When Tigers Smoked and Rabbits Talked to Dragons

Tiger with paws crossed

Long ago when tigers smoked and rabbits talked to dragons an old man named Monty lived in a cabin in the Carpathian Mountains. Monty was not sure how he ended up in this cabin, parts of his life were quite blurry and elusive like reflections on water. Luckily some parts of his life he could recall in detail, like the time he caught a moonbeam and used it to lasso a blimp pilot. 

Every morning he hiked to the Cool Water River to collect water. Morning in the mountains was crisp and cool - it reminded him of watermelon slices. He wasn't sure why - but when he breathed in the air is was sweet and juicy. 

On one particular morning, he was a bit late in hiking to the river. He'd had a restless night. Images of horrible beasts running and tearing at things - things he preferred not to look at too closely - were all he dreamed about. Several times he woke sweating and kicking out into the night air. As it goes with such difficult nights - he finally fell into a dreamless sleep in the early morning hours - only to awaken hours later than was his custom. 

He disliked hiking in the late morning. It was hotter and instead of watermelon - the air smelled of melons left too long in the sun. But he needed the water so he grabbed his buckets and set off for the river. Just as he reached the old oak tree that sat about 30 paces from the river - he heard what sounded like a kitten mewing. 

Monty had an affinity for kittens. And they an affinity for him.  Kittens always recognized him as a "feeder," someone who took care of cats. They would run up to him with their tails raised in greeting and bump his ankles with their soft furry heads. They'd look up at him with eyes big and bright like liquid gold or new grass green. He'd lean down and ruffle their fur, roll them on their backs and tickle their tummies.  They loved it. 

Hearing the sound of the kitten, he paused and looked around. He set down his buckets carefully so as not to make too much noise and scare the kitten away.  Then he looked around slowly, checking for the telltale signs of an animal - bushes rustling, twigs cracking. Of course, cats, being the great hunters they are, generally gave little evidence of their presence unless they wanted to be seen. But still Monty looked and listened very carefully. He even called "kitty, kitty," but nothing stirred.

After a bit, he gave up, gathered his buckets and continued on his way to the Cool Water River. As he walked on, behind him, a marmalade colored head with new grass green eyes poked out from behind a bush. It studied Monty, watching as he walked away. Soon it silently withdrew not to reappear. 

Monty collected water from the river and turned to head back home. He had been thinking and imagining what the kitten might be like. Was it tiger striped or white with black spots or lavender with blue splotches? Did it like to cuddle or pounce on scraps of paper and dry leaves? Was its fur soft and short or long and curly? Thinking this way made him really want a kitten, however it looked and acted. Be careful Monty for what you wish for.... To Be Continued!