Annette Cats

Stealthily stalking through the undergrowth Isacc was convinced he was being followed. It had been worrying him ever since he was a kitten and now that he was fully grown he was determined to get to the bottom of the mystery. When he was younger he thought his followers where the children of his owners but as he grew older he had learnt how to evade them and escape to his favourite hiding spot without being seen. Isacc had grown up to be a clever cat but it would seem that his pursuer was smarter. Everywhere he went he was alert, eyes bright, ears pricked, whiskers twitching, constantly looking over his shoulder. He knew that he wasn’t in direct danger but exactly what the nature of his pursuer was he could never be certain. He knew he was getting paranoid. Isacc was a clever cat and a very good hunter. There wasn’t anything that he couldn’t catch. Birds fell begging for mercy at his paws, mice fled the garden manically squeaking by the dozen when they saw him coming. He strutted with pride, his back arched and chest puffed out knowing that he was the king of his territory. It was the fish that were his real speciality. Eagerly watching the fish in his favourite pond , tail swishing energetically in excitement he got ready to pluck out a prize specimen. The sun was bright. The water was clear, the shiny backs of the fish below were so very appetising. He licked his lips, saliva flooding his mouth. All he could think about was catching that fish.

Then all of a sudden it struck again. Reflected in the water the shadow moved as quick as lightning. Out of the corner of his eye he caught a glimpse of his tormentor, long and sleek and black as night. Claws instantly drawn, fangs unleashed he leapt round ready to do battle. His pursurer was too quick, already he was behind him again. Leaping round a second time and a third and forth it was always the same. Blazing eyes searched the undergrowth for any sign of movement but once again his foe had melted away. The sound of laughter echoed in his ears. Further up the garden squeals of excited giggling broke the silence as the children came out to play but the laughter in his head was different. This was deep and mocking and somehow all knowing. Confused and dizzy he sat on the grass all thoughts of the fish gone from his mind. He thrashed his tail in anger and frustration, this way and that as it beat on the ground. His eyes were watching, darting everywhere., ready to spring. The laughter grew louder and deeper trying to consume his head. Vigorously shaking his ears he tried to be free of the sound. The strange thing was he thought, was that it was a sound he felt he should know. A sound that guided him. A sound that had followed him around since his conception. A sound that was sometimes familiar but which at the last moment, just as he could remember it slipped from his memory. He shook his head again and sitting on his tail he began to lick his paws. The flies were swarming over the pond and the fish splashed as they raised to the surface. The laughter was suddenly gone and Isacc’s attention was now elsewhere. His belly growled and he went back to the pond. Just let his pursuer come back and torment him. He knew he was a clever cat. He would catch him for sure.