#and yes Princess implied that Rusty saw the 2017 IT movie

[where-the-wilds-things-are]

Wild Meets Wild Chapter One

The Sun made the day bright. A set of slitted green eyes that belong to a tom with a beautiful spotted coat took in the sounds and smells of the forest that sang around him like a melody of home. But the focus of his attention was the plump thrush that was pecking at seeds in the grass. Slumping his body low into a hunter’s crouch, Rusty slowly made his way towards it. His ears could pick up its heartbeat and even the air leaving its lungs, telling him it is healthy. Unconsciously, his tail swung back and forth.

Suddenly the bird stopped eating, somehow alerted to his presence. Beating its wings, it took off for safety, and that’s when Rusty made his move. Controlled by something more primal than instinct, he bounded to where the bird stood and, putting all of his strength into his back legs, jumped for the skies.

In the air, the feeling of wind ruffling his fur with the ground far from his paws gave him a feeling that passed beyond elation. Stretching out his forelegs with unsheathed claws; he felt them sink into the bird, causing it to let out a pained chirp. Feeling gravity pull them down, he shoved the thrush in his mouth and landed on his feet. Feathers spun lazily to the ground as his jaws snapped its neck instantly. Placing it on the ground, he relaxed his muscles.

Happy, he was just about to enjoy his prey when a weird humming sound went off near him. Looking around for potential enemies that wanted his kill, he let out a growl. The sound got louder, closer, and more familiar to him. Rusty blinked open his eyes.

The forest had vanished. He was in the air-conditioned living room, curled up on the second level of the comfy and large cat tree. Moonlight peeked through the sheer curtains, casting warped shadows on the table, tiled floor, and stand that held the large, thin T.V. That blasted sound was the round circular object that moved on its own, picking up dirt and fur that littered the ground. He had had the dream for the third time that month, and of course, it got interrupted just as his fangs met flesh.

Sniffing, Rusty could smell the food his owners made that was in his dish, along with his sister, Princess. Before going to their room to bed; the Wintergreens will either give them deliciously ground meat meals, dry food with meat mixed within that had actual flavor, and even pieces of chicken or fish on a good day along with bottled water. Princess had told him that she overheard them say that they had “vitamins” to make them stronger and have shiny coats. Judging by the smell, it’s the ground meat for tonight.

Right next to the large silver fridge were two food dishes and his littermate, who was already enjoying her meal. Meowing a hello to her, he was quick to eat his dinner—while it was no prey that he caught and killed, he knew that they could have been given the dry and tasteless kibble that he knew cats unluckier than him had to eat. He took a glance at her; Princess had a pale tawny spotted coat with one splotch resembling a star on her left shoulder, one that he knew he had in the same place.

His own pelt was more of a red, something the Wintergreens took pride in. The young tom had the feeling that they were being prepared for being a Show Cat and repressed a shudder. While some felines enjoyed it, he saw the pressure that weighed some down like a stone around their necks. Other cats became vain and malicious, strutting around like a peacock and looking down on those who didn’t have good pedigrees and winnings as mutts and mixed breeds. He wanted no part in that mess and wished that he was free in the forest, like in his dreams.

He was so caught up in his thoughts that he nearly missed Princess meowing to him.

“Rusty. I need to ask you a very important question about something outside.” Taken aback at the serious tone, he wondered what it was about. Maybe how he nearly got into a fight with that irritable Russian Blue that seemed to exist to aggravate him? It wasn’t his fault that he said that Razoule’s family tree had to resemble a more of a wreath if he really was a purebred. It’s the truth!

Before he can ask if this was the case, Princess went towards the modified cat door that led to the backyard garden. Sighing, he followed her, preparing to defend himself if this was about yesterday. Flowery smells made his nose twitch as he stepped into the warm night air. Feeling the grass, wet from dew and rain, he passed by the stone bench and lavender pots. Seeing her by the rosebush, he plopped himself beside her. It was then she said something that made him reel in shock.

“Lately… I have been having dreams of being in the forest. There’s no collar around my neck and I catch prey, from birds to rabbits and even snakes. Then I bring them back to these faceless cats with no scents, and it’s like I’m home. It felt so real too! The dreams came to me three times this month, please tell me I'm not going insane.”

Rusty looked at her with wide green eyes. “You had those dreams also? I’ve dreamed of catching prey in the forest with no collar around my neck for the past month too. I… I was just nervous that you’ll tease me like you did when I decided to see that movie." Heat bloomed in his ears at that memory; watching that killer demon clown lurk in the sewers alone at night wasn’t his brightest idea.

Princess’s bright blue eyes widened and then looked contemplative. “Well, I don’t know about you, but when I had my second dream, I’ve been considering taking a peek there. Just a quick look really. Maybe it will make them stop?"

Rusty blinked before licking his chest. “I wouldn’t mind really. The Wintergreen hardly let us leave the house unless we are on our leashes for walks or going to the vet for shots. Besides, think of it as an adventure! We might even catch actual prey and not food made for us."

Trotting to the fence, he leaped onto the post with relative ease, with Princess doing the same. Turning his head, he could make out the dense woods that were a couple of gardens down. Making out the woodsy smells carried by the breeze, Rusty felt something stir inside him. A feeling was begging him to journey into it, to be wild and free. Leaping down on the other side, his name tag clicked against the bell on his collar. As Princess followed him, he heard paws climbing the fence, along with a familiar scent.

“Rusty! Princess! Where are you going?” called out a friendly voice.

Looking up, Rusty could see the black and white Turkish Angora tom try to balance himself on the fence.

“Hello Smudge," replied Princess, with him giving out his own greeting.

The tom righted himself before looking down at them. “You two aren’t going to the forest, are you?” With wide amber eyes, he went on. “Those cats that live there are nasty fighters and probably don’t even have their shots up to date. Who knows what diseases they have?”

Shaking his head Smudge looked contemplative. “Though to be honest, I can see you two stroll in there just fine somehow." Jumping down from his spot on the fence, the black and white tom stood with the littermates.

“We are just taking a look, Smudge. Maybe even catch a finch or two.” replied Princess.

“Be careful, Henry says that they don’t like cats from here at all. I think I remember him saying that some jumped up brute calling himself Thistle-something tried to jump him his own garden! And that he—"Smudge looked around and lowered his voice—"sent him screaming back to the forest after he bit off what made him a tom."

Rusty grimaced at his friend’s story. While Henry was never the same after he accidentally ate that weird bug that fell in his food bowl, no one could deny that he was a fighter in his younger years. The old Siberian tabby had the scars to prove it. Hot-headed toms and she-cats learned that he was no easy pickings for a fight even now with his… eccentrics.

Honestly, he can see him do it to some cat that pissed him off on his meaner days.

“Thanks for the warning Smudge, we’ll be on the lookout,” meowed Rusty. Then a thought hit him. “Hey, why don’t you join us? You’re our friend and it can be fun!"

“Rusty is right, you said you always wanted to try a mouse, and aren’t you at least curious about the woods?" Princess replied hopefully.

Smudge looked around nervously before sighing. “Fine, but only because you two are my friends."

“Well, it’s now or never, we’re burning moonlight chattering like birds when we can be exploring," meowed Princess, excitement clear in her eyes as her tail wagged. And with that, she went into the dense group of trees. The smells of earth and animals invaded Rusty’s nose as he followed, making his mouth water. It was just like in his dream, only better since it was real. Birds! Mice! Squirrels!

“Maybe we should slightly split up to cover more ground?” said Rusty, left ear twitching. He could have sworn he heard a heartbeat, but wrote it off as belonging to busy prey animals.

“That’s easy for you to say, you and Princess are big! And by the way, you sound like those guys in horror flicks who get splattered by the villain." softy meowed Smudge, making Rusty scowl.

“You should have seen him after he watched the remake of that killer spider clown movie, he refused to walk near sewer grates for a month!” teased Princess.

Rusty sighed. “Let’s just try to hunt before it’s too late. But sticking close sounds good. If trouble finds you, yowl, and we’ll be right there to fight off anything. Sounds good? Princess and Smudge nodded. “Great, now let’s go."

Princess unsurprisingly went forward while Smudge went to his left. Going right, the young red tom went deep into the brush, carefully avoiding tree roots and thorns along the way.

Ears fully pricked and tasting the air, he could sense that a mouse was close. Focusing his eyes on the spot, he could make it out, stuffing itself with seeds that were on the ground. Getting into the hunter’s crouch, he was just about to prowl forward when he heard faint paw steps crackling on dry leaves. The mouse dropped its seeds to dart away, and Rusty let out a surprised shriek as he barely jumped out of the way as a gray comet shot past where he once was.

The cat landed, turned around and hissed, showing white fangs. Crouching, he darted straight towards Rusty. Thinking quickly, Rusty shot towards the tabby, matching his speed. Just when they were a foot away from each other, he lowered his head and slammed his skull right into the gray tom’s chest, who let out a wheeze. Continuing on, he used his neck muscles to send his assailant crashing into the ground.

“Rusty!”

”Rusty!”

Princess’s and Smudges frantic yells heralded their arrival, with his sister in the front and Smudge on her tail. Both had their claws unsheathed, with Princess looking like she was about to shred a cat at any minute and Smudge’s fur spiked up on his spine.

“What happened? I was trying to catch a squirrel when I heard a shriek!” worriedly meowed his friend.

"Who’s that behind you, Rusty? Did he attack you? I’ll give him a lesson for attacking my brother!”

The said cat of Princess’s ire shook his head as he got up and blinked in surprise before jumping backward. “More kitty pet intruders!” Puffing himself up, he leaped from side to side. “All of you better leave before I sharpen my claws on your bones,” he yowled.

“Oh yeah? Well, all I see are three cats and one bouncing poof ball. And who are you calling kitty pet? You look like you can be the old lady’s lap cat who lives next to us,” replied Princess, ears folded back in aggression.

“Wait, let’s not escalate things, we mean no trouble at all here.  We simply wanted to look around and try our hunting skills,” said Smudge, though he didn’t sheath his claws.

“Prey stealers!” He hissed, “I’ll make you fear the name Graypaw!” Rusty could hear the obvious bravado in his voice.  While he can sense sturdy shoulders underneath this Graypaw’s shaggy fur; he was concerned about his odds taking on three unknown threats alone.

“Smudge is right, we didn’t mean any harm. We’re sorry if we trespassed in some way." The reddish tom knew if there was one cat around, there might be more nearby, and he didn’t want his sister and friend to fight off any cats who believe it’s the Wild Wild West.

Graypaw's fur was still puffy as he looked to Rusty, Princess, and Smudge. “So you didn’t catch anything and don’t want to attack Thunderclan?” When all three shook their heads no, his fur went down, though, like everyone else, his claws remained out.

The hostile air faded as the four calmed down when Princess noticed that he wasn’t injured besides being shocked at the attempted attack.

Sighing, he sat down and licked his chest fur. “I guess those ears of yours aren’t for show since you heard me and dodged my attack. I never thought you would charge at me." Looking at Rusty and Princess, he continued. “I thought I was looking at Leopardfur for a second with that pelt of yours! But I have to say it’s way more pronounced looking, even with you two being kitty pets. Are your names spot related by chance?”

“Umm, no. My name is Rusty. '' Using his tail, he pointed to his sister and friend. "This is Princess—my littermate, and Smudge, our best friend and neighbor”.

Meowing their hellos, Smudge stepped forward. “So Graypaw was it? What did you mean when you said Kitty Pets? Do you mean house cats?”

“I mean all of you by being kitty pets that have two-leg owners. The smell of that place is all over you and those two have collars prove it." Looking at Smudge’s neck, Graypaw cocked his head. “Though I don’t know what is that around your throat, though, it looks weird”.

“Hey, I like my purple bandana!”

Princess looked confused. “Two-legs? You mean Humans?”

“Humans," Graypaw said with a befuddled look as if the word was alien. “Look, if that’s what you call them, then yes. You all have ki... Housecat blood, especially with your friend having that shiny silky coat."

Ignoring Smudge’s loud “Why thank you," he continued to speak.

“But I won’t lie, both of you give off a weird feeling that I can’t place. And don’t take this the wrong way, but you look and sound off too. I have never seen a cat with ears that big or necks that long, and again your fur! I know some cats that would be envious if they saw it."

Rusty about asked what cats was he referring to when he picked up two heartbeats and near-silent paws coming towards them quick.

“Princess! Smudge! We have got to leave now!" Rusty had heard that those old stories Clan cats doing raids on gardens for no reason, what if they gave them justification for “trespassing?”

Graypaw must have noticed because panic came clear in his amber eyes. “Quick—run that way before—"

“What is going on here? Who are these Intruders?" Hissed a firm and menacing voice.

"...We get caught,” was Graypaw’s gloomy response.

The four cats watched as a large majestic gray Russian Blue she-cat, or at least a descendant of one came out of the brush. Her muzzle had streaks of silver, and a jagged scar separated the fur on her shoulders. Gray fur shone like silver in the moonlight, giving her an almost ethereal appearance.

“Bluestar!” Beside Princess, Graypaw crouched down and narrowed his eyes. He crouched even lower when a second cat—a handsome, golden tabby—followed the gray cat into the clearing. Smudge looked torn between following the gray tom’s lead or lowering his head. Princess though made eye contact with both. Belatedly, Rusty realized he was doing the same.

“Why were you so close to the two-leg place Graypaw? You know that we shouldn’t go near it." The tom said.

“I know, Lionheart, I’m sorry.” Graypaw looked down at his paws in shame.

“Who are these cats? Two of them look like the RiverClan Deputy," asked the she-cat.

Rusty held her gaze, though he bowed his head as a sign of respect. Her piercing gaze flashed before she swept it to Smudge and Princess.

“None of them are threats,” mewed Graypaw quickly. “They are not Clan warriors, just Twoleg pets from beyond our territories.”

Just a Twoleg pet! The words inflamed Rusty, but he held his tongue. That’s rich when I sent you flying to the ground. The warning look in Bluestar’s stare told him that she had observed the anger in his eyes, and he looked away to meet Princess so she won’t say anything rude. Judging by her narrowed blue eyes, she was about to go and do just that.

"This is Bluestar; she’s the leader of my Clan!” Graypaw hissed to them under his breath. “And Lionheart. He’s my mentor, which means he’s training me to be a warrior.”

“Thank you for the introduction, Graypaw,” meowed Lionheart coolly.

Bluestar went back to staring at Rusty. “You fight well for a Twoleg pet,” she meowed.

Rusty and Graypaw exchanged confused glances. How could she know about the confrontation?

“We have been watching all of you,” Bluestar went on as if she had read their thoughts. “We wondered how you would deal with an intruder, Graypaw. You attacked him bravely even when he was bigger than you, and even tried to scare off three unknowns.”

Graypaw looked pleased with Bluestar’s praise.

Bluestar then looked at the other two. “You actually had a squirrel in your paws, but let it go to help your friend,” she meowed at Smudge. He blinked in surprise.

She then gazed at Princess. “While you seemed to notice that Lionheart was watching since you kept looking at his direction when you were tracking that vole.”

“Sit up now, all of you!” Bluestar looked at the three house cats, and Rusty held eye contact as she addressed them.

“You reacted to Graypaw’s attack very well, kitty pet. Not only did you hear his approach and dodged, but you also charged head-on with no hesitation. I have heard of kitty pets fighting clan cats, but I never thought I’d see it."

Rusty and the others nodded their thanks, taken aback by such unexpected praise. Her next words stunned them more.

“I have been wondering how you two would perform outside of your garden. We patrol this border frequently, and every so often I saw you two looking at the forest. I even saw your friend do it, but now all of you have gotten the courage to set your paws here.”

Bluestar looked at them thoughtfully. “All of you seem to have natural hunting abilities, and I’m sure that all of you would have caught prey if Graypaw had not found you,” she meowed.

“How old are you three, if I might ask?” replied Bluestar. Graypaw and Lionheart had curious expressions as they waited for an answer.

“Well, me and my brother despite our size are six months old, and Smudge will turn six months this week,” replied Princess.

By the look of the Clan cats were giving her, they didn’t know what a month or week was. “Umm, let’s just say six moons and six nights since we use different words for time passage back at home."

Graypaw’s disbelief was apparent. “Six moons? But you two are already close to being the size of Tigerclaw! And he’s the biggest cat I know!”

Lionheart shook his head. “Bluestar, these are kitty pets. They should not be hunting or even be in ThunderClan territory. Send them home to their Two-legs!” His voice was respectful and insistent, but it was clear that he wanted them gone.

Rusty prickled at Lionheart’s words. “Send us home?” he mewed. He wanted to say that they didn't even catch anything yet, but a voice in his head told him that maybe he should keep that to himself.

That, Bluestar’s words made him glow with pride, and a quick look to his left showed him that Smudge and Princess felt the same.

Bluestar then turned to look at them. The way her eyes glowed, it felt like she was going to drop an anvil of a question. He was right.

“How do all of you feel to join our Clan?”