Poem 6

The rusted pipe wept

As I crouched low,

Breathing still as my

Tail brushed against

Scattered dust in

The quiet vent.

Droplets of water

Pooled into the

Bowl underneath

The creaking faucet.

I reeled my shoulders

Back, haunches rising

As I jumped onto the

Smooth white surface.

Pawsteps drew near

The water source,

Battered from the

Rocks outside and

Weary to not tread

On the wet rag draped

Across the bowl's edge.

I thanked the stars for

The dumpster's lid being

Left propped open in the

Back alleyway, where few

Humans dared to venture.

I crept over to the pipe,

Ducking underneath it

To lap at the droplets

Of water that dripped.

...

The door slammed open.

My fur stood on end

As a shout came from

The human's mouth,

Muscles tense as I

Sprung away and

Dashed back to the

Crawlspace to hide.

I avoided the damp

Rag that chased after

My tail, and scurried

Through the vent.

Gravel crumbled

Beneath my paws,

The sting causing

A limp to show.

I covered behind the

Dumpster and lifted

My paw to examine the

Overhanging stench of

Blood that came from it.

There were shattered

Shards of broken glass

That oozed the vile red.

I regained my breath

As I smothered my paw

Into the gravel to stop

The bleeding, only for

Pawsteps to draw near.

...

My ear flicked at the

Sound as I lifted my

Head to meet an amber

Gaze, cool and silent.

The calico piped up,

Voice steady and

Throat hoarse from

Smoke inhalation--

No thanks to his

Human owner.

"Why don't you go

Back to the farm?"

I scraped my sore paw

Against the dumpster

For relief, only for none

To grace my wounds.

"The farmer's dead."

He hummed, voice

Scratchy and rough.

Then he sat down, not

Paying any mind to the

Red staining the gravel.

"Exactly, you'll no longer

Be patching up wounds."

My nose scrunched in

Dismay as I peered at

Him with hollow eyes.

"Everything burned down."

There was silence.

...

He blinked once,

Before speaking.

"Did the farmer

Cause the fire?"

I heaved a sigh,

Casting my sight

Towards him.

"Who else would?

Only humans know

How to create and

Control flames."

His scuffed tail swished,

Lying crooked on the

Weathered gravel.

"You should be careful

Dealing with humans,

Now-- everyone knows

How violent they are."

I stared at him quietly,

Expression blank and

Indifferent while he

Returned the look.

"I know that, Copper."

He narrowed his eyes,

Cool amber freezing over.

"Are you certain, Rose?"

...

I was startled awake

As a force shoved my

Side, forcing me to roll

Over as I snapped my

Head up and glared.

"Finally, you're awake."

My cross stare didn't

Falter at the bear.

I let out an

Indignant huff.

"What do you want?"

He tilted his chin at me.

"Huh, that's the first

Time you spoke. Too

Bad I can't understand

What you're saying."

I still couldn't decipher

This bear's cryptic tongue.

"Anyways, I have some

Questions-- specifically

About your memory and

How much you remember

Before waking up here!"

I cocked my head to

The side, ears twitching.

A growl slipped through

The bear's muzzle, as he

Suddenly turned and left.

"Of course you can't

Understand a word

I say, still. This was

A waste of time."

The tip of my tail

Flicked up, curling

At the tip as I basked

In the wilting silence.

How strange.