Grand County Library Children's Corner

The leaves of a large rose of Sharon rustled gently in the wind, its deep lavender flowers twitching involuntarily. The flowers were late, as summer was dying slowly in the clutches of fall. My bike's brakes squeaked as Sylvia and I stopped. A telltale sign of movement in the tangle of lush vegetation that surrounded the nearby house had caught my eye. Sylvia must have noticed it too, for her eyes were alert, searching through the trees and grasses. All our nerves were on edge. If it had been just any movement, we would have passed it by, but this was the movement of a cat. We were searching for cats. This area of town had long been abandoned by the majestic bands of felines, living free and wild in family, friend, or mate groups we called clans. There were four of the clans, Iron Clan, Forest Clan, Desert Clan, and Shadow Clan. All the clans were named for where they lived. You see, we were the cat followers. I had learned from a magazine and my own discovery the basic tones and meanings of "cat speak", and could imitate them to a point, thus being able to, in a vague sort of way, communicate. Sylvia's sounds and postures were more amateur, and often dissolved into aimless mewing. There it was again, a rustling in the bushes. An orange and black striped tail swooped into view, then disappeared behind a great oak. Moss clung to its tan sides in green tendrils, sucking at the bark and dripping green tinged water droplets. A great roof of leaves stretched out between wondrous branches, making a pool of shade as black as ebony. It was obviously the centerpiece of the forested side yard. We crept forward onto the private property, not caring whose it was. Vines whipped at our bare necks as we pushed them aside and spined bushes tore at our flesh. After a hard journey often feet which took us almost a minute, we reached the tree. Its great branches burst forth into the sky, the green tinted sun rays shining like emeralds as they turned the leaves into glittering tapestries of green, gold and blue. And there, in the heavy shadow of the tree giant, was an even more beautiful sight. Five kittens, playing and sleeping in the shade. One had a coat that glowed like a ruby and eyes that shone with a hidden fire. His name became Fire Eye, and he was the one that had shown us the hiding place. He had a brave but reckless air about him. Another had a patchy coat that melded from gray to white. She seemed a bit shy. We named her Mist Shadow. Another had a coat as black as the shadow she lay in, but I couldn't tell what she was like. She seemed like she knew everything about me with that stare, yet she said not a word. Shadow became her name. Another's pelt was an icy white, but it looked warm some how. She was an obvious comedian, and was named Snowflake. And the last one had bold stripes of black and red, and she seemed the very image of Fire Eye. Tiger Back became the name she bore. The kits did not all take to us immediately, but then again, that was truly good, for it meant that they where not fully domesticated. "Wow, look at all of them!" whispered Sylvia as we slowly approached them. The kittens drew back in surprise, their mews echoing pitifully in the silence. Slowly, I clicked my fingers, then, kneeling down, mewed a song that I had learned from Pitch's mate when I heard her sing it to her kitten. It was a motherly song, that was meant to help kits when they where afraid of something. The words are not all yet clear to me, but, as best I know it, it goes something like this: "Sleep, oh child of the moonlight, child of midnight, soon the time will be right." My singing was terrible, but it seemed to sooth the small kittens. Fire Eye reached a tentative paw towards me, then another, then another, until he was standing at my knees. He mewed something, then quietly curled up in my lap.

The other kittens came too, their pelts glistening like four jewels, a ruby, a pearl, a shard of blue quartz, and polished lava. We pet them gently as they purred with delight. All but one... Her eyes shone like deep green pools, swirling and changing like ball lightning, but their bottoms never showed. They gave a glimpse of a deep knowledge that a mere human could never perceive, but maybe a cat could. I approached gently, mewing what I hoped where words of assurance. She drew back as I came closer, and a dark fire I hadn't seen before glowed in her narrowed eyes. Her ears twitched suddenly, as if she'd heard something, and, in the moment my glance was directed away from her, she leapt into the safety of the branches of a juniper. Her small head peered out from the from the scented needles like a lump of coal, and her laughing eyes mocked me. I turned to the other kittens, leaving the mysterious Shadow to herself. Snowflake somersaulted across the ground, play fighting with Mist Shadow. It was an easy win, she tossed the timid kit high into the air, to land on a ragged sofa left out for them to play on. Fire Eye jumped onto the armrest, his claws, still as sharp as a kitten's senses, raking little frayed marks into the morning sky blue fabric. His orange pelt flashed as he pounced onto the disgruntled Mist Shadow. Tiger Back rolled down the top to send him sprawling on the ground as Snowflake gnawed on a scrap of leather. The kittens spoke in a youngster sort of speech which would make them hard to understand even to another cat, making it almost imposable for me to understand them. That is, all except for Shadow. Her postures where perfect, but I had not heard her mew. Strange. But, as the sun set slowly over the blood red rims, we knew that Mom would begin to have a fit if we weren't home soon. Mewing our goodbyes to the kittens, we pedaled the few blocks home, the mystery of Shadow still itching in my mind.

The next day we could not return, nor the next, nor the next. Finally, after a three days wait, we were able to return. Our bikes sped down the road as we searched for the sings of feline presence. A tree branch twitched quickly, then lay still, its long, emerald green leaves swaying gently in the breeze. I stopped my bike, peering through the deep greens in search of a sign of movement. Vines hung stilly, their slime coated strands draped over rotting logs and clusters of earthy mushrooms. Suddenly, I felt the soft kiss of a breath touch my neck. I turned my head to see Snowflake, perched in a smooth, ashen tree, its silver blue leaves spinning like disused bells. Her face shone with a stolen sliver of moonlight, and she leapt onto my shoulders. The surprise sent me tumbling. Snowflake mewed with delight and scampered off into the bushes to find her comrades. Soon, the trees and ground were covered with little kits, laugh-purring in that strange little way of theirs. "Fallen oak!" Mist Shadow giggled, "Sleeping giant!" mewed Tiger Back. Shadow was silent. I couldn't help smiling too, but then I noticed Sylvia laughing and scowled. The kittens began to play as usual, and now we dared to play with them. The kits were incredibly interested in the old trailer left in their forest. It was simply a large metal and wooded plank with two wheels and a railing attached. But, the kittens loved it, clambering all around it in their mad frenzy. Snowflake rolled down the slanted side, scattering the others into the air. Then, seeing that she had the trailer to herself, she charged up to its peak and catapulted herself off. She thudded into a fern bush, and, to the relief of the other kits, did not get up. They all scrambled happily onto the scrap metal toy. All except one. Shadow lay on the branch of a monstrous sycamore, its trunk knurled and ragged, great swelling bumps bursting forth into the brisk evening air, and knotholes twisting down to burrow themselves deep in the ancient wood. The tree's wondrous branches twisted and stretched themselves, their claws etched across the sleet gray sky. Her arms glistened darkly as they caught the silver rays of the sun's final struggle to survive. Her eyes never blinked, their piercing emerald rays burning into my flesh, but not with hatred, with something else. Though she was only a kitten, I could tell she was far wiser than any mortal human. She seemed to see into my very being, my very soul, and she seemed to be taking it out and examining it, piece by piece. Her eyes narrowed, then widened, then, for the first time, blinked! She leapt with feline grace down from the tree and tentatively stepped towards me. I reached out my hand and clicked gently to her, urging her on. Gently, she nuzzled her head against my knee. She purred something out, then delicately placed her paws on my lap. She would never sit on anyone's, I was told. As I sat there, with my back against a moss coated fern, something changed in me. I would never look at a cat in the same way again.

The other kits played happily, their gleaming pelts dancing in the cool air. Fire Eye and Snowflake play fought, their eyes wild with the exhilaration of the battle. Their pelts bristled as their bodies twisted and writhed in a dance of death. Snowflake snapped her jaws shut in a mock bite to the neck and held on, crushing Fire Eyes spine in her mighty teeth. But the orange warrior was ready for her. He swung his back legs up in a vicious kick, sending the mound of pearl white fur sprawling. Then, in a victory charge, he slammed his body into Snowflake's, thrusting his paws upward and sending the unfortunate kitten catapulting through the air. It was an incredible show of might and ferocity that I had never seen a cat of his size accomplish before. His eyes gleamed triumphantly as he pranced around the clearing, making the other kittens cringe with fear as he howled a jubilant battle cry. He swaggered up to Shadow, ready for a final stab of terror. But Shadow simply stared him in the eye, her face portraying only calm. Her smooth, supple features did not distort with even the slightest notion of fear. Fire Eye turned away in disgust, but his eyes burned with a rage that could mean future rivalries.

I walked through the shaded grove of Russian olive trees, the silvery leaves dangling sweetly for pale white branches, their needle sharp spines guarding the tender fruit faithfully. I quietly plucked a cluster, and devoured their sweet and succulent taste. What will become of the kittens? I wondered, They all have a touch of destiny about them. I followed Sylvia and the kits to the driveway in front of their semi-owners' house. It was a stretch of the kittens' land that we had not yet visited, but had seen quite a few times. The kits rolled and fought in the sunshine, but I noticed a certain area that they avoided. It was a shadowed corner of the drive, near where a trailer was parked, its mud caked wheels reeking as its engine leaked steaming gas onto the concrete. A brick wall extended from the earth to its right, moss and ivy scaling the red bricks in emerald green tendrils, roping around corners and twisting like a writhing mass of snakes, but it was eternally still. I crept closer to the strange place, the dark shadows swirling in a pool of purple ebony. As my eyes adjusted to the darkness, I saw a cat, as dark as the blackness around him, but with a piercing neck, as white as ivory. One of his cheeks was also white, and he bore a white stripe on his nose, but the other cheek, with the exception of a white stripe on its bottom, was pitch black, and his nose was stained with a strange black spot on that side. Iron hard muscle and sinew rippled under his pelt every time he flexed one of his powerful paws. From his mouth came two monstrous fangs, at least half an inch in length, their pearly points gleaming darkly. He had the eyes of a hawk, ever moving, their ebony slits missing nothing. He had been watching the kittens, but when I stepped into his shadow, they swiveled around and fixed on me. His eyes burned with green fire, but I gently reached my hand down and caressed his flank, murmuring words of comfort. His muscles relaxed, but I could still feel his eyes, watching, watching. And even as I left, I knew his eyes were there, watching, watching.

We rode off into a golden sunset, Sylvia's mind filled with play, but mine still reverberating with countless mysterious questions. At home, we rallied through a brief period of chores, then went outside. The wind breathed gently through the sky, making the trees whisper secrets to the frosty air. The apricot tree's leaves twitched and rustled softly, a wispy breeze curling around the limber bows and pressing gently at the knurled trunk. I swung into its mighty branches, letting my hands trace the ancient knotholes and bulbous swells. I climbed high into its mighty bows until I reached a fork, high at the top of the tree, surrounded by other branches all curving out from the base, their powerful beams dotted with leaves the color of swamp grass, stretching to make a graceful bulb around my secluded nook. I surveyed the surrounding area from their, the wind dancing in my hair and swirling in my face, I shielded my eyes from the fiery ball of sun as it clutched for life on the horizon of rugged cliffs, its golden flames singing the deep sapphire blue of the sky and spreading their fiery war banner across the heavens. Suddenly, a moving figure captured my gaze. It was a cat! Its bristling fur flashed across the parched ground of our neighbor's yard, then disappeared behind a cluster of vegetation. A single plant stem trembled, the tremors vibrating its creamy, smooth substance. Suddenly, from the undergrowth, burst forth a head. Its jaws gaped in a hideous snarl, long tendrils of green tinged drool hung from its rotting, yellowed fangs. Its eyes glowed like fiery ambers imbedded deep in the skull of the feline horror. It yowled, a long, resounding sound, burning fiery terror into the hearts of cats. Amazed but terrified, I prayed that the kittens would be safe from it that night.

The next day was Saturday. The sun crested the red rims with a silver blue fire, streaking the jet black sky with long streaks of color. Sylvia and I rose as the sky turned a steely blue and the first evidence of life emerged in the desert world of Moab. We leapt onto our bikes and sped towards the kittens and the labyrinth of mysteries that seeped through their home's inner depths. I dismounted at the glade that marked the kittens' reside, and peered questioningly into the thick mass of mighty oaks and huge ferns. As always, the kittens were hidden. But, in a flash, Fire Eye revealed himself. He leapt from a tree that overhung the path, his eyes shining with a joyous mischief, and landed, sprawling, in my arms. I laughed and he purred, rubbing his silken flank against me. Sylvia was stroking Snowflake beside me, giggling as she gnawed on her finger. Releasing Fire Eye, I traversed deeper into the lush forest, staring through the bracken in search of a mysterious feline I longed to be with. There she was. Her elegant, lithe form stretched across the bow of a cedar. She was Shadow. She flicked her tail in a 'like I care' manner when I came forth, but I could tell she was happy to see me. I caressed her ebony black form gently, and she purred happily. Her emerald eyes glowed mysteriously, dancing like jewels in the early morning light. Her silver whiskers twitched as I rubbed her soft, iridescent cheek. Suddenly, through the trees, I heard the sounds of a fight. Cats yowled and hissed, their voices raised in a cry of rage. Suddenly, the shrieks of hatred gave way to the deep balling of a hound.

Leaping from Shadow's side, I dashed madly through the brush, thorns tearing at my clothes as I charged to the scene of the battle. There, silhouetted menacingly against the proud blue sky, was the body of a monstrous canine. Its beady eyes glowered from their cavernous sockets, and its gruesome mouth was drawn back in a snarl. Swift Paw stood, unafraid, at the head of the feline warriors, yowling his challenge to the beastly figure before him. Suddenly, the dog lunged at Snowflake, drool splattering to the ground as he moved. But, at that moment, Fire Eye burst out of the trees. His eyes narrowed as he saw the creature attack his sister, and he leapt onto its knurled face. He clawed and bit, cutting deep into the canine's jaw. Blood burst freely from its open wound. The creature howled with fury, and, in one mighty thrust, sent Fire Eye flailing into the air. The beast lowered its blood streaked head towards the kits throat, its yellow fangs gleaming dully as it readied for the kill. Suddenly, Swift Paw came running. His face was a portrait of incredible fury, and his eyes shown with a noble will to defend his kits-at all costs. He hissed, and the dog peered up from its prey with leering eyes. Slowly, it began to pace towards Swift Paw. But, as it did, Fire Eye bit down hard on its exposed tail. It howled and turned on the defiant kitten. From behind, Swift Paw gouged eight red lines into its rump. It turned, and a yowl came from its side. Shadow had appeared. It snarled, but a hint of fear was in its voice. It was beginning to realize that it no longer had the advantage. Suddenly, from across the street, a cat charged to the battle. His sleek black coat bulged over huge muscles. It was Pitch, the greatest cat warrior ever to set foot in this town. This was the final straw. With a howl of defeat, the canine ran off down the sun bleached street. Pitch walked slowly over to the scene of chaos. He nudged Fire Eye gently, rousing him. The kittens were safe.

As we rode home that night, my mind was restful. The mysteries solved. I could hear the mewing of the kits, still playing, in the distance.

Some things in our lives are not as important as others. Like sleepovers I used to think they where the most important things in my life until one day I got sick of them. Then I didn't have so many of them. The more important things in life are helping and felling good about yourself. Like if you did something wrong you should come right out and say it that way you won't get in so much trouble. And if you don't like doing something that someone is making you do you should just come right out and say 'don't want to do it because you are making me!' what's the most important thing in the world? Mine is my family! I think that should be every ones favorite thing even if it isn't really you family you should love them any way don't you think?

Copyright © 2000 Grand County Public Library. All rights reserved. Revised: Wednesday, September 12, 2007	I want to leave the Children's Corner and return to the main Grand County Library site.
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2007 Writing Contest Results