Chapter Twelve

Suddenly there was a very loud shriek and someone yelled "RATS!" and the scream not only shook the walls and made the humans jump out of their skin, but the skin of the animals as well.

"What was that?!" Surly asked in shock.

"And did she say 'rat'?!" Grayson added.

The ran to where the humans were and were shocked to find them attacked by not only the street rats but the alley cats as well and Miguel was the first one to attack the animal group direct on before Sophie head-butted the cat and sent him flying.

"You gotta get out of here!" Sophie exclaimed "Go back to the park! I'll hold them off!"

"But Sophie you can't!" Andie exclaimed fearfully.

"Just go! I'll be fine!" Sophie shouted as she tackled another cat with her feet.

As soon as Noah arrived to scoop up his friends in his backpack the animals ducked for cover inside and Buddy peeked out to see Sophie being attacked from behind and he lost sight of the rabbit and the cats and rats when the zipper zipped shut, blocking the outside world from view. Buddy hoped that Sophie would be okay as they made their escape before they finally reached the park.

Out of breath, Noah sighed as he fell to his knees and unzipped his backpack, freeing the other animals as Andie did a head count and sighed in relief before she said "Oh than goodness, everyone is here and alright."

"Swell, but now we're back to where my mess began." Surly said "If any of those humans see me they'll hunt me down and we'll be back to where we're started from."

No sooner then those words left his lips then he was scooped up in a net and Noah gasped before watching Dr. Campbell put Surly in a cage and ran off with Surly saying "Your mine now, to the Zoo!"

"No wait!" Noah cried but then he tripped on a rock and landed with a thud on the ground.

The animals gasped before they ran back to help Noah but when then they lost sight of Dr. Campbell and Surly. Noah began to cry as he cried "Oh no, we have to get back Surly!"

"And you better."

The animals jumped and turned around to see Raccoon standing there with a grin on his face and Cardinal stood on his raised arm.

"Liam!" Noah exclaimed.

"That is not Liam, that is Raccoon!" Andie exclaimed before she angrily said "What do you want with us?"

"Nothing Andie, I just simply stopped by for a stroll and see how everyone was getting along." Raccoon said "Is that a problem?"

"Uh, yeah, considering you're suppose to be dead!" Johnny exclaimed "And if you don't get outta here right now, me and my brother and sister are gonna make you so dead you ain't ever going to come back."

"Please, you wouldn't dare hurt me... so long as I have someone you love by my side." Raccoon said before he snapped his fingers.

Suddenly Miguel pounced out of no where and nabbed Buddy while Cardinal flew off to prevent the others from getting near them while Miguel shoved Buddy inside a glass jar with holes on the lid and the rats screwed it shut.

"Raccoon, let Buddy go!" Andie demanded.

"I'll only let him go if you bring Surly to me at my hideout." Raccoon said "I'll even allow my trusted friend Cardinal to assist you."

The red bird landed on top of Noah's head and the boy whimpered a little as he said "His talons are digging into my skin."

"I thought you were a traitor before, but teaming up with both rats and alley cats? That's a whole new low even for you!" Andie exclaimed in anger.

"When I was the leader I made allies with others outside the park to keep everyone inside the park under control in case they did anything, let's say, against my wishes." Raccoon said "I wouldn't expect you to understand Andie. You are nothing like me."

"And proud of it." Grayson said.

"Stay out of this!" Raccoon hissed, making Grayson yelp and take cover behind Andie, much to everyone's embarrassment. He looked at the group with a glare and said "Let me make this to you fools perfectly clear, if you do not bring Surly to me by sundown, by the time the last rays of sunlight fade from the sky, then I will be forced to feed Buddy here to the cats."

Buddy fainted when he heard that the raccoon said and Miguel said "And don't you dare try anything, or we might have the rat for a snack sooner then planned."

"Remember what I said." Raccoon said as his minions ran off, carrying the jar with Buddy inside, with them "Before sundown or else."

And with that he dove into the bushes and when the others tried to fallow he and the others were already gone.

"He must've been a real pleasure to have in therapy." Grayson said "Maybe he should consider a job as a magician or something."

Cardinal let out a loud chirp and pecked Noah's head, making him cry out in pain "Ouch! I don't like this bird, he's mean!"

"I guess we have no choice then." Andie said sadly "We're going to have to do what Raccoon does and save Surly, it's the only way we'll ever get Buddy back... if anything happens to them... Oh why didn't I tell Surly sooner?"

"Tell Surly what?" Noah asked

Andie sniffled as she turned to look at Noah and said "Noah... it's something I should have told him a long time ago... in fact I was going to surprise Surly the moment we helped him solve his problem."

"And that is?" Noah asked.

"That... I'm in love with Surly," Andie said with a smile "And I was going to propose to him and make him my mate!"