Think on your Feet. |Sable|

[yoyo]

’A cat like him doesn’t deserve this,’ Juniper thought and sighed. She adjusted her direction as she smelled chlorine coming from a backyard pool, now in the proper direction to come upon the market. After a few of these guess-and-check detours, their trip time was longer than Juniper had expected it to be. They weren’t going at a fast past because the tom follow her, who’s name she still didn’t know, looked like he might keel over any second or two. And thus, the whole reason why she was making this trip with him to the market. To get him some food. Not like he deserved any kindness, anyway.

After a little more walking, her hazel eyes finally saw the market. She inhaled deeply, and a large mess of different smells hit her. She wrinkled her nose as she tried to extract each individual smell and get information like that, but it was hopeless. Instead, she chose a good vantage point so that she could observe the busy market and figure out their best plan of attack. She took no notice of the black and white tom following her as she focused solely on her objective. Get food and get out.

She spotted the trashcans behind the stores. She could just barely see it, but it was there. She saw some slightly rotten tomatoes sticking out of the top. She inferred that there was probably a lot more trash cans behind the stores. Were there humans back there, too? That’s one thing she couldn’t determine. If they were, then they would have to be sneaky about their theft. ”Hmmm…” She said out loud, and then sprang to her feet with new enthusiasm. She loved challenges! ”Follow me No-name,” She said to the tom, and sprinted towards the back of the market.

She stood there, crouching, by the side of the market, waiting for Mr. No-name Annoying Rudecat to catch up. When he did, without turning to look at him, she said, ”Knock over this trash can in front of us when you hear me yowl to you, ok?” She said, and without waiting for an answer, ran quickly behind an overturned cardboard box near a different trashcan, and crouched there behind it, waiting.

Juniper’s plan was to lure the humans working in the back towards the clamor that Mr. No-Name would make. Then, while they were distracted, she would get some food out from the trashcan she was stationed beside. Hopefully, there would be something big enough for her and him to share. Then, when they had eaten, they would do the same thing behind another store. It seemed fool-proof to her, but only time would tell. Hopefully her annoying new companion would be able to do his part, at least.

[/blockquote]

[pandakat]

Did she even know where she was going? They had been traveling about in what seemed like an aimless pattern. His eyes narrowed for a moment; maybe the tabby was as spiteful as to simply lead him around to wear him down. Considering the notion, his pace slacked.

However, other than this obnoxious feline, he didn’t really have much of a plan to get any food. And he needed it, as his stomach reminded him every other second with a threatening growl. Sable exhaled, glancing back up from the ground and to the disappearing form of Screecher. His pace quickened, though his paws protested at the movement. However, in due time, his hunger overwhelmed his sore body when he caught a whiff of tantalizing scents. He couldn’t individualize them but they were enough to set his stomach rumbling in anticipation.

“Follow me, No-name,”

He tilted his head, since when was that his name? However, he didn’t have time to correct her before she sprang away. Sable frowned, not feeling up to having to move any quicker than a brisk walk. But the promise of something to eat was greater than his growing irritation and he reluctantly set off after her, scampering through the market. When the tabby was once more in sight, he slowed to his regular pace.

“Knock over this trash can in front of us when you hear me yowl to you, ok?”

Winded, he didn’t answer verbally. However, Sable expected he needn’t really reply at all—correct! Screecher was already off to who knew where. He settled into a sitting position as he glanced up at the said trashcan. What type of plan was this? He didn’t follow her from a trashcan just to eat out of another one. But if that was the case then why would she have run off? Sable rubbed a paw against his whiskers, deciding not to try and understand the tabby’s logic. After all, she was the cat that had simply just walked up to him and, after he spoke, started yelling at him. She was one moody feline.

‘At least this place is shadier,’ he conceded, remembering the stifling heat of the old road. Sable rubbed his head against the trashcan, butting against it lightly to see how much it weighed. It was partially full, it seemed, but with a good shove it should give way. He settled back again, ears perked forwards to catch Screecher’s signal.

[/blockquote]

[yoyo]

While Juniper watched the humans go about their work behind the market, not noticing the near-invisible cats as they crouched next to their cans, she wondered if Moon would like this new tom. Suddenly, for whatever reason, a stab of jealousy pierced her. She actually gasped. What was that for? Why in the world would she feel jealous if Moon and this new cat got along? She highly doubted they would, but still, maybe this rude tom would turn over a new leaf after she had bellowed her tyrant at him. She shrugged, as if trying to shrug off this emotion that had took her by sudden surprise.

She felt guilty now, instead of the shocking stab of jealousy that had come so unexpectedly. She shouldn’t feel this way…. So what if Moon got along with No-Name? This was childish, being jealous because Moon could make a new friend when she couldn’t. Extremely childish; Heck! Her first birthday was in a few weeks! And here she was, being all jealous and childish and… Crap, what was she doing here again? She completely forgot for a second before remembering what there were here to do, and what her plan was.

The silver tabby shook her head to clear out all the negative thoughts physically, and licked her shoulder a few times out of self-consciousness. She needed to get back into this era, the present, and stop worrying about everything else. Right now her only concern should be those humans and getting some food for herself and No-Name. She peered at the working Homo Sapiens, her tail swishing back and forth over the ground in excitement and anticipation.

And then, just when she was ready to hiss the signal, which was to be a simple ‘GO!,’ a shadow fell over her. Momentarily confused, she hesitated a second before trying to leap away. But that second of hesitation cost her, and she was roughly picked up by a human wearing working gloves. The young feline, her eyes wide and crazed with fear, thrashed and kicked and yowled for help as the human worker held her out in front of him and examined her.

”’Ey, watch those claws of yours,” The worker said to Juniper, but she didn’t take heed of his demand. Instead, she thrashed even more wildly, so that the human had to adjust his grasp on her before she managed to escape. Tiring quickly, she decided to save her strength for later when she could actually manage an escape, and hung limply in the man’s grasp. ”Help, No-name! I’m sorry for yelling at you!” She yowled to him, fear scent coming off of her. She was truly afraid of what the big human was going to do with her.

[pandakat]

He continued to wait, eyes drifting over to watch the humans bustle about, going through whatever activities they did. Their way of life was so complicated, yet it had a comforting, familiar sort of feel. Sable remembered the schedule he used to share with his humans, the mature humans were always on the go, only stopping at night or when the whole family gathered at the large table. It was rather interesting to simply watch them run about from his view on the sofa. Moments passed as he fell into his habit of human watching. After all, they really were an interesting (if kind of odd) lot. Humans themselves recognized it; they watched mini-humans inside of boxes all day.

Sable laid down on crossed paws, momentarily forgetting his mission as he watched a pair of humans interact. At first it seemed like they had gotten their faces stuck together, but after a bit he realized that it must be a homo sapien version of a kiss. He tilted his head, wondering why it took them so long.

When the itch by his ear suddenly flared back up with a burning intensity, he raised a paw to give his assailant a good rub. However, as he did this his hunger tackled him full force once more, leaving him visibly wincing. It pummeled the reminder of what he was supposed to be doing back into him and didn't leave until he was sitting back up paying attention with an admirable alertness. However, as the attack subsided his thoughts began to wander off again. Where had that Screecher gone? Wasn't she supposed to be yowling or whatever soon? Sable paused, considering the fact that perhaps she already gave the signal without his notice. The tom cast a sheepish look around, wondering if the ferocious little she-cat was going to scream him into oblivion any moment now.

Fear.

A wave of terror washed over him, sending him springing back onto all fours. But after a moment he realized that this fear wasn't his. He closed his eyes, taking in a deep breath. No, the scent was coming from near another trashcan and, more specifically, the fear was from--

"Help, No-name! I'm sorry for yelling at you!"

It was Screecher--what was she doing? Sable peered out from behind his trashcan, catching more scents. The little tabby's was mixed with a human's. The tom's eyes narrowed; what had she gotten herself into? He caught a glimpse of them now, his stomach clenching at the sight of the terrified Screecher in the human's grip. He watched the scene in a frozen, crouched position. His first thought was to get the heck out of here. He didn't want anything to do with humans he didn't know. His paws twitched to follow the self-preserving act, but then a recollection spilled through his mind. Night. Terror. Foreign human scents everywhere. The need to escape but the feeling of being hopelessly trapped. Should he do what he did best and scram or try and help someone he didn't even know, especially if this someone was obnoxious and yelled at him beyond normal volumes.

He gulped.

Sable leapt at the trash can, spilling it over onto his side. It crashed against the ground with a metallic clash, rolling about with its contents spewing. But he didn't wait for it to stop as he darted onto its side and dashed across the unsteady exterior. As he reached its lip he sprang from it, claws unsheathing as he flew at the human worker. His claws sank past the human's clothing and the fleshy arm.

[yoyo]

Juniper remembered a time when she would have been calm and tranquil in a human’s firm grasp. Perhaps even at home. She would purr, and they would stroke her gently, murmuring in her ear how they loved her and how she was such a good girl, and how shiny and pretty her fur was. She used to feel so content, so at-ease in a human’s arms. So trusting. Making herself so vulnerable as she purred, belly facing upwards as she was cradled with tenderness. She knew that humans could be trusted. She knew that they could do her no harm. They only wanted to see her happy. She had been a part of a family.

It was funny, then, really, how things had changed so fast in her short life. She had gone from a happy house cat to a wanderer; a starving stray, and just as quickly to a friendly, though short-tempered at times, stray who could live on her own using her own wits. Well, she wouldn’t fancy living alone; She loved having company. But, she could live alone if she really really had to, when before, she constantly relied on others to take care of her. She realized that she really did have feline instincts buried deep inside of her below all of the mush that the humans had taught her.

What if No-Name decided to flee? To save himself and leave her there, for whatever fate may await her? Perhaps this human would take her to his home. Perhaps he would have a mate and a female kit just like her old family. Then, she could forget about her life as a stray, forget all of the experiences she had had and forget about everyone she had met. Perhaps she could do that, pick up her life with humans where it had left off. Perhaps she was still a house cat at heart, and she wasn’t meant to be a stray. Perhaps.

But, was that what she really wanted? Was that what the real Juniper Stormfeather wanted? To have her life carefully monitored, to have each day be the same, monotonous day as the prevois day? And the previous? And the previous? Could she be content in such a predictable, safe lifestyle, with no challenges and no friends and knowing that every single day, you would be loved, fed, and protected? Did the feline really want that sort of life, knowing that she would live far longer than any of the stray cats she had met so far? Protection and life. That was what humans offered. And comfort.

Juniper laughed at herself. She was actually considering abandoning all of the things she managed to gain, even if she had gained all of those things with maybe only luck? There was no way she would go back now, now that she had experienced what it meant to be a cat. She didn’t want to be pampered. She didn’t care how long she lived. She didn’t even care that the humans had mashed potatoes. She knew that the right life for her was the one she was living right now. And, for this reason, she would fight until she had no more fight left to continue the life that fate seemed to have crafted for her.

She was almost surprised when Sable sprang onto the human’s arm in an attempt to free her. And now, that he was distracted by the shooting pain going up his arm, the grip he had on Juniper released. He didn’t quite drop her, but it was enough. She kicked as hard as she could at his hand, claws unsheathed, and he dropped her to the ground. She, by instinct fled, but not too far. She stayed crouched behind the trashcan, ready to save Sable if he was in trouble. Ready to pounce. Her hazel eyes shone like she was a beautiful female leopard, stalking their prey, ready to ambush. ”Let’s go!” She hissed at No-Name. She would thank them, but for now, there was no time.

[pandakat]

His wild blue eyes caught a glimpse of the surprise and perhaps fear in the human's eyes, and his thoughts twisted back to when Will had hurt himself once when they were out exploring the neighborhood. He had made such a racket with his human wailing. But his eyes had also a look that denoted a bit of shock and fear as he shouted for his mother who was back at their house. In the end he had picked himself up, sniffling and sobbing, to follow Sable back to where he could be welcomed with open arms and soft condolences.

The human's arm thrashing brought him back, and as he slashed at the man's arm again he wondered why he would compare the two humans in such a way. Maybe it was because they were humans and he, as a cat, was prone to lumping those of a different species together. But no...Will had been his best friend. He was different, if only in his memories now. Sable yowled as he punctured another portion of the human's arm, delaying as Screecher sprang away from the human. The tom hissed again before springing off the human's arm and landing besides the silver tabby.

"Let's go!"

He glanced over at the little cat, though when he saw her she didn't seem so little. Her hazel eyes blazed with a feral beauty, and for a moment he wondered if this feline was really Screecher. Sable shook his head, not willing to be distracted at this moment and instead set to obeying the tabby's unusually wise order. The tom sprinted away, torn up paws flying across the ground.

{{Sorry for the shortness. DX;}}