9 Lives

(set: $total to 0)You're a speck of cosmic dust. The openness yawns wide around you; the essence of several futures pulses colors nearby. You can tell that each life has its merits, and that they all show equal promise. Which will you choose? (click: "choose")[There is no right choice.] (set: $sunset to 0)(if:(count:(history:),"watch this border")is 0)[](else:)[(set: $sunset to 1)](if:(count:(history:),"part ways")is 0)[](else:)[(set: $sunset to 1)](if:(count:(history:),"Bad")is 0)[](else:)[(set: $sunset to 1)](if:(count:(history:),"Worse")is 0)[](else:)[(set: $sunset to 1)](if:$sunset > 0)[sunset streaked with black clouds(set: $total to it + 1)](else:)[[[sunset streaked with black clouds|Tiger]]] (set: $sun to 0)(if:(count:(history:),"Stay put")is 0)[](else:)[(set: $sun to 1)](if:(count:(history:),"Hit the handler")is 0)[](else:)[(set: $sun to 1)](if:(count:(history:),"Don't hit him")is 0)[](else:)[(set: $sun to 1)](if:$sun > 0)[rising sun surrounded by golden rays(set: $total to it + 1)](else:)[[[rising sun surrounded by golden rays|Lion]]] (set: $snowstorm to 0)(if:(count:(history:),"Nope")is 0)[](else:)[(set: $snowstorm to 1)](if:(count:(history:),"Bad choice")is 0)[](else:)[(set: $snowstorm to 1)](if:(count:(history:),"Relief")is 0)[](else:)[(set: $snowstorm to 1)](if:$snowstorm > 0)[windy snowstorm piling into drifts(set: $total to it + 1)](else:)[[[windy snowstorm piling into drifts|Snow Leopard]]] (set: $shadows to 0)(if:(count:(history:),"New home")is 0)[](else:)[(set: $shadows to 1)](if:(count:(history:),"Old man")is 0)[](else:)[(set: $shadows to 1)](if:$shadows > 0)[long shadows in the afternoon(set: $total to it + 1)](else:)[[[long shadows in the afternoon|Black House cat]]] (set: $stones to 0)(if:(count:(history:),"Gray tabby House cat")is 0)[](else:)[(set: $stones to 1)](if:$stones > 0)[smooth gray stones through clear water(set: $total to it + 1)](else:)[[[smooth gray stones through clear water|Gray tabby House cat]]] (set: $autumn to 0)(if:(count:(history:),"Not sure whether that was the easy way or the hard way")is 0)[](else:)[(set: $autumn to 1)](if:(count:(history:),"Not sure whether that was the hard way or the easy way")is 0)[](else:)[(set: $autumn to 1)](if:(count:(history:),"don't want to be around them")is 0)[](else:)[(set: $autumn to 1)](if:(count:(history:),"might not even want them")is 0)[](else:)[(set: $autumn to 1)](if:$autumn > 0)[pleasant shivering in the cool autumn air(set: $total to it + 1)](else:)[[[pleasant shivering in the cool autumn air|Siamese House cat]]] (set: $winter to 0)(if:(count:(history:),"They closed the door")is 0)[](else:)[(set: $winter to 1)](if:(count:(history:),"Oops")is 0)[](else:)[(set: $winter to 1)](if:(count:(history:),"Go home")is 0)[](else:)[(set: $winter to 1)](if:$winter > 0)[hushed winter paths in the early morning(set: $total to it + 1)](else:)[[[hushed winter paths in the early morning|White House cat]]] (set: $showers to 0)(if:(count:(history:),"One more dead barn cat")is 0)[](else:)[(set: $showers to 1)](if:(count:(history:),"It's okay to need help")is 0)[](else:)[(set: $showers to 1)](if:(count:(history:),"let things come as they may")is 0)[](else:)[(set: $showers to 1)](if:$showers > 0)[damp scent of soil from sun showers(set: $total to it + 1)](else:)[[[damp scent of soil from sun showers|Calico House cat]]] (set: $moon to 0)(if:(count:(history:),"Ball")is 0)[](else:)[(set: $moon to 1)](if:(count:(history:),"Mouse")is 0)[](else:)[(set: $moon to 1)](if:$moon > 0)[white claw of the curved moon(set: $total to it + 1)](else:)[[[white claw of the curved moon|Black-and-white House cat]]](if:$total >= 9)[(goto: "End")](else:)[]

Childhood is kind to you, and not so kind to some of your littermates. Two of the four of you are gone within a few phases of the moon. Your mother works long and hard to care for you; frankly, you think she likes you best, not that you would suggest it was so. She puts up with more of your games and dredges up a little more patience when teaching you than she will for your sibling. It's a good and honest life that you have. You hunt, blending into the shadows and brush. You play, chasing the trailing stems and leaves of plants, wrestling with your younger sibling. You sleep in the sun, wade into cool rivers, and run as fast as you can between such dense trees. You're drunk on fearlessness for quite some time. Only once did an opposing predator put you in danger in your youth— a heavyset bear with her own cubs. After some posturing and threat displays, she and your mother parted ways without a fight. After several seasons with your family, you feel as though you want to [[see the world|Find your own territory]] beyond your mother's territory. You've seen all there is to see here. Even as you think that, you're still reluctant to leave your mother. You want to [[stay with her|Stay with Mom]] a while longer. The company is nice, knowing that you will wake and sleep with someone who protects you.

You're born in a good place. It's pleasantly sweltering and wide-open. The meals are bigger than you are. It doesn't last long. In the commotion, you don't see what has happened to the rest of your family, but you hope that they are better off than you are. A strange and tall animal harms you regularly, and while you do your best to comply, you can't really tell what it is you're supposed to be doing. They couldn't possibly expect you to [[approach the fiery ring.|Approach the fire]] That's just asking to get burnt. The flames crackle ominously, reflecting in the eyes of the person. (click: "eyes")[This is the first time you've truly felt threatened by another animal.] There's no way you're stupid enough to get anywhere near it. You're going to [[stay put|Stay put]], even if it means that the pain continues.

You're born in a chilly place, but your fur is thick, and your family is more than warm enough. You come to enjoy the cool temperatures, because you can hardly imagine what it would be like to have the fur that you do in a hot place. In some places, you can see endlessly into the distance. Specks of color dot the landscape: unassuming prey that seems so small from far off, but can be quite intimidating in size up close. Sweeping branches of trees brush against the snowy undergrowth. You're the first of your family to decide to leave the group. The time you had with them was nice, but you see no reason to stay with them and make the prey around scarcer with so many to feed. Even so, you're finding that even elsewhere, prey is pretty uncommon. You come across a large herd of sheep, but they all seem quite robust, and they stick very closely together. It would be risky to try to catch one, but it would feed you for several days for the effort. You're fairly confident in your hunting, so the chance of catching one is pretty high. You think you could [[do it|Nope]]. Or maybe it would be better to [[settle|Safe]] for a hare, for now, which would be much easier to catch, even though they're small.

Your life is an uneventful one. Born in a warm, dark place, you know little beyond the scent of milk until you're old enough to step away from your mother and into the light. The tall ones stroke you and open and close their mouths uselessly— you think it makes them look a bit dim-witted, but they're nice to you, so there's no need for them to be clever, in your opinion. Some days later, they give you a heavy string around your neck. A tiny ball dangles from it. Briefly, you play with their offering, batting at the ball, but it becomes boring quickly. That said, you don't see a reason to shun their gift, so you don't claw it off. Eventually, unfamiliar people enter the territory. They seem enamored with you— the attention is nice, so you curl up on their laps, knead their legs, mark them with your cheek. You're picked up and placed inside a small, closed box. Choosing to get inside a box and being put inside a box are two entirely different things, so this turn of events is more than unwanted. You could [[claw at the small holes|Claw the box]] where light falls in. Or you could just [[wait for someone|Wait]] to let you out.

Life begins kind enough to you. Your mother dotes on you, your siblings are playful and courteous, and the world around you is full of muted, comforting scents. Time passes in a haze until you can see the world around you— a place full of tall, leafy plants and buggy toys. You eat well and learn to crouch, pounce, wrestle. You wish that the life you have would last endlessly; to care for your small family sun up and sun down, sleeping in the warm dirt and grass, chasing leaves and lunch. Ultimately, you know nothing else besides this life, so it comes as a shock to you when it's taken away. You end up in a hard, cold place that smells sharp and ugly. You still have your siblings, but your mother is nowhere to be found. Sometimes you think you hear her asking for you. You want to go home, but there's no way to get out. You've tried to push your way through corners and small spaces, but your head is too big. Chewing didn't get you anywhere, either. The only way to escape would be by one of the tall things letting you out. You kind of feel like [[giving up.|Sulk quietly]] The tall things are why you're stuck here, so why would they let you out? Your siblings have a different opinion. They call for the attention of passing people—the tall things sometimes give them attention, or talk back. Maybe they're right, that [[vying for their attention|Meow at the people]] will help.

You and your siblings are grabbed by the scruff, placed into a cramped bag, and thrown into water. Disoriented, you struggle to paddle towards air, but you don't know what direction it is in. You flail against your confines and the other kittens...(click: "flail")[You despair as it shows no signs of doing any good.] Dark water chokes you and you lose consciousness. [[End|Birth & Rebirth]]

You're born directly into luxury. You and your several siblings are pampered to the highest regard. Never wanting for anything, you're fed decadent meals, groomed meticulously, and kept fit with regular play. After some time, you're put into a container and brought to a place full of strange cats. Your family is nowhere to be found, but the people who handle you are still there, so you're not too worried. You still hate it when they try to take off the tips of your claws. It's a lengthy and boring day for you, but your person seems very pleased with you for some reason. You suppose as long as they're happy, you can endure one day of boredom. Time passes. A few more times, you have to go to the tedious place, but otherwise [[all is well|All is well?]].

You're born in a particularly stinky place, and as soon as you can hear, you identify the low sounds of other animals. Large white creatures live here, eating the same material your mother made a nest out of. You have three siblings, all sisters, and it seems as though you have a father, who sometimes brings your mother food. The fields are full of mice and bugs, stems of wildflowers swaying in the wind. You learn to catch anything smaller than you are, the number increasing as you grow up. In a den on the far side of the fields live tall people. You don't see them much, but they don't bother you. All they do is [[look|Look]].

You're born in a cramped place that reeks. But it's all right, especially since you have Mom. You can tell from the smell, even though you can't see or hear yet, that you're moved to a different place that smells moderately better. You're stroked by comforting friends. Growing up, you are close with Mom, as her only child, and the nice tall people who feed and play with you. The days blend together; napping, playing, eating. Even tiny variety excites you. The tall people have arranged a selection of toys on the ground for you to choose from. You're particularly fond of the [[jingly ball|Ball]], but today, something is tempting about the [[soft, ovular thing|Mouse]] with the dangling tail hanging from it.

Clawing the box only makes the holes large enough to stick your paw through. It was a good idea in theory, but the box seems to be made of tougher material than you thought. All you can do is [[wait|Wait]], but now you're more frustrated than afraid.

You suppose that it had to happen someday. It wouldn't do well to cling to Mom until the very end, so the three of you part ways. Taking some time to mull over what direction you should go, and which would yield the best territory. [[Towards the sun as it rises|East]], you can follow the river and stay near the fresh water. Prey tends to live in abundance near water sources. [[Away from the sun|West]], you notice, will take you far away from the directions that your mother and sibling went. If you wanted to start exploring the world, that may be your best chance.

Your sibling leaves, but you stick with Mom until she can't stand you anymore. It was a good few moons: just you and Mom, napping, hunting, wandering. But all good things come to an end, you guess, because she chases you off so she can prepare for her next litter. (live:15s)[(goto:"Check it out")]

You sulk quietly in the back corner instead of trying to catch a person's attention. Days pass, and you begin to lose siblings one at a time, disappearing into the outside. You begrudgingly start to think that they had the right idea. Once you're alone, you sit at the front instead, watching as people pass by. You meow when they stop to look at you, but no one opens the door and takes you away from this place. It's an excruciatingly long time before you get to leave. You're tired of being looked at, so you don't respond anymore, but someone keeps looking anyway. This person is one you recognize. She has come to see you several times, each time making the same sounds. You're let out briefly, and she spends some time stroking you, but at the end you're always put back. Today, though, something is [[different|New home]].

You join your siblings at the front, all sticking your paws through when people pass by. One by one, your siblings are taken away, until only you and a sister remain. At last, the door is opened again, and you hope that this time, it's for you. It's for your sister. You're annoyed, but still hopeful. You're sure that someone will have the compassion to take you to a place where you can take more than three steps in one direction. Where the chorus of endless other cats doesn't make it hard for you to sleep. Still hopeful, you don't let the long wait crush you. You become weary of being looked at, but you still try. And you're [[rewarded|Old man]].

The fire follows the outline of the ring like a snake. You've seen fires, and you've seen snakes, and what you've learned is that you should simply give them a wide berth. But if what you need to do is to ignore your gut and face this anyway, you can try it. So you make the jump. It seems anticlimactic. The fire doesn't lap at you, and you're shaking on the other side, but you're not being hit anymore. It's a fleeting victory. After you've practiced enough to no longer fear the fire, you're reunited with some of your family. Sort of. You're kept in separate areas and can't touch each other, but at least you're in it together. Time passes irregularly. You're hungry most of the time and restless the rest of the time. You don't like being in the erratically lit and raucously loud dome, which is the only place you get a chance to stretch your legs. You notice a chance for change. The person lowers his head for some reason, just within your reach. It would be easy to [[reach out and smack him|Hit the handler]] with your paw. Then again, you see the sharp tail coiled at his side. You can't imagine him not attacking you for such a slight. But if you hit him hard enough, he wouldn't have a chance to.(live:100s)[(goto:"Don't hit him")]

As you expected, your restraint earns you another lash from the tail the person wields. You can feel your blood boiling. Who does this guy think he is? You've killed food bigger than him. But generally, your food wasn't as vicious and persistent as he is. Before you can consider the consequences, you begin to walk towards him rather than the ring. And the walk is more like a run. You feel a tiny prick, like an insignificant bug. You've barely gotten your paws on him before you start to feel dizzy, buckling onto the floor. It feels like you're about to fall asleep, so you allow it. But you don't end up waking afterward. [[End|Birth & Rebirth]]

It takes dismally long, but eventually the box opens, the light widening on top of you. You're no longer at home, but the people who were fond of you before are still here. There aren't any other cats in this place. To show your displeasure at the change, you remain in the box despite their encouragement for you to get out, ears flat against your head. After some time, they give up and leave you alone. It's not home, but it's not so bad, either. They feed you the same food, they brought along the same toys. You choose a new sleeping spot in front of a place that you can see small, flitting animals through. [[Time passes.]]

You manage to sneak out between their trips in and out. Outside, everything is big and wide, and covered in innumerable amounts of new scents. While you're checking out a stout, leafy bush, you notice from the corner of your eye the entry being shut. As you're pretty certain that they would come looking for you in their own time, you're unconcerned. So you simply continue to explore, chasing bugs and leaves scattering in the breeze. Off in the distance, you spot an unassuming rodent of some kind with a long tail. Even without any practice, you're sure you have a chance at catching something so oblivious to its surroundings. It also appears to be on the opposite side of a long, flat stretch of ground somewhat similar to the floor on which you're given food. It would be a pretty long walk, and you could lose sight of it before even making it there. If you [[go|Oops]], you might also not be able to remember which den is yours, since they all look so alike. It might be best to [[not press your luck|Go home]].

While you were mulling it over, they made your decision for you, closing the entryway. Oh well— now you're more curious about what they brought into the den. You don't bother to contemplate going out after you have a brief stint of memory loss. The people had put you back into the box and brought you to a new place that smelled bad, but that's pretty much everything you can recall regarding it. Leaving seems like too much of a hassle. You spend a long time together with them. [[End|Birth & Rebirth]]

Once, the people come in and out of the den carrying white hanging things, leaving the entry open. Usually, if you try to go near it, they push you back inside. But now it's unattended. You're a bit curious as to what they're doing. You kind of want to [[check it out|Go outside]].(live:15s)[(goto:"They closed the door")]

As long as you stay in the area, you're fairly sure you could find your den with enough time. The long stretch becomes larger as you come closer. You pass between two unfamiliar, hulking objects, eyes still trained on your prey. You don't notice the third hulking thing coming up to you until its shadow falls on you, you're so busy stalking your way over. (click: "over")[By then it's too late.] There's a sickening crunch sensation before the pain makes you pass out. [[End|Birth & Rebirth]]

You wait in the grass in front of the den. Aside from that rodent you saw far off, you can't find anything else to eat, and your stomach is starting to hurt. Your patience is rewarded by the entry swinging open and the people spotting you, their mouths contorting oddly. You're picked up, brought inside, and fed immediately. You don't bother to contemplate going out again after you have a brief stint of memory loss. The people had put you back into the box and brought you to a new place that smelled bad, but that's pretty much everything you can recall regarding it. Leaving seems like too much of a hassle. You spend a long time together with them. [[End|Birth & Rebirth]]

You're not let out to sit with her in the room. You're put into a hard container lined with a thin blanket. It sways and makes you feel nauseous, but you can hear her voice outside of it, which is only somewhat comforting. When the container is finally opened again, the area outside is foreign, but at least has a better scent. You're wary of the weird floor and looming objects, but not of her. She is the least strange thing here. She strokes you the same, and makes new sounds, and you sleep beside her. You have enough room to run, and there are more soft places than hard ones. You no longer miss the outside. [[End|Birth & Rebirth]]

A wrinkled and soft person takes a shine to you. He puts a finger through to your side and you grab it with your forepaws. When the door opens, it is to put you in his arms. You don't see a need to struggle, as it is a kind, loose grip. Even if you were selected last, it was worth the wait. You feel self-satisfied as you hear the sounds of the other cats grow dim and far-off. The new home is foreign, and the firm band around your neck annoying, but there is a square entrance where the scent of outside wafts through. You can go to an enclosed outside whenever you like. It's not the same as the endless outside you remember from so long ago, but you don't need it anymore. (click: "don't need it")[You have a new home now.] [[End|Birth & Rebirth]]

Before you can overthink it, you swiftly reach out and slam your forepaw onto the top of his head, making it bounce against the ground. In the next moment, you consider going at him a little more, but you felt that was more than satisfying. Anything stupid enough to continue mistreating you after that is stupid enough for you to teach it a final lesson later. You're correct. Even as other people apprehend you and corral you back into the stinking, cramped box, you feel an odd sense of things to come. It's not an unpleasant feeling. When you finally wake from your next restless sleep, it is waking to a vastly different place. While at least previously you were partially comforted by the presence of scattered family members, now you are in a strange almost-home. The scent of foreign lions is all around. It's a little unsettling. It's not ideal, but it's an improvement on your last situation. You get used to the strangers and begin to consider them a new family in time. You still yearn for your first home and wonder at the fates of your birth family. [[End|Birth & Rebirth]]

You think twice and hold back, watching him the whole time. You still want to hit him, but the urge is not worth the hassle. Probably. Suffering much more as time goes on, you begin to consider death by disobediance. Pacing and gnawing at your confines does nothing to sate your boredom. You're not sure what brought it on, but one day, your deliverance arrives. Other less awful people appear to remove you from your prison. The time it takes for you to reach home again feels like the space between heartbeats. Your family is smaller now, but at least you're back where you belong. [[End|Birth & Rebirth]]

And you look back. You're kind of wary of them, since they're so big, and there's something weird about them. They're not around often enough for them to be a big deal to you. Hardly even once a season do they spot you, always too busy grooming the white animals. So you mostly forget about them until you need help. A creature, catlike but not quite, is startled by you one day in the forest you're patrolling. Long story short, it got a hold of your front leg with its teeth and shook hard. (click: "not quite")[You should have guessed that it wasn't quite right: everything about it was unnaturally elongated. The maw, the legs, the flank.] It might be a blessing that you can't really feel it anymore, but you sense a dire certainty that you'll die in due time from it. Your mother has been dead for some time, and your father is long gone, but your sisters clamor that you can get help from the people. They're desperate for you to go to them. But something about them makes you feel uneasy. You don't think anything in the world could fix this. Do you [[trust your gut|One more dead barn cat]]? Or will you [[fight for your life|It's okay to need help]] with the only remaining option? Or simply [[let things come as they may]]?

Your sisters are crazy. What the heck do they know about those people? Why do they think they could cheat death? And that they would for an animal that they don't even know, no less. You're stubborn about it, and your sisters are upset, but they stay with you. It's little more than a couple days that you manage to last by their side, your wound festering. You'd been going in and out of sleep, hazy with pain. The last lucid thought you recall doesn't seem lucid at all, of butterflies in colorful clusters drinking the blood off of your leg. [[End|Birth & Rebirth]]

With your sisters to push you on, you struggle and limp your way into the line of sight of a person. You weakly offer your leg, hoping the view is clear enough to show what you need. You're whisked away just like they said you'd be. Everything becomes strange and hazy from then on, full of surreal places and sounds. After some time, you make it to sleep that isn't clouded by pain. You're forced to live in the den with the people for some time, your leg covered in a rocklike substance, but you're alive. It's hard to move around, but you don't have to hunt because they feed you, even though it's too squishy and a little cold. Reunited with your sisters, you live out the rest of your life long and thankfully uneventful. [[End|Birth & Rebirth]]

All isn't quite so well when you're brought to a new strange place and left in a room with a strange cat. He's a bit rude, and won't leave you be. You do your best to ignore him, but it doesn't seem to be helping. You're struck by the urge to sharpen your claws on his fur. But that would be probably more rude than he's being. Taking some time to consider your options, you come to the conclusion that there are only two, with small variations upon them both. [[Match him in rudeness|Give him a taste of the Claw]] by letting him know you have claws. Or [[be polite|Make nice]], like your mother taught you, and show him that rudeness won't ruffle you.

You introduce his side to your claws. Making sure to not damage anything vital, like his face, but giving him enough to make him think twice about pestering you. He appears only mildly perturbed, but backs off. Some minutes later, strange people come to collect him, presumably to clean his shallow cuts. You're feeling pretty self-satisfied. Surely that message will come across [[the way you intended|It didn't]].

You suffer through his rude advances as politely as possible. If he gets a couple of light scratches along the way, it simply comes with the territory, you imagine, since he doesn't react adversely. Hopefully this situation doesn't ever [[come up again|Not sure whether that was the hard way or the easy way]].

Turns out it did not come across the way you intended. Some days later, you are in a room with a cat. Not the same cat, but for all they acted, he might as well have been. Perhaps it was a one-time fluke. Once more would hopefully do the trick to let them know you don't want to associate with rude cats. You assume it was enough, because you are not made to deal with anymore rude cats. You are, however, given amnesia for the first time in quite awhile, and feel just a little bit as though [[you've been had|Not sure whether that was the easy way or the hard way]], for some reason.

You give birth to a litter of kittens. They don't really look like you, but they're still good, you think. Something feels odd about having had them at all, but it's not like you know otherwise about having kittens. Something about them makes you [[kind of upset]]... but you can ignore that. They grow into looking exactly like you. One begins to disappear occasionally for a day or so, and you hope that they aren't getting too bored in that place. [[End?|Birth & Rebirth]]

You give birth to a litter of kittens. They don't really look like you, but they're still good, you think. Looking back ruefully, you wish that you had been less polite. Only a little bit, though. You still love your kittens. They grow into looking exactly like you. One begins to disappear occasionally for a day or so, and you hope that they aren't getting too bored in that place. [[End|Birth & Rebirth]]

You were right about the area being lush with life. It's easy enough to stake your claim and begin to outline your new home. The prey has a healthy fear of you, and there are no other threatening animals that you have to deal with. Later on, you locate a familiar smell at the edge of your territory. The smell of another tiger. Your border hasn't been crossed, but it's still concerning that the other cat came so close. You're curious: you feel the urge to [[meet up|Check it out]], as you're perhaps a bit lonely. But you consider the threat of another tiger butting in on your home. You could just [[watch this border]] more closely to make sure there isn't any funny business.

The territory this way is fine, but nothing special. You kind of wish that you had went the other way, at times, but you can always go back once you're done looking around. By the time you're bored and decide to go back, you don't notice that in the days you spent here that something was amiss. You were too busy thinking about the new area you'd be heading towards. Your next step is directly into the maw of an unforgiving stone trap. After some time carefully twisting, you figure that it isn't going to let you loose. There has to be a way out of it, [[you think|Worse]]. You don't want to [[resort to the worst|Bad]].

For some time, you think. You try each solution as you come up with it to no avail: chewing at the trap itself, using your weight to try and pull your paw free. The worst option begins to look better and better with each failed attempt, but still not good enough to choose it, not yet. You should have chosen it. You hear a slight rustling in the undergrowth and have a feeling that it's for you. Dread shrinks your stomach into a pebble. A cutting noise fills the air, and then cuts through you. [[End|Birth & Rebirth]]

You brace yourself. Surely, you have the strength to do it, but you still don't want to. Lowering your mouth to your leg, you begin to bite. It is just as horrible as you imagined. The worst part is the bone. (click: "bone")[It shatters under your teeth, just like the bones of your meals.] Your leg wails in pain, but you've done it. You've escaped. You manage to hobble away, as far away as you can make it from that thing, before curling up to sleep. In spite of your injury, it heals, and you live. It doesn't impede your hunting all too much, but each step is still a reminder that you should check where you place your feet. [[End|Birth & Rebirth]]

On the way, you notice it. The scent of another tiger growing more pungent as you head in its direction. Thankfully, he takes kindly to your presence. It's nice to be around another cat again. You spend some time together, but eventually you [[part ways]], when your loneliness fades away, and you no longer revel in the company.

You neglect your other borders to keep a close eye on the threatened one, but nothing comes of it. The signs of another cat fade away, and you are left alone. You live out the rest of your days safely and uneventfully. [[End|Birth & Rebirth]]

Just as your mother did before you, you birth some cubs. You have the same amount as she did: four in all, but you do your level best to keep any from dying. You succeed. They grow up strong and healthy with little issue: a satisfying feeling. With each litter in succession, it is more and more satisfying, until you can no longer have cubs. [[End|Birth & Rebirth]]

You do your best to try to pick off a sheep from the edge of the herd that doesn't look too hardy, but you miscalculate. The sheep, while nervous, was almost as confident in its legs as you were in your teeth. It manages to land a hard kick directly to your head, stunning you. Sure, you lived to see the herd trampling away, but you're dazed from the strike, and struggle to find another source of food that doesn't find it amusingly easy to run away from your suddenly clumsy paws. Your head throbs, and you can barely concentrate on putting one foot in front of the other. You decide that a good sleep should clear your head. The sleep was a little too good, but at least you don't have to concern yourself with the hunger anymore. [[End|Birth & Rebirth]]

The hare you catch barely slakes your hunger, but it's better than nothing. After many days of little birds and rabbits, you're frustrated by the scrappy meals. You notice a particularly scattered herd of sheep. It seems to you that they're overconfident in their safety, and briefly, you feel giddy. But something about them seems off. You've got a bad feeling about them, even though it would be such an easy meal. (click: "easy meal")[You're starving, but should you trust your gut when it's so empty?] You weigh your options: [[catch one of the sheep|Bad choice]] that makes you uneasy and eat your fill, or [[deal with the measly snacks|Relief]] and not worry yourself?

Somehow, it was even easier than you thought it would be to catch the sheep. You feel smug for the couple days that it fed you for. It's not like you knew that you would come to an abrupt end for stealing something when you had no sense of property. Still, at least you died on a full stomach. [[End|Birth & Rebirth]]

After a couple more hares, you come across a sick goat trailing behind the rest of the herd. It's a breeze to catch it, and thus ends your unlucky streak of hunting. Thereafter, it's a decent life. [[End|Birth & Rebirth]]

The blue sphere beckons you. The reliability it offers is reassuring: it couldn't possibly be boring. You smack it around until you hear the sound of forthcoming food. (click: "food")[You hope that it's the soft kind.] It's a quiet life. You're happy right up until the end. [[End|Birth & Rebirth]]

Variety is the spice of life. You snatch up the plush toy and kick it into submission until you hear the sound of forthcoming food. (click: "food")[You hope that it's the soft kind.] It's a quiet life. You're happy right up until the end. [[End|Birth & Rebirth]]

There's definitely something wrong about them. You can't figure out exactly what it is, but it makes you uneasy and a little angry. You [[don't want to be around them]]. In fact... you [[might not even want them]] at all.

So you get up on your shaky legs and leave. Their incessant mewing grates at your ears. You're at least thankful that they can't follow you. A couple of times, your people place you back near the kittens. Though you can see where they're coming from, it's irritating that they think they know what you want. (click: "want")[You're not at all interested in these kittens.] Eventually, they understand, and take it upon themselves to care for the kittens. You guess it's sort of noble of them, but you're more glad that you don't have to deal with them anymore. It a freeing sensation. They grow into looking exactly like you. One begins to disappear occasionally for a day or so, and you sort of hope that they aren't getting too bored in that place. [[End|Birth & Rebirth]]

Well, you gave birth to them, so you might as well take responsibility for them, as it were. You begin to bite at their legs first, their little cries rising in intensity. Before you can manage to finish consuming them, they're swept away by the people. It's only natural that you would want to take back some of the resources it took to birth them, so you're slightly annoyed. Ultimately, though, as long as they're not your problem anymore, that's fine. They grow into looking exactly like you. Well, aside from the one with three legs. Something about her makes your gut twist, though you're not sure if it's in disgust or pride. One begins to disappear occasionally for a day or so, and you hope that they aren't getting too bored in that place. [[End|Birth & Rebirth]]

You don't respond to what your siblings are saying. Carefully, you arrange your body so that you can lay down without being on top of your injured leg, and stare into the forest you came from. The trail you've left on the grass seems like colored dewdrops; speckles of golden liquid. A couple of your sisters have left. It's understandable. Who would want to look at your bloody paw? A remaining sister licks furiously at your ears and face. It's kind of soothing. Noise rises up in the distance. You don't bother moving your head to look, but you can hear the sounds of familiar cats in the din. Abruptly, you're lifted into the air. By the time your shock dissipates and you open your eyes, you still can't see well. It's a dark place. Everything becomes strange and hazy from then on, full of surreal places and sounds. After some time, you make it to sleep that isn't clouded by pain. You're forced to live in the den with the people for some time, your leg covered in a rocklike substance, but you're alive. It's hard to move around, but you don't have to hunt because they feed you, even though it's too squishy and a little cold. Reunited with your sisters, you live out the rest of your life long and thankfully uneventful. [[End|Birth & Rebirth]]

You're a speck of cosmic dust. The openness yawns wide around you.