My older brother is staying with me on weekends lately. He usually brings his cat with him. Nuka is a crazy calico, who doesn't get along well with my gray tabby, Stone. Stone's got a bit of the Wild in her, so I know she can take care of herself, but she opts instead to just head outside (where Nuka can't go) and roam around to cool her temper.

She did that earlier this night (well, yesterday night, it's technically morning now). I was a little worried because I don't like letting my animals out in the chill, but she seemed sure of herself.

While I was typing up some correspondence, I head a noise that made my blood run cold. It was a howling and a yipping...

Coyotes.

Damn things roam around here. We hardly ever see them, but they're around and if they get hungry, they can be a threat even to full-grown livestock. A lot of people disregard them because they're scavengers, they're not as tough as wolves, and they're rather cowardly, but make no mistake, coyotes can be pack hunters when properly motivated. These are animals that send out females in heat to lure dogs away from their homes, then close in as a group for the kill. They have no scruples, and will assault a pregnant heifer just because she's slower than the other cattle.

They would probably also have tried to go after my cat. I don't know how I would have reacted if Stone never came back. Depression is a likely bet.

Once I heard the calls, I grabbed my boots, jacket, head lamp and my hatchet, and I headed out to see what was what. The moon aided me, as it is rather full and bright tonight, with hardly a cloud in the sky (that should change in the next couple days, thank you Lake Ontario). I was able to see extremely far. The corn fields next to my house looked abandoned and I saw no movement in them. However, as I searched the yards around my house, I couldn't find my cat. I called out quietly for her, hoping she would respond.

Finally, standing next to the old garden, I heard something running up behind me. I turned around and my headlamp reflected back two little dots that were Stone's eyes as she hopped into the middle of the yard and stopped to wait for me to pick her up. I don't know where she was, I don't know what she was doing, but I'm so relieved she's okay.