Cowed Until Confession

I tried to write a Fable, so... yeah... I still hope it's good for you all...

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Cowed Until Confession

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#CMCFable

Word Count: 706

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   The animals, big and small, gathered around the fenced square in front of the barn. From the hoarse Horse that horsed around to the Chicken that chickened out, they gathered 'round as the audience of a spectacle just in front of the barn.

   "Hoot hoot!" Hooted the Owl, who perched above the branch so high. "Hoot hoot! Quiet down, for the Barn Trial is about to begin." His wide eyes scanned the herd, the flock, and the random crowd. Nary did one made a move. All the animals, big and small, made no further noise at all.

   The Owl flapped his feathered wings and focused now on the Cat. The ginger feline with looks benign, curled up so small while others stand tall. The Owl then looked at the animal besides the cat. An angry, scowling, rage-filled Dog who dogged for a trial of sorts.

   "This cat, this cat! This poor old cat! What had this poor old cat done to you?" The Owl hooted.

   The Dog growled at the cat who mewled, then turned his head towards the Owl-judge. "This catty cat is a cat-burglar! He stole my precious bone! I searched and searched and searched for it, but now I know it's dog-gone gone!"

   The animals of the animal-jury thought to their animal-minds at how cruel that cat had been to the dog.

   "He cannot stay here!" The Pigs of the sty called out.

   "The cat is so foul," gossiped some Waterfowls.

   "Just look at his guilty face ducking away from the rest of us," pointed the duck who then ducked down to get a better view of the Cat. "He is a filthy beast, I say!"

   "Hoot! Hoot! Hoot, I say!" The Owl hooted upon his roost. The noise died down, and the animals settled. His eyes then transfixed to the ginger Cat. "You, poor cat, what can you say to yourself?"

   "I didn't do it," was all he said.

   "Lies, lies!" Yelled the Fruit Flies.

   "That's what a badgering liar would say," the Badger added.

   "You rather pack your bags and leave," the woolly Alpaca commented.

   "Shun! Shun! Shun! Liar! Liar! Liar! Shun! Shun! Shun!" The animals of the barn chanted.

   "Hoot! Hoot! Hoot, I say!" The Owl shook his proud wings until they all calmed down. He looked again at the Cat and said, "Are you telling us the truth?"

   The Cat looked around, and felt the beastly stares of the surrounding beasts. He stood up, tail up high, and said out loud, "I didn't take his bone, but if that's what you all think happened, then I will it for a crime I did not do!"

   With a proud look on his face, he walked away from the farm, away from the judging eyes, the cruel stares, and frigid hearts that would not listen.

   The animals, the spectators, they were stunned by how the cat walked away with pride. Not a single horse horsed around nor was there a donkey that brayed. That is, until, the Cow came crashing through the crowd and squeezed herself until she's near the Dog.

   "Everyone, I have an announcement!" The Cow shouted out loud. "The Cat did not take the bone away from the Dog!"

   The animals clucked, barked, quacked, and all things animals do. The Owl reigned back order then questioned the Cow.

   "How could you say that?"

   "Because it was I who took the bone," she confessed. "The Dog was barking up all night, and so I took his bone as petty revenge. I never thought it'll drag on until this happens, and so I kept my mouth closed."

   The animal-jury was outraged, and chaos soon ensued. Every beast, for their own, fought each other tooth and nail.

   The Cow was found guilty, and was asked to leave the farm.

   The Cat? It became a bitter subject for every animal around. They all judged him too quickly, and it had broken his feelings so much so, that he had accepted the blame not rightfully his. Each of them hanged their heads in shame, for the Cat who did not deserve the punishment and maltreatment, was gone in their lives for good.

   Moral: An apology too late, is a tragedy soon to come.

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