Author's Note: Got home from my road trip late late LATE last night and I couldn't write anything earlier today because of school. XP Anyway . . . I had a blast, in case you were wondering. Hehe. I am also here to address an issue that might slow me down from writing this story; Nanowrimo. Ever heard of it? It is a book novel writing challenge where you have to write a novel in a month. My BFF and I are taking the challenge, and I am so busy multitasking between this story, a book I've been working on, and prepping for Nano. I might not be able to write as frequently. Sorry, guys. Army boots coming up! :D ;)

~Chapter 10~

"The real world hurts, doesn't it?" Mittens said from on a high tree branch, still attached by leash to the canine below her. "But you wouldn't know about that, now would you?"

"Get down here, cat! We don't have time for this."

"I'll go get a ladder," Rhino said coolly, excited by the daring adventure that had just taken place on the train.

"We are walking ALL the way back, and my feet are aching, and my throat feels dry, and I think I see a monster in front of us!" Carter spouted nonsense, but neither dog felt like stopping him.

The landscape was nothing but light brown and yellowish dirt and sand, some rare patches of dead grass, and lots of rocks. The few trees around were small and crippled, as if the heat had gotten to them and they had not been able to grow up.

The heat was relentless, no clouds in the sky, no shade from anywhere. Anywhere. And all the dogs were hot, too hot to care what Carter said. All of them had their tongues hanging out. It seemed that they were getting nowhere, that they had lost track of the route they planned on taking.

"We're lost," Carter gasped, plopping down on the hot ground and laying on his side. "We're lost and no one knows where we are! We will never make it back to HQ, and we will never get out of this eternal desert! We are LOST!"

"Shut up, Carter," Sypher said through ragged breaths. They had been walking for hours on end and heat was getting to the Cattle Dog. "We aren't lost . . . we're just . . . walking . . ."

"I am not getting up!" He stayed on the ground, panting and drooling. "Arrow, help me!"

"It won't help you if you lay down and get scorched on," said Arrow. "We won't get anywhere if we all just pass out on the ground. So get up, gather yourself, and get walking."

Carter sighed then groaned as he got to his paws. "But only because you said so, Arrow!"

Arrow managed a small smile and glanced over at Sypher, who was walking right next to him. Sypher looked his way but did not return the smile. Carter and Bing now walked at the same pace, bringing up the line, and Rain walked in the middle. Rain was the only one who didn't look like he was going to melt like a snow cone.

"Honestly, are we lost or not?" Carter asked, trying to sound nonchalant.

Arrow stopped and turned around. "Yes, Carter, we are officially lost until otherwise noted." He started walking again, didn't see the exasperation on his friend's face.

"That's comforting," Bing mumbled, looking up at the bright sun. "As someone famous once said, at least we will die together."

"Who said?" Carter questioned.

"Me, you kibble head." Bing said, but grinned. It faded in a few seconds.

"I think we should follow the direction of the sun," said Arrow. "When we traveled to go find Bolt, the sun was behind us for a good part of the trip. We should head in that direction." He nodded his head.

"Okay, so now we're walking straight into the sun," Carter groaned but continued walking. "And if we stop, we're going to be eaten by vultures! Eaten alive!"

"Creative, dog," Rain glanced at the Dalmatian. "Now let us hope that we won't be stuck out here forever."

The set was lit by lights that protruded from the high ceiling. Huge rock and clay statues of mythical animals and creatures stood all around, nearly reaching the top of the room. A large fire pit sat directly in the middle of the room, only the flames were not lit, no sparks were flying. Around the pit was a tall rock wall. And around the whole room were people, actors and directors, practicing the next episode in the hit TV series, BOLT.

Only this time they were not using the well-known, pet-actor-since-a-pup dog. They were using another dog that unbeknownest to them would like to demolish the entire world at the time. His reason? The plan was not going according to how they had meticulously planned it, and all because of some ridiculous girl.

Volt stood off the set a bit, watching as everyone held thick pieces of paper and reviewed their lines, waiting for his turn to enter on the to-be set up platform. He was scowling and trying not to tear up everything in sight, especially the humans. The plan was not working and this was more than a little disappointing.

A black cat, Fabio, strolled up to him and sat by the dog, twitching his tail and looking as calm as ever. "It'll be okay, Volt. Even if the girl doesn't like you as much as Bolt, at least the dog trainor does."

"And the only reason he does is because he finally has a job he can do," said Volt through clenched teeth. "With my brother, he could not get near him to train him. But of course I am different than Bolt."

Fabio chuckled. "Don't worry. The girl will have to love you after we unleash our plan."

The sound of cats screaming sounded from up above the two animals, both of them jerking their heads toward the speakers. All the people practicing on the set covered their ears and tried to block out the overly loud noise.

The main director, covering his ears, yelled over the cat noise, "Bill! Turn off the soundtrack! It's not time for it yet!"

And just as soon as the it had come, the sound stopped. Everyone unclasped their hands and brought them back to their sides. The director was angry, shouting at them to continue.

Volt and the black cat watched as Penny walked back to her place, wearing her favorite casual shoes that looked almost too big on her and looked like army boots. When she was not acting and wearing her red and black outfit, she was wearing jeans and a t-shirt, normally a short sleeved one. Though the boots were big she still looked every bit as stylish in them.

"Of course she will have to like me," Volt said, finally breaking into a smile, one that hinted at all the evil inside of him. "Everyone will, after I save their precious Penny's life."

"If everything goes as planned," said Fabio, licking his lips.

Volt turned to look at him with a steel gaze. "What do you mean by that?"

Fabio's tail twitched more frequently now, as if suddenly nervous or unsettled. He took in a deep breath. "Well . . . we have reason to believe that Bolt is . . . um, well, finding his way here thanks to the help of a stray cat and a crazed rodent. And he is . . . uh, not very far. Our agents have not been able to track him or capture or kill him, and I fear he may - may being the key word - succeed in getting back to Hollywood."

"I see," Volt's expression had grown darker at every word the black cat had said. If his thoughts were colors he would have black fur again with no assitance of the fur dying specialist. "But we aren't going to let that happen, are we, Fabio?"

"N-no, sir, not at all!" Fabio hastened to say, caustiously taking a step back. "I will go send out some more agents to find him. Right now."

"Good idea." Volt said, then turned his attention back to the set, where it was almost his turn to act. He then whispered to himself, "Oh, they will all love me, that is for sure. And you, my brother, will be forgotten about. No one will go looking for a dead rag of white fur on the side of a road." And then he jumped up and ran in the direction of his trainor, for it was his turn to act.

"They need a hero, Bolt!" Rhino said, raising his voice. "Someone who, no matter what the odds, will do what's right! They need someone to tell them that sometimes the impossible can become possible if you're awesome!"

Bolt was surprised at how much the words stung, how much truth was behind every single word. He nodded his head. "You're right about one thing, Rhino. Mittens does need a hero. And it looks like I'm going to be the one to do it."

"That's honesty!" Rhino yelled, raising his tiny arms. "Now, who's going to save that cat?"

"Me."

"Who's going to save that cat?" the Hamster said again. "Who? Tell me who?!"

"Me!"

Rhino squealed with delight and excitement. "Hehehehee! I'll go get my ball."

The two animals nodded at each other. Rhino ran down the wood piece and together they made their way back to the road, oblivious of the two eyes watching them through the tall grass. The dog slowly got up and crept behind them, following them like a stalker.