Summer's heat wrapped the neighborhood, the sun relentless as most families prepared for vacation. But not the Parkings family. Inside their cozy, somewhat cluttered house on Kingsway Court, life unfolded at a gentler pace.

In the corner of the kitchen, by the sliding screen door, Puffins, a sleek tabby cat with gray and black fur, sipped from her water bowl. Each lap was unhurried, her green eyes half-closed in contentment. The nearby wall clock ticked, and a distant lawnmower hummed, filling the air.

Venessa, twelve years old, sat at the dining table, doodling in her notebook. Her legs stretched beneath her, feeling too long for her body. A sudden thought sparked, and she stood, walking to the screen door. "It's such a nice day, Puffins." She murmured. She slid the door open just enough to let in a breeze scented with jasmine and freshly cut grass.

Before she could step outside, her mother's voice echoed from upstairs. 

"Venessa, can you come here for a moment?"

"Coming, Mom!" Venessa called back while glancing at Puffins who continued drinking blissfully unaware. She jogged up the stairs, leaving the screen door slightly ajar.

Upstairs, her mother needed help with organizing some old family albums—an activity that stretched longer than Venessa anticipated. When she returned downstairs, the sun was still out in the sky.

Puffins had finished her water and was now sitting by the door, tail flicking with interest at the outdoor sights and sounds. Venessa, feeling a bit weary from the albums, plopped down on the couch and grabbed the remote.

She flicked on the TV, the screen lighting up with an episode of "Teen Titans" on Cartoon Network. Initially intrigued, her interest soon waned; the antics of superheroes couldn't cure her boredom.

With a sigh, she turned off the TV, her gaze falling back on Puffins.

"Alright, let's go outside now Puffins." Venessa said.

She opened the sliding door to the balcony, surrounded by what appeared to be a sturdy, high fence. She gently nudged Puffins, her sleek tabby cat, encouraging her to explore the outside. The sun was hot, enveloping both girl and cat in its warm embrace as they stepped onto the wooden planks.

Puffins paused just outside the door, her sensitive whiskers twitching as she took in the sights and smells of this new space. The wooden balcony was warm beneath her paws, the heat from the sun soaking into the wood and radiating gently against her fur. The railing, too, felt hot to the touch, bleached and warmed from long days under the sun.

Without even a backward glance at Venessa, Puffins moved confidently toward the stairs leading down to the garden. Her steps were quick and light, each paw carefully placed yet eager.

Venessa leaned against the doorframe.

"Puffins, stay close!" She called out.

She expected Puffins to heed her call, to pause and perhaps look back, but the cat was too drawn by a butterfly fluttering nearby.

With her attention firmly fixed on this prize, Puffins dashed down the steps. Her body was agile and swift, propelled by the instinctive thrill of the chase.

Puffins approached the fence surrounding the yard. Here, hidden slightly by the shadow of a large bush, was a small crack just big enough for a small cat. Puffins didn't think twice. She inspected the gap, then deftly squeezed her body through it, disappearing from her safe backyard into the unknown beyond.

"Puffins!" Venessa screamed as she went down the steps, her eyes wide as she realized her cat was no longer in sight. The safety she presumed was provided by the fence had been compromised by that small, unnoticed gap.

Venessa stood there for a moment longer, calling a few more times, hoping her beloved cat would return at the sound of her voice. Nothing worked.

—-

Apple Church was a place that brought the community together. The white steeple stood out against the clear blue sky, and the surrounding orchards were elegant.

Today, family and friends gathered in the church's peaceful cemetery to lay Richardson, a dedicated police officer from the Malus Police Department, to rest. His recent passing left the town grieving. Richardson had spent many years serving the community, and his absence would be deeply felt.

Officer Davis, Richardson's long-time friend and fellow officer, stood among the crowd with a heavy heart. He watched the service, remembering their time working together and the friendship they had shared. The clergy led the funeral with comforting words and prayers, honoring Richardson's life and commitment.

The mourners listened closely, some nodding as they recalled Richardson's kindness and dedication. His family members spoke about the legacy he left behind—a life devoted to serving others and being a source of strength in the community. The respect and appreciation for his life were clear in the crowd's somber silence.

As the service continued, a gentle breeze rustled the leaves of the apple trees, and birds sang softly. The sun cast a warm glow on the attendees, providing a peaceful setting for the solemn occasion. The people of Malus stood together in their grief, supporting one another during this difficult time.

After the service ended, mourners approached Richardson's grave one by one to place flowers on the casket and say their goodbyes. Officer Davis walked over to Richardson's wife, Mary, who was standing close to the grave.

"I'm so sorry." Davis said.

"Thank you, Davis. He always spoke highly of you. You were a good friend to him." Richardson's wife replied.

Davis nodded: "He was like a brother to me. I'll miss him. We're all going to miss him."

"He was always proud of his cause... " She replied.

"I promise we'll keep his memory alive at the station." Davis said.

"That means a lot to me..." She replied.

As Davis and Richardson's wife exchanged a few more words, other mourners continued to pay their respects. The cemetery had quiet conversations as people shared stories and offered comfort to Richardson's loved ones.

Deeper in the woods, just behind all of the trees, was Puffins ever so approaching. As she strolled through the woods, she could hear the sound of birds from above, and some other animals too. They all had caught her attention, but not enough to keep her from moving forward—especially since she had run away from her initial domain.

She soon noticed a stone path breaking the woods, leading up a slope to a church on the edge of a cemetery. It was weird because further down she could see that there was activity near the church.

A group of church members with sad faces stood around a freshly dug grave. Puffins approached quietly, finding a spot on a low branch of a small old oak tree to watch from. She saw the coffin, a polished casket surrounded by flowers.

The church members prayed together, but Puffins didn't understand the words. She watched them place more flowers on the casket while staying focused on the solemn gathering and goodbyes. As the ceremony ended and the church members slowly left, Puffins stayed in her perch a moment longer. Though she didn't fully understand what she had seen for some reason she felt the need to watch it all unfold.

Puffins took off from her spot that he had just found earlier and decided to go down on the grassy side of Pine Roach which led straight to Downtown Malus. She didn't know what was in store for her there, but she couldn't care less. She kept on moving while taking short breaks in between her trips.

Eventually, Puffins had reached the narrow streets of Malus Square, and oh boy, it was the Annual Apple Festival that was going on. As Puffins surveyed the multitude of people that were present at the festival, she got to see that the streets were actually lined with colorful banners, apple-themed decorations, and the sweet aroma of freshly baked apple pies.

Puffins had almost succumbed to the urge of pouncing on one of those juicy apple pies that almost everyone at the parade seemed to be eating if it weren't for the teenage boys that she had spotted in the corner of her eyes. She froze, somewhat afraid of what they would do. She could sense their evil intent.

Puffin's whiskers twitched as she sized them up, her instincts alerting her to the danger she sensed in their presence. She could tell they meant trouble, and as one of them whistled, trying to call her over, she made her move.

Puffins darted away from them, weaving through the crowd with agility. The sweet scents of apple pies and laughter surrounded her as she zigzagged between people's legs and under tables. She hoped to lose the boys in the bustling festival, yet, they followed her every move with shouts and taunts.

"Here, kitty, kitty! Don't you wanna come play with us?" One of the boys yelled.

Puffins could hear the boys' footsteps pounding behind her. She dodged around fruit stands and slipped through the gaps between colorful stalls, but the teenagers were determined to catch her.

She burst out of the crowd, her breathing heavy and labored.

"MMEEEOWW!" She screamed as she found herself running down an empty alley. Puffins' eyes darted around, looking for an escape route, but the alley was a dead end. The walls of the two buildings on either side loomed over her, boxing her in.

She turned back the way she came, but the boys had already blocked the entrance.

"Gotcha now!" One of the teens shouted. He and his friends closed in on her, cutting off any chance of escape.

Puffins hissed, her fur standing on end, but she knew she was trapped. The boys chuckled. They reached out towards her.

"Come on, kitty, we won't hurt you. Just want to have a little fun." One of them said.

Another boy joined in: "Yeah, just a little game! You like games, right?"

She flattened her ears against her head, her tail twitching nervously. Her instincts screamed for her to run, but there was nowhere to go. One of the boys lunged forward, his hands outstretched, and Puffins darted to the side, narrowly escaping his grasp.

The boys laughed. They moved quickly, corralling Puffins towards the back of the alley, where the building named "Fix'er Up" had been large and imposing in comparison to Puffins.

Puffins' heart sank as she realized there was no way out. She crouched low to the ground, ready to fight back if they tried to grab her. But before she could react, one of the boys lunged at her, scooping her up in his arms.

"Gotcha!" One of them said.

Puffins struggled against his hold, her claws out and her hisses fierce, but the boy held tight.

The teenagers quickly made their way behind the hardware store, taking Puffins with them.

As the teenagers chuckled triumphantly, thinking they had caught Puffins, a figure, broad-shouldered and towering, came from behind.

"HEY! THAT'S ENOUGH PUT IT DOWN!" He said.

Startled, the teenagers glanced at each other. The bodybuilder's presence was intimidating, and they knew better than to provoke someone of his build.

"Alright, geez man. Way to ruin the fun." One of them said.

Reluctantly, they lowered Puffins to the ground, releasing her from their grasp. Then, they turned on their heels and fled.

Puffins hesitated to even go near another male. Why were they so cruel?

She had narrowly escaped the clutches of the teenagers, but now another unknown figure was before her. Yet, despite her instinctive urge to flee, there was something in the bystander's demeanor that took away her fear.

"Meeeowww." She said slowly.

The bystander reached out his hand.

"C'mon...I won't bite..."

She sensed no malice emanating from him, only a genuine concern despite her previous experiences. She took a leaf of faith and trusted him. With gentle hands, he reached out, his touch surprisingly tender as he lifted her into his arms. Puffins tensed momentarily before relaxing, reassured by the absence of any hostile intent. It was as if a soothing melody had replaced the discordant notes of fear that had plagued her moments before.

Carrying Puffins securely, the bystander strode purposefully towards his gleaming BMW parked nearby. With ease, he settled her into the plush interior of the car, ensuring her comfort with a gentle pat before closing the door with a soft click. Behind the wheel, it was hard for him to navigate the streets due to the parade, but they eventually managed to get to the Malus Animal Shelter.

Upon arrival at the shelter, the bystander emerged from the car, Puffins cradled in his arms like a precious cargo that he vowed to protect with every fiber of his being.

"Alright kit. Don't go sneaking around again next time." He said as he opened the door.

He stepped into the shelter's interior and was greeted by the multitudes of different smells of many animals alike.

"I found this little one in distress. I thought she might be safer here." The bystander explained.

He gave Puffins to one of the workers and they took her. Then, the bystander left the store. The workers accepted Puffins into their care and provided her with a warm bed and plenty of love to soothe the wounds left by her harrowing ordeal until her rightful owners arrived.

Puffins should've just stayed home. It wasn't worth the risk of being taken away. It simply wasn't.