Yay I finally update............. PLEASE FORGIVE MEH!!!
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"Give me back my wishes!"

Reuben got so startled he lurched and was suddenly back to his piggy self. Winslow and Benedict sprawled onto the ground. Benedict spat out a tuft of grass.

"It's the White Pumpkin!" Winslow sprang up and made a run for it.

"Winslow, come back here you coward! Oink!" Reuben yelled after him.

Benedict was face to face with a hideous creature. It's pumpkin head was rotten and mottled, with a huge scar running across it. The rest of it seemed to be made entirely of pure void, billowing behind it like a cloak. It's voice was old and rattling, like a record that was scratched.

"Pretty little darling, come with me! I have a treat and a game for you!"

"Do I look like I'm stupid?!" Benedict wasted no time in getting up and readying her stance. She had been taught the martial art of judo, where skill outmatched strength, and she was ready for this.

She launched a savage kick at the White Pumpkin's side, but her foot sank into the void and she screamed with panic. The White Pumpkin raised it's axe, ready to slice her to bits...

"Stay away from her!" Reuben growled. His eyes became feline, sharp and brown. His tail and body became slim, long and furry. His hooves were now claws.

He was a lion.

He let out a loud ferocious roar and sprang at the Pumpkin. Benedict was dropped to the ground as she watched Reuben wrestle with the serial killer. She was dizzy and disoriented, and couldn't make out much, but she definitely knew blood was shed.

Winslow sprinted through the trees, whimpering and cowering. Normally in these situations, he wouldn't be so afraid and would more than likely just be going about his day, not caring. But this was different. He was a human. He was feeling human emotions more vibrantly. And he also knew he couldn't kitty his way out of this.

He slumped to the ground against a spruce trunk, his breathing rapid and heart pounding.

"I can't do this... I can't..." he sighed. He hugged his knees and cried.

"Hey, kid, you alright?"

Winslow looked up.

"Here. I saw what's happening up there. Take this."

Winslow's eyes widened. Oh yes...
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Reuben was tossed aside by the White Pumpkin. Benedict looked in horror. The lion had a great big cut among his stomach.

The Pumpkin closed in to finish them off.

Isa... I'm sorry...

Mom... Dad... I can't... it hurts...

KABOOM.

The Pumpkin was sent flying to next week, over the trees and far away.

"Winslow?!" Benedict managed to make out a brown, white and black shape. Winslow had a copper rocket launcher slung over his shoulder, a mighty missile loaded. He was looking pretty smug.

"How. In. The. Worlds?!" Benedict gasped.

"Just got whooped by Winslow!" the cat swaggered up to the two of them. "Some random person gave it to me..."

"You do not accept rocket launchers from random strangers! Are you absolutely daft?!" Benedict scolded.

"Ow..." Reuben mewed.

"Reuben! Dear, you'll be fine!" Benedict rummaged in her pockets. How the hell she kept her stuff as an animal, she had no idea herself. Probably feather storage or something.

"Here! Darling, just drink this..." she gave him a potion of healing. She also wrapped a piece of cloth around his stomach. The lion was just watching, stunned by the attention.

Meanwhile Winslow was just posing. He strutted like a peacock, flouncing his rocket launcher as if it were a new outfit on the catwalk.

"Who's the cat?! Who's the cat?!" he skipped about, receiving a glare from Benedict.

Suddenly Reuben stared right at her.

"Are you an angel? Am I dead? Again?" he marvelled.

"No... it's me, Reuben." Benedict stifled a laugh.

"Benedict... are you dead too?" Reuben gasped in disbelief.

"You are alive..." Benedict couldn't help feel a bit flattered by his dorkiness.

He slowly changed into a boy again, then sat up.

"Wait... what is Winslow doing with a rocket launcher?"

"Some lady gave it to me." Winslow put his hand to his eye, fiddling with the air like he had invisible sunglasses.

"Can you stand?" Benedict tried to help him up.

"Yeah... thanks Benedict..."

"That was a tough Pumpkin... if he could fight off a lion, then he's no joke." Winslow stopped showing off for a moment.

"That's the most sense-making thing you have said so far on this crazy trip." Benedict rolled her eyes.

"Hey! Look, princess, we can turn back if you want and we'll drop you off and then me and my main man Reuben can go rescue Cassie ourselves!" Winslow hissed. Literally. He made a cat hiss. He nudged Reuben.

"To be honest Winslow, Benedict is coming with us. She's part of the team now. No animal gets left behind!" he declared.

"Aww but she's so-"

"Winslow. She is coming. No arguements." Reuben said firmly. He was gonna be the leader now. He would be like Jesse and take control of this mission!

"Chin up, Winslow. At least you got the rocket launcher!" he reminded.

"Oh yeah! I do!" Winslow chuckled. "How could I forget already..."

"Hey gang..." Benedict stuck her head inside the temple. "You'd better come see this..."
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SPARE ME PLEASE. I CANNOT BE MORE SORRY FOR THE SLOWNESS OF THIS UPDATE!

*Grovels at the readers's feet*