Journal mskfisher's Journal: What. 6
Since I've had a lot of experience with country living, I assumed it was a couple of cats having a mild disagreement.
I heard another noise several minutes later, and decided to go check it out.
I went out into my darkened back yard, and swept the beam of my Mag-Lite across the lawn. Over toward the south end of my house was a crouching black cat, eyes shining in the light, silently looking up at me. Meh, shoo, cat, this isn't your yard.
I took a step toward him, and he ran off to the east.
I walked a little closer to where the cat had been, and I saw what had had the cat's attention - a dead rabbit. Hmm. Cat must've caught one of the rabbits that lives under my shed... too bad, I kinda liked those guys. Oh well, circle of life.
At that moment, the rabbit spasmed into motion, and tried to escape my advances.
I realized then that the noise I had heard was the rabbit's scream.
His attempts to flee revealed that one of his hind legs wasn't working right, and I saw what looked like exposed bone on his back and shoulder amidst the blood-matted fur.
The rabbit was still alive while the cat was methodically tearing away his flesh, yet, despite his initial cry, he had remained silent.
His panicked movements led him to the window well, where he fell heavily into the autumn leaves. After struggling for a few moments, he settled down, realizing his injuries had trapped him there. He was panting heavily, obviously terrified.
I surveyed the extent of his wounds, and weighed my options.
I didn't really have any weapons that I could use within the city limits (except for the Mag-Lite and an old hatchet in the basement), and since the rabbit was still somewhat mobile, it didn't seem right or practical to try to decapitate the rabbit or bludgeon him to death. It would've been too easy to make things worse if I wasn't able to dispatch him cleanly. I decided that the best thing to do was to go inside and leave the rabbit to fend for himself.
I figured he'd either crawl back under my shed and heal, or get finished off by the cat.
I didn't feel that great about leaving him there, but it did convince me that I needed to buy a pellet gun for situations when I needed to put an animal down.
I went back out there a little bit later, and there was no trace of the cat or the rabbit - no blood, nothing. Okay, cool. Out of my hands, and hopefully the rabbit was recovering somewhere.
But. This morning. I went out to my garage to leave for work, and realized I forgot something in the house. As I turned around to go back, I caught something out of the corner of my eye.
There was the rabbit, laying peacefully in the grass...
...except that he was missing the top part of his skull.
The whole top half of his HEAD was GONE.
I could see his lower molars... because there was nothing left there to cover them.
Soft underbelly, flanks, hindquarters, all untouched.
The cat ate nothing but this rabbit's HEAD.
I'm going to dispose of the carcass when I get back home tonight.
I just can't shake the feeling that there was something not right - calculating, cold, and unintimidated - looking back at me from that cat's eyes...
brraaaaaiiiiiiiinnnnsssssssss... (Score:1)
Re:brraaaaaiiiiiiiinnnnsssssssss... (Score:2)
Re:brraaaaaiiiiiiiinnnnsssssssss... (Score:1)
Unfortunately, when I worked at HDI there was one fellow we had over for game night every week who was the world's biggest fan of zombie movies. I will forever have a different perspective on brains and zombie as a result of that.
Check out the Half-Life mod "They Hunger".
Moo (Score:2)
interesting (Score:2)
I too am familiar with country living -- the nearest town (both small) is ten miles. On my property I've seen many coyote (my neighbor has finally loaned me his .22 rifle -- he wants me to shoot to kill because they're eating all of their chickens and cats), raccoons, a couple of cougar, many deer, and one bear. (I live on 7.5 acres.)
Mostly it's life in harmony, not too many odd moments. One of my most memorable was the night I walked out on my front porch. In pitch darkness one step onto the porch I h
What a creepy story. (Score:1)
I just came back for something to read, and now I'm all creeped out.
Take care.