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I, Choo-Choo - Part Two
by The Libra
JOURNAL ENTRY #6
"Runt of the litter who has been displaced from the Pride" brought in a
familiar looking female human today, the same one who helped me escape
from "Old woman that smells like dying animals". It would appear that
she is also a member of the Pride, but like any respectable female of
the species, goes out and hunts for food while the males stay behind
and...ah...guard the turf. She is a very effective hunter, and managed
to bring her prey in alive, thus keeping it fresh during her trek
through the wilderness outside. I was surprised, of course, to find that
the prey was one of my own species, a young kitten by the name of "shiny
fur that reflects the light in a pattern that makes me want to bat at
it", or Shiny for short.
It was obviously a test to see if I was worthy of being their leader.
The female whom I shall name "Slayer of the young who does not lick her
paws afterward," set the kitten before me, and she and Runt watched
expectantly. Obviously they were testing both my loyalty as well as my
prowess as a fighter. After all, they cannot be bothered with Pridemates
who cannot pull their own weight. In any event, I believe if I am to
lead this Pride I must adapt to their primative ways. I gave an
apologetic nod to Shiny, and then proceded to devour her whole, giving
the two of them a subtle sign that, yes, I am not only an acceptable
Leader, but also that if they want to eat, they must share in the dirty
work as well, for neither of them got to eat from the fresh kill.
It seems that I upset Slayer with my actions, had she a tail, it would
have been swishing. Obviously she was very hungry and expected me to
share. I am not a greedy leader, and apologized by coughing up some of
the bones in her shoes that she left by the moving wall that leads
outside. That way she knows I care, but had to enforce my stance. I will
tolerate no slack within the ranks of my Pride.
In any event, this experience taught me something new. Previously I
believed that their word for the feline species was a strange serious of
sounds that sound like "Choo-Choo Bear," as they rarely seemed to say
this combination of sounds without looking at me, or smelling like they
were referring to me. As it turns out, when another feline was around,
they called it something diffent. I have come to suspect that these
primative creatures actually named me, as I named them!
Still, I cannot let them know I have figured out part of their language,
or it might make my life more difficult. I will endeavor to hide the
knowledge of my name and ignore when they call it out, just in case. A
good leader also knows when to let his Pride talk amongst themselves
while keeping an open ear.
JOURNAL ENTRY #7
Apparently our territory is more expansive than I once believed; a new
Pridemate showed up. I have named her "Eyes that reflect the whole of
the room around her like a still pond of water." There appears to be
some sort of competitive streak within the females of my Pride, for they
both positively reek of The Hunt. Even when they sit still, I can see
their desire to pounce and attack, muscles constantly tensing any time
there is a challenge. They are formidable opponents; their size and
strength matched with their feral nature makes me slightly nervous.
Still, I can show no sign of weakness. I simply will not allow more
females to join the Pride. I can handle two. Runt may or may not be of
some help in this, but three females will be too much to handle. I'll
make a mental note to remove any further ones he brings to our dwelling.
In any event, this new female, Eyes, felt the need to test me as her
leader, before accepting me. This time she brought one of her own.
Shortly after Runt allowed Eyes within the territory, I was suddenly
grabbed and thrust out the door at the prey she had left outside. The
message was quite simple. Kill, or be killed. I cannot imagine how I
have managed to join such a bloody Pride, but I asceded to their wishes
and demonstrated my Prowess once more. Runt and Eyes looked on
approvingly as I began to feast on the remains. This time I left them
some remains to feast upon. I even gave them the best part, the
entrails. This was also a subtle message of what should befall them if
they cross me.
If it is blood they wish for, it is blood they shall have. For I am
Choo-Choo Bear, and this is my Pride.
JOURNAL ENTRY #8
There have been a lot of events lately. Truly I live in Interesting
Times.
Apparently there has been a vie for power amongst the females of our
Pride. No doubt they were deciding over who would have the honor of
breeding the new litter. I'm wasn't quite certain how to demonstrate to
them that this is not physically possible, their minds simply cannot
comprehend higher sciences like us felines. Still, if biology has taught
me nothing else, I've learned that females must be allowed their
hormones occasionally. Imagine my great relief and surprise that Slayer
and Eyes were not quarreling over me, but rather over Runt.
Though it is my honor as Leader of the Pride to be the only one to mate
with the females, I really don't see any point in enforcing this towards
the humans. Let Runt have his fun with them, as long as they all know
who the leader is. Runt, however, had different plans.
Both females arrived with fire in their eyes and claws extended. I
watched, idly, from the comfort of Runt's lap as they yowled and hissed
at one another. I'm not sure which would have won, but I know from
Runt's scent that he was angry. Though he has been desperate to mate
since I've joined the Pride, he could not tolerate this lack of poise
and respect around their Leader.
I now know that I can trust him with anything. In the face of these two
formidable females, he stood with me in combat against them. Together we
showed Slayer and Eyes that disrespect towards me would not be tolerated
under any circumstances. It was a lesson hard-learned for the two of
them, but one they must heed if they wish to remain a part of the Pride.
JOURNAL ENTRY #9
I had no idea it would come to this.
It should have occurred to me before now! Before I arrived, Runt was the
Leader of the Pride. My arrival and subsequent coup has placed him in
the category of recessive male. He still has not mated with either of
the two females, though I can tell by his scent that he would not mind
it. When he left yesterday, I had my suspicions. He took his collection
of dead prey and left with a certain scent that said "Goodbye".
And then he left.
My closest friend and adopted brother. My pridemate and enforcer. My
most trusted lieutenant. Gone.
I know why he left. I have taken over his Pride, but the blood of a
leader rages within him too. Rather than betray and turn on me, his
Choo-choo, he would rather leave to form a new Pride of his own. Though
I am proud of him for his ambition, and wish him well in his newfound
quest, I am so saddened by his absence. The dwelling seems empty without
his constant running about.
Now an intruder has come into the dwelling, a new male human, though
distinctly familiar. I do not like his scent, never have. Now, without
my enforcer and friend, this stranger whom I have named "mostly Hairless
male human except in the area of his mouth," comes over, scouting out
the territory.
I do not have the heart to kill him right now. I only wish to grieve.
Let Hairless scout for now, I will deal with him later. Should he try to
touch me again I will have to forego my grieving period and slay him. I
wish to avoid this, though, as I'm not certain I can eat the whole thing
before it spoils.
JOURNAL ENTRY #10
Runt came back! Runt came back! Oh the happy times ahead. I was so
excited when he returned I ran to the bathroom to urinate on his towel
as a sign of our bond as Pridemates. This excited him as well and we
wrestled a bit as he shouted in what could only be glee, occasionally
pointing at the towel with his other paw.
Since then, it has been fairly slow times. Life has returned to normal,
the females are behaving and I've been introduced to a few new
Pridemates. I've done a fairly good job of keeping the number of females
down to two. Occasionally one will come in that I recognize, but they
are from different Prides.
Sometimes though, some stray female will follow Runt to our territory
and I will have to drive her back out in order to protect the social
pecking order. Runt must have gotten it out of his system for a while
and wasn't actually intending on leaving the Pride forever.
I really am happy here. It was terrible to be without my little Runt,
but it's nice to see he's all grown up now. And now, for a nice relaxing
nap in the shampoo bottle.
Back to Part I.
Back to Art Page.
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