There once was a cat named Kitty who was a ferocious little creature. She loved stalking and feasting on whatever crossed her path. Gerbils, mice, little snakes, bugs, birds, she loved 'em all. She loved the whole process of noticing her prey, spying on it for awhile, stalking ever so slowly and patiently and then the pounce and oh-so-satisfying kill. Eating it was simply a bonus. This went on for years until one day as she was chasing a gopher it suddenly stopped, spun around and looked her right in the eye.
"What in the--" Kitty muttered as she came to a screeching halt. The gopher just stood there and stared through her, unblinking. Kitty had no idea what to do with such a strange creature. She also stood there, unblinking as his gaze was so compelling, so riveting that she simply could not look away or do anything else but stare back. Finally, he spoke.
"Why do you do this, cat? What is the purpose behind all this stalking and killing?" His voice was strong and forceful, but also gentle and caressing at the same time.
The question took her completely by surprise. She wasn't sure what she expected to come out of this bold little critter, but that certainly wasn't it. Who in their right mind would not only face their perpetrator in the eye, but also ask them about the very thing they should be absolutely terrified of?
"Well, uhh, I've never really given it much thought." She found herself fidgeting anxiously as she tried to come up with the words to satisfy someone who not long before she was dreaming of killing. The irony was painful as was the fact that she felt like running and hiding. Instead, she did her best to create an intelligent answer.
"I suppose I enjoy doing this because it gives me a sense of power over the world. I feel in control of my life and my surroundings. Without this, I would simply be another victim." Proud of her response, Kitty sat back on her haunches and patiently waited for the gopher to realize that he was no match for her strength nor her wisdom. Just as she was about to congratulate herself and go on back to stalking, the gopher spoke again.
"There are only victims because creatures like yourself insist on being predators. It can also be said, then, that there are only predators because certain creatures insist on being victims. This is why I decided to stop and do something completely different. It is always each creature's choice whether he wants to continue this silly game or not because without one side of the coin you can't have the other, don't you see?" The gopher gazed back at her now with a sly smile and a twinkle in his eye. He knew he was right, but that didn't mean his argument would persuade the cat to see where he was coming from. He patiently waited with an open heart as he watched the changes in the cat unfold before him.
Kitty was now in a state of aggravation that far surpassed anything she'd ever experienced. Even that time when it took all night to stalk and kill a mouse that was way too stubborn for its own good didn't even come close to comparing how unbelievably frustrated she felt at this moment. Just as steam was about to start shooting out of her ears, an awakening took hold of her entire awareness that almost knocked her off her feet. It was as if a light bulb went off not only in her mind, but also in every cell of her body and every drop of her soul. Her eyes opened wide and a tiny meow escaped her lips as she knelt down and put her head between her paws. She stayed like that for what seemed like eons. The gopher remained by her side as he felt at one with the experience. He occasionally came over and gave her a little hug or lick on the head and then went back to holding vigil.
The first stirrings of dawn brought Kitty out of her trance. She delicately raised her worn out eyes at the world around her. Something was different...wasn't it? She tried hard to figure out what that something was as the creatures started going about their day in light merriment. Just as she was about to ask the gopher, she suddenly realized that she was the something that was different. The strong urge to hunt and kill had been replaced by a sense of calm that flooded her senses and made her want to get up and play like a silly little kitten. She was about to chastise herself when it occurred to her that if there is no urge to stalk anymore then it's only natural that her original state of being would flower inside of her again.
She looked up at the gopher with a huge grin and playfully swatted at him as she pranced away to join the other creatures at play. The gopher watched with joy as she rolled, jumped and frolicked with gerbils, mice, little snakes, bugs, birds, and the occasional gopher. At first the creatures shrank back with fear as the cat came toward them, but when they saw the playful twinkle in her eye they knew that fear had lost its purpose.
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