Odd Nocturnal Ritual

Pumpkin the Cat by iStockPhoto\Veronika Ryabova

Front paws landed on the fallen tree trunk. Claws extended to prevent a misstep. The orange cat's body compressed while its hind legs got into position. Its eyes fixed on the rock five feet away. Front paws again led the way as it soared into the air, launched by those hind legs. The tail twitched to adjust the flight. Upon landing, the cat continued its race through the forest.

He patrolled these woods several times a day and knew the terrain. But this wasn't a hunt or a patrol. He raced to make a delivery. A small pouch dangled from his mouth. It was tied with several shoots of parsley. The Mayor gave him an image of where to go, and he headed there straight away.

The Mayor had sat crosslegged behind the townhall in the grass. Cats from across the forest village had come, answering her call. He had approached first and settled in her lap. The muscles in his throat couldn't help but vibrate, generating a steady purr as she rubbed his head.

"Thank you for coming, Pumpkin. Take this message of redemption for me."

His jaws clamped down on the pouch she handed him and didn't release until he reached the destination.

In the shadowy space between two enormous trees sat a flat rock. The moon tried to reach through the branches overhead, but only bits had broken through. The air was still and carried an odd scent. This was the place.

Pumpkin sat the pouch down and laid down to rest while he chewed at the parsley bindings. He made wide bites to absorb all the scents and taste. The pouch fell open as bits of parsley came to rest in his belly.

On the flat rock, a coarsely ground powder settled. Pumpkin opened his maw wide and licked around his teeth. Once satisfactorily cleaned, he got up and moved away from the powder.

He was curious about this message, so he settled in a comfortable spot about ten feet away and waited. When his eyes began to sink with the heaviness of an expectant nap, a fern shifted to the right. A small cloaked figure hurried toward the powder. A hand reached out and inched closer and closer.

The moment it touched the powder, a brilliant light blasted out into the forest. Pumpkin gasped in pain. When his eyes adjusted, the cloaked figure was gone. A brown and grey rabbit nibbled grass by the rock. The rabbit looked directly at Pumpkin. Its whiskers twitched, then it bounded into the trees.