CATS: Looking For Etcetera

Chapter Fourteen: Attack

"Plato!" 

Demeter's voice echoed helplessly through the night. 

The dog bounded cheerfully out of the alley, tail wagging menacingly. It headed towards the park. All the cats scattered. Demeter and Mr. Mistoffelees darted one way, Bombalurina and Tugger the other. Misto climbed swiftly up a drainpipe while Demi leapt down a small flight of stone stairs leading to a basement flat. Tugger panicked and jumped into a garbage can and Bombalurina followed without hesitation. 

Being the only one who could see what was happening outside, Mistoffelees kept his Senses alive as he scrambled to the top of the black pipe and onto the roof. He watched the dog from a distance, and in horror saw it was heading their way. It walked steadily round the outside of the park and towards the area of the square where the cats were all hiding. Of course he and the other two were safe, but Demeter had dashed down the steps and was in perfect reach if she was sniffed out. 

"Demeter!" he hissed. He couldn't see his friend from up here but he had to try and alert her before they lost another ally. There was no reply. The dog was getting closer, and in a few moments it would be right by the steps. Mistoffelees knew there was only one thing he could do. He took a deep breath and cautiously slipped back down the edge of the house. His heart felt like it was going to burst from his fluffy white chest, and his tail hung stiffly between his legs. He caught a faint whiff of Demeter's fear scent from down below and knew she mustn't have anywhere to hide. The dog had obviously smelt it too, because the great beast began to wag it's huge tail and bound towards the steps. Just as the creature reached the railings Mistoffelees pounced. 

He didn't know what he was doing; without his powers he'd surely be killed. But there wasn't time to think about that, or anything. He sprung away from the side of the building and onto the dog's back, claws unsheathed. He dug them straight into the creature's hairy body, feeling the brittle fur beneath his paws. The Pollicle yelped in pain and thrashed about in an attempt to shake Misto off, but his claws were sunken in deep and he wasn't going anywhere. He yowled loudly and clung tightly onto the dog as it spun round in circles. Demeter rushed up the steps and gasped when she saw her friend. 

"Demi, run!" Misto yelled, ducking his head as the dog whipped it's head round and tried to snap it's jaws at him. Demeter shook her head and rushed over to Mistoffelees. She bit the dog's leg fiercely, causing it to jump up and spin round quickly. Misto let go and dropped to the ground and they watched the Pollicle dog sprint away into the night.