Old Version of "These 9 Lives"

Chapter 2: The Wild

Toby was close to the car, a few more steps and he would be touching the car, though it was moving in a slow speed. Toby was still looking up and the side of the road, only a few seconds later he looked straight ahead. He was frightened for a second,but then moved aside. He heard a car shriek. Then something knocked him off his feet and sent him rolling to the other side of the road. It pinned him down. Toby looked up and saw a cat he crashed into earlier. " Caribou!" he gasped.

" Come on Toby," Caribou growled. " We're going back to the city."

" But..." Toby started, but he caught Caribou angry stare and he gave in. Toby looked back the trees and grass again in sadness. Then Toby looked down " Fine."

" That's what I thought," Caribou hissed. He let Toby up, and watched out for cars. Caribou ran to the little sidewalk in the tunnel with Toby close behind him. Toby was disappointed he didn't make it far down the road. He really wanted to get out of the city.It would be almost impossible to get out now that Caribou knew. Caribou might even go here every night to make sure he didn't come. Toby walked with his head down, knowing he almost lead Caribou to his death, and Mother was probably worried sick.

After they reached the city, surprisingly, instead of just leaving, Caribou turned to Toby. " What in the world were you thinking?!?!" Caribou hissed. " You should be ashamed! Were you even using your common sense!?"

" No," Toby whispered.

" Exactly," Caribou growled. " You weren't looking out for cars like you're suppose to! That one mistake could have killed both of us! We were so close dying when I saved you. You were acting like a worthless fool! Your mother was worried about you! Freaked me out too! You know how important to us?"

" I'm sorry,"

" Don't run off without your mother. I don't want you getting hurt."

Then there was a voice in his mind. He shouldn't boss you around like a kitten. You don't need to stay with your mother like that! Talk back to him.

" Caribou! I'm not a kitten anymore! I'm an adult now! I can care for myself,"

" Then act like one. You act more like a kitten than an adult."

" I'll stop acting like a kitten when you treat me like an adult!"

" I'll stop treating you like a kitten when you mature more!"

"Fine then!" Toby turned away from Caribou, tired of being treated like a kitten all the time. I'll show him,Toby thought. Then he had another thought, only more depressing. When can I feel happy? I never had felt happiness before. If only I was exaggerating. Toby felt a tear run down his cheek.

Then the voice came back in his head. Doesn't it feel great to stand up for yourself?

" I'll admit it does."

" Toby!" a voice yowled. Toby turned to see Mother on the other side of the road. " Come over here!"

" Toby!" Livy exclaimed.

There weren't many cars around so Toby just ran across over to Mother. " Hi Mother," Toby whispered.

" Don't ever do that again!" Mother scolded him. " I thought you might have ran off and I would have to find you! I was lucky to have Caribou to come and get you!"

" Ginger don't be so harsh," Livy whispered. " He's an adult in month now anyways."

" I don't care," Mother growled. " He's still my kitten."