[ WP ] My cat comes home nearly every morning with cuts and scratches all over . Write about what he could be getting up to on his nights out .

I spent the day arguing with my superiors. They could n't send a simple vice cat on another drug bust. They've been continually hounding me about turning the promotion down. I did n't want to get tangled up in the Fluffy Family ring again. It always led back to them. 
 
 For the briefest moment, I allow my thoughts to wander to a gorgeous dame with eyes as blue as the sky and a coat whiter than freshly fallen snow. I shook myself out of my revelry. She was n't coming back. Not ever. Why she had ever fallen for a scarred up, mackerel-stripped, everyday Joe like me, I'd never know. 
 That one memory firmed his resolve. It was n't worth all the fresh fish in the world. I yowled my protests until my secretary yelled at me to `` Shut the hell up!''. 
 `` Secretaries,'' I snorted. They were only good for feeding and the occasional massage. 
 
 I got quiet as one last message came. The oldest Fluffy son was extorted some gal to peddle product downtown. She was described as a high-class broad with a white coat and blue eyes. Damn. The higher ups knew our past. My one hope became my one weakness. I'd take the case. 
..... 
 My secretary always let me out at night. She did n't want to, but I was insistent. Sure I was a small cat in a big world, but this was important. I'd be back by morning. 
 I ran downtown as fast as my four paws could carry me. I had to move quickly to intercept the next shipment. 
 
 First, a stop at my contact's hole in the wall. He had the balls to call it a home. 
 
 `` Ralph!'' I yelled. `` Get your two-bit tail out here!'' 
 
 A small, whiskered nose peaked out. 
 
 `` I know why you're here. I ca n't help you this time, boss. All us bums are on lock down by the Family.'' 
 
 Rats. I rolled my eyes. I'd get him to squeak. I struck lightning fast and pulled him out with my claws. He fought me at first, but a few scratches and nibbles on my thick hide were nothing these days. I pressed a claw delicately against his tiny throat. 
 
 `` What's the news, Ralph? What's the Family peddling this time? Spoiled tuna? Laser pointers from the Chinese?'' 
 
 He squealed delightfully under the weight of my paw. I had to fight a history of evolution not to finish the kill. I grit my teeth and reminded myself I needed him. He was my biggest contact in the underground. I pressed my claw in, drawing a drop of blood. I had been at my scratching post all day. 
 
 `` It's Nip, alright!'' 
 
 `` That ca n't be it. The captain said it was way bigger than something as smuggled Nip.'' 
 
 Nip was n't technically illegal. Hell, I had a mouse filled with it waiting for me at home. But polite society did n't like too much flooding the market. A little made the humans giggle and pet us. Too much could cause chaos in the streets. 
 
 `` Yeah, but this time it's'Keet Nip.'' 
 
 `` The hell it is, you miserable scab!'' 
 
 `` God's honest truth, boss! The Family's been handing out samples of product across the city. Tonight is when the big shipment comes in from South America at the shipyards.'' 
 
 Damn. This was big. Some cats felt that putting a little parakeet beak in the Nip made the high better. When I was a street cat, I got my hands on some and I think it's all a farce encouraged by the Mafia to line their pockets a little more. The problem is the'keets are usually stolen from pet store supplies coming up from Columbia. One or two missing is usually shrugged off, but I've seen entire crates emptied of every shred of evidence. We do n't need the two-legs starting to ask questions. They're dumb, but even a blind cat can find the scratching post sometime. 
 I threw Ralph down and took off toward the docks. I knew that every second was going to count. 
 I made it to the docks as the ship was pulling in. I could see Fluffy goons prowling every inch of the dock. I stayed in the shadows and somehow managed to avoid all the morons the Family saw fit to pay to protect. I slunk behind a box within hearing distance of Smokey, the oldest son of the Fluffy family. Just as the crates were being unloaded. 
 
 `` Well, boys, looks like we're getting paid tonight!'' 
 
 As I tried to ease closer, I sensed someone behind me. Too late I turned to get a carefully manicured set of claws across my eyes as a distraction a knock to the back of my noggin that set my head spinning. The last thing I remember as everything faded to black was a pair of sad sapphire eyes. Stupid broad. From her claws to her appearance, she's always attacked my eyes. 
... 
 I came to slowly with Smokey and a massive black cat covered in scars speaking in a dialect I could n't understand. 
 
 I did n't need to understand the words to know the product had been delivered successfully. As I regained full consciousnesses, I realized I was tangled in fine netting probably used for fishing. An involuntary groan escaped my mouth. 
 
 `` Ah. I see your awake.'' 
 
 `` Go eat some antifreeze, you dirty son of a bitch!'' 
 
 `` Now, now. That's not the kind of language you use in front of a lady.'' 
 
 `` I do n't know that I would call a dame who traded her freedom for some caviar and fancy collars a lady.'' 
 
 I stared at her unwavering. She looked away. I saw the shame in her eyes before she turned. I hated hurting her like that, but she left me for them. Not a day goes buy I do n't think about that. 
 Smokey gestured to his lackeys to lift the net from me. 
 
 `` Let's be civil about this.'' 
 
 `` Civility is usually reserved for cats on a more legal path,'' I quickly retorted. 
 
 My brain was working quickly. I looked at everything surrounding me. I think I had a plan, but it relied heavily on luck. Let's see if lady luck still held me in her favor for another night. 
 Smokey hissed at me, displaying an intimidating array of fangs. 
 I backed away from him slowly. I only had a small distance between myself and the edge of the docks. Smokey stalked towards me with an arrogant curl to his lips. 
 
 `` Fear? Are you getting a little tired of your life? The Family still wants you dead.'' 
 
 `` I know. It's exhausting looking over my shoulder every night.'' I edged back a little more. `` I never know if my next meal is going to have a little extra something that will send me to that big little box in the sky.'' 
 Smokey was now face-to-face with me, grinning so wide I could smell what he had for breakfast this morning. 
 
 `` Come work for us again. We could use you.'' 
 
 I acted quickly. I kicked the net under him. He unconsciously tried to step away, but his paw got tangled. I took the moment of surprise and tackled him. We both went over the edge of the dock. I desperately threw my claws out and flailed to grab the wood siding. Smokey was n't so lucky. Fishing nets tend to be weighted. I heard one last howl before bubbles slowly consumed his slow decent to the bottom of the harbor. 
 
 I climbed my way slowly to the flat surface of the dock. I was bruised from my jostle over the edge. I just wanted to go to sleep for a week. I looked around and, as predicted, not a single cat was in sight. The Colombian had already gotten his pay. Similarly, the goons were n't loyal to anything but the paw that handed out the tuna. 
 She was gone, too. She was chained to the Family and they would expect a detailed report. 
 
 I pushed struggled for awhile to push the box over the edge of the docks to join Smokey then headed home. It took me until dawn to make it back. I curled up at the entryway. I was gone when my secretary opened the door and picked me up. 
 
 `` Mister Fluffy! Who did you get into a fight with this time?'' 
 
 She brought me in, cleaned my cuts and put me on her bed. 
 
 I had escaped the Family again, but they would n't be happy I killed my own brother.
