Chapter 3: Tree Top Territory!

"Huff." I let out a cute sigh as I explored my territory, I was bored and I had nothing to do except eat, talk, and sleep. Besides that, the only thing I found edible was grass and fish, how great…

My paws gently pressed on the ground as I jumped up to a tree branch on a very tall tree. "Hup!" I made another jump to a higher branch as I continued my way up the tree.

"Hup! Hup! Hup! Hup...!"

I jumped one more time and got on a sturdy branch on the highest point of the tree, not that I'm heavy or anything, but any further up and the branches would snap in half.

The wind gently swayed my fur to the beat it made as I look towards the green horizon. Nothing but trees, waterfalls, rivers, large beasts, and the boundless emerald forest could be seen.

"Hahhh… what a scene. I really like the view; it would be nice if I had other people to talk to it about." I meowed absentmindedly as I reminisced the very boring life I had till now.

"Ah, well." I meowed. "I have Daniella, don't I? Too bad she won't be able to see the view because she's human and very heavy for the branches to support her weight."

"I can't speak to her though, not like she could understand da wae of CATS." I snickered to myself at my joke. I sighed to myself, life as a cat in a forest is too boring!

"If I was given another chance to jump to another world, even as a cat, I would do it." I spoke to myself as I scratched the bark on the tree, giving me a feeling of satisfaction. "This world is boring~."

A squirrel popped up from above and saw me scratching at the bark as it let out angry noises. "What? Okay someone's mad, Go cry about it *****." I spoke as I flaunted my fur and rubbed my scent all over.

"The squirrel took, an enraged look, looks like it took the hook~." I snorted as the squirrel jumped at me in rage. I got out of the way as I kicked the thing off the branch.

The thing screeched as it fell down the tree and hit the ground hard. "Oof… that must have broken a bone or two." I turn around to sense the presence of squirrels, many, many squirrels.

"Ohoh? Wanna fight?" I taunted as I released my mana in one quick flare for intimidation. I wouldn't doubt if the squirrels were to see me as a demon right now.

"Give me your bravest warrior! I will fight him to death, if I lose, I surrender this tree." My hissing rang out on the tree as I amplified the aura I gave off.

"And he loses, your clan will forfeit this tree!" I hissed at them again as they went into decision making. They gathered and whispered to each other, whatever their plans were.

And finally, a big and large squirrel, decorated with battle scars from what I assume came from the claws of several other predators in this forest alike me. "It seems you are their guardian." I spoke.

"Indeed." The said guardian spoke. "I am their wall and defender; I will defeat you to secure our home and normal life." He added with both confidence and seriousness in his voice.

"Alright." I shouted. "Let the fight for supremacy over this tree begin!" I shot towards the squirrel as he dodged with swift speed while swiping at me for a counter, which I blocked with my claws.

We enter dead lock as I smacked my tail at him. He drifted to the left as I backed away. "You are one goo fighter to be able to match strikes with me." I praised.

"Thank you, but it is needed for the position of guardian of squirrel clan." He replied. "No matter, we aren't here to talk, let us cast aside chatter and get down to the show down."

"Sprint," I muttered as I felt my body spring forth with immense speed. I zipped around the tree for a good round before finally building enough speed for an attack.

I went for a slash on the squirrel's leg as suddenly, the squirrel reacted. My eyes widen as he muttered something. "Slash." With my own reaction speed, I dodged the attack with the width of a hair.

"You are surely deserving of your title!" I shouted as I unleashed my own slash skill, while he also unleashed his. Our claws got into contact with each other as we entered dead lock again.

The deciding factor of this grueling fight was who had more raw power over the other. And I am glad I have a lot of mana to reinforce my body with. "Raaagh!"

I shouted as I pushed my claws forward and made the squirrel kneel and fall to the ground. I pushed further as my claws went near the squirrel's neck. "Surrender or die." I spoke.

The squirrel let out a deep breathe while sweating while thinking about the consequences if he says, 'I surrender.' If he does, his clan's home will be lost, if he doesn't, he will die, and his clan will suffer without him.

"I surrender." He spoke. "Good, this is my territory now, and you will now be my tenants from now on." I replied curtly. "You're not chasing us out?" The squirrel spoke.

"No. Why would I? I need people to live in my territory, else it'll be a ghost place where I am the only one living in." I answered as I turned around to the edge of the branch.

The squirrels gathered in groups in different branches as they bowed before me. "Many thanks, Sovereign." The squirrels mutually spoke as I turned my head to see them.

"Good, be brave and loyal servants and I shall grant you protection. I'm leaving for now, and I'm coming back tomorrow" I spoke as I jumped off the branch, freefalling.

I tucked my legs as I barrel rolled in the air, diminishing the effect of acceleration by dispersing it outwards and then spreading my legs to cover as much surface area for air resistance.

I felt the change in speed as I neared the ground. "Feather-fall." I spoke curtly as all my four legs softly landed on the ground and dispersed the force I carry into the ground.

"Ohoh~ That was exhilarating, to be honest with my opinion. I should do that every time I visit this particularly tall tree." I stretched my legs as I began walking balk towards the stream where I could find Daniella.

While doing so, I encountered several things that I didn't on my way here. "The world sure is big." I meowed to myself as I continued my pace towards the sound of gentle gushing water.

As I arrived, I saw Daniella gently collecting water from the stream with a wooden bowl I materialized with my mana. She bent over towards the tree and put her hand on it for support.

She scooped a bowl of water as she turned her hair back so she could see. "Is it in?" She asked herself as I just admired the scene, snapping back to reality as Daniella greeted me. "Sera!"

"Hello! Have some dihydrogen monoxide." I meowed back in response as I walked towards her and put some water in her bowl. Holy, that image burnt too much inside my mind that I can't even pronounce water normally.

"Thank you," Daniella spoke as she curtly as she gulped down the water. Some of the water spilled on her clothes as I looked away. "Today's weather is hot, apparently." I meowed to myself.

But anyways, I went to the stream as I found fish to catch for today. As usual, I scared some of the said fish into the rock wall trap and… *crash* … using my dive skill, I swim in the water and catch the fish!

And again, sadly, because I know how to materialize fire, I was the one to cook/roast the fish. "Nya~ Fish is delicious alright." I meowed as I savored the taste of roasted fish.

"Ouch, that hurts." I looked up to see Daniella eating the fish as I just shook my head, she got poke by the fish bones again! I continued eating my portion of lunch with eagerness.

"And yeah, why don't I get poked by fish bone? I don't know, cat perks, I guess?" I meowed out as I lay down on the grass with my belly a bit bloated with fish.

"Hahhh…" Daniella sighed as she leaned to a tree nearby, looking down. "It's so boring, I have nothing to do." She spoke as I looked at her and stood up and walked towards her.

I rubbed against her as I purred softly, Daniella chuckled as she put her hand on my back and caressed it. "Well, I could play you to pass time, I guess. It always works."

Yes, we did play. Was it childish? Yes. Did it help solve the problem of boredom and entertainment? Yes. What did we play? ...That's for you to guess.

"Nya~." I let out a meow as I got out of the stream, fully wet with water, dropping the fish I caught into the plate I materialized. The sun began to set so I think it was time I got some food for us.

This time, I just lit up a bonfire and let Daniella do the roasting, she must do something! I can't just be the one to provide food and then cook it, I'm too lazy for that.

We ate the fish as the rest of the night was spent with listening to crickets' songs, singing along with the wind, putting out the bonfire by pouring water over it, and finally, sleeping and let tomorrow handle its problem.