The Runaway Adventures ll: Snowbound in Park Avenue

Chapter 34 - The Puppies' Last Plan

Entering the building, the group saw that the oddly gentrified yet creepy reception room, while still perfectly decorated to Vendella's tastes and reeking of cigarette smoke, was missing Vendella herself.

"She must have been punished for failing to catch us," Angel whispered cautiously as the others nodded in understanding. Indeed, the room appeared to be devoid of any wild dogs inside. They realized then just how well the diversion from the wolves and cats was working, as it seemed likely that the guards had left their posts to fight off their persistent invaders.

"I'll check behind the curtain," Scamp whispered. Quietly dashing to the curtain, Scamp peeked through it to find that directly behind it was the big workout room, which also oddly deserted. No dogs were working out on the pool and jungle gym, and most of the coaches too seemed to have left their posts. The only dogs he could see were the speech hall guards, who remained in their posts at the other side of the room. However, Scamp turned left and saw a familiar someone creeping along the wall, with a familiar horseshoe pattern of spots. Pushing open the curtain, Scamp caught Lucky's eye and beckoned him over. While keeping an eye out on the speech hall guards, it seemed as though they didn't notice anyone, so Lucky hurried over and joined the group through the curtain.

"Lucky! You're all right!" Perdita gasped in relief.

"I knew you'd get out! You always live up to your name," Patch said cheerily as they snuggled for a moment.

"Yeah," Lucky said, smiling, but with a tinge of bittersweet to his voice. "Leo and the other cats got me out. And Si and Am stopped the guards from attacking me."

"Did they really? My, I didn't know they could be this helpful!" Lady said, impressed.

"Yeah, it's all great till their idea of help's breaking our stuff again," Danielle snorted, causing the others to chuckle for a brief moment. The expression of worry returned soonest to Lucky's face, and he quickly said, "We've gotta get to the basement now. Mooch took Two-Tone and Rebecca down there. And Whizzer and Dipstick, Two-Tone convinced them to come back to us."

"Oh Lucky, that is wonderful news!" Perdita beamed. "I am so proud of her!"

Lucky nodded before saying, "Yeah, she's wonderful all right ... I just hope I'll be able to see her again," he sighed. Seeing the others' concerned expressions however reminded Lucky just how everyone was ready to help, brightening his spirits a little. Trying to regain composure to his voice, he said, "Anyway, we've got some good news. The cats and wolves drove most of the guards out, and General Fang's keeping the others busy with another mandatory pack meeting."

"Must be another of those silly old pep rallies to bring their aggression out," Cadpig sighed.

"Yeah, and by the time that's done, they'll be meaner than ever," Puffball groaned.

"Well, while they're busy, now's our chance to find those keys so we can unlock those jails," Pongo said. "Any guards left in the room?"

"Just the two guarding the speech," Scamp answered.

"Heh, today's our lucky day! We can handle them no problem," Tramp said confidently.

"I wish there was something we could do though, to stop the hate being fed to those poor, misguided puppies," Perdita sighed.

"Well mom," Cadpig beamed, her eyes twinkling brightly. "I know just the cure! We've got to give them a speech ourselves!"

"But..." Perdita began, but at that point, Scamp, Angel and Patch looked at each other significantly, and then at Cadpig, whose smile became wider and wider as her eyes continued to twinkle passionately. "My psychological studies have taught me they just need a change of perspective! I'll tell them that if they can just change their attitude, we can work together to create a utopia with peace and harmony!"