1 00:00:08,560 --> 00:00:15,360 Speaker 1: Hello friends, and welcome to sleep Tight Stories. We are 2 00:00:15,400 --> 00:00:19,520 Speaker 1: continuing with Cat City and getting closer to the end 3 00:00:19,600 --> 00:00:26,560 Speaker 1: of the story. Remember last time, Susan and Tucker are 4 00:00:26,680 --> 00:00:32,120 Speaker 1: at the gate fighting with Julian and Kai. Susan wants 5 00:00:32,159 --> 00:00:35,000 Speaker 1: to try and close the gate but cannot seem to 6 00:00:35,080 --> 00:00:39,320 Speaker 1: figure it out, while Tucker and Julian get ready to 7 00:00:39,440 --> 00:00:46,120 Speaker 1: have their own fight. In this chapter, Tucker and Julian 8 00:00:46,240 --> 00:00:52,080 Speaker 1: fight and things are not going well for Tucker. Julian 9 00:00:52,240 --> 00:00:58,440 Speaker 1: cheats and does everything he can. Finally, Tucker does the 10 00:00:58,600 --> 00:01:04,520 Speaker 1: unexpected jumps over Julian to help Susan with Kai, who 11 00:01:04,600 --> 00:01:10,399 Speaker 1: is throwing his magic at her. Susan gets a hold 12 00:01:10,440 --> 00:01:14,440 Speaker 1: of Julian again and uses his magic to close the gate. 13 00:01:15,800 --> 00:01:19,800 Speaker 1: Julian is wondering what the Rats will do with him now. 14 00:01:21,400 --> 00:01:24,119 Speaker 1: Once the gate is closed, the Rats try to get 15 00:01:24,160 --> 00:01:27,679 Speaker 1: out of the city, but the Cats are right behind them, 16 00:01:28,360 --> 00:01:34,480 Speaker 1: led by Vinnie. Tucker has another battle to fight, but 17 00:01:34,640 --> 00:01:38,520 Speaker 1: this one will not end the way he had hoped. 18 00:01:41,319 --> 00:01:55,000 Speaker 1: Cat City, Chapter nineteen and twenty. Tucker knew Julian had 19 00:01:55,040 --> 00:01:59,120 Speaker 1: more experience than he did, but he was heavier boned 20 00:01:59,240 --> 00:02:05,200 Speaker 1: because of his and father and was very, very fast. 21 00:02:05,920 --> 00:02:09,880 Speaker 1: He immediately put both the good use, throwing all of 22 00:02:09,880 --> 00:02:15,320 Speaker 1: his weight and speed at the traitor without warning. Against 23 00:02:15,360 --> 00:02:20,760 Speaker 1: any other cat, his tactic would have worked. Julian, however, 24 00:02:20,840 --> 00:02:23,799 Speaker 1: spent most of his life cheating his way to the top. 25 00:02:25,360 --> 00:02:30,480 Speaker 1: Because of that, the battle became incredibly one sided and 26 00:02:30,600 --> 00:02:36,520 Speaker 1: not in Tucker's favor. Despite his best efforts, he found 27 00:02:36,639 --> 00:02:42,280 Speaker 1: himself collapsed at Julian's feet within moments, out of breath 28 00:02:42,960 --> 00:02:46,280 Speaker 1: and frustrated that he couldn't figure out how to get 29 00:02:46,320 --> 00:02:53,440 Speaker 1: past Julian's trickery. Stupid boy, the former Guard captain slammed 30 00:02:53,520 --> 00:02:57,640 Speaker 1: Tucker into the hard ground. You're wasting your time. You 31 00:02:57,720 --> 00:03:03,079 Speaker 1: can't beat me, Tucker sighed. It took him a moment 32 00:03:03,160 --> 00:03:08,080 Speaker 1: to recover time Julian wasn't about to give him. Tucker 33 00:03:08,160 --> 00:03:11,760 Speaker 1: barely managed to roll himself away from the next attack 34 00:03:12,320 --> 00:03:18,760 Speaker 1: and lay panting, and saw Susan fighting Kai near the gate. 35 00:03:20,240 --> 00:03:24,359 Speaker 1: With a surge of renewed strength, Tucker lunged for them, 36 00:03:25,080 --> 00:03:28,800 Speaker 1: only to be blocked by Julian, who landed lightly in 37 00:03:28,880 --> 00:03:36,160 Speaker 1: Tucker's path. Going somewhere, Julian laughed at him. Tucker gritted 38 00:03:36,200 --> 00:03:41,200 Speaker 1: his teeth. Get out of my way. He snarled, or what. 39 00:03:43,240 --> 00:03:50,480 Speaker 1: Julian's whole backside swayed as his tail thrashed. Instead of answering, 40 00:03:50,960 --> 00:03:56,240 Speaker 1: Tucker did the unexpected. He leaped over Julian rather than 41 00:03:56,320 --> 00:04:02,000 Speaker 1: attacking him, and bolted for Susan. He watched as Kai 42 00:04:02,160 --> 00:04:06,600 Speaker 1: attacked her with magic, seeing the pink light arching toward her, 43 00:04:06,880 --> 00:04:13,160 Speaker 1: and threw himself directly into Kai. Susan had only a 44 00:04:13,200 --> 00:04:15,680 Speaker 1: heartbeat to dodge out of the way of the spell. 45 00:04:16,120 --> 00:04:21,120 Speaker 1: When Tucker hit Kai. She heard it echo against the 46 00:04:21,160 --> 00:04:25,360 Speaker 1: gate behind her with a clang, and almost fell over 47 00:04:25,520 --> 00:04:29,760 Speaker 1: as the magic he threw freed the silver portal and 48 00:04:29,920 --> 00:04:35,960 Speaker 1: it swung free Susan. Tucker yelled at her, I'm fine, 49 00:04:36,400 --> 00:04:39,400 Speaker 1: she yelled back, I've got the gate. Keep them away. 50 00:04:42,480 --> 00:04:48,960 Speaker 1: She turned and put all her weight against the heavy door. Slowly, ponderously, 51 00:04:49,640 --> 00:04:54,160 Speaker 1: the shining gait began to swing closed, but the momentum 52 00:04:54,240 --> 00:05:01,440 Speaker 1: slowed and stopped as the magic wore off. Panting, Susan 53 00:05:01,520 --> 00:05:04,960 Speaker 1: looked back. She had managed to get the gate more 54 00:05:05,000 --> 00:05:10,440 Speaker 1: than half closed, narrowing the entry, but knew it wasn't enough. 55 00:05:12,640 --> 00:05:15,640 Speaker 1: The whole area in front of it was full of 56 00:05:15,800 --> 00:05:21,840 Speaker 1: rats and cats battling each other. She felt tears well 57 00:05:21,880 --> 00:05:27,280 Speaker 1: as she watched the fighting. The rats suffered heavy casualties, 58 00:05:27,320 --> 00:05:31,040 Speaker 1: but the cats were so few compared to the endless, 59 00:05:31,240 --> 00:05:36,840 Speaker 1: rippling column of rats. I have to get this gate closed, 60 00:05:37,160 --> 00:05:44,599 Speaker 1: she told herself. Now. Susan was turning back to the 61 00:05:44,640 --> 00:05:49,200 Speaker 1: gate when she spotted Julian sneaking up on Tucker, still 62 00:05:49,240 --> 00:05:55,159 Speaker 1: fighting with Kai. Furious and desperate, she lunged for the 63 00:05:55,240 --> 00:05:58,600 Speaker 1: traitor and grabbed him by the scruff of his neck. 64 00:06:00,640 --> 00:06:04,080 Speaker 1: This time, she was prepared for his attempts to get away. 65 00:06:05,080 --> 00:06:08,120 Speaker 1: She held him at arm's length and shook him hard. 66 00:06:08,920 --> 00:06:12,839 Speaker 1: Use your magic, Susan yelled at him. Close the gate. 67 00:06:14,640 --> 00:06:19,679 Speaker 1: He snarled at her, eyes pulled tight, ears flat. Never, 68 00:06:20,440 --> 00:06:25,040 Speaker 1: he yowled. Susan shook him harder. Do it, she screamed, 69 00:06:25,400 --> 00:06:29,880 Speaker 1: Or I toss you to the rats, Julian writhed in 70 00:06:29,920 --> 00:06:34,000 Speaker 1: her hands, fighting to get free. You're too late, he 71 00:06:34,080 --> 00:06:37,159 Speaker 1: hissed at her. Even if the gate gets closed now, 72 00:06:37,560 --> 00:06:43,120 Speaker 1: the rats are in the city through the tunnel, she said. 73 00:06:43,760 --> 00:06:47,800 Speaker 1: Guess again, Vinnie and his guards have already taken care 74 00:06:47,880 --> 00:06:52,839 Speaker 1: of them. At least I hope that's what happened. Susan thought, 75 00:06:53,560 --> 00:06:58,680 Speaker 1: Julian let out a howl of despair. You lie, I 76 00:06:58,720 --> 00:07:01,120 Speaker 1: can take you there if you want to see for yourself, 77 00:07:01,760 --> 00:07:07,600 Speaker 1: she said. Susan felt that same thrill and knew what 78 00:07:07,680 --> 00:07:13,680 Speaker 1: it meant. Julian was gathering his power. Because of that, 79 00:07:14,560 --> 00:07:17,560 Speaker 1: she was ready when he fired his magic at her. 80 00:07:18,680 --> 00:07:23,160 Speaker 1: The moment he released it, Susan spun him around and 81 00:07:23,360 --> 00:07:28,000 Speaker 1: pointed him at the gate. The red light hit the 82 00:07:28,080 --> 00:07:35,560 Speaker 1: gate and pushed it hard. No Julian howled. She took 83 00:07:35,640 --> 00:07:40,880 Speaker 1: one step back and looked at him. See if your 84 00:07:40,920 --> 00:07:44,840 Speaker 1: new friends like you now, she said, before throwing the 85 00:07:44,920 --> 00:07:47,800 Speaker 1: cat as hard as she could out of the gate 86 00:07:48,200 --> 00:07:53,000 Speaker 1: and into the seething mass of rats. Susan hit the 87 00:07:53,000 --> 00:07:57,760 Speaker 1: gate with her shoulder, pushing against the rushing rats, hearing 88 00:07:57,840 --> 00:08:03,080 Speaker 1: squeals and screams as she forced the gate closed against them. 89 00:08:06,040 --> 00:08:10,240 Speaker 1: She put her last energy into closing the gate, breath 90 00:08:10,440 --> 00:08:14,840 Speaker 1: panting in fear and desperate hope, and heard it clang shut. 91 00:08:17,040 --> 00:08:20,360 Speaker 1: She felt energy pass through her body as the magic 92 00:08:20,400 --> 00:08:25,960 Speaker 1: of the gate moved through her as it sealed itself. Oddly, 93 00:08:26,400 --> 00:08:30,840 Speaker 1: as it did, Susan felt that thrill course through her, 94 00:08:31,400 --> 00:08:38,440 Speaker 1: waking something inside her, before falling still again. She could 95 00:08:38,440 --> 00:08:42,520 Speaker 1: hear Julian howling for a long time behind the gate 96 00:08:43,200 --> 00:08:47,360 Speaker 1: and wondered what the rats would do with him. Bad 97 00:08:47,559 --> 00:08:59,640 Speaker 1: Kitty Susan whispered. Susan was surrounded by rats, but now 98 00:09:00,160 --> 00:09:06,160 Speaker 1: realized instead of attacking, they were running trying to get 99 00:09:06,240 --> 00:09:10,760 Speaker 1: back out through the closed gate. They piled up on 100 00:09:10,840 --> 00:09:15,160 Speaker 1: top of each other, climbing her legs. She shook them 101 00:09:15,200 --> 00:09:18,520 Speaker 1: off with a cry of disgust and pushed her way 102 00:09:18,559 --> 00:09:23,800 Speaker 1: to the guardhouse. It wasn't until she looked up that 103 00:09:23,920 --> 00:09:32,720 Speaker 1: she discovered why. Hundreds of cats, led by the unmistakable Vinni, 104 00:09:33,120 --> 00:09:38,720 Speaker 1: attacked the rats, driving them back. She felt a rush 105 00:09:38,840 --> 00:09:46,040 Speaker 1: of relief. They won. Now that the gate was closed 106 00:09:46,200 --> 00:09:49,240 Speaker 1: and the tunnel too, the cats were more than a 107 00:09:49,280 --> 00:09:54,320 Speaker 1: match for the rats that were left. Susan looked around 108 00:09:54,360 --> 00:09:58,960 Speaker 1: for Tucker, and her heart froze as she saw he 109 00:09:59,120 --> 00:10:08,400 Speaker 1: was still in terrible danger. Tucker fought Kai, both were hurt. 110 00:10:10,040 --> 00:10:13,319 Speaker 1: Vinnie made it to her before she could stop the fight. 111 00:10:14,480 --> 00:10:19,280 Speaker 1: Let him finish, it was all, he said. Susan watched 112 00:10:19,800 --> 00:10:28,720 Speaker 1: anxious Tucker, however, had it under control. He stood over Kai, 113 00:10:29,040 --> 00:10:35,720 Speaker 1: shaking with rage, fur standing on end. Why Tucker demanded, 114 00:10:36,360 --> 00:10:41,160 Speaker 1: not for power, not to be king. I don't believe it, why, 115 00:10:43,320 --> 00:10:48,680 Speaker 1: Kai coughed a deep, racking sound as he collapsed on 116 00:10:48,720 --> 00:10:54,680 Speaker 1: the ground. You don't believe, Tucker. You must admit you 117 00:10:54,760 --> 00:10:59,480 Speaker 1: didn't know me as well as you thought. Kai started 118 00:10:59,480 --> 00:11:05,200 Speaker 1: to laugh, but the cough won again. I trusted you, 119 00:11:05,840 --> 00:11:11,440 Speaker 1: Tucker said, crying, furious and hurt all at once. He 120 00:11:11,600 --> 00:11:15,040 Speaker 1: wanted to lash out again to make Kai feel the 121 00:11:15,080 --> 00:11:19,520 Speaker 1: pain he was feeling deep inside, but knew the real 122 00:11:19,640 --> 00:11:23,920 Speaker 1: pain was in his heart. I loved you, and you 123 00:11:24,120 --> 00:11:29,760 Speaker 1: betrayed me. You can't know how much you meant to me, Tucker, 124 00:11:30,080 --> 00:11:33,640 Speaker 1: Kai said softly. I never wanted it to turn out 125 00:11:33,679 --> 00:11:37,360 Speaker 1: this way. I had such great plans for cat City 126 00:11:37,880 --> 00:11:43,560 Speaker 1: for you, But our way of life needs to change 127 00:11:43,720 --> 00:11:47,280 Speaker 1: the humans who created us. We are so much more 128 00:11:47,320 --> 00:11:52,160 Speaker 1: now than we were then to hide underground to fear 129 00:11:52,280 --> 00:11:55,920 Speaker 1: humans when we could be free. I know you would 130 00:11:55,920 --> 00:12:02,160 Speaker 1: have understood, if only, but by helping you, by encouraging you, 131 00:12:02,880 --> 00:12:09,720 Speaker 1: I brought about my own downfall. Imagine Kai fell still. 132 00:12:12,559 --> 00:12:17,040 Speaker 1: Tucker howled in agony. Kai was like a second father 133 00:12:17,200 --> 00:12:24,400 Speaker 1: to him, a teacher, a friend. It wasn't fair. Tucker 134 00:12:24,480 --> 00:12:27,280 Speaker 1: looked up to see the rest of the council approaching. 135 00:12:28,360 --> 00:12:34,439 Speaker 1: They are coming for me, Kai said, yes. Tucker answered, goodbye, 136 00:12:34,480 --> 00:12:40,880 Speaker 1: my son, Kai said, step away from him, Tucker. Tabitha ordered, 137 00:12:41,320 --> 00:12:46,600 Speaker 1: the traitor is our problem now. Tucker spun on them 138 00:12:46,600 --> 00:12:52,520 Speaker 1: with a snarl. You believe me, now do you? All 139 00:12:52,559 --> 00:12:56,560 Speaker 1: four of the council members bowed their heads, tails and 140 00:12:56,640 --> 00:13:02,480 Speaker 1: whiskers low, please, Tucker. Albert said, we need to take him. 141 00:13:03,320 --> 00:13:10,560 Speaker 1: Let him go. Tucker stood there one more moment, breathing hard, 142 00:13:10,720 --> 00:13:15,600 Speaker 1: before spinning and sitting down, his back to them, not 143 00:13:15,720 --> 00:13:19,280 Speaker 1: wanting to look at them or see them take Kai away. 144 00:13:22,600 --> 00:13:25,480 Speaker 1: Susan knelt next to him and held out her hands. 145 00:13:26,360 --> 00:13:29,800 Speaker 1: Tucker looked up at her, but wasn't ready for comfort. 146 00:13:30,600 --> 00:13:36,800 Speaker 1: I'm okay, he said instead. She looked hurt, but nodded 147 00:13:37,080 --> 00:13:42,400 Speaker 1: and backed off. Tucker got up and paced away a 148 00:13:42,440 --> 00:13:47,720 Speaker 1: few steps to gather his thoughts. He finally looked around him, 149 00:13:48,440 --> 00:13:51,480 Speaker 1: seeing the cats cleaning up the rest of the rats 150 00:13:51,520 --> 00:13:55,280 Speaker 1: that threw themselves with no result against the gate in 151 00:13:55,360 --> 00:14:00,280 Speaker 1: an attempt to get away. We'll have to scout or 152 00:14:00,320 --> 00:14:04,440 Speaker 1: the city. Vinnie's voice was soft as he sat down 153 00:14:04,480 --> 00:14:08,079 Speaker 1: next to Tucker. We can't afford to have even one 154 00:14:08,440 --> 00:14:13,240 Speaker 1: of them survive. I know, he said, we'll start right away. 155 00:14:15,800 --> 00:14:18,920 Speaker 1: I think there's a bunch lost in one of the tunnels, 156 00:14:18,960 --> 00:14:23,920 Speaker 1: Susan offered softly from close by. Tucker hadn't realized she 157 00:14:24,000 --> 00:14:29,560 Speaker 1: had followed them. Oh, Vinny said, voice light, And why 158 00:14:29,600 --> 00:14:34,480 Speaker 1: would that be took a wrong turn? I guess, Susan answered. 159 00:14:35,640 --> 00:14:39,880 Speaker 1: Vinnie patted Susan's knee with one big paw and turned 160 00:14:39,920 --> 00:14:45,560 Speaker 1: back to Tucker. Rest a bit, Vinnie said, just a bit. 161 00:14:47,520 --> 00:14:54,120 Speaker 1: Tucker nodded, he was suddenly very tired. A gasp from 162 00:14:54,160 --> 00:14:59,960 Speaker 1: behind him, however, spun him around and horrified, he gathered himself, 163 00:15:00,720 --> 00:15:06,440 Speaker 1: knowing he had made a huge mistake. Kai broke free 164 00:15:06,440 --> 00:15:09,920 Speaker 1: of his captors, not nearly as weak as he appeared, 165 00:15:10,480 --> 00:15:16,040 Speaker 1: and was in mid leap, headed directly for Susan. Tucker 166 00:15:16,120 --> 00:15:21,280 Speaker 1: leaped without thinking, planning to intercept, but knowing this time 167 00:15:22,160 --> 00:15:29,120 Speaker 1: he was too late. Susan was hurt that Tucker didn't 168 00:15:29,160 --> 00:15:33,120 Speaker 1: want her help, but wasn't really surprised he went through 169 00:15:33,200 --> 00:15:37,600 Speaker 1: so much and it was all because of her. She 170 00:15:37,720 --> 00:15:40,720 Speaker 1: stayed as close to him as she could, not wanting 171 00:15:40,760 --> 00:15:43,680 Speaker 1: to be far, but turning away from her friend to 172 00:15:43,720 --> 00:15:48,280 Speaker 1: give him the privacy he wanted. She sat down on 173 00:15:48,360 --> 00:15:52,840 Speaker 1: the ground, hugging her drawn up legs, just trying to 174 00:15:52,880 --> 00:15:59,320 Speaker 1: stay out of the way. She was actually so tired 175 00:15:59,800 --> 00:16:03,640 Speaker 1: she started to nod a little when she heard a shout. 176 00:16:04,800 --> 00:16:07,880 Speaker 1: She looked up in time to see Kai leaping at her. 177 00:16:09,040 --> 00:16:12,400 Speaker 1: She knew she wouldn't have a chance to duck this time, 178 00:16:13,000 --> 00:16:20,960 Speaker 1: so instead she opened her arms and caught him. Susan 179 00:16:21,040 --> 00:16:28,240 Speaker 1: felt the magic go into her and flinched, expecting the worst. Instead, 180 00:16:28,760 --> 00:16:32,040 Speaker 1: she felt it flare and bounce against a wall of 181 00:16:32,200 --> 00:16:37,160 Speaker 1: power within her, a power woken only a few short 182 00:16:37,240 --> 00:16:44,280 Speaker 1: moments before that, somehow felt so familiar. You have found it, then, 183 00:16:45,160 --> 00:16:51,120 Speaker 1: Kai breathed, eyes heavy lidded the statue. Susan said, and 184 00:16:51,200 --> 00:16:57,440 Speaker 1: the gate the power went through me. The power of 185 00:16:57,480 --> 00:17:02,080 Speaker 1: the gate is human power. Kai told her so softly 186 00:17:02,240 --> 00:17:05,760 Speaker 1: she could barely hear. And that is what saved you. 187 00:17:06,960 --> 00:17:12,680 Speaker 1: My power is now yours. I beg you, His pupil 188 00:17:12,840 --> 00:17:16,520 Speaker 1: swelled as he stared into her eyes. Use it to 189 00:17:16,760 --> 00:17:22,800 Speaker 1: free my people from cat City. I don't understand, Susan said, 190 00:17:23,520 --> 00:17:29,600 Speaker 1: free them you will. His voice faded, so she was 191 00:17:29,680 --> 00:17:34,080 Speaker 1: forced to lean closer to hear all I did I 192 00:17:34,160 --> 00:17:38,000 Speaker 1: did for them. When the time comes, you must help 193 00:17:38,040 --> 00:17:44,679 Speaker 1: them be free. Susan nodded, though still confused. I'll do 194 00:17:44,880 --> 00:17:50,199 Speaker 1: my best. Susan felt that thrill again as something that 195 00:17:50,359 --> 00:17:56,200 Speaker 1: felt like a promise sealed in magic passed between them. 196 00:17:56,640 --> 00:18:03,920 Speaker 1: Kai seemed satisfied with her answer, sighed heavily once. Farewell Susan, 197 00:18:11,359 --> 00:18:13,560 Speaker 1: and I hope you will join me next time for 198 00:18:13,680 --> 00:18:19,320 Speaker 1: the end of this story. Good Night, sleep tight.