An American Tail: Fievel Goes West (Alternative)

Chapter 14: Battle at Green River

At an abandoned mine, Wylie was lecturing Tiger on how to bark. "If you're gonna act like a dog, you gotta sound like a dog." Wylie said. "Let's hear you bark." Tiger rasped his lips together and made a raspy blowing sound. Wylie shook his head. "Well, go ahead." he said impatiently.

Tiger then lowered his head and held his breath. "Bow-wow." he said simply. "Bow-wow?" Wylie asked. "It's more like...BARK!" he said, yelling out the bark part. "Bark." Tiger said weakly. "No, again." Wylie said. "Woof." Tiger woofed. "Again." Wylie demanded. "Woof! Rawf! Raft! Racket!" Tiger said, goofing off. "Rap! Rapscallion! Rumpelstiltskin! Redincta gracio, amore!" 

He giggled at his act. Wylie covered his face in sheer embarrassment. "Oh, this is embarrassing." he muttered. He then turned to Tiger. "Try growling." he said. "Grr! Grr-rrr." Tiger growled and growled, but he didn't seem serious when he growled. "C'mon, Tiger. We're running out of time." Fievel said urgently. "Now...Bark!" Wylie let out a big loud bark that echoed through the mine.

That greatly frightened Tiger. "Bark!" Tiger barked weakly. Then, the sound echoed through the mine walls. "Woof, woof!" he barked again. "Woof, woof!" his voice echoed. "Bow-wow-wow-wow-wow!" Tiger said, sounding more like a dog. 

Tiger training vigorously. Finally, after many hours of long, hard work, Tiger was ready to be a dog. Wylie proudly presented him with a dog collar with the name "Fido" engraved on the tag. He was ready. From that point on, there is no turning back.

As the sun set over the horizon, everyone at Green River was abuzz with excitement. Cat R. Waul was the one to make a grand speech...and he was extremely nervous. This was it, the time all the mice are going to be dinner. The day the cats will perform their horrendous deed. Cat R. Waul paced around nervously as he felt his stomach churn.

"Where are they?" he muttered impatiently. "It's almost time..." He flinched when he felt a paw touch his shoulder. He turned and faced Klaus. "Waul, it's time." Klaus said. Cat R. Waul gulped nervously. "Yes, Uncle Klaus." he said. 

Cat R. Waul looked out at the crowd nervously. "Is something wrong, nephew?" Klaus asked, noticing his nephew's whiskers twitching. Cat R. Waul cleared his throat. "Nothing's wrong, Uncle. Nothing at all." he said, hiding his nervousness. "Then smile." Klaus said. Cat R. Waul tried his best to smile, even though his smile was weak. "Fievel, I hope that you and your friends are ready." he thought as he stepped up onto the pedestal. Will this plan work...or fail?

He didn't know. "Now, pay attention. Cats and gentlemice, lend me your ears!" he said, swallowing his nervousness. "It is my distinguished pleasure t-to invite all of you to share our dinner-triumph!" he quickly corrected himself. "T...To share our triumph!" He cleared his throat and he looked up and saw Tanya and Miss Kitty sitting up on the saloon balcony, watching the scene below. Tanya was beaming from ear to ear. Cat R. Waul's heart sank when he saw her lovely smile. She had no idea what a terrible spectacle she was about to witness.

He turned back to the mice and continued. "Today we herald in a momentous new feas-tival." Cat R. Waul froze when he heard the words coming out of his mouth. The cats looked at him almost suspiciously. "Feastival...Festival!" he again corrected himself. Tanya giggled at Cat R. Waul's mispronunciation of the words.

Cat R. Waul's heart quivered with fear. "Poor Tanya." he thought sadly. "She does not know it yet, but she's about to witness her family's murder! Oh, Fievel, please do hurry!" "T-To mark this brilliant and ill-illustrious snack-occasion..." he fumbled at the words and paused. He looked at Klaus and Chula. Chula was smiling, silently mocking him.

Cat R. Waul knew that if he uttered even one single word about the entire operation, Chula would hurt Tanya, his beloved diva. He was trapped, he was right where Chula wanted him. "I w-will..." he continued as he pulled out a pair of shiny gold scissors and held it high above his head. "...With these golden scissors...." With a shaky paw, he grasped the red ribbon. "...Will hereby...cut...the red...ribbon." he concluded shakily. Applause sounded from the mice as Cat R. Waul started to cut the ribbon with the gold scissors. The mice and cats all applauded.