Quartz Cat And The Joules

Chapter 1

Malkin, a subtle and diverse city consisting of 4 million for the average family. It is home of its tourist attractions, Fish Scale Beach with an entrance made of colourful fish scales and the Malkin Tunnel where passengers can view animation on the walls by train. It's where the kittens prepared themselves for Malkin Summer Camp. The Red Moose area was no exception.

On Cod Avenue, at the Reed Estate, Waldo Reed was in his room, adjusting his robotic hamster, Liberty, when the doorbell rang. Excited, Waldo put Liberty in his front pocket in his blue polo shirt and rushed downstairs hoping that it would be his parents as he reached for the door. Instead, he is greeted by his butler, Camden, at the door.

"Happy birthday, Master Waldo" said Camden. "Thank you, Camden" said Waldo, looking downcast. "Your mother and father sends their greetings from abroad and left you this" said Camden as he lent Waldo a small red gift box wrapped in a white ribbon with a letter on top. "Dear Waldo, we're sorry we couldn't make it to celebrate your birthday. Here's a beautiful jewel we bought from the jewelry store. Good luck and behave yourself while at camp. Love, Mom and Dad."

"I see," Waldo said sadly. "Master Waldo, I understand that you really want you see your parents," said Camden softly. "But please understand that they have very busy schedules that may conflict their free time." "I get it, they need their jobs to keep food on the table and a roof over our heads," snapped Waldo. Tears streamed on Waldo's face as Camden looked down at him with sympathy. "It's always the same thing." Seeing her master's sad face, Liberty climbed out of Waldo's polo shirt and gently rubbed her beak on Waldo's cheek, cheering him up slightly. "Anyway, I need to get ready for tomorrow" said Waldo calmly. "You do, sir" Camden replied.

As Waldo returned to his room, he settled Liberty in her cage and prepared for summer camp. But before getting to that, he looked at the gift box. "Well, at least they remembered," he thought. As he opened the box, Waldo stared in awe at a magenta Elbaite. As he took the gem, an electric flow entered through nerves, stunning him. 5 seconds later, he regained conscious and noticed the jewel was gone. Waldo looked at his hands, bewildered by what just happened.

Right next door, Kari Bale packed her luggage in her room before grabbing her skateboard. Before heading to the entrance, her Aunt Ivy blocked the way. "Hey, what gives?!" exclaimed Kari. "You know full well 'what gives', Katherine Lorraine Bale!" replied Ivy. " I've already got phone calls from the neighbors about your mischief!" "What mischief?," asked Kari. "Ok let's see," Ivy recalled. "you pulled a doorbell ditch on Mr. and Mrs. Sphynx, prank called Ms. Bruins saying that she won a limited time renewable ticket for the Ocelot Ocean Cruise and painted Mr. Donner's gnomes---"

"C'mon, it wasn't that bad" interrupted Kari. "with a paintball gun" continued Aunt Ivy. "Okay, one, the gnomes were colourless and needed a makeover anyway, and two, the reason I used the paintball gun was to make it more exciting and faster". "Oh sure, tell that to Mr. Donner who now has to repaint everything after he had his house and face pelted when he opened the door," added Aunt Ivy. "Look, I know it's been a year without your parents, but they wouldn't want you to go this road,". Kari stood there dejected by Aunt Ivy's words. Suddenly, the doorbell rang. "Oh, that must be Jake. Be back at 7 pm, okay" said Ivy rubbing Kari's head. Kari walked outside to see Jake standing at the porch with his skateboard.

"Hey, Kar," said Jake. "Hey, Jake," Kari replied. Both remained silent at that moment. "How are things going?" said Jake, breaking the silence. "We're managing," said Kari. "how are you and your Uncle Owen?," said Kari. "Likewise," said Jake with a faint smile. "Anyway, the others are at Cod Park, so we don't want to keep them waiting,".

As they rode to the Cod Park, Kari reflected on the last time she and Jake saw their parents. Mr. and Mrs. Bale were on their way for the Winged Lion Gala with Mr and Mrs Doyle. "Now, Kari, don't forget to finish your homework and prepare your lunch while we're gone," said Mrs. Bale "That way we'll have enough for a movie at 7." Okay, mom," said Kari excited. "Ivy, are you sure you can handle everything while we're gone?" said Mr. Bale, starting the car. "Alexis, Clancy, relax," Ivy said cheerily. "I've already wrote a to-do list before I arrived, so we're all set, all going from the time Kari brushes her teeth to the time she hits the hay. Now run along you two, you don't wanna be late."