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“Have you ever heard the legend of the Catarinaprus?”
That’s the question that started it all.
It was during lunchtime, and Dogday, a high school student, was eating lunch with his two friends, Kickin and Bubba.
“What…?” He replied, looking at Kickin, who just asked that question.
“It’s an urban legend I heard.” Kickin says, eating a carrot stick. “Supposedly, if a young man goes into the Gemberry woods alone at night, a demon called the Catarinaprus eats them.” He says. “That’s how three guys went missing last summer.”
Dogday’s eyes widen. “R-really…?”
Bubba rolls his eyes. “C’mon, Kickin, that’s just a myth.” He says, De-shelling some more peanuts. “There’s no such thing as a Catarinaprus.”
“Oh yeah?” Kickin says, elbowing him. “Why don’t you go into the woods at night then?”
Bubba huffs. “Because even if there are no demons, people can still get lost.” He says. “That’s probably what happened to those three boys.”
Kickin 'laughs. “Chicken.” He says cockily.
Bubba smirks a bit. “Speak for yourself.”
The three laugh.
“Seriously though,” Bubba says, adjusting his glasses. “I don’t think it’s real.”
“Oh come on, yes it is.” Kickin says, elbowing him again.
“No, it’s not.” Bubba says.
“Yes it is!”
“No, it’s not!”
“It is!”
“It’s not!”
“Guys! Guys! Stop fighting!” Dogday says. “How about I go into the woods to see if it’s real?”
Bubba and Kickin looked at him, shocked.
“D-dude, don’t do that!” Kickin says. “You’re gonna get eaten by the demon!”
Bubba groans. “No, you’ll just get lost. There IS no demon.”
Dogday stands up. “Listen guys, I'll go into the woods and take my phone so I won’t get lost, and a camera.”
He looks to Kickin. “If I see the demon, I'll take some pictures of it for you to brag to bubba about…”
Then he looks at bubba. “And if I don’t, I'll get Kickin to admit that you were right.”
He looks at both of them. “Deal?”
Bubba and Kickin look at each other, nod, then look at Dogday. “Deal.”
Dogday smiles. “Good.”
~that evening~
Dogday was in his room, packing the things he’d need for his little nature hike.
“Let’s see. Snacks, Flashlight, Camera…” he says, putting them in his bag.
“And of course,” he said, lifting up his silver pocket watch, “The most important thing.” He said, clipping it to his belt loop.
The watch had been given to him by one of his siblings, and he’d promised to give it back when he saw them next.
Once he was ready, he went down the stairs and out the door, then walked all the way down the sidewalk to the end of the street.
Across the road was the wild gemberry woods, the dense forest that people rarely went into, and even more rarely went out of.
After crossing the street, Dogday takes a breath, and walks in.
It was dark and damp, him mostly walking on dead leaf mulch and twigs.
He gets his flashlight out of his bag, turning it on and looking around as he walks.
So far, all he could see were trees, trees, and more trees.
No creatures around here except for the occasional squirrel or raccoon.
He continued walking for about a half an hour, not a trace of any monsters. Just even more trees, little animals, owls, and leaf mulch.
‘Looks like Bubba is gonna win the bet’, he thinks to himself.
When he reached a clearing in the woods, his flashlight suddenly went out.
“Darn, must be out of batteries…” he said, putting it back in his bag.
“Oh well, it's probably time to go back anyway.” He says, turning back around and hoping this was the way he came from.
Suddenly, he hears something, stopping dead in his tracks.
He heard something that sounded like very loud purring, and the air started to smell vaguely of lavender.
Slowly and cautiously… he turned around.
Something was behind him.
He couldn’t see the creature very well, all he could see of it was the vague outline of something tall and lanky, almost skeletal, and the dim white glow of its circular pupils.
Dogday didn’t look at it for another nanosecond before he ran.
He ran all the way through the forest brush, not knowing whether the monster was chasing him or not, and didn’t stop until he had gone all the way through the neighborhood and was safe at home.
“Hooo boy!” He said as he closed the door behind him, hyperventilating. “What a night…”
He hastily hung up his bag, then went to have a shower.
Dogday really hoped what he saw in those woods was just a hallucination.
He didn’t sleep well that night.
~the next morning~
Thankfully, the next day was Saturday, meaning Dogday didn’t have to get up early.
After sleeping in for a bit, his phone buzzes.
He sleepily sits up, getting it and seeing he has a message from Kickin:
xx_CoolStar_xx: Yooooo
xx_CoolStar_xx: waddup dawg
Dogday giggles.
Bestboi031: lol good morning Kickin
xx_CoolStar_xx: so did you see the Catarinaprus
Dogday shudders, remembering what he saw last night.
Bestboi031: well I dunno WHAT it was but I didn’t exactly SEE it
Bestboi031: I only heard the monster sounds in the dark but I know it was some kind of beast
Bestboi031: Didn’t get any photos though :(
xx_CoolStar_xx: DUUUUDE NO WAY
xx_CoolStar_xx: man I can’t wait for Monday to rub Bubba’s long stupid nose in it
Dogday laughs.
Bestboi031: easy there tiger we don’t know if it was really the legend yet
xx_CoolStar_xx: I mean what else could it be
Bestboi031: I dunno but it was not natural
xx_CoolStar_xx: I know it was the Catarinaprus
xx_CoolStar_xx: next time you go in the forest get picturessss
Dogday sighed, strained.
Bestboi031: okayyy I promise I will but today I need a break
xx_CoolStar_xx: fair enough
xx_CoolStar_xx: get some R&R, catch ya later bro
Bestboi031: okay I will, same to you, bye bye
He then sets his phone down, getting out of bed to go have a shower.
After he was clean and dressed, he looked through the bag he’d had last night to make sure he didn’t drop anything.
He hadn’t, which was good.
He then checks the pants he wore last night…
And his stomach dropped.
He’d somehow lost his pocket watch.
“Oh no…” he said. “I must have accidentally unhooked it!”
This only meant one thing…
He’d have to go back into the woods.
He whimpers.
“Why did I have to bring that… I should have just left it at home…” he says, afraid.
“Oh well… if I don’t give that back to sunset, he’ll hate me…” he says, getting up and repacking his bag.
He sighs, strained. “Back into the woods I go…”
~transitron 900~
Dogday was scared, walking back through the wild woods.
Even though it was Daytime and he could see a lot better, he was still scared of whatever beast he encountered last night.
He eventually came to the forest clearing, which he thought was approximately where he ran into whatever that thing was last night.
Even though he was frightened, he kept looking around for his pocket watch.
He looked and looked, under every rock and log, in hollow tree holes and even under the brush, but he couldn’t find it.
He sighs sadly, about to give up.
“E-excuse me…?”
Said a quiet voice.
Dogday jumped, turning around and looking at who said that.
It was a young cat man with lavender colored fur, who looked about his age.
Dogday smiles nervously. “Uh, hello!” He says with a little wave. “Do you need something..?”
The Cat smiles back. “I-is this item yours…?” He says, offering something.
Dogday looks down at it to see…
His pocket watch!
He gasps and his eyes sparkle. “Yes!” He says, taking it. “Oh thank you for finding it!”
He puts it in his pocket. “I was so worried when I lost this thing.”
The cat giggles a bit. “You’re welcome.” He says quietly. “I'm glad you got it back.”
Dogday then looks at the cat with a friendly smile.
“I’m Dogday.” He says. “What’s your name?”
The cat looks down, nervous.
“M-my name is Catnap.”
Dogday smiles. “That’s a cute name!”
Catnap looks up at him, blushing a bit.
“R-really..?”
Dogday nods. “Yeah!”
Catnap blushes a bit. “T-thank you!”
Dogday giggles. “You’re welcome!”
He steps a bit closer. “So what are you doing in this creepy forest?”
Catnap looks a little nervous.
“Uh… I'm not sure actually…” he says. “I think I kinda wandered in here and got lost…”
Dogday frowns. “Oh dear.”
Catnap smiles. “But hey, it’s not all bad.” He says. “I did meet someone nice.”
Dogday tilts his head. “Who?”
Catnap giggles and boops his nose.
“You, silly!”
Dogday giggles too. “Oh yeah!”
Catnap then scratches his ear. “So, uh… you wanna hang out for a bit?”
Dogday nods. “Sure, why not?”
The two sat down on a fallen log, and spent the rest of the day talking, about everything and nothing in particular.
Catnap learned that Dogday's favorite color was purple and his favorite food was peanut butter, and dogday learned that catnap’s favorite color was orange and his favorite food was sushi.
And many other things like that.
When the sun starts to set, Dogday stands up. “Well, it’s getting pretty late.” He says. “I best be getting home.”
Catnap’s ears droop sadly. “Do you have to go?”
Dogday nods with a sad smile. “I’m afraid so…” he says.
He then brightens up. “Hey, would you maybe wanna come hang out at my place?”
Catnap looks down. “I-i'd love to, but I can’t…” he says.
Dogday’s smile fades. “Why not?”
Catnap looks at him solemnly.
“I gotta get home before dark.” He says.
Dogday snaps his fingers. “Aww darn.” He says.
He looks at Catnap. “Maybe tomorrow then?”
Catnap smiles a bit. “Yeah, maybe tomorrow.”
Dogday smiles back as he walks away.
“Bye catnap!” He says, waving.
Catnap waves back. “Goodbye.”
~the next day~
It was late Sunday afternoon, and Dogday was looking forward to spending time with his new friend.
Suddenly, his phone starts ringing.
He answers it with a “Yo Daze! Have you got the pictures yet?”
Dogday laughs. “No, Kickin, I haven’t got the pictures yet.”
“Darn… we'll get the pictures soon, I really wanna prove to Bubba that he’s wrong for once!”
Dogday laughs. “Well when I went back into the forest yesterday to get my pocket watch I didn’t see the Catarinaprus.”
“Duh.” Kickin responds. “The beast only comes out at night.”
Dogday rolls his eyes. “Fine, I’ll go back tonight, and see if I can get pictures.”
“Awesome!” Kickin says. “Don’t let me down, bro!”
Dogday giggles. “I’ll do my best!”
~Later that evening~
Dogday slowly walks into the clearing, having replaced the batteries in his flashlight and sitting on his favorite log.
“I was wondering when you’d show up.”
He jumps at the voice, then laughs, seeing it was just his new friend.
“Catnap you scared me!” He says, breathing shakily.
Catnap giggles. “Sorry.”
Dogday smiles. “It’s okay,” he says.
He then sits down on the log. “So, how was your day?”
Catnap smiles. “It was fine,” he says softly. “What about you?”
Dogday’s tail wags. “My day was great,” he said happily. “I had a nice relaxing morning.”
Catnap scoots closer. “That’s good.”
Dogday then thinks of another question.
“Say catnap… have you ever heard of the Catarinaprus?”
Catnap freezes. “T-the Catarinaprus…?” he says nervously.
“i-I mean… I've heard the legend… but why?”
Dogday giggles. “Well, the whole reason I came to this forest was to resolve an argument between my friends,” he says. “One is convinced the monster is real and the other doesn’t believe him,” he says. “I’ve been tasked with getting pictures of the creature to show them so they’ll stop fighting.”
Catnap then thinks for a few minutes. “I think I can help you.” He then says with a smile.
“Really? How?” Dogday says.
“A while ago, I encountered the creature myself.” Catnap says. “And I managed to get some photographs of it.”
Dogday smiles. “Awesome!” He says. “Can I borrow one?”
Catnap smiles. “You can borrow them all. But, I need something from you.” he says.
Dogday nods. “Sure, what is it?”
Catnap then takes his hand gently.
“C-can you come back and see me… every day…?” he says. “I..”
He sighs. “I’m very lonely… and you’re the first friend I've had in a long time.”
Dogday stays quiet for a minute, then gently hugs Catnap, making him flinch.
“Of course,” he says. “I like you a lot.”
Catnap blushes. “R-really…?”
Dogday pulls back. “Yeah!” he says. “This forest isn’t nearly as scary when you’re in it.”
Catnap smiles brightly, hugging him again. “Thank you!”
Dogday giggles, nuzzling his shoulder. “Of course!”
He then smiles. “Maybe one day when I come here, I'll bring my two friends!”
Catnap’s eyes widened. “T-two friends…?”
Dogday nods. “Yeah!” He says. “I’m sure they’d love to meet you.”
Catnap nervously smiles. “Oh yes..” he says. “The more friends the merrier.”
They didn’t even notice the sun was about to set as they hung out for a little while longer, just enjoying each other’s company.
But eventually, Dogday had to leave as the sun was just about to sink below the horizon.
“Oh hey Catnap, can I have the pictures?”
“Oh yeah, sure.” Catnap says, pulling out the photos and handing them to Dogday, who looks at them.
Yep, they were the same shadowy creature he’d first encountered that night all right.
“Awesome, thanks!” he says, putting them in his pocket. “These’ll get Bubba and Kickin to stop fighting for sure!”
Catnap smiles. “Don’t mention it.”
Dogday turns to leave. “I'll see you tomorrow, yeah?”
Catnap smiles and nods. “Yeah!” he says, waving goodbye.
As he walked out of the forest, Dogday's tail was happily wagging.
He didn’t know it yet, but deeper feelings were starting to spark for this mysterious cat.
~Mysterious transition~
The next day was Monday, so during lunch, Dogday meets up with Kickin and bubba at their usual table so he can show them the photos.
He puts them on the table, and Kickin practically jumps out of his seat.
“Ha HA!” told you it was real!” He says, giving Bubba the most smug smirk he could.
Bubba studies the photos. “These photos aren’t even clear…” He says. “I still don’t think it’s the Catarinaprus.”
Kickin lets out a long groan, slamming his head on the table. “Come ON man!”
He looks at Bubba, strained. “What do I have to do to prove to you that it’s real?”
Bubba smirks. “Get eaten by it.”
Kickin rolls his eyes. “Very funny.”
Dogday then looks at Bubba. “Actually, ever since going into the forest that night, I've been going back during the daytime.” He says happily. “And it’s been pretty nice.”
Kickin and Bubba look at him. “Really?”
Dogday nods. “Yeah!” he said. “You guys should come with me sometime.”
“No way.” Kickin says, getting up. “If I step one foot in there, I'll be Catarinaprus chow.”
Bubba sighs. “There is no Catarinaprus.” He says. “But there are many dangerous creatures, and the possibility of getting lost. So I’m not going in there either.”
Dogday sighs sadly, looking down. “Okay, Okay…” He says softly. “I guess you guys will keep fighting then…”
Kickin nods, laughing. “Only until I can get Bubba to believe in the Catarinaprus.”
Bubba rolls his eyes. “Not gonna happen.”
Dogday gets up, walking away.
He tries to get his mind off his fighting friends by thinking about spending time with Catnap.
He smiles, thinking about his cute smile, his pretty eyes, his sweet voice, everything about him.
He even blushes a bit.
Over the next few weeks, every day after school, Dogday would go into the forest to hang out with his cat friend.
They would talk for hours about everything and nothing, play hide and seek, and even dance together when dogday brought his radio.
And on those particularly hard days when Dogday had a tough time at school, Catnap would even let him vent to him, holding him gently and rubbing his back until he felt at least a little better.
One Friday, they were sitting together on their favorite log, Catnap leaning his head on Dogday’s shoulder.
“So, any other friends coming to join you?” Catnap asks softly.
Dogday sighs sadly, looking down. “Well I tried to get my friends to come, but they won’t even set foot in this forest.” He admitted. “They’re both scared of the Catarinaprus.”
Catnap looked a little disappointed, but nodded. “T-that’s okay… I understand.”
Dogday giggles. “Bubba claims he doesn’t believe in it, but I think he’s just lying to mess with Kickin.”
Catnap giggles. “Yes, maybe.”
As the minutes passed, the sun sank low into the autumn sky.
“Well, I guess we should be getting home.” Dogday says as he gets up. “Don’t wanna be caught by the Catarinaprus.” He says with a giggle.
But when Catnap gets up, he just stares blankly into space.
Dogday gets a bit worried. “Hey, are you okay…?”
Catnap remains still for a quiet minute or so, Dogday just looking at him with concern.
Then suddenly, he speaks.
“I- I can’t do this anymore.”
Dogday gets confused.
“Naps…?” He says. “What’s wrong?”
Catnap looks away.
“I can’t keep lying to you…” he says quietly.
Dogday tilts his head. “Lying to me…?” He asks.
Catnap takes a deep breath, then gently looks into Dogday’s eyes. “Dogday… I… I…”
“I AM the Catarinaprus.”
Dogday’s heart drops.
“W-what…?”
Catnap starts to cry.
“I-i was trying to lure you and your friends into the forest so I could eat you… but…”
He looks into Dogday's eyes.
“I couldn’t bring myself to, b-because I…”
He closes his eyes.
“I fell in love with you…”
Dogday blushes.
“No human or victim has ever made me feel the way you do, Dogday…” Catnap says. “You treat me with care, and respect…”
He smiles a bit. “You’re so sweet, and funny, and charming, and so much more…”
Catnap looks deeply into Dogday’s eyes.
“I love you, Dogday…”
He then turns away. “And that’s why I need you to run away,” he says. “If you stay here much longer… I…”
He steps away.
“I won’t be able to control myself.”
He sniffles. “So please… just run away from me... like the monster I am…”
Then he was silent.
Dogday doesn’t move an inch.
“Catnap…” he says softly.
“You’re not a monster.”
Catnap slowly turns his head to him. “W-what…?” He asks.
Dogday smiles gently. “If you were a true monster, you would have just gobbled me up the second I entered this forest.”
He steps closer. “But you didn’t.” He says. “You returned my pocket watch to me, and then you took the time to get to know me, sat with me, talked with me, danced with me, everything.”
He giggles. “Every day after school, I was most looking forward to coming to see you…”
He looks into Catnap's eyes. “And you know why…?”
Catnap looked confused.
Dogday gently takes Catnaps hands in his own.
“Because I love you too.”
Catnap stares at him for a moment, his eyes shimmering.
Then he starts to cry again, tackle-hugging him tightly.
Dogday holds him gently, stroking his back gently. “There there.”
“Dogday…” Catnap says softly. “I love you so, so much, but….”
He sniffles. “We can’t be together.”
Dogday’s heart sinks. “I… I know…” he whispers.
Catnap nuzzles into his neck. “You’re a mortal… and I'm a monster… if we were together, eventually I'd end up eating you…”
He cries more. “That’s why you should just stay away from me…”
Dogday starts to cry as well.
“I-I know…”
Catnap pulls back. “J-just please… go away and… try to forget about me… okay…?”
He takes Dogday’s face in his hands. “Can you do that for me…?”
Dogday looks into his eyes. “I… I’ll consider it.”
Catnap hugs him again. “Thank you…”
They spent a long while embracing, neither one wanting to let go.
Eventually, Catnap walks him to the edge of the forest.
“Goodbye, Dogday.” He says sadly, looking into his eyes.
Dogday’s eyes were filled with sorrow.
“Bye, Catnap.” He says softly.
“I’m glad I met you.”
Catnap smiles sadly.
“You too.”
Before he turns away, Dogday kisses Catnap on the lips, wanting to at least once.
Catnap doesn’t resist, reciprocating sadly.
It was pure, simple, and said everything that they both wanted to say, but didn’t have the heart to.
Dogday then hesitantly pulls back, turning away and walking off.
Catnap does the same, going back towards his lair in the forest.
Dogday goes back to his own home.
Unbeknownst to anyone, he was planning something drastic.
~Later that evening~
Dogday places the note on his bed.
“To anyone that finds this:
I’ve decided to go monster-hunting, and find the Catarinaprus once and for all.
If I don’t come back, tell Bubba and Kickin that I thought they were the greatest friends a guy could have.
And tell Ulrike that she can go suck a lemon.
Dogday”
After that, he dresses himself in the white Japanese robes that he’d gotten off the internet.
Then he sets off for the woods again.
He doesn’t stop walking until he reaches the Lunar Cavern, where the Catarinaprus was rumored to live.
He cautiously goes inside, following along the dark cave.
In the center of the cave, he came into a spot where the ceiling had an open skylight, the full moon shining onto a patch of cave where there was a small pool of cave water.
Taking off his shoes, he steps into the pool, his feet getting wet.
“Catarinaprus!”
He shouts into the darkness.
“I have come to be your sacrifice!”
No response.
Dogday takes a deep breath.
“CATARINAPRUS!”
Then, he could hear a familiar sounding deep purring.
The creature came into the light, finally revealing itself.
It was an 11 foot tall colorless cat, so thin and skeletal that he looked like nothing but skin covered bones, all the way down to his claws. His jaw was unhinged, perfect size for swallowing young men whole.
The creature stared into Dogday’s eyes with his dead, circular pupils, the very same expression he had when they’d first crossed paths.
“So this is your true form…?”
Dogday asks.
The creature didn’t answer.
Dogday sighs.
“You said we can’t be together because you’ll eventually end up eating me, right…?”
He spreads his arms out. “Well, I say, let's not waste any more time.” He says.
He closes his eyes. “Bon Appetit.”
The creature steps forward, his large gaping mouth getting closer and closer, only inches away from eating Dogday whole.
But then…
He stopped.
Dogday opens his eyes, seeing the creature’s mouth was only a half inch away.
“Well, what are you waiting for…?” Dogday whispers. “Gobble me up!”
The creature remained still.
“Isn’t this what you wanted from the start?” Dogday says. “To eat me?”
The creature inched ever so slightly closer. Dogday could feel his hot breath on his face, the familiar scent of lavender filling his nostrils.
And then, he started to whine.
The creature mewed sadly, kneeling down to Dogday’s feet.
Dogday smiled, bending down and gently petting the creature’s head.
“See, kitty…?” He said softly. “You CAN’T eat me.”
The creature purrs, nuzzling into Dogday’s chest.
Dogday giggles. “Silly kitty…” he says. “You can’t eat me because you love me.”
He leans down to kiss the cat’s large ear. “And I love you too.”
He smiles, petting him more.
“And I always will… forever.”
Suddenly, the creature started to glow a soft lavender.
Dogday let's go, stepping back. “W-woah… what’s happening?!” He says, his eyes widening.
He watched as the creature’s body grew smaller, and less skeletal, his form rearranging from 4 legs to just 2.
And then when the light faded…
He was the same Catnap that Dogday knew and loved.
“Dogday…” the now anthro cat says, getting up.. “You did it!”
His eyes were filled with joy.
Dogday smiles. “Did what…?”
Catnap tackle hugs him, laughing happily. “You broke the curse!”
Dogday catches him, falling onto his back. “I did?!”
“Yes!” Catnap says happily.
He looks into Dogday’s eyes. “By promising to love me forever.”
Dogday laughs. “Well it’s true!” He says.
“Catnap, I love you so much!”
Catnap rubs noses with him. “I love you too!”
Dogday licks his cheek gently. “I know sweetie”.
Catnap then kisses him passionately on the lips, him reciprocating happily.
The two lovers shared the wonderful moment together, it was basically the G-rated version of consummating their relationship.
As the sun rose, the two finally went out of the cave and forest together, into a new day full of hope.