Hunter hesitated before exiting the tunnel. He was acting on faith and trust—trust in a human. He tentatively walked into the clearing. The humans were there. They were close but far enough away that he could still escape if he needed to. Hunter eyed them nervously. He could always run away, but there was only one way out for Mittens and the kittens.
He walked over to one of the cages. It was empty except for a piece of meat in the center. The smell drew near. The food had lured all the other cats into the traps. They hadn’t known any better. But he did.
He circled around the cage, looking for the opening. He leaned his head inside but kept his body on the outside. He knew what he was doing. If it trapped him, then Mittens and the other kittens would die without him. He was prepared to sacrifice his own life, but not his family’s. He had to do this just right. He had to do what only a cat could do.
He leaned in ever so slightly. If he moved too close, the cage would shut. The humans had trapped his other kittens—taken them away from him. He had to trust and have faith in Taylor. And love. Love for his kittens and his mate. He lowered his head and dropped the kitten in. It was done. Right or wrong, it was done. He retreated, the kitten calling after him, desperate and afraid. Hunter felt awful. He was abandoning his kitten, betraying the trust Mittens had placed in him. He slowed down. He could still go back, grab the kitten and…no, he couldn’t. He had to trust and follow his heart.
He rounded the corner of the wreck, and the last of the humans disappeared, hidden by the cars. He raced down the tunnel and into the den.
“The kitten, where is our kitten?” Mittens said.
“He’s alone. I have to bring one of his sisters to him.”
“But—”
“I can’t explain. There isn’t time. You nurse the other two, and I’ll be back.”
He grabbed a kitten in his mouth. Every instinct in Mittens, the good mother that she was, wanted to attack Hunter, stop him. But she didn’t.
Hunter ran up the tunnel and into the clearing. The humans were still there, watching silently. He had no time to waste. He ran back to the cage. The first kitten’s weak calls were the only sound. Hunter stopped at the opening. He had done it once. The second time should be easier. Keeping his feet on the red crushed brick, Hunter leaned in and dropped the second kitten beside the first. Now both kittens began to cry. He ran away, trying to ignore them. He was half finished.
“I’m back,” he said as he descended the tunnel.
Mittens was lying on her side. The two last kittens were beneath her, nursing. She didn’t answer, but he could hear her panicked breathing.
“Now you have to come with me,” he said.
“I’m not leaving my kittens!” she snapped. Even in the dim light he could see the fur on her back rise. She was ready to fight him.
“You’re not leaving the kittens. We’re taking them with us. I’ll take this one and—”
“No!” she screamed.
He was startled by her reaction. He tried to calm her enough so she could follow his directions.
“No,” she said, this time softly. “I’ll take that one. You take the other.”
She stood up and took one of the kittens in her mouth.
“Whatever happens,” he said. “You have to trust me. You have to believe in me and what I’m doing.”
Mittens nodded.
“Good.” He grabbed the remaining kitten, started up the incline of the tunnel and she followed. He broke into the light and turned to watch her emerge. Her eyes were wild with fear. Gently he placed the kitten on the ground.
“Just follow me. Trust me. The way I trust you,” he said.
He picked the kitten back up and started toward the clearing, toward the cage. When they entered the clearing, he walked straight up to the trap. This time there was no hesitation in his actions. He dropped the third kitten in with the other two. The three of them huddled together.
Mittens had stopped on the edge of the clearing, terrified. Hunter doubled back and they touched noses.
“Whatever happens we’re together,” he said. “I won’t leave you. I won’t let you down.”
He led her to the cage. The kittens’ cries increased as she neared. Hunter had counted on them calling out for her. They were the bait, drawing her closer and closer.
Mittens stopped at the entrance. She was one of the few colony cats who knew about cages.
Hunter bumped against her and pushed her toward the opening. She resisted. “I know what happened the last time you were in a cage. You lost your claws. But remember what happened to me. Taylor has never done anything to harm us. They healed my injured paw.”
She looked at him. “That’s right. They can heal a paw.” She jumped into the cage, the kitten in her mouth, and the door slammed shut. She was trapped inside with her kittens. She was safe; they were all safe. A blur of fur shot toward Hunter. Hunter jumped to the side. King smashed into the side of the trap, pushing it backward, and Mittens screamed.
King turned, but before he could move, Hunter jumped on him, digging in his claws and teeth. King roared in pain and anger. He tried to strike at Hunter, but Hunter easily dodged his blows.
“I’m going to kill you!” King snarled.
“You can’t kill what you can’t catch,” Hunter said. He raced away, circling around a second trap and ran right inside. The door slammed shut behind him.
King stared at him, too shocked to know what to say.
“You’re nothing more than a bully. You were never a leader,” Hunter said.
“Maybe I’m not a leader, but I’m on the outside of the trap, and you’re on the inside.”
“You are on the outside, but not just of the trap.”
“Fool,” King said. “You’re as good as dead.”
“I’d rather die for something I believe than live for power and greed as you do.”
Hunter looked over. The vet was approaching, slowly. In his hands was the long pole, the one he’d used to capture Blue. King’s eyes were filled with rage.
“You better run while you can,” Hunter said.
“Do you really think you’re in a position to threaten anybody?”
“Not me, him,” Hunter said and gestured.
King turned and saw the vet.
“Your time has passed,” Hunter said. “But stick around if you want.”
King bolted, disappearing into the wrecks.
Despite what he had said to King, Hunter was neither confident, nor calm. He was terrified. He wasn’t scared for himself. He was worried about Mittens and the kittens.
“I’m right here,” he called to them. “Just be calm.”
Taylor started to walk toward Hunter’s trap and then stopped. The raccoon waddled across the clearing toward Hunter. He pressed his nose against the mesh of the trap, and Hunter did the same.
“You did the right thing,” the raccoon said.
“You think it’s going to be all right?” Hunter asked.
“Of course. Every direction is the right one.”
“I just wish I knew,” Hunter said.
“You’ll know soon enough, but remember Taylor has never harmed you. I don’t think he’s going to harm you now. Have faith.”
“What else do I have?” Hunter asked.
“Sometimes you don’t need anything more. Goodbye, my friend,” the raccoon said.
“It might not be goodbye,” Hunter said.
“It’s at least goodbye for now.”
“Perhaps we’ll meet in another life,” Hunter said.
“Perhaps. And maybe you’ll be a raccoon and I’ll be a cat,” the raccoon said.
“I’ll look for the smartest cat there ever was.”
“And I’ll look for the wisest raccoon.” He paused. “But right now I might look for King and have a word with him. Perhaps I’ll give him more than a word.”
“No, please, leave him alone. Even he deserves to live,” Hunter said.
The raccoon smiled. “You are wise. You’ll be a good leader. Remember to lead.”
There was a loud scream. The man with the cloth on his head came running into the clearing. Hunter’s blood ran cold. Something bad was about to happen.