Ashes, Squirrel Hunter

There he was, taunting me through the two panes of glass that separated us. He knew I couldn't get him, not through the window at least, but if I ever made my way outside I would. I flicked the tip of my tail in frustration. He knew that. He knew that my one goal in life was to catch him and make him pay for those nasty glares and that direct way he had of telling me that he was better than me.

I caught his eye and as we watched each other, I took stock of him. He was furry alright, as all squirrels are, but he wasn't the average size of a squirrel. He was larger and more muscular than the others that I had seen running around out there. He was like a squirrel on little squirrel steroids. There must have been a druggie in the neighborhood whose stash he dug into on a daily basis. Ever since I can remember he's been here, teasing and harassing me. He's the only reason I even bother running into the windows around here. Living in town there's really nothing else going on that's worth watching, yet Mom wonders why I sleep on the couch or in the rocker instead of the window sill. Why bother when you know you'll see more entertainment from the television while she's home, even if all she watches are court shows?

I snickered a little to myself as we kept our stare-down going. He thinks he's so big and bad with those claws. Sure, they don't retract and most likely he can rip through practically anything, they're made for climbing trees after all, but I doubt that he has the strength behind them that I have behind mine. I work out. I keep my muscles in prime condition. And I constantly sharpen these claws of mine on the post. I need to keep them ready, just incase I get out, just incase I get the chance to show that squirrel who's boss. On top of that, I have fangs. I've never seen a glint of tooth from him since I've known him.

Watching his hind muscles tense up, I knew what he was going to do next. As the tension built, I readied myself, wiggling out the built up lethargy in my muscles. Like the snap of a rubber band, his energy shot him off out of sight of the bedroom window. At the same time, I launched myself off the bed, tore through the living room, hopped up onto the back of the day-bed, and dived into the window, only to catch sight of his tail disappearing beyond the frame. Shit! He was one step ahead of me. That was rare, but it wasn't going to last long.

Before I even thought it, my body had spirited me off

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