I’m not going to eat you,” said the cat “You are much too filthy to eat.” And with that the tension was broken and both animals began to laugh.
Chakik could not remember the last time he had laughed and found that he could not stop, he fell onto the ground laughing so hard that it brought tears to his eyes. He clutched his paws to his filthy belly trying to control himself but the laughter would not stop. It was releasing all the dark energies, thoughts, and experiences he had been through, and it felt good. Panting and breathless, he finally got himself under control and looked up at the black cat still sitting in front of him.
“Thank you.” he said. Chakik tried to brush some of the dirt from his belly but it was futile, he needed a good bath. “Why are you here? Who are you?” The cat’s tail slowly curled back and forth as it considered the little squirrel’s question.
“Why are any of us here? I enjoy playing with these squirrels, they have become rather bold recently and need reminders of where they stand. Especially that one…” she said and gestured toward where the mottled leader squirrel should have been laying, but his body was not there. He was gone! The cat let out a sigh. “Tough nut that one, you may want to get moving along.” The little squirrel blinked up at the cat, so much had happened so quickly since his release from his underground prison he was still having trouble thinking straight. Here he was talking to a strange cat with shining indigo fur, not an everyday occurrence for a squirrel. He had seen the leader squirrel tossed like a rag doll in the grip of the cat and thought him dead. If that squirrel was still alive he would surely come after Chakik, the cat was right, he needed to get out of here. As his brain was processing all these thoughts he realized the cat was slowly walking away from him.
“Wait, where are you going? I still don’t know your name.” Chakik called after the cat.
“I am going for now, I have a feeling we will cross paws again,” the cat said as it padded off, “You can call me Nebula.” With that the cat leapt over a rock and a root and disappeared into the woods. Chakik sat for a moment, still having trouble processing everything.
The sounds of claws scraping on rocks and dirt rose suddenly from the hole into the rock squirrel’s den that Nebula had created. The battered and bloody shape of the leader squirrel appeared, quickly followed by a swarm of other squirrels. They all charged at Chakik.