(Since George doesn’t ‘talk’ to anyone in spoken language, and Beast only talks to Jane, I wondered how they’d handle a meeting in the woods.)
I don’t get it. My personal assistant, The Lady With The Hands, told me to meet her out here in the woods.
She’s not here. No one is here.
Not my Girlpup greenwitch-in-training Karly. She needs her magic lessons from me, but first she has to go to regular school.
Not my Boypup Joey. That’s good. He can be a creep.
Not Auntie Heather. She should be here. We were going to look for the Big Bad Monster in the woods.
Where is everyone? If I’m here, they know the woods are safe.
Hold on a second.
I smelltaste sweettangfurflea.
Is that a RABBIT?
“ArOoooOOoo!”
Rabbitrabbitrabbit! I’m going to get that rabbit if it’s the last thing I do. Might as well get dinner as long as I’m out here. I put my nose to the ground, dragging my beautifully designed basset hound ears. They scoop up the wonderful smelltaste and funnel it right into my face.
Bliss.
It is a rabbit. Soon to be my rabbit.
Huh?
What’s that?
Muskyhotwild.
Stink.
Cat.
I hate cats.
So much for hunting. Maybe it’s the cat stirring up all the trouble in the woods. Is that why the Lady With The Hands sent me out here?
I’ll just get rid of the cat, and then get my rabbit.
RAWR!
If my ears could stand straight up, they would, as it is, they’re trying to prick. I feel my eyes bugging out, and my whiskers are quivering.
It is staring, showing me her teeth.
This isn’t a normal kitty cat. It’s a Horror of a Cat. A freak of a Cat. It has to be three times my length and twice my height. Is this the monster that left the Peep’s bones I found?
Must be.
I take another deep smelltaste. There is something else about this cat, other than it being a Monsterkitty. It also smells like a Peep.
Sweatskinsaltlaundrydetergent. Peep soap?
Did the cat eat another Peep?
I don’t smell Peep blood.
I should get Auntie Heather. I am the best familiar on Earth, the perfect hunting machine, and an excellent teacher. I’m also too brilliant not to know when it’s necessary to get help to battle this creature. Besides, my Peeps would be disappointed if I didn’t let them help.
The Monsterkitty crouches, its tail twitching like a snake in the grass. Its muscles are quivering like mine.
Be scared, Monsterkitty. I have my magic. My drool does amazing things.
The Monsterkitty isn’t looking at me. It springs toward the rabbit I forgot about.
Pounce.
Headshake.
Crunch.
The Monsterkitty turns to face me with the bunny dangling from its mouth.
Oh boy.
I don’t want your rabbit, Monsterkitty.
All yours. Yup.
I back up. I wouldn’t look good as a Monsterkitty decoration. Besides, basset hounds don’t taste good. I’m all scent gathering skin and bones.
I’m not tasty.
I’ll just leave and you can enjoy your snack.
And get my backup. I need to tell my Pack about this.
***
Beast stares at dog. Silly dog, thinking about many things. Should be thinking about prey. Should be thinking about rabbit. Dogs think with noses only. Are easy to confuse.
(Hunches down in grass, watching dog.) Strange dog. Strong but with many flaws. Ears too long. Killing teeth could catch and snare him. Strong legs, but too short for chasing down prey. Body like small bull. And drool. (snorts) Much drool.
Silly dog scents rabbit, but still hasn’t scented Beast. Beast could eat dog. Could play with him like large rat in bayou. But Jane Yellowrock says no.
I leap onto rabbit and crunch rabbit head. Blood hot and tasty. Bones hard and crunchy. I snarl at Dog, showing killing teeth. Short dog leaves water, full of scent, tricking down leg to ground. Short dog backs away. Dog is smart. Smart for a dog. (Eats rest of rabbit.)