Chapter 4
"So let me be sure I'm clear on this. You think that this is a television show," said Thunder slowly.
"Yes," said Mittens. It was a simple response, but she had just spent the last hour explaining in detail what was happening and her voice was feeling sore.
"And that the agents that captured us are just actors and we are being filmed right this minute."
"Yes."
"And that I have no super powers and have just been fooled into thinking I have super powers due to really good special effects."
"You got it."
Thunder studied her from head to toe. A couple of minutes passed and for just a second, Mittens actually believed the dog was going to agree with her.
"Yep, you're cracked," said Thunder with a shake of his head.
"Excuse me," said Mittens while not getting his meaning right away.
"You cracked under the pressure. The captain mentioned this before. Some people just can't handle hostile situations. They become delusional and crazy," said Thunder with a sigh. He was giving her a look full of pity.
"Hold on here! You're saying I'm crazy!" growled Mittens. The dog who actually thought he could shoot lasers out of his eyes was questioning her sanity? Ok, that just wasn't right.
"Look, it's been a stressful day for you. You just think whatever makes you feel safer," said Thunder as he patted her on the head. Mittens was clenching her paws as she glared at the dog who was patronizing her. The worst part about this was he was actually being… nice to her. And this wasn't a nice dog. He just thought she was so pathetically crazy that he had to act nice.
"Listen bub, I lived in the alleys of New York while declawed. I learned a long time ago to accept danger when it happens," said Mittens as she pointed a paw at him.
"Except in this case," said Thunder with a smirk.
"Oh and I suppose your reasoning is ever so realistic! That you are a dog with superpowers who has evil agents chasing him! You can shoot lasers from your eyes, jump up mountaintops, fly-"
"I can't fly," interrupted Thunder.
"Ok forget the flying! My point is I think my explanation is just a bit more realistic than yours! This is the Bolt show or.. or.. the Thunder show now I guess. Maybe they changed the name. I don't care! The point is it's not real!" ranted Mittens as she jumped up and down.
"Wow, you really showing yourself to be a calm, sane cat. Although I thought I did hear the name Bolt before," said Thunder as he scratched behind his left ear.
"See!? You probably overheard one of the actors-"
"Look I have to admit this was entertaining. And considering I don't find many things entertaining, that's saying something. But I have to get going before more of those terrorists investigate why that helicopter didn't make it to base," said Thunder as he gestured to the crash site. Black smoke was still rising up from the wreckage.
"Fine! I'll find my own way off this set and back home," said Mittens with a sniff. With that she turned her back on Thunder and began walking. This had to be a movie set and all she had to do was travel ten yards tops and she'd find herself outside a Hollywood Studio building.
She could feel Thunder's eyes watching her. Then heard him begin to move. The problem was he was moving towards her from the sound of it. She stopped and glared at him. He stopped about two feet behind her.
"What are you doing?" asked Mittens while gritting her teeth.
"Following you."
"Why!?"
"Once I saved you from the terrorists, I was planning to part ways. But now I can't seem to bring myself to do so," said Thunder with a sigh.
"And why's that," spat Mittens. Funny, before she was feeling terrified of this dog. Now she was just really starting to hate his guts.
"Well you're like a helpless child playing make believe. You'd probably get yourself killed within the hour alone," said Thunder. He was absolutely serious. She could tell he truly believed every word he said.
"Alright, listen here, this is a movie set. And if I walk the same direction long enough I'll find the exit to it and find myself in Hollywood," said Mittens.
"Of course you will," said Thunder while patting her on the head again. Mittens swiped his paw off with a growl.
"Stop doing that! And we'll see who's the crazy one is when I'm outa here," said Mittens before she turned and began walking again. Once again she heard him following her, but just ignored it. Once he saw that they were in Hollywood, he could stare dumbly at the studio and leave her alone. Yep, she would be out of here in no time. It should just take a couple of hours.
A couple of hours later…
"Are we off the set yet?" asked Thunder smugly from behind Mittens.
"Shut up," growled Mittens as she continued walking. Her paws were freezing. This had to be the most realistic snow covered studio set that she ever walked through.
Four hours later….
"Now are we off the set?" asked Thunder as he watched the sun set. Mittens finally stopped walking and slumped her shoulders in defeat. No matter how far she peered into the distance, all she saw was more and more snowy fields. Slowly she turned and faced Thunder.
"Ok, maybe this isn't a studio set," said Mittens as she felt herself blush. God, she hated that smug look the dog had on his face.
"So you admit this is Canada and is not a television show," said Thunder as he cocked his head.
"I admit this is Canada and that's it! They probably dropped us off here and are filming from far away," said Mittens before sneezing. Thunder just rolled his eyes then walked up to her. Once again he didn't seem to understand the concept of personal space. He grabbed one of her paws and lifted it up.
Mittens nearly yelped in surprise. While her paws were freezing cold, Thunder's paws were still nice and warm. The hours of walking in the snow hadn't cooled them at all.
"At this rate you'll get frost bite and your paws will fall off. Lets head towards that shrubbery and get some sleep," said Thunder as he nodded towards some bushes and ferns popping out of the snow. Mittens didn't put up an argument even though she was tempted to. Show or no show, she needed some sleep.
Thunder had to admit that even though the cat was nuts, she was spunky. She certainly didn't complain even though he knew her paws were killing her. While Mittens continued to stare out at the Canadian scenery, Thunder turned his attention to one of the bushes surrounding him. Normally Thunder would never use a fire to keep warm at night. He simply didn't need to with his enhanced endurance. But the cat would need it.
But the enemy might very well spot it.
After reviewing the situation, Thunder decided the risks were acceptable. He was not doing this because he felt protective of the cat or anything. He just… wanted to find out how she came up with this crazy conspiracy theory. He didn't believe in it, but it might be helpful to know what caused her to go over the deep end. Maybe it wasn't just their situation that caused her delusions. In fact from the way she acted before their capture, it appeared she was already under these delusions. He needed more information. That was the only reason he was keeping her alive.
Satisfied with his own reasoning, Thunder turned to the bush and began to picture the color green. Once again rays of green light shot forth and struck the bush, flames erupted from the center of it.
Mittens turn her head and stared at the fire. The relief on her face caused a warm feeling inside Thunder. He quickly shook off that feeling as Mittens turned her stare at him.
"What happened there?" asked Mittens.
"I stared really hard at the bush as if I had heat vision, so the special effects guys caused it to catch on fire," said Thunder while trying to sound as serious as he could be.
"Jack ass," muttered Mittens as she sat beside the fire. There wasn't any anger in her tone though. Thunder simply smirked as he laid down a foot away from her. Both of them staring at the dancing orange flames until they fell asleep.
