JOURNAL ENTRY #6

"Runt of the litter who has been displaced from the Pride" brought in a familiar looking female human today, the same one who helped me escape from "Old woman that smells like dying animals". It would appear that she is also a member of the Pride, but like any respectable female of the species, goes out and hunts for food while the males stay behind and...ah...guard the turf. She is a very effective hunter, and managed to bring her prey in alive, thus keeping it fresh during her trek through the wilderness outside. I was surprised, of course, to find that the prey was one of my own species, a young kitten by the name of "shiny fur that reflects the light in a pattern that makes me want to bat at it", or Shiny for short.

It was obviously a test to see if I was worthy of being their leader.

The female whom I shall name "Slayer of the young who does not lick her paws afterward," set the kitten before me, and she and Runt watched expectantly. Obviously they were testing both my loyalty as well as my prowess as a fighter. After all, they cannot be bothered with Pridemates who cannot pull their own weight. In any event, I believe if I am to lead this Pride I must adapt to their primative ways. I gave an apologetic nod to Shiny, and then proceded to devour her whole, giving the two of them a subtle sign that, yes, I am not only an acceptable Leader, but also that if they want to eat, they must share in the dirty work as well, for neither of them got to eat from the fresh kill.

It seems that I upset Slayer with my actions, had she a tail, it would have been swishing. Obviously she was very hungry and expected me to share. I am not a greedy leader, and apologized by coughing up some of the bones in her shoes that she left by the moving wall that leads outside. That way she knows I care, but had to enforce my stance. I will tolerate no slack within the ranks of my Pride.

In any event, this experience taught me something new. Previously I believed that their word for the feline species was a strange serious of sounds that sound like "Choo-Choo Bear," as they rarely seemed to say this combination of sounds without looking at me, or smelling like they were referring to me. As it turns out, when another feline was around, they called it something diffent. I have come to suspect that these primative creatures actually named me, as I named them!

Still, I cannot let them know I have figured out part of their language, or it might make my life more difficult. I will endeavor to hide the knowledge of my name and ignore when they call it out, just in case. A good leader also knows when to let his Pride talk amongst themselves while keeping an open ear.

JOURNAL ENTRY #7

Apparently our territory is more expansive than I once believed; a new Pridemate showed up. I have named her "Eyes that reflect the whole of the room around her like a still pond of water." There appears to be some sort of competitive streak within the females of my Pride, for they both positively reek of The Hunt. Even when they sit still, I can see their desire to pounce and attack, muscles constantly tensing any time there is a challenge. They are formidable opponents; their size and strength matched with their feral nature makes me slightly nervous. Still, I can show no sign of weakness. I simply will not allow more females to join the Pride. I can handle two. Runt may or may not be of some help in this, but three females will be too much to handle. I'll make a mental note to remove any further ones he brings to our dwelling.

In any event, this new female, Eyes, felt the need to test me as her leader, before accepting me. This time she brought one of her own. Shortly after Runt allowed Eyes within the territory, I was suddenly grabbed and thrust out the door at the prey she had left outside. The message was quite simple. Kill, or be killed. I cannot imagine how I have managed to join such a bloody Pride, but I asceded to their wishes and demonstrated my Prowess once more. Runt and Eyes looked on approvingly as I began to feast on the remains. This time I left them some remains to feast upon. I even gave them the best part, the entrails. This was also a subtle message of what should befall them if they cross me.

If it is blood they wish for, it is blood they shall have. For I am Choo-Choo Bear, and this is my Pride.

JOURNAL ENTRY #8

There have been a lot of events lately. Truly I live in Interesting Times.

Apparently there has been a vie for power amongst the females of our Pride. No doubt they were deciding over who would have the honor of breeding the new litter. I'm wasn't quite certain how to demonstrate to them that this is not physically possible, their minds simply cannot comprehend higher sciences like us felines. Still, if biology has taught me nothing else, I've learned that females must be allowed their hormones occasionally. Imagine my great relief and surprise that Slayer and Eyes were not quarreling over me, but rather over Runt.

Though it is my honor as Leader of the Pride to be the only one to mate with the females, I really don't see any point in enforcing this towards the humans. Let Runt have his fun with them, as long as they all know who the leader is. Runt, however, had different plans.

Both females arrived with fire in their eyes and claws extended. I watched, idly, from the comfort of Runt's lap as they yowled and hissed at one another. I'm not sure which would have won, but I know from Runt's scent that he was angry. Though he has been desperate to mate since I've joined the Pride, he could not tolerate this lack of poise and respect around their Leader.

I now know that I can trust him with anything. In the face of these two formidable females, he stood with me in combat against them. Together we showed Slayer and Eyes that disrespect towards me would not be tolerated under any circumstances. It was a lesson hard-learned for the two of them, but one they must heed if they wish to remain a part of the Pride.

JOURNAL ENTRY #9

I had no idea it would come to this.

It should have occurred to me before now! Before I arrived, Runt was the Leader of the Pride. My arrival and subsequent coup has placed him in the category of recessive male. He still has not mated with either of the two females, though I can tell by his scent that he would not mind it. When he left yesterday, I had my suspicions. He took his collection of dead prey and left with a certain scent that said "Goodbye".

And then he left.

My closest friend and adopted brother. My pridemate and enforcer. My most trusted lieutenant. Gone.

I know why he left. I have taken over his Pride, but the blood of a leader rages within him too. Rather than betray and turn on me, his Choo-choo, he would rather leave to form a new Pride of his own. Though I am proud of him for his ambition, and wish him well in his newfound quest, I am so saddened by his absence. The dwelling seems empty without his constant running about.

Now an intruder has come into the dwelling, a new male human, though distinctly familiar. I do not like his scent, never have. Now, without my enforcer and friend, this stranger whom I have named "mostly Hairless male human except in the area of his mouth," comes over, scouting out the territory.

I do not have the heart to kill him right now. I only wish to grieve. Let Hairless scout for now, I will deal with him later. Should he try to touch me again I will have to forego my grieving period and slay him. I wish to avoid this, though, as I'm not certain I can eat the whole thing before it spoils.

JOURNAL ENTRY #10

Runt came back! Runt came back! Oh the happy times ahead. I was so excited when he returned I ran to the bathroom to urinate on his towel as a sign of our bond as Pridemates. This excited him as well and we wrestled a bit as he shouted in what could only be glee, occasionally pointing at the towel with his other paw.

Since then, it has been fairly slow times. Life has returned to normal, the females are behaving and I've been introduced to a few new Pridemates. I've done a fairly good job of keeping the number of females down to two. Occasionally one will come in that I recognize, but they are from different Prides.

Sometimes though, some stray female will follow Runt to our territory and I will have to drive her back out in order to protect the social pecking order. Runt must have gotten it out of his system for a while and wasn't actually intending on leaving the Pride forever.

I really am happy here. It was terrible to be without my little Runt, but it's nice to see he's all grown up now. And now, for a nice relaxing nap in the shampoo bottle.