Attack of the Ninja Kittens! (10 page)

Baldy was suddenly left alone with Lady Fluffkins, who was still tangled in her cape and trying to claw her way out, spitting and cursing for someone to assist her. He held his breath as he
watched the ball of fury, and then slowly crept away to find somewhere safe to hide. The servant only made it a short way before the heel of a riding boot landed firmly on his tail.

‘And where do you think
you’re
going?’ hissed a familiar voice.

Baldy turned his tatty head to see Lady Fluffkins glaring down at him, her shredded cape flapping in the breeze. She leant forward and drew the doggy hair-clippers from her boot.

‘I believe you still have something that belongs to me,’ said the Empress, green eyes flaring beneath her crooked hat. ‘And I intend to take it back.’

Rocket’s sharp ears caught the distant BUZZ of clippers as the Spacemutts bounded towards the
Dogstar
’s open cargo doors, but he was far more concerned about the HISS of
approaching ninjas, so he swiped his studded collar.

‘WOOF, prep the ship for take-off!’ he barked.

‘Yes, Captain,’ said WOOF, and fired up the engines.

The
Dogstar
was already hovering above the ground when the dogs arrived and bounded in the back, skidding along the metal floor. The cargo doors then closed on the leaping kittens and the
battered ship soared away from the pink planet, heading for home.

Family and Furry Friends

Back in the Pooch Pound dogs’ home, Duke was still thrilled about his intergalactic adventure, and the Spacemutts enjoyed seeing the Great Dane filled with so much
excitement.

gasped Duke, circling his cage as he recalled the chase. ‘It was the most brilliant feeling to have so much open space!’

said Poppy.

slobbered Butch, licking his lips before he dribbled on his blanket. ‘They’ll come in very handy if you ever run out of energy.’

The Great Dane stopped pacing and looked back at the Spacemutts.

‘Though maybe I should stay here after all,’ he frowned. ‘You might need a big dog like me in your battles against the feline forces. Who knows what Lady Fluffkins will come up
with next?’

‘I don’t think that kennel is big enough for you any more,’ said Rocket, aware that Duke had not sat down since the teleport beamed them home. ‘Anyway, you’ve saved
the Earth once already.’

‘And you can keep an eye on the wild cats that roam the countryside,’ said Poppy. ‘I’m told they often gather in groups, so we need you to keep an eye on them and make
sure they don’t build an army here on Earth.’

‘I will,’ said Duke, and for a moment he seemed sad again.

‘What’s up?’ asked Butch.

‘I’m looking forward to having a family again, and it’s only because you all believed in me,’ said the Great Dane, shifting awkwardly. ‘I just wish you could all
find new homes too.’

‘We will one day, when we finally capture Lady Fluffkins,’ said Rocket, nodding to Poppy and Butch when he heard footsteps approaching. ‘Meanwhile, friends like you are our
family, as well as any new recruit who takes your kennel when you leave.’

The door to the kennels suddenly opened and the warden led a pony-scented family past the three noisy kennels to the one at the end. Through all the dribbling, circling, barking bad behaviour
that kept them in the Pooch Pound, the Spacemutts could hear sighs of delight from the humans as Duke eagerly adopted them.

The Great Dane soon left the kennels with his head held high, confident that his new family would love him for the big dog that he was. And as he passed each of his friends, he hoped it
wouldn’t be too long before they found happy homes too.