It was only a leaf. A very sudden leaf.
An Unexpected Arrival
The cat was in the air before the leaf had finished arriving.
A moment before, he had been showing the hedgehog a shortcut to the fountain. He knew the narrow path behind the gardens, the gap beside the shed, and which gate could be pushed without making an announcement to the whole street.
Then something dry scraped over the stones beside his paws.
By the time he landed, all four feet had contributed to the response. His back was arched, his tail had doubled in importance, and the leaf was resting a short distance away.
The hedgehog stopped beside the low garden wall.
“Oh,” she said.
The cat stared at the leaf.
His whiskers were still pointing in several directions.
Just There, Please
The hedgehog took a step toward him.
“Just there, please,” he said.
She stopped.
For a moment, the only sound was the soft scrape of the leaf turning on one edge. The cat’s ears followed it.
“A leaf,” the hedgehog said.
“I can see that now.”
“It came out quite fast.”
He glanced at her. She was looking at the corner, where another little gust lifted dust from between the stones.
“Yes,” he said. “It did.”
The leaf skittered sideways. He stepped back, then moved to the sheltered side of the low wall. From there, he could peer round its end without standing in the wind’s path.
The hedgehog settled on the stones where he had asked her to wait.
“Shall I move it?”
“Not yet.”
She folded her paws and watched a small cloud pass above the shed.
A Closer Look
The leaf came to rest against a pebble. Its brown points lay flat, except for one curled edge that trembled whenever the air moved.
The cat watched through two small gusts. Each time, the curled edge lifted first; then the whole leaf shifted against the pebble.
He leaned a little farther round the wall.
“It’s that bit.”
“Which bit?”
“The corner that sticks up.”
The hedgehog turned her head to look.
He waited until the air was still, then stepped out. Up close, he could see the pale lines running through the leaf and a little hole near its stalk.
He lowered his nose. The next gust caught the curled edge.
This time, he put a paw on it.
A small crackle came from beneath his toes. The loose points fluttered, but the leaf stayed where it was.
The cat looked up at the hedgehog.
“Brown on the other side too, I expect,” he said.
“Very likely.”
When the gust passed, he lifted his paw and nudged the stalk. The leaf turned over and lay still.
He inspected it.
“Yes.”
On to the Fountain
The cat returned to the sheltered side of the wall and sat beside the hedgehog. She waited while he smoothed a patch of fur along his chest.
His tail took rather longer.
“Is the fountain much farther?” she asked.
“Through that gate. Then left.”
“The quiet gate?”
He nodded.
“I’d like to see that.”
He rose and led the way, leaving enough room for her to walk beside him. At the gate, he put one paw against the wood and eased it open without a squeak.
Beyond it, to their left, water splashed steadily into the fountain basin. The hedgehog went through, and the cat followed. Behind them, the leaf remained beside its pebble.
“Are we leaving that there?” she asked.
“The leaf can stay.”
He looked back at the corner.
“But the wind should knock next time.”
Leave a Reply