Freedom. Oh, sweet, glorious freedom! Thunder sniffed the air. It smelled wonderful. Like everything was going to be alright. He surveyed his surroundings. Nothing looked familiar. How in the world would he get back home? He sniffed the air again, trying to smell everything in it. He smelled mouse, rat, trash, grass, dirt, trees, dogs, cats, and… there! A very familiar smell. The smell of home, and of Ed and Jane. It was incredibly faint though, as if they had only just come there once, a few days ago. But it was enough. Sniffing as much as he could, Thunder followed the trail. And followed it. And followed it some more. It was very late at night, and Thunder couldn’t keep his eyes open. He laid down to sleep under a tree. The grass under it was no fuzzy blanket, but it would do for how tired he was.

---

                In the morning, Thunder woke to find two figures towering over him.

                “We thought we caught you already!” the first one said.

                “Looks like he found a way to escape. Smart cat,” said the second. They came closer, their hands outstretched. Thunder hissed his best and then ran off. He ran and ran until he couldn’t breathe. He stopped for breath just when his lungs thought they would burst, and looked behind him. No one was there, thank goodness. Thunder sniffed the air again. The sent of home was stronger now, very close. He looked around him. He still wasn’t on his street yet, but he was close. Thunder kept running. Then, suddenly, the scent turned. Up a flight of stairs, to a house. Home. Wonderful, amazing, home. Home was better than milk. Home was better than soft blankets. Home was better than fresh air. Home was even better than dead mice! Thunder scampered up the stairs and pawed and scratched at the door, meowing. Then someone familiar opened it. The familiar violet eyes and straight auburn hair. Jane scooped Thunder up just as she had that day all those months ago, when he was no more than a kitten. Now, he was a full-grown cat.

                “Darling! Look! It’s Thunder! Thunder’s back!” Jane called to Ed. Ed smiled and strode swiftly to them and scratched Thunder behind the eat just like he used to.

                “Y’know,” he said. “I never would’ve guessed I’d miss this little guy so much.” Thunder purred, so happy to finally be home again. Ed and Jane pulled Thunder in for a group hug.

                “We’ll never lose you again,” Jane whispered in his ear. He purred back.

                Thunder was home.