Daily Life With Furry Girls

21 - Trial by Mice

'What now?' asked Avia after the servant had gone.

'I say we go look for her.' said Cani.

Guy nodded. 'Only question is, where do we start?' he said. 'They're already searching for her and they know the place much better than we do.'

'Yes, but we know Mami better.' said Ara.

Tilia pulled on Guy's sleeve. She looked up to him with big eyes.

'We'll find her.' Guy said with a reassuring smile. 'Let's go.'

Cani and Feli led the way with their noses down the stairwell. 'Do you smell her?' asked Cani to Feli.

'Yes.' said Feli. 'Although it's not as clear because of the scent of all the others.'

Cani nodded. 'I think my nose is only a little better at this.'

Feli went into one hallway. 'This way?' she asked.

Cani sniffed the air. 'Yeah, I think so too.' she said and they followed the hallway. The group ended up at a room at the end.

'This is where she's been.' said Cani. 'Her scent is stronger here.'

'So where did she go from here?' asked Guy looking around and counting four doors.

'This way.' she said moving to the door in the far corner.

Everyone followed her and Feli along another hallway, then another room where several mice in black suits were standing.

'Excuse me.' said one of them and stepped up to the group. 'You'd better stay in your room while we search for her majesty, the princess.'

Cani picked up the mouse smaller than her and put him aside. 'You're in my way.' she said sniffing the air. She moved with Feli to one corner of the room. 'Here.'

Feli nodded and they moved away from the corner and back again. 'Indeed.' she said and turned to the group. 'This is where she's been, but also where the trail ends.'

The mouse stepped closer with the other mice in black behind him. 'I must really ask you to go back to your room.' he said. 'We are already searching everywhere for the princess and we can't have outsiders interfere with the investigation.'

'And a fine job you're doing so far.' said Cani leaning closer to the mouse. 'Have you found any sign of her yet, hmm?'

Tilia tugged Guy's sleeve again. She looked up at him, then at the corner of the room.

'Do you have any idea?' he asked.

She nodded quickly, pulled closer and looked around at the security mice and a couple of servant mice who watched curiously at the discussion between Cani and the mouse.

'You can't tell now?' Guy asked.

Tilia nodded quickly again and looked at standing clock at one wall.

'Later tonight, when there's no one around?' he asked. Tilia nodded once more and he gave her a gentle smile. 'All right then. We'll come back here.' He put his hand on Cani's arm. 'We'll go back to our room now. There's nothing we can do here now.'

Cani looked at him ready to protest, but she recognised the look in his eyes. He knew something. She flattened her ears and sighed deep. 'All right then.' she said. 'If you say so.'

He nodded and smiled at the mouse. 'My apologies.' he said. 'The princess means a lot to us. I hope you find her soon.'

The mouse cleared his throat and straightened his jacket. 'I'm sure we will.' he said. 'It hasn't been the first time, to be honest. We will inform you when we find her.'