Adventures in Afurica

Chapter One

Tiko looked up at his owner, Ben. They were going to go to Afurica soon, and he wanted to meet up with his friends before they left. 

Ben smiled and said something Tiko couldn't understand. His owner opened the door and let Tiko outside, gently shutting it when he was outside. 

"Thank you!" meowed Tiko, although he was sure Ben didn't hear him. The black tom padded through many backyards to where Riley lived. He noticed ginger-furred cat and a black-and-gray tabby. His friends were already waiting for him. Riley is probably complaining, thought Tiko. 

"There you are," Riley, his gender-fluid friend, grumbled. "What took you so long? We've been waiting forever!"

Demi purred. "Forever is a long time, Riley. I'm sure he has a reason, don't you, Tiko?" She rubbed her head against his cheek. 

Tiko rolled his eyes and nodded. "I couldn't get Ben's attention. Lauren was in the shower. But he finally let me out. Sorry, Riley, I know you hate waiting, you impatient furball." 

"You know me so well." Riley grunted. They licked their paw and yawned.

"Riley!" someone shouted, along with some other words they didn't understand. 

"Ugh. Marc wants me to go inside." The ginger cat groaned. "You took too long. Thanks Tiko. See you again soon." They bounded onto the deck and went inside.

Tiko waved his tail and muttered, "They're grumpy today. I better get back as well," he added to Demi.

"I'll walk back with you!" 

The tom held back a sigh. Her house was farther away than his. And he wouldn't have a choice anyway. "All right."

Demi purred. Tiko began walking. He wanted to run, to get away from her flirting with him, which was bound to happen. 

"So, Tiko, are you excited for the trip?" Demi asked. "We could... you know... get away from Riley and our owners. Go to the beach, just me and your cute face..."

Tiko groaned. "I am not interested, thank you very much."

"Oh, Tiko, darling..." Demi stopped Tiko by putting her tail on his muzzle. "Don't like a little romance? Come on, Tiko, we both know our relationship is getting more serious."

"Do I know, Demi?" snapped Tiko. "I don't think s-"

"Tiko!"

It was Lauren. Tiko sighed with relief. "Got to go. Bye!" He bounded away and climbed up the stairs to the deck. When he reached her, Lauren began to pet him. Tiko purred. Then he looked at his backyard. Demi was watching, looking hurt. He looked away. 

Lauren picked Tiko up and carried him inside. She dropped him near his food and water bowls. He meowed gratefully, then began to eat. Once he was done, Lauren picked up the bowls and began to wash them, then put them in a bag. 

Huh? Tiko began to wonder why she didn't put them back. Then he remembered that they normally took the bowls with them on their adventures. 

Lauren then grabbed a box-like object, which was called a "carrier". Tiko sighed. He hated being shut up in there. He wanted to be free to walk around, to do whatever he wanted. Tiko didn't have a choice, but he would try to get away from it.

His owner attempted to grab him, but Tiko darted. Lauren chased him throughout the house. She shouted something, and Ben began to chase him too. He ran into their room and jumped onto their bed. Then he leaped, grabbing one of the fan blades. Tiko hoisted himself up. He sat on the fan blade, but then he heard a crack.

Lauren was in the room, luckily. The blade under Tiko gave way. He began to fall, but Lauren caught him. 

"Thanks," he meowed, panting. "But please don't put me in the carrier!" he begged. They seemed to ignore him. Lauren carried him back to the living room and, of course, put him into the dreaded object and closed the door.  

Tiko growled, frustrated. "No! Let me out!" 

Lauren walked over to the pile of bags and grabbed two suitcases by the handle. Ben opened the door and his wife walked out, the suitcases following like ducklings. When they hit a crack on the sidewalk, the wheels made an odd sound. 

Once his owners were finished packing their luggage into the minivan, Tiko was picked up by Ben in his carrier. "I like it better when you pick me up without the carrier," he grumbled. 

Ben carried him to the minivan and put him in the trunk. "Let me sit in a seat!" complained Tiko. He assumed that the humans would sit in the seats, not in the cats. "Us cats deserve luxury too!"

The trunk was closed and Ben sat in the driver's seat, starting the vehicle. They drove for about a minute to get to Riley's house. Marc's luggage and Riley, who was also inside of a carrier, were put in the back with Tiko.

"This is ridiculous!" hissed Riley. "We're stuck in the back of this stupid car, while they get the nice seats. How's that fair?"

"It's not," murmured Tiko, as the car started to move again. It took about three minutes to get to Demi's house. This isn't going to be a fun trip.

Demi's owners' luggage was put in the trunk, then Demi was gently set down on the floor. "Hey," she muttered.

Riley looked at Tiko, puzzled. Tiko looked away, staring at the seats in front of him from the holes in the carrier. He could hear Riley ask Demi, "What's his problem?" in a whisper.

Demi muttered something back quietly so that Tiko couldn't hear.

"Oh." Riley chuckled. "Good luck with that."

"Thanks!" Demi snapped. 

The cats sat there in silence while the humans were chatting. They didn't stop until they got to the airport.

"Wow! It's huge!" exclaimed Riley, looking out of the window. 

"Yeah..." replied Demi.

"I've seen it before. It is quite big. Wait until you see the inside. It's even bigger, with shops and restaurants, like McDonald's. There's also the waiting area, and the place where you get your luggage. That's my favorite! There's this thing that shoots out your bags, and then it starts to spin. And then there's the terminals. There's tons of stuff in there!" said Tiko.

Demi purred. "Well, I guess we'll have to take a look for ourselves."