The Hunt For Freedom

ct they tell me, and I am one of the only werecats to be born in recent years that we know of. My birth was celebrated by some, while others tore their clothes and cried out with

f milk, I watch the caterers setting up for my eighteenth

e table, I begin to think back on my e

that tree!” My mother’s

see for miles in every direction. There were so many leaves at this time of year it would be impossible

that Momma had gone crazy when these sharp claws protruded from the tips of my fingers. I sat in awed silence as I examined my new toys….then I ran for the nearest tree! Thus began my love for all things wild and crazy. Some have sa

n’t deny my skill level. Coach told Mom and Dad that I was a Protégée and to expect great things from me. He happened to say this within earshot of the o

hey were so afraid. One girl even threw up. It seemed to me that I could understand what the oth

o death. Her whole body was shaking so hard that she appeared to be having a mini seizure.

ed over to the judges and pulled her out of the meet. She started crying and was sent home with her parents. “And they call me t

eers thought I was just too lung and stupid to be scared, but if the truth be told, I just didn’t care what the judges thought

one other girl that could give me a run for my money. I saw her warming up her leap pass over and over. She appeared a little worried about connecting her leaps and jumps smoothly. I saw my chance to experiment. As she s

k of anguish on her face, co

visibly tense and sure enough she took two extra steps and leaped right off the floor. Her face was devastated but resigned to the fact

akest smile, all the while planning

ith that...Mo

choice, there was a sudden voice in my head, clear as if the person

nly to see Momma watching me. “If you can hea

hought so, Katalea, we need to talk. Ask me to go

, I just didn’t know if it was real. Somehow I could now hear Momma’s voice

little man-made lake in our neighborhood. I had spent many a night climbing these trees while everyone thought I was sleeping. Sneaking out of the

the swimmers frolicking in the water. It never occurred to me to question why I never had any desire to go swimming or socialize with any of the

blood thinned from generation after generation of marrying humans our kind was almost gone. She told me that she was a werecat too, and that she had so

appear to be human through and through. You, young Katalea, have been blessed with many gifts it seems, and since they are manifesting so young, I am sure the

mind whirling. I wanted to get away from her, get away from these stories, and just go back to bei

efore it was fully dark if I wanted any ice cream that night. Our family tends to eat healthy so pizza and ice cream in one da

ver wanted to chase a mouse or run from a dog. It would be better if I had someon

the TV and everyone was moving to the pulsing beat. They were all engrossed in some sort of an internet dance class. There was a

I got a mental message from Momma to come down and join in the fun, I ignored her. I picked up a comic book that promised shape sh