"Sheila? Oliver?" Saoirse called out for a fifth time. It wasn't like they had a habit of disappearing in the middle of the night or hiding in closets, although this didn't stop her from looking in said closets. The truck was still there. The bed was a mess. It didn't look right, it didn't feel right.

It was as though they just…vanished in the middle of the night. Once again, Saoirse whined and blamed, as well as cursed, herself for having fallen asleep outside. It simply made no sense. Throughout the morning, Saoirse searched the house.

Around noon, ignoring the hunger that gnawed her stomach, she went to look around outside. She had slept near the front door, so she started at the back. A bit of ice traveled down her spine despite the warm sun and dirty dress she wore.

There were…prints in the dirt. A struggle. And…and…as she got closer, it looked like…tire marks.

A wave of dizziness passed over Saoirse. She had to kneel on the ground, least she fall over entirely. Tire marks…but the truck was still here. The bed was a mess. So then…so then did that mean that…they were…?

But who would want to kidnap a couple of old dogs?!

It made no sense…unless…

She stood on wobbly legs, not bothering to brush off the dirt, and walked inside. Their motto was to hide things in plain sight. The fact that they even had illegal books should have been a key. The fact that they had switched cities because of the leash laws was another one. And her freedoms…all the little ways she had freedom…

The rock in her gut told her that they were taken by a group who opposed their way of thinking.

But where and why now?

She hoped to find out.

That letter that had no return address or stamp? Inside it had an address, nothing more. She found it after much digging into the writing desk, pushing aside Sheila's half-finished novels and Oliver's 'expensive reports'.

Now Saoirse was in the truck, driving. Yes, the human was driving the truck. How could she not know how to drive the damn thing, out there in the farm in the middle of nowhere? It was more of a necessity rather than a freedom.

It didn't take long to get to that address…which was in the new city they visited the other day. Saoirse was immediately tense as she parked the car. She looked around. It looked…like…a knitting store. A yarn store, actually. What the hell?

Saoirse got out of the truck and looked around, slowly walking towards it. Why would the address be to this place? It was crafts based, sure, but it looked like it was heavier in emphasis on the knitting and sewing stuff. She couldn't recall a time that Sheila had gotten into this.

She got close to the windows and peaked in. It wasn't very large. It seemed fairly dead too. Except there was another human, an old woman, in there. And there was a purple…

"Where's your leash and owner at, human?!" A bark of a question startled Saoirse from her observation.

Spinning around with a half-yelp leaving her lips, Saoirse stared down at a rather mean looking goose officer. Blood drained from her face. Shit. The leash laws…and her owner? Oh gods, she was screwed. "I-I…they…he…" they're missing and I'm looking for them because some top secret group took them? Yeah, that would go over well. Who was to say this guy wouldn't label her as a stray, an escapee, and throw her into some sort of cell? Then she'd never find the Terriers!

"Pardon me, my dear fellow, it must have slipped my mind to leash my pet." A familiar velvety voice rang out from behind. Saoirse looked around and froze to see Katz, yes, Katz standing right next to her. Since…since when was he there? And how?

"This girl is yours?" The goose raised a brow.

Saoirse opened her mouth to protest, but nothing came out. Katz raised a sharp brow at that but looked pleased when she fell silent once more. "She is. She's such a trustworthy thing, I thought I would send her out to get my weekly ball of yarn." Katz' yellow eyes flickered to the store, drawing the officer's gaze to it as well. In that brief second, Katz stared into Saoirse's eyes. A silent conversation was had. "My store is just across the street," Saoirse must have missed it in her distress, "so she was always in my sight." A chill went down her spine. "Isn't that right…Saoirse?" Another shudder wracked her body.

Feeling more than just the cat's eyes on her, the human nodded and lowered her gaze to the floor. "Y-yes…sir." It was either this or a cell, but even now it felt like she was signing her death warrant.

"As you can see," Katz added, "she's a bit of a simpleton. No matter, so long as she does what I say." If ever a concealed threat. "If that's all…officer?"

The goose studied the pair closely. Katz didn't blink. The human kept her gaze down, nervous, tense. "I want to see her leashed next time or it'll be the pound." He grumbled as he walked away.

Saoirse counted to seven before drawing a deep breath, as well as nerve, and turned to face Katz. Whatever she may have planned to say was immediately forgotten when she realized just got close he was. So instead, she squeaked.

Katz' tail twitched. "Seeing as how that truck is empty, and has been empty since it pulled in, I'm going to guess you're trying to run away?"

"Hardly!" Saoirse frowned. "My owners…" she paused in the heat of the moment, a signal that she was lying, "…told me to go on an errand."

"Yarn for dogs? Hm, now I've heard everything." Katz clearly didn't believe it. "Well, seeing as how you are 'my' pet for the time being, I'd highly recommend following me into my store before that officer makes his way around again. And believe me, he will."

What choice did she have?

Saoirse glanced back at the store before following Katz, uneasy at every step. Once they were inside, she glanced around. They were alone. A 'click' of the lock and the flipping of the Open sign made Saoirse's skin crawl. She spun around as Katz let go of the sign, stepping back as she looked for a weapon.

Katz, however, seemed to be having none of it. "Do you really intend to strike the man who just saved you? I'll make that cell at the pound look like a palace if you try anything."

Okay, he had a point. She stood tall and tried to appear brave. "Why did you lock the door then?"

"So we aren't disturbed. I sense a tale to be told and I do so hate having to pause a good story." He took two steps closer to her, relishing how she trembled, frozen to the spot. Then he smiled slightly and nodded to the back room. "I'll make some tea."

It was only once he was gone that Saoirse relaxed slightly. It was cool in the store, cooler than outside. She suddenly became aware of her dress, dirty as her legs and feet, and her hair which was a mess from the wind. Damn, no wonder she looked like a stray. If Katz hadn't seen her across the street at the yarn…wait.

That…seemed almost too convenient. She frowned and looked around once more. As she started towards the back room, she snatched a pair of scissors and slid it into the pocket of her dress. Better than nothing…

The kettle was whistling once she stepped into the breakroom. It was nice enough. Table, chairs, so forth. She watched as Katz poured the tea into two cups and nodded to the table. Reluctantly, and carefully given her pocket surprise, Saoirse took a seat. She nearly slouched but recalled the lesson of being a lady – and recalled that this man before her was…dangerous. Curious. Best to be alert.

Despite having watched him pour the tea, she waited until he sipped it first before drinking her own. It was hot and strong – she reluctantly admitted that she enjoyed it. And…she was staring at him again. He was staring back. That really needed to stop.

Blinking, she looked down at the tea and sipped slower. "Well?" He purred.

"Well what?" She muttered.

She caught sight of his tail twitching from the corner of her eye. She glanced up. "It isn't proper to speak into one's cup. Tell me your story." It wasn't a suggestion.

Saoirse gripped the cup tighter. Did she really have a choice? Lying wasn't exactly a common thing either so…well. Here went nothing. "My owners were taken last night. I don't know by who or why, but…they were." She shifted in her chair. "I fell asleep outside and…I don't…I don't think they're in the best of health either." Her gaze felt heavy, lingering on the tea cup. "They got a letter, unmarked, and it had this address…I mean, the store's address on it. I…" She was scared. She was worried.

And she was tearing up.

Until, that is, Katz spoke once more.

"I was the one who sent the letter."