Slowly he got into a good position. Then while taking aim, he flipped the selector from �safe� to �fire� and placed his finger on the trigger. Quietly squeezed the trigger and�
BANG!!!!
�What the� How did I miss that Tom? Tom��
The sound of his voice sent a burst of pure rage up Feline�s chest. She ran up to him and tossed him to the ground. The shooter�s friend, the one called Tom, ran away after the display of physical strength. All that was left now was to deal with the poacher that came into her woods.
�Who� Who are you? Where is Tom?� He asked in a terrified tone.
�My name is Feline. Your friend ran away like the coward he is. He left you to me�� She replied growling.
As the hunter tried to get up, Feline walked over and placed a paw on his chest. She then slammed his body back to the ground, knocking the wind out of him. Now trapped, she took a moment to consider his fate.
�Don�t you know there is no hunting in the nature preserve?� She asked sarcastically.
�Yes but it�s almost 30 miles, I didn�t think anyone��
�Would what? Would notice?� Feline replied and began applying pressure to his chest.
The young man screamed out in pain as the paw lowered down with the force of several tons. Feline smiled cruelly as she felt his ribcage crack under her pads. For a moment, the thought of collapsing his chest and allowing him to die painfully seemed real appealing. But those wicked thoughts soon passed and she released the pressure.
The injured human let in a gasp of air and curled up into the fetal position. A look of absolute terror filled his face and Feline knew he wouldn�t forget that night.
�Please� No more�� The poacher begged weakly.
�Get out of here before I do something we�ll both regret. And if I ever catch you in my park again �� Feline growled angrily and kicked the cowering man in the ribs. He got up coughing up blood and ran away.
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�Now Feline we�ve talked about this before. You know that if you catch a poacher in the preserve you�re suppose to call me.� Kevin Spenting, the preserve�s ranger, explained firmly.
�I�m sorry Kevin but it all happened so fast. Besides that poacher will never bother the animals here again.� Feline announced proudly.
�Damn it Feline! I don�t know if I should arrest you or offer you a job!� Kevin yelled. �Besides how in the hell do you know where to find these bastards anyway?�
�You wouldn�t believe me if I told ya. Besides no one pressed any charges.� Feline replied calmly.
�Alright Feline� Just do me a favor and call me before you do that again. Not only can you get yourself killed but you�re making me look bad.�
�Thanks Kevin.� Feline replied sweetly and kissed him on the forehead on her way out.
Once she made it out into the busy city street Feline gave Kevin�s question some thought. The voices, the ones that tell her where to go... It was all so clear yet so confusing. Why is it that she can hear animals in her head?
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�Daddy� Daddy, please come back� I miss��
KNOCK, KNOCK, KNOCK
The sudden pounding awoke Feline from her nightmare. Somewhat disoriented, she made her way to the door. Through the peephole a tall human dressed in a business suit could be seen. He looked very official.
She rarely got visitors and mostly kept to herself. So the man�s presence was somewhat disturbing. Normally humans dressed like that only deliver bad news.
�Who is it?� Feline asked.
�My name is Joseph Likis. My employer would like to inquire about your services.� The man responded professionally.
�Me? What services? And what makes you think I�m for hire?�
�Feline I�ve talked with Ranger Spenting. I know of your activities at the preserve. I believe you may be just the person my employer needs for a job. If you would let me in I could explain everything.�
Feline thought for a moment. This man has been checking into her background. But for what reason? She had to know. So she opened the door and allowed him in.
�Thank you Feline.�
�Tell me what this is all about now. What does your employer want of me?�
�An item of his has been stolen. He believes the thief has hid it somewhere on the nature preserve you frequent. He would like you to find it.�
�What was stolen?� Feline asked.
�That is not important. Besides the item must be kept in its container for storage. That is what you will have to look for.� Likis replied slyly.
�What makes you think I can find this container for you?�
Likis walked up to her and replied softy, �Feline my client believes that you are very special. You can do things, see things, that other furs can�t. We could search that preserve for months and never find the container. But you could see through the eyes of the forest creatures exactly where it is.�
Feline collapsed onto the couch. This stranger that just walked into her life and knew things that she never told anyone. Not ever Ranger Spenting knew of her abilities. The fact that this slick talking man knew about her abilities was very disturbing. However it was also enough to peek her curiosity.
�Ok, if I do this for you� I mean�� Feline stuttered nervously before finding the words. �What�s in it for me?�
�Ahhh, so you�re interested.� Likis announced and scratched his chin. �My sources say that you�ve been petitioning the city for some time now to hire more Rangers. But you haven�t gotten anywhere have you?�
�No.� Feline replied a little irritated. �The preserve is over 30 square miles and they only have 2 rangers to patrol it. Yet it contains many rare species that are in high demand in the black market. It�s a poacher�s paradise and the city says they don�t have the money!�
�My client has substantial resources and influence. He could arrange for the city to review your request.�
�And all I need to do is find this container?�
�Yes. But we don�t have much time. Once the thief realizes that we are onto him, he�ll move it.�
Feline paced around her living room for a moment trying to digest what Likis has told and asked her. She didn�t like the idea of looking for something she knew nothing of. However if they could get more rangers for the preserve�
�Alright I�ll do it.�
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The crisp night air blew through Feline�s fur as she made her way through the woods. After reaching the preserve it didn�t take long for her �instincts� to kick in. Feline could see, hear, and feel everything the creatures of the preserve could. She could see the woods from an owls perspective, hear the leaves rustle from the deer, and what�
What is this? Her little friends have already found the container. It�s buried under some leaves. There is a strange power emanating from it. It feels cold, almost evil�
Allowing the animals to act as her guide, Feline made her way through the woods. Within an hour she had found the little silver box. There was something about it that made her fur stand on end. Nevertheless Feline pushed those thoughts to the side and concentrated on the task at hand. She found it, now it was just a matter of getting back to the city street. But something wasn�t right�
SNAP!!!
The sudden sound made her freeze in place. Someone else was in the wood!. A man� And he�s caring something with him. Something long� A rifle!
Feline started to run for the street. It was less than a mile away and once she got there Likis would be waiting for her. But he was getting closer� Had to run faster� Faster�
The street was now becoming visible. There is Likis. Wait� But the animals are trying to tell her something� They�re yelling it in her mind� DUCK!!! DUCK NOW!!!
BANG!!! BANG!!! BANG!!!
The bullets whizzed over her head as she fell to the ground. Luckily a rock had tripped her before the shooting started. However after two more shots the woods turned quiet again.
Feline continued to lie still for what seemed like an eternity. Then someone started to run towards her. Thankfully it was Likis.
�Feline are you alright?� He asked frantically while holding a smoking pistol in his hand.
�I�m fine. What just happened?� She replied confused and scared.
�The thief just tried to kill you but I managed to scare him away.� He replied while looking around. �We�ve got to get out of here. NOW!�
Likis helped Feline to her feet. Then they both ran for the van. On the way back Feline got the sense that they were being followed. Despite that, a moment later they were in the van and on their way back to her apartment. The job was finished.
The next morning Feline climbed out of bed and turned on the TV. On the news there was no mention of the shooting. However there was a brief story on the City Counsel�s decision to look into more rangers for the preserve.
Over the next few weeks the city found the funding to hire 4 new rangers for the nature preserve. Within two months the rangers were in place and pouching in the preserve became a rare occurrence.
Although Feline never found out what was in the little silver box or who tried to kill her it was all right. Likis kept his end of the bargain and everything seemed to work out for the best.
However that wasn�t the last time Likis visited her or she saw that little silver box. But that�s a story for another time.
Feline copywrited to her player. Used with permission.