Best Buds: Attack of the Squirrels Panel 1 Setting: The same sunny living room. Charls is perched regally on the back of the sofa, observing the world outside through the window with intense focus. Luck is happily chewing on a squeaky toy shaped like a rubber chicken. Charls (narrating, dramatic whisper): The furry fiends are gathering. I sense their chaotic energy from here. The audacity! To frolic so close to our domain! Panel 2 Luck looks up from his chicken, tail wagging questioningly. Luck: Huh? Did you say something, Charly? Is it treat time? Charls: Treat time? Luck, open your eyes! We are under siege! Look! Charls gestures dramatically with a paw towards the window. Panel 3 Outside the window, two plump squirrels are indeed frolicking on a tree branch, chasing each other and burying nuts. Luck: Oh! Squirrels! I like squirrels! They're fun to chase in the yard! Charls: "Fun to chase"? Luck, they are mocking us with their blatant disregard for our superior intellect and grace! They taunt us with their bushy tails and their incessant nut hoarding! It's an outrage! Panel 4 Charls leaps gracefully from the sofa to the floor, his eyes narrowed. Charls: We must formulate a plan. A swift and decisive maneuver to remind them who truly reigns supreme in this territory. Operation Nutcracker is a go! Luck: Operation… Nutcracker? Does that involve actual nuts? 'Cause I really like peanut butter ones! Panel 5 Charls stares at Luck, a look of exasperation on his face. Charls: No, Luck! It involves… strategic… deterrence. You will provide the… enthusiastic distraction. I will employ… subtle intimidation. Luck: Ooh! Enthusiastic distraction! I'm good at that! Does it involve barking? I can do a really good "WOOF WOOF GRRR!" Luck demonstrates with gusto, dropping his rubber chicken. Panel 6 The sudden loud barking from inside startles the squirrels outside. One of them drops a nut in surprise. Squirrel 1: Jeez, what was that?! Sounds like a furry banshee! Squirrel 2: Let's just bury these quickly and scram! This neighborhood's getting weird. Panel 7 Charls watches from the window, a smug look on his face. Charls: Excellent work, Luck. Your… unrestrained vocalizations… have successfully sowed seeds of fear in the hearts of our adversaries. Luck (tail wagging proudly): So, did we win Operation Nutcracker? Did we get the nuts? Panel 8 Charls jumps back onto the sofa and begins to groom his paw again, looking out at the now empty tree branch. Charls: We achieved a strategic victory, Luck. The squirrels have retreated. And no, we did not get the nuts. Our objective was dominance, not… foraging. Honestly. Luck: Oh. Well, maybe next time they'll have peanut butter ones! Luck picks up his rubber chicken and shakes it happily. Charls sighs contentedly, a small smile playing on his lips. Caption: Teamwork makes the dream work. Especially when the dream involves scaring squirrels.
