Zoe took a deep breath as she sat under the shade of the gangsters’ porch, drinking lemonade they provided; it had been twenty minutes since they’d chased off Deodato, and one of the other gang members had taken the stolen car to what she could only assume was a chop-shop.  

Javier and Leonardo, the first two men she’d seen when entering the neighborhood, had taken their original seats while the others had returned inside to continue their discussions and party.  Her amber irises moved to the rifles on the men’s laps, stomach tightening while she licked her lips; they appeared to have a rag half-draped over them to give the impression they were cleaning the weapons if anyone drove by.

She plucked at the front of her shirt, feeling the sweat slide down her collarbone and between her breasts.  It’s so flippin’ hot today!  It’s supposed to be February, so what’s up with this heat?

The men glanced over at her, and a reassuring smile lit Javier’s lips, eyes still hidden behind dark sunglasses.  “Yo, you good?  You want me to grab a fan?”

“Mm-mmh, I’m fine, thank you.  Umm, can you tell me a little bit about Maria?  I’m just a little nervous,” she said with a forced chuckle.  “This is all—it’s just really new to me, and I’m not from Miami.”

Javier picked between his teeth with an amused chuckle while slouching in his chair and scratching the side of his short mustache before sniffing.  “I was thinkin’ you weren’t a Miami native.  To be clear, I can’t say much, ya know?  We gotta first see if you’re for real.  Elena should be here in no time, though.

“Once she says you’re cool, then we’re good, but you know, gotta keep the info on the low to keep ya safe.  We might be snitchin’ without even knowing, ya feel?  No worries, though.  You say this Rachel chica knows Maria; then it should be good, right?”

Zoe’s stomach twisted, and her ears pulled back.  “Um—yeah,” she forced a smile while wiping away the sweat on her temples.  “Yeah, that’s my hope.”

“Okay, until then, it’s good we don’t know much about each other.  Ya feel?”

She nodded stiffly, taking a deep breath while leaning back and flipping her tail around to stare at it in her lap.  “I get it … I never thought I’d end up with gangsters following me.  It just kind of popped my bubble,” she mumbled.

Javier worked his jaw to the left before popping his tongue.  “Yeah, I’ve seen that nasty shit, and heard about the things Ballesteros is into.  Shame no one’s dropped him yet, but it is what it is.”

The conversation died, and Zoe put her attention back on her tail; it had been a bit more of a chore than she thought it would be.  It was no different than moving her arm or fingers, but the issue was that modern life wasn’t built with humans having tails.  If she wasn’t quick enough while walking through doors, it could swing back and smash her tail, and there were a number of other concerns with how she sat.

Cleaning her ears was another issue with how they were situated, which irritated her at first, and she was filled with mixed emotions about her changed physical appearance.  Yes, she knew she was cute, but at the same time, it came with her being treated like a child, and her clothes were mostly baggy on her now, which meant shopping with the little money she’d gotten as an advance from Deodato.

She pressed the back of her fingers against her tight blue jeans, the black fur of her tail tickling her skin.  How am I going to survive if I make it out of this?  I don’t want to create problems for Rachel.  I want to handle this myself, but how can I?  I was literally going to be kidnapped and stuffed in that car if Miguel’s gang didn’t interfere, and they only did it because they had problems with Ballesteros.

Her tongue slid across her dry pink lips before she swallowed.  If I need to defend myself, I have this new system, but I don’t have that great of combat stats.  Sure, I can claw someone and scratch them, but I’m not strong enough to overpower big guys … I’m a freakin’ Domestic Cat Beastkin!  The moment I felt in danger, I ran … I’m not brave.

Zoe’s amber irises rose as Javier released a concerned hum, arms crossing across his tattooed chest.  “What’s up?”

“Huh?  Umm—what do you mean?”

“Don’t give me that smile,” he mumbled.  “Whatever ya thinkin’ out has you lookin’ down?”

She bit her lower lip, sucking on it for a moment while looking away.  “It’s nothing.  I’m just a little nervous.”

Leonardo shrugged, yawning before stretching out his left arm.  “What ‘bout?”

“C’mon, Leo,” Javier huffed.  “Read the mood, bro.  She don’t want to talk about it.”

“Aye, you was the one who brought it up, man.”

Javier popped his tongue.  “Yeah, I know, and she says she’s good.”

Zoe lifted her hands with a soft chuckle.  “Hey, it’s fine.  It’s just like, kind of … personal.”

“Say no more,” Javier sniffed, settling back in his chair.

The wind shifted directions, throwing a few locks of her black hair into her face.  She passively brushed it away while changing her position on the chair.

I’m a cat, but how much of a cat?  I liked the attention I was getting, but then I got overwhelmed.  I don’t like how some people look at me.  I’m skittish around people I don’t know, and I run away when I’m scared.  Is this really what I was like?  Well, I wasn’t chased by gangsters before … Rachel decided to help me at the drop of a dime.

She’s the cool Lunar Hare Mythickin, and I’m a scared house cat that ran to her with my tail between my legs.  I want to be strong and cool, too.  House cats aren’t usually called cool or strong, though.  Cats are pampered little devils that cause trouble … I want to be a pampered little devil that causes trouble?  C’mon, really?

I mean, cats always have a good life, which is awesome, but do I want everything that comes with that?  Someone takes care of them, gives them what they need, and spends time with them, but the cat can just reject the master and stick her nose in the air while prancing off like royalty.  Cats laze around all day and play … life as a cat is great, but … that’s stupid.  I don’t have a master to take care of me.  Does that make me a wild cat … a homeless cat?

My parents haven’t answered all week, and I’m running out of resources.  If the card was denied, then how will I pay for tuition?  How can I even get home?  No one will answer their phones … I mean, c’mon, this is twenty-twenty … why wouldn’t they pick up their phones or answer texts?

She took a deep breath, feeling her nose burn, and she pushed back her tears.  No, crying won’t help!  Get a grip, you stupid cat!  I can find a job, yeah, no problem!  I mean, I can just go work for another service place … one that doesn’t have mobsters and gangsters running it.  I liked it, and people liked me.  Mom and Dad will call back soon; it’s not like they’re dead.

Her gut tightened.  No … they’re not dead.  That’s silly.  I’m just being paranoid!  Why would they be dead?  Stupid … a really stupid thought.  Like, everyone in my family?  No … but there was a reunion happening.  Uncle Rolly wasn’t going to come, though.  He should have answered.  So, no, no, no, everyone’s fine!  I just need to get by for the next few days.

Javier and Leonardo’s lips creased as they gave her a few worried glances, but didn’t pursue the topic like she wished someone would; someone had to help put her mind at ease, but she had no one.

Within ten minutes, she’d finished the lemonade they’d brought out, and five minutes more, Zoe stood up as the girl she assumed was Elena rounded the corner.  Her first impression of the infamous Elena that the gangsters had hyped up was a shock to her; she followed the eleven-year-old boy that Javier had sent to fetch her.

Elena wasn’t that muscular but seemed as fit as the cheerleaders were back when she was in middle school and was about five-foot-two.  The surprising part was her two small ears, and a short bushy tail that was sticking out of a cut in her ripped black jean shorts; she was either a Beastkin or Mythickin, which made Zoe’s legs tense with anticipation.

She had absurdly thick, long sandy brown hair that fell to her lower back, fading to white and then turning black toward the tips, giving her a very unique look.  A black sports bra was the only top she wore, and Zoe felt a little uncomfortable as she mentally compared their sizes, realizing Elena seemed more developed after she’d turned into a Domestic Cat.

She looks more cute than sexy … it’s not fair, but I guess guys like flatter chested girls, too.  C’mon, Zoe!  What are you thinking?  Get your head out of the gutter…

Elena’s sharp clouded gray eyes were instantly drawn to her before moving between Javier and Leonardo.  Zoe tried rising up as tall as she could, bra pressing against her small chest as she took a deep breath and added what she hoped was a charming smile.

She was pretty but wild-looking.  Elena’s most surprising feature was the thick fur protecting her limbs; it was mostly black, but on the back of her forearms and thighs, there were streaks of silver.  Her hands were normal, but Zoe knew just like her own claws, Elena could probably transform further on desire.

Elena’s pink lips parted, showing a slightly wider smile than Zoe was expecting, and revealing sinister small fangs as she addressed Javier in a pretty, but irritated tone.  “¿Qué demonios, Javier?  Estaba pasando tiempo con mi madre.  Más vale que sea bueno.  ¿De qué habla el tío Miguel?”

[What the hell, Javier?  I was chillin’ with my mom; this better be good.  What’s Uncle Miguel on about?]

“Aye, Elena,” Javier chuckled.  “This chica needs some help.”

Elena breathed out a hiss as she turned a critical eye to her.  “Tch, not my problem; I don’t know her?  That it, Javier?  You wastin’ my time?”

A case of literary theft: this tale is not rightfully on Amazon; if you see it, report the violation.

The boy that guided her quickly shot by Elena, heading toward the door, but froze as the girl turned her attention to him, tone becoming heated.  “Oye, Pepito, no vuelvas a vender esos chocolates al hermano pequeño de Cayo. El pequeño Goito casi muere, tonto.”

[Aye, Pepito, don’t be sellin’ those chocolates to Cayo’s lil’ bro again.  Lil’ Goito almost died, fool.]

Leonardo’s nose twisted with anger as he shot to his feet, rifle dangling around his torso as he roared.  “Eh? ¿Es verdad, Pepito?  Huh?”

[Eh?  That true, Pepito?  Huh?]

The boy seemed to shrink under his gaze.  “Dijo que era genial con su mamá. ¿Cómo se suponía que supiera que estaba mintiendo? Solo estoy haciendo ese dinero.”

[He said it was good with his mom.  How was I supposed to know he was full of it?  I’m just hustlin’.]

“¡Sabio tonto!”  Leonardo growled, walking over to slap the boy in the back of the head before saying, “Pon tu trasero allí y dile a Tonio.”

[Smart ass/wise-up!  Get your ass inside and tell Tony.]

“¡No, Javier, por favor,” he pleaded, turning to the man as he breathed out a tired sigh.  “No quiero que mi trasero se hinche!”

[No, Javier, please; I don’t want my ass kicked!”

Zoe tried to make herself as invisible as possible as the situation continued, fear gripping her gut from Elena’s response.  This is the girl that’s supposed to verify if I’m worthy of being protected?  C’mon, she hasn’t even heard my story at all!

Elena’s narrow silver eyes moved from the protesting boy as Leonardo escorted him in by the wrist to give Zoe an inquisitive stare.  “Okay, so this niña Gata needs protection?  How’d she get Uncle Miguel’s eye, or is he just a sucker for her looks?  He was always soft on the cute girls in the hood.”

[i.e. niña Gata = cat-girl]

Zoe blushed slightly but kept silent while trying to appear friendly, waiting for Javier to explain.

“What’s up with that grin she’s given me, Javier; es espeluznante.”

Javier chuckled while settling back into his seat.  “Chill, Badazz, mierda, seriously.”  He scratched the side of his scalp before gesturing to her.  “She says a girl named Rachel is in with the Queen, and that you guys can offer her protection from Ballesteros.”

“Ballesteros, that fool that shorted Uncle Miguel?”

“Sí, pero recuperamos lo que necesitábamos de la perra con interés.  Anyways,” he popped his tongue while shifting his shoulders against the back of the chair, “give little Felix a call, or see if her story checks out with the Queen.”

[Yeah, but we got back what he owed from the bitch with interest.]

Elena didn’t move, giving Zoe a hard look as her eyes moved up and down her body.  “For real, Javier.  She’s a prep chica by her looks, and she smells like a lil’ rich girl.”

“Aye,” Javier sighed.  “Would it kill you to be a little nicer, for real.  Damn, you got that nose, right?  You know she’s nervous.”

A smirk lit Elena’s cheeks.  “A little more than that, mi amigo.  She’s a real scaredy cat, aren’t you, niña Gata?  I see that tail and ears.”

Zoe pressed her intertwined fingers against her abdomen, tucking her lips under her teeth for a moment before shakily nodding.  “I am … Ballesteros scares me after everything I’ve heard.”

Elena’s nose twisted.  “Tch, should just drop his ass instead of runnin’ with your tail between your legs, but fine, whatever.”  She turned away, pulling out a phone from her back pocket and calling someone.

Zoe waited nervously, and after a few rings, a boy responded on the other end.  “Elena, what’s up?”

“Yo, Felix, you know some niña Gata named Zoe?”

“A cat girl named Zoe?  Umm, no … I mean, yeah, back in like third-grade, there was a chica I knew with that name, but no, not now.”

Zoe pulled back her hair while shaking her head.  “No, not me … it’s Rachel that knows Maria.  Rachel sent me to find Felix and Maria.”

“Okay,” Elena shot an annoyed glare at her before asking, “what about a Rachel?”

“A Lunar Hare Mythickin,” Zoe added.

“A Mythickin, Lunar Hare, or some shit.”

Felix was silent for a moment.  “Oh, wait … yeah, yeah, that’s the chica that rescued me with my sister and took out Terrell’s gang.”

Elena’s tongue appeared in the corner of her mouth as her lips twisted with minor interest.  “Eh?  Wait a minute, this chica named Rachel helped the Queen take out Terrell’s click; she buried them fools?”

“Yeah, from what I hear, they had to spray off the streets with a firehose to get rid of all the blood and guts.  Some real shit happened over there, and the Military are tryin’ to keep a cap on it.”

“Damn, okay, okay, so,” Elena turned to address her, “Zoe, is this friend of yours gonna show up?”

A lump dropped down Zoe’s throat, and tingles shot down her arms.  Rachel was involved in a bloodbath?  The Military is trying to keep a lid on it?  She said she’d meet me … what’s going on?  I don’t … Rachel killed people?

“Yo, niña Gata, wake up!”  Elena snapped her fingers.  “Zone out on your own time!  Your friend comin’ or not?”

Zoe nodded mechanically.  “Yeah … tonight.”

“Okay,” she grinned, hanging up on Felix.  “Let’s get back to my place, then; it’s right by the Queen’s, and we’ll wait, eh?  I want to meet this badass Lunar Hare, huh?  Ah, let me text Felix to stop by and tell the story!”

She started walking off the porch, and when Zoe didn’t follow, she turned around with a raised eyebrow.  “Hey, you comin’ or not?  Pick it up!  I gotta go take care of my mom.”

Zoe’s throat felt raw.  “Yeah … I’m coming.”  Did I know Rachel at all?  If she’s roaming free … is she working with the Military or hiding from them?  What have I gotten myself into?

She followed Elena down several long streets, and it was clear that she had a reputation; people either darted across the street or nodded their heads toward her with respect as they went.  

After several minutes of silence, Zoe asked, “So, umm—how old are you?”

“Sixteen, why you askin’?”  Elena’s left eye narrowed suspiciously, ears twitching as her tail swung to the left.  “No, niña Gata; I don’t roll that way, chica.  Damn, you be checkin’ me out the moment you saw me or what?”

“W-What?  N-No—not at all!  That’s not what I meant,” Zoe blushed, looking down at the sidewalk while scratching at her slick forehead.  “Why’s it so hot!”

“I’m what?”  Elena muttered.

“I didn’t…”

“Yeah, yeah,” she chuckled, shoving her onto the lawn to their right.  “I’m playin’, but seriously, why you askin’?”

Zoe puffed a long breath out, trying to regain her balance and nerves.  “I was just—I don’t know, trying to make conversation,” she mumbled, cheeks still flushed.

“Okay, I’m sixteen last month.  What about you, huh?”  She asked while rubbing her left ear.

Zoe rubbed her arm behind her back, trying to relax her tail as they walked.  “Seventeen five months ago.”

“Shut-up,” Elena chuckled, studying her with an unconvinced smirk.  “With that body?”

“Yeah, well … The Oscillation changed us all.”

“But that?  Tch, I don’t know if you’re playin’ or not, but damn.  Okay, though, assuming that’s true, then how do you feel about it?  What did you look like before?”

“Older,” Zoe whispered, ears sliding back a little.  “I don’t really look thirteen, do I?”

Elena didn’t even try to hide her laughter.  “Thirteen?  I would bet money on twelve!”

“Son of a … really?”  Zoe asked, sliding her hands through her damp hair.  “And how can you stand this heat?”

Elena shrugged.  “Meh, I’m partially messin’ with you.  You look young, yeah, and the heat?  I don’t know; it just doesn’t bother me.”

Zoe didn’t reply, fiddling with her thumbs behind her back as they turned down another street, and a group of three teenage boys gave them appraising stares but didn’t call out to them, and Zoe caught a few whispers from one of them.

“Hey, yo, that’s Badazz.  Word is, she turned into a Honey Badger Beastkin, huh?  What do ya think, Roger?”

“Hot as hell, but I’d roast my own balls before steppin’ up to her, bro.  Remember what happened to Parker in seventh?”

“Curbstomped that bitch, man … brutal.”

She turned her focus away from them as Elena nodded ahead of them, and Zoe had no doubt she heard the boys gossiping.  “This is my block.  My mom probably needs her ice-pack changed.  Just chill on the porch; I’ll be out in a bit.”

“Okay…”

Elena guided her to a small trailer.  It wasn’t half bad looking, and it seemed like the yard was taken care of.  She sat on a white plastic chair while Elena went inside.  Zoe followed the noises she made.

“Mamá, estoy en casa.”

[Mom, I’m back.]

A sickly woman replied with concern.  “¿Donde irias?  He estado llamando, Ela.”

[Where’d you go?  I’ve been calling you, Ela.]

“No fue nada, mamá; Acabo de salir a buscar una gata del tío Miguel. Ella está en el porche delantero.”

[It was nothin’, Mom; I just went out to grab a cat from Uncle Miguel.  She’s on the front porch.]

“¿Trajiste a una nueva amiga?”

[Did you bring over a new friend?]

“No, solo una chica.  No la conozco.”

[No, she’s just a girl; I don’t know her.]

“Eso no significa que no pueda ser tu amiga. ¡Deberías presentarme!”

[That doesn’t mean you can’t be friends.  You should introduce me!]

“Félix se va a pasar y vamos a relajarnos en el porche. Debes relajarte y leer tus libros; ¿Leíste el nuevo que te di?”

[Felix is stopin’ by, and we are goin’ to relax on the porch.  You need to chill and read your books; did you read the new one I got you?]

“Solo los primeros capítulos. ¡Es bueno!”

[Only the first chapter; the book’s good!]

“De acuerdo, mamá, aquí hay una bolsa de hielo. Solo estaré en el porche delantero; llámame si necesitas algo, ¿de acuerdo?”

[Okay, Mom, here’s an ice pack.  I’ll just be on the front porch; call me if you need anything, okay?]

“Bueno, ¡quiero conocer más amigos tuyos! ¡Estás creciendo tan bonita y tu cabello es tan largo!”

[Well, I want to meet more of your friends!  You're growing up so pretty and your hair is so long!]

“¡Mamá, no me toques la cola! ¡Voy a salir!”  Elena yelled while her mother pleaded with a few weak chuckles.

[Mom, don’t touch my tail!  I’m leaving!]

“No, vuelve, Querida!”

[No, Dear, come back!]

Elena came bursting through the front door, rubbing her tail, and Zoe noticed her red cheeks.  “Umm, everything okay?”

She popped her tongue, giving her a dirty glare before breathing out a long sigh, dropping into one of the chairs beside Zoe.  “No problem, why?”

“Nothing,” Zoe whispered.

Not soon after they settled down, a boy around eighteen years old jogged across the connecting laws from two doors down to join them.  “Aye, Elena!  What’s up?  Oh, this is the catgirl you were talkin’ about?  She’s cute!”

“Oh?”  Elena smirked, giving her a sidelong look.  “I didn’t notice!  Yo, she’s seventeen, amigo.  What you think, just about legal and lookin’ like that, eh?”

Both Zoe and Felix’s faces reddened, and they blustered, “Wait, what?”  

Elena just snickered.  “Okay, I see you two.  So, get on with it, Felix!  Tell me about this badass that’s comin’ tonight.  What’s she about?”

Zoe slowly unwound while listening to Felix’s story, and she began to see a different picture than what she’d imagined.  She’d heard reports and rumors about South Beach and what went on there, but had no idea Rachel was connected, and Felix seemed to have a lot more details from first-hand witnesses that had been sent back to the relief camp once saved.

Maybe Rachel can help me … is it right to ask, though?  I mean, I did, but I was desperate.  She could probably help with the gangsters, but … everything else?  I feel so guilty even thinking about it, but what options do I have?