Lilly put the pot on the stove and looked out the window to see if Max was still playing in the yard. She frowned when she saw that the spot where he usually sat under the tree was empty.

- Max? - she called out as she stepped onto the porch. Her voice echoed through the quiet street.

There was no answer. Lilly looked around, moving to the path leading to the yard. Her son was nowhere to be seen.

- Max! - She called out louder this time, but all she heard was the rustling of the wind in the leaves.

Her heart began to beat faster. She went back into the house, quickly searching his room. She noticed that his bag was missing from under the bed—the one he always kept ready for any "adventures."

Lilly closed her eyes, feeling a growing sense of unease. She took a deep breath and said out loud,

- Of course he did...

Without waiting a moment, she grabbed her house keys and ran outside. She was formulating a plan in her head as she made her way to her neighbor's house a few doors down.

- Mr. John! - she called as soon as she noticed her neighbor watering flowers.

The older cat looked up.

- Lilly, what's wrong?

- Max has another idea, - she said quickly, handing over the keys. - I have to run to the docks. Could you look after the house if I'm gone for a few days?

John looked at Lilly with concern, but nodded.

- Of course, dear. Run, before that little rascal gets into trouble.

 Her fur gleamed in the morning sun, her tail lifting slightly, a sign of determination.

When she reached the docks, she could see the ship preparing to sail. She felt she had to act quickly. Among the crowd of sailors and traders, she spotted a basket full of fruit, waiting to be loaded.

Without thinking twice, she approached the basket and quickly slid in among the apples and oranges, covering herself with the canvas. Her heart was beating like crazy, but she knew she had to be close to Max.

Lilly felt the sturdy basket quiver under the influence of the dockers' movement. The smell of ripe oranges and apples irritated her nose, but she tried to breathe shallowly so as not to give away her presence.

- Hey, don't delay! - she heard the voice of one of the sailors. - The captain wants these fruits in the hold before we sail!

The basket rose into the air, and Lilly tensed every muscle in her body, trying to keep her balance. Through the gaps in the canvas, she could see a bit of sky and the sails, which were already flapping in the light wind.

- Be careful, or you'll crush the goods! - someone else shouted as the basket was roughly lowered onto the deck.

Lilly felt the basket move again, more gently this time, as the sailors lifted it into the hold. The air there was cool, and the smells of salt and wood hung in the semidarkness.

- This is the last one! - one of the sailors shouted. - We're closing the hatch!

Lilly heard the sound of heavy footsteps moving away from the basket. She slowly pulled back the canvas to make sure she was safe. There was silence all around, except for the occasional creaking of the ship.

- Max... - she whispered, sucking in a breath. - Where are you, you rascal?

Her eyes slowly adjusted to the darkness, and she began to listen for familiar sounds nearby.

The sun climbed higher in the sky as the ship slowly pulled away from the port of Felinopolis. The townspeople gathered on the dock waved handkerchiefs, and some shouted goodbye.

George stood by the rail, watching the city shrink in the distance. Olivier approached him, pulling a compact notebook from his pocket.

- So? Ready for the next chapter of our adventures? - he asked with a slight smile.

George turned around, still keeping one hand on the rail.

- Ready? I don’t know if that’s the right word, but I’m certainly curious about what awaits us.

Mark, a young sailor who had shown courage in battles with pirates before, joined them. He brought a jug of water and three cups.
- To shore! - he said with a smile, filling the dishes. - Although now we toast to the waves.

The ship’s captain, an older cat with gray fur and an elegant but practical outfit, joined the conversation. He held a map in his hand with clear markings of their route.

- Gentlemen, - he began, glancing at each of them in turn. - This journey is more than just a cruise. If what George said was true, the treasure we have to find would change everyone's life.

- Unless we find trouble first - Olivier interjected, raising an eyebrow.

The captain smiled to himself.

- Trouble is part of the game. But if we play smart, we'll be the winners.

George looked at the map and pointed to a spot.

- If I'm not mistaken, this is where One-Eyed Joe hid the clues to the cave. But something tells me Lame Joe won't let us get there without any obstacles.

- We better get the crew ready - the captain replied. - If there's trouble coming, we have to be ready.

Olivier looked at the calm waves around the ship.

- I just hope we don't lose anyone along the way.

The conversation continued, filled with plans, the ship sailed out to sea.

Down below, in hiding, Lilly and Max had their own mission - to remain unnoticed for as long as possible....

            To be continued.....😻

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