~ The day I lost my soulmate, was the day I lost my mind.
That time left all my happiness and solace far behind.
Why, old friend, why did they take you away?...
You made my skies blue and happy, without you they are grey.
Never thought I'd see this day, atleast not for a while.
Oh, how I long to see your charming, welcome smile.
But now you're gone forever, this poem to you I lend...
Please come back and save me from depression's deepest end...~
Carla sat on a fallen tree by a clearing just to the right of her neck of the neighborhood. Sounds of thunder rolling grew close, as if it were to rain soon... Lightning bugs illuminated the space all around her, their pretty, tiny, but bright lights flashing before her eyes as she picked up her dad's guitar and laid its side onto her lap. Then proceeded to strum its strings and began to sing...
"You shout it out
But I can't hear a word ya say
I'm talkin' loud, not sayin' much
I'm criticized, but all yer bullets ricochet
Shoot me down, but I'll get up...
I'm bulletproof, nothin' to lose
Fire away, fire away
Ricochet, you take your aim
Fire away, fire away
You shoot me down but I won't fall
I am titanium
You shoot me down but I won't fall
I am titanium..."
In the distance, a snarl emitted from the mountains... out from the caves came a large quadruped figure, and then another, and another. Slowly, but menacingly...
The things crept their way down and across the grassy meadow to the open door of Carla's huge patio... where her dogs and cats were sleeping. As soon as they made their way in, one of Carla's cats began tossing and turning in place... and as soon as she saw the large silhouettes of the bobcats before her, she screeched, but was quickly silenced by the paws of one bobcat, named Wilda.
"Sh-sh-sh-sh..." Wilda shushed, then stood up on her hind legs and looked around.
"Having a nice evening, mongrels? Nice time for outdoor slumber parties tonight... for us, that is," she hissed and tittered, holding up three torn up collars of different people's pets, visibly frightening Carla's animals as they quivered in their spots.
"So, you knows the drill. We take 'youse back to our home in the mountains, any'youse squeals or meows or barks and 'youse is dead meat. C'mon now you two, tuck in!" Just as the other two bobcats inched towards the other two pets, a kid's voice came from the doggie door.
"You guys won't be taking ANYONE from OUR house." Wilda turned to face Nathan, Carla's younger brother. Then she growled. Then she chuckled.
"Are YOU going to try to stop us? Huh, little boy? Is that what's going to happen~? We are just quaking in our fur... hhhehehehehe...!" the bobcats began laughing.
"No, I am." their laughter was cut short by a southern voice behind them. They turned around to see Carla, standing at the door, guitar still in hand. "Miss me?"
"Oh, hey Carla. We weren't expecting you back here for seconds," Wilda said, momentarily batting an eye.
"You best leave my pets be, Wilda... a' beat yer feline tail end once, and can do it again."
"Well, I'd hate to burst ya bubble here, but..." Wilda whistled out the window, and five more bobcats jumped in.
"We seem to have overpowered you, Carla. There's EIGHT of us... and only one of little, tubby, stuttering YOU."
the kids and pets watched from the window, including Hoagie and Abigail, who apparently had been staying the night. Carla began playing the same tune from earlier. The bobcat gang did not hesitate as the inched towards the girl and two of them lunged, only to be roundhouse kicked into the walls, and another slugged, then another hit by the guitar. Objects started being thrown around, Carla may have been outnumbered, but she was not giving up now. Even though at that point, she was getting scratched and chomped left and right. All at once, Wilda pounced onto Carla's back, sending the two crashing through the sliding glass door and into the grass outside, where it had slightly started to sprinkle with rain.
Claws, fists and fangs landed for ten seconds as Wilda snuck around behind Carla's legs... then bit down on her left ankle, causing her to yell in pain, falling to her legs and hands as the bobcats piled on top of her, practically eating her alive. Wilda chuckled and watched her cronies beat the everliving heck out of Carla, then proceeded to walk back towards the patio... until Carla's paw lashed out and then snatched her hind leg, dragging her towards the clutter. Carla swatted her at the other bobcats, throwing them away from herself, chasing them away. She then pinned Wilda to the wall of her house and just simply snarled in her face, much to the feline's dismay. She finally was let go to scamper away, yowling as she did so. It was quiet for a few moments, then the sounds of kids cheering came from Carla's right. For a brief moment, she smiled warmly and waved at them all. Then collapsed against the wall, sliding to the ground, moaning from the immense physical pain. This immediately worried the kids as they went inside the house, presumably to call their parents.
"Cree! Open up!" Abby had gone into her house and had been knocking on her sister's door, until the door gave way and Cree scowled down at her.
"Sis... Carla's in trouble..." Abby teared up a little bit. Cree saw this and knew right away that it was serious. She rushed downstairs and out the door, called Carla's name.
"Carla?! Carla--" as soon as Cree saw the girl's bloody, near-lifeless body, she ran over to her and proceeded to lay Carla into her lap. Carla opened her eyes weakly and emitted a hoarse cough.
"A' told ya... nobody messes... with Carla's buddies..." she meekly spoke... she tried to speak more, but it seemed that her body was just too weak to do anything more, she slowly went limp in Cree's arms... and stopped breathing. Tears flooded Cree's eyes as she hugged Carla close to her, sobbing her friend's name as cool rain showers started pouring onto them both, the distant thunder flashing and booming softly...