The Contest Between Water and Electricity

September 4th, Wednesday.

Sunny.

"Sparkle~"

Sparkling Flying Cat opened its sleepy eyes, rubbing them with its fluffy paws as the little tail behind its rump wagged happily.

It had not slept so soundly and without burden for a long time.

But the moment the unfamiliar surroundings entered its sight, Sparkling Flying Cat jolted awake. Its fur stood on end, its teeth bared, electricity flickering across its cheeks as it looked around warily.

Yet after quite a while, the little room remained silent. Only the faint, intermittent crackle of electricity could be heard.

"Sparkle."

Sparkling Flying Cat froze for a moment. Then, everything that had happened last night gradually reflected in its pitch-black eyes, and it nodded thoughtfully.

So it was already in that human's home.

Sparkling Flying Cat tilted its head, then carefully moved its thick, short limbs. Maintaining its vigilance, it slowly left the clutter-filled little room.

It pushed open the unlocked door with its body, and the warm sunlight outside poured in, falling all over Sparkling Flying Cat.

Warm and cozy.

Sparkling Flying Cat narrowed its eyes slightly, savoring the lazy comfort and happiness of sunlight on its body. Its expression gradually relaxed.

It stood there for a long while before finally stepping forward, venturing deeper into this unfamiliar place.

The first thing that came into view was a huge courtyard. The ground here was very flat, uncomfortable beneath its paws. Sparkling Flying Cat gave it a disdainful glance and immediately moved on.

Just then,

"Screech!"

As a piercing cry rang out, Sparkling Flying Cat froze as if it had encountered its natural enemy. The most primal fear surged from deep within its soul. Its limbs turned stiff and numb, terror written across its face.

A huge gray-black figure streaked swiftly through the sky. The shadow it cast was enough to swallow Sparkling Flying Cat whole. It stared blankly upward, dumbfounded.

After a long moment, Sparkling Flying Cat finally came back to its senses. Hating its own pathetic reaction, it frantically searched for somewhere to hide.

Just as Sparkling Flying Cat ran around like a headless fly, a familiar sound rang out overhead. "Chirp."

Spark spread his wings, a cluster of flames surging from his fiery-red feathers. His entire body radiated an astonishing presence as he chased after the Gray Feather Falcon at breathtaking speed.

Bang!

The two figures collided. Sparkling Flying Cat stopped and looked up to watch.

In only a few moments,

The gray-black figure that had made Sparkling Flying Cat's soul tremble was forced back, retreating again and again and nearly plunging headfirst from the sky.

"Sparkle."

So they were fighting. They weren't trying to eat me.

A wave of immense relief welled up in its heart. Fortunately, it had not provoked that terrifying fellow last night.

The moment it recalled Spark's fierce display just now, Sparkling Flying Cat's body trembled faintly with lingering fear it could not put into words.

"Sparkle."

Wait.

Sparkling Flying Cat suddenly realized something. Its face turned utterly grim as it let out a despairing cry.

With such a terrifying fellow here, how was it supposed to sneak away?

No, no!

No matter what, it had to find a way to escape this place!

Sparkling Flying Cat let out a long sigh and continued onward with tiny steps, quickly moving away from the battlefield of those two terrifying creatures.

You didn't see me. You didn't see me.

Silently praying, Sparkling Flying Cat soon arrived beside a fishpond. It looked around and spotted a white figure sprawled atop a large rock. It hurried over. "Sparkle."

Sparkling Flying Cat waved a paw and greeted it enthusiastically.

"Quack?"

Moistening Duck turned to look. Seeing an unfamiliar fellow, it squinted and weakly waved back, its gesture exceptionally perfunctory.

Sparkling Flying Cat was taken aback by Moistening Duck's response, then urgently asked, "Sparkle?"

Do you know where there's a path out of here?

"Quack."

Without even lifting its head, Moistening Duck let the sunlight fall over its body and pointed toward the main gate.

Sparkling Flying Cat looked anxious and shook its head rapidly. "Sparkle!"

I mean a secret path no one knows about!

"Quack?"

Hearing that, Moistening Duck looked at Sparkling Flying Cat in confusion. Scratching its plump rump, it asked in return, "Quack quack quack?"

Why leave this place, quack?

"Sparkle!"

Sparkling Flying Cat reacted fiercely. Its round face tensed as it waved its paws, seeming to accuse them of the unfair treatment it had suffered.

That hateful human had forcibly brought it back here!

Moistening Duck tilted its head. Remembering how Chen Yuan had painstakingly fried dried fish for it, a trace of puzzlement flashed in its eyes.

This human is very nice, quack.

And that nasty-looking bad dog that kept scaring it at every turn.

Moistening Duck narrowed its eyes and carefully examined the indignant Sparkling Flying Cat. Its formerly detached expression became angry.

You're not allowed to badmouth Dog Brother!

"Sparkle."

Seeing this, Sparkling Flying Cat quickly understood. Electricity flickered over its cheeks as it bared its teeth at Moistening Duck.

So you're all in this together!

"Quack quack quack!"

Moistening Duck abandoned its laid-back demeanor and swiftly climbed off the large rock. It glared at Sparkling Flying Cat, ready at any moment to teach this foul-mouthed fellow a lesson.

"Chirp."

However, just then,

An orange-yellow figure glided in from the sky. Its accompanying cry made the two creatures facing off instantly lower their banners and cease hostilities, both turning their heads away from each other.

"Tell me, why were you fighting?" Chen Yuan stared at the two little fellows before him and asked with a stern face.

If Spark had not discovered and stopped them in time, a contest between water and electricity would have played out on the farm.

Of course, Moistening Duck would have been at an absolute disadvantage.

"Quack quack."

Moistening Duck struck first, pointing at Sparkling Flying Cat as it spoke furiously.

It wanted to run away, quack!

It also badmouthed you guys, quack!

Dog Brother, it even called you a bad fellow!

"Awoo awoo awoo!"

Cola immediately grew anxious. His azure eyes glared at Sparkling Flying Cat as he howled nonstop.

"Don't get worked up." Chen Yuan waved a hand, stopping the furious Cola, then turned to Sparkling Flying Cat. "Why did you say that?"

Sparkling Flying Cat did not answer. It merely lowered its head slowly, staring at the ground beneath its feet in prolonged silence.

Chen Yuan frowned, his expression stern. "First, fighting on the farm is strictly forbidden. Anyone caught will receive severe punishment."

"Second."

He paused and looked at the still-silent Sparkling Flying Cat. "If you think the farm is no good, or that we're bad fellows, I can let you leave."

"But you'll be sent to the breeding base, where you'll live with other troubled pet beasts and receive unified ideological education."

"Or even Physical Treatment."

Hearing those last four words, Sparkling Flying Cat's body could not help but tremble.

"Think it over slowly. The rest of you, come eat."

"Awoo~"

"Quack quack~"

Cola winked at Moistening Duck. The two little fellows slung their arms around each other's shoulders, laughing and chatting as they slowly followed behind Chen Yuan.

Spark gave Sparkling Flying Cat one deep look, then ignored it and flapped his wings to follow.

A while later,

One human and three pets enjoyed breakfast in the courtyard, talking and laughing together. Only Sparkling Flying Cat remained curled up in a corner.

After an unknown amount of time, a figure gradually approached Sparkling Flying Cat. Along with a gentle voice, an apple appeared before it.

Sparkling Flying Cat looked up blankly.

"Are you hungry? Have something to eat first."

"Whether you want to leave or not, you're still on the farm right now."

"Aren't you?"