Pet Enclosure

10- The Uh Oh

The previously cozy and content Ro immediately sat up in alarm at the sounds of Cabbexev coming into the house. He gripped onto Kaneor and looked in the direction of where the noises were coming from.

"Ro! Kaneor! I'm back, come here!" Cabbexev called.

Dread filled Ro and he paled.

It all played out in his mind theater.

He would go to Cabbexev, still covered in mud. He might be upset at the mess but he was only a little angry. Then he would ask what happened and Ro would have to show him his mud pit and castle... Along with the drenched and damaged plants that he ruined with his insatiable curiosity. Then Cabbexev would kick him out, because who would want such a destructive and useless pet. He would never see Kaneor again who would live his days with Cabbexev having peacefully forgotten the dull boy who he'd once accepted as his gra.

And then he'd starve on this foreign planet.

And die.

All alone.

By this time Kaneor had picked up on Ro's fast heart rate and erratic breathing. He was starting to panic, but Kaneor had never seen this type of reaction before and didn't know what was going through Ro's head.

"Ro!? Kaneor!?" Cabbexev's voice called.

At the abrupt sound, Ro immediately squirmed out of Kaneor's hold and sprinted out of the room. He didn't know why he was running. He knew it wouldn't help, but he didn't want Cabbexev to be mad, and kick him out. He wanted to delay it as long as possible, even as inevitable as it was.

He sprinted through the hallways, unaware of the mud tracks he was leaving behind or where he was going. He was just running.

Eventually he dove under a large chair where there was just barely enough room for Ro to hide underneath. Not even Kaneor would be able to squeeze underneath. His lean muscles made him too big.

Ro breathed out puffs of air. Mostly from exertion, but partly from his still brewing panic.

...............

Kaneor had slowly walked back to where Cabbexev was standing. The taller man was fiddling with something in a bag that he had brought back.

He glanced over at Kaneor and smiled a little.

"There you are. Where's Ro?" Cabbexev asked softly.

Kaneor pouted and leaned on Cabbexev's side. "He ran off when he heard you come in. I think he thinks he's in trouble."

"In trouble? Why? What'd he do?"

"Made himself into an adorably muddy mess." Kaneor stated with a smirk.

"Do you know where he is?"

"Of course. Even if there wasn't a distinct mud trail from where he ran from the garden to his hiding spot, I could sniff him out anywhere." He said proudly.

"Well then, please lead the way."

Kaneor started out into the hallway but suddenly his steps stuttered and he turned around, suddenly his prideful attitude, replaced with pure worry.

"You're not going to hurt him, right?" He asked.

Cabbexev brushed Kaneor's cheek in silent reassurance.

"I would never intentionally damage either of you. Physically, mentally, or emotionally. Never. But, I will review what he's done and he'll likely get a punishment. It will be appropriate though. Do you agree with that?"