//------------------------------// // Of Course, Trouble Begins Again! // Story: Three Unlikely Friends // by Tiaa OwO //------------------------------// "This seems alright." Specklepaw said, inspecting the hideout. It wasn't too far into the forest but far enough that they were safe. The entrance didn't look like much, since it was a dead tree propped up by two rocks on each side, but the inside was an old, abandoned den of some animal. It was spacious, dry, and comfortable enough for the quartet. Kobe yawned and settled down right in the center. Specklepaw curled up in a ball next to him. Gilda and Clyde joined in and snuggled up next to the two to keep warm. Specklepaw was the first to wake up. He stretched and yawned before briefly glancing at the others. Seeing that he was the only one who was awake, he headed for the hideouts entrance. Sunlight twinkled through the leaves of the trees and warmed his fur. The kittens ear twitched when he heard something behind him. "Lovely day this is." Specklepaw said, not bothering to turn around. "Wow, you didn't even jump. Must be record ya." Clyde chirped and sat next to him. Specklepaw gave him a sideways glance. "And what are you so happy for?" "What's there to not be happy about?" "That's not answering my question." "that's not answering my question." "Ha ha. Very funny, Clyde." Specklepaw growled as Clyde giggled. "But since you're up with me, let's come up with a plan." "Shouldn't the others be awake for us to discuss that?" "You are all incapable of coming up with a plan all at once." "If you say so," Clyde grinned. "I think our plan could've worked. Maybe if you believed as much as we did." "From my personal experience, things don't work out that way." Specklepaw frowned down at his fore paws. "But then again, nothing really works out...at least not for me." Clyde's grin faltered and he gave the kitten a confused look. "What do you mean?" Specklepaw didn't answer. "Is that what happened back home? Nothing went right?" "I...well..." Specklepaw began, but there was a yawn from inside the hideout. "Oh! Their awake!" With a flick of a tail, the kitten was back inside and saying his Good Mornings. Clyde frowned and flattened his ears. "Morning, Specks." Kobe yawned and stretched. "Why're you up before us?" "Five more minutes." Gilda grumbled and rolled over into a more comfortable sleeping position. "Well, I've noticed that we've been here a few days...and it's obvious that we have no plans and almost no defense against the Aluminai...maybe we should try a different tactic." Specklepaw said. "Tactic? What tactic? We've been chased around like prey for days now." Kobe flattened his ears. "And my moves only temporarily keep them away." He whimpered and Gilda sighed. She clearly wasn't going to be able to go back to sleep with their chatter. "Precisely my point. Maybe if we go to the place where we were introduced...there was a little shack-thing in the distance...do you remember?" Kobe shook his head. Gilda narrowed her eyes and frowned as she struggled to remember her surroundings on that day. "I think I saw something. I'm not sure. I wasn't paying attention to that...not then..." she said. "I think I know what you're talking about." Clyde called out from right outside the hideout. "There's a small little cabin right behind that platform. My mom told me to never go in there... Maybe that's where whatever brought you here is." "What if we go there...to check it out...maybe...just maybe..." "It's a long shot and we're going on a hunch...but it's worth trying." Kobe got to his paws and grinned. Clyde smiled. Gilda stood slowly and yawned as her stomach grumbled. "Alright, I'll do whatever you dweebs are yowling about if we get some grub right now." she said groggily. Specklepaw beamed at her. She scowled, causing Kobe and Clyde to giggle and lead the way out. "Berries. What kind of breakfast was that?" Clyde complained. He was walking briskly behind Kobe and Gilda, with Specklepaw at his side. "I could've done without fruit in my system!" "Shut up." Gilda said. "Make me." "Okay," Gilda turned around and leaped onto him. They tumbled and rolled. The other two stopped. The kitten glanced ahead, anxious of how close they were to the edge of the town. "Stop it! We're on a mission, remember? A mission!" Specklepaw exclaimed. Kobe shook his head and rolled his eyes. "Are you two serious? Get a hold of yourselves." "ENOUGH!" the kitten finally bellowed, not bothering to wait for Kobe's command to register. "We've got a job to do...a mission...and you're playing around as if our very lives didn't depend on this." "Our lives? Since when have you cared about our lives? Every time we have a mission set, all you do is complain," Gilda pointed out. "And nag." Clyde added. "Because all your plans were set up to fail! You never listen to me! Never!" "Not true. We found a hideout. You suggested that. We listened." Clyde argued. "Reluctantly, I admit, but...still..." "One time! One time you listened! No one ever listens to the smart one!" The kitten was red in the face and panting heavily from yelling. "What're you calling us, then?" Gilda shouted angrily. Clyde's expression matched hers as he glared at the kitten. Kobe shifted uneasily. "I don't know! Idiots...dummies...imbeciles...whatever you understand! I-" Specklepaw didn't finish, for he was tackled quite violently. He flew a few feet hit a tree hard, his head banging against it with a thwack, and slid to the ground, a splat of blood showing exactly where he hit. Asher, the one who had tackled him, chuckled. "Specks!" Kobe yelled. He was about to run to him but stopped when Asher turned to him and growled. "You! You...you...killed him!" Gilda growled and whipped her tail side to side. Clyde took a defensive stance. Kobe followed. Sishae jumped out of the bushes next, snarling and snapping her jaws. To keep her at a distance, Kobe jumped forward, swiping at her with his enlarged claws. Sishae dodged them and took a step closer. "Nowhere to run now. Whatcha gonna do, huh? What tricks are you going to pull, now?" she hissed. "Leave us alone, you...brutes!" Kobe yelled. "You murderers!" "It's official, I hate Aliminai." Gilda growled. Clyde gave a hiss of agreement. "Interesting," a sweet, melodic voice said softly, yet loud enough to make everyone freeze. "We just love you. Why not stay a little longer?" Sishae and Asher flattened their ears against their skulls and their eyes widened in fright and surprise. Kobe and Clyde turned slowly. Clyde shivered and Kobe gulped. "Crud..."