Chapter 2: The Chase

The night wind whistled as Toto flew off with Baron and Charisse on his back. Charisse held onto Baron because if she didn't, she would fall off the bird, who was flying at break neck speed. However, Toto couldn't catch up to the cats, who were running to get away from the group chasing after them. Baron urged Toto onwards when they heard Haru shriek. Charisse was getting whisker-whipped but she couldn't complain. It was her job to help Miss Haru. Muta ran underneath the bird and two cats because he just wasn't that fast.

"She could have waited until after we had cake," he grumbled, breathing heavily. Suddenly, Toto swooped down and grabbed Muta by the back. "Ow! Quit that!" As they got higher and higher, Muta fought against Toto. "Let me go! Stop it! That hurts!"

Haru turned around from her seat on the cats and smiled brightly. "They're coming for me!" she shouted joyfully, waving her arms in the air.

"I said let me go!" yowled Muta, struggling in Toto's firm grip.

"Okay, Toto, now!" ordered Baron when they were hovering above the cat carpet.

Before Muta could complain anymore, he was thrown at the cat pile with his legs out. "Wait, I take it back!" he shouted as he fell.

To Charisse's amusement, the cat carpet went around Muta so he would drop on his face. She had to bite her lip to keep herself from laughing. Even though it was horrible that Muta got hurt, she couldn't help but find it funny. What was even funnier was Haru shaking the yes-man lackey cat by the scruff. Baron had an odd look on his face when he discovered his plan didn't go quite as expected.

"That wasn't what I expected," he said to himself, placing his hand to his chin in a thoughtful manner.

The injury didn't faze Muta for long. He got back on his feet and charged at the cat carpet. "You're gonna regret that!" he shouted, making a leap for them.

He landed on top of the cats and Haru grabbed him to keep him from falling off. Charisse heard the lackey cat say something about the weight limit but then a blue portal opened up in the wall and the cats jumped in it.

"Toto!" shouted Baron, pointing to the portal.

"I see it!" replied Toto, making a swoop for it.

Of course he didn't just swoop. He did a loop-de-loop that almost made Charisse fall off. If she didn't grip onto Baron, she would have ended up on the pavement like Muta. She felt a little dizzy, but she could see that the portal was closing fast.

"Hurry, Toto!" she called out, digging her fingers into Baron's jacket lapels.

Without a word, Toto dove and got through the portal just in time. Within seconds, they emerged over the city of the Crossroads and the cat carpet ran down the building with Haru and Muta holding on for dear life. The poor girl let out a scream and begged to be let off the cats.

"Follow them!" Charisse ordered Toto, pointing to the building's edge.

"Got it!" shouted Toto, making another swoop.

Charisse didn't like the downward angle they were flying and did everything she could to not vomit. Her heart was in her throat and she unwittingly latched onto Baron tighter, causing him to look back at her. There was concern in his green eyes.

"Charisse, are you alright?" he asked, barely heard over the wind.

"I'm fine," she replied, loosening her grip on him. "Sorry."

"I don't mind," he said, favoring her with a small smile. "Here we go." He was warning her of the portal that just appeared in the ground.

The cats went through it and Toto followed after. It only took a few seconds for them to emerge from this other portal and it led them to the park. Since Toto was flying, they went right into tree branches. Charisse ducked her head to avoid being hit by the pokey branches.

"Ow!" she cried when one hit her ear, and she rubbed it gently.

"Outmaneuvered," said Baron in a strained tone, holding onto his hat.

"Dammit," Charisse hissed, trying to see through the branches. She couldn't see the cats or Haru or Muta from all the branches that were blocking her view.

"Get above the trees!" ordered Baron, touching one of Charisse's hands that held onto his waist.

"Right," said Toto, swooping up out of the trees to get a clear view of everything.

Suddenly, the cats, with Haru and Muta on top, jumped through another portal above the lake, but it disappeared before Toto could get through it. However, blue lights like fireflies glowed above the lake and moving over the water.

"Now what?" asked Toto, sounding totally lost.

The lights soared into the air, which meant they were riding the wind, and flew over the trees.

"Looks like they're riding the wind," observed Baron, shifting his position so he could jump if he needed to. "Follow those lights."

"Got it," said Toto, flying after them.

Following the lights did something good, though. It led the group to a pair of lakes that were shaped like a cat's paw. Toto circled it as Baron and Charisse leaned over to get a better look. They were there. This was entrance to the Cat Kingdom. However, getting in was the trick.

"This is it," murmured Baron, observing the lakes. "Shoot down all the way to the surface of the water, Toto."

Once again, Toto dove down and held himself above the water. "Baron, shall I summon my friends for an attack?" he asked, looking back at the two cats.

"That won't be necessary," answered Baron, smiling in satisfaction. "Thank you, Toto."

"It's nothing," he replied with a shake of his head. "You two be careful."

"We will," said Baron, taking Charisse by the hand and leaping off with her.

"Whoa!" cried Charisse as they fell through the water.

The two cats ended up falling down over the Kingdom. They could see the castle and the plains of the area. The sun was shining bright in the sky and the lands were green and beautiful. Personally, Charisse liked it there better than the city but they were there to save Haru, not go real estate searching. The Baron grabbed Charisse by the waist and they landed on their feet in front of the castle.

"Now what do we do?" asked Charisse, looking over to Baron, who was smoothing his jacket. "We can't just walk through the door."

Suddenly, a mischievous grin found its way on Baron's face and he said, "Who says we can't? They do not know us here. Of course, we'll need disguises. We wouldn't want Haru to blow our cover, would we?"

Oh, boy, thought Charisse but she nodded. "Okay," she said quietly. "So all we need to do is get inside and steal some clothes, right?"

"Steal?" repeated Baron, tutting her. "That's a naughty word. We never steal, Charisse. We only borrow from those who won't need anything."

Charisse couldn't help but smile. "Of course you'd never use that word, Baron," she snorted, shaking her head. "You're much too proper to consider it."

"Thank you, dear," he replied, swelling up with pride. Then he adopted a serious expression. "Let's move. We don't have much time."

"Right," she said, nodding once. "Let's go."

Baron took her by the hand and they ran into the castle in pursuit of a change of clothes.

A/N: In the next chapter, they will find a pair of fancy clothes and save Haru. Enjoy!