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Fun with Bolt & Penny 9: Discovery

By Tempo

~ ~ ~

Bolt sat, tail wagging. The small radio Penny had clipped to his collar hissed softly, giving off a faint plastic smell.

"Okay, Bolty." His person's voice rang through the radio, tinny but recognizable. "Bring me... my iPod."

Trotting over to her night stand, Bolt hopped up and took the small pink gadget carefully in his teeth. He carried it down the stairs to his waiting person. She cheered.

"Mom! Check this out."

His person petted him between the ears, then pointed back to her room. "Upstairs, buddy."

He dashed back up the stairs, the radio clattering against his tags. He turned the corner into her room, then looked around eagerly. Any moment, Penny would announce the next objective--

"Ready, Bolt?"

He yapped. The audio sensor on the radio clicked on, then off.

"Okay." She laughed. Even through the radio, it made him smile. "Bring me my... flash drive."

Before she even finished saying it, he jumped onto her chair and snatched it off her computer desk. Bolt leaped down again, the slim silver device dangling from its lanyard. He turned the corner and thundered down the stairs again. Reaching the rug at the bottom, the canine sat at attention, tail wagging in pride.

"Oh, well isn't that clever." Mom clapped her hands once. "Good to see you are getting some use out of your birthday gift. You know, sweetie, we would have gotten you a digital camera for Christmas."

"Yeah, but I already have a camera that works just fine."

"Okay. It's just that Polaroid film is getting harder to find."

Penny took a deep breath. "Mom..."

Mom smiled, though a hint of sadness touched her eyes. She stroked her daughter's long red hair. "If you want to keep using your father's old camera, that's fine by me."

"Thanks." The teenage girl patted her Mom's hand.

* * * * *

A rustle of paper.

Hmm... Bolt studied the folded map before him. How does this part open? Oooh. I bet it goes like this... He nodded. Perfect.

Mittens stirred on the sofa. Her green eyes opened to find Bolt carefully laying out a road map on the carpet. This sight caused her to bury her head under a pillow.

Resolving to be quieter, he resumed his efforts. He had succeeded in not ripping it, but it had gotten slobbery in a few places. He was good with his paws, but he was nowhere near as good as people. Some things required the use of his mouth.

The cat flopped to her back, her nap-based plans ruined. Again Bolt? Would ya quit obsessing over that stupid map? Save your brain power for getting treats out of chew toys.

The canine poured over the US map, carefully unfolding the last of it with his nose. I'm trying to figure out where we live.

We live here, pooch. She gestured around the house. With the nice people who feed us. What else is there to know?

Amused, he looked up at her. So you don't know either?

Sure I do! We're... in the middle somewhere.

If only we could get one of those secret waffle maps...

You really think those are better? The feline prowled up, tail swishing. What, because of the pictures?

The dog nodded. Yes. Also, they smelled like waffles.

Mittens looked at him askew. Bolt wasn't sure exactly why, but she did that from time to time.

Okay, we're not by the ocean. So we do have to be in this middle part somewhere.

She sat down with a smug grin. Like I said.

His paws traced over the creased paper surface. And there were moose and dinosaurs by that green place at the top, so we can't--

Dinosaurs? Her voice and ears dropped in incredulity.

Well, they were on the waffle maps.

She pressed a paw to the bridge of her muzzle. Look, Toto, I know I really sold you on the greatness of the waffle maps, but for all I know we're in Kansas.

Penny ambled out of the kitchen, munching on a sandwich. Upon seeing the duo, she swallowed her bite and smiled. "Hey, buddy. Is Oreo helping you study for Geography?"

He yapped and wagged up at her. Hi, Penny.

His person tore off a small chunk of sandwich. "Catch." She dropped it.

The white canine hopped forward and caught it just before it hit the floor. He chomped it down and licked his lips. Mmm. Bologna.

Mittens rolled her eyes and smiled. You're a dork.

Simultaneously, Penny reached down and petted him. "You're adorable."

The cat and dog exchanged a look as they sat on the map. Mittens shrugged.

Just why do they keep calling you Oreo anyway?

Mittens shrugged again. Ask me tomorrow.

Penny sat down cross-legged in front of them, continuing her sandwich. "You never got to eat like this back in Hollywood. Remember that?"

Yeah, I remember. Bolt planted a paw on the lima bean shape where the sunglasses waffle had been.

His person stopped mid-bite, regarding him with curiosity. "Did you just do what I think you did?"

He looked up, confused.

The teen girl shooed them both off the map, then turned to her dog. "Hollywood."

The former superdog looked at her, then the map. He placed a paw back on the same place. I'm pretty sure it's right here.

Penny considered this for a moment, then turned the map around and said it again. "Hollywood."

Rolling his eyes, Bolt trotted to the other side of the map and pounced both paws on that same spot. He wagged at her, proud of his cunning. I'm not that easily fooled.

"Okay, buddy. That's kind of weird." She pondered his actions for a moment. "...Texas."

He watched her speak, but dropped his ears. I don't know that word, Penny.

"Huh. I guess robot cowboys attacking us on an oil platform doesn't ring a bell."

Disappointment sank into his stomach. This had to be a place on the map, he just didn't know which one.

Psst! Mittens leaned in. The one in the middle at the bottom. The big one.

Surprised for a instant, Bolt then gave Mittens a grateful look and proudly thumped his paws on the big, melted-boot-looking place.

Penny laughed in surprise, her sandwich forgotten on her knee. "That is so weird!"

His ears perked up at her reaction. The canine smiled at Mittens. Thanks! How did you even know that?

She examined a paw. I've picked up a thing or two in my time, wags-- What are you doing now?

He nosed her over toward the map. I have an idea. Sit down here.

The cat moved warily into position. Why?

Please?

Okay, fine. Crazy canine.

With the cat seated where he'd, um, originally commandeered her, he tugged the other end of the map around so the lima bean side faced Penny.

His person watched with interest. "Now what are we doing?"

Don't think your message is gettin' through, Lassie. You'd better stick to pulling Timmy outta the well.

Bolt gave her a sour look, then glanced back at his person.

The canine traced a line between the two sides of the map with his nose.

Penny watched intently, so intently she didn't even see Rhino waddle up beside her and yank the bologna out of her sandwich with such force that the cheese and lettuce stayed in place. He then scampered away with the half-slice of deli meat, chittering all the way.

Bolt ignored the hamster's phantom incursion and nudged the seated Mittens toward Penny's side of the map.

Stoppit!

Just bear with me, cat. I have an idea. He continued nudging and sliding her along her paper road trip.

Once Mittens had completed her undignified journey and was on Penny's side of the map, he looked to his person again with hope.

"Sorry, boy." The girl shook her head, still a little shocked. "I don't get what you're doing."

The dog sighed and placed his paw back where he'd met Mittens.

His person only seemed more confused. "New York?"

He yapped, wagging so hard he wiggled.

"Okay." Shaking off her astonishment, his person thought for a moment. "What about it?"

He started bumping his nose against Mittens again.

Would ya stop?

Sorry, I'm improvising.

"Oreo is from New York?"

Bolt hopped into the air in surprise and joy. He wagged over to nuzzle and lick his person.

"Whoa!" Penny closed her eyes, laughing at the barrage of slobbery canine affection. "I get it, I get it!" Picking up his front paws, she danced him around and around in celebration. His person practically beamed. "You're even smarter than I thought!"

Exulted, the dog wagged and panted. Wow, it actually worked. He let Penny prance him around on his back legs with one hand, the half-eaten sandwich in the other. The map crinkled under their feet as they cavorted atop it while Penny whooped in jubilation.

Mittens just shook her head. Aww jeez, I don't believe this...

After a few moments of dancing, the teen girl patted the sofa and Bolt leapt up to snuggle against her. She petted him with such enthusiasm that his ears flopped against his head, her hand trailing all the way up and down his back as she nuzzled him. "You're such a good boy! Yes you are! Oh yes oh yes oh yes oh my wiggly puppy Bolty-boo."

Great. The black and white feline pretended to gag. I think I'm gonna hack up a hairball.

Bolt blushed, but didn't stop nuzzling in at his person. She hadn't talked to him quite like that since he was a puppy. His whole body wiggled closer to her. This moment meant something to him. He didn't even care that the cat was watching. He felt closer to Penny, in a way he hadn't before. And if this was possible, who knew what else they could do together? The radio had been one thing, but this...

Oblivious to his pondering, Penny took a bite out of her sandwich, then examined it in confusion. "Where the heck did my bologna go?"

* * * * *

Bolt watched Penny suit up: thick red gloves, puffy purple coat, striped stocking cap. She looked funny like that, armored against the cold. No doubt she needed it, though: even he felt cold and he had fur.

He trotted up, panting happily up at her. Am I going outside too? He hoped they were going sledding again. Flying down a hill at incredible speed with his person steering had been rather nostalgic. Holding on to her back was a bit tough, but he'd had plenty of practice over the last few months.

"Not this time, buddy." She ruffled his headfur with a gloved hand. "Smart as you are, you'd get pretty bored at the dentist's office."

Hmm... Offices usually meant getting a tune-up of some sort. When he'd been on the show, they'd been more dramatic about testing his fitness and adjusting his powers, but really the poking and prodding was pretty much the same. Mittens had resisted both times they'd gone to the vet office, though he could never figure out why.

"Besides, we've gotta test the range on these things." His person clicked her radio a few times, causing a few beeps to come from the one on his collar. She scratched under his chin as best she could through a glove and held her handset to her ear. "Alright. Speak."

Bolt barked, listening as the sound echoed out of her radio.

Penny gave a wink that made him feel all fluttery inside. "Be back soon, guys!" She waved as she backed out the door. Mom followed, similarly suited. All that fabric made her look almost as round as when they'd first left the show. Bolt hopped up onto the sofa and watched through the window. Flakes of snow tumbled down around them, dusting their hats and jackets before they even reached the Mom Transport.

It fired up and rumbled off, shrinking into a tiny green blotch until it vanished into the haze of swirling snow.

* * * * *

Bolt continued to yip back to Penny for a while, with her calling out distances, but got all crackly after a few miles. Soon, it too faded away. He watched out the window for a long while before Rhino succeeded in drawing him into the current TV show marathon.

Several episodes later, Rhino was still explaining the finer points of one of his favorite television documentaries.

Wait, wait. Bolt lifted a paw at the screen. Who is that guy?

Okay. That is Sergent B.A. 'Bad Attitude' Baracus. He's awesome. The hamster bounced in his ball.

The dog settled down onto the sofa. I see. I have to admit they seem to know what they are doing. So they just build all these things since they don't have superpowers?

Precisely.

Huh. Well, it's nice to know that this is something my person can do when she grows up. The white canine nodded. I bet she could fight bad guys with a lettuce cannon too.

Shhh! Bolt! They're constructing a tank!

Didn't they do that in the episode they just showed? What happened to that tank?

Rhino rocked back in his ball for a moment. Huh. I dunno. They probably had to ditch it to avoid attracting attention.

The canine watched as the improvised tank crashed through the wall of a building. They don't seem too concerned about that now.

Oo-hoo-hoo-hoo! This is the best part! You can tell because they all have their machine guns out.

Okay, okay. He rolled onto his back, still watching. Good thing the people in this show were just as inaccurate with their guns as the Green-Eye guards. Otherwise someone could get really hurt.

Mittens perched on the table, watching the snowfall. Boy, it's really coming down out there.

Knowing there would always be another gunfight on this show, Bolt hopped off the couch and trotted over. Do you think that our people will be okay?

Yeah. People are usually fine. The cat set her chin on her crossed paws and looked down at him. They're not cats, granted, but they are fairly resourceful.

Hmmm... Not comforted, the dog glanced to the radio on his collar.

Look, if it bothers you that much... She sat up. Rhino! Change over to the weather channel.

The what?

Fine... She groaned. Switch the 'magic box' to radar mode.

Oh! Well, why didn't you say so? He bounced off the remote a few times, past the dramatic people channel and the dog channel.

Bolt wasn't much for television, but that dog channel was okay. Sometimes, they ran obstacle courses, but at this moment they caught those hovering disc things. Mittens had explained they were some sort of highly advanced super-sticks, but they looked like plastic to him, not wood. Seeing those discs again shook something loose in his brain; maybe he'd played with them as a puppy? But then Rhino clicked onward and the images vanished, replaced with a shoe commercial.

Finally, Remote-Commander Rhino arrived at the radar channel. Bolt thought it a little weird that it never showed jets or hovercraft, just clouds. Right now there was a big blob of red moving across the screen over and over while a robotic voice droned on. Every few minutes, the radar map shrunk to the corner, the rest of the screen cutting away to scenes of people trudging through the heavy snowfall. Some of the shots showed car after car stuck on the side of roads or even cars that had hit each other.

I hope Penny is okay.

Mittens took a deep breath. I'm sure she's fine, Bolt.

Yeah, it can't be that bad. The hamster gestured at the TV screen. None of those cars are even exploding!

Both dog and cat gave Rhino a look, and he quieted down self-consciously. They all watched the scenes and radar displays for a few more minutes, until the phone rang. Bolt's ears perked up. Penny's mom had a cell phone, but she insisted on having one of those old-fashioned ones on the wall too. It only played one ringtone and you couldn't set it to vibrate. Penny sometimes called her mom a 'dinosaur' for having it, but Bolt didn't really see the connection. The few dinosaurs he'd fought off during the show never had those sorts of phones.

After a few rings, the device next to the phone clicked to life, telling the caller to record a message. A dry, tinny voice came over the line: "This is Hanson Dental calling for Penny. We didn't see you at your appointment, but you can call at your nearest convenience and we'll get you booked back in." Then it gave some numbers.

Bolt looked to Mittens with concern. Does that mean that they never arrived?

I guess so.

They could be in danger.

I doubt it.

He barked into the radio a few times. Nothing. They've been gone a really long time. The dog lowered his ears and tail. It's been a lot longer than it takes to go to town and back. I'd better evaluate the situation. If I can get to the top of the hill... He nosed toward the window. ...I might be able to receive any distress calls from Penny. It would have better range from up there.

There is a blizzard out there, pooch! You know what that means? It means that we stay inside so we don't freeze our butts off.

This is my person and I'm her dog. I have to do this, cat. I have to make sure she is safe. Close the door when I'm gone. With that, he pawed down the door handle and nosed open the door. Wincing at the first blast of cold air, he dashed out into the storm.

Bolt, hold up, ya moron! Mittens leapt down and raced to the door, but he was already charging off into the snow. Bolt looked back to see the wind blowing through her thin fur, her voice lost in the roar of the storm.

The white dog plowed up the hillside, his pawpads stinging with the cold. Past the driveway, the snow got deeper. One false step and he sank down to his chest, having to practically swim back up. He panted heavily. Have to keep going! Penny could be in danger! The canine trudged on. Climbing over a larger drift, he cut through the woods near the bend in the creek. The trees blocked the wind some, but it still sounded like millions of tiny beads bouncing off each other. The thick snow made it hard to tell just where he was, but he could see the hill up ahead, ghostly in the swirling blizzard.

He had almost reached the top when his radio crackled to life.

* * * * *

Penny held the door open for her mom, stamping the snow off her boots. "Ugh! And if I ever had to say 'Thursdays at 8 PM Eastern' again, it'd be too soon."

Her mother laughed. "I don't blame you, honey. Sorry we had to drive home on the back roads like that."

"We would've been able to take the main road back if you'd let me drive instead of chickening out."

The girl pulled off her coat and stretched. The radio fell from her pocket, thumping to the carpet. She scooped it up and examined it. "Huh. Volume must have gotten turned down." She twisted a knob and the radio hissed, crackling as if with the wind. She clipped it to her belt, clicking it off. I should probably take the other one off Bolt before the batteries die. "Bolt!" Her voice rang in the quiet house. "Here boy!"

No response. She called again. Nothing. Where is that silly dog?

Oreo scampered up, mewling. She reached down and petted the scrawny cat. "Hey, girl." The teen checked upstairs; sometimes Bolt liked to sleep on her bed. He wasn't there. She checked the kitchen, her mom's room, even the bathrooms, but he didn't seem to be anywhere.

"Mom?"

"What is it, dear?"

"Have you seen Bolt?"

"No. You're sure he's not curled up somewhere? Dogs can be funny like that."

"I don't think so..." Her hand brushed the walkie talkie at her belt. She pulled it off and switched it on. He should still have his on. "We're back at home. Where are you?" Nothing. "Bolt, come downstairs." Still nothing, just that weird crackling sound. Her heart felt tense and tight.

Her mother looked around with concern. "I don't hear it anywhere. You're sure the batteries still work?"

"They're as new as these." She waved her own radio, then clicked the talk button again. "Bolt, speak. Speak."

She stood silent for a moment and then...

A yap crackled through the speaker.

"Bolt?" The tension in her body drained away a little. "Where the heck are you? We're home." Wait. Duh. He can't answer. "Speak."

Again, a happy woof.

Even if he were in a closet, I should be able to hear where he is barking from. The house isn't that huge. Unless... "Mom! I think Bolt's outside!"

"What?!"

That crackling sound was wind! "Bolt, come back to the house right now. The house."

Another bark, then the crunch of snow under paws. Panting. He's running alright.

Mom squinted into the storm. "How'd he get out?"

Eyes closing, the teen girl groaned. "We taught him to open the door." Jeez! How could I be so stupid? "He can't have gone far."

Suddenly: a panicked yelp!

A rapid flurry of noises followed. More yelping. Something dragging and skidding. The transmission cut off for a moment, and then some kind of splashing sound blared through the speaker. All the sounds went tinny and watery then, before the audio cut off again into a squeal of electronic noise.

"Ohmygosh, Mom! Did you hear that? It sounded like..." Penny gripped the radio so hard it creaked. "We have to go out there and find him!"

Mom put a hand on her shoulder, dead serious. "Honey, I want to help, but he could be anywhere out in that storm.

"No, we do! He's close! These radios only work for a couple of miles." Penny ignored the tears blurring her vision. "I heard water! The only water nearby is the creek!"

Within moments, they were back in the jeep. Neither said anything. Her life with Bolt flashed through her mind. Playing with him as a puppy, auditions, training, filming, him saving her life, and, since then, all those intimate nights he slept curled up in her arms. She wiped her eyes with a glove, but didn't cry. Bolt needed her. He hadn't even been a real dog for a year yet. For once, she had to save him.

The moment they reached the creek's bridge, Penny opened the door to jump out.

Mom caught her by one gloved hand. "Cell phone?"

"Yes."

"Flashlight?"

"Yes!" She squirmed.

"Okay." The older woman's eyes were serious. "I can't keep up with you, but I'll call if I lose sight of you. You do the same, understood?"

"I will, Mom."

Her mom released her, called after as she dashed into the snow: "And stay off the ice!"

Penny edged around the bridge railing. He could be anywhere up or down stream! Panic surged through her, but she withstood the flash flood of dread. She looked in both directions. Equally dark, equally silent, save for the howl of wind. Already, it stung her face. On instinct, she decided to go North first. They had played there once. Had it really only been a few months ago?

She hurried down the embankment without a second thought. Her boots slid and skidded under her in the loose snow. She fell, landing on her butt with a squeak of surprise and slid down to the side of the creek. Dusting herself off, she rose and tried to see into the snowstorm.

Her fingers gripped the radio, already going cold inside her gloves. "Bolt? Speak. Ya gotta speak for me, buddy. Please!" That panic crept into her voice now, but she shoved it back. There wasn't time for it.

Nothing.

Her dog wouldn't just ignore her. Either his radio shorted out in the water, or... She didn't want to think about it.

She sprinted over along the bank, hearing her mother pick her way through the trees at the top of the valley. Her legs grew cold, the chill cutting through thin denim. She forced herself to keep checking both sides of the creek, shining her flashlight ahead of her, even as the snow whipped against her eyes. More than once, she stumbled through the blinding storm to find what she thought was him, only to run her hands through a drift of snow. Why'd he have to be a white dog?!

Her mother had said not to step on the ice, but really moms were just like that. She raced across the frozen creek where she needed to, where the bank disappeared. It was either that or climb up the embankment and hope she didn't pass him by. No. Finding Bolt was too important to--

A muffled crack. With a sudden lurch, her boot dropped down, through, and made a sickening splash.

Reflex pulled her foot out of the hole in the ice, but not before it was soaked. It wasn't cold; it hurt.

This was bad. Dangerous. She knew she should go back. Instead, Penny shook her head, grit her teeth, and pressed on, forcing the already-stiffening leg into service. Bolt wouldn't give up on me. I can't let him down.

The cold traveled up her leg as she hurried on. She worked her toes in that boot until they hurt, just trying to keep the blood flowing, but it was a losing battle. The flashlight glinted off the blowing snow, a thousand points glimmering and dying against the black, as if it cast a beam of shooting stars.

Suddenly, she came across a break in the ice, the shards covered in churned-up mud. Her gut wrenched and she stared, eyes drifting inexorably along an unmistakeable trail. She didn't want to see it. Something white. Something dirty. A small shape laying there in the snow and mud. Bolt.

Penny ran. She ran and scarcely noticed the livid pain now screaming from her stiff leg. The teenager threw herself to the ground, skidding on knees, and flung her arms round the dirty shape. Her gloves were instantly saturated; she ripped them off and tossed them aside; a nuisance. Penny gripped that furry bundle and pulled, pulled him out of the mud, pulled him against her. There was no denying it now. He felt heavy. Cold. Unmoving. Limp.

The world shrank to a pinprick. Just her. The entire sum of her problems a triviality; a footnote stacked up against this. The wind scoured her face and snow melted on her scarf in hot tears. Carrying Bolt against her chest, Penny ran.

~ ~ ~

Editing by: Vendetta, SillyNeko, & Mittens

Bolt 10 coming soon. Your feedback is appreciated.

~Tempo