Chapter 10 Saving the cats?
Quanktumspirit: "What is Puss's plan? Please comment and enjoy."
Now that all the drama with the poison bottle is behind them, now that Kitty was back at being Puss's girlfriend and Salma and Antonio were a couple once more too, the cat's knew what the next stage of the plan was. To find the missing cats, free them and get their revenge against Jack and Jill.
But where to start? The 4 cats sat in Kitty Softpaws home and thought it over.
"Do you two remember how you got to the cave and into the cage?" Kitty asked Antonio and Salma.
Salma nodded her head, "Yes, I remember we passed a lot of strong looking humans, with fighting scars over their bodies. Jack and Jill were standing at a strange looking cave in the desert, a few miles from San Ricardo. There they weighed us, then locked us in small cages. But as Connie crept from my grip, they spotted her and quickly separated her from us."
"Then they took us back out of the cage and stuffed us in 2 bags, they road with us for quite a while away from the cave until we reached the outer edge of San Ricardo 2 days later, where they then told us about you two and that you'd have to be separated to be able to be taken down. We accepted and as a return promise Jack and Jill swore to us they'd free all the other cats as well as our daughter." Antonio explained.
Kitty blinked, "Wait a sec, you've been travelling for 2 days... me and Puss were separated and with you two for 18 days, so you've been apart from your child for 20 days... Oh no, we have to get all the cats out of there pronto!"
"What? Why Kitty Softpaws? What do you think happened to our daughter?" Salma asked scared.
Antonio held his wife in his arms as fear flashed over his face as well, both parents were fearing for the life of their only daughter, Puss blinked and looked at his Girlfriend, nodding his head, he knew what she was getting at.
Puss coughed a bit, "I see what you are getting at Kitty. We don't know if Jack and Jill are actually taking care of the stray or homed cats they caught. And since we've been apart for so long,... then under the worst circumstances,..."
Antonio and Salma almost burst in tears, Kitty rolled her eyes and glared at Puss a bit.
"Puss that was not necessary. But you are right, we have to find everyone pronto. And get all of them back out again." Kitty decided. "For starters, we need to get to the cave, for that we would need provision. Puss can you ride to your mother, update her and meet us later on at the market? Antonio and Slama we got some shopping to do first."
Puss nodded his head, Antonio and Salma looked at one another and decided to trust Kitty's judgement.
Puss in Boots headed back home to his mothers, as he arrived he saw she was teaching the kids the value about money on the market. The kids were playacting the market game, but just looking at it Puss felt a small pain hit his chest.
Puss walked up to Imelda and grabbed her by the hand.
"Oh, hi Puss. Did you find the other cats?" Imelda asked.
But Puss shook his head, "no mama, not yet. But me, Kitty, Antonio and Salma are following a strong lead. I think we know exactly where everyone is being held. And we are planning a 'sort-of' break in to free the cats. I got to go in a bit as well, we won't be back for a few days at the most. So please don't worry, we all will return as soon as we can.2
Imelda held Puss in her arms and sighed, "You definitely have a protective streak in yourself Puss. Just, please don't do anything reckless. And come home once it's done."
"I will mama, but please don't worry over me. Everything will be ok." Puss smiled, he looked outside and saw the sun slowly setting, "I'm sorry mama, but I got to go. See you soon."
Puss turned tails and ran out into the neighbourhood. After Imelda returned back to her home with the children, she made sure she and all her 'children' would pray that evening for Puss's and all the other cat's safe return.
It didn't take Puss long to meet back up again with Kitty, Salma and Antonio. They have just finished sharpening and cleaning their blades, saddling the 4 horses, and filling 2 travelling caravans up with provisions.
Puss checked that they had everything and nodded his head, for some strange reason, Salma suggested Antonio and Puss take the first cart and she and Kitty would ride behind them. Puss and Antonio looked at each other perplexed but agreed with her none the less.
Kitty blinked, as the 4 were ready to head out, Puss lead the 'caravan' through the desert towards the outlaws camp sight. He and Kitty will soon know what Salma wanted a 'female' cart and a 'male' cart.
Inside Kitty and Salma's cart.
Kitty directed and drove the second cart, Salma sat beside the female cat and hung her head. It was clear, something was on her mind.
"Hey, Salma, are you thinking about your daughter, Connie?" Kitty asked her smiling a bit.
Salma sighed, "I've never stopped thinking about my daughter Kitty,... it's just... can I please apologise to you, for mine and my husband's unspeakable act of cruelty against you and Puss?"
Kitty blinked: "Um... sure. But I'm sure you and Antonio only broke me and Puss up because you wanted to save Connie and all those other cat's, right?"
"We sure did. And I can also tell you, Kitty, you've struck yourself the best golden goose in all the cat world. I know you and Puss are really meant to be together. Puss truly loves you with all his heart." Salma smiled at Kitty.
"How do you mean?" Kitty blinked a bit unsure.
"Well Kitty," Salma began, "Puss didn't react to my flirting with him, he instantly suspected something was wrong as you 'broke up' with him, he purchased a poison to have himself killed to get you back to normal and he is clearly head over heels in love with you. Believe me, Kitty, not many male cats would run the length as Puss did. He truly loves you."
Kitty smiled at her comment, "Thank's Salma, and I love Puss too. I was first unsure if we could love each other as mates, but I've never seen him look at another cat with as much love as he had me. I also feel guilty for believing in myself that Puss wanted me gone so he could run away from me. Despite the fact I've hurt him so much, he still likes me."
Salma smiled, "He sure does, and I believe he will love you until the end of time."
Kitty chuckled and she and Salma fell into a row of laughter. It was good to share one's heart with another, 'of sorts'.
"And I can also tell Antonio loves you just as much Salma. If not more." Kitty chuckled and faced the female cat.
Salma gritted her teeth a bit, "I'm not too sure, he did seduce you quite well. I'm a bit jealous of you as well Kitty."
But Kitty shook her head, "I'm 100% sure Salma. The time I spent with him, I noticed he was alway's very uncomfortable with 'intimidating' issues. Every time he looked over to you and Puss as you were flirting with him, I saw he was growling and clearly jealous. Sure, we both watched the stars and the moon on one evening, but Antonio's 'friendship' I noticed he didn't want to stretch it out at all. He alway's made sure we were just friends. No benefits at all."
"He is a very determined man." Salma smiled looking ahead at Antonis and Puss's cart, "By the way Kitty... I don't quite know what happened between you and my mate Antonio, did something sexual happen between you two?"
Kitty blushed and looked down ashamed, "I'm sorry Salma, but yes. I let myself be so far seduced, that we did mate with one another. But a few days ago I noticed I was bleeding again, so I wasn't impregnated by him. 100%. It was ok, but now thinking back on it, I feel sick about it. And I'm very sorry Salma."
Salma gritted her teeth a bit, "I understand Kitty. I can tell you to 100% sureness, I never asked Puss to mate with me. I just felt sick over having to hurt my husband and mate. I was already mated by Antonio and we have a beautiful daughter to represent our love. That's all I ever wanted in my life. Well, until you and Puss threw us through more adventure."
Kitty looked down ashamed, "Can you forgive me? Please?"
"Sure I can Kitty, just help us free all the other cats, then I will forgive you forever." Salma smiled.
Inside Puss and Antonio's cart.
Puss in Boots and Antonio road the cart in the front. Antonio had no idea what to talk about with the most famous cat in all the world, but Puss knew what.
"Antonio... were you and Salma worried about your daughter all this time?" Puss asked concerned.
Antonio nodded his head, "Yes, we've held a family photo in our boots and looked at it every evening. We knew if we do what Jack and Jill asked us to do, then we think they'd let her go again."
Puss nodded his head, but he didn't have any more questions, however, Antonio sure did.
"Puss, how did you actually manage to see through the love poison and all of mine and Salma's 'play acting' back in the cat club? Why didn't you let Kitty go and find yourself a different love after she's shot you off 3 times?" Antonio asked.
Puss sighed, "I've had a lot of adventures with Kitty. I knew how she acts around other cats, how she walks, talks and as she all of a sudden wanted to break it off with me, and I was accused of the poisoning incident, I knew something was off. For starters, as I said, I don't believe in the power of poison I'd rather finish my enemy off with my blade. Second, how can a cat go from saying in one moment that they love me and then in the next say they hate me? Without actually anything happening between us for the hate to suddenly exist? And as you or Salma snuck the poison in my bag, I was even more confused. If I wanted to get rid of Kitty, as I said back in the club, I'd rather sword fight her then poison."
Antonio nodded his head, but Puss had more to deliver.
"And you also might be wondering why I didn't react too well to Salma's flirting with me, right?" Puss asked facing Antonio.
Antonio once again nodded his head. Puss sighed and rubbed his head.
"A few days before you and Salma fell into mine and Kitty's life... I've discussed with her, wanting to be more than just friends. I wanted to have Kitty as my mate, but she told me that she was unsure if I could be faithful to her. I accepted and let her wait a while to see if she can trust me as her mate. So as Salma came round and suddenly tried showing a loving interest in me, I instantly felt scared, this was a dangerous trap I could have fallen in if I wasn't all ready to head over paws in love with Kitty. That's why I kept turning down Salma's approaches to me. I don't know her that well that I'd want to be 'romanticly' with her. So I turned away and left her there 'upset'." Puss explained.
Antonio nodded his head, "I see, thanks Puss."
Puss faced Antonio again, "Now you answer me a few questions Antonio... as you and Kitty were in the park having the picnic, did you really fell in love with her? Or did you just play acting?"
"I promise you Puss, it was all just a play act. I wanted to see how far the 'anti-love' drug inside of Kitty would work. Would it work far enough for Kitty to tell a complete stranger that she likes them? And she did admit to it. Sure after you've broken her spell she tried to kill me, but I was just relieved to find her back to normal." Antonio admitted and looked down, "I promise you Puss, had Kitty wanted to go even further, I'd try and find a way to have snapped her back out of it. I don't love Kitty, she is a good friend, yes. But my heart belongs to Salma, my mate and mother of my daughter Connie."
Puss chuckled and nodded his head, focusing back on the road towards the Bandits outlaw camp.
After a few more hours, Puss saw something unusual in the road, he quickly raised his paw and the two carts stopped.
Kitty looked to the front, "Puss what is it?"
Puss jumped from his and Antonio's cart and went on all 4, he scanned around and saw various footprints, and plenty of horseshoe print's all over the place. Then the lines faded into the distance towards a massive red mountain in the distance. He could tell these weren't just from some travellers getting lost, but purposely placed in that direction.
Puss pulled his telescope out, stretching it out Puss scanned the distance and saw the red mountain in the distance, that was the outlaw's cave alright. He turned the telescope a bit and looked worried. Counting in his head all the bandits and camps set up.
"Puss in Boot's what's wrong?" Antonio called from their cart.
Puss looked back to Antonio, Salma and Kitty with fear over his face.
"Well everyone, the good news is, I think we are close to where the 'prisoners' cave is, and where the other cats might be held," Puss said.
Salma blinked, "Ok, and the bad news?"
Puss sighed, "Well, if my counting isn't wrong, we've got about 100 bandit tents set up, and hundreds of people walking around, all armed to their teeth and seem to be celebrating something. Jack and Jill are there too, sitting on two stoned podiums and seem to be the leaders of this pack of outlaws."
"Great, now how are we going to get the cats out?" Antonio sighed.
Kitty, Salma and Antonio all looked to Puss, waiting for the answer. Puss touched his whiskers and thought it over. But he had only one idea.
Puss sighed, "Guy's... we might have to stage a little play acting with them. Heroes or Sheriffs won't be welcomed in their 'circle'. But if the only way to get to the other cats is through the camp, then we have to blend in."
"Can't we just ride around the camp Puss?" Antonio asked.
But Puss shook his head, "They'd notice us instantly. Plus it is about 200 meters in diameter, so going round it would take to long. Safer would be to go straight through it."
Salma blinked and looked at Puss, "And what's the problem Puss?"
"How good are you all at 'faking the truth'? How good could you change your personalities? How good could you all turn from happy and pleasant thoughts to thinking about your next strangle or stab victim? Or the next big robbery from banks, the hospital etc?" Puss asks worried.
"All 4 of us would have to turn to outlaws to get through the camp to get to the other cats, then somehow sneak all of them out of the camp, without anyone noticing it?" Kitty guessed.
Puss nodded his head, "We'd have to unless we'd like to end up in our own cages in their little 'prison section'?"
All 3 cats instantly shook their heads. That's something they definitely did not want to happen.
Puss got from the back of his cart some black long sheets, he made Antonio and Salma stretch their hands out, he measured their sizes, height and diameter and he made for both of them two black silky capes.
Kitty cut out of some bits and bobs 2 more face masks, so it would only cover the eyes of the wearer and one more complete head mask.
Salma got the second head mask, Kitty pulled her own head mask out and covered her face up, Puss and Antonio tied the eye masks over their faces and nodded their heads as it sat in place.
Puss got his hat back out, but Antonio quickly removed the huge yellow feather and left it in the back of the cart.
"You'd be easy to spot from a mile away Mr Puss. Better just keep it as a cowboy's hat." Antonio suggested.
Puss nodded his head. Last, but not least, Puss pinned a golden pin to his cape, which had the initials LG on it.
"It means Leader Gato. So leader cat. Ok?" Puss explained to the other three.
They nodded their heads. It was ok for Puss to be the leader, he seems to be the most experienced in being an 'outlaw'.
"Now we all need new fake names," Puss said.
"You can be Leader Gato." Antonio chuckled pointing at Puss.
Puss nodded his head, then Salma turned to Kitty.
"And you Kitty could be Dahlia," Salma suggested.
Kitty nodded her head, "Good idea, and Antonio can be known as Firat."
Antonio scrunched his nose up a bit, "A little strange but ok. And you Salma?"
"I like the name, Belle." Salma smiled, "Not all outlaws have to have over creative names."
As all 4 cats were 'dressed up', they nodded and together they walked into the Bandits camp. All four of them feeling their heart hammering against their chests out of fear.
If any of them were discovered, then they would have hell break loose and a fight to their own deaths... Or they'd be captured and maybe even lead to where the prisoned cats were. And then imprisoned themselves.
Puss secretly also managed to nap a small sack of gold, about 400 gold coins. Hopefully, that would be enough to 'pay' their way into the camp.
Puss lead his 'gang' up to the leaders of the robbery camp, Jack and Jill. They both were at the moment writing something on a piece of paper and looking at a map before they noticed someone was looking at them from below the table.
"Hey Jill, look at these? It looks like we got four new robbers." Jack called up.
His wife blinked, she placed her pen down after noting something down for a plan of sorts and looked to the front, she saw four cats with capes on and black boots, and one with a cowboy's hat on.
Puss smiled as he had the robbers attention he spoke to them in an odd Spanish accent, "Hola Senior Jack and Seniorita Jill. We've heard all the way in Mexico that you two are... how do you say? Lead Robbers here in the desert?"
Antonio, Salma and Kitty looked at Puss a bit confused for having such a fake but believable accent.
Puss continued in his Spanish voice, "May we sign up to your; gang of misfits as well? All 4 of us have been quite active in the far east. And since our towns have become too small for us, we'd like an actual thieving and robbery challenge. Maybe you could provide us with something?"
Jill blinked, "Sure, but who are you 4, what are your names? How do you stand to each other? and for what are you wanted for? What are your skills?"
Kitty looked a little worried, they haven't thought of any names yet. But Puss suddenly looked madder than mad, he quickly drew his sabre and sneered in his accent at Jack.
"What are names are?, are none of your concern Mrs Jill. Just know we have all enough skills to out tip your little 'club'." Puss sneered, "The last person who judged us on our skills, he didn't speak ever again and is now permanently blinded!"
"As well as disabled, we cut his legs off from the knee below!" Antonio suddenly said and stood beside Puss.
Both cat's had their swords stretched out and were glaring Jack and Jill down out of anger. Salma and Kitty stood on the other side and had their own swords drawn.
Jack suddenly blinked as he looked at all 4 blades, "Hang on a sec... those metal cat heads... YOU'RE PUSS IN BOOTS!"
'Shit.' Puss thought, he didn't expect his sword to give him away.
Before any of the four cats could speak up, they were caged up, from a hidden cage underneath their feet, which they didn't realise was there to begin with.
Kitty sighed, all 4 cats took of their costumes and Jack and Jill glared at the 4 cats.
"Antonio and Salma, we've expected better from both of you!" Jill sneered and hammered a stick against the two cat's cage.
Antonio hid Salma from Jill's angry glares, "You've promised too let all the other cats go in your captivity, if we break Puss and Kitty up. And we did."
"No you did not. Puss is still in love with Kitty and Kitty loves Puss just as much back, they are still working together and don't seem to hate each other at all. For the failiur you all can love the rest of your 9 lives in the cat prison!" Jack sneered.
Puss blinked, "You mean, you two are the thieves who have kidnapped over 200 different cats from all over Spain?"
Jill snickered, "We sure did Puss. We wanted to try and find the perfect 'cat couple' to break you and Kitty up for good. And then to see you drive youself to suicide."
"And the Diablos? Perla, Sir Timotheo Montenegro the 3rd and Gonzarlo? Did you kidnapp the 3 kittens as well?" Puss sneered.
"How do you know about the Diablo's dissapearence?" Jack asked confused.
Puss rolled his eyes, "I've received a letter from Queen Alessandra's kingdom, asking me to send the Diablos back to their job in being her protector. Apparently they were supposed to have been looked after me, but they never reached San Ricardo."
Jill touched her chin thinking a bit over, "Ah the 3 'wannabe heroes', yes we did. Infact as we had a different cat captured in a cage, the three kittens raced up to him and ended up in ou sight. Quickly we had the 3 and the fourth cat captured too."
Kitty was almost shaking, "Did you hurt anyone you've captured Jill and Jack?"
"No we haven't Kitty. Infact we've gone down to the 'hide out' where the cats are every morning and evening to feed and water all the cats. But now that the plan has completed, we won't need to do that anymore." Jack snickered.
Jill nodded her head and the two picked the two cages up, one with Puss and Kitty in it and the other with Salma and Antonio, together the two bandits walked back to the other hide out.
Puss, Kitty, Salma and Antonio saw Jack and Jill were walking further away from he bandits camp. Into an area where there was hardly any life around. Only a massive old mining tracks were on the ground.
As they arrived, Puss saw it was an old mine, from back when San Ricardo had a flourishing mining industry, but now it was abandoned years ago. Jack carried the cage holding Antonio and Salma and Jill carried the cage with Puss and Kitty inside it.
They lit a few torches and walked deeper into the mine. Puss looked around the area, but he and the other 4 cat's froze in their captivity, all 4 of them could hear miaws and cat noises ringing through the mine.
Puss was smirking, 'I bet this is where all the 200 missing cat's are. I hope the Diablos are here as well. And not dead somewhere.'
Kitty saw Antonio and Salma looking at each other hopefully as well. They were hoping the cats and especially their daughter Connie were ok.
A few minutes later they reached the cat prison section. Puss and Kittystared shocked round the place, there were hundreds of cats in cages all over the place, in different sizes, ages, and fur colours. Both male and female.
Jack placed the 4 new captured cats down and grabbed Puss first, Puss sneered and tried to attack again, but JAck held him way away from his hands and body, so that Puss would only grab onto air.
"Stop struggling Puss." Jill snapped.
She has gotten a set of scales out and Jack plonked Puss into a sack, which Jill then hung on one end of the scales. Then Jack placed a second bag up with variouse weights, trying to determine how heavy Puss was.
'At least we found everyone.' Puss thought and tried to keep a steady paw as the sack was moving a bit.
"He's weighing in at 9 pounds and 30." Jack said.
Jill nodded and got a cage from the heighest point of the captivity netz they strung up. Puss blinked as he was janked out of the sack, placed into the cage and with long polles, Puss was hung above all the 200 other captive cats.
Next Jack and Jill grabbed Kitty Softpaws, she was sneering just as much, but plonked intothe same sack for her weight.
Jill smirked, "She's a healthy 9 pounts and 20."
Puss watched as Kitty was taken out of the cage, exactly like Puss her mask, belt, sword and boots were removed and placed next to Puss's stuff. Before she was placed in a cage too, but hung then next to 4 kittens in the same cage.
Kitty blinked and looked at the kittens, they seem to be a bit scared, but otherwise unharmed.
Then Antonio was grabbed and weighed.
"He's standing at 9 pounds and 35." Jack called out.
Antonio was placed in a third cage next to his daughter Connie, Antonio and Connie smiled as father and daughter saw each other again.
Last was Salma.
"She's a 9 pounds 24." Jill said.
Salma was plonked into the other cage on Connie's other side.
After the last cat was checked over Jack and Jill stood by their exit of the cave. Both bandits high fived each other and laughed out loud.
"The best plan and all of it completed. We did warn you Puss we'd see you again some day and take our revenge for breaking every bone in our bodie." Jill snickered.
Puss sighed, "So your revenge plan against me, all this time was: To have my true love leave me? To drive me half way to madness and then to capture us once we lose our focus over our broken hearts?"
Jack nodded his head, "Something like that, yes Puss. But we don't care now if Kitty is your girlfriend or not. Neither of you, or anyone else will ever see the light of day ever again."
"What are the function of these cages?" Salma asked, "Other then holding us prisoner?"
"Well Salma." Jill said smirking evil, "For starters, the cages are all on a fine line of one another. All 200 cages are in such perfect balance, that if only one cat were to leave the cage, they'd bring all the other cages to a wild cowboy ride and you'd make evryone sick, as well as bringing the entire construction crashing down."
Kitty and Puss ave a small hidden smirk upon their lips, 'Thanks for telling us.'
"So you all won't escape this cave ever again. Only in death. And we will continue robbing and destroying all of San Ricardo, which Puss has fought and lost so hard trying to keep it safe!" Jack snickered.
Jack and Jill laughed one last time, before leaving the imprisoned cats behind.
Puss sighed and hung his head, all of this was his fault. And he doesn't know if he could ever forgive himself for failing everyone. And knowing that it was all his own fault that these cat's lost their freedome, it made Puss almost sick.
Quanktumspirit: "Poor Puss, can he still save everyone? Even with Jack and Jill imprisoning him? Please review."