First, before we take a look at the latest kitty modeling jobs Tabs strutted his stuff on, the conclusion of our ongoing story/saga…
When the chopper passed the tree line and entered the area directly over the rangers’ station, it was like suddenly turning on a lightning storm in a hurricane. Before he could avert his eyes, Tabs was blinded by the helicopter’s spotlight and blasted off the roof by the downdraft.
He was toppling end over end in the air, with the world turned completely white through his wide, temporarily useless eyes. Tabs tried to right himself like only cats can but couldn’t see the ground to gauge his distance.
The impact knocked him unconscious.
When he awoke, Tabs was looking up at the stars. He was lying on his side on a bed of pine needles — the forest floor. He raised his head a few inches and looked around. “Mew,” he groaned. Guess I’m alive.
The forest was completely silent save a distant whump-whump-whumping sound…
“Mraw!” he cried. No! The helicopter! How long had he been out?
Trying to get up on all fours, he put weight on his right paw and felt a sharp pain. Dang!
The chopper didn’t sound like it was leaving yet. Tabs thought it sounded like it was searching the beach.
Were they looking for him? He thought they must be. His assistant would have dispatched help as soon as Tabs missed his first check-in time. He wondered how long ago that had been…
Despair, and pangs of guilt and shame, filled him as he thought about the gray cat and how it sacrificed itself to save Tabs. One cat, even a grizzled, tough old codger like that one, against two huge werewolves? It must have known it wouldn’t have a chance, and yet it didn’t hesitate…
Tabs scanned the area one last time, and then, sighing sadly, started hobbling off toward the beach and the sound of the helicopter.
Avoiding the dirt road, stayed inside the forest the entire time. It was slow going with his bad paw, navigating over branches and logs, but Tabs figured he was making pretty good time. He was terrified that the helicopter would give up the search, and that pushed him to limp faster.
Almost there now, the trees swayed. Tabs could see light shifting through the pines from the chopper’s spotlight and feel the draft. He hurried faster and wondered if the werewolves were here, somewhere, also searching for Tabs.
Tabs was just taking his first few steps on the rocky sand when the helicopter started to pull away…
“Meow!” he shouted after it. Wait! “MRRROW!!” I’M RIGHT HERE!!
He ran to the edge of the frozen lake, but it was no use. They were giving up the search here and heading toward the ice fishing shack where this whole adventure began.
“Mew.” Wait.
And then, the helicopter stopped.
It paused in the air over the ice near the edge of the frozen beach, training its powerful spotlight down on something.
Tabs limped as fast as he could, ignoring his cramping muscles. Was this his second chance?
But wait! — there was something moving on the ice in the center of the spotlight.
Oh, no! Had they found him?
There, in the center of the spotlight, waving both paws over its head, was the gray cat.
As Tabs approached, smiling from ear to ear, the helicopter landed a safe distance away. Out popped two familiar faces, the first belonging to Karl Lagerfeld, and the second to Choupette (his cat).
Figures, Tabs thought…
Tabs limped over to the gray cat. “Mrow…?” he asked, amazed to see his new friend still kicking. How…?
The gray cat only grinned. “Mrrrow?” Oh, that fight? “Mrow-wow-wow.” See, I introduced those two wolves to an old friend of mine.
“Mrrrow.” He’s a grizzly…so I don’t think those wolf boys will be bothering us anymore tonight.
To read our story from the beginning…
Who is Tabs the Cat? About five years ago I befriended a stray, flea-bitten tabby cat with a bad case of worms. I could see he’d fallen on hard times, but his profound knowledge of high fashion and department store cosmetics led me to believe that he was more than meets the eye. We became fast friends, and now he’s actually my boss (and a successful kitty model). 🙂
Your friendly neighborhood beauty addict,
Karen
P.S. I hope you liked the story. I had a blast doing it, but I’m wondering if I should give something like this another try. Would you like to read more Tabs stories? Any suggestions for story ideas? Did it seem like a good fit for the blog? I’m looking for feedback, so whatever you’ve got.
Oh, and to see what else my husky kitty supermodel/feline employer has been up to, check out Sundays With Tabs, the Archives: From Anastasia to Zoya.
You are a very clever writer. Thanks for sharing your story. (and thanks for letting the gray cat be ok!)
Yay! Tabs is rescued and the gray kitty lives! I was nervous he wasn’t going to make it. Being a CCL myself, I would love to read more Tabs stories. I love your blog, Karen! Makeup and cats, what more could you want?!
Thank goodness! Crisis averted for both Tabs and our grizzled, gray friend. Well done! 🙂
I dig the Tabs stories so I’d love to read more!
His commercial for Tarte is too cute!
Yes more stories! Wow, that Tarte cartoon is so cute. I love how you made Tabs wiggle his husky bum.
Please more Tabs stories :)!
Yes, please! From one crazy cat lady to another (I have 5).