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Guess who said they would update soon and took forever to do so? Me! I'm really sorry for the long wait, I've been so busy with last minute work for school because I'm taking honors again, and I just got my permit. My dream is to have a summer where I'm not constantly busy lol. Also, I've been waking up too late to take my medicine, so that's been "wonderful" too. For the next chapter I'm planning on doing something different because I'm running out of motivation and I don't want to get burnt out. Im thinking of doing like a flashback chapter where we go to a theme park with the trio, or a beach. If there's something specific you like to see then don't be afraid to tell me. Im open to any suggestions! Anyway, I apologize again for the long wait, here's chapter 12!

Total Word Count: 2453

!𝑻𝑾!: 𝑺𝒎𝒂𝒍𝒍 𝒎𝒆𝒏𝒕𝒊𝒐𝒏𝒔 𝒐𝒇 𝒊𝒏𝒋𝒖𝒓𝒊𝒆𝒔, 𝒂 𝑴𝒐𝒏𝒔𝒕𝒆𝒓 𝒅𝒊𝒔𝒈𝒖𝒊𝒔𝒆𝒅 𝒂𝒔 𝒂 𝒄𝒂𝒕, 𝑮𝒂𝒚 𝒃𝒆𝒉𝒂𝒗𝒊𝒐𝒓

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"Wish that I could see the machinations

Understand the toil of expectations in your mind

Hold me like you never lost your patience

Tell me that you love me more than hate me

All the time

And you're still mine

So smoke 'em if you got 'em

'cause it's going down

All I ever wanted was you

Let's take a drink of heaven

This can turn around

Let's raise a glass or two

To all the things I've lost on you, oh-oh

Tell me are they lost on you? Oh-oh

Just that you could cut me loose, oh-oh

After everything I've lost on you

Is that lost on you?"

"Lost On You"-LP

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"Hey, batter, batter, batter."

Anne holds up a makeshift scythe like a bat as Sprig throws a gourd from atop a small hill.

She swings, missing the gourd completely, as the scythe flies out of her hands.

You and Anne gasp as Sprig narrowly dodges the sharp object. However, his beanie split in half after taking the hit, revealing bright orange hair on the top of his head.

Sprig quickly recovers, his euthanisiam not faltering, "Wanna go again?"

You almost choke on your spit at his question.

"Yeah-uh!... Wait, you have hair?"

Anne apologized to Sprig for slaughtering his hat and went to go look for the scythe.

Shaking your head in an amused manner, you began to help Anne search for the weapon.

As a former softball player, you would have knocked that gourd out of the park. If you had the courage. You stopped playing softball due to anxiety and insecurity despite being naturally talented in the sport.

You had followed in your father's footsteps. When he was in high school, he excelled in baseball but sadly had a change in career after fumbling for an opportunity to make it to the major leagues. He constantly reminded you of his regret, and how he wished you would play the sport one day. And so you did.

Around six years of playing softball, you decided your heart just wasn't in it. As much as you enjoyed the sport, puberty had other plans. (Not in an inappropriate way, just in growing older and forming anxiety about how people may think of you.)

You frowned at the memory of your father's disappointment when you told him you wanted to quit. Not angry, not sad, ...just... disappointed. Like you had failed somehow.

"Oh, there it is."

Anne's voice broke you from your trance. She went to grab the scythe, which was lodged inside a tree but stopped.

You and Sprig ran up to her, and as Sprig was about to say something, she shushed him.

"Shh. Do you hear something?"

(Meowing noises.)

Anne gasps, "Something's in trouble," and runs out of the bushes, you and Sprig following behind.

The sound was the loud buzzing of giant wasps attempting to sting something stuck in a puddle.

"Oh, my gosh! We have to save her."

"Right behind ya."

Anne runs forward and grabs the creature out of the mud, landing on her back. The wasp's stingers stick in the ground around her, narrowly missing her body.

You gasp and run forward, grabbing Anne's waist and dragging her and the creature away.

Sprig takes his slingshot out and takes out the wasps with rocks and you and Anne continue to run.

Finally reaching a safe distance, you both stop to take a breather.

Anne opens her eyes, "You're safe now, little fella," only to squeal.

Sprig rushes over to you two, as you look at Anne with confusion.

"What's wrong? Are you stung? We'll have to amputate."

"No. This caterpillar looks exactly like my cat Domino from back home."

Anne holds up her phone with a picture of Domino, showing the resemblance of the creature.

You fought the urge to squeal as she had.

"I love my cat more than anything in the world. She was irreplaceable. But now I found a replacement. Let's take her home with us!"

"Eh, I don't know, Anne. That's a wild animal. I'm not sure bringing it home is a good idea."

"Pshh. That's ridiculous. My cat back home was a stray before I adopted her. All it takes is love and patience and... love."

"You said "love" twice"

Anne holds the caterpillar near Sprig and it licks him.

"Sold!"

"It's settled. I hereby dub thee "Domino 2." Come on, girl. Let's go home."

The creature stood there, until flopping on its side.

"Uh, is it broken?"

Anne thinks, before digging in her pink backpack, "Hold up. I got an idea. This worked on Domino 1 without fail."

She pulls out a small mouse toy with a bell attached to it and begins shaking it back and forth, seemingly hypnotizing the creature as well as Sprig.

"That's it, girl. You can do it. Come on."

It begins crawling towards Anne, as you and Sprig follow in a trance, the creature trailing behind.

Sprig follows Anne like a zombie, a hand reaching up in an attempt to grab the toy.

"I want it. Give it to me."

(Brought to you by (Y/N) fangirling because of how cute Domino 2 is.)

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"Hey, Hop Pop, old buddy, old pal."

"What do you want, Anne?"

"Oh, nothin'. I was just thinking. Doesn't this house feel empty to you?"

Hop Pop turns and looks at the mountain of dishes Anne was supposed to clean.

"Not especially."

"Wouldn't it be nice to have a sweet, fuzzy, loving critter around?"

"A pet?"

"Great idea, Hop Pop."

"No pets! Every time we get one, Sprig and Polly swear they're gonna take care of it! Like this one spider we had, Charlie Bigbottom. I mean, sure, they were there for all the cuddlin' and the snugglin', but who gets stuck doin' all the work? Good ol' Hop Pop, that's who! I swear to Frog, whoever brings a fuzzy critter into this house will be on dung duty for a month! I told Charlie Bigbottom to stay out of the..."

Anne scatters back outside as Hop-pop rants and then turns to you and Sprig, who currently has a Domino 2 hanging off his leg.

"Plan B. We're gonna have to sneak Domino 2 inside."

"Should we be concerned about this?"

Sprig lifts his leg, which Domino 2 is nibbling on.

"That is called "play biting." Isn't it cute?"

You frantically nod, overwhelmed by the creature's cuteness.

"Yeah, kinda seems like she's tasting me."

"That's ridiculous. Trust me. I know cats."

"Well, all right, if you say so."

The three of you quietly sneak to the door, as Sprig peaks through the crack to see a distracted Hop-pop still ranting.

Suddenly, Domino 2 sneezes, causing you and Anne to gasp and duck behind the couch as Hop-pop turns around.

"What's that?"

Sprig stalls, "Uh, hey, Hop Pop, what's the worst thing Charlie Bigbottom ever did, since we're talking about Charlie Bigbottom?"

"Heh! How can I even choose? Jumpin' out in front of Bessie and overturnin' the wagon. Gettin' tarantula hair everywhere. Then there was the time he put a hole in the roof."

You and Anne sneak down into the basement as Hop-pop is distracted.

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"Anne, (Y/N), you two awake?"

Sprig gasps as he sees spider-like webs covering everything. He runs around yelling your names, only to calm down when he yanks the cover off Anne's bed and sees you and Anne cuddled up to Domino 2.

"Hey, wake up, wake up!"

Anne wakes up, but you only stir and snuggle back into her side.

"Huh?"

"What happened? Are you guys okay?"

"Hmm? Yeah, totally. Domino 2 just had a bit of a rough first night indoors."

She rolls over to reveal many long scratches on the side of her face.

"Eesh. Hop Pop is definitely gonna notice something."

"Oh, this is nothing. We just have to keep an eye on her while she's adjusting. Isn't that right, Domino 2?"

Sprig chuckles nervously before yelling as Domino 2 doors web at him, causing him to fall on the floor.

"That's just how she says "I love you."

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Anne builds a cat tree house for Domino 2 with your help. As both of you are admiring your work, you notice Domino 2 sneak out of the basement.

Hop-pop is making a sandwich, and goes back to get the mustard as Domino 2 eats it, only to be saved by Sprig who lays on the plate and spooks Hop-pop

.

Anne walks down the steps to the bases meant only to grimace as she sees a dead bug lying on her bed that Domino 2 caught.

She pretends to be grateful as you giggle.

.

Domino 2 drops from the ceiling, hanging from her web, attempting to eat Polly. You quickly stanch her away before Polly can notice, though she becomes suspicious.

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"Whew! Hope there isn't a Domino 3."

Domino 2 purrs and wraps her lower body in a web before taking a nap. You silently squeal at the creature's cuteness.

Deciding you wanted to nap as well, you laid next to Domino 2 and curled up with her.

"It's all worth it when you get to watch your adorable little boo take a nap."

"I gotta admit, she's pretty darn cute."

Anne nodded, but she wasn't looking at Domino 2.

(I know what you are Anne.🤨)

"Welcome, brother, to the church of cute."

"This a cult thing?"

Sprig's stomach growls.

"Whoa. Looks like Domino 2 isn't the only thing purring. Come on. Let's go grab some grub."

"Ooh, I love grubs."

Sprig runs up the basement stairs, as Anne turns around and wishes you and Domino 2 a good sleep. However, not without placing a kiss on your forehead and rushing off with a red face.

As she leaves, the web covers the rest of Domino 2.

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Anne and Sprig stuff their mouths full of food in the kitchen as Hop-pop walks in.

"Whoa, whoa there! Hungry much?"

"We've been running around all day. We're starving."

"Runnin' around"? Doin' what?"

"Oh, nothing."

A loud crash interrupts their conversation.

"What was that?"

Anne nervously shrugs her shoulders, "Mmm, basement ghost?"

"Don't be ridiculous. Basement ghosts don't sound anything like that."

The three walk into the basement and gasp.

Everything is covered in the web, and Domino 2 is missing from her cocoon.

"What the heck is that? (Y/N)? Domino 2, where are you? Baby precious!"

"Wait. "Baby precious"? That's a pet name, for a pet! You sneak a pet in here?"

Sprig breaks under Hop-pop's warning gaze and admits everything, "Okay, we did!"

"What'd I tell you about pets?"

"Uh, I'm sorry. It's just that the caterpillar looked just like Anne's pet from back home. It was small, cute. It was black with white spots and it—"

"Wait. A black caterpillar with white spots?"

"Yes. Sensing something is wrong."

"That's a Coastal Kill-a-pillar! They're dangerous amphibivores, and they only get white spots right before they're about to—"

Domino 2 shrieks and drops from the ceiling, now a butterfly-like creature with red glowing eyes.

Everyone screams as it roars, and Anne frowns.

"Domino 2, is that you?"

Hop-pop shushed Anne, "Shh. These monsters respond to sound. Let's back away slowly and quietly."

Polly suddenly bangs the door open and yells, "Hey, family! What's happening in here?"

Domino 2 shrieks again, and flaps its wings, sending big gushes of wind as everyone runs out of the basement.

Anne turns around and looks at the creature.

"Domino 2? It's me, Anne. We bonded. I gave you treats. You gave me dead things. Don't you remember?"

It roars, rushing past Anne and out of the basement.

"Whoa! No, wait! Come back!"

Anne runs up the stairs to see Domino 2 violently playing with Hop-pop, Sprig, and Polly.

"Oh! She's gonna bite their heads off as soon as she's done toying with them. Toying with them. Wait a second..."

Before Anne has time to respond, a rattling noise catches everyone's attention. You were waving a mouse toy in the air.

"Hey, Domino 2! Over here!"

Domino 2 begins running after you as you bolt out of the house, toy in hand. You stop as you reach the edge of a cliff.

The creature lands in front of you and you frown.

"Oh, Domino 2, I thought Anne and I could change you, but I guess we were wrong... I'm sorry we couldn't make it work!"

You sadly reminisce over the fun times you and Anne had with Domino 2.

"It's time to go."

With a heavy heart, you threw the toy over the edge of the cliff, a Domino 2 following after it.

"Sayonara, Domino 2."

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"And look who's cleaning up after the pet! Hop Pop, that's who!"

You walk in through the hole where the front door is supposed to be.

"Hey."

All attention goes towards you.

"(Y/N), you're okay!"

"Tell me that thing is gone!"

"Yeah, it's gone."

Anne notices your sad expression and steps toward you, intertwining her hand with yours. She couldn't let you take all the blame, after all this was mostly her idea.

"I'm so sorry, you guys. I had no right to put you all in danger, no matter how much I miss my cat. I hope you understand."

"Understand? Understand! I miss Charlie Bigbottom with all my heart and soul!" Hop-pop begins bawling.

He wraps both you and Anne into a hug.

"Uh, can we please fix the giant hole in the house?"

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Anne sweeps the floor of the basement to get rid of the remaining web. You sit on the steps to the staircase.

"Well, just goes to show ya. You can't take some wild animal you found in the woods, have it live in your basement, and think everything's gonna be okay."

"Hmm. I don't know. Sometimes it works out."

You pulled something out from behind your back and handed it to Anne, "Hey, um, I made you a little something. I used some of Domino 2's hair as the fur."

It was a small Domino 2 plush.

She stared blankly at it, and you sweat dropped.

"You probably hate it. It's too ugly, isn't it? You know what, you can give it back to me if you don't—"

Anne pulled you into a hug and squeezed the plush, "I love it!"

You sighed relief and hugged her back, missing the blush covering her cheeks.

I guess you found something, or should I say someone, cuter than Domino 2. How lucky.

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"When you've been sad for so long that when something bad happens you don't cry, you just sit there and feel numb."

-Unknown

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