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He was a Cat.
He knew it in his bones, in his paws and tail. He acted like one: slept, ate, and cleaned himself regularly. But more than anything, he liked to observe. And judge others if he was completely honest.
He was smarter than other Cats, too. Because some Cats believed that there was a different Cat behind the looking wall or that the tail you were trying to chase wasn't yours. He thought them stupid.
He also knew that not everyone in the world was a Cat. There were also Dogs, but they were even more stupid than some of the Cats. He didn't respect them.
And there were Humans. Humans were neither Cats nor Dogs – they used two legs to walk, and their paws were different. They didn't have much fur either, and he pitied them for it. It must be very cold to walk if your paws don't have fur.
Unlike many dumber Cats, he knew that Humans weren't just hairless Cats. They smelled differently and lived different lives.
He did have some respect for Humans. They did a lot, considering they were creatures on two legs and had no fur to warm them up. Though he would never understand why they didn't clean themselves with their tongues. Probably, they were too short for it.
He knew many Cats were born surrounded by Humans. They weren't their parents, but they were their caretakers, so to speak. He knew Cats who called them servants and Cats who called them gods. He didn't know what to call them – he wasn't born with a Human.
When he first opened his eyes, he was outside. It was cold, but his mother licked him, and it felt better. He had brothers and sisters.
Until he got lost.
Well, he wouldn't say he did something to get lost. He just overslept, and when he woke up, his momma and siblings weren't there.
He hated himself for allowing sleep to crawl in. And he cried for the first time in his life.
And that was how he met his first Human.
That Human smelled nice. The Human was female with gentle paws, but her paws weren't momma's. He didn't know much about Humans back then, so he just cried and begged the Human to let him go and look for his momma.
That was also how he realized that Humans couldn't speak his perfectly understandable language.
Instead, the Human took him to a bright room. There were many other Humans, and many hairless paws touched him.
"Look at your long neck!" one of the Humans said. It seemed natural to him that he understood Humans, but Humans didn't understand him. After all, he was a Cat. Being a Cat wasn't easy.
They touched him in places he didn't want to be touched, and he hissed. But Humans were gentle and rubbed his belly. They also gave him something that tasted like the most divine food in the world.
And since then, he lived in a box in the room. It wasn't small, and Humans would let him out from time to time, but it wasn't the world. And he still hadn't found his momma.
There, he met many other Cats and even some Dogs. He didn't make any lifetime friends, though, because sometimes Humans came and took his friends away.
Hypocrites, he thought of them. They would talk to him day after day, trusting him, sometimes telling him how some Humans hurt them. But the moment another Human extended their paws to them, they would purr in satisfaction and look at the Human with adoration.
He knew he wouldn't be like that when some Human would approach him. In fact, he didn't even need a human.
Until one day, everything changed.
One day, Humans opened his box and took him out to place him in the hands of a female Human. And he thought that this Human was the most beautiful in the world.
She had silver hair and smelled nice. She smelled of warmth, and food, and something he never had. She smelled of home.
So he was enchanted, too, purring in her arms like all the Cats he used to despise. It didn't matter now because this Human wanted him.
"You, my boy, you are perfect, aren't you?" the Human said, and he looked at her. The Human was smiling, and he clung to her. He suddenly liked Humans smiling.
They stayed a bit there, Humans doing some Human things, and he looked back at the other Cats, saying them the last goodbye. He had stayed enough in the box. He would no longer.
He had his Human now.
She took him outside for a moment before entering another space, kissing him all the time. It wasn't a box. Was it home?
There was another Human there. A male one. He also smelled of home and comfort. Were they both his Humans?
Male Human looked at him. He wasn't a bad Human, he knew it immediately. But he was a cautious one. Just like him.
And so he walked to the male Human. The surface he walked on was unusual, but he didn't let it distract him.
The male Human was warm and friendly. Without thinking, he started to climb up, willing to sniff the Human as a whole.
The male Human petted his head, and it was everything he needed. Yes, he already liked his Humans. The female one was gentle and sweet, but the male one was more like him.
So he licked his hairless paws, not able to contain his excitement.
The female Human then picked him up, letting him curl on her lap, and they moved. He had never been in the moving box before. Or was it his home now?
No, it wasn't. Because when the moving box stopped, they were outside a bigger box, somewhere Humans liked to live.
He wasn't paying attention to what Humans were saying, but one word caught his attention. It seemed like they used it to refer to him.
Caraxes, the female Human said several times.
Was it his name now? He never had a name.
Well, he could be Caraxes, he decided.
Living with Humans wasn’t bad.
They fed him delicious food and played with him. It was always warm and relaxing, and his fur became shinier and softer.
The female Human called him her baby, her son. At first, he thought she was silly – she was a Human, he was a Cat, and she wasn’t his momma. But she didn’t stop – and he got used to it.
Just as he got used to being called Caraxes.
But more than anything, he enjoyed the lap of his male Human. He was more closed, more restrained in his affections, but he loved Caraxes nonetheless. It was the male Human who fed him even when he had already got his dinner. It was he who would do all sorts of rubbing and petting – not that the female Human wasn’t doing it, but the male one was sweeter.
Caraxes became calm with his Humans. They had their routines and sometimes would be busy, and Caraxes didn’t mind. He was also a busy Cat – sleeping, for example, was an important part of his day.
Another was observing.
He knew that his Humans were strange. Not that there was something wrong with them – it was how they interacted with each other that was weird. He could smell the tension between them. He watched them enough to see that they wanted to do something but couldn’t.
It was just something Humans did, Caraxes concluded. Acted weird instead of enjoying themselves.
It wasn’t until later that he thought he had managed to pick up what was wrong with his Humans.
The way their eyes brightened when they were next to each other and the way the male Human tried to be careful with his paws told him more than enough.
His Humans were mates.
It should have been obvious to everyone, but Caraxes found it strange that the Humans themselves seemed to try and ignore the fact. He knew little of mating, so he couldn’t advise them on it. But still, they seemed to be in love with each other.
It wasn’t the kind of love he had for his Humans or they had for him. No, it was a different kind of love, the one some Humans have for each other.
Did Cats also have it?
Caraxes wasn’t jealous of his Humans. They seemed to love him even more, spoiling him when they couldn’t spoil each other.
After some time, it became annoying, though.
Caraxes knew what love meant. It meant hugs and kisses, treats and sleeping curled together. His stubborn Humans didn’t do any of that to each other for whatever reason. He wished they could understand him – he would tell them to cuddle more.
And it dragged on. Caraxes kept observing, judgementally bouncing his tail, and Humans kept acting weird.
Then his male Human brought into their home something.
Well, no. It was someone.
Caraxes hadn’t seen other Cats in a while. He lived with their Humans and didn’t really miss other Cats. But tonight, there was someone new. Someone who smelled like him, not like Humans.
He saw Humans coo over someone. She was small, this Cat. Small and cold.
They gave her food and water, and it was only after she drank and ate that she noticed him.
“You are a Cat,” she said to him, her wide eyes staring at him. She was so small – and so unlike him. But she was a Cat, and he finally had someone to talk to.
“I am,” Caraxes agreed, jumping off his tower and getting closer to sniff the girl. “And those are my Humans.”
He looked at his female Human. Did she mean to replace him? Would he go back to his box and the other Cats? He didn’t want to.
“I don’t have Humans,” the girl told him, and she was sad. Caraxes softened. Maybe, he and this girl could live together? “Can they be my Humans, too?”
Caraxes gave it a thought. He liked both his Humans, but he would admit that he lacked Cats. He wished he could talk to someone about birds, treats, and how soft the bed was. Humans wouldn’t understand.
Yes, perhaps, he could allow his Humans to keep her.
“Do you have a name?” he asked as she was licking herself after the bath Humans gave her.
“No,” she replied. “And you?”
“I am Caraxes,” he said, trying not to sound too proud that he got a name from his Humans. Maybe, they would give her a name, too.
They named her Syrax.
She was playful and cheerful, quickly adjusting to Humans and their home. Sometimes, he would play with her, too. Caraxes hated to admit that despite being close to his Humans, he also was glad to have the girl here.
Especially since his Humans were angry with each other. Or sad. Or both.
Once, Syrax asked him:
“What’s wrong with mommy and daddy?”
Caraxes chuckled. The girl called Humans like that, even though they weren’t her parents. In any other situation, he would judge the Cat for being so dumb, but with Syrax it was adorable.
“They are mating that way,” he said plainly. He had known it for a while now. Syrax would pick it up, too.
“Aren’t they mated already?” Syrax looked at him incredulously. “They have you and me, and a home and they eat treats in the same room.”
Caraxes looked at his Humans. He wished it was that simple. Despite being a wise and observant cat, he didn’t know how to explain it to Syrax.
“They refuse to admit it. I have been watching them long enough,” he said, turning away.
As he was ready to leave the kitchen, he saw them.
Humans were entwined with each other, using their paws and legs. And also, they were kissing.
“I guess it’s happening?” Syrax asked him, looking surprised.
Caraxes suddenly felt gross. He didn’t want to witness the process, so he fled the room with a loud protest. Syrax followed.
He didn’t like the noise his Humans made. But at least they wouldn’t be tense and weird with each other anymore. And, maybe, they could all cuddle in one bed.
At least they were rewarded with a huge dinner for the inconvenience of hearing the Humans.
They were noisy all the time now. It was annoying, and Caraxes wanted to hate it. But his Humans were happy.
Humans would shoo them off the couch when they were about to do it, and Caraxes had learnt to expect it from them. Syrax was calmer than him about it – well, she didn’t live with them when they weren’t in each other’s paws all the time.
Once, Syrax told him that she saw the male Human use his tongue on the female Human. Caraxes decided that she was wrong – Humans didn’t clean each other, and they surely didn’t use tongues for it.
However, they did cuddle together now – all four of them.
It was a pleasant morning, and they all stayed in bed forever. Until Humans jumped up, agitated and nervous.
“What is it?” Syrax shivered. “We haven’t messed up, have we?”
Caraxes stretched out. “We will find out.”
And they did when the doorbell rang.
It was unusual, Caraxes had to admit. Humans didn’t have guests, they didn’t invite anyone in. Feeling the overall mood, Caraxes became tense as well.
It was his house. His Humans. And his Syrax.
He was possessive and wouldn’t let anyone take them from him. He would defend all of them.
But the male Human grabbed both him and Syrax and took them upstairs. Caraxes protested, hissing, but it was to no avail.
So he tried to listen.
There was another male Human now, Caraxes could hear his voice. And his female Human wasn’t happy. Caraxes wanted to run downstairs at once and save his Human from the intruder.
Syrax was even more nervous. She was jumping and running around the room, using all her anger as a source of energy. Caraxes remained calmer – he needed to preserve his stamina if the fight was to start.
The female Human was shouting. And she was smashing something. Caraxes turned to his male Human, begging to let him intervene.
And the male Human finally did. He left the room, allowing both Cats to follow him. Caraxes didn’t think twice.
“Who dared to scream at mommy?” Syrax cried out loud, trailing behind him.
“Whatever he is, I can claw his eyes out,” Caraxes assured her.
He didn’t like the male Human that came to their home. He was older, smelled like something foreign, and, most importantly, he made his Humans angry. Caraxes didn’t know what to expect from him, so he moved in front of Syrax and hissed. She was just a girl, he would protect her, too.
And when the intruder tried to approach the Humans, and when his Humans looked hurt, he finally lost it.
Caraxes jumped up, striking the disgusting Human with his claws. He wasn’t an experienced fighter, he hated to admit. But he would rip the intruder apart if he had to.
“Caraxes. It's alright, boy. Come here. Come to mommy,” he heard the female Human say. However, he didn't move. He had to protect them. He had to protect Syrax.
He was hissing, ready to attack again. But when his female Human took him in her paws, he had to calm down. The last thing he wanted was to hurt her with his claws. Syrax started climbing the male Human’s leg, and he watched him scoop her in his paws. Once Syrax was safe, too, he allowed himself to relax.
The quarrel eventually died down, but Caraxes wasn’t happy. The female Human was leaving.
Caraxes looked at his other Human, not understanding. Why wasn’t he running after her, trying to stop her? How were they supposed to cuddle now?
“What? It’s not my fault she left.”
Caraxes and Syrax exchanged a look.
“You could still stop her, you know!” Syrax exclaimed, and Caraxes agreed. However, they weren’t too angry with him – at least not for long, because his Human reached for the bag of food. And the food was good.
The Human was talking to them, but Caraxes was busy devouring the meal. Wherever the female Human had gone, she would be back, he knew. Their home had the best food in the world, and the female Human wouldn't leave it behind. And in the meantime, cuddling with one Human would suffice.
Still, the male Human was sad, delaying going to bed. Syrax tried to get his attention, but he was too busy. It took their joint pleas to make the Human finally go to bed.
They ran to the female Human’s room. It smelled like her, and they did miss her. Maybe not as desperately as their male Human did, but Caraxes wouldn’t argue with the fact that she undoubtedly made their home better.
The years went by. Syrax grew and didn’t need him as her protector anymore. Still, he would always be guarding her, he knew.
One day, Caraxes was sleeping on his female Human when something felt different. He wasn’t sure what had changed, so he kept listening to it.
It wasn’t a sound, though. It was a sensation. Like they weren’t alone anymore.
Later that day, while Syrax was grooming his fur with her tongue, he asked:
“Do you think our Humans are going to have a baby?”
Syrax looked at him. “Like another Cat or what?”
“No,” Caraxes said. “A real baby. A tiny Human.”
Syrax wasn’t convinced and just continued grooming him. “How do you know?”
“I was resting on her belly today. And it was… Different. Warmer, maybe? I don’t know, really. It’s just… I can sense it.”
They lay in silence on the bed, Syrax tending to her claws. Caraxes wasn’t even sure where he got this idea from.
“Do you think she knows?” Syrax suddenly asked. “If I had a kitten inside of me, I would certainly know.”
It turned out that their female Human didn’t learn until some time later. She and the male Human were happy, and Caraxes definitely saw both of them tear up. He and Syrax took turns lying on the Human’s belly protectively until it grew too large, and they couldn't lay on top of it anymore. Then, they took to explore all the boxes and new furniture the Humans now had in their house. Caraxes knew that the cradle wasn’t for him, but he would enjoy it while it lasted.
When the Humans showed him a little bundle – a new tiny Human, who was resting, Caraxes sniffed her carefully. She was small, very small. And with that, Caraxes would get another family member to protect.