As Long as You are Found

“Ooof! Watchout! You almost stepped on me and I was having the best nap,” I growled.

“Well, you shouldn’t be sleeping in the doorway, Haymitch,” Peeta scolded.

“Yeah, Peeta, I know, but I was so comfortable. Hey, have you seen Finnick?” I asked.

“No. Haven’t seen him for a while. Actually, I haven’t seen anyone for a while?” Peeta mumbled.

I sighed, “Yeah, now that you mention it, this is pretty weird. We should go look for Finnick.” 

“I know! I have been looking, but I can’t find him anywhere. What should we do?’’ Peeta wailed.

“We should look for the humans first.” I roared, “I saw the human a moment ago and he went that way with a big box!’’

Peeta and I went and found our human. He was at the door to the outside. Then faster than I could move, I was in a small space and swaying. I was so confused and scared. I meowed and hissed and was smacked around in this strange box. Then it stopped.

Where was I? What was this, and what should I do? I was so scared! The door opened and I shrank back to the end of the box. A human’s hand reached into the box and pulled me out and then I was put in a strange cage.

During the next few weeks my brothers, Peeta, Finnick and I were in this strange new place. We didn’t know what to do. Peeta was always scared. His bright orange eyes were always filled with fear, betrayal and sadness as his black silhouette curled into a ball in the corner of his cage. And Finnick’s gray mood reflected in his gray eyes and fur as he scowled in loathing and rage at anyone he saw. Me, I was a mess. The betrayal and my need for love was sewed together like the white and pale orange of my fur. The other animals here said we wouldn’t stay together and either we would stay here in this cage of if we were cute and lucky enough, we might be adopted. Could we even hope? 

Three sweet kittens also came in yesterday and already left today with a loving family. Who knows how long we’ll be here!

I asked, “Hey Finnick, how is Peeta? Did he eat today?”

“No, he didn’t. He’s just been laying there,” my brother shared.

“You know I can hear you guys, right? We are in a small space and practically on each other’s tails,” Peeta answered.

“I know, but I just worry about you.” I was the oldest of my brothers and I felt responsible for them, even in this sad place.

“I know, but I can take care of myself,” little Peeta responded.  

SMACK! 

“Are you ok? That fall didn’t look so good.”

“I think so but I don’t feel so good and I feel a little sick,” Finnick mumbled.

A few days later we all got really sick, and strange scary people came in and poked and moved us around. We slowly got better little by little, day by day.

“Guys, look! There are people coming!” I shouted. “And they look really nice!” 

“Yay! They look kind,” Peeta replied.

“They look good,” Finnick mumbled as he longingly looked at the people.

We watched them walk around and look at the others and walk past us. Then a man, woman and little boy and girl walked right up to us. Then the little boy and girl put their hands toward our little home and said they loved us and wanted to bring all three of us home. The man and woman left the room and I got scared. When they came back, they said they could bring us home.

“Ooof! Watch out you almost stepped on me,” I growled.

“Well you shouldn’t be sleeping in the door way,” Peeta sighed. 

“Shhh. You are going to wake up the people,” Finnick smiled.