The Story of Lucky and Pumpkin (Chapter 3)

[Cyber2_O.o 64]

~Chapter 3~

 

To my surprise, the cat hissed in annoyance, but rolled over until it was cushioning my fall. I landed flat on its belly, and panicked. Don’t eat me, don’t eat me! I flapped my wings hurriedly but I was too winded to float.

 

“Don’t worry! I won’t eat you!” The cat meowed to me. Huh, as if. I’m not going to fall for that trick. Cats always eat birds, and nothing’s going to change that. But for a split second, I stopped flapping my wings to see what the tabby had to say.

 

“Are you okay? It’s really late. Are you hungry? I can get you some food. Do you need to rest? Why did you go out? Are you tired of being in that nest and want to explore? Oh, my name’s Pumpkin, by the way. Are you hurt? I saw you fall the other day,” the cat introduced excitedly. Excitedly… but why? Is he excited to eat me?

 

“I’m fine,” I exclaimed. There was nothing I could do to stop the cat from doing whatever it wanted with me, so I played along. “I’m Lucky. That fall was unexpected. I guess I need food… and rest. Aren’t you going to eat me?” I asked cautiously, just in case.

 

“Of course not! I don’t want to eat a baby chick. Their feathers are too annoying. Besides, it creeps me out,” Pumpkin shuddered. “What do you eat?”

 

“Worms,” I replied. Pumpkin sounded alright. He could help me get back home. Besides, Pumpkin’s fur was just as soft as the Fluff Pile. As soon as I answered, Pumpkin settled me down and started looking for worms.

 

“I found one!” Pumpkin exclaimed. There was a tiny earthworm that had somehow got out of the ground and was trying to wiggle back in. He raised a claw to pin it, but stabbed the ground beside it repeatedly. "Why isn't this working? You make it look so easy."

 

“Pumpkin, stop. That’s not how you do it,” I snatched up the worm in my beak and swallowed. “That's how you properly hunt,” I added proudly.

 

After pointing out enough worms for me to eat, Pumpkin gathered a few leaves for me to lay on. Every bird needs to rest after falling even if they didn’t get hurt. I pulled out a few loose feathers to make it a little softer and settled down. 

 

“How are you going to fly back to your nest?” Pumpkin asked me as I laid down on the temporary nest that I just made. I thought about it. How would I fly back? I won’t be able to fly soon, so I can’t go back. Will I have to live with Pumpkin? That wouldn’t be so bad, I guess…

 

“Let’s get you rested for tonight. I’ll get some worms for you when you wake up. I’m tired too,” he yawned and curled up into an orange fluff ball. I closed my eyes, but I couldn’t sleep. What if a cat comes and eats me in my sleep? I tried to imagine I was in the nest with my siblings and Mom. That helped me sleep for the rest of the night. 

 

The next morning, I woke up with Pumpkin shouting in my ear, “Wake up! Are you going to sleep the day away? Let’s have some fun! Come on!” I blearily opened my eyes and stretched my wings. Pumpkin was holding a tiny ball of fur in his jaws. “All you have to do is to catch the ball each time I throw it to you.” With that, Pumpkin tossed the ball. I chased after it, half-flying, half-running, with my beak open to catch it. A small zephyr lifted my spread-out wings, and floated me up toward the ball.

 

“That was great!” Pumpkin meowed cheerfully when I got back. Suddenly, I got an idea to get back to my nest.

 

“Can you climb a tree?” I asked Pumpkin.

 

“I can, but why?” he replied, cocking his head.

 

“I was thinking that if you could, you can climb up the tree with me on your back and I can get back home!” I told him, eyes gleaming in excitement.

 

“Sure, but can you promise me that you would come back often?” Pumpkin sounded like he was going to make me come back if I said no.

 

“Why not?” I asked. Why would I ever leave him? He was my only friend. Would anyone ever leave a friend?

 

“I’ll miss you when you leave. I never get any friends. Every animal here thinks I would eat them!” Pumpkin laughed.

 

“Um, can we go now? I don’t want anyone thinking that I was caught by an eagle or something,” I was worried my family would spend useful time looking for me instead of getting food for today. 

 

“Sorry,” Pumpkin said, jumping on the tree. I grasped Pumpkin’s back just in case I fell off, and we started climbing up, back to my old life, with my new friend, Pumpkin.

[Tidebreaker 1,669]

Very minor edits.

 

Approved.

 

Nice work! Even though I've never read your works before, I'm already hooked. Your characters are very relatable, and that's what makes this story work. I love the direction this is going to.

 

I do have to apologize for the long approve time. We've been very busy lately, focusing on our Newspaper duties more so than the AWS. I hope you understand. 

[Hippin_in_Hawaii 639]

I really like this series!

 

 

 I don’t want to eat a baby chick. Their feathers are too annoying. Besides, it creeps me out,

LOL! Oh, how the other cats must tease him!

[Cyber2_O.o 64]

Thanks, Tidebreaker and Hawaii!

It's okay this took a month to get approved  :) I wasn't checking the AWS too much myself anyway.

To be honest this was meant as a filler, and only to fit the gap between chapters 2 and 4.

[Person_Random 4,991]

I enjoyed this story quite a lot.  I find myself able to relate to both of the characters, which is amazing since most of the time I find myself just watching a story go on, and when I can make a connection to my own life through a story, it makes the piece much more interesting.  The descriptive dialogue really paints a picture in my mind.  Overall, great story!

[Initiate 1,306]

To be honest this was meant as a filler, and only to fill the gap between chapters 2 and 4.

That's often what chapter 3 does :P

 

Nicely done!

[ILiveOnTheChatBox123 936]

I like this part how they meet. It really is interesting.