Retribution

Round One.
From out of nowhere, the kitten rounds the corner at full tilt.  She hasn't counted upon the presence of one of the black cats, however, and she skids to a surprised stop right in front of him, rears up on her short back legs and waves her front paws in a kitten karate pose.  Unamused, the older cat sends her reeling with one bored swipe and returns to his grooming.  Undeterred, she gives an offended squeak, picks herself up and looks around for a secondary target. 

Round Two.
She settles on the passing tabby, dignified and less good natured, ignores the warning glare and launches herself into disaster.  The tabby hisses violently and there is a brief but still ear splitting scuffle before the black dog intervenes and sends both parties skittering in opposite directions.  The dog gives me her Well, someone has to be in charge look then stretches out in the doorway, head on her paws and eyes bright and alert.  She watches, she listens, she waits.  With half her energy, I think idly, I could remake the world.

Round Three.

It starts casually.  On her way to the kitchen, the kitten strolls by the other black cat who is on his way to another room.  They pass each other like ships in the night but as soon as his back is turned, she whips around and commences a low to the ground, silent stalk.  I don't know precisely what gives her away but the black cat somehow senses a shadow on his trail and stops suddenly, looks over his shoulder at the creeping menace and emits a low frequency growl.  The kitten freezes, one paw in mid-air as if pointing like a water dog - there's a second or two of absolute silence - then with a ferocious squeak, she leaps.  With one carefully timed and well aimed swat, the black cat sends her sprawling.

Round Four.
The tuxedo cat, a solid mass of feline with abs of steel and the soul of a barncat, is half asleep on the couch when the kitten begins her approach. She's stealthy as...well, as a cat...moving slowly and deliberately, never taking her eyes off her target, focusing in like a scud missile.  She scales the couch almost soundlessly and then pretends not to see the older cat.  Tails twitch with studied indifference, the tuxedo boy yawns.  For a moment I think it may come to nothing then they are abruptly nose to nose and neck in neck.  They tumble off the couch with a thud and begin to wrestle around on the floor, all tails and claws and teeth but all without a sound.  Not wanting to be left out, the small brown dog and the little dachshund decide to join this barroom like brawl and the tuxedo cat wisely withdraws, leaving only the kitten to play the prize in what turns into an enthusiastic tug of war.

Round Five turns out to be retribution.