The Mighty Hunter

by Fern

Twice I ventured down that dark cellar. I know, I know, cats are nocturnal, but that doesn’t mean I have to like the dark. Besides, there are so many noises I spend half my time down there crouching close to the floor. I can hear you now, “What a scaredy cat this one must be.” Well, you are so very wrong about that! Just listen to my story if you dare! Yesterday I prepared myself physically and psychologically for my trip down the stairs. I breathed out and in very deeply three times, mustered my courage, slinked past the door and gingerly made my way down the stairs. Because you can see underneath the stairs, I had to keep a careful eye as I walked. After all, who knows what creatures could be waiting under those stairs. I hit the bottom step and watched and listened for any movement. Suddenly I heard a scraping noise somewhere near the back wall. My ears went up so fast you’d think they were saluting. I scurried upstairs. I wasn’t taking any chances with an unidentified beast. Okay, okay, maybe at that point I was just a bit scared, but there is more to come in this story. I was just a teensy bit embarrassed when both the dog and my sisfur saw me running from the cellar. I know one of them snickered, and I think it was the dog who, we all know, has no manners. I pretended it was an emergency litter box trip but I convinced neither of them. After scratching around in the box to make it look good, I sauntered into the living room. The dog snickered again and wanted to know if I needed her to protect me from the scary boxes in the cellar. I laughed and said I was already on my way back downstairs as we were speaking. With my tail in the air and my dignity in tatters I headed down the cellar a second time. The afternoon had gone by and the cellar was even darker than the first time. The noises seemed amplified. Even the scraping noise was louder. Knowing I could never live it down if I didn’t venture forward, I boldly went where this cat had never gone before. I inched my way across to the other side of the cellar. As I neared, the noise seemed to echo from my head through to my feet. I shuttered but still moved forward. I could just make out something brown against the wall. I decided to throw caution to the wind and leapt forward and attacked. My prey was felled and captured. The paper bag was mine. I had my trophy, my first kill. Never again would that bag blow in the breeze to scare another kitty. I was now a mighty hunter and walked triumphantly back upstairs ears perked, tail upright. Let them dare to snicker now.