Sasha meets Ash and Travler

  The fun, excitement and adventure Sherlock and Sasha experienced was incredible! They did so much pawsome stuff that it would take years to blog... but believe me they had a great time! But, on the other paw, at the end of the day they were in need of a serious cat nap and some beauty sleep.. pronto! So, although they hated leaving the fun behind Sherlock and Sasha were in agreement to come home and get some well deserved rest.. not to mention Travler and Ash were probably worried sick about them!

 With the day coming to a close ( picture this: beautiful sunset,of lilac and light pink colors, the breeze just right and everything peaceful and purrfect ) they set out to the door step. Originally, they had planned on heading home after their quick nap, but then Sherlock decided to get one last hunt before saying "good-bye" to the wilderness ( although he'd still be visiting the outside and making fun hunting  trips frequently ) . That took quite a while,considering that there weren't any birds in sight at the moment, but at last Sasha saved the day and they had a glorious feast! Pretty soon they got caught in the jamble of outdoor excitement and decided to play hide-and-seek in the long grass and then climb more trees and whatnot ( they had a lot of fun! ).  After all their adventure they headed home. The door was closed and they found themselves in a pickle!    
 "Well!" mewed Sasha "How are we getting in?"  
"The doors locked... we could try meowing and get the humans attention?" Sherlock meowed
"Yeah, but what if they think I'm some sort of a tough kitty and scare me off?"
"That's true," Sherlock responded after some time: "but we could always try...?"
"Hey look over there!" Sasha explained, gesturing with her tail "the window's open!"
Sure enough one of the windows, just within reach, were open. The cats could easily jump inside with no problems.
 When they got to the window, Sherlock jumped in first, followed by Sasha. Once they were inside, Sherlock sniffed about " I wonder where they are" he meowed.  Suddenly, Sasha tensed " what if they don't like me?" she mewed "what will I do  if they run me off? I can't be without you!"
"It'll be fine!" Sherlock assured her "they'll just love you!" I already do he added silently to himself. It was clear, from the beginning of their friendship that Sherlock and Sasha liked each other.

After a few more sniffs, they explored the cat room. In one corner was a cat tree, in the other cat food and water bowls, over there was the litter box and then in the center a small comfy cat bed, with Travler curled in sleeping. "Hey, is that Travler, the one you were telling me about?" 
"It sure is" replied Sherlock, "and look over there-- Ash in the cat tree".  Sure enough, Ash and Travler were snoozing in the cat room and took no notice of the two new comers. 
"I'll go wake them up" meowed Sherlock padding over to Travler. With one swift prod of his paw, Travler awoke with a start "Hey-- you woke me up!" He grumbled. Opening his eyes, he exclaimed "Sherlock! Where have you been? We missed you so much!"  "What's all the commotion about?" growled Ash, leaping off her cat tree. "and who in the world are you meowing  to, Travler? -- Sherlock!! Where have ya been?"
Quickly, Sherlock explained everything from the night he decided to "escape" and embark on a new adventure to the day he met Sasha, to is first hunt and countless other things.
" And here's Sasha right over there" he gestured with his tail to a dark gray tabby sitting on the window sill and looking expectantly " I brought her here to meet you guys!"
 "What are you doing up there, Sasha? Come down and meet us! We'd love to hear all about you and all the fun you and Sherlock had" meowed excited Travler. With that, she jumped down and was greeted warmly by her new pals. They sat on the cat tree and spent all night meowing and telling stories of their adventure filled days. When it got late, they all curled up and all  went to sleep.. together. "This was purr-fect, Sherlock" meowed Sasha "Your pals are wonderful!"
"Our pals" corrected Sherlock "We're family now!" With that he nuzzled Sasha on her head and went back to sleep, but before he did they, Sasha and Sherlock, jumped onto the window seal and gazed out into the indigo sky, sparkling with starlight.

The road home

The sky was a bright, bright blue with a few swirly pale clouds here and there. The sun shone bright on this happy day, casting its rays here and there and lighting up the morning. Sherlock and Sasha were busy out hunting, taking advantage of this bright day. They were hungry and ready to get their bellies full of good prey, although they could just go and meow to their humans for some meow mix, Sherlock was getting used to  juicy squirrels and plump birds, and didn't want to go back to the old dry cat food in a bag.
It had been nearly 3 weeks since he had met Sasha, and they were having such a good time! She taught him how to hunt, how to sneak up on an unspecting squirrel ( although that adventure had not gone too well ) and even how to climb a tree ( being an indoor cat he didn't have much experience ). But most importantly, she was teaching him what it meant to be a friend, and their bound was strong.

Sasha came back with a yummy bird and they feasted upon it eagerly. The day was so bright and beautiful and they enjoyed her hunt. After a few more  early morning expeditions they retired to relaxation and Sherlock showed Sasha his favorite sun bathing spot.
 As they soaked in the warm afternoon sun, Sherlock couldn't help but wonder what his pals Ash and Travler were doing, and if they missed him while he was gone ( although he hadn't left his own backyard ) but most importantly, he wondered if they would like to be introduced to the outside world, and how they would enjoy it. With a sigh, he fell into a long sleep and when he awoke, Sasha curled tightly in a fluffy ball next to him, he whispered in her ear " Sasha, I think its time I introduce you to my other pals inside. I think they'd really like you and enjoy the wilderness, you could even teach them a couple tricks and your best hunting skills. What do you think?"
 "I think that would be great! I've actually been meaning to ask you about them for a while now and I would love to meet them.. but would they like meeting me?"
 " Of course they would!" Sherlock meowed "They probably will be just fascinated with all the hunting and wilderness and excitement!" With that, he heaved up on his paws and together they made their way to the house to meet Ash and Travler.

My cats!

My Animoto Video

Furry little Friends: Ash

So, here I am sitting in the nice comfy chair and a thought came to mind: I should really add a few pictures of the cats to their blog. So here you have it: a few pictures it is!



Ash on her blanket



Peeking around the corner











 









Don't I look beautiful today, darling?



                                                                                         You may be ( by chance ) wondering why all these pictures  of dear Ash are on one side. Well, I will happily tell you: I can't seem to figure out how to move them to the other side! So, yes it is a bit lop-sided but who cares? Ash looks beautiful either way!

The Butterfly



Butterfly



 As Sasha and Sherlock neared the squirrel, cornering it  in at both sides, something caught Sherlock's attention that made him whip around and turn over, jumping completely off the tree and giving the squirrel a chance to escape. It was a butterfly--and the same one at that. You see, throughout the whole "hunting" adventure Sherlock had been keeping his eye on a bright colored butterfly, never mind his training. Yes, he was focused and ( almost) prepared ( thanks to bright Sasha's witty skills and strong determination ) but still every now and then his eyes wandered off to something bright and beautiful, which mesmerized him and left his gaze locked tight: The butterfly. Here's how it went:

The air was still and quiet, nothing rustled or even chirped. The only sound out there was the chubby squirrel's buck teeth hammering away on a plump chestnut. Sherlock made his way up the tree, followed by Sasha on the opposite side.They had him cornered. They had both made it safely up the tree and everything was falling into place until... Sasha appeared behind a thick branch, startling the squirrel. As he [the squirrel] let out a high-pitched sound of  fright and whipped around to escape, he was met face-to-face with Sherlock. With no other branch high enough to climb, the squirrel was helpless. Sherlock centered in on him, his teeth bared and claws extended. Sasha copied. They grew closer and closer, hunger burning in their eyes ( he hadn't eaten for almost the whole day, his owners weren't back from the pet store  yet with his meow mix: remember he's still a house cat and "hunting" in his own backyard. As for Sasha she hadn't eaten either ) .  Finally they had the squirrel trapped. As Sherlock made his first and final swipe something caught his eye. Floating around a nearby limb ( okay, they are on the top of the tree but there's still plenty of branches around just not close enough for the squirrel to get to ) was a bold colored butterfly. Dark black stripes made its fire-like orange quite noticeable, and Sherlock couldn't help but chase his gaze after it. It floated closer and closer, occasionally pausing to such the nectar out of a near-by blossom.  Before long the butterfly was beneath Sherlock fluttering about. Without hesitance Sherlock completely forgot what he was up to and jumped straight off the branch landing feet first on the soft earth below. He sat up straight and focused his eyes on the bright butterfly. When it came close enough ( apparently it took no notice of his abrupt movement and landing ) Sherlock swiped his claws high, feeling like a bubbly kitten, hoping to catch it! The butterfly ascended higher in the air, just out of his reach. He tried harder this time to catch the bright beauty, but it would simply move along higher or farther ( actually amused not terrified ) along yet again out of his reach. The butterfly, with Sherlock faithfully following, continued on its sky path grazing the grassy meadow-like yard. He would follow, eyes intently hooked on the butterfly, and just as he was about to catch it, the butterfly would gracefully higher itself up.  This procedure followed for quite sometime, until the sun began to move a bit lower in the sky and they were both far along ( never leaving the yard ). During this time, Sasha puzzled: what happened? We were right about to catch that plump morsel and then it was all one big orange tail and the little rascal scurried off! How could he do this-- why did he do this?  She was equally angry at him for blowing her off as well as  puzzled. As Sasha gathered her thoughts, still baffled, something came to mind: Wasn't there a bright red thing hovering above while we were busy cornering in that squirrel? Funny how right when Sherlock disappeared so did that butterfly. And then it hit her.  Of course! Now this all makes sense. Hey, now  that I think about it, I re-call Sherlock did keep wandering his gaze off every now and then. It took her a little while for all this to sink in, then she realized she couldn't stay mad at her new friend. As she jumped off the tree, squirrel nowhere in sight, and made a nice leap onto the ground, she made up her mind to go looking for him I'm sure he didn't wander off too far ( of course he was still in the backyard, in fact not far from where she was standing, simply hidden by the tall grass, tail-tip invisible ) but I should still go looking for him--just in case. She began to walk off in the direction his smell was strongest, until something caught her eye. It was big and light blue, hovering over-head. Checking to make sure no one was looking ( although besides Sherlock, who was busy chasing after his own butterfly, no one was there ) she abandoned her ruff-cat attitude and left her pride behind, playfully extending one paw and chasing after the blue butterfly.

Part Two:The Catch

 The sun climbed high in the new morning sky, a creamy swirl of pink pastels and light purple swayed above. Sherlock and Sasha were hidden deep in the grass, spying a plump squirrel that would serve as first-time prey, for Sherlock that is. When Sherlock and Sasha had first met, she offered to teach him hunt to hunt like a real pro. Now it was time to test his skills.
 
 The grass, long and slender,harboured many insects squirming about including a butterfly. Sasha did not know this, but Sherlock had a deep fascination for butterflys ( in particular monarchs).

As they crept closer to the plump squirrel, Sasha diligently coached Sherlock and gave him tips.
 "Keep your focus on the squirrel, and only the squirrel. Ensure that the wind is blowing in the other direction when you make your catch, that way your scent will be masked."
 Sherlock nodded his head and watched intently, hind paws needing the ground in anticipation. But yet this sensation ( quite strong,in fact ) kept drawing his attention to the butterfly, who was now perched high above a blossom tree.

 While the squirrel kept his position on the tree branch, nibbling on a tasty chestnut, Sasha, signaling with a twitch of her tail to Sherlock, crept forward.  "Sherlock, watch him closely. Pretty soon he will be done with his nibbling and head to a higher branch in search of more snacks. We need to gain on him.. and fast. Here's the plan: when I say "go" you creep behind the tree, and slowly gain on him. Before he has time to escape, I will already be in front, and together we will have him cornered."
 "Okay, sounds great." Sherlock replied, half to himself. The truth is, as much as he wanted the pride and victory of catching his first kill, his full attention was on that bright,bold butterfly crawling about the blossoms. He still had the mindset of a house-cat, and as house-cats are, they love butterflies, or really any vibrant colored creature that would grab their attention.

Sasha and Sherlock, shoulder to shoulder, crouched belly flat on the ground, slowly creeping up on their prey. The squirrel took no notice of them and was happily nibbling away on yet another chestnut, luckily he remained on the same branch.
They began to gain on the squirrel, each paw step as silent as air. Everything around them was silent and displayed no evidence of the two hunters. Even the grass, quickly collecting dew in the early morning hours, was as still as a stone.
Pretty soon they reached the foot of the tree, luckily hidden under the  grass. Watching carefully, to make sure the squirrel still hadn't taken notice of them, Sasha whispered in Sherlock's ear "go!". With that, she quickly slipped around to the other side of the tree, making her plan fall in to place. Sherlock, alone, crept behind the tree and made his climb. Keeping his footing steady, and watching the squirrel, he began to reach higher and higher until at last he was right behind his prey. Then, as Sasha jumped in front of the squirrel, Sherlock made his move, about to catch his first prey until... something caught his attention that sent both the squirrel and Sherlock scrambling away.

Night Prowlers: Part One

Sherlock slipped out of his cat tree and out into the wild. First, it was awkward ( just a little) for him to adjust to all the different textures found outside ( he's used to soft carpet and wood floors ) , but soon he got used to it and before long he was out and about exploring! There was SOO much he did... to much to blog! But, I will give you a taste of Sherlock's "life on the line"
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The sky was a dark, dark deep blue, much darker than when Sherlock had first decided to venture outside. The sights, sounds, everything, was way different than he had  expected. Stars glistened from afar off and he heard the slimy slick squeeze of a gardener snake pushing into a small crevice. There was danger, but yet excitement, all at once.
He felt all alone in this big world-- danger creeping from every corner-- but yet he had this great desire to go out and explore!
With the moon yawning in the sky, Sherlock peered to his left: nothing there but the spooky yet mystifying shadows. He closed his eyes and listened, intently, for what creatures might be prowling about: the high-pitched squeak gave away the tiny gray mouse hobbling about in the rock, the chirp and jump sounded similar to a cricket, and--what was that!-- crunching leaves under paw: A cat!
Sherlock listened even closer now, making sure what he heard was not pretend. There it goes again! The crunch crunch of leaves and swirl,swirl in the wind must be its tail! Sherlock, sure what he was hearing was real, opened his eyes and crouched belly onto the earth floor, trying ( although he had no experience ) to blend in with his surroundings. He focused all his energy on seeking out this cat-- a possible friend: mew pal, teaching him the ropes of outdoor living... or an intruder? A vicious 4 legged enemy who had the hunt of the battle in his eyes and viciously sharp teeth--who ever it may be.
Intently, he crawled forward, leaning his ears and eyes towards where the sound was coming from. Because it was night, and Sherlock, being a spoiled house-cat, had no real knowledge of the natural skills ( hunting and defense) that out-door cats were born with, assumed he would blend right in. His bright yellow fur surely would go unnoticed.
He continued on.. slowly yet steadily making his way towards the sound... while feeling inside him bubbled up: What if it attacks me? How do I know I will be safe? How will I defend myself? Sherlock was beginning to think that this little "adventure" he had planned out was a bad idea, and was contemplating whether or not he should take his chances or head back into the safety of his home, when suddenly something, a quick moment, had him stop in his tracks.
 
The grass, just then, seemed twice as longer, each blade the length of  his tail. He crouched even lower, fear bubbling up inside him, and waited What else am I supposed to do? Make a run for it?
Then the lean figure appeared from behind the oak tree, slinking out of the shadows and into the moonlight. Sherlock gazed up at the sky, When I open my eyes , the danger will all be gone and there will be nothing to worry about! Then I can stay here like a real wildcat roaming the terrain with nothing to worry about. He tried to convince himself that there wasnothing to worry  about but as  much as Sherlock wished to stay, he knew it  was too dangerous to risk straying any further from home ( although he still hadn't left his back yard.) He has always been one to risk fun for safety, no matter how adventurous it may be. Like all in-door cats, he wanted to be  a part of the fun and excitement found in the out-side world, but he sure didn't want to get caught up in some tough tom cat battle! He assumed the cat hadn't seen him, and this was his chance to escape and head back home. Only the cat had seen him, and he was walking right towards him! With one glance, as Sherlock slowly moved around toward home, the cat pounced! He jumped into the air, his eyes glistened with the heat of the battle in his eyes, and landed right  on a scared Sherlock

"Get off me!" Sherlock yowled, "I am not your prey you crazy tom cat!"
  The cat, clearly amused, stepped off Sherlock and sat beside, grooming herself.
"For starters," she began coolly, " I am a female. And secondly, who said you were my prey? I'm Tasha, the cat next door, and I am NOT a wild cat, if that was what you were thinking. Let's be friends!"
Sherlock, unsure of what to make of this, slowly began to sit up and then started to speak
" I'm Sherlock, and I am a house-cat. This is my first time outdoors, and I'm used to humans and safety, not wilderness and adventure. Did you say you were NOT a wild cat?"
  "That's right", Tasha replied calmly " I am a house-cat myself. Live over there" She motioned with her head towed her home " I see I got you a little started there. Don't worry, I won't bite.  I remember the first time I ventured outdoors, I was just like you! Scared, worried, but yet completely set on finding adventure and fun. It's not so bad once you get used to it. I consider the outdoors my home....."
After Tasha finished a looooong story, so long it seemed the sun was about to dawn any minute, she asked "Hey, you seem a little hungry. Would you like me to catch you something? I'm a great hunter-- and I'm not bragging!"
 
" Well, I am feeling a bit hungry now that you mention it... Hey, would you mind teaching me how to hunt?" He asked, half calmly, half excitedly.
 "Sure! I'd love to teach you how to catch prey!" With that Tasha gave Sherlock a small head  bump and they headed off into the wilderness, tail and tail.

Prologue: Night Prowlers

 Dark  black clouds swayed across the deep blue moon, silhouetted against the starry night sky.
It was night fall and  the air was vibrating with excitement as all the creatures ventured out of their homes to prowl about the night--seeking out what mystery may be waiting.

 June bugs buzzed, squirrels jumped to and fro chestnut trees, and the fireflies provided light for the dark path that lay ahead. 

 Sherlock gazed out his window. It seemed spooky out there. Trees swayed by the ominous breeze, bugs and other creatures crawled about, a dark figure lurked in to shadows.  But yet he felt an intense desire to venture out and see what the night had in store. The idea of prowling about the night--making new friends, discovering new things--entranced him. He had to discover what was out there. He had to find out now.


     His street smart cat pals were always exhilarating him with wild stories of their deep, risky night adventures: The time they almost caught a squirrel, were chased after by a dog, a human spotted them and (almost!) captured them. These events sounded fun and exciting, with an element of dangerous adventure. He wanted to be a a part of it. He was tired of being  stuck inside his house, looked after by his humans, and never earning the privilege of getting a taste of the real world: life on the line, fending for himself, embarking on dangerous expeditions. The thought itself  had him worked up already! It was the life every cat dreamed of!

  Taking a deep breath, he climbed out of his cat tree and made one proud leap onto the window seal. Unsheathing his claw, he dug a deep scratch on the screen, causing it to give in and collapse.  Gazing over his shoulder to make sure his pals had not noticed his "escape", he then slide out of the window and into night.  It was time to discover the secrets and fun of  what his lion ancestors experienced: The hunt, the freedom, the excitement.

                                           It is time to embrace the inner-feline wildcat.