Story

The Cat That Walked by Himself

15 minAges 7-9

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The story

Introduction

Way back, a very, very long time ago, when the world was just starting and everything was wild, there lived a Man and a Woman. All the animals were wild too, running free. The Wild Dog, the Wild Horse, the Wild Cow, and even the Wild Cat. But how did some of these wild creatures become our helpful friends? Today, we're going to journey back to the very beginning to discover the secret of the clever Cat who always, always walked by himself. Get ready for a purr-fectly wonderful tale!

The Very Wild Times

Long, long ago, when the world was brand new and everything was wonderfully wild, there lived Man and Woman. They hadn't built any houses yet, so they snuggled inside a cold, damp cave. The wind howled outside, and the trees rustled with secrets. Man was very busy, hunting for his dinner with a big, sharp spear, while Woman collected yummy berries and made sure their fire crackled brightly. Back then, all the animals were wild too! The Horses galloped freely across the open plains, the Dogs chased rabbits through the tall grass, and the Cows munched happily on green leaves in the forests. Nobody had ever asked them to help out, and they certainly didn't live with people. They just did whatever they fancied, exploring the enormous, untamed world, always moving, always free. It was a time of great adventure, but also a little bit lonely for Man and Woman, shivering in their cave.

Taming the Wild Dog and Horse

The Man and Woman often looked out from their cosy cave, feeling a little bit lonely in the enormous, untamed world. They saw the big, wild creatures roaming, and a clever idea began to sparkle in the Woman's eye. "Perhaps," she thought, "some of them might like to be our friends and help us out a bit." One chilly evening, a shaggy Wild Dog, with a tail that wagged just a little bit, sniffed his way right to their cave mouth. His tummy rumbled! The Woman, who was very kind and ever so clever, held out a lovely, juicy bone, all warm and smelling delicious from the fire. "Come here, my friend," she cooed, her voice like a gentle breeze. The Dog couldn't resist! He took the bone, crunched it happily, and from that very moment, he decided the cave and the Woman were his favourite place in the whole wide world. He became the First Friend, helping the Man hunt for supper, chasing down speedy rabbits and even scaring away grumpy bears with his brave barks. The Man and Woman were so chuffed to have such a loyal companion. No more shivering alone at night! Soon after, a magnificent Wild Horse, with a long, flowing mane and a tail that swished like a paintbrush, saw how happy the Dog was with his new friends. He watched them from the edge of the forest. The Woman noticed him nibbling grass nearby. "Hello there, you splendid creature," she called, holding out a generous bundle of the sweetest, greenest grass she’d carefully picked. The Horse trotted closer, his big, gentle eyes full of curiosity. He took a bite, and oh, it was the most delicious grass he'd ever tasted! The Man gently stroked his soft nose and whispered, "Would you like to help me travel far and wide, carrying me on your strong back, so we can explore new places?" The Horse gave a happy whinny and nodded his beautiful head. And so, the Wild Horse became the First Servant, carrying the Man on long, exciting journeys, making the world seem much smaller and easier to explore. Now, with the brave Dog and the strong Horse, the Man and Woman felt much safer and happier, no longer quite so lonely in their big, wild world. But there was still one more creature watching...

Befriending the Wild Cow and the Observing Cat

But there was still one more creature watching... And who was this creature, still watching from the wild woods, with curious, gleaming eyes? It was, of course, the Cat that walked by himself, twitching his whiskers, learning all the secrets of the Man and the Woman and their new, tame friends. He watched the Dog, who was no longer quite so wild, curled up by the fire, looking rather pleased with himself. He watched the Horse, now carrying the Man across vast distances, with a proud gleam in his eye. 'Hmm,' thought the Cat, 'they're collecting quite a little family, aren't they?' One sunny afternoon, the Woman, feeling rather pleased with her cosy cave, began to wish for something warm and creamy to drink, something more delicious than just water. She looked out at the green plains and saw a magnificent Wild Cow, chewing on grass, with big, gentle eyes and long, elegant horns. 'Oh, how wonderful it would be,' she thought, 'to have some lovely, fresh milk! And perhaps some rich, creamy butter too, for my Man's supper.' So, the Woman, being very clever and resourceful, put on her warmest animal skin coat and walked softly towards the Wild Cow. She carried a large, shiny, empty wooden bowl. The Wild Cow looked up, startled, and snorted a puff of air. She was very, very wild, remember! She had never met a human before who wasn't trying to chase her. 'Good afternoon, lovely Cow,' the Woman said, in her kindest, most soothing voice. 'You look absolutely splendid out here, enjoying the sunshine. Would you perhaps care for something truly special? I have some of the most delicious, sweet-smelling grass from my own little patch near the cave. It's much softer than this ordinary stuff.' The Wild Cow, though still a little wary, paused. She loved soft grass, and this grass *did* look a bit tough. She took a step closer, then another. The Woman slowly, ever so slowly, offered her a small bundle of the softest, greenest grass she had ever seen. The Cow sniffed it, then took a tentative bite. Oh, it *was* delicious! Much better than the old, tough grass she usually ate. While the Cow was munching happily, the Woman began to gently stroke her side. 'You know,' she murmured, 'if you came back to my cave, you'd always have the very best grass. And a lovely, warm corner to rest in. And I could help you find all the tastiest plants, so you wouldn't have to wander so far.' The Wild Cow thought about this. It sounded rather pleasant, always having the best food, and a safe place to sleep. She was tired of always being on the lookout for scary creatures. She looked into the Woman's kind eyes and decided she could trust her. 'Moooo!' she said, which meant, 'Alright, I'll give it a try!' And so, the Wild Cow followed the Woman back to the warm cave. The Woman taught her how to stand patiently while she gently collected some of her creamy milk in the wooden bowl. The Man, when he tasted the warm, sweet milk, smiled so broadly his face nearly split! From that day on, the Wild Cow became the Third Servant, providing delicious milk and butter, making the Man and Woman's lives even cosier and more comfortable. She was happy, too, with her special soft grass and her warm corner. She even grew to enjoy the Woman's gentle pats. All this, of course, was observed by the Cat that walked by himself. He watched from the top of a tall tree, then from behind a big rock, then from the roof of the cave itself. He saw the Dog wagging his tail. He saw the Horse nuzzling the Man's hand. And now he saw the Cow, calmly chewing her cud, looking rather content. 'Hmm,' he purred to himself, 'they all seem to be getting something rather good out of this arrangement. A warm fire, tasty food, a place to sleep… and all they have to do is be 'servants' for the Man and Woman. Well, *I* am the Cat that walks by himself. And I don't need any Man or Woman to tell *me* what to do. Not yet, anyway!' He flicked his tail, his green eyes sparkling with a secret plan, as he quietly slipped away into the twilight, still all by himself.

The Cat's Clever Bargain

The Cat, with his clever green eyes sparkling, watched from the shadows. He saw the Woman preparing for the evening. A warm fire blazed in their cosy cave, and the scent of roasting meat filled the air. Oh, how inviting that fire looked! The Cat loved warmth, especially when evenings grew chilly. He thought, curling his tail around his paws. "Hmm," he purred to himself, "Dog, Horse, and Cow traded wildness for comfort. But *I* am the Cat that walks by himself. I want the warmth and food, but not my freedom!" A new plan sparked in his cunning little brain. As the moon appeared and stars twinkled, the Cat decided it was time. He padded softly to the Cave's mouth. The Woman sat by the fire, humming and knitting, while the Man slept. The Dog dreamed, the Horse munched hay outside, and the Cow chewed her cud. Everything was quiet. The Cat sat down politely, not too close, not too far. He looked at the Woman with his biggest, most innocent green eyes. The Woman looked up and smiled. "Well, hello there, little Cat," she said, her voice gentle. "Are you hungry?" The Cat blinked slowly, *three* times – the politest Cat hello. "Oh, my beautiful, clever Woman," he purred, "I've been watching you. You are so wise, and you make the cosiest home!" The Woman giggled. "Why, thank you, little Cat! What brings you so close tonight? Aren't you the Cat that walks by himself?" "Indeed I am!" said the Cat, puffing out his chest just a tiny bit. "And I always will be. But I *do* have a question for you, clever Woman." "Ask away," she said, putting down her knitting. "Tell me, is there room in this warm Cave for *me* to sit by the fire when it's cold? Perhaps a saucer of warm milk when I'm thirsty? And maybe, just maybe, a juicy mouse or two when I'm playful?" The Woman thought. She knew Cats were excellent at keeping away mice from food supplies. "Hmm," she said, "That sounds like a good bargain. But what would *you* do for *me* in return?" The Cat's eyes gleamed. "Ah, clever Woman! I would chase away all mice from your Cave! Not one would dare come near your food! And I would be a companion for your little Baby, when he wakes and wants to play. I would purr him to sleep and keep him company." The Woman's face softened. She loved her Baby very much. "That sounds wonderful. But one more thing. You must promise never, ever, scratch or hurt the Man, the Dog, or the Horse. And be gentle with my Baby." "Oh, I promise, I promise!" purred the Cat, rubbing his head against her leg, a very unusual thing for him to do. "I'll be the best mouse-catcher, the gentlest companion for your Baby, and I'll always be kind to the Man, Dog, and Horse. As long as you give me warmth, milk, and let me catch mice." The Woman smiled. "It's a deal, then, little Cat! Come in!" And so, the Cat, who always walked by himself, stepped into the cosy Cave. He curled up by the fire, feeling the wonderful warmth. The Woman brought him warm milk, which he lapped up happily. He stretched, purred contentedly, then, with a flick of his tail, went off to find a mouse or two. He had made a clever bargain. He had all the comforts of the Cave – warmth, milk, mice to hunt – yet, he still felt like his own master. He could come and go as he pleased. No one told *him* what to do. He was still the Cat that walked by himself, only now, he had a warm Cave to visit whenever he felt like it. The Woman was pleased. The Cave was soon free of mice, and the Baby loved to watch the Cat. The Cat would purr, and the Baby would gurgle with delight. Everyone was happy. But the Man, Dog, and Horse didn't know about the bargain. They just thought the Cat was visiting. And the Cat, being very clever, was quite happy for them to think that! He knew his secret. He knew he was special. For a long time, everything was perfect. The Cat would hunt mice, play with the Baby, drink his warm milk, then, when he felt the need for wildness, he would slip out to explore. He was always free. Always the Cat that walked by himself. One evening, after the Man's supper, he saw the Cat by the fire. "Look at that lazy Cat," he grumbled, "just sitting there, doing nothing." The Woman, who knew the Cat's secret work, chuckled. "Oh, he does plenty, my dear. He keeps our Cave free of mice, and he keeps the Baby company." The Man just shook his head. "Still, he's not *our* Cat, is he? He just comes and goes as he pleases. He's not like our faithful Dog, or our hardworking Horse." The Cat, hearing this, opened one green eye. He knew the Man didn't quite understand his arrangement. But that was alright. He didn't *need* the Man to understand. He just needed the warmth, the milk, and the mice. And his freedom. Ah, his precious freedom! He stretched luxuriously, showing off his sharp claws for a moment, before tucking them back. He knew he had the best deal. He was part of the family, but not *really* part of the family. He was always, always, the Cat that walked by himself. And so, the Cat continued his life, a perfect balance of cosy comfort and wild adventure. But the Man still had doubts. And the Dog and the Horse still grumbled sometimes about how the Cat didn't *really* belong. But one day, something happened that would change everything. Something that would test the Cat's clever bargain... and perhaps reveal the *true* meaning of being the Cat that walked by himself. But that, my dears, is a story for another time. For now, remember the clever Cat, purring by the fire, knowing his secret.

Outro

And that brings us to the end of our story about the wonderful Cat that walked by himself. We hope you enjoyed joining us on his adventure! Thank you so much for listening. If you have any feedback or ideas for more tales, please do let Sonacasts know. Perhaps you could even imagine your own secret animal adventures? Until next time, keep exploring and dreaming big! Goodbye.