The little Barbet pup ran around the huge garden, weaving through the oak trees as if he were in the forest. Behind him followed a Tuxedo cat, chasing as if he were trying to catch prey. "Run slower, Pooch! I've got stubby legs!" The Tuxedo yelped, skidding to a stop. Pooch did the same, laughing and wagging his tail. "So do I, Spotty! Maybe you just need better techniques. Try maybe pouncing while running." Spotty's ears pricked up in excitement. "Yeah, like frogs!" He then crouched down and began to hop around like a frog, imitating their croaks. Pooch giggled and began to join in but then another cat appeared from behind a tree. It was a bigger cat, a Somali she. Immediately, at the sight of her, Pooch ran up to her excitedly. "Mom! Me and Spotty are frogs!" Pooch exclaimed proudly. The Somali just chuckled and patted his head. "Clever boys, both of you. Spotty has to go home at dusk so we should practice battle moves now." Her voice was calm and smooth, leaving room for rebuttal. Surprisingly, the two nodded in agreement, more interested than normally. "We should! Me and Pooch were practicing hunting for when I'm old enough to be a soldier." Spotty claimed, now standing beside Pooch. "What should we do first?" He asked. The Somali hummed, pretending to think for a moment. "I think we should practice our forms on making the enemy fall face first. Pooch should be the enemy because he's bigger. First, you two do it by memory." The two boys looked at each other with excitement, before Pooch nodded. "Okay!"

Moonlight shone through leaves as Pooch sat against the largest oak tree in the garden. It seemed smaller now that he was bigger. I haven't paid so much attention in years... I hope Spotty isn't caught up in homework. He looked around himself, noting how the flood from a few months back formed a moat around the island with the oak on it. He hummed softly before he heard a rustling in the bushes. He wagged his tail and stood up. "Spotty?" He spoke lowly, hopping off the island. Spotty crawled out the bush, his fur covered in dirt and thorns, but he still ran and hugged Pooch, nonetheless. "Pooch! I'm so sorry I'm late." He squeezed tighter as if he were afraid that if he let go, Pooch would disappear. Pooch just gently hugged him back. "Wow. Clingy, aren't we?" Pooch joked but quickly went serious as he saw tear forming in his eyes. "Oh dear. Are you alright?" Spotty sniffed and shook his head, burying his face into Pooch's neck. "I'm scared..." His voice was shaky; it was never shaky. "I- I can't go home. Ever." Pooch looked confused at his claim but nodded anyways. "Okay. You're not going home; you're with me now." He took Spotty's hand into his and took him into the castle. The inside was dark except for the luminosity of the moonlight, but they had no trouble getting to Pooch's room. There was a king-sized bed against the wall next to a large window and desk with a clock on it that read "02:17". Spotty immediately flopped onto the bed, ignoring all the clothes scattered on the floor as if they weren't there. Pooch just sighed in pity and sat next to him. "You want to talk about it?" He muttered. He's hardly ever seen him so upset at something. Spotty nodded. "It's a long story, but my mom found out I've been training to be a soldier and protect the king." Pooch just blinked in surprise. "Why is she so upset about that? That's everyone's dream the moment they first learn that it's even possible!" Spotty finally looked up at Pooch. "She claims it's because she doesn't want me to die at such a young age." Pooch hummed. "And what does that have to do with you not going back home?" Spotty looked sheepishly at Pooch. "She kicked me out..." Immediately after he said that, Pooch jumped up and growled in opposition. "Of course she did! I swear I'll maul her face off!" Spotty chuckled and pressed a hand to Pooch's chest. "You won't do anything except rest. It's late and I can cope. Besides, now we can be together for longer, yeah?" Pooch calmed himself down before nodding. "Okay, you're right."