It wasn’t my proudest moment, but I’m okay with taking a knock in the pride instead of a knock in the head. When I heard the wolves coming up those stairs, I retreated into the shadows. I knew Sass would chew me out about it later, but I was guaranteeing there would be a later to be chewed out in.

The wolves were so busy gloating over the cornered kitty that they never noticed me sneaking up behind them. Yoink! One funny little syllable and I had the scroll. I’d like to say that a fierce battle ensued, but that’s not quite how it went down. With the scroll in my paw, I hightailed it out of there!

The cat had moves. I’ll give her that. She managed to take one of the wolves out before I even made it down the stairs. That left two wolves, both on my tail, and with Sass on theirs. I led them out of the inn and into the streets of the Burroughs. And like I said before, the Burroughs was my city.

The wolves seemed surprised when I turned to face them. I hadn’t shown much fight to that point. That was about to change. I pulled out my sword.

“Time to dance.” I told the lead wolf.

The big fur smiled, flashing his big sharp fangs at me. “You shoulda walked away, groundhog.”

“The Big Oonch never lets a lady down.” I replied.

As we circled each other, I looked to my right to see Sass and the other wolf starting a slow dance of their own. These wolves weren’t going to go down as easy as their pal. But they’d go down all the same. They always do when the Big Oonch is involved.

My dance partner had no weapons other than those he was born with and boy did he know how to use them. He was on me in a flash, gnashing his teeth and raking with his claws. I took a wild swing to push him back, but he was back on me just as fast.

We traded nicks and scrapes, with neither of us scoring any decisive blows. Then my luck changed. Unfortunately, it was for the worst as I lost my footing. I was down and just like that the big bad was moving in for the kill. I braced myself for the end.

Only the end didn’t come that night. And with any luck it won’t come for a good long while yet. My guardian angel came in the form of a tall drink of water of a cat. She buried her daggers in the wolf’s sides just as he was preparing for the kill. I don’t know who looked the more surprised, him or me. I’ll say him. His look of surprise lasted much longer anyway as he kept it all the way down. He fell over without uttering a single word.

“I had things under control, doll…” I told Sass. Over to the side, the other wolf was sharing his boss’ fate on the rocky ground.

The cat smiled, “Sure you did. I just didn’t want to see your pretty face get hurt.” She held her paw out to me to help me up. I accepted. She had nice paws.

“Do you still have the scroll?” she asked.

I pulled the scroll out from under my cloak and pawed it to her. “The Big Oonch always delivers.”

She smiled that dazzling smile of hers. “You sure do. So what say you and I get a drink and then we see about that cuddlin’ you promised?”

I shook my head, “Sorry doll, you gotta go.”

Sass blinked, “I’m sorry?”

“No you’re not,” I corrected her. “You got what you came for and now you gotta beat paws.”

Sass tried to argue but I put my paw over her mouth, “Sorry doll. You can’t talk your way out of this one. I’m sure you’re used to getting your own way with plenty of furs, but the Big Oonch isn’t playing your game anymore. Now go.”

She was cool enough not to try with the waterworks, but she still looked sad, “Okay Oonch.” And with that, she walked out of my life just as she had walked into it. Without a sound. I didn’t watch her go. Instead, I turned and headed back to the Three Goose Inn for a little nightcap. I knew I’d never see her again, but we’d always have the dust-up in the Burroughs.