A Curious Delivery on the Pier
A striped gray tabby padded softly across the weathered wood, balancing a thick slice of white bread between its teeth.
A few yards behind, an angler sat cross-legged with his fishing line cast into the mirror-like mountain lake.
The cat paused at the edge of the timber boards. Its tail arched high, flicking slightly at the tip.
It lowered its chin and nudged the bread forward until the crust tipped over the drop.
The slice fell and hit the clear water with a quiet slap, sending small ripples across the surface.
Patience at the Water’s Edge
Instead of turning back toward shore, the feline crouched low against the damp planks.
Its ears swiveled forward, locking onto the floating slice as lake currents drifted it a few inches outward.
The angler reeled his line slowly in the background, unaware of the animal’s sharp focus.
Under the surface, shadows shifted against the sunken stones and green lakebed weeds.
The cat stretched one white front paw out over the edge, tapping the water just once to nudge the bread.
Then it froze, belly pressed flat against the rough wood, whiskers trembling slightly.
The Strike
A dark silhouette rose swiftly through the emerald depth toward the drifting bread.
The cat dipped its nose down, bringing its eyes inches from the glassy surface.
In a split-second lunge, the feline plunged its head straight into the cold mountain water.
Water sprayed into the air as the cat clamped its jaws firmly around a wriggling bass.
Behind on the pier, the fisherman dropped his rod hand and his mouth fell wide open.
The cat hauled the heavy fish upward over the wooden rim, landing all four paws back onto the planks.
Walking Away With the Catch
Droplets flew from the fish’s silver flanks as it flapped against the cedar boards.
The angler remained on his knees with his jaw slack, eyes fixed on the four-legged hunter.
The cat gripped the bass firmly behind the gills, lifting its head high to keep the tail from dragging along the pier.
Turning away from the lake, the tabby marched steadily down the centerline of the dock toward dry ground, carrying its catch past the open-mouthed fisherman.
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