To Love a Stray Ch. 07

We pause at a stream to lap water and I watch small fingerlings swim away hurriedly, there are several frogs singing near by but I ignore them as I lift my head and survey the stream for possible fishing places. Soon we are travelling again and I find myself just behind Micah with everyone else behind me, I glance over my shoulder several times but none of them appear threatening and I continue on at the same steady pace.

We stop when we come to a tall fence and a locked gate; I look away when Timny shifts back and retrieves as key from a hidden compartment to unlock the gate. I refuse to follow the others through the gate until Timny shows me what is virtually a were cat door in the gate that opens only outwards. I hesitate several moments then race through as if I expect the gate to crash closed on me.

"This is a specially stocked pasture for when we want to be sure of a kill," Timny explains before shifting back to cat form.

I sniff the ground with interest surprised to find the scent of cattle and goats along the inside of the fence. Micah leads the way along the fence and I look around with interest, brush grows thickly near the fence on both sides and I sniff at it as I go past to tell what has passed here recently.

Micah stops at the edge of the undergrowth and looks out onto a large field, I stare out at the small herds of cattle and goats. None of them have horns and none of the cattle have calves at foot, all are fat and shiny and my tail twitches as I look at them. As I watch the toms start peeling off in groups, Steven, Mikkarl and Timny go in one group. Malcolm, Chris and Robby in another, while Justin, Micah, Edwin and Dwayne slink off together leaving me with Mitchell and Sam.

Sam nudges my shoulder and I follow him and Mitchell along the tree line closer to the herd of cattle I watch as Sam and Mitchell drop down to stalk closer to their chosen beast. I look around and see all the others following suit before I drop to my stomach and creep closer, we are nearly on the herd before I hear the heavy tread and freeze.

A deep low bellow sounds and I press my ears back against my skull as I recognise the sound of a bull calling to a female, I press myself to the ground. Sam and Mitchell are suddenly with me and I need no urging to retreat from the herd, I feel the breeze ruffling my fur and I cut across the breeze so it doesn't take my scent to the cattle.

A couple of the cattle call replying to the bull and I pause to lift my head and look back at the herd, the bull is a large brindle brute and I hurry to slink closer to the tree line. The bull gives an angry snort and I turn to see what has distracted him from the cattle, two black cats are fleeing from the vicinity of the bull while two others stand their ground as the bull advances towards them pawing the ground and snorting. Huge chunks of dirt fly back over his shoulders and I jump startled as Sam races towards the two cats standing their ground.