"Um, I don't think we should be doing this Chloe," Zack mumbled quietly. Leading the way through the garden while the full moon shone high above, Chloe glanced over her shoulder at her roommate. "Scared?" she teased. His ears flattened against his head, Zack replied, "Um, yeah."

"Relax, we're fine. I've been on the streets before," Chloe reassured Zack. It didn't work though as the older kitten reminded her, "Yes but you got hit by a car and you were starving! If it hadn't been for Suzan, you'd be dead!"

"I'm still alive, aren't I?"

"Well, yes but-"

"So shush! Don't worry, I know what I'm doing," Chloe meowed, puffing her chest out proudly. With that, she hopped up on the fence that surrounded their backyard. Sighing heavily, Zack joined her. The two kittens gazed out at the world beyond their home. The stars of the night above their heads watched them in silence.

"Where to first?" Chloe asked. Shrugging his shoulders, Zack murmured, "I don't know, this was your idea." Giggling softly, Chloe gently booped him on the nose. Crouching down, she was about to jump off the fence when Zack gasped and squeaked, "Did you hear that?!"

"Zack, calm down," Chloe meowed. Looking up at the brown tabby, she noticed that he looked spooked. His tail looked like a bristle brush. "What's wrong with you?" she asked, tilting her head to the side. His blue eyes wide with fear, Zack stuttered, "You didn't hear that noise?!"

"What noise?" Chloe wondered. At that moment, she heard it. A flapping sound. And it was coming from behind her. Wait, no. It was above her. The gray tabby turned around just as the great horned owl let out a shriek. In response, Chloe yowled and leapt down from the fence in the nick of time.

Zack wasn't so lucky.

"Chloe!" Zack screamed. Looking back, Chloe's blood ran cold. Zack was still up on the fence, trying not to be carried off. The great horned owl had his talons dug deep into the brown tabby. There was a lot of blood. Growling, Chloe leaped into action.

"Leave him alone!" Chloe hissed, jumping back up on the fence. The owl looked up, revealing the damage done to his face. He had a chip in his beak and ugly scars ran over his amber eyes. There was also a long nasty scar on one of his wings. Not caring, Chloe unsheathed her claws and struck.

Bullseye.

Letting out a high pitched pained screech, the great horned owl released Zack. Chloe quickly grabbed her friend and rushed him back to the house. She could hear the owl giving chase. Gritting her teeth, she shoved Zack through the cat flap before following close behind him.

They were safe, for now.