Page 54 of Orange Lake
The maternals. Deoes he mean the females of their species?
“But they also signal hope when they appear. But to have six of them in one place.”
“It’s a bad omen.” Someone said from behind.
“Do we need to vacate this place?”
“But where will we go? We are all forsaken by our clan?”
“Silence!” the old man shouted looking at them. I looked at him and I had a mirage of seeing him transformed into a powerful man. Probably when he was young. “By now Jigen is alerted. They will help us capture the hiscats and send them back to the wild.”
That’s good to know that the cats will not be killed. Still, how come they have cats on this world? Maybe these cats transform into beast modes as well so they are wary?
“Look out!” more screaming. The old man’s eyes are round looking. His eyes are focused to my left side. Slowly, I can see them backing away. From me.
I’ve seen this in the movies. It can only mean a bad thing.
I slowly pivoted to the left. I couldn’t see anything. I tracked the steel pipe going up and lo and behold. One of the cats was intently looking at me. It has bicolored eyes, blue and yellow. So cute.
I heard a thud. A very plump cat. I jumped on my skin but since I was looking at the cat, I saw it jump. Later, they will berate me because instead of running, I try to catch the cat.
The cat is so fluffy though I can feel some sand on its skin. It buried itself into my arms and started to purr like a motor. I used my arms to protect it. Its fur is soft and silky, other parts rough like it was matted with oil. The cat raised its head and looked at me. Aww, too bad I don’t have food. I used my left hand to run my knuckle on the side of the cat’s face.
Another thud.
I looked up and saw Coone, his arm almost bloody trying to bump the door. His arm is visible because the sleeves of his jacket are cut off. He is bumping the transparent steel door to shatter it. Beside him, Roo is standing still. His mouth wide open, his eyes round, looking at me.
Oh oh. Maybe holding the cat is a bad idea.
I looked back and saw the locals. Most of them are afraid, others shocked. The old man was on his knees crying. He was murmuring something.
“This is a good sign,” I heard him at last. “A good sign!” he exclaimed as if he’s declaring something. He wiped the tears from his eyes. People started to whisper that started with a hum, until some of them were shouting, creating a noise that can rival the noise in the Yankee football stadium.
Thud. Thud. Thud.
I looked back. Coone gave up on trying to smash the gate with his shoulders. He looked furious. His face, though his skin is matte red, is tinged with black spots on the side of his face and chin. He motioned with his hand. I think he wants me to move back. And so I did.
I heard the locals moving away from me as I moved further away from the door. They became quiet, only the sound of their feet moving.
Coone stepped away and I saw something replaced him. Two manasties are slowly pushing what looks like a metallic mini bazooka! What the. And behind it, stands Jigen. He has his serious face on.
Shit, what do they have against these cats?
Further away, I can see some manasties scrambling to clear up the area. There are cages. In one of the cages, I saw the other cats lying down. No! The old man said they probably just captured them and will be released in the wild. Right?
I looked back and saw the bazooka looking thingy firing up. The end crackled with electricity, blue neon lights started to appear. Jigen pushed it forward further so that it’s against the gate.
The cat on my arm began to hiss, it is looking intently on what’s happening at the gate. I felt the cat’s claws but it did not hurt.
Suddenly, the steel door splintered to a million glass shards. Amazing. I did not even feel the vibration or any noise. But looks like the cat did. It started to growl low in its throat.
I saw Jigen and his men, including Roo and Coone approaching us. I slowly backed my way until my back reached the wall.
Now what?
The cat started to hiss angrily. Its fur standing on end.
I tried to calm it by rubbing its body but it almost stood up on my arms and pawed at the manasties.
