7 comments/ 19984 views/ 2 favorites Fuzz the Cat Ch. 01 By: Goldeniangel Fearsome prowled around the bars of his prison, growling under his breath. Passerby stared at his ferocious gaze and sharp teeth. Grinning he flexed his claws and yowled loudly, threatening them if they stood too long to watch him. Padding up to the front of his cage he hissed, rubbing his face against the bars, showing his insanity from having been locked up for so long. Most of his life really. Big eyes appeared in front of him, startling him back. Crouching down he stared straight ahead, refusing to give in to fear. Nothing would break him. "Awww...." the little girl cried out, reaching for the gray striped cat, "Mommy I want this one! He's so cute!" Another face joined the first, Fearsome looked dubiously at this newcomer, an expression that boded no good. Slitting his eyes, he gave them both his most dreaded gaze, the malicious evil one. "Well he does look like a sweet kitty, doesn't he Maria?" Mom smiled down at her 7 year old daughter before turning to the woman who worked at the shelter, "Can we take this one home?" "This one you can take home today," laughed the woman, "He's a sweetie, but he likes to put on a bold front." Fearsome yowled protest, unsheathing his weapons as she reached in to grab him... however it was a very long drop to the floor. Smart woman, she'd protected herself from harm by holding him up high. Best for her... intelligent. And such intelligence should be rewarded. He allowed his claws to recede as he was handed over to the small girl. She hugged him, but gently, not tightly like that little boy last week. Smiling happily at him she informed him, "Your name is Fuzz." Fuzz? Well, not exactly a name to inspire terror to the hearts of his enemies, but as he realized that he was being taken from the Hall of Cages he decided to aqueous to her demand. After all, she was helping him escape, it only seemed fair. They walked up to the front desk, accompanied by the envious yowls of the other residents. Fuzz just put on his most smug face and cuddled up against the little girl, making her squeal with pleasure. For good measure he licked her cheek with his rough tongue while she giggled, it was always best to properly thank saviors. The newly christened Fuzz purred the entire way home. ********************************** Once home, Maria placed her new kitty in front of their older dog, Growl. Fuzz stared at this large monstrosity, so ugly and big and drooly. Growl stared back at Fuzz and then joyfully bounded forward, trying to lick the disgusted cat. "BACK OFF!" yowled Fuzz, trying to hide behind little Maria's legs as she giggled. Not a very good savior she was turning out to be. "PLAY!" yipped Growl. He hadn't had a playmate since Maria had adopted him out of the litter next door, this new creature didn't exactly look like a dog, but it was obviously someone new to play with. Maria and her mother laughed as Fuzz jumped onto a chair seat, out of Growl's reach. He tried of course, putting his front paws on the seat and managing to look at Fuzz. Triumphantly, Fuzz settled back onto his new throne, crouching down complacently. "I do not *ahem* play," he said with disdain, licking his paw nonchalantly to show his utter contempt for the idea, "I am a warrior." Growl looked dubiously at him, "Are you sure?" "Absolutely," said Fuzz calmly. After all, he didn't expect anyone else to be smart. Obviously this creature needed things explained to him. Best to teach him a lesson right away. Fearsome unsheathed his weapons and swatted Growl across the nose, giving him just enough claw to sting. Growl howled and retreated, hiding in the corner while Fearsome smugly purred triumph. "Fuzz," said Maria crossly, "That was bad. You have to be nice to Growl, he's going to be your friend." Fuzz? Oh right. His new name. Fuzz sighed. Well, as long as he was going to have a name like Fuzz he might as well get along. Wouldn't be sporting to his savior otherwise either. Had to make her happy. Lightly he jumped off the chair and approached the quivering Growl. "I'm sorry," he said, "Let's be friends. My name is Fuzz." Growl immediately perked up, "PLAY!" Fuzz sighed, "All right. Play, but only for five minutes mind." Maria and her mother laughed themselves silly as Growl and Fuzz played their first game of tag. You probably would have too, after all, it isn't too often you get to watch a kitten chase a fully grown dog. Fuzz the Cat Ch. 02 Fuzz's presence in Maria's life quickly settled into a routine. Every day when she came home from school Growl would immediately pounce on her at the door. Fuzz waited calmly until Growl was done with his clownish antics before lightly jumping down from his perch on the back of the sofa and greeting her with a dignified purr. Then Maria would pick him up and they'd all go into the family room to watch TV, Fuzz on her lap and Growl at her feet, his pink tongue often tickling her dangling toes. There was only one part of Maria's life that Growl was allowed into that Fuzz wasn't... every day Maria would put a collar on Growl's neck, there was a long leash attached to it and they would go outside. The first time Fuzz tried to follow them, only to be picked up by Maria's mother. She held him so that he could see Maria and Growl trotting out of sight. Fuzz was very confused, why did Growl get to go somewhere that he didn't? It didn't take Fuzz too long to realize that he was never allowed outside. Growl was allowed out a door in the back of the house almost every day, anytime he wanted to go out, while Fuzz was left to sit watching as Growl chased birds and squirrels and had all kinds of wonderful adventures. Fuzz would settle down at the glass door and growl madly until Growl was called back in. He didn't think it was at all fair that Growl got to go all these places that Fuzz couldn't, and Growl always came back with such fantastic stories... Fuzz wasn't sure whether or not to believe him. He talked about multitudes of people, fast bikes, children, lots of space, being able to run around a large green field... How could Maria love Fuzz so much and not allow him some freedom? No, Growl had to be making it up. Perhaps he was taken somewhere terrible... or maybe he was being brain washed... maybe he was just taken somewhere so boring that he had to make up fantastic stories in order to keep himself amused. Surely Growl couldn't be enjoying something that Fuzz himself wasn't allowed to partake in. At home they were absolutely equal. At home. But that didn't stop Fuzz from waiting every day for Maria and Growl to come back, Growl loping up the front walk like a stupid clown with his tongue hanging out. Fuzz hissed displeasure every time they left together. Then one day, after getting Growl ready to go, Maria put down Growl leash and went and picked up something from the table. Walking over to Fuzz she pet his head and back, making him stand so that she would get the itchy spot just in front of his tail. Curious he looked up at her... and she snapped a collar around his throat. Fuzz screamed and ran, ran around the entire house yowling at the top of his lungs, trying to get the awful thing off. It hung on him, weighing him down! A terrible, terrible slave collar, trying to stifle him! Maria just sat, laughing, watching as he rolled in despair, claws trying to shred the evil thing and failing. It was too strong for him. Finally, panting, Fuzz collapsed in defeat. Once he was done with his race around the house, Maria's mother helped Maria put a harness on Fuzz, at the back of the harness was a little clip that Maria attached the leash to. Growl bounced around happily as he realized that his best friend in the whole wide world - other than Maria of course - would be joining him on his walk today. But when Maria tried to get Fuzz up, he wouldn't move. He couldn't move. The whole thing was just too awfully heavy, an itch on his back that he couldn't scratch. Obviously this was some kind of trick, showing that she would be fair and allow him to come along too, but weigh him down so horribly that he'd never make it. That, or they really were going to some awful place and now she was going to take him too! Maybe that's why the harness... she knew he was smarter than Growl and so took extra precautions that he wouldn't be able to escape! Fuzz yowled and whined dismally as Maria picked him up and carried him outside, her mother following her with the excited growl. Flopping down on the sidewalk, he watched with defeated eyes as Growl's leash was handed over to Maria and she started walking. "Come on Fuzz," she said, tugging at him. He was defeated. He might as well go. Slowly Fuzz got to his feet, walking with funereal dignity down the sidewalk, his head hanging low. Stupid Growl was still bouncing around, acting like this was great. "See? See? See?" Growl continually asked, grating on Fuzz's nerves unbearably. He refused to sniff all the awful things that Growl was so interested in, preferring to concentrate on their utterly dismal fate that surely awaited them at their destination. Maria took them into a park, filled with children, animals and a playground. There were even a few other cats there, also on harnesses. Fuzz perked up when he saw that they weren't looking too glum... perhaps it would be alright? Looking over her shoulder, she waved to her mother who was watching them from the back window, picking up Fuzz so that Mommy could see he was ok. Fuzz protested as he was lifted into the air, settling immediately onto Maria's lap when she let him. Since everyone coming in and out of the small park closed the gate, and only friendly animals were allowed, she let Growl off his leash and he immediately dashed off to play with some of his friends. Fuzz stayed adamantly on Maria's lap. "Aww, poor kitty scared," Maria said, stroking him comfortingly. Of course he wasn't scared. How ridiculous. He just didn't like strange situations was all. It was much better to observe and wait, not just jump straight into the unknown. Not like stupid Growl. But the next day, when Maria brought out the harness, Fuzz was waiting.