Mr. Boone has a minion!

Squire the Jingles

They knew when I entered my domain. Their beady eyes watched my every move, for they knew that I could be their last sight.
I had yet to catch one of them, but each and every day, I defended my conquered territory. They tried to steal the nuts that fell in the yard, my yard. Even dogs, which most of my kind feared, I battled with, winning every time. The squirrels were my true enemies, however, their chittering speech was alien to most ears, but I knew what they were saying.

It was Boone.
Mr. Boone.

I surveyed the yard a final time before proudly making my way inside, where my owner Eli awaited. She was the only one who commanded my respect, she was different than other humans; every other human was insignificant compared to her. She, on the other hand, made every day an interesting one; she brushed my fur, taunted me with that fascinating red dot on the wall and scratched the place right behind my ear, which always itched; she knows exactly how I want to be petted.

I discovered that the strange device that emitted noise beside her bed was a source of annoyance. I took up the responsibility of the device, waking my owner, often against her will (to no small bit of satisfaction on my part, I might add): if meowing in that weird thing on the side of her head doesn't work, I paw at her face a bit until she finally awakens...she can never be mad at me!

---

The years passed with a strange smoothness. I no longer could chase the intruders off with lightning speed, but still attempted to do so nonetheless. My life was a good one, thanks to Eli; she would always take care of me.

I felt a strange pressure upon waking one morning. Over the course of a few weeks, it became rather uncomfortable. My pleading was not unanswered, and soon Eli took me to the strange man with a white coat. He poked me with strange implements, to which I simply glared at him.

Something was wrong though, Eli was crying. What did that strange man tell her? She seemed to hug me tighter as we left the office. Her words still echoed in my ears; "Only a year? We'll make it the best year ever, before you leave."

A year? Is that what the strange man was telling her? That I was going to go away after a year? Well, I'd show him, some strange man wasn't going to take me away!

Three years later....

The strange pressure didn't go away, but it settled down into an 'awareness', losing the uncomfortable twinge it use to have. The year came and left, to which my owner was quite happy. I sauntered across the street, as I always had, it was soon time for my evening dinner and then ear scratching!

There was a loud noise and something bumped against my side. The world spun...strange. I looked around and saw Eli's face. She was sad? Why? Some stupid squirrel probably just ran into me again, no matter, as soon as I was done with my nap, I would hunt that squirrel down and show him that Mr. Boone was not to be reckoned with!

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Soon, I was back in my yard. I yawned, looking around at the squirrels swirling up and around the tree. I walked a short distance, before feeling youthful vigor in my limbs once again. I had forgotten how lively I use to feel!

Wait a minute; there were people in my house, there were strange people inside, dressed in simple but elegant clothing. I walked inside the open screen porch door and sat upon my usual couch-cushion and listened: they seemed to be talking about my owner and how 'she would be here soon.'

Ah, so she had gone out? That was all fine and dandy, I would wait here for her to return. The strange people didn't seem as annoying as other humans I had met, they seemed to be kind and generous, even scratching my ears as I settled down on my favorite pillow. Their words were kind and I let out a content purr as their voices swirled about.
"Don't you fret, Mr. Boone, Eli will be here eventually, just wait a little while."
Hmm. I could do that.

R.I.P. Mr. Boone: You will forever be missed.

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Art by User not found: mcbeast
Layout by Fiore, coding by User not found: serene
Story by Frode with small additions by Bauble