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She lay on the grass verge in the sun, the sounds of faux-merriment from the daytime patrons of the inn echoing over her. The sun kissed her gently, a gentle breeze wafted through her red curls and she was so very close to a blissful nap in the sun when a gentle rustle snapped her droopy eyes open.
Turning her head, there he was: a dirty, wirey-looking cat stalking toward her, showing no sign of fear or apprehension. "Hullo, Underdog," she cooed. The cat stopped suddenly in mid-step, a front paw still raised. "I'm friendly," she insisted, "so long as you are, too." She clucked her tongued and let out a brief purring sound, and the cat resumed its walk toward her. Still prone, she lazily unfurled her arm toward the hungry-looking creature, and it only hesitated a moment before rubbing its cheek on her fingers.
"I know, I know," she purred understandingly. "I could use the company, so stay right here if you wish. I get the impression we're both waiting for the same thing, no?"
The cat looked at her blankly as she tickled it under the chin. "Why, opportunity, of course," she smiled. The cat lifted its head and closed its eyes in response, as it relaxed somewhat in her presence. Juniper purred at the cat and quickly grabbed it with both hands, clutched it to her chest and rolled over and over sideways on the grass, giggling. The cat hissed and wriggled against her, escaping her clutches within a few seconds and sprinting away from her faster than a loosed arrow. Juniper rolled into a sitting position and brushed her now-dishevelled hair from her eyes as she watched the cat leave in an adrenaline-fueled panic.
There she sat, a mix of resignation and bemusement battling in her head. A few moments later, the emotions passed as quickly as they arose, and she flopped back into the grass and closed her eyes.
Turning her head, there he was: a dirty, wirey-looking cat stalking toward her, showing no sign of fear or apprehension. "Hullo, Underdog," she cooed. The cat stopped suddenly in mid-step, a front paw still raised. "I'm friendly," she insisted, "so long as you are, too." She clucked her tongued and let out a brief purring sound, and the cat resumed its walk toward her. Still prone, she lazily unfurled her arm toward the hungry-looking creature, and it only hesitated a moment before rubbing its cheek on her fingers.
"I know, I know," she purred understandingly. "I could use the company, so stay right here if you wish. I get the impression we're both waiting for the same thing, no?"
The cat looked at her blankly as she tickled it under the chin. "Why, opportunity, of course," she smiled. The cat lifted its head and closed its eyes in response, as it relaxed somewhat in her presence. Juniper purred at the cat and quickly grabbed it with both hands, clutched it to her chest and rolled over and over sideways on the grass, giggling. The cat hissed and wriggled against her, escaping her clutches within a few seconds and sprinting away from her faster than a loosed arrow. Juniper rolled into a sitting position and brushed her now-dishevelled hair from her eyes as she watched the cat leave in an adrenaline-fueled panic.
There she sat, a mix of resignation and bemusement battling in her head. A few moments later, the emotions passed as quickly as they arose, and she flopped back into the grass and closed her eyes.