My Warrior

by dogwood the story of a boy and his warrior

note: yes this is a cat story, so don't freak out just because it starts with a human!

ONE
Sean

I threw my back against the wall and crumpled to the ground, my heart pounding wildly. I clenched my fists tightly around a piece of yellow paper, which let out a loud wrinkling noise, and I tossed it to the ground. My eyes were squeezed shut, and crazy emotions reverberated violently through my head. Slowly, after heaving out a few deep breaths, I managed to regain enough calm to open my eyes. I reached over for the paper and unfolded it. Printed on the page was a picture of Rocky, sitting near the window, focused on some squirrel or something in the beyond.

It had been two weeks since Rocky disappeared, and my hopes were wearing thin. At first, I wasn't surprised. Rocky usually wandered off, but he always came back. But this time, he didn't, and apparently posting flyers all over the neighborhood wouldn't bring him home.

Suddenly there came a knock on the door. I ran over to get it, and faced a girl about my age.

"Hey, you own this cat, right?" she said, holding up another missing poster of Rocky.

"Uh-huh," I replied. Hope fluttered in my chest, but I refused to let it do much; no reason to get too wishful. "Why? Have you seen him?" I couldn't help it. I wanted to know.

"Yeah, around the forest, when I was walking my dog," the girl responded. "He was with some other cats, and they were sniffing around."

"Really?" My eyes widened. "Which forest?"

"The one around Nymph's Creek," she answered. She tipped her head. "They call it Nymph's Forest, right?"

"Y-yup, they do," I said quickly. "Thanks so much for telling me." I was about to turn around and get ready to run straight to the forest to find Rocky before I paused. "What's your name?"

"Ari," she said, holding out a hand to shake. "Yours?"

"Sean," I said, and we shook. "Thanks- now I really need to go look for Rocky."

Ari cracked a smile. "Then I won't hold you up. Wish you luck finding him!"

"Thanks," I called back as she turned and walked away.

I quickly grabbed a sticky note and hastily scribbled for Mom and Dad where I was going, then ran for my bike and pedaled away as fast as I could.

Rocky

(tbc)