Chapter
Three
Catsandra
settled near the entrance as Luis rested snug against the interior wall. The
cat’s home was nothing more than a huge rock, at least at first glance. Jutting
several feet above the ground, the strange formation resembled the bottom of a
large tree that had been uprooted and pushed on its side. Parts of the rock
were hollow, offering shelter to some of the forest’s inhabitants.
“How
long have you lived here?” Luis asked.
“A
long time,” Catsandra said, staring into the night. Light from the full moon
helped illuminate the forest, some of the rays making their way inside. “Most
of my life,” she added.”
“All
by yourself?”
The
cat bobbed her head. “I’ve never had family. None that I can remember, anyway.”
Luis couldn’t imagine his life without Kendell, and he felt sorry for Catsandra
despite the fact he hardly knew her. “That’s not really true,” she interrupted.
“What?”
“Not
having family.”
“So
you do?”
“They’re
all around me. The forest, I mean.” She pondered before continuing. “Still, it
would be nice to know where I came from… who my parents were… if I had any
siblings.”
Luis
could relate. He knew his parents and siblings only briefly before being
shipped off to another home. However, he did know them, and he loved his new family more than anything else in
the world.
“I’m
sorry,” she said. “Where are my manners? Are you hungry?”
The
dog hadn’t thought much about it given the day’s events. “I guess I could eat
something.”
“What
do you normally eat?”
“Dog
food.”
“Obviously,
but what type of food is that?”
Luis
wasn’t sure how to respond. “I don't know what it is, but Kendell feeds it to
me every day.”
“Have
you ever eaten a mouse? I’m sure I can fetch you one.”
“Uh.”
The thought of it disgusted Luis, but he didn’t want to insult Catsandra. “I
don’t think I have.”
“They’re
even easier to catch at night,” she said.
“Don’t
bother,” Luis replied, sounding a little too desperate. “What I mean is that
I’m not really that hungry.”
“Okay,
but let me know if you change your mind.”
Luis
nodded. “I will. Thanks.”
“I
was thinking,” Catsandra said.
“About
what?”
“Tomorrow.
If you’re going to find Reagle, it might be wise to bring along some company.”
Catsandra
seemed to be hinting at something, but Luis didn’t want to put her on the spot.
“You think so?”
“There’s
someone I know who might be able to help. His name is Barry.”
Though
surprised with her response, Luis didn’t give any indication of it. “What does
he do?”
“He
can offer protection. As kind as these woods are to me, they can be very
dangerous, too.”
“I
understand.”
“He
lives just a few minutes from here. We can visit in the morning before heading
out.”
“We?”
“How
else will you find him?”
“Of
course,” Luis said, feeling somewhat embarrassed. A rustling in the woods
distracted him.
“I
saw you coming a mile away,” Catsandra said.
Moving
into the light, Chuck appeared. “I’d like to go.”
©
Kevin Hopson 2015
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