“AAAHHH!!!” I don’t want to be cat food!!”

Elysha watched as Micah curled up into a ball on the grass, right underneath the colossal dark cat creature looming in front of them.

She knitted her eyebrows together, bent her knees and said, “Shh, don’t scream like that. It’s loud.”

“How can that monstrous thing possibly be your friend?” Micah groaned, ignoring her request. “Are you suggesting that you can tell him to stop destroying my home?”

Elysha pursed her lips and stood firm. “Because it’s Kitty,” she said with certainty. “I know it is. I can feel it.”

“How can you feel that thing is Kitty? Do you trust your intuition that the phenomenal cat demon is him?” Then his eyes widened. “Wait, are you saying that the cat demon is your pet?”

“No, Kitty is my friend,” she corrected again, then her eyes widened as well. “Huh? ‘Trust my intuition?’”

As she spoke, the black cat let out a deep, vibrating growl, “Meowwwww.....”

He arched his massive body, his fur standing upright like jagged spikes. His tail slashed the air with a force that stirred the winds around them. He raised one of his paws, claws emerging from the fur like steel blades, ready to strike at them.

Micah’s fur bristled as he scrambled to his feet. “Uh-oh, he’s getting seriously angry now,” he stated. “Probably because Sorcha ran off with her rat.”

“I-Is he going to hurt us?”

“He’s going to hurt us and go after Sorcha and her rat!” he shouted. “Elysha! If that’s your so-called ‘friend,’ then he’s about to turn us into flat pancakes! Say something already!”

Her heart pounded in her chest, and Elysha turned her head to face the colossal creature. She took a step forward, her hand outstretched.

“Kitty!” she shouted, her voice cracking slightly. “Stop it! You’re scaring everyone!”

The tail of the giant cat stopped moving, his glowing silvery-white eyes narrowing as they locked onto her.

“K-Kitty, you remember me, right? We’ve talked together at the river earlier.”

The cat remained still and did not react to her words. Despite this, Elysha continued, “Kitty, please stop, don’t hurt anyone! Go back to being smaller, let’s talk it out together!”

“I don’t think that cat demon can really talk…” Micah muttered, sweating on his fur.

The colossal cat’s glowing eyes narrowed, and for a fleeting moment, she thought she saw recognition. But then, his massive ears twitched, and a low, guttural growl rumbled from his throat.

“Meow…”

“I don’t think he’s listening to me,” Elysha said, disappointed. “Did he… forget me?”

Micah flinched, his expression growing pale. “Uh, Elysha? I don’t think he’s interested in your ‘talking it out,’” he yelped. “He looks very interested in making me his next meal!”

“Eh?!”

Her heart sank as she noticed the cat’s eyes shift focus—away from her and directly onto Micah. The gleaming eyes seemed to pierce through the smaller creature as if assessing his size, weight, and whether he’d make a satisfying snack. His tail began to wag again, his claws ready to strike.

“Why does he see me as cat food?” he complained. “Micah does not look like a rat—”

In an instant, Elysha instinctively reached for Micah.

“Wah—!”

She hoisted him into the air towards the towering black cat.

“Look!”

In a sudden shift of action, the cat’s ears perked up. His rumbling purr stopped and his tail swung faster from side to side.

Micah, suspended in mid-air, protested vehemently, “H-Hey! What are you doing? Put me down! I don’t want to be sacrificed! I am not cat food!!”

Elysha held him tightly and pursed her lips as she spoke out, “Of course you’re not cat food! I’m doing this to help not only us but also Sorcha and Billi from becoming cat food!”

“Huh?! Let go of me! I will not be eaten!! I will not let you sacrifice me! I thought you were not like this! I trusted you!” his voice trembled, his struggles growing more desperate.

The black cat took a step closer, tilting his head and fixing his void-like gaze on the terrified Micah. Darkness enveloped them, casting a darker shadow like an eclipse.

“Don’t! No!! NO!!!” Micah’s cries grew more desperate. “I don’t want to die!”

“I won’t let you die,” Elysha said clearly, her hands shaking. “Please trust me. If Kitty’s going to attack, let’s run away together.”

“Let... Let me go, please. This is scary... “ he sobbed. “My stomach hurts... It’s so terrifying… I’m about to barf…”

“Meow…”

A low, guttural growl sounded again as Elysha declared, “On the count of three, we will make a run for it, okay?”

Micah observed the fear etched across her face, and a flicker of realization sparked within him. As the cat arched his back once more, his voice quivered, “One…”

Stolen from its rightful author, this tale is not meant to be on Amazon; report any sightings.

Elysha followed, “Two…”

“Three!!” they shouted in unison. At that moment, the colossal black cat leapt towards them, claws outstretched, aiming for his next snack.

“RUN!!!” Micah shouted as they dodged the glinting daggers that pierced the ground, tearing through the earth and shaking the surface. The impact sent them both flying into the air as the cat sprang into action, swinging his paw out to catch his prey.

The cat’s massive paw slammed into the trees, giving the two a brief moment of time as they raced through the dense woods. Then, like a needle in a haystack, the giant cat immediately went after them.

As Elysha’s breath came in ragged gasps, pushing her exhausted body to its limits. Micah began to undergo a transformation, his form expanding and growing larger—turning into a wolf-like figure. His appearance held her in awe, his fur silken, more silver than gray, and majestic with a symbol on his forehead.

He slowed his pace and urgently shouted, “Elysha! Climb onto my back!”

Without hesitation, she turned and jumped onto his now large back. Picking up speed again, he propelled himself into the air, trying to leave the pursuing cat behind.

Elysha clung to Micah’s fur, her fingers tightening as the wind whipped her hair. Her eyes whipped in awe as he soared into the sky, his legs galloping as if he were still on land, his thick, silky fur bristling in the breeze. She glanced over her shoulder, her heart pounding as she saw the massive black cat barreling through the trees, still chasing after them.

Her mind struggled to comprehend the events that had unfolded, and she said, “Th-Thank you, Micah.”

“Ah, now you finally thank me for my help,” he replied in a high tone.

She raised a brow. “Why did you say it like that? At least you were there for me this time, unlike before.”

“Hey! You still have that on your mind? I was there next to you the entire time? So technically you weren’t physically alone!”

“You were sleeping in my necklace.”

“Oh, sure, blame me. I wasn’t exactly sleeping—I was saving my energy!”

Elysha puffed her cheeks, her pout forming instantly. “Saving your energy? That sounds like you were being lazy!”

“Lazy?!” Micah’s voice cracked slightly in protest. “Excuse me, I saved you just now! Let’s not forget I’m the one giving you a first-class ride through the sky! Where’s my ‘Thank you, Micah, for being the best friend ever?’”

Elysha groaned, then remembered raising him in the air in front of the giant cat and hearing him cry.

‘I don’t want to die!’

She buried her face in his fur and murmured out, “Thank you, Micah, for being the best friend ever…”

“Ehehe,” he smiled, “of course I am!”

As they made their escape, Elysha turned her eyes to the sky, and the clouds she could see close overhead. Her expression calmed and her heart soothed. It felt like a lifetime ago when she was simply immersed in her homework from Elder Merakia. The juxtaposition of those mundane moments with the current experience left her mind reeling.

*thump*

The sounds of thundering steps shook the air around them. Elysha turned her head sharply, her heart dropping as she saw the colossal black cat—Kitty—closing in, his glowing eyes and dark visage locked onto them with unrelenting focus.

“Micah, what should we do?” Elysha shouted, clutching tighter onto his fur. “He’s getting closer!”

He flicked his ears back, his breathing ragged but his pace unrelenting. “Of course he is! Giant demon cats don’t just give up because you say ‘please!’”

“What should we do?”

Micah glanced back at her briefly. “You’re the one who called him your friend! Got any bright ideas before we both become cat treats?”

Elysha’s mind raced. “Maybe if we get high enough, he won’t be able to reach us! Can you fly higher?”

He let out a sharp, panicked laugh. “You think I’m a balloon? This is about as high as I go!”

The loud thud of the cat’s paws drew closer, the ground trembling beneath him. Elysha felt her chest tighten. “Um, then, what if… what if I call his name again? Maybe he’ll stop!”

“Or maybe he’ll think you’re calling him to dinner!” Micah snapped. “We need a better plan! Fast!”

Before she could come up with another idea, Micah took a sharp turn, almost knocking her off his back.

“Ah!”

“Sorry Elysha! He caught me off guard!” Micah exclaimed. It was a narrow dodge as Kitty’s claws came dangerously close to them.

“I’m-I’m okay,” she said, regaining her composure.

“Unfortunately, it looks like the cat will not give up the hunt soon,” he said, exhaustion in his voice, I don’t have enough energy to keep this form much longer.”

Desperately, Elysha’s eyes darted around as the wind rushed past them, searching for anything—a clue, a sign, a way out. Then her gaze fell on a nearby lake, and an idea sparked.

“Micah, there!” she pointed. “I remember reading in a book that cats don’t like water. If we can get across that area, maybe he won’t follow us!”

Micah’s eyes followed her line of sight, a mischievous grin forming on his face. “Sounds like a plan to me!”

Then he changed their course as they surged toward the lake. His strides soared through the sky, while Kitty’s thundering steps didn’t falter, closing in with silvery-white eyes piercing unyieldingly.

“Almost there!” Micah shouted, his breath labored but his resolve strong.

The surface of the lake appeared a vivid blue in the daylight as they arrived, speeding through the air until they hovered over the center of the lake, creating a substantial distance between themselves and the cat’s reach.

“Haha! The cat demon can’t reach us here!” he declared triumphantly. “We’re safe now for the love of the Asnoiji.”

Elysha nodded, gripping his fur tightly. “You think it’ll work?”

“Of course it will work. Cats hate water. It will slow him down for sure. The vast expanse of water would force him to take a long detour—or helplessly not!”

They looked back to the shore where the giant cat was approaching like a mad bull. Unlike Micah, Elysha couldn’t accept victory just yet; something felt amiss. Despite the obstacle, the cat continued to sprint toward them without faltering, increasing his speed with each stride.

“... Something not right.”

“What do you mean?”

Elysha’s eyes widened in terror. “He’s... He’s about to jump!”

“Eh?!” Micah turned his head sharply. “Oh no. No, no, no! Don’t even think about it, Kitty!”

As the cat reached the opening in the lake’s shore, he launched himself forward with a mighty leap. His massive form sliced through the air like a shadowy missile as his momentum propelled him toward his target.

Elysha and Micah watched in sheer horror.

“DODGE!!!”

At the same time, the overwhelming fear caused Micah to faint, reverting to his smaller form. Simultaneously, Elysha’s body began to emit a brilliant glow as the black cat drew nearer.

Her breath hitched as Elysha reached out, her fingers just barely wrapping around Micah’s tiny, unconscious form. The lake’s shimmering surface rushed toward them with alarming speed. Her heart pounded, panic clawing at her thoughts.

‘W-Water!’

Above them, the massive black cat descended on them, claws outstretched, silvery eyes gleaming.

“No!” Elysha screamed. Then the light erupted from her body in a burst so brilliant it shrouded the lake area in blinding white.

With a large ripple, Kitty’s enormous form faltered in midair. The glow engulfed him, blurring the sharp lines of his silhouette. His claws retracted, his towering size began to shrink.

“Meow—”

And there was a loud, tremendous sound of splashing water.