Ahh, Walnuts [A Cattails Story]

[Karmatose]

Ahh, Walnuts

A Cattails Story

    The squirrel had been told to watch his back. He hoped he'd never have to take that literally. After all, he was the biggest, plumpest squirrel in the forest. Proud of it, too! Yet, on the first few days where summer turns to autumn and the leaves are just beginning to color, the squirrel somehow knew today was not the day to flaunt his largeness. Today would be the day he died; this knowledge sent shivers down his tiny spine.
    Of course, he thought bitterly to himself, this profound knowledge couldn't have possibly come with a when or a how, could it? He considered holing himself up in his hollow all day, hoping to avoid the death that seemed to creep up on his thoughts like a stealthy little cat. And yet, he knew he was behind on gathering for winter. It took more nuts to maintain the large body he was so proud of than it took to keep his scrawny competitors (if they could even be called that!) alive. His pride would not allow himself to be seen by the other squirrels at winter's end looking like he was made of skin and bones! No, the mere thought was despicable! And so, he left his hollow to gather more food, despite the danger he knew it presented.
    As he began to make his way back to his hollow with the largest walnut he'd seen in several seasons, he had a strange prickly sensation that made every strand of his fur stand on end. He froze, glancing in all directions. Surely it was nothing, right? Right? When nothing presented itself to him, however, he continued on, albeit with much more caution than before.
    CRACK!
    Panic shot through the squirrel's veins at the sound, which seemed much louder than it actually was in his paranoia. He began to run, leaving his prize walnut behind, but stopped only as a crow flew overhead, leaving the spot where he had heard the stick crack. He sighed in relief. Just a crow. He reminded himself, heading back to retrieve his precious walnut. As he picked it up, a sudden surge of possessiveness overtook him. My walnut! He growled internally, glancing around to ensure that nothing was to take his nut. Then, as if realizing it would be the last thing he'd ever eat, he gobbled it up, pure bliss crossing his face at the lovely taste and aroma. "Ahh, Walnuts..."
    And then, the young cat leapt from the bushes, seeming to soar through the air before landing on the squirrel, quickly crushing it's windpipe. The cat enthused to her mentor, who stood behind her, "Hey! Look what I caught! Isn't this the biggest squirrel you've ever seen!?"
    A nearby squirrel watched from the bushes with a sick satisfaction, a long-time rival of the plump squirrel hanging from the cat's jaws. And as the pair of cats turned away to bring their catch to their colony, the squirrel in the bushes turned away as well.
    "Ahh, walnuts, indeed..."

Author's Note: This was just something silly I wrote on a whim. If you like it, let me know!