The bird made for a fair meal, but Ghost was hungry again by morning. He did not know this, but today was his eighth birthday. It also happened to be the same day of the year that he became a stray. He had no recollection of his life before the streets, as it was a long time ago and only briefly lived. Abandoned on his first birthday, this agile cat has been adapting to the cruel outside world for seven years. He performed his stretches and set out to find food, wasting no time and sticking to the shadows. 

Ghost was a prideful cat. Hunting was his most preferred method of getting food, and he would only resort to scavenging for leftovers when desperate. Begging humans was an option for some strays, but not for Ghost. He honestly would rather starve to death. 

The odd eyed cat honed in on his senses and scanned his surroundings for movement, sound, or smell. His tail hovered an inch above the ground and swept back and forth to scan for dangers approaching from behind. Cats were indeed predators, but they were also prey to larger and scarier creatures. Ghost had seen a lot of shit by now, and has learned to simultaneously hunt prey and avoid predators with great efficiency.

No dying allowed. I have a feeling today will be easy. 

Ghost confidently reassured himself as, right on queue, a juicy rat scuttled by. It moved as if not aware of Ghost's presence. The hunt began. The eager cat patiently followed behind. Most suburb rodents went to sleep by morning, but a few stayed up a bit longer. This might be Ghost's last chance until nightfall to see rats on the menu again, so he stalked with great discipline.

It didn't take him long to notice the rat was headed towards the house containing that Ragdoll cat he met yesterday.

She better not get in the way again.

To Ghost's surprise, the rat caught sight of him and began darting away. Perhaps a lapse in concentration? He ignored the question while calmly maneuvering to stay on the prey's trail. Even if it was out of his sight, he could hear it's pattering feet.

The rat ran straight underneath a crack in a wooden fence and Ghost followed by nimbly jumping over it. He landed in the same backyard from yesterday where he saw Butter fall from the roof and drop his bird. The difference was this time an elderly human was in it, tending the garden. Suddenly, another younger human emerged through the backyard door. The rat took this chance to rush inside but was quickly noticed by the second human.

This resulted in a series of shrieks and screams followed by the sounds of colliding furniture and shattering glass. Ghost witnessed this chaos unfold from afar in a bush, and soon saw the shadow of another cat on the prowl. It was Butter, and she sounded determined to hunt the intruder.

"You will not have my kill, house pet." The wild stray declared, as he readied himself to join the fray.

TO BE CONTINUED...