Lou the bobcat - an aging old animal

Lou circled around to Boris' farm again, he was hungry, he was always hungry, though he had no idea why. Luckily for Lou, he had good friends who were willing to help an old bobcat, he just couldn't remember who, but he remembered where and this afternoon he was near a scent that seemed very familiar to him, something that meant not only food but a place where he could relax and not be anxious about the confusing world around him.

In many ecosystems of this biome a bobcat of Lou's age would have gone out to the local Free Game Preserve on their own and returned to the earth, but here Lou was a local hero who had suffered a serious concussion in his younger days saving the lives of so many young animals, now in his old age it seemed fitting that the community take care of him since it was really could not remember anything about the Free Game Preserve, or even what he had done five minutes ago.

Driven by the need to satisfy his bodily urges, Lou followed his nose when he was hungry, found water when he was thirsty, and rested where ever he fell after pacing in circle for hours at a time.

As he approached Boris' house, he could smell a pot of porridge that was cooking on his friend's stove. Boris spotted the old bobcat and ushered him in, presented him with a large bowl of porridge filled tenderized meat bits and goat cheese, and sat down to watch his old friend eat.

Lou was not a neat eater by any means, his old teeth were sore at the gums and he would shake his head as he ate, then circle the bowl before diving back in for another bite. This left a large ring of food bits around the bowl, and Boris didn't mind cleaning up for his friend, and did so in front of the cubs who were all watching from the edge of the room. With luck they would learn compassion for old animals and take care of the elderly when they grew up.

After eating his fill, Lou drank heavily from the water trough beside the door and looked around for a place to lay down. Boris had brought in and arranged a soft bed of straw and warm blanket in the corner of the living room near the hearth. Here Lou lay down and fell into a deep slumber, snoring loudly, and contently after a good meal in a safe home.