FSE

Furry search engine

formerly SoFurry search engine

The second part of this 2-part series.

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Chapter 4: Recollection II

* * * * *

"I'm...sleepy," Mittens said, yawning. It didn't take long before she succumbed to the night.

Bolt noticed that she was curled up in front of the fountain; eyes shut and mouth hanging slightly open. The fireworks display had finished, leaving only some smoke trails in the black sky as evidence it ever happened. And even then by morning it would be gone.

"Mittens?" He called out. No response. He tried to stifle a laugh. It didn't work.

"Aw, she's asleep." He padded over as quietly as he could and picked her up by the nape of her neck. With a relative amount of difficulty, he placed her on his back. He thought of the irony of the situation--Mittens said she'd never let herself be carried by anyone else, him especially. He turned to the hamster sitting next to him.

"Come on Rhino, let's find a place to rest for tonight. Tomorrow's going to be a big day."

He had no idea.

* * * * *

"Hey, hey Bolt, wake up." A voice reverberated around his head. Slowly cracking open his eyes, Bolt saw the blurry form of Mittens standing in front of him. She had a look of excitement on her face.

"Hm?" That was all he could muster in the early morning. Apparently she had woken up before him.

"Come on! I got a surprise for ya." She started walking off.

"A surprise?" He looked around, yawning. "Where?"

"Not here. It's somewhere else. Come on! It's not that far away," she called over her shoulder.

"Okay..." He stood up and stretched, being mindful that Rhino was still fast asleep. 'What about Rhino?"

"Don't worry colonel; I'll be sure no man is left standing after I'm done with them..." Rhino flipped onto his back, still snoring away.

"Never mind. He's occupied. He'll see it after he wakes up."

After five minutes of walking through a series of twist and turns, Mittens requested him to close his eyes, just like he made her do back at the mountain outpost, when he surprised her with yarn.

What did she do for me? He thought. Every time Mittens asked him to do something, it always ended up with him enjoying it. Now she was doing something for him, and he was expecting something even greater.

"Alright, now no peeking!" She walked a little bit more forward before stopping. "Now, open 'em!" He did.

Standing in front of them, were two cardboard boxes and a small wooden barrel. They had been almost meticulously arranged and furnished with ornaments, probably from the dumpster: some pillows, a water dish, and even a pinwheel placed at the front of the makeshift house. From the number and their respective sizes, Bolt could only guess what they were for and what this 'surprise' was.

Mittens? She did all this?

Building all this was quite a feat for a small scrawny cat. Bolt figured it must have taken at least three hours to gather and arrange everything.

But why? Why did she...?

Mittens laughed in approval of her own work, cutting off the question in his head.

"Haha, bask in the glow, baby!"

"I..." What am I supposed to say?

"Just let me give you the grand tour, okay?" She padded over to the boxes, motioning to the smaller of the two cardboard boxes. "This one, this one's mine, and this one is all yours," she said, motioning to the larger one now.

"Well Mittens, I...I..." She wants us to stay here? But I can't!

"Oh, I found this really soft pillow thing for you, and get this! I found some Styrofoam, and I stuffed it inside--which I thought was both kinda creative and ironic, don't ya think?"

Bolt wasn't in the mood for irony. "Mittens, I don't think that--" She cut him off again.

"Check this out!" She kicked a stick holding up the opening to the box, causing it to fall and cover it. "Total privacy! And completely soundproof!"

Bolt wasn't even listening anymore. "Yeah well, I don't think that I--"

"Okay I lied, it's not soundproof. But you know, I--"

"Mittens! I can't stay here!"

A foreboding silence hung in the air. It might as well have been thunder.

Mittens finally reacted, slowly pushing her way out of the box. "What?"

"We're one waffle away from Penny." The last word struck a blow deep in Mittens' heart.

"You're still...going back to her?" But...he said he wanted to stay!

Although she didn't know this, that night, Bolt was just making small talk. He didn't really mean it the way she thought. She had only assumed, and as a result, misinterpreted the meaning of his words.

"Mittens, she's my person." There seemed to be finality to that statement.

Her initial shock was now giving way to anger. I did all this for him, and he says he wants to go? Don't we mean anything to him?

Now her blood was boiling. Why would he pick her over us? She's a human! They're monsters! They ruined his life, and he still wants to go back to them? She stepped forward briskly towards him and clamped her teeth down on his left ear. Forget the size disadvantage--she was too angry to care.

"Ow! Mittens, I--" She didn't give him any chance to speak. She yanked him hard by his ear for a few metres, him yelling all the way. Although he could have easily overpowered her to get free, he didn't. He was too kind to do that, so he just kept yelling in pain.

"Ow ow ow ow ow! Ear, ear!" Finally she let go, and Bolt shook his head, sighing exasperatedly, trying to shake off the pain that stung his left ear. Mittens jumped on top of a broken truck, as if to show she was in a position of power.

What was that for? Why is she so angry? Bolt wondered.

"Look at me Bolt, I'm real." Bolt was surprised to see a huge signboard advertising his show right behind her.

"Now how about this, huh? Is that real?" Her anger was unrestrained. "Does this look real to you? Or that? Is that real?" She was pointing to different parts of the signboard. "Or that?" she pointed at a picture of Bolt shooting laser beams from his eyes.

She walked right next to Penny's picture now. Bolt's eyes widened. No...She can't be saying...!

"How about that, Bolt? She's an actress--she's just pretending."

"Not Penny," he immediately rebutted. Bolt's resolve was evident, but Mittens wasn't letting up.

"There is no Penny! She's fake!" Just like your Hollywood life, and all the other humans in there!

"No...you're wrong. She loves me!"

"No, Bolt! That's what they do, okay? They act like they love you, they act like they'll be there forever," her voice was rising to a furious crescendo. "And then one day they'll pack up all their stuff and move away, and take their love with them," She couldn't hold it back anymore. "And leave their declawed cat behind to fend for herself!"

Cognition at last.

A forgotten wound in Mittens' heart was torn wide open. She sighed, on the verge of breaking down.

"...They leave her...wondering, what she did wrong." The pain raked her heart like nothing she had ever felt before.

Bolt felt as if someone had slapped him in the face. His long lasting suspicions had been confirmed.

That's...why. They abandoned her. He was stunned to the point of immobilization. It was no wonder, then.

"I...I'm sorry Mittens but..." He glanced up at her. "Penny is different."

Come on Mittens, come with me to Penny. She loves me, and she'll love you too. Bolt thought. Not all humans are like that.

Mittens felt like she was captaining a sinking ship whose crew was on the verge of mutiny. She was losing hope, fast.

He doesn't want to stay._Pain, anger and sadness struck her all at once. _He's not going to change his mind. Emotion overflowed her mind; her logic and reasoning drowned out by her pain. She couldn't control herself.

"Then go."

"Mittens, I--" He never finished.

"Get out of here Bolt!" She turned her back on him. "I never should have taken pity on you."

"Aw, Mittens I--"

"Just get out here Bolt!"

Silence.

_Mittens...You...I..._Bolt had never seen her this angry. Ever. He could almost feel the anger radiating from her very being.

Realisation set in. There was nothing left to be said; nothing left to be done. She wasn't changing her mind. Slowly, he turned and walked away.

Mittens...I'm so sorry. "You take care, Mittens." She turned her head away, not wanting to look at him.

And then he was gone.

* * * * *

Bolt wandered across the evening desert forlornly, his mind replaying the same scene in his head. Every time it did, he would feel a sting in his heart. Every few steps, he would stop and look back, just in case Mittens changed her mind. But with every look, he lost more hope that she was going to come round.

No, Bolt. Don't look back. Don't look back.

He finally arrived at a small shack, with a truck parked out front. He jumped onto the back just as the engine started, not bothering whether it was heading straight to Hollywood or not. He wondered whether it he did the right thing by just leaving.

...Yes. It was the right thing to do. Since the start, she didn't have any obligation to follow me.

Besides, Mittens always said she wanted a nice place to stay. Now she has it. I should be happy for her.

But deep inside his heart, he knew he wasn't going to be.

* * * * *

What was I thinking?

As the scene replayed in her head, Mittens felt a pang of guilt for her attitude and treatment towards Bolt. But it was no use--she had passed the point of no return, and there was no going back. She had banished him, and he had accepted it and walked away. Now, she was conflicted whether it was the right decision.

"He's the ungrateful one,"she tried to tell herself._"_I did so much for him, and he still chose her over us."

And that was when the voice of reason in her head resounded.

Well, how much did he do for you?

She gritted her teeth, knowing it was true. Bolt had done more for her than she did for him.

"He's going to get himself hurt." She was desperate now. "They're not going to take him back. I was just telling the truth."

You know that's just a stereotype. You know Penny could very well love him.

"Well, but he didn't--"

Didn't what?! You told him to get lost before he could say anything!

She had no rebuttal to that.

Was I...too harsh on him?

She didn't need to think hard about it; she already knew the answer.

Yes...I was.

It was pointless to argue; it was clearly obvious that she was the one in the wrong. She had let her anger take over her and as a result, he left. And because of her pride, she wouldn't take back those words when he was still around. Now half a day had passed, and she imagined he was miles away from her by now.

It's not like I can do anything about it now. He's gone.

She absent-mindedly collected some random bits of food onto a trash can lid for dinner. But despite the enormous quantity and diverse range of food to eat, Mittens wasn't hungry. Just yesterday, everything looked, smelled and tasted great. Now, everything looked and smelled horrible to her.

With one paw, she pushed the plate of food away.

"Urgh...that meat lover's pizza is not loving me back at all..." She glanced over at whoever was talking. Rhino emerged from behind a dumpster--there were really a lot of them around--looking half-asleep.

Mittens was surprised; throughout the whole argument between her and Bolt, they had forgotten all about him. But then again, he wasn't the most memorable of people.

"Hey there, Rhino." She managed that much.

"Morning, cat." He yawned sleepily. "Where's...Bolt?" He asked the question she wanted to hear the least.

"He's...er...he's gone." She felt another knife through her heart.

"Bolt...left?" He looked as if he didn't believe it.

"Yeah, but he instructed me to tell you that...er..." She didn't want to tell him that he was gone because of her. "He had to face the green-eyed man alone."

Rhino contemplated the news, his brows furrowed. After a beat, he spun around and waddled away in his ball.

"Whoa!" Mittens called after him. "Where are you going?"

"To Bolt," he said, without breaking stride.

He's still going back?

"But, he doesn't...need us anymore."

Rhino finally stopped and turned around, scoffing as he did so.

"Oh, please, I've heard this a million times before. On the cold dark night before the battle when the steely fangs of evil are sharpened and poised to strike, the hero must go and face his greatest challenge alone." If Mittens wasn't so tired and upset she would have rolled her eyes and made some sort of snarky comment. Rhino continued.

"But if Bolt's taught me anything, it's that you never abandon a friend in a time of need." Those words struck a nerve.

Bolt...my friend. He came back for me at the shelter. He didn't abandon me. Guilt washed over her. I just abandoned him.

She looked at Rhino, and realised he was walking away again.

"...When your teammate's in trouble, you go. Whether they ask or not, you go. Not knowing if you're coming back dead or alive..." He turned the corner.

Mittens couldn't resist this time. "He went the other way."

A heartbeat, and then he emerged from the corner and headed in the other direction, still continuing his heroic inspirational speech.

"You go! Knowing how deep the shrapnel's going to pierce your hide, you go!" And then his voice slowly faded away as he went further.

And then it was silence again for Mittens. For a hamster, his words carried great weight to them.

What should I do now?

It was a no-brainer, really.

I have to go back. She stirred.

I have to go and apologise to him. I'll never be able to live with myself if I don't.

"Rhino, hold up!" She ran after him.

It took her about three whole minutes of brisk walking before she caught up to him, which made her wonder how something so small and fat could move so fast.

"Well, you took long enough," Rhino said.

Mittens said nothing, instead glancing back at the way they came. Las Vegas in the morning stood in stark contrast to Las Vegas at night. Everything looked and felt clearer--although that was not necessarily a good feeling. The illusion was gone; the dream of a happy life in Vegas was gradually fizzling away with every step she took. She shook her head quietly.

There's nothing for me in Vegas anymore.

* * * * *

The sun had risen above the horizon, heralding the promise of a new day, with new hope. Orange light bathed the earth, warming all who lay under its embrace. Despite being fully exposed to the rays of warmth, Bolt felt cold. He had been up all night thinking about Mittens and Rhino, drifting in and out of sleep, not bothering to shelter himself from the rain when it did fall. One sleepless night had passed, and the dark circles could clearly be seen around his eyes.

He just couldn't let them go.

He thought of Rhino's boisterous attitude towards every single thing he did. His enthusiasm, although sometimes annoying, was contagious, and it always brightened up the mood in the group, which was a welcome gift, especially on the long roads of walking. He thought of Mittens, whose sarcasm and humour kept a smile on his face, and the invaluable lessons she taught him.

But now they were all gone.

The truck was slow in its journey: it made many stops along the way, stopping for hours at a time at one spot. At least the truck was headed in the right direction. But being alone, Bolt felt lonelier than he had ever felt in the studio trailer. He craved for someone to talk to, but not even a pigeon could be seen for miles at every stop. In the end, it was just him and painful thoughts. But now it was finally entering Hollywood, the end point. The final destination of their--no...his...journey.

That's right. It's my journey, not theirs.

The truck finally slowed to a stop. Bolt took that as his cue and jumped off the back, taking a quick glance at the driver--who hadn't noticed him apparently--before walking over to a worn out wooden fence that separated him and the large city. A wave of nostalgia and hope came over him. Buildings stood like trees in a forest. He could almost hear a voice calling for him right there and then.

"Penny," he whispered.