Creative Nonfiction Prompt #44

Source

The hot summer sun beat down on the dusty trail as Joe slowly walked along, leading his trusty mule Sadie. He was tired, sore and desperately needed to find the next town soon to restock his supplies. Water was running low, his food was gone and poor Sadie needed a rest.

Suddenly Joe heard a faint cry from the bushes up ahead. Moving slowly towards the sound, he discovered the source - a tiny abandoned kitten, no more than a few weeks old. The helpless little thing was mewing pathetically, hungry, thirsty and clearly unwanted. Joe's heart went out to the tiny creature.

"Well little fella, looks like it's you, me and Sadie against this dusty old trail now," Joe said warmly. Sadie snorted and swished her tail, as if in agreement. The tiny kitten mewled softly, peering up at Joe.

With his two unlikely animal companions, Joe continued down the long winding road. He shared what little water he had left with the kitten, and made sure to walk slowly so old Sadie could keep up. The kitten snuggled into Joe's jacket, comforted by the gentle rocking gait and warmth of his body.

When morning came, Joe awoke feeling ready to take on the day's travels thanks to his new friends. The kitten was softly kneading his blanket, ready for another day on the trail. Sadie was rejuvenated and eager to continue their journey.

"Well now, ain't we a trio!" Joe laughed. The animals looked at him expectantly, awaiting another day's adventure on the dusty trail ahead. Joe scooped up the kitten, loaded up old Sadie, and set off once more down the winding road.

Unlikely friends brought together by chance, continuing on together with new hope - the old man, his loyal mule, and the tiny kitten.

Wings in the Night

Loneliness clung to Marie like a heavy blanket as she gazed out into the rainy night. It was well past midnight and sleep still eluded her. Ever since losing her husband the year before in a tragic accident, she struggled with loneliness and insomnia most nights.

Restless, Marie decided to go downstairs and make some tea. To her astonishment, a large owl was staring in the kitchen window, its eyes glowing in the darkness. She cautiously approached the window and unlatched it, allowing the owl to hop inside, out of the rain.

"Hello. I am curious, what prompted your presence on this stormy night?" she spoke in a hushed tone. The owl swiveled its head almost 360 degrees, taking in its surroundings, then focused its gaze on Marie. She tentatively reached out a hand and stroked the owl's downy speckled feathers. Surprisingly, it leaned into her touch almost affectionately.

On impulse, Marie asked "Would you like to stay and have some tea with me?" Clearing its feathers of dampness, the owl responded with a gentle hoot. Marie smiled slightly, taking the owl's response as an agreement.

Marie busied herself preparing the tea, occasionally glancing over at her unexpected guest. The owl watched curiously from its perch by the window. She set two mugs on the table, feeling only mildly foolish for serving tea to an owl. The owl fluttered down and eyed the steaming mug in front of it.

"Well, go on then, it's chamomile," Marie encouraged. She took a sip from her own mug, hoping to demonstrate to the bemused owl. After a moment, it cautiously dipped its beak in the hot liquid. Apparently pleased with the taste, the owl eagerly drank the rest.

Marie chuckled softly. "How about another cup?" she asked cheerfully. The owl hooted, flapped its wings and bobbed its head enthusiastically. She happily refilled its mug and sat drinking tea in a comfortable silence with her new friend late into the night.

Over the next few nights, Marie and the owl bonded over tea and companionship before it returned to the wilderness. Marie discovered solace and the warmth of companionship through an unlikely friendship during her lonely nights.

New Roommates

When Will first adopted Tank, he was a bit skeptical of how the huge English mastiff would get along with his two cats, Mittens and Pepper. Tank was still a rambunctious puppy, while the cats were set in their ways and accustomed to ruling the household themselves.

Much to Will's surprise, Tank immediately took to the cats as though they were his littermates. Mittens and Pepper would bathe Tank, nuzzling and licking his floppy ears and face. Tank responded with gentle affection, letting the cats use him as a bed and giving them gentle nudges with his huge snout.

At feeding time, Tank would sit and wait patiently while the cats ate their food. Only when the cats strolled away would Tank finally dig in and gobble down his own dinner. On the rare occasions Tank got too wound up and rambunctious, a warning hiss from either cat was enough to settle him down instantly.

At night, the unlikely trio would pile onto the couch together with Tank sprawled across the whole length and the cats perched on his back. All three would snooze contentedly, Mittens idly kneading Tank's side as Pepper curled up in the crook of the big dog's leg.

When Will took Tank out for walks, Mittens and Pepper would anxiously pace by the door, yowling loudly until their canine companion returned home safely. Tank would bound through the door and cover both cats in happy, sloppy kisses, knocking them over in his enthusiasm. Yet the cats never hissed or scratched him, instead purring and head-butting Tank affectionately.

Despite the vast difference in size and nature, Tank and the cats became the best of friends. Will was touched to see how gentle and protective Tank was of the cats. Through the tender tie that bound the unlikely trio, Will came to understand the remarkable influence of friendship prevailing against unlikely situations.