FSE

Furry search engine

formerly SoFurry search engine

- Chapter 9: HOUSE OF CARDS

Bolt was trailing. Sniffing and smelling his way through the night, trying to pick up Benji's scent. It was dark. It was cold. The rain poured down over them as they searched, but Bolt was not about to give up. Not until he found him.

However, all his sensitive nose could pick up was the harsh smell of wet asphalt and rain. No Benji. Somewhere along the road, he had lost his trace.

-"I lost him. We gotta double back" he announced to his followers, Rhino and Mittens. He shuddered a bit, but his voice was still calm and determined.

• "We've been at this for hours! I'm sorry Bolt, but the mutt is gone!"

Mittens was shivering. Her fur was drenched. She wanted to return to the warmth of the city, find shelter somewhere. Anywhere that might protect them from the cold and the rain.

-"Nobody is forcing you to come, Mittens" Bolt continued in the same calm voice. "This is my fault. I have to find him."

"The same goes for you". He looked up to his loyal hamster friend who was sitting on his back.

"I'm with you to the end Bolt. You know that" Rhino said. Bolt gave him a thankful smile and the hamster felt his body surge with sudden pride.

• "And like I'm gonna leave you two to wander the night alone. You'd be two roadkills within the hour!" Mittens said as she reluctantly followed her two friends.

Remorse made her every step heavy. It both surprised and fascinated her: that Bolt and Rhino absolutely refused to give up on this new dog that they barely knew. She also knew something they didn't: Benji wasn't lost. Or kidnapped or captured or whatever they thought. He had left. Deliberately. Because of her. And what's why each new step felt heavier than the last one.

• "We didn't search the place by the highway. Maybe he went there." Rhino pointed at the waffle map.

Bolt gave a nod. "It's a good a place as any. Let's go."

"Okay, we check that place. Then we have to find some shelter before we freeze to death. I tell you, with all the time I've wasted looking for runaway canines on this trip, I could have gone to frickin Hollywood and back by now!"

• "Where's your sense of loyalty, cat?" Rhino puffed up. "I would never leave a friend in need!"

• "You've known the damn dog for like forty-eight hours, I'd say your criteria for friendship is pretty low" the cat retorted.

• "Mittens, Rhino, please! You're distracting me!" Bolt looked back at the two, an intense gaze in her light that Mittens hadn't seen since the day the first met in New York.

"Yeah, quiet cat! You're distracting Bolt!" Rhino added.

Mittens just sighed.

A part of her wanted to tell Bolt the truth: that this desperate search was hopeless. Benji was gone and gone for good, all thanks to her. And now she regretted it more than anything. Had she known that Bolt would freeze to death before giving up on that godforsaken Labrador, she would have never done any of this! But she knew that he'd never forgive her, and this point it didn't even matter did it? So she decided to keep her mouth shut trudged after the two animals in the wet mud.

Regardless of how cold she felt, the sight of Bolt with his usually white fur soaked in water and brown dirt while desperately searching for his friend, made her feel infinitely colder.

But she couldn't tell him. It was an impossibility. She just had to follow him a bit more. When they didn't find him by the highway, they'd give up. Maybe then, Bolt would finally allow himself to give up the search and they could continue to Hollywood. She'd be able to patch things up along the way, she was sure. He was hurt now, but he wasn't going to be hurt forever. When he found his stupid Penny-character, when they reached Hollywood, when this suicidal road trip was finally over, he would be happy again. Sooner or later he would move on. And then, maybe she could tell him the truth.

She just needed to stay with him for now. Make sure he didn't freeze to death or do anything unusually stupid. And should they against all odds catch up with Benji, well then she just had to make sure that she found him before Bolt or Rhino did.

If Bolt and Benji started talking, and all those lies about personal space and conversations that never existed would fall apart like a house of cards, and she'd have two very furious dogs to deal with. Bolt would be angry. Maybe more angry than she had ever seen him before. Just the thought of the dog she loved so much hating her, perhaps even hurting her, made her heart literally ache.

She still remembered that time one the bridge, when he had grabbed her by the scruff and dangled from the bridge. She had been so scared that time. After his realization, Bolt had never done anything like that again. In fact, he seemed, if anything, ashamed of his past aggressiveness. And she could understand and forgive it.

But should he learn about her dishonesty now, when he seemed to love this damn dog so much... Well, she had no idea what he'd do to her. He'd be furious. And the worst part is that she knew she would deserve all of it.

...

Benji was cold and shaking, his black fur completely drenched from the rain, yet he kept on walking. He didn't know any more if the drops in his cheeks where teardrops or just raindrops, nor did he really care anymore. All he cared about now was walking - to anyplace anywhere. Just as long as it was somewhere far away.

Looking around, he found himself on a dimly lit sidewalk with nothing but a dumpster and a couple of trees for shelter. Deciding to keep going, he soon reached a familiar place - an intersection where his walkway met with a street. He recognized the street from before - he and the other animals had crossed it just a day ago. At least it meant that he was going in the right direction.

The road was wide, dark but seemed mostly void of traffic so the wet Labrador decided to sprint across. However, just as he was about to dart out, he tripped on a rock and crashed muzzle-first on the wet pavement. His wounded paw instantly made itself felt. He grinned, licking his paw until the pain had mostly dulled.

Before he knew it, the bright light from an approaching vehicle filled his vision, blinding him. The second he thought he was going to get run over, he heard tires screaming and the car came to a stop in front of him. He heard voices. Human voices.

"Over there! There's another one! Dammit, I almost rammed the damn thing!"

A door slid open, and emerging from the vehicle he now recognized to be a white truck was a tall human with a net, walking towards him. Benji instantly knew what was going on.

_ Animal control._

Somehow, in a monumental stroke of bad luck, the car he had ran into seemed to be an animal control truck. Benji didn't hesitate. He spun and scattered in the opposite direction, darting across the road, easily clearing both truck and catcher. He was running on a parking lot now with the highway far behind him. He could hear the approaching sound of an engine behind. The truck was following him, but he was faster. Spotting a corner, he turned left, hopped over a container and ducked. Peeking out behind two garbage cans, he could see the white truck giving up, turning and returning to the intersection.

_ Phew..._

He gave himself a few minutes to catch his breath. All he knew for sure that he didn't wanted to go back to that place - or any place like it. He knew he had a shot on the streets if he could just find a good place. Some sort of city or town, like the ones they had passed. He could found some kind looking humans, beg for food. It had worked for him before during all those lonely days between escaping the shelter and finding Bolt. Perhaps, some family in this city would even take him in. Anything is possible, right? But he doubted it.

Benji was just about to get up when his ears picked up to the sound of familiar voices. It was faint, but he could recognize the rodent's squeaking voice anywhere.

_ Rhino?_

There, on the other side of the highway, he could see all three of them, dog, cat and hamster, seemingly arguing amongst themselves, Rhino apparently in the middle of some monologue. Benji could barely believe his eyes.

He was about to get up and approach them when sudden diffidence grabbed him.

_ What should I do? What should I do!?_

His mind raced as he tried to decide whether to go out and greet them or remain hidden.

What were they doing here? What are the odds of his old gang that he had just left just randomly happen to cross paths with him like this? Or where they perhaps searching for him? Could it be possible?

His heart jumped in glee, but quickly sank again when he thought about it. No, of course they weren't searching for him. They had just happened to awkwardly cross paths. They were probably just backtracking, perhaps hoping to catch a ride on the highway. He just happened to be here at the same time.

The more he thought about it, the more it made sense to him and the more did his initial wishful hope seem like just that, a stupid wish with no reality. Nothing had changed. He'd already made the mistake of following such stupid hopes before. He was not going to make that mistake and get hurt again. He almost hated himself for thinking that they were here for him - for being so easily touched again. As if he hadn't learnt anything.

He was just about to slip back into the shadows when the sound of Bolt's voice made him hesitate. Perking his soft ears, he looked closer.

"I have to find him, Mittens. It's my fault he's gone!"

The white shepherd's voice cracked mid-sentence as his emotions got the better of him, and Benji could see his brown eyes shimmer with tears he seemed to fight to hold back. Benji had to fight down a lump in his throat just looking at him.

• "You don't know that." Benji could see Mittens laying a paw on Bolt's shoulder which the dog promptly shook off.

• "I know I never really cared about finding his missing persons. That I should have paid attention and made sure he got onboard that truck safely. That I've been ignoring his these last couple of days because I was dumb enough to think he wanted to be alone. Because you told me to!" Bolt continued.

"Don't put this one me, wags. Your BFF said he needed space so that's what I told you."

• "Well, then that just proves it then" The shepherd whined softly. "It was already too late. Because I have been thoughtless and too caught up in my own problems to even notice what he must have been going through ever since we first met. "

He stood in the rain as he talked, ears and tails drooping.

"I just ... I just don't understand anything or anyone in this world." He paced back and forth. "I don't even understand how you two put up with me. I ... I shouldn't have people around me..."

Benji's mind practically exploded as he stared at the scene in utter disbelief, his mind trying to grasp the ramifications of the truth that had just struck him like a lightning.

It was all a lie. The cat had tricked him. She had tricked Bolt. She had tricked both of them!

All this bull crap she had fed him about Bolt being uncomfortable with their love, and the rubbish lies she had been selling poor Bolt about a conversation about personal space that never existed - it was all her plan to keep them apart.

And it had worked! All this time, he had thought Bolt was distant because Benji had been awkward, or weird, or made him uncomfortable, but he was just worried about him. And now he was heartbroken. All because of Mittens!

Benji flew up and started walking determinedly towards the animals. He'd clear up this situation once and for all and expose that lying, two-faced feline.

...

"Don't worry Bolt. We'll find him somewhere else!" Rhino looked up at his sulking hero who sighed heavily through his nose. He was too small to give Bolt a hug, so instead he just patted his paw gently.

-"I was just so sure his scent lead him here." Bolt whined.

-"Well" Mittens spoke up. "I suggest we..." she interrupted herself when he saw something that made her heart freeze:

He was far away, on the other side of the road, but illuminated by the street lights, she could make out the signature of a Labrador walking steadily towards them.

"Anyway, you guys go ahead. I'll stay and look a bit, I'll meet you back on the road later".

• "Great initiative, cat. Do you need the ma...?"

• "No no! Just go." Mittens interrupted the hamster, wanting Bolt and Rhino to walk on as fast as possible so she could deal with the approaching problem alone.

"Just go, I'll catch up with you."

Rhino shrugged and the two left, walking back towards the road. Mittens, in turn, turned to face the approaching Labrador who had just made it across the road and was now briskly making his way towards her. He didn't seem to have seen Bolt and Rhino leave. She sighed deeply, relieved that at least she'd be able to talk with the Labrador before anyone else did.

But she couldn't help but gulp worriedly when she, a couple of minutes later, saw the angry expression on the approaching canine. She wasn't sure if she'd be able to contain this situation.

The situation in question quickly jumped her, heavy paws pinning her meager body to the asphalt.

"Where is he!? Where did Bolt go?!" the black dog roared as he towered over the cat. "Tell me or so help me...!"

• "Woah... okay. Easy!" Squeezing out from under him, she got back on her feet and turned to the Labrador. "Just let me explain, will ya?"

• "You can explain yourself to Bolt once I tell him what you've been up to! Now tell me where they went before I do something that both of us will regret." Towered over the cat who stared straight back at him, seemingly unaffected.

• "You wanna know where they went? Fine. They are just down the road. But before you talk to him, talk to me." She backed up a bit but looked the dog straight in the eyes. "I know you think I'm the devil here, but we both want what's best for Bolt here, right?"

• "I don't have time for this." The Labrador pushed herself past Mittens and started walking down road when the cat stopped him again.

"Hey, listen dog. I appreciate you escorting that white fuzzball all way through Missouri and all. I really do. But really now, we both know Bolt doesn't need you anymore. You'd be better off on your own, and frankly, we'd be better off without an owner-less drifter stalking us."

• "But he loves me!"

• "He loves Penny, you mutt. And you wouldn't be able to get between those with a crowbar. What's your plan anyway? Think that actor girl is just going to adopt you? She's not, and you'll be put back in the same old dog pound you come from. Still ownerless. Still no family. And certainly no Bolt."

• "Bolt would never let that happen!"

• "Great! So if Bolt really loves you, he'd have to choose between you and Penny. Which we both know would absolutely BREAK his heart. I say spare him that choice and leave now and find your own family before you complicate things even more! Face it. Bolt's life has been miserable from the second he met you."

"The only reason he's miserable is because you lie and try to keep us apart!"

"Well, have you ever stopped to consider that maybe you don't have a monopoly on him, huh?" The cat flew up, hackles raised. "Maybe there are other people who likes him just as much as you do!"

"Who? Like some scrawny, street-cat? Let's ask Bolt who he loves the most huh? I think I'll take my chances." Benji chuckled.

Mittens didn't think twice. A declawed paw just flew out and slapped the black dog right on his nose. She immediately realized her mistake and ran off, the black Labrador chasing after her and barking furiously. Finding a tree, the cat climbed up, Benji barking and growling after her.

The shocked cat stared down at him, eyes widened in shock. She was just about to start pleading with the furious canine to stop when her ears when she saw a large white truck approaching.

She thought about warning the still barking Benji, but quickly changed her mind. Maybe letting the dog that wanted to tear her to pieces get caught wasn't such a bad idea. So instead, she hid herself behind a branch and stayed absolutely quiet.

When Benji finally came to his senses, it was already too late. He looked and saw the white truck from before parked right by him and two humans looking down on him. Before he had time to react, a net fell over his body, pinned him to the ground before scooping him up. He yapped and struggled while strong, gloved hands lifted him up and threw him into the back of the large truck.

It took him a few seconds to realize what was going on. He was being captured! He tried to launch out but once again, the humans were too fast and he bounced against the hard bars of the closed cage door.

Outside, the two caretakers looked at him. They were clad in white and smelled weird. Benji decided he hated them and growled at them.

"Isn't that the same damn dog you almost ran over before?" One of them said.

"Yeah it must be." The other human responded.

One of them reached out towards Benji who snarled, his soft ears flat against his head. The caretaker quickly retracted his hand.

"Unfriendly fellow isn't it?" He's lucky I don't have my zapper on me" the human rumbled.

"Ha, this is why you never get to work care, friend. Now, let's take get Cujo here to the central."

The doors closed and through a tiny window, Benji could see Mittens who stared at him in shock, hidden in her tree. It was the last he saw before the truck pulled away.

...

The black cat was still holding on to her branch with all the power her clawless mitts could master. Hear heart was pounding as she still tried to wrap her mind of what had just happened. Her gaze followed the vehicle as it drove back over the parking lot, slowed down at the intersection, then disappeared over the highway, taking Benji with it.

Bolt can never know about this, she thought to herself. The conversation they had, what happened to Benji, - what she ALLOWED to happen to Benji - all of that needed to stay with her.

When it became obvious that the white truck wasn't going to return, just leaped down. Hear heart jumped when she heard someone calling her name.

"Mittens? Where are you? What happened?" Bolt appeared from the dark. He seemed to have been running because he was panting heavily, but looked relieved when he saw her.

"Oh good, you're okay. What happened here?

Before she knew it, she had opened her muzzle and words came out.

• "Nothing happened."

• "You sure? I heard barking and what I think was some sort of internal combustion engine."

• "Yeah it was just some stray. Animal control picked him up."

-"Did it look like...?"

• "It wasn't Benji. As I said, it was nothing. "She tried to force a smile even though her heart was pounding in nervousness. "By the way, where's Rhino? Isn't he with you?"

• "I'm right here, cat. I came back to fetch the map. Been here all the time."

• "What?!" Her heart froze. She turned and saw that the hamster was indeed there, sitting by the tree she had been hiding in, where he seemed to have been sitting for a while, staring blankly at them. At her.

• "Rhino... h...how much did you see?"

• "I saw enough, cat. I saw enough"