Perry decided it would be best to get some help: the only other person who knew about Gypsy's powers. He'd have to ask Kiki. And he was NOT looking forward to it.
The fox was in her cubicle. Perry hesitated before knocking on the wall. Kiki turned, before spotting Perry. She sighed. "What do you want?"
"Gypsy," Perry replied. "Did she tell you the weakness with her powers?"
Kiki shook her head. "No..."
Perry bit the inside of his beak. "She feels pain when a plant in her vicinity dies. Twice now, she's felt immense amounts of it. That means it's from trees. And... Two trees nearby cut down in one day? I think something's up."
Kiki hesitated. "Hmm... What could be causing those trees to fall?"
"That's what I want to find out," Perry answered. "And… I need help."
Kiki thought she had heard wrong. "YOU need HELP?"
"Yeah." Perry nodded. "There's no way I can do this by myself, and... Gypsy's life could be on the line, here."
Kiki raised an eyebrow. "So what are you saying? Please be clear."
"Will you help me figure out what's causing these trees to get cut down?"
"Why would I want to help YOU save GYPSY?" Kiki asked disdainfully. "I don't like either of you."
"But you're the only one here other than me who knows about Gypsy's power," Perry pressed. "And I said her life could be on the line. I had assumed you wouldn't want an innocent person to die, whether you like her or not."
Kiki hesitated. Finally, she said, "Why do you always have word things in such ways it makes me feel bad?"
Perry shrugged. "Because I love Gypsy and I need to save her."
Kiki bit her lip. "You...love her?"
Perry nodded, a genuine expression on his face. "I do. I love her."
The fox sighed. "Fine," she grumbled finally, standing up.
Perry smiled gratefully. "Thank you."
"Let's just go."
"Okay."
Perry exhaled and began to walk out of O.W.C.A, Kiki following.
"So where are we going?" Kiki asked.
"I'm not sure," Perry admitted. "But we might as well as start with the forest."
"I guess that makes sense."
Perry exhaled. "I hope Gypsy'll be okay..."
Kiki didn't say anything.
Perry hesitated. "Kiki... Why do you hate me so much?"
When she didn't reply straight away, Perry added, "I mean, I don't remember doing anything so bad to you to warrant all those years of bullying."
Kiki sighed and stared at the ground. "I...don't know if I can say, Perry. It's embarrassing... Especially if you and Gypsy are in a relationship now..."
Perry blinked. "What does my and Gypsy's relationship have to do with anything?"
Kiki bit her lip. "N-No reason."
"Kiki, please. I...I deserve to know."
The fox sighed heavily. "Now...isn't the time."
"Then when is?" Perry demanded. "When?"
"When we're safely back at O.W.C.A. and there's no threat!" Kiki snapped back.
"No threat," snorted Perry. "When is there ever NOT a threat?"
"This is a lot harder to tell you than you'd think, Perry!"
Perry growled. "It's not fair on me if you can't even tell me why you hate me!"
"I DON'T hate you!"
"Could have fooled me," scoffed Perry. "Constant bullying since we started training"
Kiki growled in frustration and stormed ahead.
"Real mature!" Perry snapped after her.
But she didn't reply.
Perry stopped walking and turned a right angle, walking off in that direction. Obviously, she didn't want to be near him right now. And Perry didn't want to be near her.
…
Kiki stopped walking when she heard the sounds of a machine. Wh-What's that? She inhaled before stepping out into a clearing.
And she came face to face with the biggest axe she had ever seen. It was connected to a huge machine... And there was someone in it.
"Rodrigo," hissed Kiki.
Luckily, the scientist didn't notice her, as he manoeuvred the machine and sliced clean through a tree.
Immediately, there was a scream coming from nearby.