I had seen it before, that funny little thing in the corner. It smelled strange, like cardboard and something vaguely... woodsy. The humans were always tapping it, but I didn’t understand what it was for. A scratch pad? I was a cat—I could scratch anything. The couch, the curtains, the rug… but this? It was different. Today, curiosity got the better of me. My claws itched, and I stretched, sinking them into the fibers. The texture felt perfect, like something I was meant to claw. I dug in, enjoying the satisfying pull as I scratched deeper. It was sturdier than the couch, and I liked that. I felt a little proud of the marks I’d made. This was my new favourite thing! - Hash