The Fake Heiress and Her Purrfect Partner novel Chapter 41

**Dreams Rise Again by Braxton**

**Chapter 41**

Nina’s heart raced as she pivoted on her heels, a rush of adrenaline surging through her veins. The moonlight cast a silvery glow over the forest floor, illuminating a dark, wriggling shape that lay awkwardly on the ground.

“Ow, my butt. It hurts!” the shape groaned, its voice laced with a comical mix of annoyance and discomfort.

Nina squinted, her eyes adjusting to the dim light. It was a bat, but not just any bat; this one was so round and plump that it resembled a little piglet, albeit with those unmistakable black wings folded awkwardly against its body.

The bat, who introduced himself as Chunky, lay helplessly on his back, his tiny legs flailing in a desperate attempt to right himself. When he caught sight of Nina’s curious gaze, panic washed over him. “Don’t look at me! I’m so embarrassed!” he squeaked, his eyes wide with mortification.

Nina couldn’t help but chuckle at the sight. Realizing that there was no immediate danger, she felt her tension ease. ‘A bat falling from the sky? Perhaps it’s a sign of good fortune. If anything truly dangerous were lurking, my squirrel friend would surely alert me!’ she mused, a hint of optimism creeping into her thoughts.

As moments passed and Chunky continued to struggle, Nina finally decided to offer her assistance. “Need some help?” she asked gently, her voice soothing.

Chunky froze, his ears perking up in surprise. “You can understand me?” he gasped, a mixture of disbelief and hope flooding his tone. “Did you hear what I said earlier?”

Nina nodded, her expression warm and encouraging. “Of course! Falling is nothing to be ashamed of. Did you hurt yourself? I’m actually a vet, and I can help you.”

Chunky shook his head vigorously, his little wings fluttering in protest. “No, no! I’m fine! My belly is soft enough that the fall didn’t hurt at all,” he replied, a hint of pride in his voice.

With a smile, Nina bent down and offered him a twig, a makeshift tool to help him regain his footing. With a gentle tug, she helped him stand upright, his round form wobbling slightly.

“Hey, since you’re a vet, can you help with my snacking problem?” Chunky asked, his big, shiny eyes gleaming with hope as he looked up at her.

Nina blinked in surprise. “You want me to cure your cravings?” she asked, her curiosity piqued.

“Yeah,” Chunky admitted, a shy blush creeping across his cheeks. “I’m the only one in my family who can’t hang upside down to sleep. Honestly, I’m the fattest bat around! I tried hanging just now, but I was so heavy that the whole tree branch came down.”

Nina understood the dilemma. Sleeping upside down was essential for bats, allowing them to conserve energy and launch themselves into flight with ease. Their back legs weren’t built for strong take-offs like birds, so they relied on gravity and their claws to swoop into the air.

“I can help you slim down, but—” she began, her thoughts trailing off as Chunky’s ears suddenly twitched, and his round face tensed with alarm.

“I hear footsteps!” he whispered urgently, his demeanor shifting from playful to wary in an instant. “From behind us. Is your friend coming?”

“I came alone,” Nina replied, her heart beginning to race again.

‘Could it be the killer?’ she thought, instinctively grabbing a nearby branch for protection. “Can you tell how tall they are?” she asked, her voice steady despite the rising anxiety.

With his extraordinary hearing, Chunky could discern details that were lost to the average ear. “A little taller than you, but way more muscular,” he relayed, his pointy ears twitching with concentration. “He’s smoking and scouting around, and he seems weirdly excited.”

Nina’s heart sank. His description didn’t match the killer’s height. ‘Is this guy an accomplice?’ she thought, the tension coiling in her stomach. Just then, footsteps echoed ominously behind her.

A short, burly man emerged from the shadows, rubbing his hands together as he approached Nina with a leering grin. “Hey there, pretty girl. What are you doing wandering the woods alone at this hour?” he taunted, his demeanor dripping with menace.

He fumbled with his belt, his intentions clear. “Planning a little midnight rendezvous with your lover, huh?”

Nina tightened her grip on the branch, ready to call upon her secret squirrel army that lurked in the shadows, prepared to spring into action at a moment’s notice.

But before she could act, Chunky leapt to the ground and shouted at the top of his lungs, “Mom! Dad! Grandma! Grandpa! Uncles! Aunts! Cousins! Somebody help! A bad guy is bullying me!”

The bat clan immediately grew wary, their expressions shifting from concern to suspicion. Luna squinted at Nina, folding her wings protectively. “A vet who understands us? Why are you here, trying to steal my grandson for some experiment?” she demanded, her tone sharp.

“Relax, everyone. I’m a vet. I run a zoo and help the police as an animal specialist to catch bad guys sometimes. I’m actually chasing down a killer here,” Nina explained, her voice steady and reassuring.

“He also kidnapped a kid about this height,” she added, gesturing with her hands to indicate the child’s stature, and then she described the killer’s features in detail. “Did you guys see anyone like that here in the woods?”

The bats erupted into a chorus of chatter, each one eager to share their observations.

“I saw him!” one bat exclaimed.

“Me, too!” another chimed in.

“He took the kid and went over the wall right there,” one bat pointed out.

“I ran into them!” another bat piped up. “They’re holed up in my auntie’s cave right now. They even lit a fire and chased her whole family out.”

Nina’s eyes lit up with determination. She had finally found the killer’s hideout. “Where does your auntie live?” she pressed, urgency fueling her words.

“It’s in a cave near the winding mountain road,” the bat replied, practically buzzing with excitement. “If you could get rid of that creep, that would be awesome. My auntie and her whole family are stuck outside in the rain.”

Nina nodded resolutely, giving the sleazy guy on the ground a swift kick to ensure he wouldn’t be getting up anytime soon. “I’ll deal with him first. Then I’ll be on my way.”

“I’ll swoop over and check out the cave,” the bat offered, spreading his wings in preparation. “My wife knows the route. She’ll guide you there.”