Honestly, I mean; I would have done this for every chapter, but the only web browser that I can do it on is IE, because Opera doesn't work for it anymores; and this is just so slow. DX Oh, you're wondering what 'it' is? ^^; Well, I'm writing descriptions and forenotes/words before chapters, of courses!!!! :D This one is kinda weird.... But, then agains; it is one of my older files -- a couple of my chapters, I have pulled from my older files on my memory stick. Now, this one, I wrote around a year ago or so; but I did name the cat Stupid; at first, that is. DX However, the name didn't seem to want to agree with the Grammar thing on my computer, so I switched it to Zero today, which was actually quite convenient for my chapter. ^^;

Well, anyways; I hope you enjoysies!!!! ^^;

And.... Oh, oh yeah; I'll see you in a couple of minutes at Spots, all rightsies?! ^^; That's Chapter 100 for me, in case you haven't realized it yet. :D

*pokes Gingerstar14 & brackenfurlover & xx-Moonshine-xx & all the others who were in this contest*

See????! I have now WONS!!!! ^^; Aren't I triumphant. :D

100 Tales 94

Zero

"Hurry up, Zero! Today's your first day of slave work. Stop sleeping, it's time to get up." A big paw shook my shoulder and I jerked awake on the cold, hard ground of the outside of the den.

"Whuzza you wann," I mewled. "I'm trying to sleep here," I continued more clearly. Suddenly I realized: "Why am I outside the den?"

"Because from now on you sleep out here," Dagger informed me, slashing my nose open. I wondered why I didn't feel it. "You're two moons old. Now you're a slave."

"What?" I mewed.

"I said, NOW YOU'RE A SLAVE!" he thundered, bringing his claws down on my back. It didn't hurt, but I mewled anyway. No need to get him to do more.

"Okay, okay," I mewed.

"Now you go hunting," Dagger growled. "Make sure to bring enough food for all of us. If you don't, you will be punished." But something in his eyes told me that I would be punished anyway.

I scurried off, into the forest.

I had no idea how to hunt. This was complete guesswork! I saw a mouse and padded toward it on soft pawsteps. Midnight had told me once that the trick to catching prey is being quiet on your paws. Okay, Midnight, you were right, I thought. I pounced and got it between my paws.

Yes! I thought triumphantly.

As the morning wore on, the air became warmer and I got a sparrow, a jackrabbit, three more mice, two water voles, a fish and a tiny, scrawny baby vole. I was getting hungry, so I downed the tiny vole in a heartbeat. I counted up my prey at sunhigh.

I had two sparrows, one jackrabbit, four mice, three water voles and two fish. I carried it all back to the other cats.

I served Sun first. I gave him two mice. "Here you go, Sun." I smiled weakly, but it changed to a fake grimace as he slashed at my face and my eyes. He didn't even give an explanation. I padded up to Sky.

I gave Sky one mouse and one water vole. "Here," I said, shoving the food at him. He nodded, waved his tail cheerfully and in thanks and dug in.

"Well, at least someone's nice around here," I muttered under my breath.

I went to Grass next, handing her a sparrow. She muttered a word of thanks and dug in, signaling with her tail for me to go. I went on around the clearing to Claw's spot.

"Give me my food," he growled. I handed him a fish.

"Thank you," he hissed and slashed at my chest. Blood welled up out of the scratches and I scurried off, to Midnight. Although I didn't feel the pain, the blood was dripping in a trail on the ground.

By now the only fresh-kill on the pile was a sparrow, a mouse, two water voles and a fish. I decided to give Midnight, my favourite cat, a sparrow and a water vole. She nodded her thanks and called for her kits. Apple and Spots came tumbling out of the den. They were hardly two moons old. They still drank milk. I was the same, growing out of milk though. For the next moon I would still drink milk every evening and then sleep outside.

"Thanks, Rose," she whispered.

"You're welcome," I said, pleased.

"Thanks, Rose!" both of her kits whispered.

"You're welcome. How do you like the water vole?" I asked them kindly. I saw Midnight shoot me a glance out of the corner of my eye. Uh-oh. Dagger was bristling.

"Good!" the kits chorused together.

"Um, bye," I said. I picked up the mouse, the water vole and the fish and hurried over to Dagger.

"Thanks," the tom grumbled. Then he said, "Lie at my feet, belly side up. And do hurry."

I obeyed without question, although I still wondered why. He lunged at my belly and sank his teeth into it, gnawing on my flesh. His claws raked my throat and my haunches. When he finally let up he gave me the remains of the mouse after he had finished the scrawny thing and I ate gratefully.

That night, as I curled up to suckle from Midnight's teats, I wondered why I was being tortured so.