Chaos Critter Tails: Aki and the Horror from Beyond
We celebrate Dante's birthday from last week, with a story request from the birthday puppy. Aki's story ties in well with our upcoming inclusion in Black Cat Tales on Friday the 13th.
Last week was Dante’s first birthday - but with it being Memorial Day, that took precedence. However, this week we have a scary story request from the birthday puppy. In response, Aki delivers her version of a scary story, as only a calico cat can.
Aki and the Horror from Beyond
Instead of her normal sneer, Aki's face wore a look of disbelief. The little white calico looked even closer at Dante.
"What did you just ask for?"
Dante wagged his butt viciously and bounced around on the floor. "I said, I'm a year old now. I would like to have a scary story. I'm old enough for one."
Aki looked from Dante to his brothers, Beleth and Crokell, and then back at Dante. The little tan and white dog sat between the big black Newfoundland and the not-so-big gray tabby Maine Coon.
Aki gazed down at the three canine-brained, four-legged critters. As usual, she was on her high bed perch.
"Very well, Dante. I shall give you a horror story beyond anything you've ever dreamed of."
Dante's butt wiggled even more happily, and he settled down against his brothers, ready to listen to Aki.
"Once upon a time, when I was but a kitten, I woke up and realized I was hungry. Famished, in fact. But the little monkey wasn't there, and the big monkey hadn't come into our lives yet, so I had to go get food myself."
She sat and let her tail flex in remembered annoyance.
"I stood and stretched and looked across the vastness of the bedroom. First, I must scale the bed. So, I reached up high with my little kitty paws. Clawing into the bedspread, I climbed up on top of the bed."
Now Aki carefully blinked. "And then slowly, laboriously, I trekked across the vast wasteland of the bedspread. Finally, I reached the chasm on the other side and looked down at the carpet."
Aki paused and looked at the three dog-like critters watching her. Beleth yawned and rolled over against Dante. Crokell lifted his head up to watch her more intently, his tongue lolling out as only a Newfoundland tongue can.
Dante was so entranced by Aki's story that he wasn't even butt-walking. He sat there, stock still, listening to her.
"I reached the edge of the bed and looked down from the bedspread. It was so far! I would have to climb down. But one slip, one little slip of my little kitten claws, and I would perish in a fall."
Dante yawned, not bored she could tell, but to relieve his stress. He shivered at the danger she'd been in.
"It took forever. I had to rest halfway down, but finally, I reached the ground successfully and safely. Now I had to make my way across the bedroom.
I knew there was some sort of enemy there, unseen and hidden. So, I climbed underneath the first pile of clothes that I found and crept to the edge of pile. Then I dashed to the next."
Aki's voice became more intense, her tail flicking as she continued.
"I could feel their breath hot on my neck, and yet I ran, tucking my tail away from them, twisting and swiping to the next pile of clothes, and crawled into it. Bit by bit, I got closer to the door to the bedroom.
Finally, I was there, and I sprang out into the hallway, only to be confronted by our worst enemy."
Crokell nodded. "I can guess this one. It was a vacuum cleaner, wasn't it?"
Beleth nodded. "That's my bet."
Dante cocked his head to one side. "What's a vacuum cleaner?"
Beleth replied, "It's like Frank. It cleans floors but is not as friendly."
Aki sneered and glared at the two canine brains that had interrupted her story.
"Listen, and you'll find out.
A vacuum cleaner roars with the mighty roar of a terrorizing beast. It sucks the air into itself where you can't even breathe.
Anything left behind, it eats—clothes, toys, and even kibble. Watch your tail around it; you never know what it might decide to eat."
Dante looked behind, "Oh no! It already got mine!"
Aki bravely ignored the interruption.
"But usually, we're faster than it. So, I ran down the hall, away from it. As it followed me, I doubled back and dodged past it, tripping over its tail that attached it to the wall. But it couldn't turn fast enough, and I made it out of the hallway and into the kitchen.
Once in the kitchen, I paused. The floor—it was shiny and slick. I tested it with a paw. It was wet."
As she paused for dramatic effect, Beleth asked, "Why do the monkeys do that?"
Crokell shook his head. "I'm not sure either. Same thing with them wiping up my drool."
Aki glared at them until they quieted again.
"Fortunately, even as a kitten, I could climb and jump. So, I jumped up onto the cabinets and onto the counter and made my way to the other side, careful not to fall into the sink—I didn't want to get wet.
Finally, I reached the other end, and I slowly lowered myself onto the tray holding my food bowl.
I looked down, and the greatest horror struck. Through the kibble, I could see silver. I could see my reflection between the kibble. I didn't have enough food. Confronted with the horror from beyond the bowl, I was doomed to starve to death."
Dante suddenly jumped up and shook himself. "What happened? Did you starve to death?"
First, Beleth turned to look at Dante.
Then Crokell turned to look at Dante.
Aki just smiled at him and said, "You are a very, very special puppy, and we love you. Happy birthday.”
Publishing News: Black Cat Tales
In Black Cat Tales, we tell the story of A Press of the Button.
The publisher has a video for the release here:
We have the first story we ever wrote coming out soon - we’re going to say it is our 13th story published (even if it is 11th or 12th) because it’s cooler that way. Oh! And guess what?
joins us here too!From Black Cat Publishing, Black Cat Tales: An Anthology of Black Cats
Available Friday the 13th of June, 2025 from http://www.black-cat-publishing.com/.
Available on Amazon at: https://www.amazon.com/Black-Cat-Tales-Anthology-Cats-ebook/dp/B0DXMXX5JP/
Black Cat Publishing says:
A black cat approaches, do you let it cross your path, or run in the opposite direction? From the superstitious to the unlucky, from a witch's familiar to a soul stealing grave robber, black cats have captured our imagination and remain solidly in the realm of the dark.
Join authors from around the world for never before published horror, dark fantasy and mystery short stories and poems featuring the beloved, feared and mystical black cat. Black Cat Tales showcases a diverse group of authors ranging in age from 17 to 80, some with multiple award winning publications under their belts, for others, this will be the first time seeing their work in print.
On top of that here is our first interview as authors!
Chaos Tip of the Week
If your cat is convinced the food bowl is a portal to another dimension where kibble disappears instantly, don’t panic! Simply reassure your furry drama queen that the “Great Kibble Shortage of 2025” is not upon us. Bonus points if you stage a fake news report: “Breaking News: Cat Mom Confirms—Dinner Will Arrive On Schedule!”
Remember: To a cat, an empty bowl is a personal crisis. To you, it’s just 5 minutes before dinner.
Chaos Question of the Week
What is the most distressing thing to your critters (or you, if you are unfortunate enough to to have critters) that is really just a normal, everyday occurrence?
Most distressing thing? Thunder. The Feline-muse huddles up next to me, which is rare for a feral cat. And the Swamp-doodle does, too. We do our best to give them scratches and murmur to them.