Until he turned fifteen, Don Fells Azuz had been a peaceful citizen of the Cat Empire.

Not one for work, he spent his days sleeping on the sofa. His muscular, rounded body needed rest, to recover the strength lost in the nightly battles that took place on the city's rooftops. These battles weren't bloody like those of humans. There were no fights, not even confrontations. When Don Fells Azuz's majestic silhouette appeared, the other cats silently left the area or respectfully stepped back, heads bowed, as subjects of a kingdom or empire do before their majesty the king or emperor. The female cats, on the other hand, stood up eagerly after having lovingly groomed their fur. They all hoped to be the chosen companion for the aristocratic cat's nightly games.

Mr. Azuz was large, with a round head and a broad skull. His face was rounded, his cheekbones strong and prominent, his nose flat, his muzzle short, and his chin strong. His eyes were large, round, wide open, and set far apart, a very intense and bright blue. His ears were small and rounded, always alert to what might happen. His fur was long and thick, a glossy white, long and silky to the touch.

Don Gato wasn't easily agitated, only when the children of the house pulled his fur or tail, disrespecting his naps. This happened rarely since the children had grown up with him and were now teenagers who focused their attention, always lying on their beds or the sofa, on objects they called "mobiles."

Now no one bothered him. He felt self-assured. His lineage made him powerful. His strength was his beauty.

Time passed peacefully until one night, misfortune struck when an unfamiliar cat appeared on his roof. This cat showed him no respect, not only because it didn't move out of his way, but also because it didn't alter its trajectory even slightly. Once in front of him, it didn't lower its gaze and, defiantly, stood majestically before Don Fells Azuz, saying:

"Careful, old man, get out of my way. Can't you see you might fall off the roof and hurt yourself?"

Mr. Azuz looked at the stranger and shuddered. He recognized himself in that imposing, defiant, and proud figure that regarded him with disdain. He remembered then that he had spoken in the same way to an old cat that had crossed his path.

At that very moment, he became aware of the passage of time. Now he was the old man who had to yield his position to the advancing youth. Now he was ashamed of his insolence and selfishness. Now he knew that the feline empire didn't belong to him, but that he had been fortunate enough to enjoy it for a time, and that the moment had come to pass the torch to the younger generation.

He turned away, distraught, and retreated to a corner. From there came plaintive meows that seemed to say:

"What a shame to have wasted so much time on unproductive grooming... How foolish I've been! I could have dedicated my life to learning, to caring for others, to helping leave a better world!"

Suddenly, he noticed a cat approaching him, purring. It was Anastasia, his companion, who waited for him every night with the patience and wisdom that come with age and experience.

"Azuzito, I've been waiting for you," she said affectionately. "Now it's time to live peacefully, for each other, without worrying about proving anything to others. Force and contrived beauty matter little. Be the honest cat I love."

They brought their little heads close and washed each other with great care and delightful purring.