Snickers sniffed the dry pebbles in his bowl. He took some in his mouth and crunched them, their tasteless flavor lingering on his tongue. He padded across the tiled floor, heading for the door. One of his housefolk walked into the food-room, and he purred. Snickers scratched the door lightly. Still purring, the male twoleg opened the door and Snickers darted out into the yard. Snickers stretched his tabby and white legs, and blinked his large, innocent blue eyes. At nearly seven moons, he still was fairly small and kitlike. "Good morning, Snickers." A mew called from the top of a fence. "Hi, Fairy!" He replied. The white she-cat leaped down into his yard. Her silver collar, with a silver jingley bell on it, tinkled as she landed. Snickers batted at it. Fairy stiffled a purr. "I see you're playful as usual, young un'." She meowed, swiping at his ears. "Hey!" Snickers laughed, swiping back. He aimed a blow at her muzzle, and striked out with his arm. He hit Fairy lightly. "Fairy!" A shrill twoleg voice sounded. "Gotta go, Snickers. See ya later." She jumped over the fence and disappeared on the other side. Snickers observed the yard. A few rose bushes lined the fence, and there was an oak tree in one corner. The branches shaded the yard and sunlight filtered through the leaves. There were stone things with marigolds and herbs in them. Snickers wondered if his housefolk used them. A butterfly flew past his nose. Sneezing, he snapped back into reality. Snickers batted at the orange and black insect. He made a terrific jump and brought it down. "I can probably catch birds, too!" He mewed to himself. Maybe even a rabbit, He thought. Fairy'd be impressed! He puffed out his small white chest. As the day stretched on the twoleg kits came home and out into the yard, where Snickers was busily chasing a drifting feather. The younger kit, a male twoleg, walked over and picked him up. Snickers purred as the older female kit scratched behind his ears. "Soft kittypets! All so fat and dumb. I can't beleive we had to come here for catmint." A tom's voice suddenly struck his ears. A deeper voice spoke in reply. "Especially that Jamba cat. He was a real pain in the rump." Growls of agreement acknowleged two she-cats. Squeaks of kits echoed in the alley outsdide the fence. Snickers guessed they were well younger than him.