The Lost Ways - Chapter one

Chapter one: New home, new conventions

"Get out of my flowers, you thoughtless cat!"

I ignored the screams of our neighbour, but, without further commands, jumped out of his pot, not caring about digging in the hole I made. When my paws touched the railing, I flicked my tail to keep the balance and settled on my new observation point.

The view wasn't worth much. It ended with a window on the opposite side of the street, a window that hadn't seen the water for weeks. The rusty balcony railing was covered with pigeons looking at me with mocking grins on their beaks, shaking their tails as if saying, “Catch me if you can!” Those stupid birds!

With a quick glance, I considered my chances and reluctantly admitted the defeat. For their luck and my anger, they were too far. I looked away so I wasn't forced to watch their taunting dance. What a life they have, without a cat being able to eat them!

Cars were buzzing under me. Whole streams of cars. The pedestrians hurried to escape the approaching evening and hide in the comfort of their homes. Some were, on the contrary, enticed by the prospect of a night city, full of lights and lamps, with delicious scents emanating from the nearest stands.

My desire to shuffle between them was disrupted by the thought of those five floors, which separated me from the ground. Too much, even for me. I was not willing to risk even one of my proverbial nine lives.

"I got you!"

Before I could move, the neighbour's hand lifted me into the air by my hind legs. I hung helpless, furious at my own inattention. With the most savage hiss I managed to make, I turned and snapped, slashed the man's scowling face. My paw slid across the glass of his glasses, but the unexpected hit was enough for him to jump back and release his grip. I didn't wait for him to run after me and disappeared into the bowels of his flat.

As soon as I stepped into one of the rooms, the scent of old paper flew over my head. The thick carpet dampened my already soft footsteps. I settled into it and, with interest, watched the wall in front of me. Actually, it wasn't much of a wall, but a bookcase filled from floor to ceiling. The books weren't colourful like the ones from the children's shelves, but time-honoured and thick, in dark colours and binds made of leather. I blissfully breathed in their smell and stretched into the depths of the carpet.

The peace and quiet of this place would bring me sleep if I didn't catch banging of a door and the subdued murmur of our neighbour, reminding me that this delight wouldn't last long. I jumped on straight legs and stretched my back, getting ready for a quick getaway. If he discovered me here, the return home would wait for me, owners on the outs included.

Return home... If so! To the apartment full of fully-filled cardboard boxes. In vain I would've been looking for a quiet place in the middle of all that mess, running to and fro, phones ringing, and above all, Emily. In these hectic days, it was the youngest of my owners who was in charge of my comfort. Trying to feed me with a carrot from her plate, always petting me oh-so much longer than was pleasant, I wouldn't say she was successful.

A shrill rattling of the bell tore me from my thoughts. On the opposite side of the apartment sounded some slamming, followed by a hasty acclamation, "Just a second!" What the visitors at the door couldn't hear, but wasn't missed by my hearing, were unflattering words said at my address. The kind of words, for which Emily surely would get a slap. But no one admonishes the adults. I promised myself to take it into my own paws once I'd have the opportunity.

I was thinking of visiting another pot as a form of payback when something struck my nose. Coffee. I took a deep breath of my favourite treat. A cup full of special smelling warm milk from which I could always enjoy a sip or two when no one was looking, was in my eyes one of the best human inventions. Now I didn't have to worry if I left something in the cup. I grinned at the idea of our neighbour clenching his fists, red with rage.

I lifted my nose and diligently sniffed, searching for the source of the appealing aroma. It wasn't difficult at all. The smell was stronger than usual and spread from a low black table standing in the middle of the room, which, compared to the other, more ancient and massive furniture, looked like it was from another world.

I jumped on a chair and leaned to the cup. The foam peacefully floated on the surface, until it was scattered in all directions when I got my nose closer. I dipped my tongue in, and soon regretted it. The hot liquid, without a drop of milk, burned my throat. It was nothing like with the one that I knew. I coughed.

I noticed the shadow, that materialized behind me, too late. For the second time in one day, I found myself in the hands of our neighbour. I pulled out my claws, but this time he was ready. With a sudden movement he caught my neck. I numbed. Unable to move, after a while, I gave up the vain attempt to free myself, while the neighbour carried me into the hall. I froze even more when he opened the front door and I saw, hand in hand, my young and adult owner.

As soon as Emily saw me, she pulled her hand out of her mother's hand and stretched it to me.

The neighbour's face softened, looking at her shining eyes. He passed me to her arms. "Here's your cat. You should pay more attention to it."
She gripped me kindly, but even stiffer than he had before, and glared at him severely. "To her! She's called Mella!" She turned to me tapped her thin finger at my nose. "You must not run away!" she rebuked me. "And especially not by the balcony! I was afraid!"
My older owner nervously smoothed her blouse. "I apologize for the inconvenience. The apartment is a mess, one doesn't know where his head is... We didn't notice her missing."
The neighbour shook his head indulgently. His earlier anger had completely disappeared. "It's all right, ma'am..."
"Martins." She nudged Emily toward the door. "I would like to stay for a talk, but we have a lot of work with the unpacking!" With brisk steps, she ran out of the apartment.

"You feel alone here, don't you? That's why you ran away, right?" Emily asked me, oblivious to the lack of response. She jabbered all the way. "You always have to get used to new places at first. But don't worry, you won't be alone when the dog is with us! Luckily, my birthday is almost here!"
Ms Martins shook her head. "That's what we'll have to talk about once again, Emily. At the time I promised you that, I had no idea what the future would bring us. And I've already told you that it's not a good idea to have a cat and a dog together."
Emily stroke my fur with a gentle movement. “They will like each other, I'm sure! It's not possible not to like Mella!”
Her mum smiled a half-smile, eyes turned to the ceiling, signalling she knoew exactly how the things would turn out.
“What about Christmas?" Emily suggested, leaping no less cheerfully than before.
"We'll see."
"I'll make sure all the work is dealt with as soon as possible!" my small owner chirped. "In the morning I'll take Mella out to meet all our neighbours!"
"She will need a collar," her mother pointed out when she opened the door. "Possibly with a small bell, too. We aren't in a village here. Something could run her over if she keeps escaping.”
Horrified, I dragged myself to my bed. A collar? To lose my freedom? What a shame! A collar, the worst nightmare of any decent cat! And the most beautiful dream of any malicious dog...