Of Life and Death (PUSS IN BOOTS THE LAST WISH FANFIC)

Camp

The red, orange and yellow flames of the fire danced in front of the Jaguar as she sat back and admired her work. For a fire, it certainly worked well in itself.

She took a second to look around her. The wolf claimed that he had some sudden business nearby, so she was alone. She thought about the mission they had set themselves upon, hunting down that stupid cat. The Jaguar then stood up, brushing her huipil off. Then, the sound of footsteps approached her.

"Who's there?"

"Relax, La Vida, its just me." The Wolf emerged from the darkness, this time carrying a small vihuela.

"where did you get that?"
"Lets just say....its owner has no use for it anymore." He said, his voice solemn as he sat down at the base of the tree next to the fire.

"...I see." The Jaguar said, joining him.


The two sat in silence for a moment. Maybe it was a moment of silence for the soul La Muerte just had to reap.

"Well..I guess that makes both of us who found strange treasures." She offered.
"Oh?"

The Jaguar then got up, walking to the other side of their humble campsite and returning with a wide brimmed black cavalier's hat with a red feather poking out of it. Upon looking at it, The Wolf sat up, chuckling to himself.

"Now where did you find that ol' thing?"
"It was up in that tree." The Jaguar turned and pointed up into a tall baldcypress tree that was just a few feet away from the campsite.

"Heh, suprised I didn't need to help you get down from there, gatita."

The Jaguar gasped a gasp of fake offense, pressing her paw to her chest in a dramatic jovial fashion.

"La Muerte, I will not sit here and be insulted by my Querido compañero! How dare you!" She stands up, crossing her arms and looking away with a playful Huff.

The Wolf could only laugh in response to her jest.

"The myth that cats can't get down from trees is a harmful stereotype and I am frankly hurt that you would even insinuate that." The Jaguar continued, looking back at her chuckling friend.

"Oh, gatita, I am so sorry!" The wolf snickered, feigning sincereity as he spoke, "I had no idea I was hurting your feelings!"

The two then erupted into laughter for a while, with the Jaguar leaning against the tree as she felt her sides ache. After a while, they slowly stopped, with the Jaguar sitting next to the Wolf as they caught their breath.

"This hat," She then said, grabbing the hat, "Reminds me so much of the hat that Puss wears!"
"It does, doesn't it?" The Wolf took the hat from her, turning it over in his hands before suddenly pulling down his hood and putting the hat on his head, "How do I look?"

"You look ridiculous. Yet, somehow, you wear that kind of hat better than Puss does."

This drew more laughter from the Wolf, who then stood up.

"I think I could do a good impersonation of him."
"Do you, now?"
"Yes, I think I could. Wanna see it, Gatita?"

The Jaguar then laughed, rolling her eyes and throwing her paws in the air.

"You know what, Lobo? Show me your impersonation the great Puss in Boots. I will personally judge it for you."

The Wolf nodded, turning around with his back to her. Then, he turned back around, striking a pose.
"It's me, Puzzinboots" He chuckles, putting forth the Feline's accent.

This immediately caused the Jaguar to burst into laughter, almost falling over as the Wolf straightened his posture.

"How was it? He asked, waiting for her to regain her composure.

"Oh Lobo, you wouldn't believe it, Puss in Boots was just here!" She teases inbetween chuckles, causing the Wolf to laugh a bit as well.

The Jaguar then stood up, walking to the Wolf.

"Let me have a go, I think I could do it." She says, reaching for the hat.

In response, the Wolf just holds it up above his head, just out of her reach.

"Sure, Gatita, take it." He says, keeping the hat just out of reach.

"Lobo!"

"What? Take the hat!"

"I'm not playing! Give it to me!"

"I'm trying! It's right here, take it, Gatita loca!"

"Dámelo!"

"Fine fine, take it" He says, finally handing her the hat before going to sit down where she was sitting before.

She placed the hat on her head, adjusting it so it sat right.

"Pass me the vihuela, too. I wanna do a bit." She requested, with the Wolf passing the small guitar to her, "Are you ready, Lobo?"

"Knock my socks off, Senorita."

The Jaguar then turned with her back to him, holding the vihuela in her paws. She then quickly turned back around dramatically, strumming a few notes on the guitar.

"Who is your favorite fearless herooooo??" She sings, trying to push Puss's accent as far as she could.

This prompted the Wolf to laugh as well, leaning back against the tree and slapping his paw against his leg.

"Eh, How'd I do? I sound like him?"

The Wolf then clapped a few times as he slwoly caught his breath.

"Magnificent, Gatita! A wonderful performance!" He chuckled as The Jaguar pulled the hat off her head and sat next to her companion.

She then set the guitar down next to her, resting the hat on her lap. As the laughter and chuckles died down, all that remained was the hat. The Jaguar couldn't help but stare at it, turning it over and looking at it just as the Wolf was.

"I apologize for all the grief this cat is giving you, amigo." She said, "It was never my idea to give the cats nine lives."

"Don't apologize. I believe you, amiga. And trust me, his bravdo will end. Hopefully sooner rather than later."

"Te escucho, amigo."
"Lo sé, Gatita."

The Jaguar then set the hat to the side, picking up the vihuela and beginning to strum. She couldn't remember where she learned the tune from, but somehow seemed to know it well enough to play it.

"Could I try that?" The Wolf asked suddenly, suprising the Jaguar.

"You've never struck me as a musical animal."
"That's because I'm not. I just...want to try it, I guess."

A smile crept onto the Jaguar's face as she offered the small guitar to her friend, who took it and began copying her movements. A simple tune emerged.

"Not bad."
"Gracias."

They sat there for a moment as the Wolf continued, before he paused.

"Remind me why we couldn't just continue pursuing Puss? Its not like we need sleep, and the elements don't effect us."

"Because, La Muerte. This world, with its millions of lives, will only be here once. The times will fly by and we will regret not taking a second to enjoy these simple moments. And besides, we will have no difficulty finding him. We always do in the end. At least, you do."
"You know what, La Vida? I'll take that answer."

Seemingly satisfied with her answer, the Wolf continued his playing. The Jaguar leaned back, closing her eyes and smiling.