Gato Loco came to with the awareness of two things. The first was that he was sprawled out on the floor of the lair. The second was that there was a shotgun prodding him in the ribs. He lashed out to grab the barrel of the shotgun, pulling the holder of it off balance. As he sprung to his feet to disable the other person, he saw the frightened ursine face of Snowflake.

Several questions came to mind for Gato Loco, including why Snowflake had come down here instead of getting help, but instead all he managed to say in his surprise was, "Where did you get a shotgun?"

"I had one stashed away," Snowflake said defensively. "For medicinal purposes."

"Why did you come—" Gato Loco started to say, when someone cleared their throat at the other end of the room.<...

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