ALL NOVEL Loop 255 - A Cat Among Dogs
Trashcat was wandering her usual alley, sniffing some of the weirder smells, and doing her usual thinking right now. She didn’t understand why her memories didn’t start the moment she was born; they kicked in the day she would have met Bug. She has the asked the wisest people she knew, Bug and Ethel, but neither of them had solid answers either. These thoughts were pushed aside by the sight of a tasty treat.
It occurred to her, as she was pawing at a mostly empty Chinese food box, that she should be in the Void House by now. Why hadn’t the root network grabbed her yet. When she considered this, she also felt a slight tug on the back of her neck. She jumped to one side, trying to spot who had dared touch her. There was nothing there.
She felt the tug again, a little stronger than before. “Who’s there? I can feel you even if I can’t see you,” she hissed.
“Interesting, a feline. There have been defenders from worlds without count, dogs of all kind, striving to help those in need, but there has never been a cat. Little one, why are your friends trying to induct you into our order?” a deep voice asked.
“My friends? Is Bug in trouble? Does she need my help? What did you do to hurt Bug?!” Trashcat’s hiss morphed into an angry growl as she moved her head from side to side, trying to spot the voice.
“Hmm, okay. I like it. You’ve got the heart of a dog in there somewhere, and as things stand the order does need everyone willing. You are officially recognized as an apprentice in the Pedigree Paladins. If you want to truly join you must complete a quest,” the voice said.
“What quest?” Trashcat asked back, still growling.
“That is for you to determine, though I wish you luck,” the voice had dropped to barely above a whisper as it said the last word, disappearing as though it had never been there.
Trashcat looked around now more in fear than anger. What had happened to Bug, and what could she possibly do to save anyone?
“I think the better question is, what can we do?” Bart said, materializing in front of her.