Daily Flash Fiction Challenge

Peter held his breath. The only thing in the world was his wild heartbeat, and he prayed that Chester couldn’t hear that. The great golden feline prowled outside. Peter watched a paw plat down through the hole in the wall as Chester searched.

The rest of his family had escaped,for that he was grateful. But if he didn’t make it out too, this new terror would destroy him. And without his crumb-smelling skills, Peter didn’t know his family would be ok. Especially since now they needed to find a new home. The giant ones brought Chester the day before, and many of his family had been lost in the swift exodus.

The meeting place was easy to get to. The base of the tree, that tall green tower they would always watch from the window.

Chester stopped at the sound of the massive front portal opening. The giants had returned. The feline spun once and padded into the front room to greet his feeders.

Peter ran.

His little claws clicked on the cold tile, faster than he’d ever run.

He burst out through the hole in the door they had gnawed through long ago for just this sort of emergency. He smiled at his great grandparents forward thinking, proud. His heart filled with happiness.

He ran through the reeds of green grass toward the tree with a wild smile.

Up ahead, he saw the huddled mass of mouse flesh hugging between two thick tree roots.

He raised up his paw and waved frantically, shouting out his joyous squeaks, knowing his family would now be ok.

He didn’t have time to see them shushing back quietly from their safe haven.

And he watched the tree shrink beneath him as the great taloned bird carried him to heaven.