Happily Ever After
Life in The Rural Retreat with a beautiful wife, three cats, garden wildlife, a camera, a computer – and increasing amounts about running
Earlier posts can be found on Adventures of a Lone Bass Player, where this blog began life. Recent entries can be found here.
The Homing Cat
by admin - 18:31 on 19 September 2013
Taking sole charge of The Pride for a wander to the ruined steading at the end of the lane near The Rural Retreat is a risky business, what with the possibility of dogs and other walkers and a feline tendency to go wherever the nose takes its owner.
We reached the steading without incident, after which three excited moggies split up to take turns exploring the wood pile and upstairs and downstairs in the adjoining outbuilding. So far, so good. Then Pandora emerged from the tangle of tree trunks, a squealing vole in her jaws, and scurried into the junk-filled outbuilding, pursued by Willow, to have her wicked way with her victim.
Steading rodents must be made of sterner stuff than those around the Retreat, for this one escaped, leading to an increasingly frantic search by its former captor among the agricultural debris of years gone by. The escapee remained tantalisingly out of reach.
Maia and Pandora wait for Willow to catch up.
None of this was of interest to Maia, who earlier in the day had caught a vole of her own, so she mooched around outside, unimpressed.
Time passed, and Willow and I were keen to return home, but Pandora refused to give up her hunt. As for Maia, the last I'd seen of her was a cat making a determined plod southwards through a field of stubble. Matchgirl would not be happy. However, as she was at work I'd plenty of time to track down the wanderer. I hoped.
Pandora outside the steading.
So Willow and I returned home alone, where we found The Great Explorer sprawled on the living room carpet, recovering from her epic plod. I wouldn't be in trouble after all – at least until Matchgirl reads this, anyway.
Leaving the pair to enjoy some biscuits, I hurried back to the steading to discover a vole still at large, much to Pandora's frustration. It took some effort, but eventually I was able to seize The Tabby Terror and carry her back to the lane – from where she ran straight back to The Lair of the Vanished Vole.
Willow at the door to the outbuilding's upstairs. This is the one that Tess peeks around on the cover of her book.
After I was able to grab her a second time she was lugged indignantly all the way back home. Chances are she could have found her own way – if Maia could, any cat can – but I didn't want to risk it. Matchgirl may not be the Retreat's baker but she does have a rolling pin.
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