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The Prince of all Cats

The narrator who is a cat: “In many a country we cats are revered. We are companions to kings and to queens. We are natural hunters, exterminators of pests. We are regal us cats; everyone knows that!

But there is one country where no one liked us. A place so barbaric where none dared to trust. There we were hunted and could not find rest. But one day it changed through the Prince of all Cats.

Our tale begins one fateful day at a market place, bustling with activity. Many stalls show a wide array of produce. There are bakers with bread and farmers with fruit and vegetables. There are stalls selling clothes and stalls selling tools. There is a corner for livestock and a corner … for fish.

But every stall there has one thing in common. Something so sinister it would make any cat give pause ere venturing to close. A cat’s tail! Tied to the corner post. For the cat who is not dismayed by seeing such a gruesome display; traps are laid for the unwary, it’s downright barbaric un-tailing us makes them merry.”

The market people:

“

Though we don’t know why we hate cats with a vengeance.

It might seem a bit strange, but we think they’re pretentious.

Always strutting `round like they own the place

Snatching whatever they like with their feline grace

A dog is different, a dog is useful

As a hunter, a guardian, a companion loyal

I wouldn’t mind if all cats disappeared

Who needs cats, they are useless except when un-tailed

Who needs cats, they are useless except when un-tailed

”

A random man in the crowd: “Hey Viren how is your team of tailless ones doing?”

Viren: “Great! There’s a show tonight. We’ve caught some big sewer rats and have decided to let them fight each other in tonight’s show. Spread the word, will you?”

The random man: “That sounds awesome. There will be profits made from those bets.”

The men laugh.

Continuation of the market crowd:

“

A tailless one brings sport and amusement

By fighting rats and each other they provide entertainment

Yes the only good cat is a tailless one

So catch them, then snip-snip, done is done

So catch them, then snip-snip, done is done

”

At that moment a bold but desperate cat sneaks past traps that have been set. She snatches a fish from a fisherman’s stall and tries to make a getaway.

Random female person from the crowd: “Ahh! A cat! Quick! Get her!”

Owner of the fish stall: “Send for the cat-catchers!”

The poor cat is run down by the mob and cat catchers that employ dogs. She is cornered in the street and with wide eyes full of fear she drops the fish, arches her back and hisses.

One of the professional catchers: “Look, she is nursing, we should mark her and let her go. With our Sniffers here she’ll lead us straight to her litter.”

Another catcher: “Good eye Rojan. We can rid the world of those pests while they are young.”

They manage to catch her. They cover her in an oily substance and let her go.

She snatches up the fish again and flees. The crowd follows from a distance using specially trained dogs; the Sniffers.

The cat takes detours to evade busy areas and finally, in the poor district, on the outskirts of the city, she walks into an alley where lots of garbage is lying around underneath a large tree. The buildings on both sides are in ruin and tall grass and saplings grow everywhere and peek outwards from the windows. There are many puddles in the alley, a testament to frequent rains. The cat walks towards a box lying underneath a broken crate used to transport market wares. When she comes closer a very high pitched meowing can be heard. She enters the box, lies down on a blanket and starts eating the fish. At the same time, her litter of kittens approaches her, mewling, and starts nursing at her teats.

The narrator and several cats looking down from above start singing:

“

In this country, a country barbaric

Many like these kittens little are born on the streets

Most do not get to live to adulthood

In this world cruel and harsh, not all land on their feet

These streets they’re often cold and wet

We always want, but seldom do get

Mistaken for pests just on par with a rat

Such is the life on these streets for a cat

Such is the life on these streets for a cat

”

As the cats look down from above the men arrive at the alley. The female cat is quickly caught and the four kittens grabbed by their scruff are thrown in a garbage bag that is tied shut.

The leader of the cat catchers: “Good work, men! Now, let’s un-tail this here cat and bring her to Viren. She might fetch a good price for tonight’s games.”

The men laugh.

The cats continue singing:

“

In this country, a country barbaric

Many do not live unscathed till their prime

Since we are hunted, untailed, and our kits trapped in garbage bags

Many that live this life would much rather die

Many that live this life would much rather die

”

The narrator cat says to the other singing cats: “But even in those days, we knew there was a better place. Somewhere.”

Another cat answers: “We knew? Narca! They were just rumours”

The narrator cat Narca answers: “Rumours? Of course! Like all tales that we cats tell our kits. But there is some kernel of truth in every story. Yes, quite a few of us grew up to tales of a better place. A place that only the most daring cats tried to escape to.”

Narca sings:

“

Somewhere in this big wide world

There is peace for those who are covered in fur

A safe haven for those who move with the greatest of grace

Yes! There is a better place.

”

One of the listening cats: “That sounds wonderful Narca, but what will we eat?”

Narca continues:

“

Where cream flows in rivers and dogs are all leashed

There mice are plenty and stress quickly flees

Trees filled with birds to stuff your face

Mreow! That is the better place.

Pillows to lie on

Boxes to lie in

Fences to climb on

Tall trees to climb in

A sunlit windowsill

Doors opening through our will

A dry bed to sleep for one and all

There is a better place for us all

”

One of the other cats: “That sounds perfectly beautiful Narca. But no one has ever returned from the big out there. What if they met their doom somewhere? What if they found a fate worse than these streets?”

Narca: “See! Instead of thinking none returned because they found a better place, the cats that stayed imagined the most gruesome fates for the lost ones. Personally, I believed that they did find a better place. I believe they settled and decided to never return and forget all about the nightmare they left behind.

Negative and fearful thinking is exactly why only a few dared to seek a better place. Most, traumatised by life on these streets, were scared to death of what other evils might be out there in the world. So they stayed. They stayed and survived as best as they could in an existence unworthy of a cat.

Luckily, for those who stayed, fate was about to bring a huge change to this city where cats were prosecuted. And it all started in a little shop, a few blocks away from this very tree.”

A shop owner drags a young boy dressed in rags out of his shop by the scruff of his neck. He violently throws him onto the streets.

Shop owner: “Get out of here you thief! I better not see you back here. Next time I will alert the nearest patrol. Or I might just exert justice myself.” He cracks his knuckles ominously.

As the narrator cat watches from a rooftop, the boy picks himself up out of the puddle where he landed in and walks off. He starts slowly but walks faster and faster until he is running. When he is near the alleyway he stops. He lifts his shirt and reveals an intricate makeshift belt with lots of pouches and compartments.

The boy: “Guess I was lucky he didn’t see me stuff most of my prizes underneath my shirt.”

The boy grins, fishes a piece of bread from his pocket and starts eating.

The boy: “I don’t understand why they can’t give us whatever food they have left at the end of the day. Instead, they throw it in the garbage. Well I, for one, do not like fishing from those stinking, rat-infested sacks and containers. I prefer to take my share of garbage before it becomes garbage. Is that so strange?”

The boy sings:

“

In this cold city, this city barbaric

So much is wasted though many are in need

Poor kids like me in this town are plenty

But none receive mercy all must find their own feet

”

The boy sighs and continues.

The boy sings:

“

I often dream of somewhere warm

A gentle voice that brings to my heart calm

A gentle hand caressing my face

Oh, I want to believe. There’s a better place

”

The cat choir:

“

Here in this country, this country barbaric

Where those who rule throw their own young out on the street

Here in this country, this country barbaric

If you want to survive you better find your own feet

But somewhere in this world there must be

A safe place for little ones to grow

”

The boy:

“

Wherever it is it’s far from here

Far from this barbaric country

Far from this sadness, grief and despair

I wish my feet could lead me there

Is there a place? Could such a place be out there?

”

Frustrated, the boy kicks a pebble and it hits a familiar sack. The sack moves. The boy is startled. He picks up a broken and discarded broomstick and approaches the sack carefully. He pokes it softly and the sack moves again. This time he also hears soft meowing.

With a look of astonishment, the boy walks up to the sack and unties it, coming face to face with four cute kittens.

The boy sings:

“

What’s this?

A sack filled with kittens

Who could ever be so cruel?

Why does this world condemn such cute creatures?

”

The kittens sing:

“

Who is this stranger?

His skin lacks all fur

His claws don’t retract. Can he even purr?

He looks like those monsters who took mother away

”

The kittens:

“Quick hide”

The boy:

“Don’t worry I won’t hurt you.”

He quickly grabs the kittens by their scruff and puts them in the larges pouch he has on his belt. Afterwards he fishes a small bowl from the bag. After looking around the dumpster for a bit he finds their former nest. He fishes a small bottle of milk out of one of the belt’s compartments and puts some of it in the bowl. Then he rips a piece from the blanket and puts it in the pouch with the kittens.

The kittens sing:

“

Mother!

Why does it smell like mother?

Maybe this stranger is not as bad as he seems.

Could he be the one to ensure our survival?

”

The kittens and the boy sing:

“

What strange fate brought us here together?

What could this strange meeting bring?

I/we don’t know quite what to do here

But it feels as if something great has just begun!

Yes it feels like something wonderful has just … begun!

”

The boy looks the kittens in the eye and can’t will himself to walk away.

The boy: “Guess you guys drew the short end too, huh? No mother, forced to survive here on your own. You know, I don’t understand why people hate you so much. How can anyone feel so negative about such cute fuzzy creatures?

Can I tell you guys a secret?”

The kittens start high pitched meowing.

The boy: “People hate me too. I may not have a tail like you guys and I might lack your fur, but most people wouldn’t mind if I got terribly hurt. They wouldn’t care if I disappeared. But you know what? That’s why I’m not going to disappear. I will survive and grow up. And once I’m big I will change this place. And you know what else? I’m going to take care of you now. No one will hurt you again or cut off your cute tails. No one will so much as hurt a whisker on your faces.”

The boy looks up at the huge tree.

The boy: “This tree will be our home.”

He starts rummaging through the garbage and uses materials to start building a ladder to climb into the tree. Once he considers himself high enough the boy starts building a rudimentary floor for a treehouse.

The boy sings:

“

These sticks will form a perfect ladder

These boards will form the perfect floor

Here it is our perfect refuge

This tree will be our home

No matter how crazy it gets out there

This tree will never waver

It will not go anywhere

Have you seen those roots?

They can’t be moved or dug up

Have you seen that trunk?

Not even lightning could bring its growth to a stop

Have you seen those branches?

Have you seen their leaves?

Entire houses hide in their shade

I promise you this place will know no grief!

We’re home! This tree … will be … our home!

”

Narca: “Over the months the kittens grew bigger. And as they grew so did their appetite. They needed more sustaining food than what the boy could scavenge by. As human reared kits they lacked all proper hunting skills of a proper nest-trained kit. Some had a little skill, but they were definitely not proficient enough to provide for themselves.

Still, he had to feed the kittens something.”

One of the cats listening: “Well, how did he manage then?”

Narca: “The boy was very intelligent and he had excellent instincts. One day, on market day, he saw the garbage collectors bring the city’s waste to the outskirts of town where they promptly dumped it. A cart was also dumped at the entrance of the alleyway. As he saw that happening he asked the collector where the waste came from and why it was dumped at the outskirts of town. He found out that most of the waste consisted of unsold scraps from the market. When the collector left he rummaged through the heap and found many useful items and also edible food scraps. He soon figured out that most garbage collectors did their work by night, long after the market had been closed down. And for all that time, all that waste was sitting idle at the market square. The boy decided to scout the market to find those tents that yielded the most useful scraps. And in exchange for a little food he offered to cart their waste away.”

The boy sings:

“

Please sir

Let me help to organise your stall

All of your waste, let me put it on this cart

Please sir

I guarantee that your clients will be glad

They’ll flock to the cleanest stall here in these parts

Please miss

Any scraps of cloth in your way

Let me take them off your hands and clean up this way

Please people

The old packages and broken crates by the way

Let me help you by carting all of this junk away

”

Narca: “From strips of textile the boy constructed a long coat with many pockets to carry his litter around since he dared not leave them alone.”

The boy continues singing, making sure the cute kittens do not poke out their heads at inconvenient times:

“

Please sir

Has some of your milk gone bad?

Please miss

If some bread has gone stale don’t be sad

Please sir

Are your fish not fresh near the end of day?

Please let me cart all your troubles away!

”

Narca: “From these ever more frequent collections a kingdom grew in the tree of what came to be known as ‘High Felinity road’. More and more cats converged on the little kingdom to escape from prosecution. And on the many scavenging trips, the boy discovered and saved many other litters tied up in sacks. He welcomed all felines, big and small and came to be known as …”

The cats sing:

“

The Prince of all Cats

The Prince of all Cats

Though he may lack fur and retractable claws

He knows how to purr and he even meows

Although it is true that he’s less quick on his feet

He knows how to compensate with many great feats

He’s the giver of cream though slightly sour to the taste

Fish heads, guts and bones are for us not a waste

A litter, a box with cloth for each cat

None has treated us better than the Prince of all Cats

The Prince of all Cats trains to land on his feet

As he plays with us he practices hunting with ease

The Prince of all Cats grows more agile each day

Through diligent study he learns the Feline way

The Prince of all Cats!

The Prince of all Cats!

He made this tree our home, a safe haven for all

At its centre, the throne shall never fall

This place channels a message and all hear the call

To the Prince of all Cats may he ever walk tall!

By Royal decree, this Kingdom is open

To all those who follow the Feline ways

To many, this Tree is a beacon of hope and

All pray the Prince is the leader who stays

To the Prince of all Cats!

The Prince of all Cats!

”

Narca: “Although the little kingdom was largely unnoticed by the humans, another vast community that had thrived on the mounds of waste carted to the outskirts of the city started to take notice. The squealers and squeakers started mobilising to take back what they considered to be theirs. When they found less on the heaps they started going straight to the source. Before long the huge populations of rats that had grown unchecked started to terrorize the city. They plundered and destroyed and brought diseases to many a home. They even tried to invade High Felinity Road!

The furless ones were helpless in battling the horde of the thousand by thousand tailed horde. They tried traps, their hunting dogs and caught tailless ones to battle the unstoppable tide. And… when their need was highest, they received aid from where they least expected it.”

The cats sing:

“

Your Prince has summoned one and all

Let all Felines heed the call

We will exterminate the squeakers

High Felinity Road will not fall

Though their numbers may be great

We will march without debate

The hairless tailed ones’ numbers soon will dissipate

Yes the humans may not understand

Their hate may stay the same

But we fight for a better future

The Prince sees a picture that’s framed

He’ll lead us to a future that’s waiting for us to be claimed.

Your Prince has summoned one and all

Let all Felines heed the call

We will exterminate the squeakers

High Felinity Road will not fall

Though their numbers may be great

We will march without debate

The hairless tailed ones’ numbers soon will dissipate

”

Narca: “After leading his companions in a most successful campaign, the prince of cats was able to negotiate a truce with the furless ones. He arranged protection for his kingdom by law and increased its boundaries to the entire outer city ring.”

Cats: “Praise to the Prince of all Cats”

Narca: “Indeed! For now, we are the city’s official militia against the scurrying; the squeaking ones with the hairless tails.”

Narca and all cats: “Praised be the Prince of all Cats! Long may his Kingdom prosper!”

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