That fish is annoying... very annoying... How the hell can it swim so peacefully in its tank with that stupid fish-gaze and still blabber a mile per second? I could technically find a way to get at it... But I shouldn't.
I need to stop thinking about eating that tuna.
That stupid thing is the only other living being inside this stupid cage, it sucks so badly. Okay, on the other hand, its constant blabbering and blubbering is distracting me. That has got to be a true blessing.
This golden cage is way too restricting.
… But the alternative is worse. Lucky for me I only have to go through that shit once a week. And you know, if I pass, I always get an extra serving of fish for half a week and that silly mutt can starve for half a week.
It's a game the master and mistress play, you see?
I've never actually seen the mutt. I've been too busy winning the game. Seeing him is like losing and losing means I'm a goner. Or so I've heard.
I never show any interest in what the tuna tells me.
Why it's in my cage, I don't know. Neither do I care. It stills lives because it entertains me and because I get to find out more about this place. People say cats are free creatures... But I'm caged most of the time. So the only remotely interesting thing here is the tuna.
And it tells me lots of interesting things about life here at the mansion.
Apparently it heard from the rabbit that my predecessor got caught only two weeks after she first arrived here. She tripped over her long blonde hair and cut her pretty face on a rose bush.
Needless to say, she didn't last long in their game after that.
Being in the dark cellar means me and the tuna don't get to hear much, but the rabbit has a much better view from her cage on the balcony. In fact, the master, mistress and their guests watch from there.
While the rabbit is a precious pet, I'm only a replaceable animal to them.
Sometimes I'm jealous, but other times I think it must suck to be in a cage all day long. I mean it does suck... Just that I get to go out once a week.
The game takes place in the rose garden after all.
The rose garden is a maze, entirely formed from rose bushes. I'd love to hide out and escape this place, but that's kind of impossible with so many thorns and too little exits. Plus, there's always some servant waiting for me at the exit.
Speaking of that dude, here he comes.
I knows it's him 'cause he's the only one who ever comes down here with a chain in hand. A chain he hangs 'round my neck. I never make his job easy though.
But in the end, I can't ever escape him.
I hate the tuna when it laughs seeing me get taken out of our cage. I hiss and spit, trying to claw the guy, but it doesn't help.
I'm nervous as hell.
Sure I've beaten that stupid dog too many times to remember, but I know that every week could be my last if I don't run like hell. The worst thing is that the layout of the maze is never the same. It'd be boring otherwise, right? I nearly got caught the second time I was in there. The entrance area seemed similar enough, but then I ran into a dead end. I had started panicking.
I really believed he could hear my breathing.
I made it out of there safely that time though. I do wonder why he never catches me. He must have caught quite a few others already. I wouldn't be here otherwise.
The servant pulls me down many hallways and as I struggle to maintain my ground, I glimpse blond hair, fluffy ears and a chain around another corner.
That must be my personal predator.
He doesn't seem to be struggling as much as me. Well, duh... He's not the one who's running for his life.
In no time at all, we've reached the garden.
Argh, how I'd love to lounge in one of those tall trees in the front garden. Too bad my destination is the back garden, where I'd rather not lounge in anything. I look back toward the huge mansion and see a bunch of fancily dressed people out on the balcony.
I glare at my teal-haired mistress.
I'd love to rip her hair out. It's so long and drapes on the floor, it wouldn't even be difficult to do. The problem is of course that I'm never close enough to her. Just close enough for her to praise me for my performance.
I always give it my all. It's a game of life and death, at least to me.
It's a simple game really. I'm released into the garden and then after they think I've got a sufficient head-start, they send my hunter after me. I assume they bet on the victor, with the master obviously betting on the hunter and my mistress on me.
I don't imagine starving the poor mutt has done him any good.
Regardless, I'm not planning on letting him win. No way.
They push me through the metal gates and lock them before releasing my chain. There's no start signal. The moment the chain releases I'm allowed to run. And I can't run too fast, either. I never know when there's a dead end and it's crucial I don't hurt myself.
That mutt has a fantastic sense of smell after all.
I hear the gates open and close again. Shit, so soon already? Usually they give me a little more time. The rose bushes are pretty tall, so once I'm past half of the maze, they won't be able to see a thing of me. That's usually when they start moving towards the exit. And they sure make a lot of noise when they do.
I always keep track of my progress.
It makes me feel better and gives me more confidence that I'm going to win and live to see another day. Probably just a few more corners...
Oof!
What the hell was that!?
I knocked something real hard. Strange, there shouldn't be anything else here except for the rose bushes. I crack my eyes open to reveal a blond guy in front of me.
Oh shit. It's the mutt. I stare at him in shock.
"Oh shit... What are you doing here?" He asks me looking around like someone else was in the garden. It's strange how his thoughts mirror mine. They really shouldn't.
For a moment I'm puzzled. His ears are twitching and he's still looking around panicked. Why is he the one panicked?
"Well, don't just stand there! Get running!" He whispers to me and pulls me up from the floor, then he shoves me in a random direction, while taking the other direction.
He looks unwell. A bit too skinny, but that would be my fault. He isn't delusional, is he? Anyway, I continue running. There's no point debating it right now. In no time at all, I reach the exit of the maze. Well, okay... It did take some time... The sun is already setting.
Half the crowd cheers while the other half looks a bit frustrated. Hey, it's their own fault for betting on a delusional dog! But that darn chain comes around my neck again before I can claw the mistress' hair. Dang.