I ambled through the forest, enjoying the feeling of the dappled sunlight that streamed down through the trees above me, and the slight breeze that ruffled my hair. It was a perfect summer day; warm, but not too hot, with just the right amount of shade from the towering oaks of the forest. I could’ve stayed here for hours, wending my way through the trees, but I had a destination in mind. I broke out of the thicker part of the woods, and there it was- the waterfall. A crystal stream falling down from the cliff into a crisp, clear pool of water. The sound of it splashing against the surface of the water was like music to me, something so familiar and relaxing. I kicked off my shoes and walked closer, feeling the ground change from grass to warm stone. I waded out into the pool, feeling the icy water splash around my ankles. The sunlight reflected off the surface of the pool in such a way that made it look like I was standing in a lake made of molten crystal. As I revelled in the peace of the moment, the sky began to darken, although I didn’t take much notice of it just yet, too engulfed in the feeling of the water against my skin and the melody of the waterfall. I was just taking a step further into the pool when a flash of light illuminated the sky, followed by a bone-rattling crash of thunder. I froze in place for a moment as I felt the first drops of rain dancing across my skin, before hurrying back to dry land. I glanced at the forest to my left for a moment, pondering whether I should go back to my grandparents’ house, where I was staying, but that was at least a twenty minute walk. I turned my attention back to the waterfall, and noticed something I hadn’t before- there seemed to be a space under the cliff. I darted over, pressing as much of myself as I could against the rock under the ledge. I was thoroughly soaked by this point, so any shelter was better than none. There was another crack of thunder and I edged over a bit more, closer to where the waterfall itself cascaded down. To my surprise, I felt open space behind me. Turning around, I saw that the ledge opened into a wide, relatively dry cavern, previously hidden by the waterfall. Relief flooded over me as I went inside, sitting down on one of the piles of rocks that lined the walls of the cave. I was just starting to relax when I heard a soft mewling sound. I lifted my head, looking around- there it was again, louder this time, coming from behind a different rock. I stood up, slowly approaching the source of the noise. I crouched down, peering behind the rock, and saw a small, grey-and-white cat. He cowered slightly, fur bristling, and stared at me with wide, scared eyes. I held out my hand, and the cat shrank back for a moment, before creeping forward and sniffing it. Apparently deciding that I wasn’t a threat after all, he rubbed his cheek against my hand and his fur smoothed. I scratched behind his ear, and he purred. His paw knocked into a little rock on the ground, which bounced away with a little clatter. The cat’s ears pricked up, and he pounced after the pebble. Pebble- that seemed like a fitting name. I spoke it aloud, and he turned his head to me, ears twitching. Another roll of thunder, slightly muffled by the walls of rock, startling Pebble. He hopped onto my lap, cowering against me and shivering a little. I stroked his fur gently, trying to calm him down, which he did after a few minutes. I reached for another rock, tossing it across the floor, and Pebble went skittering after it, tossing it between his paws happily. After a while of playing with Pebble, the cavern began to get lighter, and the pattering of rain outside faded. I stood up, looking down at the grey tomcat, wondering what to do with him. I debated for a moment, before reaching down and scooping him up, earning a little meow from the cat. I was sure my grandparents wouldn’t mind if I brought him home- they had cats before, and I had taken care of plenty of pets mostly on my own. I poked my head out of the cave, and sure enough, the rain had slowed to a faint drizzle. Holding Pebble tightly to ensure he didn’t try to squirm out of my arms- though he showed no intention of doing so, and was purring contentedly- I began the walk back home. The sun was sinking lower in the sky, and there was still a nice breeze, so it was pleasantly chilly. With the weight of the cat in my arms, I headed into the forest. Maybe the storm hadn’t been so bad after all.
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