Innocent by Nature

Innocent by Nature(Katie) The towns-animals gathered in City Square, upset and talking all at once. “Another attack, did you hear?” Murmurings spread through the crowd. The mayor, a rather large pig, stepped up to address the crowd. But among his grunts for attention, the animals just kept gossiping. A green-eyed cat stepped up to the mayor, swishing her tail gracefully as she meowed for everyone to quiet down. And they did, quite suddenly. All of the animals in the town respected this green-eyed cat. She always put forth a smile and a purr, and she pandered to the mayor’s every whim.

“Now, I’ve called this meeting to inform you that one of our dear citizens, Mr. Possum, has been attacked. We’re not sure to the extent of his injuries, but he is responding well in the infirmary. I’m enacting a curfew, to keep you safe. It seems these crimes have been taking place after dark. Lock your doors, and keep a watchful eye. Thank you.” Ending with a stutter, the mayor turned around quickly to leave. In an uproar, the crowd shouted. They needed more answers. A frog turned and pointed a slimy finger at a naked mole rat standing off to the side.

“And what do you think you’re doing? Standing there, saying nothing with that dark cloak shrouding your disfigured hideousness. You aren’t needed here.”

Before the naked mole rat could defend himself, the green-eyed cat stepped forward.

“Mr. Frog, these accusations you’re jumping to make it seem as if you have something to hide?” The cat’s voice raised, making the statement more of a question as she continued on, an edgy tone in her voice.

“We shouldn’t judge him because he looks different than the rest of us. But there could be a clue found in your words somewhere. Our friend, the mole rat, never comes to town meetings, so why start now? Have you something to hide Mr. Rat? Did you just want to look innocent by coming tonight, thinking we wouldn’t know you’re trying to disguise what you did? Or is it the sick fact you came to see the effect of your dirty work?” She raised a perfectly plucked furry eyebrow.

The mole rat stood quiet and spoke calmly, “You say don’t judge because I look different, but you go ahead and judge regardless. Could it be you’re trying to point out imperfections in someone else to distract from everything you’ve done? I was out walking last night, and I happened to see something odd. A long tail swished, disappearing around the corner ahead of me. I followed, seeing another figure being dragged to where they found the victim this morning. So to answer the question of why I came tonight, it was to know if the fellow was okay, and so I could tell everyone a little something I know.”

Trying not to show the nervousness in her eyes, the green cat took a small step backward.

“Isn’t curious that there are dark red stains on your nearly flawless fur coat and your nails happen to be bleached as if trying to hide something yourself?”

“Please, I doubt anyone here would take your word for anything that has happened.” The green eyed cat’s words swayed with uncertainty and the crowd moved closer, casually peering at what the mole rat pointed out.

“And isn’t it also interesting that they found a whisker and patch of silky flawless fur on the victim?” The mole rat kept firing out facts until the green eyed cat couldn’t take his words anymore.

“Stop. Stop. These, these things are untrue.” She whipped around, her tail swishing in anticipation. Everyone in the City Square stared at her. She watched, as the trust dissipated from their eyes and instead became a cold hatred. Perfect, that’s all she ever wanted to look, and now it was brought crashing down by an ugly and repulsive naked mole rat.

But no matter how many times she repeated her innocence, her attitude began to reflect the true poison within her. She dropped the act, cackled, and ran from the Square, leaving the towns-animals gawking and wide-eyed before breaking into a panic.