PA 3.5: End of a Tail

Chapter XV Part I

"Mitt, seriously!? What's your problem?"

"No arguing," they casually responded to Sparky. He, much like Olive and Brownie, didn't much appreciate being yanked from the middle of class at 10 in the morning, without so much as a peep why. The only exception was Rover, who Mitt didn't even ask to come along- they had found him stalking Sparky while 'on guard for assassins.'

The group was marching forward at a decent pace, but Mitt had silently insisted on heading the group with their vigilance. Sparky had been following close behind but slowed as he began to chatter with Brownie, who, along with Olive, were lagging behind massively. Rover was the sole exception, maintaining an almost equal distance between Mitt and Sparky.

Though Mitt had hoped the dogs wouldn't put up a fuss about being coated in Ginger's blood, they knew it'd be far wiser to exercise caution and nick a junior's suit jacket to cover themselves with. The black garment contrasted harshly with their uniform's purplish hues, but fashion was hardly the point. Even so, Mitt found displeasure in both the bloodstains and the ugly garment in equal measure. As soon as they got to Coco's, they'd see about casting a ritual to rid themselves of the blood on their uniform.

"Can you at least tell us why you took us out of class? And how did you get the principal to let you use their PA system?"

The answer was threats and magic, but Sparky really didn't need to know that. As for why they took them out of class, Mitt wasn't entirely sure what the plan was yet, but the cat needed to protect them from Patches. The dogs were the likely targets of any of his attacks, and the school probably wasn't safe anymore.

"Are you seriously upset about getting to skip math class?" Brownie asked Sparky, putting her little paws on her hip and looking at Sparky with sass in her eyes. Her head was still bandaged, providing a thin wrapping that almost looked beanie-like. At the same time, band-aids and gauze surrounded her face- above her right eye, her left cheek, and everywhere else the rat terrier had left a mark.

"Hey! What's that supposed to mean?" Sparky frowned, looking incredulous at Brownie's straightforwardness.

The corgi smiled. "I'm just teasing. But, hey, you won't see me sad over missing math... or science... or language class..."

"You just hate everything, don't you," Sparky said, crossing his arms, making an audible sound as his black faux leather jacket crinkled at the joints.

"Oh, and especially social studies; talk about false advertising. You'd think it was about being social, not looking at maps all day."

Sparky just frowned, bemused.

"D-Did someone get hurt?" Olive asked Mitt. Their voice was meek, and tiny paws were covering their mouth while they looked down at the ground, already worrying what the answer might be.

Mitt barely knew the mutt, but it was clear they weren't doing good. Patches had hurt them much like he'd hurt Ginger, Angel, or themselves, but Olive became reclusive and silent, rather than boisterous and upset. "We're going to Coco's," Mitt responded.

Before Olive could speak for themselves, Brownie piped up. "So, you'll tell us when we get there?"

Mitt just nodded, which was hardly noticeable with the bobbing of their head as they walked.

"Whatever you say, then," she flippantly added.

The walk's conversation died down from Mitt's quiet attitude, contrasting how they confidently spoke during most other times. It was clear to the dogs that something was up.

"Wait! I think I see something!" Rover suddenly shouted, trying to reduce his tone to a whisper and failing. "That dog over there! Is that him!?"

Rover scurried up behind Sparky, nearly jumping on his back to point towards a tall dalmatian adult with long hair and- notably- who was female, mowing their lawn half a block down from where the students currently were.