White Kitty surveyed the landscape.

This is mine.

I should like to eat something squishy. Not the crackers what my Smooth Fuzzyman gives me. He is a strange creature with two legs and two tails. He should come outside with me.

Quick movement catches her eye, a squirrel dashes along the fence line.

Muscles instantaneously charged she bolts.

Gray Squirrel makes it to the cedar at the corner before she does.

Squirrel turns on the trunk and lectures her.

What you do White Kitty? You do not abide the Agreement!

Crouched now, the end of her tail flicking.

I know Agreement, but I did not consent to it, Gray Squirrel.

The Agreement, made generations ago. You know the Agreement!

I did not make the Agreement.

The Great Grey Chi Chi Chi saved your ancestor from certain death in the jaws of the Bark.

The Bark, what eats all things small and furry.

White Kitty, taught in the grass.

There is no Bark here now Gray Squirrel. Where is your Bark?

I call upon The Family, join me now in this altercation with the errant White Kitty

Other squirrels make their way to me now!

A multitude of squirrels light upon limb after limb in the direction of the commotion

White Kitty moves forward along her belly.

Gray Squirrel flicks tail and makes the length of her body toward White Kitty.

You will not advance. You defy The Agreement. Your ancestor swore an oath.

I am aware of the Agreement. I did not take the oath.

The Great Gray found your ancestor Tabby Kitty in this very corner, an enormous Bark ready to devour.

The Great and holy Gray distracted the Bark long enough for Tabby Kitty to make it to our Maple. The Great Gray kept company with your Tabby Kitty through the night, until the Smooths retrieved her with the strange two tails what extend from the tops of their bodies.

The Oath was then made – in return for the kindness, the trees and fence line belong to the Gray Squirrel and we should be allowed to pass without altercation for all seasons . You intend to violate this Agreement!

A slam from behind White Kitty. The scent of stale wheat and skin. The two-tailed Smooth Fuzzyman had entered the yard.

“What’n the hell is goin’ on out here?”

Gray Squirrel instantly in the first limb.

Family, its the Smooth! To the Oak!

White Kitty relaxes.

I did not make the Oath, I was not part of the Agreement.

I should inspect Fuzzyman’s work. I will demand something squishy for my being lovely to him.

From the Hackberry just in front of the hard blue pond, a Gray Squirrel swaying on the thinnest limb, crying

The Great Gray Chi Chi Chi! Chi Chi Chi!