Drum roll please…..CHAPTER 10! Woot woot!

I yawned and stretched. I was becoming more and more restless here. Something urged me to get out before my kits were born. Every day I grew bigger, and I knew that someday soon I would not be able to move as nimbly.

"Morning, Sugar." Adele was lying on a cat tree not far from me, washing herself.

"Good Morning, Adele."

"Goo' Morn', Sugar," Rio called from a couch where he was lazily playing with a pink stuffed mouse.

"Hey Rio," I responded.

Where was Titan? He was usually the first to greet me in the morning. "Titan?" I meowed uncertainly.

"Titan left early in the morning, before sunup. He...looked in pain. The-the twolegs… wheeled him out on a cart." Adele murmured. She sounded worried.

I gasped. "Is he alright?"

"I-I don't know. He was very old…." She trailed off and glanced anxiously at Rio.

For the first time, I noticed how despondent he looked. "Rio…are you okay?" I mewed.

He had stopped playing with the mouse and was staring down at his paws. He took a while before he answered, "Yeah, I guess so. It's just…Titan has been here forever, since I was a young kit. He pretty much raised me, since the twolegs take the kittens away from their parents at a young age."

I gasped. I would be separated from my kits? Now I knew I had to get out. "I'm sure he will be fine, Rio. Don't worry too much." I sympathized. "Um, out of curiosity, how do we get out of here?"

Rio guessed what I was thinking. "You want to raise your kittens yourself?"

I gave a terse nod.

Adele spoke up, "You get adopted, silly. Every cat knows that's the only way out. But you might have some trouble with this strategy as you are pregnant."

"Is there no way to escape?"

"And go where? You would just be caught and brought back here…or brought to somewhere not so friendly." Rio muttered ominously.

"Not so friendly? What do you mean?"

Adele answered for him, "Sugar, not all places are this nice. This place has a no-kill policy." She exchanged a glance with Rio. "Most shelters kill cats after they have stayed too long."

My eyes widened, horrified.

"So your best bet is to get adopted." Rio continued. "Be cute, cuddly, playful, and loveable. Then twolegs will adopt you."

"Ok, I'll try that strategy."

"Oh, and be nice to the workers here. They will put in a good word for you if you are." Adele added.

Food was brought and then the shelter was opened. Twolegs came into the shelter and looked at us through the glass windows. I went to the door and purred through the screen.

Finally someone noticed me and came into the den. I weaved around his legs, purring loudly. He sat down on the floor and I crawled into his lap. He stroked me softly and it felt very good, so I purred more. Rio and Adele had vanished, giving me the spotlight. When the twoleg began to sweep a feather across the floor, I chased it. I grabbed it and rolled over with it in my paws. Laying on my back and looking at the twoleg, I could see he was in love with me. It wanted to keep me. The twoleg got up and left. I gave it a quick lick on the cheek as farewell. I could see it talking to one of the workfolk. They kept looking over towards me and smiling. I had a good feeling about this!

Adele and Rio came out from their hiding spots as soon as it left. They were purring. Adele came over and brushed up against me. Rio rested his tail tip on my flank.

"Well done, Sugar," He mewed in his western drawl.

"You'll get out in no time." Adele promised.

I would miss these two characters. They were supportive and kind. Adele and Rio had turned out to be great friends who had my back. Now I had to have theirs.

While I sat down with Adele to share tongues, Rio slunk away, back to his nest. Poor Rio. I hoped Titan was okay. He always seemed so solid, so strong, like he would always be there.