"The Poet's Cat"
Part 1
by Breyll & Vagabond
~ Orli ~
The rain got stronger by the minute. I was already completely
wet to the skin under my thick pelt, but it still managed to increase the
feeling of utter desolation I felt. If I could just find anything to seek
shelter under. But for some reason all things had been moves from the beach.
It seemed the only thing outside on this stormy night was me. A wet, hurt
and desperate cat.
I stopped, to lick my right hindpaw again. It hurt so much. I still was not
sure, what I had stepped into on my run from the shopkeeper, but I had not
managed to completely draw it out with my teeth. What I would have given for
a set of fingers. But that was not within my grasp. Haha.. what a terrible
pun. The wet sand beneath me stuck to my pelt and made me feel even more miserable.
Fuck the rain. Fuck the wind. Fuck this whole cursed life. How had I gotten
into this horrible situation anyway. I still couldn't remember clearly. I
knew, that I had been human, been a young man but I could not remember what
had me gotten into the body of a cat. I got up again and continued to limp
down the beach. There had to be some safe place, where I could wait out the
storm. Preferably without any dogs in it..
~ Viggo ~
The wind rattled the windows and tried to gain access to
my little house on the beach. It tried in vain. With a content smile I settled
into the armchair next to the window and wrapped the warm woolen blanket around
my shoulders. With fascination I watched the sea being whipped more and more
by the powerful storm.
I love the sea. One of the reasons I moved out here a couple of years ago.
Out into this old beach house, where nobody would disturb me. Where I could
do all the things I liked without anybody intruding. Far away from the 'real
world'.
I stretched my legs and sighed happily. Most humans just don't know what they
are missing, when they disregard the small things in life. Like sitting here,
dry and warm, with a cup of hot tea in my hand and a good book in my lap.
Not expecting anything from the world. And knowing that the world did not
expect anything from me...
My gaze swept the beach again and stopped suddenly when I noticed a tiny figure,
that dragged itself along tiredly.
It was a small black cat. Wet and disheveled, and obviously hurt. I felt a
painful stab of sympathy. I am a rather emphatic being. One of the reasons
why I usually stay away from other people.
My gaze followed the pitiful creature for some seconds, as it limped along
the beach, and then I was out of the door. The blanket still wrapped around
my shoulders I fought the storm, which blew icy raindrops into my face mercilessly.
~ Orli ~
Just when I realised, I really didn't have the strength to
go on anymore, I heard it. A voice calling in the wind. A human voice. I looked
in the general direction and noticed a tall man heading towards, wrapped in
a blanket. I was more confused than afraid. Whatever else fate had in store
for me, it couldn't get much worse now, could it? What had I done wrong now,
that this human was coming out into the storm to get me? There was no way
I could run away from him so I just sat down tiredly and watched him approach
carefully, as if not to frighten me.
He made small reassuring sounds in the back of his throat, that were almost
carried away by the storm. I blinked up at him in surprise, when he stopped
a pace away, as if he was afraid I would bolt. "Here, little kitty,"
he crooned softly and held his hand down for me to sniff. Such a sweet gesture.
So full of respect. I carefully sniffed his scent. Strong, musky, very male,
mixed with the smell of tea and paper and some sort of aftershave.
He patiently waited, getting soaked in the process. When I did not shy away
from him, he very tenderly stroked my head and before I knew what I was doing
a low purr escaped me. He couldn't have heard it in the storm, but he smiled,
as if he had. "Such a sweet little thing, all alone." he whispered
to me, kneeling down in front of me. "Now how did you get lost in this
weather?" he asked, as if I could answer, as if he really cared. I rubbed
my tired head against his big hand. Such a friendly human.
~ Viggo ~
'What a strange view the two of us must present.' I thought
with a smile. I moved a bit closer to the cat again, careful not to frighten
it away. Should I try to pick it up? Better not. I would just scare it. But
I couldn't stay outside in this storm any longer either. Even now I was likely
to catch quite a cold.
"What am I going to do with you now?", I asked worriedly and looked
into the strange eyes of the cat. Never before had I seen a cat with eyes
like that. The color of chocolate and full of understanding. And so intense…
A shiver ran down my spine.
The cat purred softly again and licked the finger - with which I was still
caressing it under the chin - with it's raspy tongue.
"Would you like to come with me, little kitty?", I continued speaking
to it confidentially. "My house is warm and comfy. And I'm sure we can
find something to feed you with... What do you think?"
~ Orli ~
I looked up at the human, needing only a second to consider
that offer. Warmth and food for free? What do I look like to you? Like a moron?
I don't know where I drew it from but suddenly I was my most charming self,
pushing against his hand with my head, mewing softy, making it abundantly
clear that I would very much like to come with him.
He smiled down at me and very carefully picked me up. I could tell that he
was not used to carrying an animal, but he was gentle and sweet and smelled
of hearthfire. I snuggled into the crook of his arm and tried to get my hurt
paw as comfortable as possible. So warm. A shiver ran down my spine and I
burrowed even closer to his warm body. He pulled the blanket over both of
us, shielding me from the horrible rain.
And then he quickly carried me over to a house, that radiated friendly light
out into the night. He had some trouble opening the door without dropping
me or the blanket but he managed without crushing me too badly. I was willing
to forgive him next to anything, if he just got me out of the rain. Inside
he carried me into the living room and there sat me down on a table.
I looked around myself curiously. As I had expected there was a small fire
burning in the fireplace, the floor was made of polished wood and mostly covered
by woolen rugs, there was not a lot of furniture, only a big armchair, the
desk I was sitting on and a low table beside the armchair. And lots and lots
of shelves filled with books. They spilled from the shelves, pilling on the
floor and on the desk next to me. It looked really comfortable. And it was
dry and warm.
~ Viggo ~
Now that the little furball was sitting on my table and curiously
watching it's new surroundings, I realized, that I had no idea what I should
do with my guest. But it wouldn't hurt to give it the food, that I had promised.
And some time to adjust to my place. But before that I should find out, how
badly the little thing was hurt.
Carefully I ran my hands over it's wet fur and tried to find out, what it's
hurt was. When I stroked it's right hindpaw, it mewed pitifully and recoiled
a bit. The reason was very clear to see - an inch long wooden spike, deeply
imbedded in the paw.
It nervously tried to avoid my hands, when I tried to pull the splitter out.
But at last it must have realized, that I was only trying to help. It sat
down trembling and allowed me to take the paw. In a heartbeat, I had the splinter
out, and then tried to comfort my little guest with more caressing and soft
words.
"There," I said and nodded reassuringly, "Now let me see if
I can find something to feed you with. Make yourself comfortable." And
with a wink I added: "The armchair is quite comfy. It's my favorite place.
- But you may have it."
As if it had understood what I had said, the cat looked over to the armchair
thoughtfully.
I laughed amazed and shook my head. Cats really were much more intelligent,
then most people gave them credit for. I threw it another amused glance, before
I headed for the kitchen to look for something eatable. And I would have to
find a bandage for that paw...
~ Orli ~
I followed the human with my eyes, till he was out of the
room. Wow. What a incredibly nice specimen of humankind. With a small sigh
I let my eyes wander the room again. The armchair did look inviting, but it
wouldn't do to ruin it with my wet fur.
So I started licking myself dry and cleaning my hurt paw as well. It still
hurt, but not nearly as much has it had before. I soon gave up on my fur.
I was just to wet to really get anything done on that. Thoughtfully I scratched
an itch behind my ear. Wouldn't that be nice, had I caught some fleas as well?
Not very likely, even they would have drowned in that rain.
I heard the man rummaging in a room next door. Probably the kitchen. Hadn't
he said something about getting food? Hmm... nice thought. My belly rumbled,
totally agreeing with me. So I carefully jumped down from the table, not to
hurt my paw again and followed the sounds to the kitchen.
It looked just as nice as the living room. Wooden floor, as big wooden table
with two chairs, counter, a big fridge, potted plants in the window, some
of them probably herbs. The man was standing in front of the open fridge and
gazed into it. I moved over to him and looked into the fridge as well. Maybe
I could help him choose something suitable.
~ Viggo ~
The cheeky little thing curiously put it's nose into the
fridge and studied it's contends. First it sniffed the big cabbage, then thoughtfully
licked the marmalade glass. And then it got up on his hindpaws, bracing the
frontpaws against the fridge and happily eyed the rest of the fried chicken
I had had the day before. It started purring seductively and looked at me.
"I see." I grinned "Only the best for my little guest.",
I declared and sketched a bow. Then I put the rest of the chicken onto a plate
and carried it back to the living room, where I positioned it in front of
the fireplace and watched full of amusement as the little tomcat consumed
the food slowly and happily.
I realized, that I thoroughly enjoyed the unexpected company. I had been living
alone for far to long. "You need a name." I told the chewing cat.
"What would you like? Let me think... hmm.. Oh, but I haven't even introduced
myself. How impolite of me! - I am Viggo.", I explained seriously. It
was nice to talk to someone, who seemed really interested in what I had to
say. Even if he didn't understand.
~ Orli ~
I looked up from the plate, that was next to empty now anyway.
Viggo. A fitting name. A nice name for a nice man. I walked over to him and
when he did not look disturbed jumped onto his lap. What I wouldn't give to
be able to tell him my name. Now we would give me some stupid cat name like
"Kitty" or "Moritz". Fuck.
Never mind. As long as I was welcome in his house I wouldn't mind being called
stupid cat names. In fact right now I was rather happy being a cat. I was
rather sure a young man, curling up in his lap, wouldn't have been welcome.
He started to caress me again, running light fingers across my back, scratching
behind my ear.
I rested my head on his other hand, contently closed my eyes and started purring.
Who would have thought, that that horrible rain would serve a purpose. Maybe
I had found myself a human, who would take me in for a while. Wouldn't that
be nice? Wouldn't that be absolutely wonderful? With these thoughts I drifted
into an exhausted sleep.
~ Viggo ~
The soft, regular purring was having an amazingly calming
effect on me. My eyes were drifting shut, already. And it felt so wonderful
to run my fingers through the soft fur of the cat, that was dry now and had
a silky shine to it.
"Hmm," I continued to consider, "you should have a name that
fits you, little kitty. Names are an important matter, you know? So I think
we should wait with that until tomorrow. – I will try to think of some
nice names and then you can decide which you like best, okay?" Now my
little tom cat was purring so enthusiastically, his whole body was vibrating.
I laughed softly. 'My cat?... well, well Viggo Mortensen, you abandon your
precious loneliness pretty quickly, don't you?', I smiled to myself. Then
I closed my eyes and continued to caress the soft fur beneath my hands. Only
minutes later I was deeply asleep.
If you enjoyed this story, please send feedback to: Beryll & Vagabond
go to PART 2