Chapter 12: Acquaintances
Ruby walked down the streets of Gongmen City and looked behind her to see how her babysitters were doing. Valerie's eyes were wide after Ruby gave her a present that had rubber snakes that shot out at her.
"Can we at least try to break in the mansion?" asked Josie.
"Sure," Ruby said. "But first," she added with a sly smile. "Let's race!"
"Race? Race for what? Race for who? Did you put a boy in a well?" asked Josie.
Ruby just gave Josie a look and said sarcastically, "No Josie, I only do that on Tuesdays."
"Let's just get back there and we'll plan something out." Peter said.
They walked to the mansion and Ruby looked at them. They were huddled together, discussing their plan. "Maybe we should break the glass doors," said Peter.
"Or we could try and climb through a window," said Valerie.
"Or we could dig our way in," said Josie.
The two just looked at her. Josie just shrugged, "It's an idea."
"Okay, if our ideas fail, we'll do yours," Peter said.
Peter came up to the glass door and gave a hard punch, hoping to break it. But then he's face cringed and he shook his paw from the pain. "That didn't work!"
"Let me try," said Valerie. The snow leopard got ready to run into it. She took a few steps back and crouched down.
She narrowed her emerald green eyes and charged at the glass door. She closed her eyes and rammed against it, but it didn't work. She hit the ground on her back and everything was spinning.
Ruby helped her up and said, "How's that working out for you guys?"
Valerie ignored her comment and went back to Peter and Josie. Ruby started to feel bad for them and began to ask if they wanted help, but they ignored her.
"We don't need your help," Josie said confidently. Ruby narrowed her eyes. Josie was really getting on her nerves.
"Alright then, go at it," Ruby said gesturing for Josie to go next.
Josie nodded. She walked up to the glass door and started attacking it. She punched it, slammed into it, high kicked it, low kicked it, and even headbutted it. Nothing worked.
Josie felt dizzy. Ruby laid back on the ground and saw it was starting to flurry. She gazed up at the clouds and stuck out her tongue, hoping to catch a flurry.
As she was watching the snow fall down, Peter came up to the mansion and looked up. He saw a window up high. If he could climb up there, he could try and open the window and get in.
Peter got out his claws and tried to climb up. His claws just scratched against the house. He looked around.
He saw a little flower box that would give him just the right lift to climb over to another ledge. He did his best to try and keep it steady, but he tipped it over as he jumped and grabbed onto the ledge.
"Ohh, Mother isn't going to be happy once she sees what you've done," said Ruby.
Peter tried not to mess anything else up. He tried to balance himself on the narrow ledge and looked up to find he was a big jump away from the window.
Ruby saw Peter looking at the window from where he was. He wouldn't dare, Ruby thought.
Then she watched as he leapt from the ledge and stretched out his arms and got his paws ready to grab onto the ledge.
She shut her eyes as he missed the ledge by the window. Her ears went flat as she heard him crash into the flower box.
She opened one eye and tried not to laugh as she saw there was a flower on his head.
"Having some troubles?" asked Ruby, in a slight taunting voice.
Peter ignored her and walked over to the two felines. He had a massive headache and it was pounding in his head. He closed his eyes and sat down.
Josie crossed her arms and looked at Valerie. "Shall we start digging?"
Valerie rolled her eyes and said, "I guess so."
Josie got her claws out and so did Valerie. The South Chinese Tiger began digging into the ground and Valerie assisted her. The two dug down deep until they were down deep enough that one of them could fit in.
"You need to make it wider," said Valerie.
"I'll do that, you work on getting us in," said Josie.
"Okay," Valerie said continuing to dig.
Ruby just shook her head in disapproval. Peter sighed and said to Ruby, "I'm sorry I rejected your help."
"It's alright," the red fox replied. She turned to the bush that held the key. "Would you like to hear my plan?"
Peter nodded slowly. His head still hurt badly. The snow leopard said softly, "Yes please."
"Alright then. My plan is to get up, walk over to the bush, and get the key to the house," said Ruby.
Peter just blinked. Now he really wished he hadn't rejected her help. "Okay then," he said.
She got up and went to get the key. She went around the two who were digging. Dirt and grass flew up from the hole.
She took out the key and unlocked the door. She opened it and helped Peter inside. "Are you okay?" she asked kindly.
"Yes, thank you," Peter said sitting down on a dining room seat. He was a little skeptical at first to sit down, thinking it was a trick.
Maybe she's starting to like us, he thought. He watched as she closed the door and locked it from the inside and watched as she spied on the two digging.
Peter asked if he could have some ice. Ruby nodded and the fox walked across the floor and to the kitchen quickly. She got some cloth and put some ice in it. She gave it to Peter and he thanked her.
"How come you're nice all of a sudden?" he asked.
"Well, you all are being nice to me even though I've been torturing you all. So, I guess I can cut you some slack."
He smiled at her. He placed the ice cube wrapped in cloth gently on his forehead and tried to relax.
Ruby crossed her arms and leaned against the glass doors as the two girls kept digging. She finally got bored with waiting and called to them.
Josie heard her and looked up. She saw the two inside. Valerie saw Josie had stopped working. "What's wrong?"
"They're inside!" Josie said happily. She jumped out of the hole and ran inside.
Valerie, however, was stuck inside the hole. When Josie jumped out, she kicked the dirt to give her a boost.
The dirt caved her in. She tried to get out, but her paws were sore. She screamed, "Josie get back here!"
Josie couldn't hear her. Josie had sat down on the wooden floor, sighing in relief.
Ruby rolled her eyes and went out to help Valerie. She looked down into the hole and heard Valerie screaming. Ruby just said, "Save your breath, otherwise you'll use up your oxygen."
"Ruby? Ruby, help me!" Valerie shouted.
Ruby got out her dark gray claws and dug quickly. Valerie felt the air get thin. Then, a white paw and its claws broke through the dirt wall.
Valerie was pulled out by Ruby and she smiled at the fox. "Thank you," Valerie said. "I was starting to get a little worried."
"No problem," Ruby said simply.
"How'd you get in?" Valerie asked, stretching from being cramped in the narrow hole.
"I used the key," said Ruby.
Valerie just looked at Ruby. Even though she had been with Ruby for over a week now, her tricks and schemes still surprised her. "A key? You had a key this whole time?"
"Yes. I asked if you wanted my help, but you refused it," Ruby said looking away.
Valerie sighed. "I'm sorry." Ruby looked at Valerie's paw confused. She held it out with her usual kind and sweet smile. Her emerald eyes seemed sincere.
"What?" asked Ruby.
"Thank you, friend," said Valerie.
Ruby just said, "One step at a time." Valerie thought she didn't want to shake her hand, but Ruby shook it and said, "You're welcome, acquaintance."
Valerie just shrugged and took it. She wished she and Ruby would immediately be friends, but with this red fox it would be, as Ruby said, one step at a time.
