-- ✐ Prologue Nacho stretched his silver body across the hay, as the sun fell behind the lake, and the clouds turned pink along the horizon. Princess, the senile old tabby cat was sleeping peacefully, which looked inappropriate at sundown. Unlike her bunkmate, Nacho slept during the day and played at night. (unfortunately for Princess) Nacho found that the barn felt more awake in the dead of night, at that the barn rats came out of hiding during the late hours. “Princess wake up!” Nacho pestered the cat, shaking her awake. “How can you sleep now? We’re barn cats! Wild animals that strike at night and sleep by day like secret ninja spies!” “How wonderful,” Princess said sarcastically as she turned over to face the barn wall. “I think I see a rat behind the tracker! Better go catch and leave Princess to sleep!” “Good idea Princess,” Princess said, to herself. “Now go get that rat!” Nacho gave her a confused look, like she was out of her mind, but he eventually turned and leaped behind the tractor. The kitten’s green eyes followed along the wall. He could see as well as he could at night as he could during the day when he wasn’t sleeping. He didn’t care what remarks Princess made about his ways, Coco told him that she liked how he did things, and that was that. Coco was the only other kitten in the barn, and sometimes Nacho would forget that she wasn’t a tom cat, for she was brave, and nothing Princess, Lyric, and Minty. Minty was Nacho’s mother, Lyric was Coco’s mom, and Princess was Lyric and Minty’s mother. And lastly, there was Thomson, a fat orange cat that lived in the big house behind the barn. Every Tuesday afternoon, Thompson came into the barn and “inspected” every last nook and cranny. He always had plenty of food to eat, and a warm carpet. He gave off a smug aura, and made Nacho feel like a wriggling mouse under Thomson’s paws. Nacho resumed slinking through the shadows of the barn. A shrill squeaking noise pounded his ears. Must’ve been a big rodent, Nacho assumed, drawing closed towards the eerie noise. As he drew near, a foul smell filled his nose. He reared back, and leapt under the tractor beside him. Underneath the tractor, it smelled like gasoline. Mother had told him not to go under the tractor for too long. She told him it could poison his lungs. Nacho forced himself closer to the smell, and the gasoline stench dissipated. Now, the previous smell filled his nose again. He took a big gulp of air, and then continued to walk past the watering can, and the farmers hoe. “What are you doing in my barn?” A voice boomed from atop the tractor. “If you don’t leave now, you will die.” The hairs on Nacho’s spine raised, as he staggered back into the wall. His eyes bulged with fear. “I- I’m not scared of you- you- you creature! N- now you leave the barn or else I’m gonna- get you!” Nacho stammered back. “Relax Nacho,” said the creature on the tractor. She leapt down from the darkness and into the moonlight. Her black fur appeared suddenly. “Never do that again Coco,” Nacho said to the kitten, who beamed proudly. “The real question, is where your going without me!” Coco exclaimed, swishing her tail under her body. “I thought we didn’t go anywhere in the barn alone!” “And we don’t. I’m sorry. It’s just- there’s this smell, and this terrible shrieking noise up ahead, and I just couldn’t wait for you! I’m sorry again Coco,” he replied. “It’s alright. But, at least now when you die, someone will witness it, and tell your story,” Coco said to Nacho. Without remarking, Nacho continued until he found himself at the left corner of the barn. “It’s a dead end!” Coco exclaimed. But Nacho didn’t listen. He jumped onto the dusty countertop and onto a wooden board. From there, he hoisted himself onto the highest hay bail, and then leaped onto the rafters. “Now you try,” he said, gesturing towards the black kitty. She followed his pawsteps until she reached the rafter beside him.
