Chapter 15: The Countdown Begins

Everyone gasped and stared at the duo, astonished by both Ralph's side of the bet as well as Gene's.

Especially a wide-eyed, lip-twitching, panicking Felix.

No, this wasn't happening. Ralph was not actually going...Turbo, was he?

Unable to conceive such a thought of horrible portions, the corgi immediately raced between arguing dogs- ready to flat-out beg for each of them to reconsider their terms.

"WHAT?! Y-you can't just agree to those terms, Ralph!" Felix screeched out, sounding uncharacteristically horrified and frantic. His eyes bounced back and forth between the mastiff and the pug, his trepidation growing by the second. "A-and Gene, that's a-"

"-Deal," Ralph resolutely barked out, nodding at the agreed terms with Gene. As the pug smirked triumphantly back, a mortified Felix allowed a squeal of despair to escape his throat.

"Fine," Gene hissed in Ralph's face then, arrogance and over-confidence written on his smug face. "Go and fail at getting your precious new good dog collar. We'll enjoy the quiet while you're gone- and then we'll enjoy it permanently once you lose."

At Gene's harsh, confirming words, Felix shook that much more in growing, unrestrained panic. He grasped for words, any words to get Ralph to change his mind- and to not follow through with this very, very dicey wager.

The corgi knew that neither Ralph or Gene was thinking ahead to what it would really mean if Ralph actually lost the bet. What could happen while Ralph was away trying to get the collar...

What Mr.Litwak would do if Ralph left, for the 3 days- or way longer depending on who wins the bet...

This whole thing could be just awful for both us here at the pet shop AND for Ralph!! Felix mentally fretted as he physically shook. He will probably stop at nothin' to get that collar, no tellin' what it could mean!...

He could get hurt out there in the big 'ole town of Acardia or even beyond- there's no tellin' what's out there! the corgi continued to mentally worry. Meaner dogs, dog catchers...even worst things!!..

What if Ralph gets killed trying to be his good dog collar?!

Having enough mental torment, Felix shook his head so hard his orange ears flopped roughly against his face.

"Ralph, wait! It could be way too dangerous going out there and gettin' a new collar by yourself," he tried to reason with the mastiff- and then resorted to trying to find something that he could give Ralph as a compromise for staying.

"Why don't you have my new collar comin' tomorrow instead?!" he yipped eagerly- before realized how stupid that was to say. "I mean, it might be a little too small on you...and probably too tight as well...and Mr.Litwak is putting it on me, heh...but we can make it work! It's a good dog collar, at least, right?!"

Laughing so nervously it was painful, the corgi pleaded up at a confused Ralph and an annoyed looking Gene.

"Why would you give him your new collar, Felix?" Gene asked the corgi before mockingly smirking at Ralph. "Mr.Good Dog here is supposedly going to go get his own."

"Yeah, don't worry, Felix," the mastiff pointedly told the corgi, yet his voice was gentle.

He could tell Felix was flipping out over this sudden change of events- and even though he didn't stop to wonder just why the corgi might be so worried, the mastiff wanted to calm Felix' fears. He smiled sincerely at the gulping corgi.

"I'll be fine," Ralph then mused over-causally. "I can get a collar my own. One that will fit me juust right."

Turning back Gene, Ralph cockily replied to the other side of the bet.

"And oh, I know I won't fail at getting that good dog collar!" he gloated loudly, leaning deep into the pug's face.

Eyeing down at Gene one last time, Ralph made his way over to the hole he had created in the door.

Pausing to haughtily turn to stare at the others, the mastiff paused...

And ominously thought briefly just how wrong the bet could go for him. If he lost, this could very well be the last time he'd ever see any of these other animals...

The last time he'd see Mary and Lucy, Bob and Glen... The last time he'd ever see kind-hearted, worry-wart Felix (who was the only animal here he'd dare somewhat call his friend)...

And what about Mr.Litwak and his super sweet niece, Stefanie? He'd never see them again if he lost...

But on the flip side, it'd be the last time Ralph would ever see Gene...

And as the pug evilly narrowed his eyes one last time at the bull mastiff, Ralph decided then that this was a risk he was willing to make.

"And you all will see when I come back with the best collar ever known the dog kind!" he stated confidently as his chest puffed out even more to the group. "And- and it's going to have the shiniest tags on it this place has ever seen! It'll be a collar that's so good, it'll make Felix's collars wet themselves!"

As most of the other animals bewilderedly eyed him, Ralph ducked and jumped through the large hole in the front door again- this time much easier than it had been all evening now that it didn't have the small doggy door on it.

Finding that it was still pouring outside, Ralph paused and stood under the awning for a moment- and by his sense of smell, he could tell yet more rain was coming in from the south. He looked around for a moment- completely unsure of what direction to even take.

As he stiffly watched the bull mastiff look this way and that, Felix began heaving slightly as he crawled to the front door. Looking like he could lose the treats he had eaten earlier, the small corgi was about to implore Ralph to change his mind, to think about all of this a little bit more, to at least wait until the morning to think this over...

But when Ralph's brown eyes suddenly turned and landed back on the corgi's shiny collar tags and on the beautiful leather collar itself, that was enough to make up the mastiff's mind that much more.

Nodding one last time in silent assurance towards a fainthearted Felix, Ralph eyed down the now mostly dark sidewalk and the empty road next to it. Not even thinking twice about what he was about to do -or what he could possibly face on this 3-day search- the bull mastiff sighed deeply, closed his eyes...

And took off in a sprint, getting instantly drenched instantly as he galloped down the road.

And before Felix could even flinch, Ralph had become completely out of sight in the rainy night, all in a matter of a few seconds- blending right in with the rest of the pitch black night.

Just like that, the bull mastiff -the very guard dog of Mr.Litwak's Petshop- had disappeared. Just like that, his countdown was on to get that collar, come what may...

Just like that... he's gone, the corgi mentally had to confirm to himself- causing a whole new wave of fear to wash over him.

He solemnly turned to see that the others too were eyeing where Ralph had been standing, all having an odd mixture of emotions written on their faces. There was slight apprehension on most faces, a few looking a little bit more worried or scared than others...

All except for Gene. His round, squished-up face screamed one thing and one thing only.

Utter arrogance.

"Well, that solved that problem," the pug huffed as he turned back to the others with a smug smile on his face. "You all can just thank me for getting rid of him, by the way."

"Gene," Mary began cautiously as she came and stood by him. Something in her voice seemed...worried. Very worried. "Do you think Ralph was really serious about this bet? What if he loses the bet...or never comes back...?"

"Pff, who cares?!" Gene commented as he picked up Ralph's nasty party bowl (ironically gagging as he did) and tossed it in a low trash can by Mr.Litwak's desk. "It doesn't matter, anyways- it got him away from us! Besides, we all know he's going to lose!"

Did you ever stopped to think about what might happen to us if that happened, though?! Felix snapped mentally in response, shocked and ashamed by the harshness of his tone- even though it was contained in his own head. Whether you want to admit it or not, you know that bet was a really a bad move, Gene! We ourselves are all a part of this bet... and we all -especially Ralph- may end up payin' for it, too!...

This is just horrible! I have to say somethin' to Gene, the corgi then rashly decided, turning stiffly toward the pug. I've got to convince him to chase Ralph down and take back the bet-

But before Felix could even begin to muster up a tiny part of the courage it would take to open his mouth, Gene butted into his thoughts again.

"Let's get the water cleaned up and go back to partying, guys!" the pug chimed happily. "Now that we don't have to worry about any more interruptions!"

At his invitation, the other animals around him eyed each other, clearly not so sure how they felt about that idea. It seemed weirdly wrong going back to a party that caused a dog to snap and run off the way Ralph did...

But the persuading look Gene was giving them was enough to cause the animals to decide that all truly was ok...

Besides, they figured, what all could happen in the tiny time span of 3 days?

When the group finally gave him the happy nods in agreement he was desiring, the pug darted towards Skrillex to see if he could resume the upbeat party music. As the hare agreed and hopped up back onto the desk, party jams were played on quickly- and everyone...well, almost everyone... quickly got to work on somehow cleaning up the water that was everywhere.

Once the water was soaked up and the floor was dry ground again, those who hadn't yet polished off the dog treats in their bowl did so- and before long, everything looked the way it did before Ralph had crashed the party.

The dancing resumed, the laughing continued, the joking proceeded- everything was back to normal as if nothing had happened.

But something did happen. Something major. Something dangerous and risky...

Something truly bad.

And it killed a certain corgi to know that it was partially his fault.

In fact, Felix was the only animal that was now no longer in the 'party mood'. He didn't go back to eating, back to dancing, back to the fun and merrimaking he had enjoyed so much not even a few hours ago it seemed.

Giving all that had happened...all that had been said and thought and decided...all the corgi could do now was what his body naturally did when stressed. When disappointed in himself. When good-dog guilty.

Gulping, all the small dog was uncontrollably shake -and mentally reprimanded and kick himself for not saying more, for not standing up for Ralph, for not speaking out against Gene's wrong behavior...

For not being the truly good dog he was at heart.

At some point later on that same night, the others -especially Gene- noticed the corgi's absence and quietness. Upon finding him still frozen by the door, they tried to coax Felix to join them again, to enjoy the party again- because the whole party was in honor of the pet shop's perfect mascot, right?...

But the worried corgi just couldn't do it. He couldn't eat with the hole forming in his stomach. He couldn't dance while his legs felt so shaky. He couldn't have fun anymore; his heart would've plagued him too much for it. He couldn't even focus on anything anymore- his mind was too fogged up with demanding, scarry thoughts...

So the corgi shut down, blocked it all out- and before long, the scene behind him was the last thing weighing on his mind. The pet shop anniversary party -as important and fun as it had started out to be to him- meant literally nothing to the corgi now.

Because a part of the pet shop -a very, very important part of it, at that- was gone now...and possibly forever onward.

At the bone-chilling thought, Felix just sat glued in place and stared at the place where Ralph had been just a little bit before- and before he knew it, it had become hours before. Maybe a part of him thought Ralph would come back tonight, that he'd decide the whole idea was stupid and pointless and that everything would just be better if he stayed...

But as the party started to wind down to an end, as the decorations were picked up, as every mouth was yawning tiredly, and finally as each animal stumbled off to their cuddly bed, it was undoubtedly clear in the all-too-awake Felix' mind.

Ralph wasn't coming back until he got the collar...

And nothing had ever made the corgi more afraid than that single fact.

"So...Ralph's really gone, eh, Felix?" A monotoned voice startled Felix by asking, causing the corgi to jump a few inches in the air. He had thought everyone had gone to bed, but looking at his side, he saw that Glen was still wide awake.

Sighing, Felix wanted to answer the turtle, but couldn't for some reason. All he did was continue to sit in complete silence, his little corgi mouth still partly opened in shock as his long, orange ears stayed glued to the back of his head.

The good small dog didn't know what was going to exactly happen in the next 3 days, but he did know one thing for a certainty.

This can not be good.