The Most Unlikely Of Friendships

“Oh no…no-no.” Came the thoughts of someone running away, she looked behind her to see the eyes of her chaser. Big wide ready to catch her.

She looked ahead of her the open light from the barn calling her to safety.

“Please just get me there.” She thought as her attacker got closer. She shut her eyes, pushed harder & soon she heard the words.

“Are all of the humans asleep?” She looked up above her towered Owen the Owl, in his high-pitched voice he continued, “Are they?” His eyes hypnotic, moving side to side.

“Yes, they are all asleep.” Came a deep voice of her chaser. Montana looked behind her, standing in the entrance to the barn was a tall Tomcat, called Carl who had piercing blue eyes.

“Almost had you today Montana.” He smiled as his teeth began to show.

“You wish.” She smirked.

“Can we all please be quiet the children are asleep.” Came the whisper of someone like Montana, it was her husband Micheal he was an older mouse. They had met back in their last place at the bottom of the garden where the humans live & had raised thousands of children together already.

“Not all of them,” Carl whispered pointing behind Micheal.

“Why am I having to go asleep, I want to be out getting food for us.” Came the voice of a young mouse called Mason. Montana rolled her eyes.

“We have discussed this before you are not ready. Now go back to sleep.” Montana responded. Mason sighed & left Montana’s view with not another word.

Alright Micheal we will be calm, let me guess I will be chasing you tomorrow?” Carl smiled.

“Oh, you can bet your bottom dollar that I will outrun you.” Micheal smiled.

“Hey, can you all keep it down?” Came the shouts from the ground. Sitting at the table playing snap where the other residents of this barn. Sian & Shane the spiders that lived on the wooden beam up above Montana, Perry & Parker the pigs that were kept as pets. They use to live in the house until they got too big.

Montana looked around at this group, she had lived in this barn for well over a month now & was very happy with the living conditions.

There were a few problems such as death traps, sprays & the tragic loss of her friend Betty & Brad the bee family who were killed last year by some sort of paper. But Montana could not complain.

Every day they would go to the place where the humans stayed to get food & every day Carl would chase them back to the barn. So far he had never caught them, but Montana knew it was only a matter of time.

“M…mummy?” Came the hushed voice of someone who should have been in bed. “Matthew, what are you doing up?” Montana looked over at Matthew who she could tell was scared.

“I… I know I should not be telling you this but Mason has left the barn.”

“What?” Came the cries of everyone in the barn, as everything stopped around Montana. Mason was their oldest still living with them & was due to be set free later that same week.

“Where did he go?” Montana asked stunned.

“He was hungry & said he was big enough to get his own food,” Matthew replied.

“We need to find him. The humans have put out new traps, ones with fresh cheese.” Montana stated clearly worried.

“Olivia darling,” Owen whispered, Olivia, Owen’s wife turned her head so she was looking at Owen. “Let us fly out of here to see if we can find him.” Owen pointed to the crack in the barn door.

Soon enough Owen & Olivia’s wings burst fully out as they took flight like the things that Montana looked up to see light moving in the darkened sky. She saw the lights in the sky every day, what she thinks is called an airplane, Or at least that is what the humans call them.

“Right we… we need to get out there,” Montana stated.

“No, not yet,” Micheal replied blocking the way to the outside.

“Not until we know what we are dealing with, we do not know where the new traps have been placed.” Micheal looked deep into Montana’s eyes. She knew deep down he was right, but her heart was hurting.

The minutes past which seemed like hours with no sign of Mason.

“We have a code red.” Came the screams from above as Owen landed back inside the barn.

“Mason has been cornered by the humans, they are trying to squish him.”

Owen squawked as he tried to catch his breath.

“My baby!” Cried, Montana.

“Do not worry Montana I am on it.” Yelled Carl, as he began to run towards the house. “We have to go,” Montana screamed. Micheal nodded.

“You go I will stay with the family.” Micheal’s voice choked slightly as he thought about Mason. Montana nodded & with that she scuttled out of the barn.

The grass was cool, as Montana moved through it, in front of her she could see Carl, moving at a much quicker pace, she lost sight of him as they approached the house. Her heart was pounding inside her little chest, her only thought was Mason, as the pale wooden house came into view with smoke puffing out of the roof.

She scuttled up the drainpipe & onto a ledge where she could see everything from the inside.

She screamed. “My baby!” As she watched the big humans trying to hit mason with whatever they could find. “Help please someone help me!” Mason cried out.

“Mason!” Montana screamed that is when there was a bang as Carl entered the room, his eyes wide. The humans stopped as Carl began to chase Mason out of the house. “Oh no, oh no!” Montana could hear Mason screaming, she realised that he did not realise that Carl had come to save him.

It was now she realised the danger Mason was in. “Carl stop chasing him!” Came the scream from Montana but Carl could not hear anything, Montana scuttled back down to the Earth & began to chase after therm worried about what she would find.

The night was dark & the moon was now near the middle of the sky. Montana could hear the squeaks of her son as Carl chased after him. Montana jumped down the drainpipe & gave chase.

“Mason stop, please stop!” Montana desperately screamed at him, knowing that he was heading the wrong way from the barn.

They were now in the no-go area, which was full of painful traps aimed to get rid of Montana’s kind. Fearing the worst Montana moved quicker until she heard the sound no mouse wanted to hear. SNAP! Followed by a scream.

“Mason!” Montana screamed as she saw what had happened. Mason lay there on a cold wooden slab, with a metal line trying to push down his neck.

“Mum please help! I cannot hold this much longer.” Mason screamed. Carl looked at the situation. “Please help.” She begged, but Carl turned away & ran off.

“Do not worry son. I will not let this harm you.” She whispered as she jumped up onto the trap to try & keep the metal bar from snapping shut.

Time was moving on, what seemed like hours were only minutes, but Montana knew she needed a miracle now.

“Mum, I am sorry. I should have not gone against your instructions. I should have known it was not safe.” Tears began to form in Mason’s eyes. Montana looked at Mason, at the moment she did not care about what had happened. “It is okay son.” She whispered her arms aching from keeping the trap from shutting.

Montana had given up all hope of Mason being rescued, time was moving on. When she heard rustling in the grass. She looked up to see all the barn animals now beside her. “Here let me help you.” Came the call of Olivia who put her beak around the metal trap trying to pull it up. Montana let go her arms still aching.

“Why are you all here?” She asked not sure how they found out. “Well, Carl came & got us,” Owen whispered as Micheal opened his mouth.

“We need to find a way to reset this trap.” He whispered looking around.

“These traps are not designed for that. They are designed to kill us.” Montana whispered back. “If we pull the trap back then Mason’s legs will be caught.” Owen said looking at Mason's positioning. “Where is Carl, he has seen these traps in action?” Asked Montana. The animals all looked at each other. “He disappeared after alerting us,” Olivia replied. Montana’s head fell, she felt a sadness that she had not felt before.

“Can we wedge something in there?” Asked Micheal.

“This is too powerful for a twig to hold it open.” Montana sighed.

“Well, what can we do?” Micheal asked looking around at everyone. No one had an answer. “Look I can open it wider if I get underneath it. I will nudge you out & take your place to stop the trap shutting.” Montana whispered as tears filled her face.

“But then it will be you the trap squishes.” Mason replied.

“I know son, but you are my son & I love you, so that is worth the sacrifice.” Montana smiled as she looked around at the hushed animals all bowing their heads. Montana looked at Micheal whose cheeks were wet with tears.

“I guess… I guess there is no other option.” Montana croaked, as she readied herself to take Mason’s place. “Not so fast.” Came a familiar voice. Out of the darkness, a pair of eyes pierced the night sky. “Carl!” Came the cries of everyone. As the big Tom cat came into view.

“Here let me try.” Carl yelled as he picked the trap up with Mason on it. Slowly he bent the trap back using all of his power, Mason began to wriggle & he jumped out. The trap snapped shut on Carl’s paw. “OUCH!” He screamed as he began to dance around in pain. Quickly he snapped the trap back & threw it. His paw was now red. “You saved me.” Mason said in disbelief. Carl sighed. “Of course I did kid.” Carl responded.

“But why?” Mason responded.

“Look we can talk back at the barn.” Montana finished the conversation as they headed back towards safety.

The light from the barn shone brightly as Montana entered, safety now all around her. “Right explain to me now.” Mason demanded. Carl sighed.

“Well, Montana it is about time you told him.” Carl whispered. Montana nodded her head. “Well Mason, Carl is our friend, not our enemy.” She smiled. Mason looked confused.

“Let me explain. The humans do not want us around they see us full of illness which would make them sick. They try to kill, us. Carl was brought in to get rid of the problem, but instead, we play a game of chase. This way the humans feed & look after Carl, & we can still get food.” Montana stated.

“Really?” Mason asked.

“Yeah kid, without you lot I would be out of a job & would be sent somewhere else. I quite like it here. So when I catch you I let you go, somewhere away from the humans. Your family are my friends & it is why I chased you tonight. I always have to make it look realistic. You are all my friends.” Carl smiled. Mason nodded.

“Do you understand?” Montana asked. Mason did not speak.

Soon enough the sun began to come up. “Well, time for me to go home. See you soon Micheal. See you tonight everyone.” Carl waved.

“See you later.” Came the noise from the barn.

“Thank you again, Carl.” Montana yelled.

“Anytime.” Carl winked.

“Right get some sleep.” Montana whispered to Mason who turned away & went to bed, for this adventure was certainly more than what Mason could ever imagine.