FSE

Furry search engine

formerly SoFurry search engine

- Chapter 15: THE ESCAPE

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- Bolt -

It didn't take long for the white shepherd to spring into action. Swift as a white-furred lightning bolt he leapt through air, landing with his paws on the intruder's chest. The surprised caretaker suddenly found himself on the floor with seventy pounds of angry superdog keeping him in place while the other animals took the opportunity to slip through the cleared doorway.

As soon as his friends were out the door, Bolt hopped off the guard, ran out and kicked the door shut with a slam.

“Rhino! The lock!" He barked, leaning against the door so that the hamster could reach the lock.

“Say no more!" Rhino climbed up the shepherd's tail and back and then head. Standing on his hero's black nose, he could just reach the lock with the key conveniently in it.

“Hurry up, buddy!" Bolt whispered, trying his best not to sneeze with the little hamster feet moving all over his nose.

“Let's see how he likes being locked up!" The hamster laughed manically as he twisted the little key, locking the man inside. He pulled out the key, then dropped it on the floor where Mittens quickly picked it up.

“Thah shoulg holh him foh a while" she said, key in her little muzzle.

• “Oh, he's going nowhere" Rhino giggled as he jumped down to give Bolt's paw a little high-five.

“Let's save the celebration for when we're out of here" Benji warned. “We better move before his friends find him"

Barely had he finished his sentence before the trapped human pulled the handle, slowly at first then frantically. When that didn't work, he took to pushing the the heavy door. Again and again he pushed, to no avail.

“Hey!" he bawled. “I'm… I'm locked in. The damn animals, they bloody locked me in!" He continued yelling and banging the door, alarming the facility to their midnight escape. The animal's respective ears flew up when the familiar squeaking of shoes on the floor could be heard coming down the hallway. Reinforcements were on the way…

“The facility is alerted. Let's move!" Bolt ordered. “Hurry!"

None of the other animals had to be told twice. They all dashed down the corridor, followed by Bolt. Together, the ran as fast as their paws could take them, running past doors and pens and slaloming between dusty moving boxes.

The white shepherd could hear the guards yelling behind him. There seemed to be three distinct voices. So far he had only seen a total of three guards in this facility, which meant they had already freed their friend. They would be looking for them now.

He reached an intersection. “Right!" Bolt half-barked, half-panted, lungs heaving for air. He could see light coming from the corridor on the left. He could smell the cold, midnight air. This was their escape. The others followed closely behind him.

They kept running, Bolt taking the lead with the rest of the animals on his tail. He could see it now, the light at the of it; moonlight filtered through the glass-panels of a door at the far end - a door leading outside! It was quite possibly the most beautiful Bolt had ever seen. Freedom was just a couple of feet away. Or so he thought.

The second he reached the door, he jumped to grab the handle with his muzzle, pulling down on it hard the way he had learned one should do to open these human contraptions. But the handle wouldn't move. He tried pulling it so hard his teeth hurt, but to no avail.

Benji joined in, pushing and thrusting himself against the door with all the strength the black dog could muster, but the thing wouldn't budge.

“It's locked!" Bolt declared. “We gotta try the key. Rhino, you know what to do!"

“Say no more!" Picking up the key from the cat the hamster hurried up to Bolt who lifted him up to the lock, allowing him to once again put his opposable thumbs to use. He pushed the key inside. It went in, but not completely. He tried twisting it, but the key clicked to a stop. He tried again, with no success. It didn't fit.

“I… I can't unlock it. It must be the wrong key!"

“Shit, shit, shit!" Mittens paced in circles. “Now what? Where do we go, Bolt? There has to be some other way out!"

“Me?" Bolt perked his ears up. “I was drugged when they got here, I don't remember anything!"

Looking at his friends, he realized that they were expecting him to find a way out. He needed to be a hero, he needed to focus, to think of something, anything that could get them out. But the hazy, dreamlike memory of infiltrating didn't hold any details and with every second he could hear the guards getting closer. Soon, they would be spotted. hazy dream-like

“Wait!" the white shepherd suddenly exclaimed, ears perked up with a new idea. “The reception. There's a door in the reception"

“That one is locked too, Rhino said. “I checked it when I broke in"

“Not the door, the window. I crushed the window on my way in. We can get out through the window!"

“This way!" he ordered, before rushing down the opposite end of the corridor. Mittens and Benji glanced at each other before setting off after the shepherd. It was as good an idea as any. As the furry posse made it through the intersection, their pursuers appeared at the other hand. “They are over there!" one of them shouted to the others. “I found the animals!"

They were spotted. Running as fast as they could, the four animals continued down the corridor, the entirety of the shelter's night staff on their tail.

“You better be right about that window" Benji panted next to him. On his back, Rhino was holding on to the Lab's neck-scruff for dear life, jolting back and forth with each leap. Bolt did hope he was right. If he wasn't, they would all be doomed, and it would be because of him. When he looked back, he could see three men following them, one of the wielding a giant net Bolt recognized all too well.

When they finally made it to the reception area, Bolt noticed that they luckily hadn't had time to patch the window. The glass panel was still there, shattered with a superdog-sized hole in it. It should be large enough for them all to make it through.

“There!" Bolt shouted to the others as he rushed up to the busted window. The caretakers were mere seconds behind them now. With an agile leap he made his way through the hole in the glass and landing on the asphalt outside. Looking back, he registered the black dog making the jump into freedom as well, leaping through with Rhino still on his back. That's the last he saw before slipping on the wet asphalt, losing his grip and falling over with a wet thud.

- Benji -

Benji couldn't believe it. He was free! He was about to run up and check on Bolt when he heard a sharp, earsplitting yowl coming from behind him. He looked behind him when he saw Mittens. She just about to take the jump when a pair of strong hands grabbed her and a net was brought over her face. She yelped and Benji saw the bearded guard stand up, holding the struggling feline like a trophy in his nasty net. “I got the cat!" he howled. Come help me over here, I got it!"

His gaze returned to Bolt who was raising from the wet tarmac, slow on wobbly legs. He hadn't had time to see, let alone react to, Mittens predicament. He didn't know. It was not too late. They could still leave together.

In a couple of seconds, it would be too late for Mittens. In a few more seconds, the other caretakers would have opened the door and it would be over for him and Bolt too. It was a split-second decision between going back to save his old nemesis, the cat who was singlehandedly responsible for getting him locked up here, or escape with his beloved white shepherd while they still could.

To this date Benji could not tell you why he chose the former option. He jumped back through the hole in the glass, landing on the floor inside the door. The caretakers looked up, noticeably surprised to see the black Labrador hop back inside. Before anyone had time to react, Benji had his teeth around the net, ripping and tearing into it to free Mittens.

“What the!?" One of the caretakers colleagues reached for him, but before he got a chance to grab Benji, Rhino, who apparently had been on his back all the time, leaped forth to sink his sharp rodent teeth in the man's hand. The human howled, shaking his hand like crazy with Rhino flying back and forth, still biting down hard.

Benji took the opportunity to strike again against Mittens captor, hurling his head into the belly of the net-wielding brute which such force that the latter stumbled and fell backwards, dropping, Mittens, the net, and everything else as he fell on the floor.

It is said that cats always land on their feet. But that's not always true, especially not when they're all tangled up in a net. Benji saw the poor cat fall to the floor with a quiet thud followed by a yelp of pain.

It was all he could see before a large net was thrown over him and two other caretakers pinned him down to the floor. Benji snarled and struggled, trying to bite both the net and his captors, having little success with either. This was it, he thought. Now they got him. Yet, he struggled. He struggled so hard he almost squeezed himself out from under the net.

“He's gonna bite me! Tase him!" one of the humans who had him pinned down cried. Looking up, he could see one of them wielding the taser, sparkling with electricity, ready to sink it into his fur. Benji closed his eyes, bracing himself for pain.

The next second, a white, furry cannonball smashed into the man's side, throwing him off his knees. He landed on his butt, more shocked then hurt. “These animals must have rabies or something!" he shouted as he got back on his feet. The two others, even the bearded man all red in his face, were now backing away from the ferocious canines and their hamster companion.

Whether intentionally or not, the group of humans was now between the animals and their exit. Bolt stood up, growling menacingly with his lips peeled back and teeth on display– the kind of growl he typically reserved for the worst of the Green Eyed Man's henchmen and was now using on real-live humans. Benji joined in, equally threatening. He stood protectively over Mittens who still laid on the floor between them, ready to defend her again if need be. Together their message was clear; no amount of nets and Tasers were going to stop them from leaving.

Benji looked down, nuzzling the feline warily. Her eyes were still closed, but he could clearly see her little Oreo-colored chest rise and fall. At least she was breathing. The Labrador hunkered down, and with Bolt's help he heaved the limp feline body over his back. He stared at the humans and they stared back.

The man with the beard took a cautious step closer to reach for the lifeless cat, but was met by an immediate increase in growling from the two dogs. He stepped back, but Benji could tell from the man's eyes that it was more out of a sense of understanding than fear this time.

“I can't believe it" he mumbled in his beard. “They're just protecting the cat…" He stepped back and started talking with his colleagues. The four animals stared at them confusedly, wondering what they were up and what would happen next.

“What are they talking about?" Bolt whispered to Rhino. “I don't know…" the hamster replied. “But they're talking about us, that's for sure"

Suddenly, the nets were dropped and the Tasers were put away. To the animals shared surprise the humans backed away, leaving the path to escape clear. The one with the beard even opened the door.

“What's the point anyway? It's not like we're going to find homes for you guys..." he mumbled, leaving the door wide open before stepping out of the way.

Neither Benji nor any of the other animals could barely believe what had just happened. Not that they planned on sticking around to ask. Benji was the first out the door, carrying Mittens on his back and closely followed by Rhino. When he looked back, he saw Bolt staying behind to cover their exit, intent on keeping a close eye at the humans until his friends had had time to get out. Then he too walked through and with that they were free.

As soon as they had cleared the parking lot, Benji slowed down to check on the still unconscious cat. Hunkering down, he let the feline's body slip closely on to the cold grass.

Bolt immediately approached to check on her, concern in his big, brown eyes.

“Has she said anything?" He asked, warily as he inspected her.

• “Not a word"

• “What happened?"

• “I think she fell…Hard"

Benji hunkered down to sniff her head. He could detect a faint but nonetheless distinct scent of blood.

“Hey cat?" he nuzzled Mittens side, nudging her softly. “Hey, come on, Mittens. Just something"

When the cat still didn't respond he took to licking her, his soft tongue brushing over Mittens cheek again and again in a desperate attempt to coax an answer out of her. When still nothing happened he kept licking with both Bolt and Rhino staring quietly, worriedly, nobody knowing quite what to do.

He was just about to give me when suddenly Mittens turned her head sharply towards the Lab, glaring at him with wide pupils. “Wha… what's going on!? Why are you slobbering over me!?"

“Oh my dog…" Benji exhaled in relief. He had to stop himself from assaulting the cat with more licks, but settled for just helping her onto her feet. “You gave us quite a scare, there. I thought you were gone!"

“You okay, Mitts?" Bolt stepped forward. “We were all very worried"

-“I feel like I lost a fight with a freight train, but other that, I guess I'm okay..." she said, rubbing her aching head. “What happened? How did we get out?"

• “You fell head-first on the floor. Like, really hard. Then they just allowed us to leave, just like that" Benji shrugged. “I suppose they must have felt sorry for us."

“Not likely!" Rhino exclaimed. “Not after the beating you and Bolt gave them. They must have realised they were messing with not one, but two superdogs?"

-“You think I'm a superdog, now?" Benji raised an eye-brow.

“Either that, or some of Bolt's super powers could have rubbed off on ya. Either way, that was awesome! I haven't been this energized Bolt exploded that truck from the other pound!"

• "You were pretty good yourself. The way you bit that guy's hand"

• "I went easy on him. Could have snapped his neck if I wanted to. I have a good mind to go back there and give them another fight! Who's with me!?"

• "I think I pass" Mittens sighed.

“Ehm, Rhino why don't you cool it a tad?" Bolt interjected, sensing that Mittens might need some rest. “Let's go find the gas station. See if we can find some food or something"

“Sure… if you think we should" Rhino replied, a bit confused but nonetheless happy to be hand-picked to help Bolt with the next objective. He climbed up the superdogs tail, then they walked off, leaving Benji and Mittens alone.

“So…" Mittens said after a while. “Why did you come back for me? Couple of minutes before, you said you wanted to use me as a scratch board…"

Benji was silent for a while, thinking about what to say. “Well…" he started. “You can be a real bitch sometimes. But nobody deserves to be locked up in that stinking dog pound. Not even you."

“I'm flattered" Mittens rolled her eyes, but then continued on a more earnest note. “I guess… I guess I owe you a thanks you" she said, blushing slightly. “I'd still be in one of their stinking cages if you hadn't gone back and freed me from those bastards"

-“I think you maybe owe me an apology as well" Benji said softly. He looked sternly at her, knowing that she knew exactly what he was referring to. How couldn't she? It was the whole reason they were locked up to begin with.

Mittens gave a deep sigh. “I'm sorry" she finally said, looking at her snow-white paws. “I'm sorry for lying to get rid of you and getting you captured and all that. It was dumb and I'm sorry..."

“I mean, I still think you're a stupid mutt and all." She quickly added. “But you're the stupid mutt that Bolt picked. And, as long as you treat him right, I'm not gonna get in the way again. So if you're ready to let bygones be bygones, I think we should start over…"

• “You mean… start over as friends?" Benji flashed the cat a slight smile.

• "If you think I'm going to get all musky and hug you or something, you can stop grinning" she said. “But yeah… I guess as friends. Whatever the heck that means"

“Sounds good to me" Benji said, wiping out his paw to shake on it. Mittens rubbed some dirt of her paw before returning their friendly paw-shake. He seemed to detect a hind of a smile back, but he couldn't be sure.

“So" he cleared his throat. “What happens now?"

• "What happens is that we put our differences behind us and focus on getting Bolt to Hollywood in one piece. Think that'll be a full-time job right there"

Benji nodded. After all, they both wanted what was best for Bolt. If Mittens was ready to start over, he was too. For the first time since they had met, he felt like it could trust the cat.

“Anyway, let's go and find Rhino and Bolt before they get lost" The cat said before getting up and stretching her aching muscles. “I haven't had a decent meal in weeks"

She turned to the Labrador. “Hey, you coming, buddy?"

-"Oh yeah, coming" Benji said, lost in thought. As they strolled down the road together, he figured that maybe having the cat tag along on the rest of the journey wouldn't be so bad after all.