Chapter 3
Hot shot was fast asleep in his bed. Then Heatwave came in. "Hot shot wake up," Heatwave said.
"Why?" Hot shot asked sitting up feeling sleepy.
"Quickshadow and I have something special planned, for you, we are going to go through the Ground bridge to another state," Heatwave said.
"Why?" Hot shot asked more fully awake.
"It is a surprised and I have a feeling you will like it," Heatwave said.
"Oh okay," Hot shot said. Hot shot got dressed for the day.
Hot shot met both Heatwave and Quickshadow in the kitchen. Hot shot ate his breakfast. Hot shot followed them to the car. Hot shot climbed into his booster seat. Then they went through the ground bridge. Hot shot was wondering what was going on.
"Where are we?" Hot shot asked.
"This if Fort Worth Texas," Heatwave said.
"It is a state far away from Maine," Quickshadow explained.
"Oh," Hot shot said. They made it to the zoo. "What is this place?" he asked.
"This is the Fort Worth Zoo, it is one of the best zoos in the country," Quickshadow said. "Here you can get a look at wild animals," she said. "But stay close to both me and Heatwave we don't want you getting lost," she said.
"Oh okay," Hot shot said.
They parked the car and got out. They headed to the front. "Two adults and one child under five," Heatwave said.
"Okay then," the lady said. "Oh he looks nervous," she said.
"He's our first foster child, and this is his fourth foster family, he has been through a lot his own parents didn't want him, so I think he has a fear of rejection," Heatwave said.
"Poor little fella," the lady said. "Well I hope he has a great time," she said.
Hot shot took Heatwave's hand and followed him and Quickshadow in. There sure was a lot of things going on. Hot shot was amazed by what he saw. There were a lot of people there too. Hot shot was eager to see all the animals.
Hot shot made sure to remain close. "There is so much to see," Hot shot said.
"Yes there is," Heatwave said.
Hot shot saw their were many different kinds of animals at the Fort Worth zoo. "Look at those things with big horns," Hot shot said pointing at the rhinos.
"Those are rhinos," Heatwave said.
"Black rhinos to be precise," a zookeeper said. "Just one of the kinds of rhinos we have here at this zoo," he said.
"They are cool," Hot shot said.
Hot shot was still looking around at all the different exhibits. There sure were a lot of animals there too. Hot shot saw penguins, elephants, lions, tigers, and more. Hot shot even got to see some of the creatures from under the earths oceans. "That is shark," Heatwave said.
"It says it is a black tip reef shark," Quickshadow said. "A shark normally found on coral reefs," she said. "So it is a tropical species." she said.
"He doesn't look scary man eater like one of my older foster brothers from my second foster family said," Hot shot said.
"Well little guy sharks being man eaters is just a myth," a keeper said. "I tend to the sharks here," she said. "Sharks are predators it is true, but they normally avoid people, attacks that are unprovoked are rare, and rarely deadly, even provoked attacks are almost never deadly either," she said.
"Provoked? What does that mean?" Hot shot asked.
"It means to be threatened or feel feel threatened," the keeper said. "people can feel provoked at times, and animals can feel provoked," she said. "Animals rarely attack unprovoked, unprovoked attacks are either by mistake, or if the animal hasn't eaten a long time, or if the animal is sick," she said. "But provoked attacks in all animals are more common, they feel like themselves or their homes are threatened so that leads to an attack," she said. "So that is why it is important to give wild animals their space," she said.
"Oh okay," Hot shot said. "He is kind of cool," he said looking at the shark.
"Thanks for explaining that too him," Quickshadow said.
"No problem it's my job," the zookeeper said.
Hot shot was very curious about much in the zoo. They had a nice lunch too. Hot shot soon saw they were almost back at the entrance. "Look we are almost back where we started." Hot shot said.
"Then that means we are through the whole zoo," Heatwave said.
They came up to a big store. "What is this?" Hot shot said.
"This is a gift shop Hot shot," Quickshadow said. "it is full things based on the animals we saw here in the zoo." she said.
"Can we look inside?" Hot shot asked.
"Sure this is a normal part of the zoo experience," Quickshadow said.
"Awesome," Hot shot said. Hot shot went to see what there was too see in the gift shop. There were shirts, plastic toys, candy, and stuffed animals. Hot shot saw animals that were on land, in the air and in the sea. Hot shot looked at all of the different stuffed animals. Hot shot saw the plush rhinos. Hot shot looked at all of the different ones. Hot shot found one and picked it up. He gave it a squeeze. It was nice and soft and cuddly. It looked like a real rhino but it was nice and soft too.
"Can I get this please?" Hot shot asked Heatwave and Quickshadow.
"I don't see why not," Heatwave said. "I was going to get myself a shirt," he said.
"I was going to get myself this necklace," Quickshadow said.
They paid for the items. Hot shot was eager to get his plush back. Hot shot held the toy close once it was paid for. "I love her," Hot shot said hugging it.
"I'm glad you like it," Heatwave said.
Hot shot and his parents left the zoo after that. Hot shot got into his car seat. He fell asleep just about as soon as they left the parking lot. He was holding onto the plush rhino tightly. "Poor little poppet he's tuckered out," Quickshadow said with smile.
"Yes he is, it was a nice fun time and we spent nearly the whole day there," Heatwave said. "So I am not surprised he is tired," he said.
"Neither am I," Quickshadow said.
They made it back to the firehouse through the ground bridge. They were carrying in the sleeping Hot shot. "He had a busy day," Heatwave said.
Hot shot was still holding the plush rhino fast asleep. Hot shot was starting to wake up. "Huh?" Hot shot said.
"Sorry I didn't mean to wake you Hot shot," Heatwave said.
"We are back in the firehouse now," Quickshadow said.
"Okay," Hot shot said.
"Now it is almost time for dinner," Charlie said. "We are having chicken tenders, I made them myself," he said.
"Okay," Hot shot said and got ready for dinner.
Hot shot was still kind of tired from his day at the zoo. Hot shot was soon bathed and went to bed. Hot shot hugged his new plush rhino very close as he slept. Hot shot was dreaming a wonderful dream that Heatwave and Quickshadow had adopted him and they were the best parents ever.
