The Case of the Chocolate Cake

It is a dreadfully hot Fourth of July. Even the wind is too hot to move, preferring to settle stagnant on the lounge chairs and attempt to tan. The sun is driving everyone to irrational thoughts: The Chef has decided that to prepare for the festivities this evening, she must make a cake. Not just any cake, though, her [[world famous chocolate cake->Hot oven]].

You curse your friends for requesting the damned chocolate whiskey cake. Sure it is delicious, but today ice cream might have been the better option. Good lord, the house is hot, you are hot, everything is too damn hot, and you have a headache. You pull out the cake from the oven, spluttering as a wave of heat blasts your face. At least it looks good: the circular pan contains a perfectly moist and decadent-looking chocolate cake. You inhale, and scents of dark chocolate and a hint of Maker's Mark Bourbon (like vanilla and caramel) caress you where the heat had hit you. [[Sugary heaven.]]

After some time in delicious agony, you hear the oven beep, signaling the cake's completion. You listen as The Chef pulls the cake from the fiery embrace of the oven, placing it on a cooling rack on the countertop. Incredible how well sound carries in such a small house. (change:?passage, (text-size:0.9)) |= (button:)[[You decide to go help The Chef with the finishing touches->Finishing touch]] =| (button:)[[You decide to wait and go see the cake once The Chef has fallen asleep->Fall asleep]]

You are deep within the woods by the big stream. The fish have long left this stream, you know, because your mother told you so when you were a cub. You look at your own cub splashing and jumping at the ripples and sparkles in the water... So painfully thin. Your stomach grumbles. The great flat green is expanding, and each day of this insufferably hot season, you swear you see more of those fast and rumbling machines on the black hot solid rivers. Up and down they go, occasionally stopping to belch out humans in bright colors. They look like big insects as they flit and twitch along the great flat green grass, swinging shiny sticks and hitting big white berries around. You have tired the berries once. They hurt your teeth. [[Not good.->Today]]

You can't stand this ridiculous heat. You pant incessantly as you flop back and forth on your bed in your fur coat. Oh you're dying! Will no one help poor Clark? Your dramatic antics garner no attention. You sneeze with indignance. Even your paws are sweating, was that supposed to happen? And it didn't help that the older human was making the magic heat box warm up. But, if she is in the kitchen, it meant that [[surely there would be snacks and crumbs available for you to clean up...->Or you can retreat]]

(text-size:0.9)[The kitchen's yellow tiles are cool against your sweaty paws, and you pause luxuriously for a moment by the water dish. You notice the older human eyeing you as she scoops handfuls of something onto something just hidden by the lip of the counter... curse these short legs. If only you were just a bit bigger! But you do have her attention, so you pant and sniffle and walk around with the little limp because ohhhh you are dyinggggg and wouldn't anyone take pity on you? (enchant: "Hi Clark", (text-style:'bold')) "Hi Clark," the human says, barely phased by your performance. You sit down next to her, staring up at the counter, giving her your best puppy eyes. She doesn't look. Ugh. Backing up a bit, you stalk to the other side of her legs, sit down again, and gingerly poke her with your paw. (enchant: "Oh, you want something, huh", (text-style:'bold')) "Oh, you want something, huh," the human chuckles, stepping away from your paw. Maybe she is getting ready to give you something?] (change:?passage, (text-size:0.6)) |= (button:)[[You look at her hands.->Hands]] =| (button:)[[You look at her feet.->Feet]]

The bathroom is the perfect place to hunker down for the long wait. As soon as the older human goes downstairs, you will make your move... You settle onto the tiles, keeping your head high and nose active. But as time drags on, you begin to drift off a bit, your head nodding forward... You jerk away again as your nose touches the floor. How long could this kitchen activity possibly take? You heave a sigh, a grumbling sound that sends tingles down to the tips of your paws. [[Soon. She must go away soon.->Get that cake]]

You pull on your ultra plush neon yellow limited edition Easter Peep slippers (with giant yellow Peeps mounted on top) and creep into the hallway. There isn't a sound in the house other than your breathing--why was it so loud?--and you carefully try to inch your way up the stairwell. One, two, three steps, pause. Repeat. Listening for any motion at all from below. On the upper floor: one step, two steps, a hop, skip, and jump and you're in the kitchen. And Clark is on his hind legs, paws on the counter, face buried in what used to be a beautiful chocolate cake. You gasp, and he jumps, startled, guilt flashing across his face for a second as he wags shyly at you. "Oh my goodness," you whisper in awe, staring at the carnage. [["MOM!"]]

You creep into the hallway in your chicken-leg knee high socks, shuffling your feet to mask the sound of footsteps. There isn't a sound in the house other than your breathing--why was it so loud?--and you carefully try to inch your way up the stairwell. One, two, three steps, pause. Repeat. Listening for any motion at all from below. On the upper floor: one step, two steps, a hop, skip, and jump and you're in the kitchen. And Clark is on his hind legs, paws on the counter, face buried in what used to be a beautiful chocolate cake. You gasp, and he jumps, startled, guilt flashing across his face for a second as he wags shyly at you. "Oh my goodness," you whisper in awe, staring at the carnage. [["MOM!"]]

You drop back down onto all fours, feeling your weight come back onto your shoulders. Lumbering out of the stream, you follow your nose down to the left, climbing over fallen aspen trees and small boulders. Your cub gleefully follows, scampering ahead and then falling behind as she pokes at bugs. </style> <img src=https://i.imgur.com/MdTxgkP.jpg> </div> Then the forest ends, and you are at the edge of a big black solid river. The scent is overwhelming, coming from the big wooden rock or cave or something right there in front of you. You can't see any obvious food, though, and wonder if it is worth it to leave the safety of the foliage to explore the wooden rock. (change:?passage, (text-size:0.6)) |= (button:)[[Explore the wooden rock.]] =| (button:)[[Go toward the other smell.->Cake]]

You and your cub turn away from the ripe stench wafting downhill and follow the sweet smell of sugar up the hill. Up through thick manzanita bushes filled with buzzing wasps and skinny pine trees and their brittle dead branches. Up, up, up a steep hill, your cub stays on your heels as you stumble through the loose dirt and slippery pine needles. Then, finally, you crest the ridge and find yourself in a small patch of grass. It is similar to the great big green, but you notice patches are crispy and yellow. Not enough water. The sweet smell is almost overpowering now, wafting from the big wooden rock, a human cave. You almost turn away, but your stomach overcomes all survival instincts. Around the side of the rock is an open space a bit off the ground, big enough for your cub to slip in, but you would need to stay outside. Or there is a series of steps that lead up to a wooden protrusion above your head; you could see if there is an opening up there. Translated into human: (change:?passage, (text-size:0.6)) |= (button:)[[You explore the window.]] =| (button:)[[You explore the upstairs deck.]]

(text-size:0.9)[You creep a little closer, hoping that this movement, no, the next! will betray a stray crumb. But to no avail, nothing falls from her deft fingers. When it becomes obvious that no morsels of food will become available and that whatever the older human is doing will continue for some time, you decide this task is boring. Stalking out of the kitchen, you return to your bed in the corner by the big wooden box that constantly ticks and bongs at regular intervals. There might be something to look at outside the bay windows above the chair? To pass the time you:] (change:?passage, (text-size:0.6)) |= (button:)[[Climb to the top of the chair]] =| (button:)[[Retreat to the bathroom->Bathroom]]

(text-size:0.9)[You creep a little closer, your eyes and snout pointed at the floor around her feet. Just when you think this tactic is fruitless, {(live: 0.5s)[ (either: "Plip!", "Plop!") ]} Down come crumbs, no, nuts! You scramble into action, paws gaining minimal traction as you dart toward the falling treasures and snap them into your mouth. "Aggh, Clark! No! No! No!" She corrals you out of the kitchen, lightly tapping your sides with her feet and legs to get you out.] (change:?passage, (text-size:0.6)) |= (button:)[[Retreat to the small human's room]] =| (button:)[[Retreat to the bathroom->Bathroom]]

You clamber up the slippery brown sides of the couch, your paws leaving marks on the material. How had the older human described it? "Le-thur". You assume your sentinel position with your front paws balancing on the back of the chair. </style> <img src=https://i.imgur.com/Ty6X4r0.jpg> </div> "Korey, come look at this!" the older human shouts. You turn your head slightly in the direction of her voice, but you keep your eyes out the big windows where you can see the forest. Little slips of the great big green grass peek through the large trunks, but you are more interested in the birds flitting through the boughs and... ''a bear.'' (text-size:1.2)[[''A Bear.''->Spotted!]]

You try to turn back around at the stairs, but the older human points a threatening finger. A shiver goes up your spine, and you skedaddle down the stairs. You know of only one being in this house who is sure to take pity on you: the small human. You know she keeps a stash of food in her room, too; you smell the sweetness of sugar whenever you tip-toe into her room and can always find hints of sticky candy residue on her hands when you lick them. Today her door is almost closed; there isn't enough room to stick your nose in to open it. You bat at the door with your paw, which conveniently bounces against the door frame to open a bit more. Wiggling your nose in between the door and the frame, you manage to squirm [[into her room.]]

(text-size:0.9)[The heat of the oven seeps through the already sweltering house, the smell of fudge oozing into every particle of wood, plaster, and skin. The Witness opens her window to attempt to let a breeze in to stir up the perfume of fudge and sweat, allowing the rich scents to waft into the nearby forest and golf course. Nestled into a little perch in the Sierra Nevadas, the house creaks and groans and peels under the tough mountain sun. A few birds weakly chirp, but otherwise the afternoon is silent. Not even the golfers in their neon Nike polo shirts dare to venture out in this heat. Choose your character:] (change:?passage, (text-size:0.6)) |= =|||= (button:)[[The Thief]] A mischevious little creature. Certainly he is a dog, but none of the family can quite figure out what type. A labradoodle? A cocker spainel? A cat? ==|||= (button:)[[The Witness]] Young and obsessed with pink and candy and sugar. Frequently in cahoots with The Thief, her rebellious streak has grown along with her appetite. =| (button:)[[The Bear]] {(live: 0.2s)[ (either: "Growl!", "Roar!") ]} |==|

Or you could retreat to the cool tiles of the bathroom where it is dark and cool(er). Whatever things the human is making now, you can also surely pilfer later. You roll over to your paws, standing up and then shaking off the weariness heat places on your bones. Start with the twirl of the snout, now get your ears into it, so they whack both sides of your head, then alternate paws for maximum rotation, let the shake shiver out your tail. Wonderful. You are ready for mischief. [[You sidle into the kitchen with a limp in your step.->Kitchen]] [[You slink into the nearby bathroom where you can keep an eye on events and cool down.->Bathroom]]

(text-size:0.9)[You didn't use to be a sneaky child, but the healthy household craze has driven you to new depths to satisfy your neverending craving for sugar. And hearing the footsteps recede into the bedroom, leaving the cake unattended, sets fire to a fountain of saliva you can barely control. Just the thought of a slice of the divine cake sets your body into autopilot. But you must be clever... Is it worth it to put [[socks and shoes on->With Shoes]], or should you just try and [[make it in socks->Just Socks]]?] (change:?passage, (text-size:0.6)) |= </style> <imgsrc=https://i.imgur.com/3z52U0Q.jpg> </div> =| </style> <imgsrc=https://i.imgur.com/OrzqhG0.jpg> </div> |==|

Today you are trying to stay cool by sitting in the stream, but your stomach is twisting in knots. You want fish or berries, but the great flat green and the black solid rivers and the horrible humans have infested this forest. You huff, scrabbling at the bank as the loose dirt attempts to support your weight. Lifting onto your hind legs you manage a big sniff. There are strong scents from both your left and your right, and both smell enticing. [[You explore to the left.->Garbage]] [[You explore to the right.->Cake]]

Not a second later, you hear footsteps approaching you. Finally, movement! She's leaving! Immediately you are on your feet, mischief surging into your mind. You peek out from the doorway, tracking the older human's path from the kitchen then down the stairs, waiting for her head to completely disappear from sight before making your way toward the kitchen. You move quickly but silently, making sure to not move your head too much so your tags on your collar don't clang together. An all too familiar rattle that might raise the alarm... The kitchen smells divine, and the source is coming from somewhere along the counter. Carefully, you jump your front paws up so they rest on the counter, allowing your head to just clear the top. Where could that wonderful smell be coming from... Oh yes! [[To the left!]]

(align: "=><==")[{(live: 0.5s)[ (either: "Bark!", "BARK!") ]}] (align: "===><=")[{(live: 0.2s)[ (either: "Bark!", "BARK!") ]}] (align: "=><=")[{(live: 0.5s)[ (either: "Bark!", "BARK!") ]}] (align: "=><==")[{(live: 0.2s)[ (either: "Bark!", "BARK!") ]}] (align: "===><=")[{(live: 0.5s)[ (either: "Bark!", "BARK!") ]}] (align: "=><=")[{(live: 0.7s)[ (either: "Bark!", "BARK!") ]}] (after:3s)[(button:)[[Scare that Bear!]]]

Your barking has certainly caught its attention. Its great big head rears up in surprise. It is so close to the house you can almost see it considering if you are a threat... you puff up your thin fur and stick out your narrow chest as much as your scrawny body will allow. Come on humans, don't you see the threat? "Clark shut up!" the younger human yells, followed by a "Quiet!" from the older human. No, no! [[Couldn't they see?]]

You know your mother and her moods. The heat certainly wouldn't have helped with their constant swings, plus there is the chance she might let you have a spoon of batter or frosting or whatever sugary deliciousness she is making up in the kitchen. You pull yourself to your feet, little hands reaching up from the pillows and sheets to try and pull you back down. Darkness and dizziness from standing up too fast pull at your eyelids, almost succeeding in making you fall back into the sanctuary nest of plush animals on the bed. But you are up, you are sluggish, [[but you are awake.->High Alert]]

You wait, patience wearing thin as you hear the footfalls of The Chef continue to dance in the kitchen, just above your head. When will this torture end! Then! Your ears perk up as the footsteps stall, then begin to move toward the staircase. Heavy {(live: 0.5s)[ (either: "Thump!", "Thump!") ]} indicating she's making her way down, then past the doorway of your bedroom, then into their own bedroom. [[At last, the cake is unguarded.->Not a bad child]]

You shuffle out of your room and into the hallway, yawning. You pause at the base of the stairs for a big stretch, listening for the clatter of baking tools and tell-tale sound of shifting feet from the upstairs kitchen. Everything sounds reasonable, with no dishes being placed with suspicious force or whisks being thrown into the sink. It is safe to offer your help. You move wordlessly up the first few steps, making sure the place your weight evenly on each foot so the old wood won't creak as much. [[You pause again...->Clang!]]

(change:?passage, (text-size:0.9)) |= (align:"===><=")[{(live: 0.2s)[(either: "O", "*")]} {(live: 0.2s)[(either: "o", "◊")]}] (align:"===><=")[{(live: 0.2s)[(either: "o", "◊")]} {(live: 0.2s)[(either: "O", "*")]}] |||== (align:"===><==")[(text-size:2)[(text-style:"blink")[!!]Clang(text-style:"blink")[!!]]] ==||| (align:"=><===")[{(live: 0.2s)[(either: "O", "*")]} {(live: 0.2s)[(either: "o", "◊")]}] (align:"=><===")[{(live: 0.2s)[(either: "o", "◊")]} {(live: 0.2s)[(either: "O", "*")]}] |==| (text-size:0.9)[Oh no.] (align:"===><==")[(text-size:2)["Clark!"]] (text-size:0.9)[The scrabbling of paws and heavy thunks of running footsteps. You are frozen on the stairs as the noises get closer, your mother surely chasing your poor dog with a spatula. You continue [[up]].]

As suspected, Clark is running for his life away from an absolutely furious Mom who is swinging her pink spatula decorated with little red rubber hearts. ''"Out of the kitchen!"'' she howls, her last swipe making contact with Clark's rear end. He yelps, jumping cartoon-style in the air, his paws moving double time. His muzzle is covered in something brown, and even though there's a shimmer of fear in his eyes, you also see a hint of devious pride as he licks the substance from his nose while he slides down the stairs. "He got the cake!" Mom sobs in frustration at the top of the stairs, shaking her spatula menacingly at the receding shadow of Clark. You finish your way up the stairs, following Mom into the kitchen to [[witness the carnage.]]

The younger human scoops you up in her arms, and you flail helplessly in her tight embrace. You give her face a lick——look, see? ''Look out there at the bear!'' Her eyes widen slightly as she looks out the window, but if she sees the bear, she doesn't say anything. "Korey, are you ready? We need to go soon," the older human mutters from the kitchen, and the younger human gives you an extra squeeze before setting you down on the ground. You are about to jump back onto the couch to see where the threatening bear has gone, but the younger human points toward the stairs. "Come on, Clarkie, [[downstairs!]]"

The younger human points again, and you reluctantly patter to the stairs. She follows you, her legs blocking the way back to your lookout station. Once you are part way down the stairs, she closes a mini gate that cuts you off from the upper floor, and all you can do is stare helplessly as they finish getting ready and leave out the front door. //Come back!!!// You howl, the emptiness of the house suffocating and the threat of the bear terrifying. The sun begins to set as you keep barking until you can't bark anymore, and you curl up exhausted on the top stair waiting for them to [[come home.]]

A sunbeam so golden-orange it seems molten honey is pouring through the slit between the hot pink curtain and the angel pink wall catches the drifting, glittering specs of dust and long thin strands of dog fur in amber. You are temporarily dazzled by the brightness of the room compared to the darkness of the hallway. </style> <img src=https://i.imgur.com/ESTlUVd.jpg> </div> "Clarkie!" the small human crows from somewhere in the room. But where? "Come find me!" she giggles, a game you two have played since before you can remember. It almost always ends in you getting a treat, too, so you start sniffing. (change:?passage, (text-size:0.6)) |== (button:)[[Check the closet.]] ==|||= (button:)[[Check the desk.]] =|||= (button:)[[Check the other side of the room.]] =| (button:)[[Check on the bed.]] |==|

The sliding door of the closet is open a crack. You use your nose to push it open and step inside... Ooh, a sock! "Come find me!" You forget the sock. She isn't in here. (change:?passage, (text-size:0.6)) |= (button:)[[Check the desk.]] =|||= (button:)[[Check the other side of the room.]] =|||= (button:)[[Check on the bed.]] |==|

You scamper to the desk in the corner of the room, following the stronger scent of candy. She's not there, but there are a few wrappers that you want to put in your mouth... "Clark, no! Silly dog! Come find me!" (change:?passage, (text-size:0.6)) |= (button:)[[Check the closet.]] =|||= (button:)[[Check the other side of the room.]] =|||= (button:)[[Check on the bed.]] |==|

Maybe she is hiding on the other side of the bed where all the stuffed animals and dolls are. Free toys for you! (You particularly like biting the noses off of the plastic dolls.) You round the edge of the bed (change:?passage, (text-size:0.6)) |= (button:)[[Check the closet.]] =|||= (button:)[[Check the desk.]] =|||= (button:)[[Check on the bed.]] |==|

She must be here!! Make sure your paws have a firm grip on the wood floor, ready, steady, ''jump!'' Immediately you land on something squishy, and giggles erupt from under the covers. You dance a bit on the covers as they writhe around, breathless "Come find me!"s issuing from underneath the impenetrable blankets. You've got to save her! A hand peeks out from the top of the covers, an opening!! You paw back the pink quilt to reveal the small human's smiling face. "You found me!! Good boy!" she laughs, reaching her other hand to scratch behind your ears. All thoughts of cake vanish. Time outside this pink bubble ceases to exist. It is just you and the small human scratching your ears. She stops for a second, and immediately you put your paw on her arm, digging in your nails a bit to let her know she should keep going. "I have to get you a t-r-e-a-t," she says as she pets your head. You do not know what a t r e a t is, but it couldn't be better than this moment of pink bliss. You've stolen the small human's heart, a thief for sure, but the most innocent kind.

The cake is in crumbled ruins. Bite marks chew into half of the cake, and the poor culprit has frosting all over his nose and muzzle. You can't help but giggle at the ridiculousness of the situation: your mother hopping mad at the mischevious little dog who outwitted her attempts to keep the cake safe. One couldn't help but praise the evil genius, but you had to wonder, would you still be allowed to eat the cake too?

Pulling out a cooling rack, you gently pat the cake out of its metal confinement and onto the wire rack. On the stove, you already have a milk chocolate drizzle melted and ready to pour, which you stir a few times with a whisk and then take it off the heat and put the pot next to the cake. The final touch is the roasted pecans, already cooled and ready to be sprinkled. With great care, you douse the cake in the chocolate coating and then pat the sides with the pecans... [[It is beautiful.]]

You stand back to admire it a bit. So worth the sweat, you think. You take a quick glance at the watch and, goodness, is that the time?? The whole day has gone and already it's almost time to get ready for the hike up the mountain to watch the sunset and fireworks for the fourth. Then back down the mountain for dinner and dessert... This was going to be a long evening. Maybe you have a few minutes to just lay down. Watch some Real Housewives. [[Relax.]]

You push the cake a little bit back on the counter, then make your way downstairs. The house is quiet. Is Korey with Clark? Her door is closed, but you hear a little scratch and whine from inside. You open Korey's door a crack, she is playing with her dolls and her headphones plugged in, and Clark is panting frantically at the edge of the room. He has little bows clipped onto his ears, and a baby's bib velcroed around his neck. "You all done?" you ask, and Clark bolts from the room. You follow him into your room and sigh a breath of relief: it is cool and dark in here. The shades are drawn against the anger of the sun, and you just want to fall into the waiting embrace of the bed.

You look left and right warily, making sure the rumbling monsters filled with humans weren't approaching. The coast is clear, so you and your cub gallop across the river and toward the wooden cave. These human dwellings were so strange and terrifying, but your hunger pushes you forward. There is some type of wall that separates you from your lunch, and you huff in frustration. Backing up a bit, you charge the lower part of the wall, swiping at the wood. And, much to your surprise, the wood gives way, sending you tumbling into a dark, dank cavern. The smell of garbage is extremely strong, and you let your lower lip pout out in a bear-smile. In front of you is an overflowing pile of trash. You spot a half-eaten banana, some type of meat that has bluish mold creeping along it, and a bunch of half rotten berries. [[Delicious.]]

All of your mothering instincts are being overwritten by the terrible desire for whatever was making that delicious smell to be in your stomach, so you lead your cub over to the small hole. You stick your head in and are immediately overwhelmed by the ridiculous color of the room. Everything is pink and the afternoon sun glaring in makes it glow. You are near blinded, but are pretty sure there are no humans, and even after a few snuffles and grunts, you don't hear any running to investigate. Gingerly you clasp your cub with your big paws and place her on the window sill. She shimmies into the glowing cave, landing on her rump with a soft thump on the floor. Eager to explore, your cub puts her nose to the ground and follows the scent to a corner of the cave where she plunges her snout into a shiny metal bucket. Rustling around a bit, she pulls out a shiny wrapper out of the trash and settles on her hindquarters to lick off any residue of what food had been in it. You huff in the hole in the wood--//[[keep looking.]]//

The great bear gods smile upon you today: as you and your cub make it up the stairs, you realize there is a big hole in the wood leading to the inside of the human cave. You swivel your ears, but don't hear any humans, so you let yourself inside. There are weirdly stunted and warped trees everywhere, dangling pinecones that emit light like the sun, and [[what was that?]]

[[The most delicious looking cake you've ever seen!]] </style> <img src=https://i.imgur.com/OaFHdHR.jpg width="900px" height="600px"> </div>

Your cub climbs up all the way onto the bed and nods once before politely sitting down near the small girl. She lowers the quilt and grabs a platter from the side of the bed containing three thick slices of peanut butter sandwich, handing two to your cub and keeping one for herself. "How delightful!" she smiles. "Now we have enough for a proper tea party! Mother was making a most delicious chocolate cake earlier too, you shall have to stay for dessert." Your cub nods again, before delicately nibbling at one of the sandwiches. Her pinky claw is raised, just like a proper lady. You can't help but feel a swell of pride. However, with night drawing near, you are afraid you can't possibly stay for dessert, and so you huff at your cub that it is time to say good-bye. "Please do visit again soon," the little girl called out the window as you and your cub walked back toward the woods. "I'll make sure to have cake!"

Why is she ignoring you? Your cub is tip-toeing toward the bed, her eyes locked on the small human. It sniffled a bit, drawing the covers closer to it, so only its eyes were peeking out. //No! It could be dangerous!// Your cub snuffles as she gets next to the bed, tentatively lifting onto two legs to put her front paws on the quilt. </style> <img src=https://i.imgur.com/PIinfEG.jpg width="900px" height="600px"> </div> [["Would you like a peanut butter sandwich?”]] it mumbles, words muffled by the quilt.

Your cub reluctantly spits out the wrapper and lurches back to her feet. She accidentally knocks the bucket over, though, and the clang it makes as it rolls causes a lump on the bed to move. You and your cub are frozen as the shape begin to form from a ball underneath the covers... You are not alone. A small head pops out from the safety of the quilt, frizzy hair the same color as your coat sticking out in all directions. ''A human.'' But not just any human. It is a child and can't be much bigger than your own cub. Still, it could be dangerous, and you snarl at your cub--//[[come back!]]//

You dive in, stuffing yourself on the rotten food. It's better than anything to an empty stomach, and you are so busy gorging yourself that you don't hear the door open. ''"DAD THERE ARE BEARS IN THE GARAGE!"'' You lift your head from the heap, mouth full of banana peel. A small, pink human is staring at you in absolute terror from a little opening in the wall. You bellow with fright, scooping up your cub and racing out of the dark room, across the solid black river, into the forrest, up the hill, on and on and on until finally, you crest the ridge and find yourself in a small patch of grass. It is similar to the great big green, but you notice patches are crispy and yellow. Not enough water. It is next to another big wooden rock. There is an overwhelmingly sweet smell wafting from this new big wooden rock, a human cave. You almost turn away, but your stomach overcomes all survival instincts. Around the side of the rock is an open space a bit off the ground, big enough for your cub to slip in, but you would need to stay outside. Or there is a series of steps that lead up to a wooden protrusion above your head; you could see if there is an opening up there. Translated into human: (change:?passage, (text-size:0.6)) |= (button:)[[You explore the window.]] =| (button:)[[You explore the upstairs deck.]]

There it is, the most beautiful cake you've ever set eyes on. Slober immediately starts pooling in your mouth, and you excitedly scrabble toward the feast. As soon as it is within reach you waste no time and chomp at it, wolfing down bite after bite as fast as you can. The angelic taste barely even registers as you devour every part of the cake you can reach. When your teeth can't reach, you stretch your tongue out in desperation to get every last little crumb... Was that the sound of footsteps?? Oh goodness you need to hurry, need to get as much as you can and then [[escape!]]

The footsteps are definitely coming closer, and it's now or never. You need to get out of the kitchen. One last lick, and then you push back from the counter, your paws landing lightly on the floor. Not light enough, though, and you curse the little jingle of your collar. The footsteps, clunky thunks of one of the humans coming up the stairs, quicken their pace. Gotta go, gotta go, you trot back to the bathroom, did anyone see you? Gotta run! "Clark, what are you doing?" You need to find some better place to hide, in the bathtub? Behind the curtain? You jump in. "Oh my goodness. Mom! Come here! Look what happened!" A second set of footsteps coming up the stairs, hurried and desperate. You shrink, trembling, as far into the corner of the tub as the ceramic will let you. "That little thief! Look at that, he loved it so much he was licking the sides! I hate that little monster"

You are deep in an uneasy sleep when you hear a knock on the door leading to the deck, a thump, then the sound of the door sliding open. Two figures walk in, lurching toward the kitchen. You look on blearily as the two shadows start gulping down something in the kitchen, then rummage through the cupboards. Something isn't right. You know your humans don't snuffle and snort like that, uttering low growls on occasion. One of the shadows pulls open the big cold cabinet where all the good food is kept, and the light from within it casts a terrifying and fuzzy silhouette. There are bears in the house! Energy surges back into your little body, an unbridled rage that these creatures dared to come into your home and eat your food! You throw yourself at the gate separating you from the upper floor, yowling with the [[scariest bark you can muster.]]

One of the bears snarls in shock, dropping a carton of berries it had started to pick up. The other bear, significantly smaller, jumps in fear and starts to clamber back toward the door. You hit the gate again, trying to get at them, but their initial panic subsides when they see you can't chase them. You've got to do something! They turn back toward the food, the bigger bear carefully picking up berries from the floor and popping them in its mouth. The smaller bear climbs up on the counter and takes a large bite out of the thing the older human had spent all day making. How. Dare. Those. Bears. Their impertinence gives you a boost of adrenaline and a crazy idea... You are going to [[hop the gate.]]

A bolt of panic strikes through you: hop the gate? You've never tried this before, this is crazy? But watching the bears do as they pleased overrides the apprehension. You must do anything to protect this house. Crouching into position, you ready your hind legs for the big (align: "======><=")[(text-size: 2)[[JUMP!]]]

You close your eyes, hurtling up through the air ears flying, and then you are pulled back down to Earth. Your paws make impact, and you exhale with relief, you made it. And now to get these //trespassers// out! You puff up your chest and howl, channeling the coyotes you hear frequently baying on the golf course at night. The are frozen, the big one with a berry half way to its mouth, the small one licking a paw. You growl, gnashing your teeth and stalking toward them. The big one puts the berry down, the small one starts eyeing the door. Now, [[charge!]]

The bears scatter, baying in terror as you rush toward them. Never have you been more happy about your teeth much too big to fit in your mouth, their sharp points gleaming in the light of the refrigerator. The sound of a car outside sends the bears out the door which they came in, although the big bear manages to slam the door closed behind it to stop you from chasing them. You are victorious. The car shuts off and a few seconds later the older human opens the front door. "Hey, didn't you put Clark downstairs?" "Yeah? Why?" "He's running around up here, let me turn on the ligh-- CLARK!" The only evidence of the bears was the single blueberry on the floor and the big bite taken out of the chocolate cake. You may have scared the bears away, but the humans will never know. They believe you were the thief.

Your cub reaches up and takes a large bite out of the cake, her muzzle covered with frosting. You are about to sink your teeth in as well when an alarming bark suddenly emits from behind you. You and your cub freeze, your eyes sliding toward the shadows from where the terrifying noise comes from, too scared to move. A small shape moves forward, growling menacingly, baring teeth much too big for its small mouth. //We need to go.// //But maybe one more bite of cake first?// You chomp down on the delicacy, and the little creature charges. Normally you would be the one chasing this small thing, but its bravery strikes a pang of fear into your heart. What could it be capable of? Probably not worth it to find out. You and your cub stumble out of the wooden rock as quickly as you came in, but you can't forget the taste of that delicious chocolate cake.

Immediately she comes running. "What did he do, what did he do?" [["He got the cake!"->witness the carnage.]]