Hallo loyal lit. readers
Sorry it has taken me so long to post this chapter. One more chapter on this story and then onto To Love a Stray ch11 part2
Mygypsy
*
A shaft of sunlight that slants down between a couple of trees to hit the ground highlights the pattern in Rosy's coat as she trots through the evening light. In her cat form she is swift and bold, only avoiding the cattle kept for eating when she hunts.
It has become increasingly clear how good of a hunter she is. Rabbits and hares are frequent prey when she travels. Even when some of us only go out for exercise with no intention of hunting, Rosy hunts as she goes. Despite this she is never too laden with food to keep up and easily keeps pace with whichever toms are along.
I grunt softly and she pauses to look my way. I bob my head and trot up beside her with a soft purr as I halt to study the open field ahead. It has been two weeks since Edwin had been forced to leave the clan, and Rosy was learning surprisingly fast how to behave. With no one to mislead her or encourage her towards incorrect behaviour she only needs things explained to her once.
An impatient move beside me and I glance her way to find Rosy waiting expectantly. The first thing Sam and I taught her had been not to rush ahead of the toms with her. Our job was to protect her and if she ran ahead into trouble she was only making it harder for us.
"Why are we waiting?" Jazzy demands impatiently as she trots up between Rosy and me.
Rosy gives her an affectionate nudge with her muzzle before licking a black ear.
"Little sister," Rosy huffs.
"I told her it was my name," Jazzy purrs happily and I glare at her a second before leading the way into the open grass. I will have to have a few words with Jazzy about misleading Rosy.
Steven, Sam and Mikkarl fan out across the field checking for any native wildlife. Rosy stands at the edge of the field watching eagerly. She waits until they are nearly at the far side of the clearing before bolting after them.
Mitchell follows close behind her and I stop to watch her with interest as she races across the ground. She turns sharply just before she reaches Sam to race towards Mikkarl. Her love of running shows in the fluid grace of her movements as she executes a sliding turn before heading towards Steven.
Half way between Mikkarl and Steven a mottled form launches itself from a thick clump of shrubs at the two cats racing towards it. Furious barking fills the air along with the sound of snarls and hisses.
My heart is pounding in my chest as I watch the scene unfolding before me. Mitchell swerves off course, giving in to his instinctive dislike of dogs while Rosy props to an abrupt stop. Her ears are laid back flat on her skull, her back arched up and all of her fur seems to stand on end as she faces the dog rushing after her brother.
Rosy stands her ground but as the dog rushes by her, she leaps high in the air even as she slashes with a front paw and razor sharp claws. There is a startled yelp and the two forms separate. The dog facing Rosy appears old and ragged but that does nothing to calm Jazzy who is beside me huddling close and trembling in fear.
Despite our natural fear of dogs the warriors rush to surround the dog. Both Sam and Steven press close only to jump back as the dog charges forward yapping at them. I am shocked and alarmed when Rosy flings herself on the dog fearlessly.
It is an uneven fight. The dog is much smaller and only has teeth while Rosy has both claws and teeth. Within a minute Rosy is standing over the carcass of her would be attacker; she is still snarling furiously while her tail lashes back and forth viciously.
Leaving Jazzy with Dwayne and Donovan I rush over to sniff Rosy anxiously. She snarls savagely, baring her teeth at me but allows me to examine her thoroughly.
"Silly, silly girl!" I grumble near her ear and she shakes her head as my whiskers brush against her ear. I glance around the toms accusingly but they are all looking uncomfortable and only Steven steps forward to sniff at the dead dog.
Rosy snarls and slaps at his head, driving him away from her kill. She tries the same with me when I step up to examine the dog but a low growl has her moving aside so I can check out the animal.
It is an old dog with a bullet wound high in one front shoulder and a bloody furrow across its back. Either it is a stock killer or more likely, an old dog someone has tried to put down.
She noses the animal but makes no attempt to begin eating it before she moves away. She stops a small distance away and looks back at us before heading back towards Jazzy, Dwayne and Donovan.
What am I to do with her? The toms were meant to protect her not the other way around!
I watch her for a few moments before it dawns on me. If it had been one of the others seizing the chance to despatch the dog it would not have been an issue. Despite the fact she is a she-kitt Rosy is clearly able to protect herself against a dog.
"We were right there ..." Steven starts with a worried look as he halts beside me.
"Rosy isn't a normal she-kitt; she has learnt how to look after herself," I growl without conviction. "We will need to find a suitable compromise."
I glance back at Rosy and find her watching me cautiously. Did she feel she had done wrong? Or was she beginning to think that she might be in trouble?
I make my way back to Jazzy and groom the smell of fear from around her ears. She meows loudly and rubs herself against my side before walking over to Mitchell for more soothing grooming. I take the time to brush my cheek against both Steven and Sam's front shoulders to let them know I am not annoyed at them.
We set off at a steady trot once again and I notice Rosy settle into place between Chris and Malcolm. Occasionally she crowds close to Chris nipping at his front legs or trying to grab a hold on the ruff of his neck; she is in a playful mood. She has become a little more tolerant of being touched while in both forms, the most notable in cat form.
I am surprised when Mitchell goes down end over end, only to leap to his feet with a shocked look. Beside him Jazzy yawns then gives a wide feline grin and I realise I need to keep a close eye on my sister. Mitchell edges away from her as he resumes his place in formation but Jazzy slinks after him craftily. Dwayne slips between them and I pick up the travelling pace a little to keep Jazzy occupied.
It is nearly dark by the time we reach the tree line surrounding the buildings; Rosy hurries ahead to go into the quarters. The rest of us change to human form before walking inside to the lounge room to pull clothing on. We males only bother with jeans but Jazzy pulls a t-shirt on as well.
"I'll start the steaks," Mikkarl says as he heads into the kitchen. Since starting work here, he has happily stepped in to do most of the cooking for the evening meals.
"Rosy, I want to have a word with you," Sam says firmly and I turn around to see him frowning at Rosy where she stands in the doorway looking defensive.
"It's all right Sam; I want to speak to everyone. Come on in Rosy - you're not in trouble," I say meeting her eyes.
"Rosy should be in trouble!" Jazzy cuts in. "Dogs are smelly and dangerous! Oh did I mention how smelly they are?"
"Jazzy sit down," I order firmly.
Jazzy gives me a sad-eyed look with her bottom lip pouting slightly. I have to repress a groan of irritation so I turn my back on her instead.
