Wandering Encounters
By: Aria Breuer
This story follows a series of one-shots, involving a black cat and Gollum. The parody I'm about to work on is following The Lord of the Rings books, by J.R.R. Tolkien. The reader in this story is an OC by the name of Erita Rashkin, who will play a more pivotal role in the first story of the main series. For now, enjoy the first prequel of the Item Insertion Parody Anthology. This is also the first story, going back, that I worked on for this site. Enjoy. :)
*.*.*
Vanishing Act, One-Shot 1
"I don't want to read this anymore!" I shouted as I neared the end of the last chapter. The book I was reading was about the American West, back in the 1800s. It was a good book, but attention turned elsewhere.
I stared absentmindedly at my bookcase. All three shelves had at least two or three western book series lined up neatly, revealing the books' spines in the order of my choosing. Hung on the walls of my bedroom were posters, featuring classic western films. Here and there were a few Legolas posters from The Lord of the Rings movie trilogy. I smiled at each poster, which single-handedly drew my attention.
On the outside, I couldn't resist talking about Legolas with my friends. On the inside was a different story, for I had mixed feelings about the Elven Prince. Although I liked the character Legolas, I despised the way he was written in fanfiction and in the books. I wanted so badly to get back at Legolas for how perfect he seemed. It was my chance to show everyone, who was a fan of The Lord of the Rings what I thought about how Legolas should react to whatever situation came his way.
By now, you're wondering who I am. I apologize for any misinterpretations given of me. I'll come clean now… I think. I'm Erita Rashkin, a raven-haired young woman still living at home, before I set out for the college life. Despite my flaws, I am a huge western fan and into the boys' game of Cowboys and Indians. So yes, that makes me a tomboy to a point, I guess. I was raised with two annoying older brothers who enjoyed picking their younger sister.
Back to the story, which I must say is very…
"Erita, will you take Mr. Cuddle-Muffin out for his walk?" called my mother, right as a black cat rushed underneath my bed.
"Sure Mom!" I called back, knowing I would enjoy this.
"Thank you!" My mom called out from the kitchen, where she was preparing supper.
For those who may have skipped ahead a bit, Mr. Cuddle-Muffin is the black cat that just ran into my bedroom a moment ago. He never took well to strangers or dogs, and would occasionally hiss at my dog, in a fierce effort to get away from him. My mom almost had Mr. Cuddle-Muffin declawed, but he refused to come out of his cage at the veterinarian's office. He has been my pet for the past three years now. How he became so feisty is another story, when I was playing too rough with him.
Back to the story: Right as I grabbed the book titled The Fellowship of the Ring from my bookshelf, Mr. Cuddle-Muffin growled low and deep. Before I could pull the book entirely out of the bookshelf, I glanced over my shoulder in time to see the black cat flee the scene.
"Erita, will you catch that cat before he chases the dog again?" shouted my mom. I knew she was furious because her tone was even and firm.
I groaned. "Yes Mom. I'm coming."
Seconds later, Mr. Cuddle-Muffin returned and knocked me over. The book was flung into the air, sliding under the bed where I could neither see or find it. But I was too slow, for Mr. Cuddle-Muffin fled under the bed, making one final growl before mysteriously falling silent. This was very odd. Usually, a cat would let someone know if they were in danger or caught in something he had trouble and needed someone's help. He meowed for neither, but then I couldn't hear his low purring sounds he made when he was calm.
I found my book right away. The book was opened to the conversation between Gandalf and Frodo, in which Gandalf told the gentle-hobbit about Sméagol's past, where Deagol had the One Ring and they fought over it. One part of the tale that was new was Gandalf mentioning a black cat, who reappeared and disappeared out of legend. I was stunned and confused. Did Gandalf mean my cat? I wanted to believe Mr. Cuddle-Muffin came out of hiding by now.
He didn't for hours. I was worried about him, soon after I read the passage in the book. He may have been a very feisty cat, but he was my cat. I was fond of him, even as I pored through the pages of the first book in The Lord of the Rings trilogy.
*.*.*
Weeks turned into months. There was still no sign of Mr. Cuddle-Muffin anywhere in the house. After two months, my parents gave up the search. But I never stopped looking for my cat. He may have been rough around the edges, but I felt certain he would return as the same adolescent cat I bought at the humane society on my sixteenth birthday.
As college drew closer, I took down many of my posters. The only poster I kept hung on the wall, until I was ready for my first day as a college student, was one involving Legolas standing in the Mirkwood Forest. For some reason, a black cat lurked in the shadows behind the Elven Prince. Even now, I wondered if this black cat was the same one that mysteriously vanished from my bedroom, the day I picked up The Fellowship of the Ring from my bookcase.