Poem 14

The stars were bright, 

Looming over the city lights

As the mischievous shouts

Of doe-eyed children echoed

Down the two-way street, 

Bouncing off the rolling hills

Of the wind and summer air.

Copper sat beside me, 

A rumble heavy in his

Puffed-out chest that

Tore past his throat and

Into the moonlit night.

We counted each child

And cat on the street, 

Scrunching our noses at

The howling dogs that

Yelped from the window

Panes inside golden houses

Casted in a silver light.

How much I dreaded that

Rooftop and it's creaking,

Weathered shambles.

For they were swallowed

By the reigns of fate.

... 

Raindrops pattered among

Wilted leaves and flowers.

Racing along the railroad

Track, I had outran Copper

With pride swelling inside

My steadfast heart.

He trailed right behind me,

Amber eyes glittering with

Unshed mischief as he yowled.

"Don't bask in the glory for

Too long now, Rose-- I'm

Gonna win in the end!"

The burn marks that 

Littered his patched cheeks

Were healed now, old scars

Glinting in the afternoon sun.

A human healer had found

Him on the streets, fortunately

They were kind and healed him.

Akin to a morning dove, I 

Chittered with glee before

Glancing back to look ahead.

And I immediately halted.

The calico behind me slowed

Down in confusion as he

Flicked his sunlit tail.

... 

"There's a bear."

I stated simply and

Nodded overhead.

His ears folded back

With a hiss falling flat

On his dried-out tongue.

He spoke low.

"A large brown bear, too.

Let's turn back, quickly."

Copper's paw scraped 

Along metal bars as

His tail swished above

The underlying rubble.

He breathed out sharply, 

His narrowed gaze seething.

I paused, ears perking up

At his troubled look.

"What happened?"

... 

His ears suddenly pressed

Flat against his head as

The gaze turned distraught.

"I can't move, my paw

Is stuck in the tracks."

My own eyes widened,

Brittle bones going taught

And worn muscles turning

Stiff as a growl was heard

From behind our tails.

I craned my neck only to

Reel back and cower at

The bear's hollow eyes.

And there was a bloodbath.

... 

I ran while my blurred

Vision flashed red, with

Copper's limp body 

Hoisted on my back.

Dark, ink-splotched

Swirls aligned the

Edges of my sight.

I dashed across the

Sunken road, ignoring

The red-stained gravel

Weeping below my paws.

Copper had yanked his

Paw away with newfound

Strength that rivaled any

Other alley cat, leaping in

Front of me and the bear.

He took the brunt of

The relentless attacks.

Protecting me in favor.

I gritted my teeth as 

A wave of guilt washed

Over my heaving form.

I slashed my claws at

The glass to get the

Healer's attention.

When she locked her

Eyes on our bloodied

Fur and weakened

Limbs she dropped 

Whatever she was

Holding, jaw slack

As she ran to us.

... 

"I managed to treat

The Russian blue cat

And her injuries, but

The calico, he--"

I stumbled out of the

Room as the healer

Spoke in her cryptic

Human language.

There were saltwater

Droplets on her skin.

"He's in a coma."

Her breath hitched

As she turned and 

Saw me, hazel eyes

Glazed over in sorrow.

My ear flicked

In confusion as I

Tilted my chin.

She knelt down and

Whispered gently.

"I'm sorry, kitty."

... 

That was the last time

I saw my friend Copper.