Still alive!

~~~~

With Serene, she was riding on the backs of some cats with Natoru. She surprisingly and shockingly grew back to her normal size. The cats jumped off the ledge and continued running but the bumpy ride made Serene winced and rubbed her bum in slight pain.

"We had a hard time finding you." Natoru cheerfully said but Serene just ignored him and tried to get off.

"Let me off." She told him which surprised him.

When she tried to stand, she almost fell off with a yelp if it wasn't for Natoru stopping her from falling as she sat down.

"Careful, Miss Serene!" Natoru told her worriedly.

Serene was getting really annoyed that she grabbed Natoru's scruff and shook him angrily.

"Stop these cats, you little jerk! I want off this thing now!" Serene ordered him but only got a teasing grin from the Scottish Fold.

"Don't worry. You're just having some pre-wedding jitters, that's all." Natoru teased her which made Serene bristle as she stared at him in disbelief.

"I AM NOT!" Serene screamed in anger and annoyance which made Natoru bristled in surprise.

Behind the running cats, Muta was running on all fours with Toto and Baron following from above. Baron silently gritted his teeth and cursed in his mind for letting his guard down. He should have paid attention to his surroundings and now Serene is being taken against her will! He couldn't blame himself or his companions for this. He was somehow becoming attracted to Serene even though he just met her but what's even more confusing is that she reminds him so much of his former fiance when she disappeared 5 years ago.

"She could've waited until after we had cake." Muta grumbled. He didn't get to eat his cake slice!

A pair of claws grabbed him from behind and it made him yelp. Toto picked him up as he flew them up higher.

"Ow! Quit that! Let me go! Stop it! It hurts!" Muta cried in annoyance.

His cries were not unheard as Serene looked above them and smiled in relief as she let go of Natoru's cheeks as he winced in pain and rubbed them.

"They're coming for me!" Serene joyfully cried out.

"I said let me go!" Muta yelled at Toto and Baron told Toto something which made Muta's eyes widened.

"Okay, Toto. Now!" Baron told the crow and he silently apologized to Muta as Toto let him go.

"Wait! I take it back!" Muta screamed as he was falling down fast towards the cats.

He was about to land on them when they swerved out of the way and he hit the ground with a loud smack. Serene was in disbelief that she grabbed Natoru by the scruff again and shook him.

"Why did you let him fall?! You cats are terrible!" She questioned him. She was worried that Muta might have gotten hurt.

"No choice." Natoru whined in confusion.

Muta got up and he ran at full speed after them. The situation, Toto grabbing him from behind and the fall was enough to anger him that he ran so fast towards the cats.

"You're gonna regret that!" He yowled angrily.

He quickly pounced on the cats which slowed them down and Serene quickly grabbed him by the paws so he wouldn't fall off.

"Muta!" Serene smiled in relief which he returned with a grin.

"We're over the weight limit!" Natoru cried in surprise at their extra passenger.

A portal opened up in front of them and Baron saw it and realized that the cats were about to jump through it.

"Toto!" Baron pointed out and Toto understood.

"I see it!" Toto quickly sped up as they flew after them through the portal as it closed behind them.

They exited the portal and were on top of a building. The cats suddenly ran off the edge which made Serene scream in fright. The cats were running down the wall as Baron and Toto flew down after them.

"Let me off this thing! Serene cried in fear.

Another portal opened up and they quickly went through it just as a passerby looked back in confusion as he thought he heard something.

They exited the portal again and Toto accidentally flew him and Baron through some trees. Baron held on to his top hat and Toto's feathers so he wouldn't fall off.

"Out maneuvered." He hissed slightly as a branch hit his cheek.

He saw Serene and the others getting farther from them.

"Get above the trees!" He ordered Toto.

"Right." The crow quickly flew them up above the trees.

Baron silently cursed when he saw the cats with Serene and Muta went through a portal as it closed behind them.

"Now what?" Toto asked him.

Baron observed the spot where the portal closed and saw some sparkles floating about as it started to move. He realized that they were heading somewhere.

"Looks like they're riding the wind. Follow those lights." Baron instructed him.

"Got it!" Toto quickly flew after the sparkles as Baron tightened his hold on his cane as he prayed that both Serene and Muta are okay.

Somewhere in a foggy place, Serene got up from where she fell as she winced while rubbing her back to lessen the pain.

"Oh, that... hurt... Where am I anyway?" Serene then observed her surroundings and all she could see was fog.

"I can't see a thing." She muttered before remembering that she was with someone else.

"Muta? Where are you?!" Serene called him as she looked around for her companion.

She sensed that someone was behind her and quickly turned around to see that it was Muta and he was staring off somewhere. She quickly noticed the size difference and was really confused. Was it just her or was he bigger than she last saw him in the Bureau?

"Muta. What happened? You're enormous." Serene asked in confusion.

Muta looked at her and she saw a small glimpse of worry.

"No, kiddo. You got smaller." Muta told her.

Serene looked at him in more confusion.

"Why's that?" She tilted her head curiously.

Muta didn't answer her for a moment before looking off in the distance. He already knows where they are.

"Because we're here, that's why." What he said made her confused as she followed his gaze.

The fog washed away and revealed a castle in the middle of the vast field of green grass. Serene was in awe of the sight and quickly realized what this place is.

"That's... the Kingdom of Cats?" Serene slowly asked.

For some reason, the whole place felt familiar and she held her head as her ears started ringing again which Muta noticed.

"Hey, kid, are you okay?" He asked in concern and became worried when she fell to her knees while holding her head.

"Kid?!" Muta cried in confusion and worry.

Serene didn't answer him as more memories flashed through her mind. The last thing she remembered before waking up in that hospital as she started to hyperventilate.

"You won't get away with this, Cat King..." She heard herself say as a cat with bushy fur and mismatched eyes just smirked down at her.

"I already have, Louise. And you won't remember a thing. Not even him." He said before a flash of light consumed her vision and she was waking up in a hospital.

Serene was shaken out of it as she noticed that Muta was shaking her and he was looking concerned.

"Hey, you with me, kid?" He asked as she nodded and he helped her up.

She was already getting bad vibes about the place and she hoped that Baron would hurry and get her out of there.

Somewhere back with Toto and Baron, the crow was flying above a rather strange lake. Baron peered over his head and narrowed his eyes a little. After so long, they found it.

"That's it." He muttered.

From a normal perspective, it would just be another lake but from above, it was revealed to be more than just a lake. It was in the shape of a cat's paw print.

'Hold on, Serene. I'm coming.'

He won't fail. Not this time.