The Bark, The Branch, and The Brave Kitten

Mommy couldn't hear me.

I was crying out her name, but she either couldn't hear me, or was just ignoring me.

Rude.

"Mommy!" I tried again, clutching the tree branch tighter, digging my claws into the wood. "Mommy, help! HELP!!!"

Of course, she didn't respond, nor come running around the corner to save me. She was probably in the house, which would explain why she wasn't answering.

I let out a small, sad meow, curling my tail around myself and slowly backing myself up until my rump touched the trunk. I hissed and jumped, nearly falling off, then quickly scrambled back onto the branch before I did.

I looked down.

It was a dizzying drop.

I was up way too high to jump, but it's not like I can climb downwards, so what could I do?

"Mommy!" I called again, basically sobbing her name.

She didn't respond.

I began to cry, burying my head in my paws as I sat atop the highest branch in the tree. Nobody was coming to save me. I would have to stay up in this tree forever, surviving off bark and leaves and pooping on branches.

Okay, look.

It's not my fault I'm stuck up here, alright?

I was just playing on the floor with my friends when suddenly the neighbor's dog, not on a leash, came running at us. My friends all yowled and ran away, but I instead scrambled up the tree in fear, desperate to get away before I became a chew toy for the dog. It was the nearest thing! My mind was too clouded by fear to think of how I would get down later.

The owner came and put the dog on a leash, walking him away from the tree, which he was barking at. I tried to meow as loudly as I could so she could help me, but she couldn't hear over the dog's barking.

Rude dog!

It's all your fault!

Now I'm going to die in this tree!

I began sobbing harder, knowing they all abandoned me. Maybe they didn't even like me. Maybe they were ignoring me on purpose because they wanted me to die up here.

I was only a kitten.

Why did all of them hate me so much?

I sniffed and began meowing as loudly as I could, which wasn't all that loud since I was so little. I yowled, I meowed, I even tried squeaking... but still, no one came.

Until someone did.

"Cookie?!"

My eyes snapped open, then widened as I looked over the edge of the branch.

"Willow!" I cried excitedly, my tail flicking into the air. The little, fluffy brown cat stood under the tree, looking up at me.

I was saved!

"Cookie, what are you doing up there?!" She yelped, putting her front paws on the trunk and scratching it with her claws.

"That mean old dog chased me up here!" I told her, "You guys ran away, but I climbed the tree because I knew dogs couldn't climb, and I also didn't know where else to go. But now I can't get down! Get help, Willow! Get Owner!"

"Don't worry, Cookie! I'll go get him!" Willow assured me, running off into the house.

I meowed with joy.

They didn't all hate me after all!

I waited alone for a few minutes when I suddenly heard meowing coming from around the side of the house, then I looked down to see Willow leading Owner to the tree.

I meowed to call him over, and when he looked up and saw me, he gasped.

"Oh my goodness, Cookie!" Owner exclaimed, looking up at me. "You poor thing! Don't worry, I'll get you down- I'll be right back!"

Then he ran off to the garage, returning with a long ladder on his shoulder. He set the ladder on the side of the tree, climbing up until he reached the branch I was on. He reached out to grab me, and I rubbed my head into his hand, purring. He chuckled and scooped me up, carrying me down the ladder and setting me down on the floor.

I meowed thankfully at him, rubbing in a circle around his legs, and he leaned down to pet me with a smile.

At last, I was on solid ground!

I'd been up there for three whole minutes.

Can you believe it?