The Story of Tiberius

Chapter 118

"Gidget, tell me you're joking! Tell me you have a freaking plan!" Chloe demanded, dragging herself out of the pileup. Crushed underneath her, Buddy and Mel could finally breathe again. Having had crashed into a street sign after watching the others crash at its base, both Sweetpea and Tiberius stumbled to their feet. All eyes turned towards Gidget who had been the first to crash. Her ears pinned back against her head in shame and embarrassment, the fluffy white Pomeranian started to explain, "Well..."

Groans.

"This is not good..." Mel remarked. Flying up and alighting on his friend's head, Sweetpea chirped and whistled in agreement with the pug. Standing beside them, Buddy pointed out, "It's okay. We can all think of a plan right now. Any ideas?" Obviously irritated about this whole situation, Chloe muttered grumpily, "How bout we all go home? That sounds like a good plan to me."

"Chloe, we've already discussed not even two minutes ago that we're not quitting," Gidget piped up.

"You're the one who started running off without a plan."

"I have... part of a plan."

"Really? What percentage?"

"...seven percent..."

"I may not know much about numbers but... I don't think that's very big..." Mel whispered to Buddy, who nodded his head in reply.

"And this seven percent plan is... what?"

"Save Max before the rabbit gets him."

"That's not a plan! That's an objective!" Chloe shouted angrily, her tail puffing up and her back arching. It was a horrifying sight, at least to Mel, Buddy and Sweetpea. The trio trembled as they hugged each other for dear life. Gidget wasn't scared but her spirits were being put down by the obese gray tabby cat. Hating how she lowered her head in shame, Tiberius glared at Chloe as he put himself in between the Pomeranian and the feline. "If you're so smart, why don't you come up with a plan, cat?" the old hawk rasped, adding emphasis on the last word. He celebrated a little on the inside when he saw Chloe back down. The cat took a seat and wrapped her striped tail around her paws just as Pops caught up. Confused, he wheezed, "What... why we stop?"

"We don't have a plan," Buddy answered while Chloe added, "Because of Gidget!"

"One more word from you and I'm slitting your throat!" Tiberius hissed, his feathers bristling as he glared venomously at Chloe. Turning her green eyes away from Pops and focusing it on him, the tabby advanced towards him. Getting right up into the hawk's face, she growled, "How bout you keep your beak shut, wild animal. You're lower than the lowest of strays." The old hawk had no reply to that but he kept eye contact with the cat, staring down at her in dead silence with a snarl rumbling in the back of his throat. Both of them, along with everyone else, was startled when Pops suddenly cried out, "I got it!"

"Got what?" Gidget asked, pushing her way through Chloe and Tiberius, forming a wall between the pair. All eyes on him by now, Pops stated, "The strays. As far as I know, strays form the crazy rabbit's gang. They have to have some friends that are strays who also know about their plans of what they're gonna do to your pal."

"That's a good idea old timer but... how is that supposed to work. We don't know any strays," Buddy pointed out. At that moment, something clicked into place in Tiberius's memory. Something he had heard earlier that day. He knew not one but two strays that could help them out in their situation. Looking over at Gidget, he murmured, "I'll be back." Spreading his wings without another word, he took to the air while the others watched.

"Did... did he just abandon us?" Mel asked, glancing over at Buddy who shrugged his shoulders.