The machine buzzes, and a bored voice drones from the small slot.

"This is KGIS Headquarters, how may I help you?"

Lionshine took a deep breath, tapping a paw on the floor. Ruin Shadepelt, she reminds herself. She took all the credit. It's YOUR credit! 

"Are you there? Hello?" the voice asked, sounding annoyed.

"Yes, this is Lionshine of the Catmint Nine crew? I need to speak with, um, your boss."

She glances furtively over her shoulder, trying to convince herself that there were no pawsteps at the door.

"All right, wait one moment."

A cheesy ringtone plays for several heartbeats before a deep male voice replaced the other one. "What, drama mama?" he growls. "I'm in the middle of an important meeting. If the ship hasn't blown up, go away." 

Lionshine winced. "No sir, but--"

"WHAT?" he roared.

"Shadepelt snuck onto the ship as a stowaway!" she blurted out, her mew loud in the compartment. Slapping her tail over her mouth, she looked around before continuing quietly. "I'm sure she's out to ruin us."

"I don't care," the voice informed her. "Suck it up, sweetheart. Now hang up."

Lionshine, sulking, does as told. She presses the Hang Up button quickly, fuming at being called a drama mama, and stomps off. Turning a corner, she runs smack into Greenface.

"AHHHH!" he screeched, taken totally by surprise. "Oh. Hi, Lionshine. Sorry. Thought you were an alien."

Shaking her head in annoyance, she stalks the other way, only to be met by Pebblepounce and Alderwood.

"This is the traductìon--I mean contact booth, where we--"

Pebblepounce breaks off at the sight of Lionshine, eyes narrowing in suspicion.

"Hey, Lionshine," he greeted her. "Wat doe je heir--I mean, what are you doing here? Why are you kaya malapit-- Whoops, I mean so close to the contact booth?"

"Oh, no reason," she replied hastily, feigning innocence. "Hi, Shadepelt," she spat, treating the word like a piece of dirt. "I'll be off now," she added, flouncing around and stomping like a kit, heading back toward the control booth.

"What'd I do?" the other she-cat grumbled, "live?"

Pebblepounce sighs. "Kanojo o mushi shimasu," he replied. "Ignore her. Anyway, Shadepelt, you haven't met Greenpelt yet, have you? He's been too busy throwing up, I suppose."

Greenface's normally nervous expression changes to a mortally embarrased one, and he looks away, heat flaming his cheeks.

"Um," he managed to squeak out.

Pebblepounce snorted. "Well, this is Shadepelt, I know you know each other, hi, hòla, blah blah."

Greenpelt meets Shadepelt's eyes, and feels a strange emotion. He can't possibly feel for Shadepelt . . . does she like him?

"Ugh!" Shadepelt burst out. "That's the scum who beat me by one point. No hard feelings, though," she added, giving Greenface a look of pure venom.

Pebblepounce intervened. "Nessuna lotta," he reprimanded, before realizing he spoke in Italian. "No fighting!"

No one listens to him, and Alderwood steps back as Greenface cowers before the glare. "Sorry!" he squeaked again. "You can be the official engineer now! I have to--" his face went a pale shade of green, and he sprinted off toward the bathrooms again.

"Good riddance," the black she-cat muttered. "To bad rubbish."

This is Leopard's first chapter and Leopard likes talking in third person and hiding in corners. Yay. Also being nervous a lot. Did you like?