• Pacing down the highway sidewalk, cars roaring past, splashing acid liquids everywhere. Many wonder how something could live in such an enviorment. Sometimes things are just unavoidable. Like the poisoning grasp of human hands. This is what wild animals live with everyday. Humans trash their forest, poison their waters, and polluting our air. Still, these things are unescapable due to the power and stupidity of humans. An innocent deer, struck down by a human-made monsters. Fish drowned due to the lack of oxygen and the amount of pollutants and poisons in their water.
    Yet, we live on. The strongest turn their back to the wind and bear through. It's difficult, and can seem hopeless at times, but we still go on. My name is Cloud Paws. I am a cat, living in a rural area, surrounded by humans and their disasterious creations. I am pelted with chunks of garbage, thrown to the wayside by passing cars. Acid water splashes into my nose, mouth and eyes. Rough roads scratch and tear my pads. But I still brave, I still face each danger with dignity, hoping someday I'll see the change in this world. But I still have my doubts.
    I once lived with humans, little did they know I understood everything they say. Sometimes they speak to me in meaningless ramble. I listen to their conversations they share with each other. I listen to what they believe is most important in their lives. Money. Food. But mostly it's stupid things. Like they wish for lower prices on things they shouldn't even be using. Gas. Oil. It's killing our world. The world we share, but they don't seem to notice its suffering.
    So naturally, I had to get away. See this nightmare for myself. As soon as the door was opened, I was gone. Racing down the paved streets, instantly despising this cruel land. I got as far as I could, reaching the highway. To my left, cars roared and payed little attention to the soaked cat on the side of the road. Occastionally, I'd see a young human, a mere child. They'd point and become excited. They parents would shush them, and drive away. I believe children can save this world. They are our future. And since this is so, can't they manipulate the future, making it better? Or would they grow to be like their elders, greedy, selfish monsters? I figure the second is more likely. To my right is forest and fields. A small stream trickles through, the water appearing clear. This could be a good start, I think.

    It's been a few weeks since I left the human domain. I've been living in a forest, sleeping in the roots if trees, lapping water from the surprisingly still clean stream, and hunting in the underbrush. Life is harder out here, but it's not as harsh as the smelly roads and dangerous chemicals. Wouldn't a cleaner world be a better world? Imagine it this way. A litter box, used. Disgusting, right? For all near it. Think of the world as a giant litter box for humans. Disgusting, smelly, and just plain nasty. It effects everyone, not just the user. Who cleans this litter box? Usually humans, but if the Earth was a litter box, I think it'd take everyone.
    During my journey, I've run into other cats. (Sometimes in the literal sense.) I discuss these matters with them, and they follow me. Some go off to start their own clan of believers, while some just follow. Misty, a gray pelted she-cat, has become rather close to me during our adventures. In total, there are six cats in our group. An unnatural number for a band of cats, usually it's just A cat, their partner, and sometimes their kits. But we aren't natural cats. We're cats with a purpose. Cats with a need. Cats with a cause.
    Now, many are probably wondering how we can safe the entire planet. Honestly, I don't think we can. But I'm sure eventually, the message will spread to all the species. Hopefully, by then they'd finally... Well, get the message.
    "Where to now, Cloud Paws?" Misty mewed into my ear.
    I hesitated. I honestly didn't know exactly where, just that we had to keep going. Surely that answer wouldn't satisfy them, since I'm supposed to be leading them. I rose, pointing my nose towards the deeper part of the woods.
    "We're more likely to find creatures who understand us there, considering that if they were smart, they'd stay away from humans."
    At least they accepted it, believeing me. They trust me completely. They believe in spreading the news just as much as I do. Sometimes I wonder if any of these cats are just here to have some cats to keep them safe.