The Saga of Fishback the Cat - Chapter 19

After a long quest, Fishback the Cat had finally returned home. He had the knowledge he would need to better rule over the humans in his house, but found his feelings toward them had changed. When he left, he thought them a bunch of lazy, selfish creatures with little to no regard for others. Now he better understood Andrew, the human he lived with, understood the hardships he endured, the sacrifices he made to ensure Fishback's comfort. Fishback took a swig of the potion he had stolen from the gods during his quest. The world grew around him, and his familiar tufts of fur sprouted from his legs, all four of them. Testing his body, he lept to the counter easily three times taller than him with ease and grace. He was back. He was a cat again. In exultation, he hopped over the furniture, darted around corners with speed he had sorely missed, and knocked things off of tables because he could.

The door opened, and rather than dart away or stare suspiciously from under the chair as was his custom, he ran to the living room to greet his human. He purred and wove himself between the man's legs as he shuffled in, dropping his keys on his way to the kitchen, pulling out his knife, and cutting a hunk of meat to feed the cat.

“You're awfully affectionate today,” Andrew said as he began to pet the cat. “Where've you been the past few days? Did you miss me?”

Fishback purred louder. He enjoyed the attention, as he usually did, but today, he didn't cuddle for himself. He cuddled to reassure his human, to soothe him after a long day in the confusing world of men, where Mexican food could be made in America and German steel could be made in China and they worked hard all week to be able to relax for two days. Now that he knew how to rule them, he found he just wanted to care for them.

Originally mailed to P. and D. Goff of Madison, Mississippi