The Story of Lucky and Pumpkin (Chapter 4)

[Cyber2_O.o 64]

~Chapter 4~

 

Pumpkin turned out to be fairly good at climbing. His claws sunk into the bark of the tree easily and they helped hold him up when he lost his grip. Pumpkin wasn’t good at going quickly, though. He took his time and it took a few long moments for him to regain his balance when he lost his grip. Too long. Each time I had to remind him of his goal to get him moving again. Other than that, he was better at climbing than anyone I've ever seen. Well, not that I’ve seen many animals climb before, but Pumpkin seemed like the best overall.

 

When we got to the top, I was jubilant. My plan worked! I hopped off Pumpkin and landed on the nest, with a soft thump. My siblings and Mom weren't in the nest, probably still out looking for me. I'm sorry, I thought ruefully. They must have been so worried about me.

 

“Thanks, Pumpkin. I promise I’ll visit you when I can,” I told him. Just then, my family flew onto view, eyes full of genuine relief for me.

 

“Lucky! You’re back!” Stripes rushed toward me first, his wings outspread welcomingly. He tumbled into me, knocking me over. He got up quickly, afraid of hurting my wings.

 

“Where did you go? Why is there a cat behind you?” Rose came, half flying, half walking. She looked surprised and a little curious. Pumpkin shrank a little in the presence of all these newcomers.

 

“We were so worried!” Mom came to me. Then, she saw Pumpkin. “What are you doing here? If you think you can eat Lucky, forget it!” Mom flared her wings protectively.

 

Before I knew it, Mom was attacking him. Pumpkin flinched each time her claws raked his fur, leaving red trails. He swiped at Mom, but he was careful to not hurt her too badly.

 

“Wait! Stop! Pumpkin’s really kind!” I yelled. I was too late. Mom made a deep scratch on Pumpkin. He screeched and fell off the tree, claws flailing out. His eyes grew into two huge moons, before he fell onto the ground with a terrifying thud.

 

“What?” Mom asked. She looked at me like I was crazy.

 

“I flew out at midnight! I just wanted to fly on my own! I know I should have told you! Pumpkin caught me when I fell! He won’t hurt us! He gave me food and shelter for the night! He’s the best friend I’ve ever had! Don’t hurt him!” I yelled without thinking. I immediately regretted telling Mom about my expedition outside last night.

 

“Who’s Pumpkin?” Mom asked, softly, but I could sense she was trying to hold back the anger because I flew off at night without telling anyone. 

 

“Pumpkin’s the cat you just attacked. He hunted worms for me when I fell,” I responded.

 

“You mean a cat helped you?” Stripes stared at me like I just told them that I turned into a cat myself.

 

“Yeah,” I said. “What’s wrong with that?”

 

“Cats eat birds! He could have been acting kind to you, but he might eat you when you least expect it!” Mom shouted at me.

 

“I know, but he could have eaten me when I slept!” I shouted back.

 

“Really? You slept right next to a cat?” Mom looked at me.

 

“Duh. How would I sleep if I couldn’t sleep next to him?” I guess I won the argument, as Mom's eyes began to soften.

 

“Let’s just say you were lucky at meeting Pumpkin. Anyone else could’ve eaten you,” Mom hugged me. “Stripes, Rose, get food for us! Five worms each would be great! Two for Lucky!”

 

“Don’t worry about me! I can take care of myself! Besides I already ate,” I grumbled.

 

“You have to eat everyday. It’s almost winter, and you need all your energy to fly,” Mom told me. Mom had told me about winter before. About the long flight to a new home, about the flocks of other birds flying with them, about the slight chill in the air as we outrun the cold. How could winter come so quickly? I was totally not ready for it yet, not that I will ever be. Especially when I'd just made a friend from another species that can't fly like us.

 

“Sorry I left,” I murmured to Mom. “I know how worried you were.”

 

“Sorry I fussed about you so much. You’re more responsible than I thought,” Mom hugged me again.

 

“Well, I know all a bird needs to know, so I’m pretty responsible for myself,” I told her. "Even though I'm still young..."

 

“Oh, Lucky. Don’t try doing anything your siblings do, okay? They're more reckless than I'm comfortable with, and I don't need another chick to go flying off to something unknown.” Mom told me. "Don't visit that cat, alright? We have to prepare until Winter, or our fates are sealed here."

 

“Sure,” I told her. But inside me, I wanted to visit Pumpkin everyday until Winter came.

 

---

 

Author's Note:

 

3 more chapters until this is finished! Sorry for taking so long to edit this, but... it turned out alright. New cats will be introduced next!

 

[Tidebreaker 1,669]

Edits:

Minor edits, only spelling and spacing.

 

Approved.

 

This is actually pretty suspenseful. Like I said on your last chapter, I really like the style you adopted. I think this could have a shot at this year's best of the AWS!

 

Keep going!  :) 

[Hippin_in_Hawaii 639]

And, no good deed goes unpunished! 

Poor Pumpkin...

[ILiveOnTheChatBox123 936]

Pretty suspenseful, I wonder what will be with Pumpkin.

[P.4.R.K.O.U.R 329]

"THAT ain't how ya carve a Pumpkin!"