Juniper's Mystery

Chapter Ten

Juniper looked at his friend who seemed sad. He can't help, but feel empathy for him. If only there was a way to comfort him. Juniper wasn't an expert, so he didn't know what to say.

Livie on the other hand, did not give any empathy at all. She walked infront of the two like as if she was in lead.

"Hey, so about the murderer," Livie started. Oliver and Juniper looked towards Livie as she spoke. "We know it's another cat, they are very sneaky to not leave any marks and that they're a gray feline, do you know anyone that's gray and sneaky?"

"The only gray cat I know is Juniper."

"Hm, I guess we'll just have to investigate further."

Well, at least I'm not a suspect.. Juniper thought, unpleasantly. The thought of Oliver and Livie saying he's the killer haunts him. But he was just too stubborn to be one.

Maybe that's why they haven't suspected him. Juniper was just a house cat that knew nothing of the outside till now.

Livie stopped in an alleyway between two buildings. There were two cats eating on scrap leftovers. Juniper's hunger growled for some, as he hasn't eaten in two days.

"Were you in any particular scene in the bushes or in a further alleyway?" Livie started questioning the cats. The gray cat, whose fur is darker than Juniper stood up and looked at Livie, confused.

"Well, I have been in tons of alleyways, would you be more specific?"

"Have you been in one that a particular dog and a cat came by?"

The cat shook his head. "I would probably leave the place if there was a dog, even I'm not skilled enough to fight those beasts."

Livie paused. Juniper looked at Livie, he thought that Livie was just thinking about something, but what? She then turned around and walked away, which made the furry gray feline confused.

Juniper asked, "Was there anything else strange in the alleyways?"

"I did see a gray cat covered with stripes trying to hide their scent, I wasn't sure why."

"A gray cat covered with stripes? Well, thank you for your time," Juniper then left with Livie and Oliver.

While they were walking, Juniper noticed Livie had a shocked expression. He felt quite suspicious of this. And then there's Oliver, Juniper saw Oliver still look sad about the kittens.

Even if they bonded for only two days, Oliver still remembered it as a treasured memory. Juniper did not understand why, but he still kept empathy for him.

It began to be night time. The streets were only slightly quieter. Juniper looked at the stars shimmering. He realized he was still a housecat being on the streets.

"Let's go rest for a while," suggested Juniper as he shifted his head downwards.

Livie, with no reactions, went towards a closed shop. She then sat down next to the wall. Oliver and Juniper joined in. Livie turned around, facing away from the two cats.

Oliver then looked at Juniper. Oliver hesitated. Juniper waited, he looked back at Oliver, confused. They both sat down on the cold, rough streets.

"I don't want to be part of this investigation anymore," he confessed. Juniper's reaction was in shock. Despite the obvious hints, Juniper had never really thought Oliver would just want to leave him with Livie.

"It's just that, I feel a bit left out. Livie does most of the work, you try your best to help, and I- I did nothing, but make sure the kittens are still with us," He continued.

"Well- you can still try!"

"Maybe it won't work out."

Juniper ran out of words to say, to convince. With nothing else to say, Juniper had just accepted his decision, "Okay."

Oliver smiled. He dipped his head as a goodbye and walked away. Juniper felt sad that Oliver left him, but if it's going to make him happy, then alright.