Merlin poked his nose around a door. He spied a chicken leg lying on a plate, alone and unguarded. He crept in, wary of deterrents that threatened to cook him or steal his dignity by scooping him up.

He internally grinned, whiskers twitching in anticipation. Nothing could stop him now.

"Hey!" A voice startled him.

Merlin found himself once again in puffed up in a ball of fur.

"What do you think you're doing?" A young serving girl clucked as she shooed him away from the table.

Merlin bounded out of the room. He really did have the worst luck.