Adventures in Afurica

Chapter Three

"The smell of this stuffy car makes me sick," commented Riley as they adjusted their small body in the over-sized carrier.

"At least your career is somewhat big," remarked Tiko. His wide haunches pressed the sides of his small carrier. His chin rested on a small stuffed duck Lauren had purchased in the hotel gift shop.

"I'm fine... as long as I'm near Tiko," Demi sighed dreamily, fluttering her eyelashes in Tiko's direction. Tiko ignored her, turning away.

"I can't believe we are stuck in this stupid car again," he grunted. He clenched his haunches together and pushed them up against the ceiling. "Argh! I can't even stand!"

"Awe! Poor thing!" Demi giggled. Tiko rolled his eyes. The car lurched to a stop and Demi's carrier slammed against the trunk door. "Aaaah!"

Tiko chuckled.

"Oh, shut up!" Demi tromped to the back of the carrier, sniffled, and sat down promptly.

Flip

"#*&@!" Demi screamed as the carrier slammed into the concrete. She groaned in pain and Tiko shrugged and began a murmuring chat with Riley. The owners came out of the car and Sophia stared at her cat tipped over on the ground in the carrier. She slapped her cheeks and hurried over to her pet.

"Oh, poor baby!" Sophia cooed. She bent down like a hearty mother and scooped up the carrier gently in her arms.

"It's hot out," meowed Demi. Her owner patted the top of her cage gently.

"Aw, Baby Girl, I love you too!" Sofia giggled as she tickled the belly of the carrier. Demi slumped and growled quietly enough that her owner couldn't hear.

"Alrightie! Let's go!" shouted Ben. Lauren slapped his arm playfully.

"Keep it down, will you?" she laughed.

They headed across sandy concrete walks that you could watch the heat waves rise from. Demi moped in her kennel ignoring the sloping dune scenery.

"It's too hot," she continuously wailed. 

The group stopped at a small hut on the side of the path. A man with whispy flecks of har bounced a cigarette on his lips behind the dirt washed window.

"We leave their kennels here?" asked Lauren.

"Yup! And then it's off to the purramids!!!" shouted Sophia gleefully, hopping about the walk. Alex hugged her and grinned over her shoulder.

"I am so excited!" he squealed.

The cats were gently removed from the carriers. They circled their owners' feet anxiously, wondering what would happen next. Marc's expression was worrisome as he appeared to be searching frantically for something.

"Where are the leashes?" Marc raised an eyebrow, pushing around in the small travel pack. "Did we leave them at the hotel?"

"Must've." sighed Ben. Sophia looked around as if maybe the leashes would appear randomly in the barren dunes. That would be a fortunante devolpment.

"What do we do?" she inquired. Her eyes moved down to Demi who was pressed against her shin, she bent and caressed Demi's cheek lightly. "It's alright, Baby," she sang gently.

"I mean...," Lauren began, but she was cut off by Tiko jumping at her knee. She giggled and pushed him away playfully. Marc watched the cats play with interest.

"Hey, they are staying close now... maybe they will stay near us if we go in leashless!" Marc threw out an idea brightly.

"Oh, I mean we are out of options..." Ben sighed. 

"We can do it," purred Tiko, hopping over to his owner and licking his toe gratefully.

"Let's do it," Sophia stated confidently. The owners nodded and began to continue down the walk with the cats at their heels.

...

The purramid of the pharaoh Meowkaure was more packed than expected. Busy, busy, busy people sped by with speed. Snap snap snap a picture. Now, walk walk walk to the next exhibit. The owners slowly became so enthralled by each elaborate section and so enamored by the robotic similar movements of each human that the cats had trouble keeping up. Once in a while, one would fade into the legs and arms like a ghost in a cornfield.

"Tiko! Riley!" Demi was gulped into the crowd for the third time. The cats hadn't been able to take interest in any of the exhibits yet because of all the trouble in keeping up.

"Demi!" squealed Tiko, he dodged the feet like bullets. He finally grabbed her scruff and dragged her back to the quickly moving group.

"I almost lost you!" Tiko cried. Demi's lashes fluttered and she grinned warmly.

"My hero!" she cooed rubbing her cheek against Tiko. Tiko pulled away, touched his throat and gagged.

"Wait! Where is everyone!? Lauren! Ben!" He yowled. Riley moved towards them.

"Where are the owners!?" they questioned.

"I-I don't know!" Tiko stuttered.

"I know as long as I'm with you!" Demi fell dramatically against Tiko who ignored her and pushed her away.

"Get your head out of Dreamland, Sweetheart!' Riley snapped. Tiko sighed and gathered his friends to the wall where there were fewer people. They silently searched the area around them.

"...We can't find them..."

"...So many people..."

"...Will we ever see them again?"

Sup, Snowy wrote dis