A Black Panther

 Good progress is being made in Owl Wood.  Of course this means that everywhere else is being neglected, especially the gardens.  Ah, well, I am definitely more of a woodswoman than a gardener.   The grass will eventually be mowed.

We tend to work for an hour and a half, then come indoors for a cup of tea, a rest, and then back out to work another session of picking, carrying, sorting and prepping.

Yesterday, George had opened his laptop and was enjoying catching up on the newspapers when little ginger Millie decided to join him, which was fine, until she spread herself over the keyboard and caused chaos.  He shooed her off and, in a huff, she began to leave.  A split second later she turned back and bit him, very hard.  He yelled and she ran.

Elderly Sparky had been snoozing on the window sill by my desk.   She lifted her head at the kerfuffle...and was transformed.  She had gone from being sick and scraggy and had become a fierce and powerful black panther.  Somehow she suddenly bulged with muscle and power (not fur)  as she made her way off the desk and over to the sofa where Millie had taken herself.

Her black panther gaze never wavered, she was totally focused on Millie.  Still as a statue, she oozed power.  A long pause.   Then she sprang, landed several knock out punches and a slash on Millie's nose.  To her credit, Millie didn't fight back, she took her punishment.  

Mission accomplished, Sparky became herself again.  She went over and checked on George, gave him a chirrup, then returned to her favourite day bed, the windowsill.  Back to sleep.

The little ginger cat demoted and told off by her elder, sat stock still for several minutes, doubtless wondering what on earth had happened,  then she quietly got down from the sofa and slunk to her favourite bed in the other room.

The mighty Sparky rules the roost and lives to fight another day.