Hong Kong Young Writers Anthologies Fiction Group 3 | Page 276

The Cat Island
The Independent Schools Foundation Academy, Tsui, Maya - 11
Okami opened her jaws to scent the air, picking up the trace of a jackdaw, and instinctively dropped into a
hunting crouch. She lifted her paws delicately, and was about to leap on her prey, when she detected
thrumming of paws headed her way. She scowled in disappointment, watching through slitted eyes as her
target squawked and soared into the air. A black tomcat followed by a brown she-cat burst through the
ferns. “Okami!” The black one panted “We have invaders sailing towards us from the west coast!” “How
much, Sabre?” She asked the black tom sharply. “Not much” The brown she-cat admitted “Not enough to
be fatal, but enough to injure.” Okami nodded “Spread the word, Isla.” The brown dipped her head and
the she-cat darted off into the bushes, still waving wildly from their first entry. “Sabre, your with me.” Both
felines shifted into their human bodies, each with ears and tails from their cat counterparts. “Have you
alerted Lumi?” Okami demanded. Sabre bobbed his head “We sent the most exquisite fighters ahead to start
shooting them. “Excellent. Have the underwater squadrons moved in?” “They’re currently waiting for your
signal, Okami.” He replied. “I want you and your scouts to watch them for more extra information that we
can wield to defeat these...inconveniently placed fools.” Sabre gave her a curt bow and shot off throw the
undergrowth.
She trotted towards their camp and when she arrived, found everyone waiting, and a out of breath scout.
“I..” She panted “There is a small company of men asking if we can negotiate on Akulet Beach.” Okami
narrowed her eyes until they were as thin as a blade of grass, and chose her own team to go and meet those
newcomers. She had a pawful of warriors, each armed to the teeth. They marched towards the beach, for
what lay there, awaiting them.
They found a small patrol of men, each bearing yellowy-pale skin and slanted dark eyes. They wore
luxurious flowing robes embroidered with gold and silver and gleaming gems. As far as she saw, they wore
no visible weapons. “Greetengs.” A man that looked like their leader spoke. His Cattish was horrible. “Wez
proopuse alleance to yuo domain and en retoorn, wez geve yuo sheeny thangs.” (We propose an alliance to
your island and in return, we will give you treasures/shiny things) He pointed at chests and chests of gold,
silver, riches and other valuable items. But, no prey or battle armour, weapons or any of those. “We are not
interested in these. We only look for prey, or items fit for battle, foreign fool.” “Preey?” He cocked his head
to one side “You means mouse or rebbit?”(Prey? You mean mice or rabbits?) Okami caught Ayla sighing,
Enki picking at his knife and Ayki rolling his eyes, the rest of her patrol doing similar gestures.
“If you cannot provide those resources for us, leave.” One of his lieutenants whispered in his ear, and he
nodded “We will be able to provide those materials for you,” he said, his Cattish perfect, for once. “He
beckoned to his men and they hauled trunks filled with the things they required. “Thank you. We will
gladly take these items and grant an alliance with you. You will be permitted to enter our domain, as long as
you do not disrupt our people.” Zheng He nodded and both leader’s signed a parchment, declaring the
alliance between the two mighty rulers. Then, Zheng He gathered his men and took his leave, whistling to
himself as his men jostled around him in excitement. Okami watched until their red sails crossed the horizon
and, eventually, left their line of sight. Finally, she allowed herself to leave and maybe, even find that
jackdaw she was hunting earlier.