Miki’s Adventure
Commissioned by: Ka
Written by: Danni Lynn
Date: April 20th, 2023
Word Count: 1,000 words
Synopsis: Miki is used to living with her two owners in their apartment and without any other cats. When a sudden move and the arrival of a new kitten disrupts her life, can Miki handle all these changes? Or will life be chaos from here on out?
CW: None
A cozy apartment is just like a warm bed. Even better is a secret hiding place where you can see all comings and goings-on around you. I had been crouching behind my couch, with my paws tucked under my chest as I slapped my black tail on the floor. I was irritated. Something was different.
Boxes had begun appearing to take up floor space. Items were disappearing and my sleeping-blanket wasn’t where it should be. The humans, Ka, tall with short black hair, sleek like my fur, and Maddie, whose long brown hair was fun to bat at when she held me, had been unusually active.
Maddie appeared, her face close to mine, as she peeked behind the couch. Suddenly, hands grasped my scruff, and my limbs went limp. I was dragged out and placed in a carrier. I pressed up against the sides and meowed but there was nothing I could do. Everything changed that day.
A long time passed before I could set my paws back on solid ground. I found myself in a room with my litter box robot, food, and water. I sat by the door and stuck out my paws, scraping at the flooring with a pitiful meow. I didn’t want to be locked in there. Thumps and rhythmic footsteps slammed around beyond the door as the humans went in and out of the area where they had brought me. Something crinkled, calling my attention, and something could be heard zipping and tearing. I pressed my nose to the door’s crack but could not discern what was happening on the other side.
***
A few days passed in that spare room. Ka and Maddie came in to change my water and my food. When they did, I pressed against their legs and greeted them, but they would leave me after a few pets. I could not leave until one day, Ka picked up my water bowl and opened the door, letting me out into the new world beyond.
I padded into a new apartment with big spacious rooms. My couch was there, the perfect perch—but the smells, the sounds, and echo of the humans’ movements were all different. I arched my back as if to curl up and retreat, back into the home we used to have. Boxes populated corners of the room, jutting into the open space like intruders. I returned to my place behind the couch, as I no longer fit underneath it, but it was not the same.
***
The changes got worse. My food was the same, I found my blanket, and the litter robot hummed as it operated, but none of these things were comforting. Also, my favorite hiding spot behind the couch had been disrupted as a brand-new couch stood in its place.
A new smell had entered the apartment—a nuisance. An incessant mewling came from a box in Maddie’s arms. Ka sat on the floor and reached for me, but I backpedal and scooted away.
“Miki? Come meet who we found. Meet Muffler,” Maddie whispered. She sat the box on the ground. I perked up with curiosity and sauntered over to the box. Was it a gift for me? I peeked over the edge to see a tiny ball of fluff. A kitten. The kitten was slate gray with bright eyes. The smell of dirt, unwashed fur, and milk filled my nose. I curled my mouth into a hiss of disbelief. What was this? That thing was not welcome. That might be a strange new place, but these were my people and my home. Who was this to enter now?
Ka and Maddie trapped the little one in the bathroom. I hoped they would get rid of it when they took the kitten away one day, but to my disappointment, they had returned with not only the carrier, but the cat. My ears swiveled as small meows continued to echo from the bathroom, disrupting my peace over the next few days.
Later, Ka and Maddie sat on the floor with the bathroom door cracked open. My bowl of food sat before them, and so did a second bowl, both full of wet cat food. I felt my eyes widen as I hurried over to my bowl, ready to devour the unusual feast, but Muffler appeared and skittered away at my approach. I sat down and started eating, not caring that the little one ran away. Maddie caught Muffler and enticed her back. Soon, the little fluff started to eat, mewling, and purring as she did. I didn’t like it but I guessed I could put up with her for some quality food.
***
One day, the door to the bathroom opened and a little gray streak bolted out of the room and slid under the couch. Muffler avoided any attempts made to catch her. I followed her to the left side of the couch and Maddie lunged, grasped the little body, and pulled her out, claws and all. Maddie held onto Muffler tightly, pressing her to the floor.
“No scratching, Muffler!” Maddie said with a gasp. “You can’t be out here yet.”
They returned Muffler to her room, but a small stick was left under the door. It jimmied and shifted. I heard a pounce as Muffler attacked it from the other side. I approached and pawed it, shifting the stick to the right. A rush of sound echoed behind the door and little paws reached out to swat the toy.
Maybe this kitten wasn’t going to be so bad.
***
It has been a while since my whole world changed, I found myself in a new place, and Muffler invaded my life. Nowadays, Muffler has full roam of the apartment and frequently goads me into play-fights. Somewhere along the line I started to accept her. I guess when the humans are not here, it’s good to have someone to entertain me.
Muffler approaches me with her butt in the air and one paw extended. She swats at me and initiates playtime. After I retaliate and then tire her out. We sit down on the couch and wait for the humans to get home. Muffler starts to lick her paws and groom. Back when Muffler first arrived, the humans bought new toys and beds. A new and perfectly cozy bed, enclosed away from the large rooms of the apartment, is now mine. I’ve learned that a cozy home can be more than just comfy beds and well-known spaces like the backside of a couch. I guess I can share it with a rambunctious kitten.