following the loner

A pretty, gray, striped she-cat opened her eyes. She lay on a cozy, soft nest in the den of Twolegs. Murka slowly rose and padded through the dim light toward the partly open window. Her tiny bell, hanging from her red collar, let out a soft chime, cutting through the dead silence. The she-cat leaped down into the garden, onto the wet grass, still bright green from the recent rain. The air smelled of dampness, and she fluffed out her fur against the chill. Swaying slightly, she climbed onto the wooden fence and fixed her gaze on the field that stretched before her. The field spread across the whole horizon, as far as she could see, and only in the distance could she make out the shapes of an oak grove near a pale-green hill. Murka often came here to admire the view, and each time her curious heart pulled her farther toward the unknown lands, beyond the edge of the world. Casting a sideways glance at the Twoleg nest, the she-cat made up her mind. Leaping down from the fence, she let out an annoyed snort as she landed in a patch of wet grass. But how will I find food? Maybe it grows in the bushes... a thought crossed her mind. I'll just go a little way — there and back! she reassured herself, and padded through the tall grass. Ahead of her, the sun rose slowly, lighting the top of the distant hill and the oak grove. The fire spread across the sky, cutting through the darkness. The first playful rays lit up the field, and Murka's pelt began to gleam in the sunlight. It felt as though this could go on forever — until her whiskers trembled with fear, her ears flattened against her head, and from behind her came the sound of barking...