The morning patrol began not with a roar, but with the soft zip of a mesh enclosure. For the striped explorer and his snowy companion, the world beyond the front door was a vast, untamed kingdom best viewed from the safety of their rolling chariot.
The Tabby, outfitted in his vibrant vest, took point. He was the navigator, the watcher of squirrels, the listener of leaves. With his chin tilted toward the sky, he inhaled the complex scents of the season, his amber eyes missing nothing. Beside him, the White Cat pressed a paw against the netting, blue eyes wide with a mixture of regal curiosity and calculation. They rolled through the neighborhood, safe behind the screen, observing the chaotic outdoors with the detachment of VIPs in a limousine.
Upon returning to their headquarters, duties were split. The White Cat, seeking the high ground, ascended the white tower of the gaming station. It was the warmest perch in the house, a machine that hummed with power. There he sat, tail draped over the glass, blending perfectly with the hardware a silent sentinel guarding the digital realm and soaking up the heat from the vents.
The Tabby, however, had expended his energy reserves on the expedition. The thrill of the outdoors had been heavy work. Finding the center of the soft, white bed, he abandoned all dignity and collapsed. He didn’t just lie down, he melted, becoming a flat, striped landscape of pure exhaustion, dreaming of the birds he had just seen.
Shannon Willis can usually be found in the company of furry friends. A passionate animal enthusiast, her work is often inspired by her deep love for cats, dogs, and the animal kingdom as a whole.
