Manx
Flash fiction
He could see over the horizon where the
sun was starting to set. The heat of the day would be cooling off. Then he
could head out and hunt.
The only thing was that the night brought
out other hunters as well and they could be a threat to him.
Foxy boy was always on the prowl but never
really a threat. Manx knew his routine pretty good. Grey horn always announced
his arrival with this hoots. Usually
calling over more owls which was the signal to clear out.
Tonight he was going to fallow a certain
other cat who was new to the region. There was no threat from this cat but she
looked interesting and wanted to talk to her. Maybe they could hunt together.
He threw up his nose and sniffed the air
to see what caught in his senses. So far so good.
The moon was now high and the silver light
lit up the path he was on. Dark shadows danced along the trees beside him. He
was sure eyes were following him.
He kept his guard up as he never knew who
he might encounter.
Finally he made his way into clearing
where a small creak gurgled away. His chest jumped to life as he saw her across
the way drinking.
He decided to do the same thing. He kept
one eye on her while he drank, hoping that she would look up.
She never did but then as she turned she
caught his scent. Now she looked his way.
He nodded to her and she swiftly turned
and trotted back into the forest disappearing into the dark.
His ears drooped. Foxy boy came not too
far away, and was having a drink. While he drank, Foxy boy kept his one eye on
him.
“What’s wrong,” he asked. “Something chase
you?”
“No, I was here to see another cat and
hopefully meet them.”
“The one that just left. I would stay away
from her. She is one of them.”
“Them?”
“The magical ones, I’m sure you have heard
of them.”
“Yeah, I have but never saw any so I’m not
so sure they exist.”
“Oh they do, and right now they are
prowling our woods.”
“What are they prowling for?”
“Who knows but I am staying away and so
should you.” He trotted off leaving him with his warning.
Manx shook his head. She didn’t look like
a threat. She looked friendly and if he ever saw her near, he would speak to
her.
He went back down the path and took
another path that would take him to the other side of the creak and maybe he
would see her.
And he got his wish. She was stretched out
on a small hill overlooking the meadow. The moon bathed her white grey muted
fur. Her ear tufts reached out to the night sky. He carefully approached.
Suddenly she leaped up and whirled around
in the air and land on all fours teeth baring.
His ears went flat. “I’m not here to
threaten you.”
He could see her smell him and then stand
up and look at him “Who are you?”
“Manx, I live here. And I just noticed you
and wanted to say hi.”
“Oh, well, hi back.”
“Can we sit together?”
She nodded and he carefully trotted up
beside her and sat down and looked over the meadow.
“Where you watching for something to
hunt?”
“Not really. But if I saw anything, I
would go.”
“Yeah, I thought so. Do you like it here?”
He felt like he was asking dumb questions.
It did make her smile.
“Would you like to hunt with me tonight?”
His ears perked up. “Sure, sound good.”
She shook her head and stood up. Let me
take you to a special place and you will see all about me.”
Manx remembered what Foxy boy said. “Are
you magical?”
Her eyes went wide. “Me? I don’t have any
magic.”
“Okay, let’s go hunt first and then maybe
we can go to your special place.”
Off they went down into the meadow where
they caught some mice and headed to the creak.
They both drank. Now she was going to go
show him her special place.
It was close to the meadow where he met
her. She leaped into the tall grass and rolled around. He did the same. The
grass felt cool and smooth.
When she got back up on her fours, she
looked at him. “Come.”
He followed her and she came to a large
oak tree with an opening in it. She went inside and turned for him to follow.
He got close and sniffed the opening. The
hair stood up on the back of his neck. Manx backed up and he whirled around
running as fast as his feet would carry him.
When he reached the top of the hill
looking down on the forest. There was soft glow coming from the area he had
just ran from.
He was panting. Foxy boy was right. She
was magic and her hunting was for ones like him. He shook his head. Never again
would he pursue her.
Manx did see her after that but he kept
hidden from her.
Another one came up beside her. He knew to
stay away from the magical ones.
He left the area for a while until he
heard it was safe to come back.
TIP JAR:
No comments:
Post a Comment