Warriors of the Plants

In the city 

The neighborhood was calm when he was allowed to go outside. Bubzy took it as a chance to venture a bit further away from his house. He knew that the head of the neighborhood watch would alert Sarah on wherever he went should her kitty tracker not work. Of course despite this, he made sure to memorize the path he took and keep to open grounds. That way it would be easy for her to spot him should she need him back for some odd reason. 

I wonder if I should get anything for Kuzon and Safari. Bubzy thought happily, trotting along the sidewalk. Maybe some flowers! Hopefully nothing they’re allergic to.

The townhouses grew sparse as he passed by his familiar neighbors—the shady ones, he calls, the ones that do underground deals and such—and down to something cheaper. Not that his own was pricey. Sarah was an artist and artists could only make so much. 

Bubzy’s smile didn’t falter once. He rounded the corner as the bend had something new to provide. A small little park, obviously meant for kids. It was empty at the moment, save for a skinny black cat nestled by the swings. His interest being quirked—as he loves making new friends—Bubzy delightedly padded towards the other cat

Indy found himself slightly pressed. He looked into the sky for a moment, checking the daylight. Charles had a silly human event, on time as ever. Miserable as ever. He'd spin the spiked collar on his neck, not sure what he was feeling beyond a bundle of negative emotion.

Indy was very deep in thought, until the cheery tom was pretty close, when he actually registered the noises of another approaching cat. He didn't recognize this one. "Whaddup." He'd greet, his voice quite dull as he turned his body to the cat joining him. He sounded a bit more tired than he actually wanted to though. 'off to a great start there Indy'. He'd curse to himself. His pops misery was really starting to spread wasn't it.

The first thing Bubzy took into account about the jacket was the print. The clothing might have been bright red by the design of it, but flames engraved on the sides reminded him of the flames that accompanied the open wheelers he’d see on the TV. “Do you like racing?” Bubzy found himself asking. Rather than greeting the other fellow with a “Hello” or “Hi! Nice to meet you!”, Bubzy surprised himself with the question.

Indy opened his mouth, about to rattle off a response, before stopping, processing the words. After a few seconds he said "Uh, yea why?" Even he seemed a bit confused.

“Your jacket reminded me of those race cars. That’s all.” Bubzy said calmly. “But Hi!! I’m Bubzy!!!”

Indy nodded, "Yea my pops gave it to me. Used to be really into it. Name's Indy by the way." He'd respond, shaking to readjust said jacket.

“Like Indianapolis? The racing circuit?” Bubzy inquired, further pressing the other cat on their racing motifs. However his questionnaire was interrupted at the sounds of trash falling over. Bubzy wondered just why so much plastic was spilt—plastic consumption was something he had strong feelings about. 

Clunk...Clank...BRANG! THUD! CLASHhhhhh.

 A trash bin fell over and clattered onto the sidewalk leading to the park, trash spilling from their bags and onto the mulch. What made it fall..? Something seemed to twitch in the pile of bags inside the bin..

Bubzy's ears flicked over to the trash bin and he tilted his head. Was it a dog? Raccoons used to be daily visitors until his neighbors brought over two large Dobermans that frequented the town. He wondered if a chihuahua found its way into the trash.

Indy was about to answer, before the interruption. While he personally had no opinions on plastic...in general, he was concerned as to what was currently making its presence known. He stood up quickly, very much ready to throw paws if things got messy. Charles might make a fuss about it but that was fine. He could take whatever came out of there.

A thin paw stretched out of the baggage.. It looked like something was either trapped under or inside of the bag in this trashcan..! A shrill voice peaked out out, but it was unintelligible..

“Oh my gosh? They need help!” Bubzy exclaimed. He shot over Indy and began to push some of the bags aside. “Ah wasted food! Someone could have finished this empanada!”

"En...Hanada..?" Creaked a weak and odd voice, repeating what Bubzy'd said. "Der it is.." The voice rasped as one of the trashbags began to rise.. Then ears popped out of its top.. Then a body connected to the trashbag emerged, a flap of plastic cut away for the lipless mouth of.. Was this even a cat? It lunged its head at the empanada and gobbled it up, spilling chewed up bits as it ate and stepped out of the trashcan. "Couldn't reach.. 'Hen 'ut in der.. 'y a not good.. Tall.. Skin.. Hate tall skins.. Throw all dey like.."

It was almost comical. Bubzy lifted up the take out box, right above his head. Normally in his position, his eyes would meet the other’s but this wasn’t the case. Bubzy shrieked in horror, dropping the take out box out in shock and stepping back from the jumpscare he received.

Indy stared. He really didn't know what to do or how to react, so he just watched. As the living trash bag moved to scarf up the.... whatever it was Bubzy had said, he would realize this was some stray cat. "Glad to see we dressed for the occasion." He'd remark, curling his tail into a tighter loop. He began to move forward, figuring the poor bastard had his head stuck in that bag. Little did he know that was literally anything but the case.

"New 'oice.. Who else is der..?" It snapped its head around, confusion in its forced-expressionless face. Its tone of voice was enough was enough to make its uncertainty clear

Bubzy forced himself to still his shaking. It was a just a surprise. He stepped back a few paces, stepping next to Indy as the taller cat brushed past him. “Um..you can’t see very well out of that bag, can you..?” Bubzy. murmured. “Hello?”

"..Sight taken away.." It shook its head. "Can't see any... At all.. And greetings.." He sounded like he was struggling to speak, still.. He was slow and couldn't even pronounced certain sounds..

The stranger had quite an accent, Bubzy noticed. Besides the freaky costume and strained dialect, this fellow was still another cat which meant they could be another possible friend! “I’m Bubzy!!” The kittypet greeted warmly. “And this is Indy! What’s your name?”

"Yo" was Indy's greeting, though it was a bit farther away than Bubzy was from Wicket. He seemed less enthusiastic, though it was impossible to tell if he just sounded like that or if it was genuine.

"...'Icket.. 'ut.. a sound I cannot do.. Like.. You say 'en you are conhused.. Duhleyoo.. Duh.. El.. You.." It strained, clawing into the mulch a very vague 'W'

“W?” Bubzy offered. “So Icket and W…Wicket? That’s your name? Wicket? Like a Wicket basket?”

Wicket nodded. "Friend is called that, too.. The second. 'asset, actually.. It is close.. Not quite. I go to not nice house.. Not nice tall skin hurt again.. Hurt re'inder.. Trau'a.. I think it.. called.. Not not need know, though.. Cannot.. I not.. Near.. Near friend.. 'iss friend.."

“¿Habla el sur?” Bubzy asked. “animyeon dongjjok eodinga…?” 

(Rough translation: Do you speak the south? Or somewhere from the east?) Cloudy note: I'm just as confused as you

Indy was trying his best to understand what Wicket was talking about, other than humans being mean. Sounds about right. He couldn't decide if he was glad Charles was so pathetically non threatening or not. As he observed, he made the observation that this cat could probably at least threaten his father. He really didn't know what to do for the dumpster diver, or if it was even really any of his business.

Wicket's ear flicked. He'd slowly been learning to understand more types of tongues from the customers at the bar, so he knew sort of what Bubzy was saying. "Not new language I talk.. I have no co'er to I teeth.." Wicket pointed at his teeth again, then at the muscley-flesh around it.. Flat. He didn't have any lips. "Not change how I talk.. Not when I talk new like that.."

Bubzy’s mouth pressed into a thin line and he held his paws to his face. What had this fella gone through? That doesn’t matter! Almost immediately, Bubzy’s bubbly behavior bounced back. He placed a cheery smile, even if Wicket couldn’t see it, and continued to speak normally. "That’s fine!” He chirped. “I was just patrolling the neighborhood! Are you from around here?”

Indy sat down. Wicket didn't seem dangerous, so he felt safe to at least sit down. As Bubzy questioned him, he figured the answer was just 'around' like most cats wandering around the city without people. Wherever they found safe. At least he had a car when Charles was doing the same. Must be hell out there.

Wicket shrugged. "At not here city.. Then go here.. Along friend.."

“How did you get here?” Bubzy questioned, growing more and more curious

"Rwalk.." Wicket managed a fake 'W' sound

“I imagine that’s pretty far.” Bubzy said with a wince

Wicket nodded. "All the day.. He and I get trash eaten. Go to new cities. Here now. Who is the other? You are Uzzy.. They are?"

“Yeah, I’m Bubzy. The other guy is Indy!” Said Bubzy. “You shouldn’t eat trash, they have some pretty bad stuff in there.”

"Eat trash since I thrown aside.. Since a little past kitten.. Not die yet. Not going to die eating trash. There is good in the trash, too.."

“Yeah but there’s also bad germs in there from what humans throw.” Bubzy said with a shake of his head. “Like boogers and spit.”

"I don't know rwat does are.. Gerns.. 'ooger.. S'it..?" Wicker tilted its head, their trashbag ruffling a little

“They’re stuff that makes you sick.” Bubzy said. “They’re nasty.”

"Dey not hurt.. I don't care then.." Wicker shrugged. "Not care for sick.. Need 'asset! Friend!"

“I don’t know who that is…I’m sorry.” Bubzy said mournfully, awkwardly stepping back

"Both come from your face. My pops was sick last week and his nose was practically running like a garden hose." Indy would suddenly pipe up, mostly after the whole bodily fluid mention. "Can you describe your pal buddy?" The tuxedo would ask, leaning forward.

"Giant.. Faceless. No fur.. Hairy all over other than that.. Scary eyes.. Scent like I.. Less ash scent.. Like.. Hound.. Not hound.. Cat." Wicket explained 

“How can you be faceless but have a face?” Bubzy blinked, confused

"No.. No fur.. On face.. That how.. Facless. Not like I.. I have no face.. He has a face.. He faceless differently.." Wicket shook his head

"Bro I think your pals a dog." Indy would state, lowering his head to give him a confused look. 'and an ugly one too by the sound of it.' he'd think to himself.

"Can't.. Dog can't hide claws.. 'asset can hide claws.." Wicket shook his head and demonstrated  by unsheathing and sheathing his claws. "I know.. Cuz dog claws are not shar'.. Like a cat. They dull yet hurt.. Cut cuz ground.. Cat shar'.. Cuz cat strong.. Created like that.."

“If your friend is hurt then you should probably go see Bonsai!” Bubzy piped up. “Although she is getting pretty pricey now.”

"Not hurt like dat.. Not grow fur on face.. I cannot any longer.." Wicket shook its head

"See who now?" Indy would ask, turning to Bubzy. He wasn't familiar with the name.

“Bonsai! She’s this big cat who’s also like a doctor! If you want her to treat you, you gotta give something shiny like jewelry.” Bubzy explained 

"Already 'ork for A'aji.. Not need 'onsai to fix cuts.. A'aji lend rest and eat.." Wicket insisted 

"This place really goes deeper than it looks.." The tuxedo would mutter, hearing all these new names. "Next thing I know you'll tell me there's a local gang." He'd joke half heartedly.

"Not know 'uch.. There is though.. Leader is 'ong.. Uhh.. Can't.. 'ake.. Sound for rest a' 'ong.."

“Bong. My neighbor. And yeah he does have a gang.” Bubzy shivered. “He doesn’t like me but he we still leave each other alone. Except when Safari goes over to visit and babysit his ward.”

Indy made a face, before shaking his head, putting on a more neutral face. "Oh. Great."

"City tough life.." Wicket shrugged. "NOW 'LEASE HEL'! Assist!"

"I don't think I've seen any big fellas around, other than pops I guess. We could probably group up and look for em." Indy would suggest, running a paw over his (cool hair) head.

Wicket eagerly nodded, stepping a little bit closer to Indy

They never found him. L