Shanghaied! (Open to All)

[Ronno]

A trip on the Disney Magic: a luxury cruise or a nautical nightmare? You decide!

Ronno took a few steps back, analyzing the clear-rock which stood between him and fresh air. Clearly, this was the way out— but how? A few seconds later, the buck reared rampant and stuck the clear-rock with his hooves.

A spiderweb-like crack etched out from the impact. Encouraged, Ronno continued to pummel the barrier. One of his feet struck a strange golden twig that grew perpendicular to the clear-rock. The twig gave way— and the clear-rock moved.

Knocked off balance, Ronno had to stagger to regain his hooves. Ronno couldn’t helped smiling: not every buck (especially Bambi) could have figured out how to escape! Forgetting his caution, he loped out onto— a narrow ledge overlooking the giant salt pond.

Baffled, Ronno turned around and walked further into the claustrophobic thicket. At least there was some familiar timber scent, though these had to be the strangest trees ever.

A strange creaking sound made him freeze. The white tree (at least, Ronno assumed it was a tree) at the end of the path was moving towards him.

Ronno’s ears swept back in terror. The white tree had a Man pushing it! A Were-Man (like many wild beasts, to Ronno a “Man” was simply any sapient creature: a Buck-Man was a Were-Man while a Doe-Man was a Wif-Man), one with a big smile on his face.

Ronno stood paralyzed for a moment: the next moment, he charged through the path, antlers lowered and heart pounding in his ears. The Were-Man’s smile faded as he sprang back, barely missing the buck’s antlers.

Ronno had never run faster than he had through this strange clearing, hooves drumming on the short rust-colored grass. Racing back and forth, he came to a steep incline and charged up it. The air scent grew fresher and fresher until—finally! Ronno had escaped the strange thicket-cave!

Wincing a little as his eyes adjusted to blazing sunlight, much brighter and warmer than even a summer day, Ronno continued his gallop. The buck veered at a bizarre white shrub-branch thing— nothing but the strange salt pond that way. Ronno loped along the line of white shrub-branches; surely the pond should come to an end— shouldn’t it?

[Charlotte]

It had been years since Charlotte had been on a cruise. And to think they had them here, too! This place had just about everything a body could want!

She'd bought her ticket (plus a whole new wardrobe to wear on the cruise) and sashayed aboard the ship. And now the southern belle stood at the rail to watch their departure. And to pose prettily to attract anyone who happened to be watching. She hoped there would be streamers to throw, or confetti.

A strange pounding noise interrupted Lottie's thoughts. She turned toward it and saw a real live deer headed her way. Ooooh! It was so cute! Deer were such sweet animals.

But the way it was rushing toward her with its head down and its horns pointed at her...it was downright terrifying!

"Eeeeeekkkkkk!"

[Ronno]

OOC: Heh, I love how her first reaction was "cute deer!"

BIC: Ronno was beginning to pant, both from exhaustion and heat: it never got this hot or humid in the Novus Forest. The white-tail had lost track of how many strides (the length from one hoof hitting the ground until it struck again) he had run along this shrub-branch. And many more feet of shrub-branch stretched ahead.

Ronno’s desperate charge was rudely interrupted by a Wif-Man looking at the salt-pond. There had been many Men on this strange meadow, especially near the sharp-smelling smaller ponds, but they kept a respectable distance. The buck managed to stop just before the Wif-Man, rearing slightly to stop his momentum.

“Keep back, Wif-Man!” Ronno shouted, slipping a little on tiny brightly colored leaves. “Keep back or— or you’ll face old Stab and Jab!” Ronno winced: maybe saying the first thing that came to his mind wasn’t the best idea— he sounded like a yearling! Everyone knew grown bucks didn’t name their antlers (although privately he still rather liked his antler names: they were so clever and appropriate!)

Oh right, the Wif-Man! Ronno braced his legs and tossed his head, showing off first his right, then left antler. How terrifying this Wif-Man was, with her loud “Eeeeeekkkkkk!” Ronno, who knew nothing of clothes, thought the dress was part of her hide: surely these bright colors whipping in the breeze meant danger!

[Charlotte]

<<Sorry to take so long replying; got a full plate just now and having trouble getting caught up>>

Charlotte was rooted to the deck, unable to move an inch as the stag rushed toward her. She simply stared transfixed like a deer in headlights marble statue.

Keep back, Wif-Man!

And then it talked. This broke the hypnotic spell. Screeching even louder, the debutante grabbed the nearest portable object, in this case, the cushion from a deck chair, and hurled it at the not-so-cute deer.

Lottie's startled phase was over in a few seconds.

"Wait...y'all think ah look like a man?" That was the worst insult she'd ever received! "Just who d'you think you are?" Her hands were on her hips now as she gave the mean ol' deer her most withering glare.

[Deleted]

Nick Wilde never gone on a cruise before. Zootopia, while surrounded by water, didn't have any connection to the ocean, and back then, he did not have the money to pay for such a trip. Now? Well, he had such a chance. Ever since joining the security force for the Disney Parks, Nick had been spending time in California, Paris, and even Tokyo. Here? He was assigned to security for the Disney Magic during the ship's journey to it's first destination, and maybe back. Of course he wasn't told whether or not the ship was going to the Bahamas, Caribbean, or Europe, but he didn't mind. After all, being on the ship is a good way to see the world outside of the parks, even if he can't step off the ship once it docks.

He had just arrived on another floor, when he heard a shriek of terror. Nick sprang into action, and rushed to the source. He was dressed in the security officer uniform that was given to him, and had his sunglasses on. Eventually, he turned the corner, and saw a woman who looked annoyed, and a deer. A full grown stag to be exact, and one that walked on all fours. Clearly the animal wasn't supposed to be here, and most likely was sentient. That meant that Nick had to defuse the situation.

"Alright, what is going on here?" He would ask as he approached the two, "I am hoping someone could explain what happened. And was that you who screamed before, mam?" He said, with the last question aimed towards the woman.

[Ronno]

OOC: Aw that’s ok Charlotte.  And good to see you Nick!

BIC: Ronno knew this Wif-Man was dangerous— why she didn’t even need the thunderstick to attack! Of course, like all white-tails, Ronno’s reflexes were lightning fast, so he dodged the dangerous giant-leaf with ease, hah! The buck couldn’t help beaming: once again, his fast responses and brains had saved him!

“Wait… y’all think ah look like a man? Just who d’you think you are?”

Ronno withered back at the glare, ears pressed back and hackles raised; he did not take kindly having someone correct him, especially when (as usual!) he knew he was right.

“Of course you’re a Man, Wif-Man!” he managed to choke out between his terror and indignation. “You’re a (oh what did the Great Prince call them?) Sapient, aren’t you? It’s not like you’re a Sentient, like me. And from your scent I can tell you’re a female Man, so that makes you a Wif-Man. If you were a male Man, you’d be a Were-Man, so—“

Something had just occurred the ranting buck. Ronno took a few steps back, his ears rotating forward and eyes widening with shock. “Wait…how can you talk like one of us? You don’t even have a mouth-stick…”

“Alright, what is going on here?’

Ronno jumped in a capriole, forelegs tucked and hindlegs striking out as he whirled around at the voice. Blaming, as usual, everyone but himself, he fumed at the Wif-Man: she no doubt had distracted him so this interloper fellow could get him!

The breeze brought the reassuring scent of a red fox—oh they were known fawn-eaters, but what sort of vulpine idiot would dare take a full-grown buck? Besides, his friend Amaritudo was a red fox; a one-eyed fox, but still a fox.

But… This dog-fox was on his hind legs! What’s more: its stride was smooth and effortless. Amaritudo had reared up, usually to snap at low-flying insects, but he couldn’t stand on two feet much longer than Ronno could. Then too, Amaritudo’s stance was crouched and awkward— but this fox’s spine and hips seemed to let him stand straight, like a…

Like a Human.

Ronno’s mind raced, muscles tensing and desperately calculating whether to run or fight. Unfortunately, as with all white-tails whose senses were overwhelmed, he froze, completely oblivious that the fox was talking: a true deer in the metaphorical headlights. The slightly open mouth and shocked expression didn’t help his clueless looks.

[Charlotte]

And from your scent I can tell you’re a female Man

Lottie's gasp was almost as loud as her scream had been.

"A 'female man'?!? How dare you!! Nevah have Ah been so insulted!" It was more than a lady could bear! She was so infuriated she forgot to scream at the sight of a talking fox.

Alright, what is going on here?

"This heah mean-ol' deer insulted me! Arrest him!!" Even in her high dudgeon, Charlotte noted that the fox was a security guard.

how can you talk like one of us?

"Ah talk a whole lot better'n you do, you, you...Yankee!" It was the supreme insult, but he asked for it.

You don’t even have a mouth-stick…

"Ah do, too," answered Lottie, pulling a lipstick from her fashionable bag, "An' don't change the subject!"

"Well?" she addressed the fox again, not realizing that the offensive deer was now frozen in place.

[Ronno]

To run or fight…to run or fight. Ronno couldn’t decide. This Wif-Man had already gone after him (with that dangerous cushion!), and the fox— could it be rabid? (Anytime an animal acted odd, it was wise to rule out rabies). Was it even a fox— its eyes were all wrong: too much sclera, green instead of yellow iris— and hardest to explain away, rounded pupils instead of vertical slits. That look in the eye too— that was the sharp and focused gaze of a Sapient… No, clearly this was a Man as well.

At last the buck’s brain mastered his pride: surely it was the height of stupidity to agitate a dangerous Human? Oh, Ronno still couldn’t make head or tails of it— why, she was acting like the word Man meant something else! Of course, he couldn’t figure out what a the words “arrest” or “Yankee” meant either (he barely even knew that the Men called his homeland Maine), so maybe it was just a Human thing.

Ronno caprioled again and darted away for a few strides. Ronno, like all whitetails, was a mix of skittish paranoia and reckless curiosity. These were the first creatures he had encountered who talked to him— and he wanted to know how the Wif-Man could talk when her mouthpiece was in that strange pouch. And the fox-man: was he someone’s pet? What happened to most of his fur? (Ronno thought that the uniform, like the Wif-Man dress, must be part of his hide).

Ronno wheeled and pranced around the two, legs taunt and ready to spring, but with ears and eyes wide. “Dog-Fox, Wif-M—er, I mean, Wifa,” (Ronno was rather proud of himself for remembering that shortened term for a Wif-Man —and was completely oblivious that Humans hadn’t used that word in centuries). “What is this place? Where does this salt-pond end?”

[Yzma]

A cruise surrounded by water was seemingly the last place the little purple kitten would chose to be, but Yzma, as a not-actual-cat-most-times didn't have the usual fear associated with the animals. Proven by Kuzco's still not liking grass as a llama, it was just her outward appearance that her potions changed. Well, and her voice in this cat form for some reason...

Yzma would not have thought she would return to this useless cat form as often as she did, but around here it was semi-useful every now and again, and as her first trying it out on Héctor had proven.

She tended to get all the free food she wanted just by looking cute. Of course sticky fingered children had then tried to pick her up more times than she cared to count, but villains had to be aware of how to cut loses and bigger picture and all. She could also lay low like this until the ship returned to the parks, if she had to and it was a bust.

Yzma-Cat padded along the deck, looking for opportunity to either sneaking into a room for useful or just whatever free she could get, when the sound of a commotion drew her (those were usually fun to watch at the very least).

Her being a small purple kitten was a good thing, she found, as one of the people around the trouble was that fox-guard she had run into before, and who would know she was up to something if he saw the woman she had been then. She was just a harmless kitten right now...and sounded different if she had to speak, thankfully.

With the immunity that gave her, Yzma approached a bit more, to just silently watch and decide if she should speak. It seemed more animals talked around here than didn't! The deer was talking, like those lions at her meeting. Blowing cover to these could blow her Park-Cat-Form-Conning cover and so she still pondered it over. Miss Pink Frills looked rich too...her room would probably be a scouting trip well worth it...

She made sure to avoid the deer, though, with all his running around as she got closer. giving a curious mew for good measure.

<<So I'd imagine it would be possible Yzma's cat mew still came out like words to Ronno, maybe some questioning Hello/Excuse me? but up to you>>

[Charlotte]

Dog-Fox, Wif-M—er, I mean, Wifa...

Lottie was still quite miffed. But the deer did at least try to call her by her name. Though how you got "Wifa" out of "Charlotte" she couldn't figure out.

"The name is Miss La Bouff, if y'all please," she replied with her nose in the air. Though normally quite a friendly girl, she could get on her high horse when necessary.

Turning away with her button nose in the air to show her complete disdain for animals with bad manners, Lottie spied a small furry creature. Ooh! A kitten!

"Well, hey, there, little kitty-cat," she cooed. "Ah had a kitten when Ah was a little girl, but Ah nevah knew they came in such pretty colors!" Purple was nice, but imagine a pink kitten!

[Ronno]

OOC: Interesting-- I hadn't thought of how a meow would still sound like words to Ronno.

BIC: Ronno blinked. Knowing nothing of last names, it sounded to him like Misslabouff. What strange names Men used! And the way she stuck her nose (if you could call it that: humans and their short muzzles made Ronno shudder) in the air: what she was scenting the air for? (Of course, the whitetails sometimes used the gesture to mean disdain as well, but how could possibly be annoyed with him?)

“Hello? Excuse me?” Ronno snorted and reared rampant, the pale hairs on his tail raised in warning. Oh… it was just a cat-cub speaking. Ronno wheeze-snorted a challenge and stamped a hoof in warning. That first winter, Ronno had come across Shah, the gamekeeper’s Persian, stalking a pheasant. Taking him for just a short-muzzled fox, Ronno charged at the cat with his new antler buds: foxes might eat fawns, but he would show this fox that he was now too big and fierce to even think about attacking!

Shah yowled and sprang, half outraged at this rude intruder interfering with his hunt, half terrified at this new threat— back at the little farm, nothing attacked him. Even Tasso, the Otterhound, and the hound pack never messed with him!

Ronno sprang back in time avoid the bristling cat’s attack— all but the cat’s right dewclaw, which caught his right ear and tore a notch out.

Ronno’s screams brought the Great Prince and Karus, who charged at the cat with antlers lowered. Shah, already unnerved at strange horse-cow things with reflexes like him, took one glance at these giants with branches for horns and bolted in terror. It was the worse pain Ronno had ever endured— that is, until he was shot.

So it was baffling to whitetail with Misslabouff started cooing over the cat-cub (kitten she called it; come to think of it, Tiberius had told him that a young cat was a kitten). “I wouldn’t let that thing near your ear, Misslabouff,” he warned. Ronno’s flattened ears still stung from that quill-like claw.

Baffling too, was this animal’s color: lilac colored? Shah was black as night, while Djibi, his daughter (she had once wandered into the woods; luckily a marten talked her into returning) was silver with black streaks. Perhaps they just came in different colors— but no, Misslabouff was surprised about that too…

Then too was the animal’s scent: she looked small, smaller than Djibi. But her scent: that was the scent of an adult, even geriatric, animal. Then there was her eyes— they looked too focused to be a Sentient. Come to think of it, she rather smelled like a Man-- although Shah and Djibi smelled like Men too.

“You-you’re not a Puma cub, are you?” Ronno said to the animal. Ronno had never seen one of those great hunters who occasionally prowled across the river. But Karus had, back when he was a fawn. Karus had told him: how these huge beasts, with claws sharper than thorns and terrible fangs, could stalk so slow silently, could wait for hours before pouncing a doomed victim’s shoulders, enjoying venison best of all next to horse-meat…

Ronno shuddered and wheeze-snorted again. To a whitetail, the sound meant the same as bell to a boxer: prepare to battle! To most Humans, it sounded … rather goofy.

[Deleted]

Nick Wilde was about to say something, but, things just escalated from there. Coupled with the fact that someone's cat showed up, well, it was something. Nick took a deep breath, "Alright, alright. One thing at a time," He said. He looked to the woman, "Ms. La Bouff, yes? First off, how did this buck insulted you?" He questioned. The fox lifted the sunglasses off his as he took out a note pad from a pocket. He did have to get all the facts, just in case someone decided to press charges. Of course it didn't help that she insulted the buck back...

He'd then look to the buck in question, "Also, to answer your question, it doesn't end. The world is mostly made out of water, and where one ocean stops, another one begins. Only thing that breaks it up, is land." He glanced to the cat, raised a brow, and glanced back to the buck, "Since your asking that question, either you just stumbled upon a portal connecting one of the other parks, or your new here entirely."

[Yzma]

Her ruse seemed to work! Well...mostly. The stag stomped, and Yzma watched him warily until he calmed. Well, he more didn't charge, which was good enough. And her prime target, Miss Rich-Looking seemed to be falling for it all.

Yzma-cat looked cuter just for good measure, though she knew in this form she didn't have to put all that much effort into it. An unfortunate side-effect she had learned to use to her advantage, like the master-mind she was!

Giving another mew, she walked up to rub endearingly between Lottie's legs, when the stag spoke again!

“I wouldn’t let that thing near your ear, Misslabouff,”

Yzma shot the deer an annoyed look, though...she really couldn't deny the truth of the statement had she wanted to claw something. About the only defense she had in this animal form.

“You-you’re not a Puma cub, are you?”

There was probably a way to answer him that was still under the normal responses of animals...only Yzma didn't actually know any of them! If her mew sounded like words, it was accidental and just by nature of the sounds. She was like someone who knew five words of French trying for a conversation. So she couldn't answer this one without giving away her cover...or...maybe she could.

She went with just tipping her head and looking confused (a bit easy with his odd reaction after this question). Better to see what the Half-Potioned Fox and young lady made of her for the moment. The fox-guard didn't seem to be paying her much attention at the moment, and Yzma was just fine with that.

[Ronno]

Ronno nervously tossed his head. This fox creature— taking some kind of leaves from his hide and remove those…well Ronno didn’t really know what they were. Eyes? Nictitating membranes (that is, the third eyelid common to animals)?

“Also, to answer your question, it doesn't end. The world is mostly made out of water, and where one ocean stops, another one begins. Only thing that breaks it up, is land.”

Ronno blinked. In the forest, water kept to rivers and ponds, where it belonged. “Then..where is the land that breaks it up?” he finally said.

“Since you’re asking that question, either you just stumbled upon a portal connecting one of the other parks, or you’re new here entirely.”

Ronno didn’t really know what a portal or a park was. “The last thing I remember, I had just gone to my thicket after I talked with Amaritudo and Tiberius about the er…situation.” Ronno was not in the mood to describe how Faline, the love of his life, had just given birth to fawns that should have been his. “The next think I knew, I was trapped in a strange thicket below here.”

Ronno glanced at the creature rubbing itself against Misslabouff’s legs. Djibi and Shah had done that to claim territory. Couldn’t the feline tell the difference? Of course, maybe she just wanted to smell like the Human— Tiberius said that nothing was better than smelling like you’re Human. Tiberius was so weird.

The whitetails waited for the creature to respond; twisting her head like she was confused did nothing to answer his question. The dark hairs along his spine starting to raise with frustration. Ronno had waited a whole five seconds: why didn't she answer? Maybe he just used the wrong term— Misslabouff definitely didn’t like him calling her a Wif-Man. “You know, puma, cougar, mountain lion, deer tiger, American lion, catamount, cat-of-the-mountain, panther, painter, Felis concolor, Puma concolor, etc., etc. There’s more but that’s all I can think of right now. You’re not a cub of any of those, right?”

[Charlotte]

The kitty-cat began to rub itself on Charlotte's legs. She couldn't have that, though, couldn't take a chance on having her stockings ruined. But that was all right; she wanted more than anything to cuddle this kitty.

First off, how did this buck insulted you?

"Hmm?" That insult business didn't seem so important now that she was so pleasantly distracted. Besides, hadn't he just called her by her right name? "Oh, t'ain't nothin', Officer Foxy. He's learned his lesson, Ah'm sure."

With one lightning motion, Lottie snapped up the kitten, cradling it in her arms. Although she sincerely liked kitties, the Southern belle was not overly gentle. She squeezed and squeezed her little bundle while cooing in its ear.

"Ain't you jus' the cutest little thing evah!"

[Ronno]

Oh, t'ain't nothin', Officer Foxy. He's learned his lesson, Ah'm sure.

Ronno swiveled one ear towards the Wif-Man and Fox, eyes still focused on the feline. Yep, he had learned his lesson: Wif-Men prefer to be called Wifas (Ronno was pleased with himself for figuring that out so fast— faster than that jagger Bambi could, heh).

Ronno reared rampant at Misslabouff’s sudden motion, ears sweeping forward in terror. The whitetail had never seen a hug— the only time he had seen an animal grab something was to build with it (like a beaver)...or eat it!

Once he found his feet, Ronno crab-stepped nervously. Odd: Misslabouff was acting like the creature was a fawn, the way she spoke to it. It did seem like she liked the animal…

But who ever heard of clutching a creature so tight, especially in those dreadful paws Humans had? Squirrels and chipmunks grabbed nuts, but to eat them. Come to think of it, Gobo had said that the Men carried him off when he was fawn, but then those Men did kill Gobo..

No, the only reason to grab a creature was to eat it (or fight, but he doubted that). And the way Misslabouff’s muzzle was so close to the creature’s ear: too high for the carotid, but excellent to hit the nuchal ligament, that elastic band many animals, especially ungulates (hoofed animals) used to help lift their heads.

Ronno didn’t like the animal, especially when he still was not 100% sure it wasn’t a Puma, but surely it was cruel to confuse the animal, treating it like a fawn one moment, then deliberately not go for a killing bite? Ronno was about to tell Misslabouff this when a sudden thought shut his mouth: if Misslabouff was hungry enough to hunt, then he certainly didn’t want her to start thinking of venison!

The buck grimaced, flattening his ears and slightly sticking out his tongue in disgust: he felt sick to his stomach.

[Bolt]

Bolt darted here and there panic-stricken, tongue out and eyes wide. The American white shepherd mix had run all around the ship, but he still couldn’t find Penny’s scent. Was she not on this boat? (Bolt had been on something like this once, back when he was on the show-- such as that was. How much of that applied to a real-world boat).

At last he came across something that pricked his ears. Some kind of stag, a man dressed as a fox, and a woman— holding a cat! A queen, oddly colored: was it Calico’s plot? Oh wait…Bolt had to chuckle at his error. The dog was still getting used to the real world— Calico was just an actor, like Penny. There were plenty of good cats, like his new sister Mittens.

Still… there were still plenty of bad cats, like Veteran and Newbie (okay, maybe not so much Newbie).

Bolt hesitated. The dog certainly didn’t have time to stop— what if Penny was in danger? This girl was much older than Penny, more like the human equivalent of a canine yearling: surely she could take care of herself. But that was still pretty young— what if she didn’t know better? Why, even Bolt didn’t know a lot at that age!

Bolt sighed. Clearly, it was up to him to intervene. Even though the hybrid wasn’t a superhero, it was still up to him to save the day.

Decided, he raced over to the group. “Miss,” he barked. “Miss, is that cat bothering you?” Bolt glanced at the strange fox thing before fixing the cat with a hard stare.

[Charlotte]

Miss, is that cat bothering you?

"This li'l ol' thing? Why, don't be silly!"

Lottie continued to hug and squeeze as she turned toward the new voice that spoke to her. It was a dog, a sweet little white doggie. Letting out a new squeal of delight, she dropped the cat without thinking a thing about it.

"Why, you are just adorable! Yes, you are! Yes, you are!"

Charlotte reached down to give this new animal a pat on the head, then a scratch behind the ear.

"Do you need a big ol' hug, too, li'l doggie?"

What a lovely thing to have on a cruise: pets! She would have to remember to commend somebody or other for it at the end of the trip.

[Bolt]

”This li'l ol' thing? Why, don't be silly!”

Bolt wagged his tail. Good— maybe it was a nice cat, like Mittens,

However…she didn’t really seem to acknowledge that all cats were bad. The dog decided he better tell her when the girl turned and dropped that cat.

“Oh, well I guess they always land on their feet,” said Bolt. “Although I don’t think—“

”Why, you are just adorable! Yes, you are! Yes, you are!”

Well! Bolt wagged his tail happily and smiled. What a nice girl! And she even patted him on his head. Bolt thought it couldn’t get any better— until she scratched just behind his ear. The dog’s hind leg thumped furiously.

”Do you need a big ol' hug, too, li'l doggie?”

“Oh, well,” said Bolt modestly, trying to remind himself that he was a tough and fierce guard dog. “If you don’t mind… I mean, I’m really a pretty rough and tumble pup.”

[Ronno]

Ronno wheeze-snorted at the strange canine running up. What was a dog doing here? Why was he worried for the Wif-Man when the cat was obviously the one in danger? Why was the dog so small and vulpine looking?

Ronno was about to tell the dog this when Misslabouff dropped the cat. The deer watched in terror as she first tapped the dog’s skull, then clawed its ear.

Ronno began tossing his head nervously. Tiberius said people liked dogs— surely she didn’t want to eat him, did she?

Ronno glanced the cat before turning back to the scene with narrowed eyes. She wouldn’t find Ronno as easy to catch, that was—-

Wait a minute.

The dog seemed to be enjoying this!

“Listen, dog,” Ronno scoffed. “You’ve got it all wrong. The cat wasn’t attacking Misslabouff— Misslabouff was trying to eat the cat! If you had a brain, you’d have realized that. I’d keep away from her if I were you.”

[Yzma]

Yzma found a downside to her cover. Had already realized it, in all honesty.

"Ain't you jus' the cutest little thing evah!"

The cat made a face and her tiny paws waved futility, as much as they could in their squished position. This one had some strength to her!

Yzma was soon "saved", though then just as quickly wasn't sure if that would in fact be an accurate description of the situation. A dog asked if she was bothering the woman! If Yzma could speak she might have blown her cover, but she was working on breathing again currently! Then, just as suddenly, she was released and went tumbling towards the ground!

Cats did tend to land on their feet. Humans turned into cats had to figure it out. Even with that short distance, Yzma sort of wished for a trampoline, She did it though. Looking tense and all her fur standing on end, but all four feet hitting the deck of the ship. She slightly shook herself.

“Listen, dog, You’ve got it all wrong. The cat wasn’t attacking Misslabouff—"

Exactly!

"...Misslabouff was trying to eat the cat! If you had a brain, you’d have realized that. I’d keep away from her if I were you.”

"Eat me?!", instantly Yzma forgot about that cover of hers and spoke, but...given the other animals around here could be understood too, maybe it was what she should have been doing all along.

[Charlotte]

If you don’t mind

Charlotte didn't mind one bit! She reached down and enveloped the dog in her arms, standing up with him dangling while she gave her biggest squeeze.

"Oh, yes, you are the wuffest, toughest widdle doggie evah, aincha? You big, bad puppy, you!" she cooed as she snuggled the white fur. He was a little heavy for holding, though, she soon found out, and dropped him back to the deck.

This was turning out to be the nicest cruise ever, with all these sweet animals on board.

Misslabouff was trying to eat the cat!

Sigh! Except for that deer. He insisted on being so unpleasant!

"That's right, I could jus' eat up this li'l kitty. I could jus' eat you right up, li'l kitty!" She reached down for the cat again.

[Ronno]

Eat me?!

“Of course, Cat!” Ronno scoffed. “You really must be a Housecat— a Puma would know that.”

The whitetail was shocked to see Misslbouff pick up the dog and squeeze his neck. Even when she released him, the dog still wagged his tail happily!

That's right, I could jus' eat up this li'l kitty. I could jus' eat you right up, li'l kitty!

Ronno couldn’t shake the feeling she was mocking him, but what difference did that make. “See dog?” Ronno said, turning to face Bolt. “Never trust a Human!”

[Bolt]

Bolt decided that the girl must not have been used to dogs: instead of leaning down, she grabbed his forequarters and squeezed so tight it was tough to breath. The American white shepherd mix wagged his tail: oh this was uncomfortable (and he was happy when she let him go), but he could tell the girl meant no harm.

Oh, yes, you are the wuffest, toughest widdle doggie evah, aincha? You big, bad puppy, you!

Bolt wagged his tail furiously; he was the roughest and toughest dog ever! If only she hadn’t used the term ‘bad’— that kind of hurt his abnormally sensitive feelings.

Without warning, the girl let the dog go. Bolt collapsed the floor, landing on his hocks. Bolt grimaced, but didn’t whimper! Although it would take a while for the pain to subside enough to walk…

Listen, dog, you’ve got it all wrong. The cat wasn’t attacking Misslabouff—“

“Yes I get that now," said Bolt. “Still, better safe than sorry! There’s a lot of bad cats out there.”

Misslabouff was trying to eat the cat! If you had a brain, you’d have realized that. I’d keep away from her if I were you!

If Ronno meant to hurt Bolt’s feelings, he didn’t succeed. Had his family, especially Penny, spoken like that, the dog would have been crushed. However, he was immune to anyone else. Bolt didn’t care (or really, pay attention) to the villains on his show; he was unaffected now.

Besides, what the deer was saying was absurd!

“Oh don’t be ridiculous!” said Bolt, rolling his eyes. “People don’t eat cats anymore than dogs do. We eat meat from bags and boxes, not animals. No one gets food from animals.”

That's right, I could jus' eat up this li'l kitty. I could jus' eat you right up, li'l kitty.

Ah, well, that was an unfortunate thing for the lady to say. “That’s a metaphor, Buck,” the dog helpfully explained. “She means she likes that cat.”

The deer seemed unconvinced and gave the dog a hard stare.

See dog? Never trust a Human/

Bolt growled. “Don’t say thing like that! I don’t deny that there’s a lot of bad people— a lot of bad animals too— but my girl is a Human. I wouldn’t trade my Penny for the world!”

[Ronno]

quote]“Oh don’t be ridiculous! People don’t eat cats anymore than dogs do. We eat meat from bags and boxes, not animals. No one gets food from animals.” [/quote]

Ronno’s ears flattened. “You calling me a liar, dog?” he said, wheeze-snorting. “I suppose you think they don’t eat deer either? Wrong, you idiot cur. Men eat all kinds of animals— and so do dogs, for that matter.”

Don’t say thing like that! I don’t deny that there’s a lot of bad people— a lot of bad animals too— but my girl is a Human. I wouldn’t trade my Penny for the world!”

Ronno scoffed. “Typical cur: too dumb to realize just how dangerous their dear little Humans…” The buck stopped, torn between arrogance and curiosity. “Wait, what’s a penny?”Ronno glanced at the wifa, fox, and cat: did they have any idea?