The Cat That Could Talk

Let us separate from Aren and look at some islands further away...

"Ahhhh! Ahahahahaha!"

He glided through the air like a bird—the wind rushed down his tiny body, and his fur swayed. An incredible sense of freedom and pride embraced him.

"Catch me if you can, suckers!" Further and further he went, past trees, hills, and other animals. The sun high above cast a show of his that traveled below him.

To him, this world seemed far too immense not to explore around, but unfortunately, he couldn't travel that far. Thus, he was stuck on the one island he was born on. Forever to be the one single cat that could talk. Playing pranks was a form of entertainment for him, a form to cope with having

"It's been a year now! I am not as weak as I used to be!" he said to no one specifically...well, the other cats that were far too behind him.

They had chased after him—playing pranks on them while they ate wasn't funny. Every cat was playful, but when the time came to eat, they wanted to savor their meal in peace. He differed from the rest in many ways, but most notably, he could talk.

Known as the talking cat who played pranks, he always caused trouble.

***

Landing near the seashore, I looked beyond—nothing but the crystal-clear ocean.

"Arghh!" I kicked the sand. It's been a year now and still no way to get out of this stupid island!

How? Why?

I was born here but I remember faint memories of being in a vastly different place. One where everything was much more...rigid. More in place—is that how you say it?

I look beyond the ocean.

I want to see the world beyond this island, this jail cell. This stupid place changes in all sorts of ways but changes that aren't exciting.

But, will that ever happen? The only reason I can't get out of here is that, even if I can fly, I'll eventually get tired and need rest. Out there, it's only ocean, meaning there wouldn't be anymore land for miles and miles...

I heard there were sea monsters that could eat me if I ever tried to leave.

The first time I heard that, I ignored it and tried but as soon as I did that, a humongous snake-like sea creature popped out of the water and almost gobbled me whole.

Ughh, going back through that memory gives me the hibbie jibbies. I lick my ivory-white coat with chocolate-colored markings, it helps alleviate this feeling. Reminds me of my mother's grooming and her warm embrace...

My mom was the kindest there was. Sweet, awesome, joyfully... Those were the most joyful and easiest days for me. But, enough of sentimentality.

One day, I'll be able to travel far, far away from this island. Explore and be able to talk to humans.

This brings to mind—how I know about humans. Creatures that are big and can talk like me; walk, talk, and act like and just might be the next big... I don't know.

I've been having strange dreams of a human interacting with me and vice versa. Everything around me was different, too. Closed, calm, and quiet. One thing I always seemed to feel was loneliness, it's a heavy atmosphere that I get from those dreams. And a name that emerges from deep within my mind is Aren.

Who was he? Why did he feel lonely?

***

As day turned into night, I lit a fire and pondered for a few more hours. Thoughts and thoughts followed by more thoughts crossed my mind, sending me into a spiraling loop.

No answers came, no clues, no nothing.

The crackling of the fire and the warmth calmed me down enough to go through my nighttime routine.

I groomed myself, stretched, and got comfy when suddenly, I smelled earth in the air.

Oh, crap, rain.

***

He ran, looking for cover from the drops of rain that fell from the dark sky, impacting the ground like meteorites. Literally!

See, this island's weather was highly unpredictable, from a sunny day to a freezing one, a cloudy day to a severe thunderstorm in a matter of minutes, or a snow day to a scorching hell in an instant. Weather patterns, there were none. Paradise, there wasn't one.

From the animals to the environment, over time, they grew accustomed to these unreal climate changes. They grew defiant and sturdy, pushing past what any other living organism could hope for. Brave warriors that faced any challenge in their wake.

He licked his ivory-white coat with chocolate-colored markings and stretched. He laid down in a loaf position, looking out of the small opening in a rock he had found to take refuge. His big, bright, blue, round eyes looked at the pouring rain and beyond, hoping that tomorrow his journey might commence.