MADELEINE'S P.O.V.

Charlie was delighted staying with August until he was safely at home. First, he had to take care of something. Something top secret, so no matter how much my twin and I begged, he would not spill his beans. Figuratively and literally.

"How did you children know that I have a can of beans on me?" he said, revealing a real can of beans - from in his fur? - and putting it between me and him. "You had better not be mind readers. Nobody should know what I think on a daily basis."

"Like doggy behaviors?" I teased.

He placed one paw on top of the can and puffed out his chest covered with his golden fur. His fur is softer than my and Madison's smooth skin. "I might be the animal which you humans - and cats - call brainless, but smart dogs like me do not act like normal dogs unless that we are undercover, trying to trick humans - and hopefully, the mind-speaking animals."

"If your kind does not want us humans to uncover who you really are or your mission, why did you guys reveal yourselves to us?" Madison questioned the obvious. "Is it because adults will not believe two kids?"

He shook his head. "Is Night in your room?"

I shrugged. "We do not know. He and his babies can go in and out of their cage since that they are intelligent."

Charlie's jaw dropped, and he gasped loudly. I worried that August would hear - and him talking pure English and notice his mouth moving like a human's. "You lock them in a cage? How inhumane. Poor bunnies." He put his paws over his eyes.

I stroked his back. "Calm down, Charlie."

"We had no clue that Night and his kids were like you," Madison explained. "It was not until we placed them in the cage did Night speak to us."

"I thought that he revealed himself before we kept him and the adorable babies in the cage." I started stroking his long ears. I could feel him all day. He is fluffy like a stuffed animal and the covers that Providence gave me and Madison last Christmas. "Does not matter. We just wanted to keep them safe - and let them get messy."

Madison backed me up. "The mistress in charge of this orphanage..." She pointed at the building. "...would not let us keep them during the night unless that they were in a cage. Night did not protest possibly because he did not want us to be in trouble. We - especially Madeline - would not harm any animals. Regular or talking ones."

Our words had relaxed Charlie. His head dropped, and a paw rocked his bean can left and right. "Night always was a gentleman. It was his personality which awarded him full custody of all his children."

"What is wrong with the mama rabbit?" I said. "Has he ever mentioned her to you?"

Still playing with said can, he looked at me and wagged his tail. "Not my story to tell. You must question Night, but do not be surprised if he refuses to give you details. He prefers his ex-wife to be kept in the past. All that he wants is his children to have a good and safe life and to stop the evil animals from ruling Forlot and the rest of the world with a furry paw."

My twin and I were startled by the sudden noise on my window. August was knocking. When we faced him, he stopped and waved.

Did he hear Charlie chatting with us? Or see his mouth moving unnaturally?

"You guys coming out or what?" August said, grinning. "Do you not want to crawl into your warm beds?"

"I would rather chase my tail," Charlie whispered.

He mentioned that dogs with his intelligence never act like, well, dogs unless that they are undercover. Did he dislike something that August had said?

August opened my door. "Sure that your dog is thrilled getting out of the cold and into the warm home. Er, the orphanage." His cheeks turned bright pink. "Sorry. My brain is powering down." He continued chatting as the three of us exited his car. "You are lucky. You get to hit the hay when you walk in your comfy room or rooms. I must wait until I reach my home. I am not changing or getting ready before bed. When I hop on my bed, lights out. I am not getting up until late morning. Good thing that I do not have work tomorrow."

"What if you have to take a short trip to the restroom?" I reminded him. I snickered.

He shut the door. "My body is too tired to relieve itself. It will be full - and in pain - when it is well-rested."

Thank gosh that he was too exhausted to notice or hear Charlie. He would have given him to animal scientists.

Literal Charlie had raced out, nearly knocking me over, and was swallowed by the darkness engulfing the grass trailing to the back of the building. Where was that dog going? He could have chased his tail in front of August. Or maybe he was getting his secret assignment done so he could keep a watchful eye on August.

When Madison joined me and August, I waited for him to turn his back to us and whispered to her. "Hope that Charlie returns before August leaves."

She flashed me a sly smirk and draped an arm over my shoulders. "He will."

We started trotting to the orphanage's front door.

I could not smile back. "Unless that something terrible happens to him. Like if he gets kidnapped or..." I could not mention the other option.

"Charlie will be perfectly fine. He is a trained agent. He knows what to do."

"Hope that you are right."

"When have I not?"

When we approached the door, August said, "What are you doing out here?"

Standing on the mat was a cat.