The three others staggered backward. They’re afraid of the boy, Hunter thought. But why would they be afraid of him? They are all bigger than the boy.
The boy continued to yell. The man tried to speak, but the boy cut him off. His voice was loud and angry. The man cowered away from him. The boy must be a brave and ferocious fighter, thought Hunter.
The boy ran past them and charged at the cats that were out in the open. The cats ran away, disappearing into the wrecks. Why was he after the cats? He had never harmed them before. What was the boy doing? Had Hunter misjudged him, was he no better than the other humans?
All of the cats had left, except for King. He stood in the center of the clearing. He wasn’t going to give up his meal without a fight. King stood his ground, hovering over the food he had been eating, unwilling to leave it behind. A couple of the other cats hissed at the boy before they ran off. But King didn’t hiss. He just glared and puffed up his fur to make himself look even bigger. He was an impressive king.
“He is so brave,” Hunter said, under his breath.
“I don’t think it’s that he’s brave. He’s hungry and greedy,” the raccoon said.
“He’s standing up for what is his,” Hunter said.
“He’s standing up for his food. Defending his food makes him greedy. Defending other cats would make him brave.”
“Still, he’s not running away.”
The boy screamed at King and moved toward him. King didn’t back away.
“He is brave,” Hunter said.
The boy bent down and picked up a rock. He heaved it toward King, barely missing him. King jumped in the air, turned and ran away, disappearing into the wrecks.
“How could I be so wrong about that boy?” Hunter said.
“What do you mean?” the raccoon asked.
“He’s like all the rest. He just wants to harm the cats. He’s no better than those other boys who throw rocks. He was only pretending to be our friend so he could trick us.”
“No,” the raccoon said. “You’re wrong.”
“I saw it with my own eyes. He chased them away when they were feeding. He even tossed a rock at King.”
“I’ve thought about tossing a rock at King myself,” the raccoon said. “You’re wrong about the boy.”
“You saw what he did, so how can you argue?” Hunter demanded.
“We both saw what he did, but I think you don’t understand why he did what he did. He wasn’t trying to harm any of the cats. He was trying to protect them.”
“By throwing rocks and chasing them away?” Hunter asked.
“He was protecting them by chasing them away. That’s why he ran at them, and that’s why he threw a rock at King. He didn’t hit him.”
“Just because he didn’t hit him doesn’t mean he wasn’t trying to—”
“Silence!” the raccoon hissed, showing his teeth.
Maybe the boy wasn’t the only one who had fooled Hunter into thinking he was a friend.
“Be silent,” the raccoon said. “I want to hear what they’re saying.”
The humans were yelling. The boy was yelling the loudest.
“What are they—?”
“Quiet,” the raccoon snapped.
The boy stood his ground. He stepped forward, forcing the three others to back away and cower from his advance. Hunter understood. This boy was a warrior. But why would they be afraid of him? And how could the raccoon think he was good after he had attacked the other cats?
“Ah, that’s makes sense. That is why,” the raccoon said.
Hunter wanted to ask what made sense, but he knew to stay silent. He had respect for the raccoon, and a healthy dose of fear. He didn’t want those teeth and claws turned on him.
“The boy acted as he did to defend the cats,” the raccoon said. “He chased them away because he thought the other humans meant them harm.”
That made sense. Perfect sense. There were times when Hunter had wanted to chase Mittens and the kittens away when he felt they were in danger.
“The rock he threw was meant to only chase King away. He was trying to scare him, not hit him.”
That was a relief, sort of. Part of Hunter welcomed the idea of King being hurt or chased away.
“Listen, the boy is telling the men they have to leave the colony, that they have to go. He’s threatening them somehow,” the raccoon said. “They are afraid of him.”
Hunter could see it in their tense bodies. All animals reacted the same way when they were afraid. They lower their heads and back away.
“Is he going to attack them?” Hunter asked.
“He might. They are afraid of that and, strange, did you just hear what the boy said? I can’t believe what I’m hearing. He just called King by his name. He called him King.”
“I didn’t hear that,” said Hunter.
“He called him King. He said he was the king of the colony. How did he know that?” the raccoon asked.
“Maybe he knows the biggest cat is always king.”
“Perhaps, but that wouldn’t explain the other thing he said.” The raccoon paused and looked directly into Hunter’s eyes. “He mentioned you. He called you Hunter.”
“What?”
“He knows your name.”
“That’s impossible,” Hunter said. “Are you sure?”
“I am sure. He said you and King were the leaders of the colony.”
“I’m not a leader,” Hunter protested.
“Yes, you are,” the raccoon said. “There is no point in arguing. The real question is how does this boy know both your names?”
“Maybe he understands some of our language,” Hunter said.
“I don’t think humans can understand animals. Maybe he can sense your names. Maybe he has special powers. That would explain why the other humans are so afraid of him.”
Hunter didn’t have any explanation. He wished the colony cats were more cautious. Some of them had already started coming out of hiding and were creeping into the opening, drawn by the smell of the food. Would the boy chase them away again?
The boy seemed too occupied by the other humans to notice the cats. He and his mother were talking to them. While their words had become quieter, there was no indication that the boy was backing away.
“He wants them all to leave,” the raccoon said.
“Do you think he can chase them away?” Hunter asked. “Is he strong enough? Does he have enough power?”
Before the raccoon could answer, the three started to walk away, along with the boy and his mother. He was making them go. This boy was powerful, a powerful friend to the colony.