Surprise And Then Some.

The catwolf glanced up from the cup of tea that she was nursing, it was the night before Christmas Eve and she was ‘working’.  She had many other things that she could and would rather be doing, but no, she had been called on.  For the countless time she looked around the food court that she was sitting in, glancing across the way to the line of parents and kids waiting to see santa.  The sight of the happy cubs and parents did make her quite jealous that she wasn’t or couldn’t be in a spot like that, though she would never admit it.  It had been some time since she had joined the group, that dog promising her that they could help.  Her focus shifting when she heard and felt her phone going off, alerting her to the fact that she had a text.

--------------------------------------------------SlipStream------------------------------------------------------------
<I’m sorry that you have to work this close to the holidays.>
<If it makes you feel any better, I’m here working to…..though in the office.>

<It’s all good.  I knew that I would have to do this shit when I joined...I just don’t like leaving the girl at home.>
<So…...get on it and tell me if this is the target or if someone messed something up…..again.>

<That last time wasn’t my fault…..it was bad info.  And yes that’s the target. Sending info now.>
{Sending File Target Data.}

<Thank you Slip.  I will let you know when it’s ready for pick up.>
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

With that the wolfcat touched the little link button on the screen of her phone, it taking a few seconds for the file to download and open for her.  Glancing through the info that she was sent, hoping that Slipstream hadn’t made another mistake, or as she said, gotten bad info.  Then again the sugar glider was never wrong twice.

----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
●	Name- Jeremy Johansen
●	Age-35
●	Ht- 5’9
●	Wt-250 lbs
●	Species- Warthog
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

“Well it looks like this is going to be…..fun.”  She said glancing up from her phone, again looking across the food court at the mall santa, an older male warthog.  “Well I guess this is the only time that I get to be a real ba-hum-bug.”  She said with a little snicker, her eyes going back down to her phone as she felt it buzzing in her hand, a little window displaying a new message.

--------------------------------------------------------Luv Nubs--------------------------------------------------------
<Hey sweetie, I’m sorry about getting so….bitchy about doing holiday stuff with you. It’s just that this is a time of the year for couples to be together and enjoy it together.  I don’t know what about Christmas has you so upset, but I’m hear for you…..so come home and we can do something else.>

<It’s ok.  I know that you didn’t know about it….it’s just that this time of the year is a little rough for me…..a lot happened around this time and its kinda…..stuck to me.  And I would love to talk to you about it.  I just got side tracked working.  I should be home in a few hours at the most.>
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

She hated lying to her, but, in the back of her mind she wasn’t lying, she was at work, just not at the hospital.  Leaning back in her seat her mind wandering between what she was going to tell ‘Luv Nubs’ and how she was going to go about her job tonight.  She knew that she needed to tell her mate why she didn’t like the holidays, she knew that it was better to get her hang ups out there and hope that she wouldn’t care or want to help.

“Damn it Mairya.”  She hissed out as she picked up her cup of tea.  “You know that I couldn’t say no to your offer…..You knew that I would blindly jump into it…..I should have thought it out a little more…..cold bitch.”  She mumbled as she sipped her tea, looking around the food court, trying to think of some way to get the mall santa away from the massive crowds, it was about then that she saw a few teenagers sitting at a table near her.  Getting up and heading over to them, smiling.  “How would one of you like to make Fifty bucks?  Little work and you get to raise a little hell.”  She asked looking over the rag tag group.

“It depends on what it is.”  One of the kids said looking up smiling a little.

“Yeah….if it’s something like keeping you warm in bed I’d do it for free.”  Another of the kids said, freezing up the moment that he saw the stern glare of the catwolf.

“I just need one of you to egg the santa over there…..make sure that you get him good.”  Shanoa said with a little smile.

“Wow someone has a bah-hum-bug up their butt.”  A male doberman said as he got up and held out his hand.  “Pay me.”  He said smiling up at the hybrid. 

“Ok…..and just to warn you…..If you screw me over…..I will find you…...and pluck every strand of fur from your nut sack…..got that?”  She asked pulling out a small wad of cash from her pocket.  “Here…..get to it.”  She said handing him the money.  “There’s some to get the eggs too.”

“Thank you crazy.”  He said as he took the money and turned to his friends.  “Make sure that you get it on video.”  The dog said as he stared off in the direction of a small store.  Shanoa stood there for a few moments with the other kids waiting, and she wasn’t kept waiting to long before she saw the doberman waving to them.  Her smile grew as she watched him take off running, at the santa, a hail of eggs flying at the warthog.  Shanoa was surprised at just how accurate he was, thinking to herself that he might have a future in sports if he didn’t end up getting into trouble taking money from strange people.

The moment that the mall santa got up, grumbling and cursing up a storm, much to the mass of cubs and parents alike.  Shanoa knew that this was her moment to act.  Slipping away from the food court and starting to follow the warthog, she was glad that she was in a mall it did make following people a little easier for the simple fact that she could slip into a crowd of people.  She watched him as he slipped into one of the employ only areas of the mall, she knew that this is where the real fun started.

Leaning against the wall like she was waiting on someone, even pulling out her phone and looking at it, she took note of the text that she had gotten from her lover telling that she would be fixing them a little something and to be careful at work, if only she knew.  It was times like this that Shanoa was glad that she hadn’t told her mate the things that she did at her other ‘job’.  Once she had given the warthog a second or two and seen that this was her chance, she slipped into the room, pushing the door closed behind her.

Looking around the area, it was clear to her that it was were some of the stores back offices and break rooms were, along with the back way out of the mall.  Slowly she made her way down the hallway, making sure to peek into the closed doors looking for the warthog before moving on, she was a little surprised at how empty it was back here, but it was like the day before Christmas Eve, so she knew that most of the managers were out and about in their stores.  At the end of the hall, she saw the door to the employee's restroom, the door slightly ajar and light spilling out, she knew that was were her target was hiding.

“Well…..Would you look at that.”  Shanoa said as she pushed the door open.  “Put some god damn pants on…..no one want’s to see that pencil dick.”  She said standing in the doorway, snickering at the sight of the surprised warthog.

“Hey bitch, this is employee’s only.”  He said in a gruff voice, glaring at her, not bothering to put some cloths on.  “And besides, all the girls that I have been have told me how big it is.”

“Well I guess that it is big…..when your fucking cubs.”  She said, her smile disappearing in a flash.  “Soooooo….yeah, put some cloths on and come with me.”  She said shaking her head as she stood there waiting.

“The fuck you talking about?”  He said defensively.  “I ain’t never been with a cub…..that’s sick.”  He said stepping back a little, reaching to pick up the pants that were laying on the lid of the toilet.

“Oh Jeremy Johansen, your such a bad fibber.”  She said as she dug through her pocket. pulling out her phone before reaching back in and pulling out a small photo.

“Wait….how da fuck do ya know my name?”  He asked cocking an eyebrow before putting a shirt on.

“Well….people have been….watching you and they sent me to collect you.”  Shanoa said smiling and pressing a few buttons on her phone.  “And as for the cub thing…..this says otherwise.”  She said tossing the photo at his feet.

“Slip…..I know you don’t like it when I only use half you codename….I’m to lazy to use the whole thing…..but anyway…..target got need a pick up.”  She said smiling as she watched the male warthogs face changing to an expression of fear as he looked at the photo.  It was an un-doctored photo of him with a cub that he had snatched.

“Ok….I don’t know who sent you, but I can pay…..You know that you want to look the other way.”  He said fumbling with something in his pocket, pulling out a wad of money offering it to her.

“Yeah…...no…..you have a waaaaaay bigger price on your head.”  She said snatching the money out of his hand and thumbing through it.  “Yeah, whoever you pissed off wants you to suffer…..I mean they are paying about four times what you just handed me.”  She said slipping the money into her pocket with her phone.  

“You bitch.”  He grunted out as he watched taking the money, his eyes darting around the room, looking for something.

“Yeah…..I get that a lot….now come on fat ass…..ride will be here in a moment.”  She said reaching into her back pocket, pulling out a pair of hand cuff.  “Arms out.”  She said waving them in front of him.

“Yeah, fuck that.”  He barked out, swinging his fist at the catwolf, causing her to step back and out of the way, the moment that she did the warthog took his chance and pushed her out of the way and started running, making his way for the back of the building, heading for the exit.

“Fucker…..”  She hissed out as she was pushed against the wall.  “Fuck playing nice.”  She said taking off down the hallway after him, her claws clicking on the floor as she ran.  “Your ass is mine!”  She barked out, reaching into her pocket, fishing out a small two shot derringer.  Running full speed after him, and knocking a person or two out of her way she caught up with her target in time to see him trying to open the back door.  “Freeze or I shoot.”  

The moment that she said that, the warthog turned around and froze up at the sight of the catwolf pointing the small gun at his chest, his arms shooting up in the air.  “Ok, don’t shoot.”  He said in a near whimper.

“What’s going on back here, you can be back here.”  A voice called out.  “This is employees only.”  He said walking around the corner, the moment that he did Shanoa turned aiming her gun at him.  Seeing the brief moment that the wolfcat was distracted, her burst through the door and ran out into the alleyway.

“Fuck.”  She barked out as she turned back and started running after him again, breaking out into the alleyway in time to see him starting to climb some boxes.  “Fucker!  I said freeze!”  She barked out again as she ran up to him, the warthog freezing up again.

“Look….if…...if you just give me some time I will get you some more money.”  He said turning putting up his hands.  

“Sorry…..no…..you made me run….”  She said walking up to him, once she was close enough she pressed the gun to his head.  “That….and your fucking up my date night.”  She said, her leg jumping up and hitting him right between the legs, quickly bringing him down.  

“You bitch.”  He huffed out as he hit the ground and felt her paws grabbing his arms and pulling them behind his back to cuff them.

“That I am.”  She said as she cuffed him up and stood up, slipping the gun back into her pocket.  It was about then that a car started backing down the alleyway, the back of it opening and a sugar glider hopping out, gun in hand.  “I got this Slip.”  She said smiling at her.

“Bite me.”  The glider, SlipStream said as she slipped the gun back into it’s holster.  “Runner?”  She asked as she pulled him up to his feet with the help of two males dressed in black.

“Yup, fucking up date night and all that.”  Shanoa said shaking her head.  “Fuck…...I have to go home now…..”

“Is it that bad?”  Slip asked as she watched the males load the warthog into the van.  “You and Nubs having trouble?”  She asked as she put her hand on the hybrid’s shoulder.

“Something like that.  She want’s to know about why I get so pissy around this time of the year.”  She said shrugging.

“Oh that…..that’s not that bad.”  She said starting to walk off to the van..”Well….lets get him off to the drop…..see ya.”  She said climbing into the back.  Once the glider was in the back of the van it started up and started heading down the alleyway.

“Yeah…..you’re not the one that has to explain it.”  Shanoa said shaking her head, her ears perking up as she heard someone behind her.

“Don’t move!”  She heard the male voice ordering.  Without thinking, she spun in place, grabbing the arm the was outstretched and aiming a gun at her, and in one smooth, well practiced move she brought her other fist down onto his elbow, snapping it at the joint.

“Oh fuck.”  She mewled out as she realized what she had just done.

“Put your hands up now….you’re under arrest.”  She hear another voice yelling at her, her hands going up in the air, following orders.

“You know that I didn’t break his arm on purpose.”  Shanoa said shaking her head as she felt the officer slipping the cuffs around her wrists, locking her hands behind her back.  “He didn’t say that he was an officer…..and my instincts kinda just kicked in.”  She said shaking her head as she was lead back to the car.

“Sorry, Ma’am. I heard all that to be sure but you still assaulted an officer so I have to take you in and let the Sergeant and DA decide where it goes from here. For what it’s worth if they ask I’ll say you were cooperative.”

“My girlfriend is going to kill me.”  She mumbled as she was nestled into the back seat.  “Well…..am I at least going to get to be home soon ish…..”

“Couldn’t say. Sorry about the hard seat. I got to deliver you to holding, make my report and then we need to wait for the FBI to tell us you aint got no federal warrants before we turn you loose, even if you check out as a good ROR candidate. I’m guessing you’re going to be calling a cab around 2am” 

“Well…...that’s better than nothing.”  She said shaking her head.  “I can assure you that I don’t have any warrants or anything like that…...and ROR?”  She asked tilting her head a little.

“Release on recognizance. Means we can turn you loose and have a reasonable confidence you won’t head for the hills before your court date.”

“Yeah, there is nothing to worry about there…..I have to much built here….and I’m sure that it would be a bitch to put on an application to get a new job at another hospital.”

“Ok, we’re here. You’re gonna get out of the cuffs when they put you in a holding cell. I’m heading upstairs to make my report. Good luck.”

“Thank you.”  She said with a little shrug.  “So…..When do I get to make my phone call?”  Shanoa said, already thinking of just what she was going to tell her girlfriend, or if she was even going to call her, it might have been a little better for her to call that dog or slipstream.

	“As soon as you are in the holding area you’ll have access to a phone. It will take a couple of minutes but they are right there. How long you have to wait depends on how many other furs we’ve hauled in tonight.”

Saved by a Slip.

She stood at the phone that was bolted to the wall of the holding cell, pressing in the buttons and holding the receiver up to her ear.  “Come on Slip.”  She mumbled into the reciver, turning around to look at the other female furs that shared the cell with her, she would admit it, but without her derringer, or any of her little toys she did feel a little naked.

“He…..hello?”  A voice picked up on the other end.  “Who is this and how did you get my number?”  The sugar glider asked.

“Slip, it’s me.  Little time to talk, so listen.  After you left….I well….had a run in with the police.”

“Shanoa….you didn’t.”  Slip said worry in her voice.  “What did you do?”

“I….well broke an officer’s arm….he came up behind me and didn’t say that he was an officer and just to me to freeze…..I over reacted.”

“So you need me to make some things change and a few disappear.”  Slip said with a little snicker.  “And let me guess.  Get you out of there faster.”

“Get on it….”  Was all that she said.  “And…..don’t tell Mairya…..let me handle that.”  She said before turning to see the cell door opening, hoping that the officer was there for her.

“Shanoa! Step up! We need you upstairs now.!”

----------------------------

“So, Ms Shanoa.. You over-reacted on our officer when he attempted to apprehend you. Care to say why you did that? I mean.. I dont see any history with you that would explain such an extreme reaction?”

“Chasing a pickpocket down an alleyway and then him getting away only to have someone tell you to freeze…..yeah…..that freaked me out and all the years of martial arts training kicked in.”  She said looking the other person in the eyes, speaking as calmly as she could, her appearance, cold, calm and calculated

The Bulldog on the other side of the table leaned back in his chair, interlocking his fingers in front of his muzzle. “Ms Shanoa, I’m actually inclined to believe you, if only because of the precision with which you disabled officer Simmons. Had he followed protocol and identified himself as a police officer I’m guessing he wouldn’t have triggered your instincts. What that doesn't tell me, though, is why you were after the guy you were chasing.”

He leaned forward and stared her in the eye. “You aint no bounty hunter, you’re a doc. There aint no bounty on his ass, he aint wanted and he doesn’t have no warrants we can find. What’s the deal here, girl? Why were you chasing him down?”

“Well.  Like I said, he snatched my wallet.”  She said stopping, having to think on her feet, cursing Slipstream a little for the fact that she didn’t get to the guys records fast enough, she was also thankful that she had forgotten her wallet.

“We didn’t find no wallet on either of you. Did you see him dump yours anywhere?”

“Sarge! a minute?” A worried looking porcupine cop was calling him out of the room. 

-----------------------------

“Well, Ms Shanoa, It looks like you were wrapped up in stuff no honest fur should be. That guy that jumped you, seems he’s a lot more than he looks like. He’s got an international record and we are not going to suggest that the DA presses charges at this time.  We’d ask that you don’t leave town within the next six weeks, if you did we’d have to take a dim view. There’s a payphone outside that door, you can call a cab to get home from there.”

“Thank you sir.”  She said nodding to him before turning and getting lead out of the room and to the front of the building.  “God damn Slipstream…..you take throwing people under the bus to an art form.”  She said stopping at the front, collecting her things and heading outside of the building.  Once she was outside she pulled out her cellphone and sent Slip a quick message before taking a deep breath and pressing the quick dial button titled “Luv Nubs”.

“He….hello.”  A soft, familiar voice picked up on the other line.  “Sweetie, is something wrong?”

“Not really, I just need a ride.”  She mumbled a little, before waiting for her to defecate masonry.

“Did something happen to your car?  I told you that you needed to get it checked when the light came on.”  She said, the sleep leaving her voice.

“Ummmm, no, it’s not the car….it’s…..it’s a really long story.”  She said, the wolfcat’s voice dropping a little.  “I rather not talk about it over the phone, but I will tell you about it on the way to get my car…...I’m at the police department.”

“What?!”  The doe’s voice shooting up to almost that of a yell.  “Why the hell are you there?  Tell me you don’t need bail or something.”  Shanoa could hear her moving around, getting dressed and ready.

“It’s not as bad as you think, and I’m not in trouble thank you very much.”  The wolfcat said shaking her head a little.  “I promised you that I would open up about things….and I am….so, just come pick me up and we can find and all night dinner, get a really late dinner or something and I will tell you everything….just like I said I would.”

“Oh Shanoa….”  The voice came, this time softer, sounding a little down.  “I want you to be open and all, cause, I well….you know that I want to share my life with you…..but I don’t want you to push yourself.”

“You’re not.”  Shanoa said shaking her head a little, shivering at the cold breeze that blew past her.  “I want to share my life with you, it’s just…..with some of the things that have happened….it’s…..it’s not easy.”

“I understand.”  The doe said, “I love you, I’ll be there in just a few.”  Her voice sounding a little more cheery.

“Love you too.”  Shanoa said as she hung up, leaning back against the wall behind her.  “I will deal with calling Mairya in the morning…..or…..I might just not say anything to her.”  She said shrugging a little.

It wasn’t all that long after that, a familiar pink lancer pulled up and stopped for the catwolf, who at this point was only just starting to shiver from the cold, she loved her thick fur in the winter.  “You know, it’s stuff like this that make the best stories to tell the kids and all that.”  the doe said with a little snicker.

“Oh Anne.”  Shanoa said smiling and rolling her eyes as she got into the car.  “I think that the Coal Pot is still open.”  She said leaning over and planting a kiss on her lover’s cheek.  “And thank you again for not flipping.”

“After the way that we meet…..yeah I think that it’s going to take a lot to make that happen.”  She said as she reached into her pocket, pulling out a wallet.  “And you forgot this.”  She said handing it over.

“What would I do with you.”  She said as she took the wallet and slipped it into the pocket of her jeans.

3AM Sweets and Secrets

It was late, like the officer had told her, she had gotten out a little after one thirty AM.  The two walked into the building, greeted by the warmth and the scents of cakes, teas, and coffees.  Shanoa was happy that The Coal Pot stayed open all night long most nights, she had spent many a night here reading and studying different things for school and other things.

“Why don’t you get us something to drink and snack on…..it’s going to be a long story all the way around.”  The catwolf said as she took off her jacket and helped her lover out of hers before slipping off and sitting in one of the many open booths in the back.

 “So…..Just what kind of story do I get to here?  What am I going to get to learn?”  The doe asked as she slipped into the booth with the wolfcat, snuggling up to her.

“Well.  I thought that I would start with the one….why you had to pick me up from the police station.”  She said as she wrapped her arm around the smaller doe.  “I was at the mall….walking around, looking for a few last minute things, and well, saw this guy lifting a woman’s wallet, took off after him.  I chased his out of the mall and into an alley where he got away….that was when an officer came up behind me and told me to freeze….I ended up breaking his arm.”  She said looking off into the distance.  “But it turned out that the guy that I was running after was like some big wanted man…..that and the chief said that cause the officer didn’t follow protocol that I wouldn’t be charged or anything like that.”

“Wow…...remind me never to sneak up on you.”  Anna said with a little snicker, suddenly wiggling a little as she felt the wolfcat poking her in the side.  

“Oh now….you….you can sneak up on me anytime that you want.”  Shanoa said smiling down at her.  “Though you might get pounced or pinned to a wall.”  She said stopping and taking a deep breath.  “Ready for the next story?”

“Only if you are…..Like I said, you don’t have to tell me anything that you’re not ready to, we have lots of time.”

“I know….but I’m sure that this would help me….”  She said stopping to take a deep breath.  “Ok….I know that you want to have kids some day…..just as I do….but the thing is….I’m…...I’m infertile…”  She said pausing and pulling her lover closer.  “I know that this is going to sound shallow, but….around this time of the year….I get so…..envious of the families out that…..”

“Is…..Is that all?”  Anna said looking up to her.  “I didn’t mean that to sound that bad…..but the way that you were talking, I thought that it was going to be something super…..bad.”  She said pausing for a moment.  “And just cause you can’t physically have a baby doesn’t mean that you can’t be a mom…...I mean, how many times have we talked about adoption….I mean….that’s better, cause we would be saving some poor child.”  

“Oh Anna.”  Shanoa said softly, looking down at her, tears in the corners of her eyes.  “This…..this is why I love you.”  She said smiling and leaning down and planting a kiss on her forehead.

“Ok….Shanoa….don’t do that….the tears….that’s kinda scary coming from you.”  Anna said with a little giggle, squeezing her lover tight.  “So….Cheer up.”  She said pausing for a moment.  “I have something that will cheer you up….it’s at home…..I was going to have you a little surprise for when you got home, but shit happens.”

“Was it that night gown with the bells?”  Shanoa asked smiling and licking her lips, smiling and blushing a little as she watched the doe nodding.  “Well….it’s never too late to try it again….and you know just what that one does to me.”  She said as she watched her lover getting up and starting to walked to the door.  The catwolf’s eyes looking right at her ass, watching her hips sway, that little white tail poking out of her tight jeans.

“Well, lets go home then, Puffball.”

“Sounds good to me Luv Nubs.”  Shanoa said as she followed her out of the store and to the car, this was one of those times that she had to stop and look down at the silver band on her finger to remind herself that it was real.

Christmas Eve…

Shanoa stepped out of the small house that her and her lover Anna lived in, once things between the two started getting a little hotter and heavier, Anna had offered for her to move her in with her.  The catwolf walked down the snow covered sidewalk, heading to the mall parking lot where her car was left the night before.  She was walking through one of the slightly more rundown neighborhoods, but she knew that for the most part, the worst that happened out here might be a mugging or something like that, and in that situation, she could more than handle herself.

She pulled her trench coat tighter as she felt a cold wind blowing past her.  She didn’t hate winter too much, her long, fluffy fur helped keep her warm, it was the summers that she hated the most.  Her ears suddenly stood straight up and started swiveling around, she could hear something, like people talking.  Normally this wouldn’t cause her to stop and try and find out what was happening, but what she heard did, though she did hope that it was in her head.

Shot, Sliced and Saved

Stopping at the opening of an alleyway, she peaked around the corner, her eyes going wide at the sight that was there.  She could see two males dragging a smaller, much younger bat girl down the alley.  Her eyes went wide as she watched, her ears perking up and listening to them talking, something about a good snatch.  Reaching into her pocket she pulled out what looked like a blue tooth, with a small camera on it.

Pressing a button on the side of it, “Slip, come in Slip.”  She said softly, standing at the corner, acting like she was on the phone.

“Shanoa…..Hold on got to get the headset on.”  Slips voice come over the line, “what’s up?”  She asked, sounding a little worried.  “Why are you calling me on the radio?  Did you lose your cell phone again?”

“No.”  She said watching the males pulling the girl into a building.  “It looks like I was in the right place at the right time, gotta snatch and grab.”

“You got to be kidding me….”  Slip said shaking her head and getting into her desk chair and rolling over to her desk.  “Just a sec.”  She said clicking a few things on her computer screen.  “Ok.  I’m ready here, visuals are a go.”

“Good.  I’m moving in to see what we have.”  She said watching someone walking down the sidewalk.  “Well in a moment….someone is walking down the street…..so….any ideas on what I should get my husband for christmas?” 

“Shanoa, you’re bad at this faking small talk.”  Slip said with a little giggle, fingers hitting the keys at a fast pace.

“Well, you're not helping.”  She said nodding a hello to the person as they walked past.  “So any ideas?  I have never bought him anything before….I need to know what I’m walking into.”

“Well it’s looking like you’re walking into an abandoned building, old apartment building that was supposed to be abandoned a few years ago.”  Slip said as she looked over the layout of the building.  “Four floors.”

“So….I’m going into a pair that snatched and went into the first place they found….or something more.”  Shanoa said turning and starting to move down the alley way, and up to the door.  “I can’t hear any…..bad screams…..”  She said as she got to the door.  “It looks like the pair are….stupid.”  She said as she nudged the door open a little more.  “Fuck…..it’s flop.”  She said as she reached into the inner pocket of her trench coat, pulling out a heavily modded c96, carefully screwing the silencer onto the barrel.  

“You know that you can’t go into this alone.”  Slip said, worry filling her voice again.  “I mean….I can get you some help out there….but it’s going to take a bit.”

“Time isn’t something that we have a lot of.  That dog and rat thing took the little bat in there…..if this is a flop then there will be some bad shit going down.”  Shanoa said as she reached into her other inner pocket, running her fingers over the extra clips she had.  “Four clips, and one loaded…..fifty shots.  I’m good with the odds.”

“Shanoa…..don’t do anything stupid.”  Slip said shaking her head.  “I mean you have a lot left to do and all that.”

“I know that, I’m going to have more to do after this.”  Shanoa said clicking the safety off of her gun and slipping it back into her pocket.  “I’m going silent….Wait for my signal if I need help or something.”  She said taking a deep breath and pushing the door open.

Walking through the door, the wolfcat was greeted with the sight of several matters scattered about the bottom floor, furs of all sizes, shapes, ages and backgrounds scattered on the beds, passed out, stoned or getting stoned.  It was a sickening thought that people would do this to their bodies, to poison themselves.  It took a moment or two and several steps for the smell to hit her nose, it was a horrid, sickening smell, the noxious mixture of piss, shit and vomit all assaulting the catwolf’s sensitive nose.

Slipping over and up the staircase she kept taking her time, making sure to keep an eye on everything.  The smell in the building was starting to bother her more and more, reaching into her pocket she pulled a cloth handkerchief and covered her nose with it as she hit the top of the stairs.  At the top she was greeted with a sigh similar to that of the bottom floors, stoned furs everywhere.

“Hey, Clyde.. you hear that? We’d better check it out… “

“What the fuck… “

Two bodies dropped hard. Shanoa could hear them breathing so didn’t care about the rest of their well-being.

“Who the fuck are you?”

“Oh.”  She let out a little squeak.  “I’m….I’m just someone looking for a fix.”  She said shrugging a little, “someone told me that I could get some good shit here.”

“Not here, girl. Go talk to Charlie downstairs. He usually sells a couple doors down the alley.” His eyes narrowed…  “I mean right the fuck now if you know what’s good for you.”

“Sorry, I just got some bad info.”  Shanoa said with a shrug.  “So don’t worry, I’m leaving.”  She turned and took a step back to the steps before reaching into her jacket pocket and pulling out her c96 and turning in place.  Facing the thug she aimed and pulled the trigger twice, watching the body hitting the floor with a thud.”

“Hey! Jack? You ok out there?”

Sounds of movement, then silence.  The catwolf mumbled something as she heard the voice, thinking for a moment on whether to move the body or duck into a room.  Slipping into the doorway of one of the apartments she reached behind her and tested the knob, it was locked, but at least the little alcove gave her enough space to hide.

“Jack? Talk to me buddy… Aw shit.” The voice came from the same place it had before. He wasn’t calling for help, that meant he was alone - but he wasn’t moving. To get past him she’d have to go in and find him.

“Ok, there is more than one way to skin a dog.”  She mumbled as she looked about the hall, smiling at the sight of a discarded bottle, scooping it up and picking the door that she thought the voice was coming from and flung in with all of her might.  

“Fuck, if you’re out, can’t you ask for a refill more nicely? Gimme a sec, I got three more in here” The door opened but nobody came out. It was a trap, that was obvious.Somebody was going to be waiting either to the left or right of that door. Choose right and it was all going to be fine. Choose wrong and things could go to hell real fast.

“Slip...you really need to get me flashbangs.”  She mumbled as she looked at the open doors.  Rushing out she picked up the fallen body, holding it in front of her, gun in the other hand, ready.  “Ok.”  She mumbled as she walked up to the left door and pushed the body into the room before ducking into the other room, looking around, pointing at anything that moved.

Something moved in the corner of her vision. She pointed and fired… once, twice.. then something dug into her right arm and dragged down as her assailant fell. “Knife.” she thought, as it snagged near her elbow and the gun fell from a hand that suddenly wasn’t working right. She knew better than to try and pull it out.

“Well….I’m going to have a hell of a time explaining this to Anna.”  She said leaning down and picking up her gun with her other hand.  She glared down at the body before kicking it as hard as she could.  “Slip….Slip.  I’m going to need a clean up….and medical...Still haven’t found the girl.”  She said as she slipped out of the room and then peeked around the corner, she could see the stairs up to the next floor.  She started moving from doorway to doorway as she made her way to the steps, and then slipping up them, taking her time to make sure that there was no more surprises waiting on the third floor.

She didn’t have a lot of time, she knew that the cleanup would be here along with the medical, she knew that she would have to be ready to run when they got there.  She slipped across the third floor and up to the fourth.  “Please be here.”  She said glancing at the rooms as she made her way along the hall, looking into the open doors, coming to the last one on the hall, pressing herself against the door she listened.  She could hear voices, several girl’s voices, sounding  like they belong to girls of all different ages, along with a male’s voice.  She grabbed the door knob and pushed the door open.  “On the floor!”

A voice came from the darkened room. “Now why would I do that?” 

Turning and aiming her gun into the dark room.  “Well….I planned on dragging you in, asking you a few questions…..maybe not have to kill you...something like that.”  She said, her ears twitching a little as she heard the movement of the girls behind her.

“No reason we can’t discuss this. Pull up a chair and sit down. Maybe I can make it worth your while.” She heard the scrape of furniture against the floor.

“Unless you’re going to kill yourself and let me leave with the girls that you have snatched….then yeah….there’s no other way.”  Shanoa said shaking her head a little.

“That’s unfortunate.  I still think we have a little to discuss. What do you have to lose? You’re the one pointing a gun at me. I haven’t even asked you to put it down, have I?”

Suddenly a chair was flying at her from the darkened corner of the room. Now she could see the burly opossum charging at her, his hand reaching into the back of his waistband.

Shanoa didn’t have time to do anything other than try and stop the chair, the impact of the chair hitting her arm caused her to drop the gun and stagger back a step.  The moment that she saw that the opossum was rushing at her, she took a deep breath and grabbed the knife that was jammed into her arm and waited for her moment.

As his hand emerged with the gun she pulled the knife from her right arm and threw..  simultaneously seeing him stagger back clutching at his throat and feeling the warm rush of her own blood down her arm. Amazing how things could go to hell so quickly. This was all on Slip now.. because getting these kids out the door on her own was just not going to happen.

“See, you could have made it easier…..spent the rest of your life locked up and all, but you wouldn’t be dead.”  She said reaching down and picking up her gun and aiming it at the opossum’s head.  “But, you fucked up.”  She said pulling the trigger.  She took a step back as she watched the body hitting the floor, slipping the gun back into her coat  pocket.  “Slip….I need you to get that help here fast.”  She said as she started looking through the opossums pockets, taking anything that might have info.

“It’s on the way, it should be there in a few moments.”  The glider said, pausing for a moment.  “You ok?  The kid ok?”

“I’m cut, and bleeding, and as for the kid.”  She said turning to face the doorway with the kids.  “There’s more than one kid.”  She said said kneeling down.  “It’s ok.  I’m not here to hurt you.  I’m here to get you out.”  She said leaning against the wall and sliding down.  “The kids, they look ok but there’s more than one here, this is a big deal.” 

“You didn’t answer my other question Shanoa. Are you ok?”

“Get the medical here fast, Slip. I’m going to bleed out in about three more minutes.”

She looked back to the kids that were looking at her, she could see the bat girl, she didn’t look hurt or anything, she might have just got there in time to stop anything from happening.  There was the sound of fabric tearing, she was ripping part of her shirt and using the fabric to make a tourniquet of sorts.

She could feel herself starting to slip, slowly starting to nod off, her eyes shot open when she felt a weight in her lap and smaller hands clutching her shirt.  She looked to see that the bat girl was shaking her, trying to keep her awake.

“Eris, you up here?”  She heard the male voice calling her name, she knew that it was Jack, the burner that worked with her.  “We’re here.”

“I’m up here.”  Shanoa called out.  “Last room on the hall.”  She spoke, her voice shaking as she did.

“You did good, girl.. now let her go and let us take care of her. We’ve got to let this loose for a bit or else she’ll lose her arm. Good job stopping the blood loss though.”

“You remember that I’m a doctor right?”  She said looking up to the burner, smiling.

“Yeah, but this young bat isn’t - Although if she wants to be she might make a good one.”

“Well….she is safe now….so she will be able to do just that.”  She said, cocking an eyebrow as she watched the bat tilting her head as she watched the dog and the catwolf talking.  “Now….lets get out of here….we have a lot to do….and I have damage control to do.”  She said, letting out a little grunt as she was helped to her feet, Jack helping her out to the large white van.

Outside there were three vans, all white and bland, but she knew what each one was, the one had the clean up, the other was to take the kids to the safehouse, and the last was her ride.  She weakly shook her head as she watched one of the team members trying to get the bat into the van with the other girls, she just waved for the bat to come with her.

“Sorry, Eris. The local is going to sting some, we’ve got to get this stitched up right away and we don’t have time to get you to an OR and fix it with time to handle it. You want this young lady to hold your hand?” The medic grinned at her as the bat climbed into the van and snuggled up next to the gurney.

“I’m used to it.”  She said with a little hiss as she felt the needle being poked around, the burning pain shooting through her arm as the numbing agent started working.  She turned to the bat and smiled, feeling the smaller hand of the girl.  Shanoa wasn’t sure how old she might be, she would have guessed that she was five or six, and judging from her clothing and how dirty she was she had been on the street for a little.  “And yeah.  I rather get patched up here….I don’t need my coworkers asking me what happened….I’m going to have a hell of a time explaining this to Anna.”

The ride back to the safe house seemed to take longer this time, Shanoa thought that it might be cause of the medic that was working on stitching her up.  Her mind was busy thinking of all the things that she was about to have to explain to her wife, her mind running through the many things that could happen.  Every Time, as if she could sense it the bat girl would squeeze her hand.

Plans and Paper Work. 

She was sitting at her desk in the safe house, writing out the report for the lovely little event that she had just went through, detailing the kids she saved and the people that she killed, the injuries that she got.  She had talked to Slip just a moment ago and she had told her that she had saved five kids counting the bat.

“Eris.”  A voice called to her, causing her to look up.  “We need you in the med bay for a moment.”  Shanoa looked up to see that Mairya was standing at her door.

“What do you want?”  She asked cocking an eyebrow before going back to scribbling something on the paper.  

“That little bat….the one that you risked life and limb for….she’s acting out and writing on anything that she can, asking for the fluffy lady that saved her.”  The poodle said shaking her head, Mairya is a unique one.  The leader of the little group that Shanoa worked for part time, speaking with a heavy French accent, colder and more calculating than Shanoa, she had cut and styled her fur to look a lot like she was a walking skelington.

“And what do you think that I can do?”  Shanoa said getting up, closing the folder and picking it up.

“Get in there and hug her….tell her to calm the hell down...something.”  The poodle said shrugging as she was handed the folder.  “Finished report?”

“Yes….and you probably scared the poor girl.”  Shanoa said as she walked down the stone hallway, heading to the medical bay that was just a few doors down from her office.

“I didn’t think that I was that intimidating.”  Mairya said with a shrug.  “I mean….I was straight to the point and everything….used no foul words or anything…..then again, she wouldn’t have heard.”

“What do you mean?”  The catwolf asked as the two walked through the large double door, within moments of getting into the room Shanoa felt a small thud against her, it was the small blossom bat clinging to her.

“She’s deaf.”  A calico cat said walking up to the group, smiling at the sight of the bat.  “The little one seems to have taken a liking to you.”  She said with a little snicker, kneeling down and holding her hand out, huffing a little as she watched the bat hide her face against the catwolf’s leg.  “Well then.”  She said standing up.

“Ok Clotho, we need to teach you and Mairya how to handle kids.”  Shanoa said with a little snicker, reaching down to ruffle the little bat’s long blond hair, smiling warmly as she watched her looking up to her, blue eyes shining up at her.  The bundle of winged, and brown fur causing countless feelings to start to well up in her.

“Hey bite me.”  The cat, said standing up and looking the her higher up in the eyes.  “And something else….I’m nearly sure that she is mute too….she hasn’t said anything since she got here, other than letting out squeaks and things like that as she was getting checked out.”

“About that.”  Shanoa said stepping back and kneeling down, she smiled and started moving her hands, spelling out words with sign language, the bat giggling and nodding as she skittered off to one of the chairs in the corner of the room.

“Didn’t know that you knew sign language.”  Clotho said shrugging a little.  “And as for her check up, she came back….clean.  She’s a little under feed but living on the street will do that to you, but other than that everything is in order, virgin, so you go to her before anyone could do anything to her.”

“Yeah.  My sister is deaf, she taught me.”  Shanoa said nodding.  “What about the other girls?”  She asked leaning back against the wall and yawning a little.

“Well.  They're all reasonably healthy.  Of course there are signs of sexual abuse, but there is nothing to bad, none of them are knocked up or anything, no STDs or STIs.”  The calico said shaking her head.  “The fucker that was running the show knew what he was doing, kept everything clean and safe…”

“I wish that you could have grabbed him….I have a feeling that he is working for someone.”  Mairya said shaking her head.  “I know that we could have gotten some kind of info out of him.”

“Well it was me or him.”  Shanoa said shaking her head and reaching into her back pocket.  “Though this should make up for it.”  She said pulling a beat up looking wallet from her back pocket.

“Your a damn klepto.”  Clotho said snickering a little as she watched the catwolf handing the poodle the wallet.  “I thought that I was bad.”

“Well….I thought that it would be better if I got it….the clean up crew isn’t all that worried about that kinda thing….they just make shit disappear no matter what.”  Shanoa said turning as she heard the door opening behind her.

“Ok.  I got news.”  A sugar glider said as she walked into the room.  “Did I miss something?”  She asked looking at the three women standing there.

“Not really talking about how the two here need parenting classes of something.”  Shanoa said smiling.

“Bite me.”

“Oh.  Well I have info on the kids.”  Slipstream said as she held up some folders.  “It looks like each of them are missing kid cases, and all of the parents should be found in no time, so that’s a plus.”  She said turning and glancing at the bat sitting down, kicking her legs.  “But that one….she….well...I can’t really find anything on her.  No info on her past her name…..and the only reason that I know that is because it was sewn on the inside of her coat.”

“She might be a foreign grab or something.”  Mairya said shrugging, “keep looking….or...and see what you can find on this guy.”  She said handing her the wallet.  

“The opossum that Eris took out?  Ok, I will add that to the list.”  Slip said shaking her head a little.  “You’re trying to work me too death.”

“Oh come on.  Just to a quick look and then you can go home.”  The poodle said as she looked over to the calico cat.  “Get the kids ready and I will take them to the orphanage and get Sugar caught up on what’s going on.”  She said turning and heading out of the room.  “Dismissed.”

“Well….let me get to work.”  Clotho said as she turned and headed off to get things ready.

“Me too.”  Slip said turning and following Mairya out the door.

Looking over to the bat, Shanoa waved for her to come over, scooping her up and holding her onto her hip, following Slip.  “Hey….I need to talk to you.”  She said putting her free hand on her shoulder.

“What do you need me to do?”  The sugar glider said rolling her eyes.

“Oh you act like it’s so hard….”  Shanoa said snickering as they stopped outside of her office.  “I need a quick forage….adoption papers and all that…..let's make this little one mine.”  She said blushing a little.

“Ok, give me about half an hour.”  She said snickering, “I will have you the papers and you will have one Curio Kiyomizu on your hands.”  She said as she walked off and the pair walked into her office, sitting down and watching her skitter off to the large, fancy chair that she used, giggling at the sight of the small bat in the huge chair.  “So cute.”

Smiling as she walked over to the bat in her chair, she held her arms out and picked her up and sat back down with her in her lap.  Shanoa tilted her head as she watched the bat, Curio reaching out for the notepad and pen on her desk, reaching out and sliding it to her, she watched Curio start scribbling something.

“I just wanted to thank you.”  Shanoa started reading the notepad that she was handed.  “You saved me from those mean guys.  You make me think of my mommy.”  She kept reading, starting to tear up a little.  Blinking a few times she looked down to the girl and smiled, taking a moment to think of how she wanted to put it.  “It’s my job.”  She started out, saying the words as she signed them, “you remind me of an old friend of mine.”

“Can I meet them sometime.  I bet they are as cool as you.”  The little bat scribbled across the notepad, glancing back up before writing down more.  “What is your name Miss?”

“I’m Shanoa.”  She signed to the little one smiling and taking a deep breath.  “And my friend….she’s not with us any more….I promised her that I would save as many people as I could.”  She let out a little squeak as she felt Curio clinging to her and hugging her tightly, pulling her back from the hug, she started to signing again, “can I ask you what happened to you?  How you ended up on the street?”

Tearing off the page that filled up and starting on the next one.  “We came here, mom and dad looking for work in the mines, and well, one day dad didn’t come home….and mom and I tried to make it on our own, but then some people to the house talking to mom about money and then I heard her yelling for me to run and then some loud bangs.  I have been on the streets since then.”  She scribbled onto the page before handing it to the catwolf.

“Oh….”  She paused.  “I’m sorry to hear that.”  Shanoa signed, pausing for a moment to think of what to say.  “Don’t worry….Everything is going to be fine.”  The moment that she signed that the bat’s face light up with happiness.

“Thank you.”  Was all that she wrote on the page before snuggling up to the catwolf, Shanoa didn’t say anything, just wrapping her tail around her.

“God, I have a lot to explain to Anna.”  She said shaking her head a little as she looked down at Curio, smiling at the sight of her nodding off, using part of her fluffy tail as a blanket.

Shanoa  sat at her desk, going through some files on some of the kids that she had saved, surprised at how long some of them had been missing.  Some of them having been gone for a year or more, some of them only having been missing for a month or two.  Soon the letters all started blending together, she shut the folder that she was looking at and leaned back in her chair, closing her eyes for a moment.

“Hey Eris.”  Slip called out as she walked into her office, smiling at the sight of the two asleep in the chair.  Slipping a hand into her pocket and pulling out her phone, she snapped a photo before slipping it back into her pocket.  “Hey…..I got the papers.”  She said walking up to her desk and setting them there.

“Thanks Slip.”  She said looking at the folder that she was handed, opening it and looking over the forged works.  “Amazing work as always.”  She said looking up to the glider.

“Oh, and now that you have this little one, you’re going to have to be a lot more careful out there.  Listening to the medic, the guy that stabbed you, missed the  brachial artery by about a millimeter or so.”  She said shaking her head.

“Yeah, I know that….he was going for my throat. His aim went off when I shot him.”  She said with a little shrug.  “And I am….Though….when Anna finds out what I did….I might end up dead….so make sure that you get my will ready.”

“Oh come on….it can’t be that bad….but I will.”  Slip said with a little giggle, turning and starting to head to the door.  “Oh….go home….don’t avoid this…..Anna isn’t going to kill you...she’s going to worry like hell, but yeah….so go home, spend time with her and your new daughter….it’s Christmas Eve.”

“Shit.”  Shanoa said shaking her head, “I still have to buy some gifts and shit.”  She said looking down at the sleeping bundle in her lap.  “And some new clothes for her.”  She said looking up to Slipstream.

“Like I said.  Go shop for some gifts and all that, then go home and spend time with your new family.”  She said heading out of the office, leaving them.

Nudging the sleeping Curio, smiling warmly at the sight of her yawning and looking up to her.  “Look at this.”  She sign to her and then pointed to the open folder on the desk, “do you know what that is?”  She watched her shake her head.  “It’s adoption papers….it means that I’m going to be taking you home and taking care of you….you’re my daughter now.”  She signed again, smiling at the sight of the bat’s eyes lighting up and the sudden shift of her wrapping her arms around her.

Writing on the desk pad.. “That means you’re my mom now? I like that.”

“Good.  Ready to go run some errands and then go meet your…..other mother?”  Shanoa signed, unsure just how to put the last part.

“Other? Mom, this feels weird. I just know I’m safe with you. I’ll meet anyone you want.” The bat put down the pen and looked up at Shanoa, smiling.

“Yeah.  Our family is a little….weird, I fell in love with another lady….and well the rest is history.”  She signed, watching her slipping out of her lap, rushing over and getting her coat.  The wolfcat getting up and walking over to her, holding out her hand.  

Leading her daughter out of the office, she turned around to lock the door before taking the little bat’s winged hand and starting to walk down the hallway that was carved in stone.  She hissed a little as she felt a little ping of pain in her arm, she wasn’t used to having to being in a sling, and she had to deal with it for the next five weeks.  As they made it to the front of the building she felt a tugging on her coat, looking down she saw the little Curio holding up a notepad.

“Mom? Anyone you love has to be a good person. I want to meet her.”  The little bat had written.

“She is….And I know that she is going to love a little sweetheart like you.”  She signed before reaching into her pocket, pulling out a keycard and sliding it through a reader.  Once they stepped through the door, the wolfcat bent down and scooped up her daughter, starting to carry her through what looked like a cave.  It was a fair walk from the door in the cave to the ‘ranger’s station’ where she found her car waiting on her, she knew that Slip or one of them had went and got it for her.  Setting her down and opening the door for her, she started signing again.  

“I thought that I would take you to get some clothes, we can’t have you dressed up like you’re still on the streets, that and I have to get some gifts for Anna.”  She said pausing for a moment.  “Anna is your other mother.”  She said helping Curio into the car and getting buckled up.  As she made her way to the driver’s side, she made a little mental note to look into some kind of text to speech gadget for her.

A note was handed to her as the got into the car. “Does Anna like candy?” She heard paper rustle before another page was passed forward in the car. “There’s a place downtown that sells chocolate coated fruits. They are awesome - and they give the ones they can’t sell to street kids.”

Smiling as she started the car, reading over the note.  “She does, she loves the pomegranate ones, me, I like the acai berries.”  She said smiling.  “We will have to stop there on the way home.  Now sweetie, I won’t be able to talk when I’m driving, I have to keep a hand on the wheel.”  She said as she started backing up and then pulling out, driving down the long dirt road.  “It’s a good thing that I’m used to driving with one hand….”  She said blushing at some of the thoughts of just why she would have to drive with one hand, darn does.

The midtown mall was probably the best choice. Stays open late and has all the big department stores. “What the fuck” she thought… “What the hell do I buy for a cub, when I want to give her the entire world?”  She turned to Curio and started signing, “We’re here….we’re going to get you some clothes and all that….and then a little surprise or two.”  She said smiling after pulling into a parking spot, near the front of the mall. 

She got out and walked around to the passenger’s side and opened it for her daughter, watching her as she hopped out, once the door was closed and the car locked, she scooped her up and started walking to the doors.

Another note. “They throw street kids out of here when they catch us.”

Smiling as she got to the front and set her in the cub seat of the first buggy that she got, leaning in and kissing her on the nose.  “Well it’s a good thing that you’re not one of those.”  She said as she started pushing the buggy and bat into the store.

The bat looked up at her and flexed her wings, the fingers moving in sign. “This is hard. sign with wings even if fingers, Ok to just write?” Shanoa nodded and the bat pulled a new page from her notebook. “This is like I went to the north pole and found Santa.”

“Sure, I know it has to be tricky doing that with wings.”  She signed to her.  “I think that have a little place for kids to meet Santa, after we get you some new cloths, you want to get you photo taken with him?”  She said, turning down one of the aisle, heading to the little girl’s clothing.

“That is Drew. He’s nice but he’s not the real Santa. He watches out for all of us when he works here. He’s not that fat, he puts a pillow in the front of his suit.”

Smiling and making a little mental note to herself, to have Slip pull up some info on him and make sure something good comes his way.  Parking the buggy by a rack of winter clothing, smiling down to her, “Well want to say hello to him and tell him the news?”

“I think he’d be happy because I am. Can I try that pink one?”

“Sure.  We have to pick you out some nice clothes.”  She said as she picked her up and out of the shopping cart, setting her down.  The two spent a good chunk of time going through the different outfits, smiling and talking about what colors looked best on her.  Soon they had picked out several things, and one outfit for her to wear.  “Come on, let me pay for this and you can get changed.”  She said as she pushed the buggy of clothes up to the check out counter in the clothing department.

“Is this all for you?”  The worker said as she was handed the different things and started ringing them up.

“Yes it is.  Doing a little last minute shopping and stuff.”  Shanoa said to the cashier, smiling softly as she watched the price going up, “She want’s to change into that one.”  She said stopping her when she got to the outfit.

“Ok, your total is, ninety four dollars and four cents.”  She said watching the wolfcat sliding her card and punching in a pin number.  “Thank you.”  She said handing her the receipt that was quickly stuffed into her pocket.

“Lets get you to the changing room.”  She said pushing the buggy over to the changing rooms in the back of the store.  Helping her out and opening the door before handing her, the shoes, socks, undies and the pink knit sweater with the heart on the chest, along with the matching long skirt and stocking.  “Now I will be right outside the door, with my tail under it, if you need me, just tug on my tail.”  She said smiling and watching her skitter into the changing room.

The bat got an odd look on her face as she looked down at her notepad.. then she quickly wrote “I wouldn’t dream of pulling your tail, mom.” Then she turned around and the changing room door shut.

Smiling as she watched her daughter going in and closing the door, she pulled out her phone and started typing out a message.  “Hey sweetie.  I hope things are going good with your family….try not to kill your sister….oh...and I have a few surprises.”  She mumbled as she typed it out and then hit the send button.  It’s was just a few moments later when she heard her phone going off, looking at it, she smiled.  “I haven’t….she learned her lesson last year.  And I can’t wait to see them.  Love you.”  She said reading the message out loud before sending an ‘I love you too’ back to her.

It was a few moments later when the door to the changing room came open and out stepped the little bat, dressed in the outfit that her and her mother had picked out, Shanoa smiling at the sight of her and just how cute she is.  The little bat holding up the notepad, with “How do I look?”  Written on it.

“You look just too cute.”  The catwolf signed to her, smiling and kneeling down, wrapping one arm around her and holding her for a moment or two, before picking her up and putting her back in the seat of the buggy.  “Ready to go to the next store?”  She asked, starting to push the buggy out of the clothing store and across the area, to a small electronics store.

With a little rustle of paper another note was passed up to the wolfcat.  “Mom, what are we here for?”  The bat said, looking around at all of the shiny electronics.

“We’re looking to get you something so you don’t have to keep using the notepads.”  She signed as she walked up to the glass case that had the tablets and phones in it.

“Is there anything that I can help you with?”  A feline said, walking up to the two.  “Getting one for you or the little one there?”  She asked looking at the bat sitting in the cart.

“I’m getting one for her, that and a phone for her.”  Shanoa said as she looked at the box for one tablet.  “Let me see that B-one there.”  She said as she was quickly handed the box for it, she took a moment to look it over, check the power that it had and everything before setting it back on the counter.  “I’ll take it.  Now I need a phone for her.”  She said moving a little down the case.  “That one.”  She said pointing to a generic looking flip phone.”

“Will that be all for you?”  She asked, leaning in and getting the phone out of the case, “need a case?  Get the phone set up with one of our carriers?”

“I do need a case for the tablet, something pink, it’s for my little one.”  She said glancing back at the bat, smiling.

“Ok.  I will meet you up at the counter.”  She said slipping off to the back before coming up to the counter were the wolfcat and bat were waiting.  “Ok, this should take care of everything for you.”  She said as she started ringing up the Acer, Iconia B-one and the phone before slipping it into a bag.  “That will be one hundred and eighty nine dollars, and ninety eight cents.”  She said pausing for a moment, “and you’re sure that I can’t get you started on a plan for the phone?”

“Do you have pre paid?”  She asked reaching into her pocket, pulling out the black plastic card with two silver Xs on it.

“We do, we have an unlimited talk and text one….I take it that it’s for her.”  She said looking down to the bat.  “It’s forty five a month.”

“I’ll take it, and I can get it set up myself.”  She said smiling

“Ok, that will bring your total up to two hundred and thirty four dollars, and ninety eight cents.”  She said, watching as she Shanoa slid the card and put in the pin number.  “Thank you.”  She said handing her the receipt, that went into her pocket along with her card, the bag going into the buggy.  “Have a nice day.”  She said smiling and watching as the family left.

As she was pushing the cart through the store a piece of paper popped up into her view.  “Momma, is all of this for me?”  

“Most of it.  The clothes, the phone and tablet are, I have to get Anna last minute things and then you a few christmas gifts.”  She signed as they stopped at another store, this one being a clothing store for adults.  “Though the tablet is going to be more helping you communicate.”  She said as she started pushing the cart down one of the aisles that had the silky night clothes on it.

Another piece of paper. “Mom… I never had proper christmas gifts before. Thank you.”

“Well, this year, you’re getting your first.”  She signed to her as she pushed the cart up to the register, and smiled.  “I’m here to pick something up for Shanoa.”  She said as she watched the worker slipping off to the back to get something.  She had ordered a silky little number for her wife, it was one that she had looked at, but decided about getting it cause she thought it was too much for her.

“Right here, ma’am. your order. Customized as you required. Our tailor has only just finished it.”

“Good, I can’t wait to see it on her.”  She said with a little blush as she handed him her card to pay for it, slipping the gift wrapped box into the cart before getting her card back.

Turning and pushing the cart out of the store she smiled down at the little bat as she started pushing the cart through the hallways, glancing at some of the stores before stopping in front of one of the toy stores, smiling as she went in.

“I have a little question.”  She said as she walked up to the male behind the counter.  “I was wondering if I gave you some things to get and wrap for me without her seeing, could you do that?  There will be a nice tip for you.”

“Ma’am we do have a discreet shopping service - it’s aimed at those that have to conceal their gifts precise nature from their cubs. I take it that is what you require?” Beckoning to a staff member, he smiled as a tall cervine male walked up to the counter. “This is Tony. Just let him know your requirements and he’ll bring them here already boxed. We call it our ‘tantrum avoidance service’.”

“Happy to help, Ma’am. I have an eighteen month old at home myself so I know how it sometimes gets a little awkward shopping for something special without them finding out.”

“Ok.”  She said smiling and turning to the cervine boy.  “I need toys for her.”  Shanoa said nodding to the little bat that was sitting in the cart.  “I’m not sure what to get a little cub….this is my first year…..”  She said pausing for a moment.  “Ooooh.  My Little Pony Stuff like that.”  She said smiling.  “Ohhhhh and if you have it….a MLP bed set for her.”

The young stag looked at Shanoa and the bat in the cart, noticing how Shanoa had turned to conceal her face from the bat as she spoke. Stepping slightly to one side so Shanoa blocked the bat’s view of him, he grinned. “We do indeed. However those are really popular so we’ve got a lot of them. Any preference? We have sets featuring all six primary characters and the princess too. Plus a few that feature the whole gang, and the youngsters too. Take your pick I’ll get it.”

“I don’t know if she has a favorite one….So, just a few sets of the main six….and then anything that would decorate her room.”  The catwolf said smiling.  “We’re just moving her in and we want to help her make her room her’s.”  She said nodding.

“Ok, we can do that. How about a mix and match set, featuring all six of the main crew, a set of pillow covers for each one, sheets featuring all of them and other characters.. maybe some plushes of the main characters too?”

“That sounds good to me.  Make it happen.”  She said smiling as she reached into her pocket, pulling out a couple of twenties and handed them to him.  “For you….  Thank you.”

“Much appreciated, Ma’am. Give me five minutes. I’ll handle it. There will also be a gift card in the package, good for swapping out the main sheet set for a character specific one if she develops a preference later. There’s nothing worse than a kid sleeping in a bed she has decided she doesn’t like and we’d rather not be the cause of that for you.” He winked at her and hurried off.

“Sounds good to me.”  She said as she watched him rushing off.  “I have a little phone call to make.”  She signed to her daughter as she reached into her pocket, fishing out her phone, tapping at the screen.

“Hello?”  Shanoa heard the voice answer.  “Shanoa, why are you calling?  I mean….I love you, but the long distance charges are going to be bad.”

“Yeah I know.”  She said shrugging a little bit.  “I needed to ask you about that text to voice thing that my sister uses.”  Shanoa said, it was clear that she was talking to her sister’s husbad.

“Why do you need that?”  He asked as there was a little ruffling sound.  “It’s called Interact-AS.”  He said pausing for a moment.  “I take it, it’s something for work.”

“No….something else….that I can’t say right now, cause I know that you can’t hold water.”  She said with a little snicker.  “I will tell you later….and tell my sister that I said hey and I love her.”

“I will…..and don’t do anything that is…..stupid.”  He said with a little snicker.  “And I will.  Y’all take care.”  Shanoa smiled as she hit the end call button and slipped the phone back into her pocket.

“Your packages, Ma’am.”

“Thank you.”  She said smiling and nodding to the male as he loaded down her cart with the gifts that he had picked out.  Once he was done she turned and started heading back out of the store and then starting to make their way back to the car that was parked outside of the store.

Once she pushed the bat and the cart out to her car, she opened the back of the van.  She didn’t really like the car, but she needed something to drive durning the winter and when raining, so she ended up getting a van.  She started loading the many bags and boxed into the car, thankful of the help that a passing panther gave her loading things up.

“Ok, one more place to go.”  She signed before helping Curio out of the buggy and into the car.  “We have to get you a bed and some more stuff for your room.”  She signed before pushing the buggy to a safe place and then getting into the driver’s seat, starting the car and pulling out, heading to a local furniture store.

Once she parked in front of the store, she saw a note popping into her view.  “Mom, what kinda things are we going to get here?”

“We’re here to get you a bed to sleep on and some other things too.”  She singed as she got out of the car and made her way to  Curio’s side, opening the door, scooping her up and heading into the store.

Once she was in the store she started walking around, looking at the different beds that were made for little ones, setting Curio down and signing to her to pick one that she likes, that she would be sleeping on it for sometime.

The pair walked through the store, looking at the different beds and sets, the little bat trying out different ones.  Stretching out and making happy little sounds as she would melt into the bed, it was clear that she hadn’t been on a nice bed for some time.

 They stopped at a bed set up that was made to look like a princess’ castle, having a little turret to climb up to the bed, a slide to go down to get out of the bed, then under it was a hidey hole for her to play games, read or whatever.  Shanoa let out a little giggle as she watched the bat running up to it, bouncing happily.

“This the one?”  Shanoa asked, giggling a little as she walked up to it, taking the price tag before reaching out and taking the bat’s hand and walking up to the counter.

“Is there something that I can help you with?”  The ringtail said happily as he watched the pair walking up to the counter, Shanoa glancing at his name, snickering at at Jared Snodgrass.

“Yes.”  The wolfcat said smiling as she set the price tag on the counter.  “We want this…..we need it today, delivered and put together, all that.”  She said smiling.

“Ok, do you want me to set up a charge account for that?”  He asked, motioning for someone to come over, telling them what to get and get loaded onto a truck.

“No, I’m paying for it all.”  She said smiling and pulling out her card.  “So how much do I owe you?”  She said handing him her card, watching him nodding and sliding the card before handing it back to her.  

“We will have someone there to put it together as soon as you’re ready.”  He said smiling and nodding to the hybrid, just need you to confirm the address and all that.”

“Yup, that’s right.”  She said looking down at the page, before looking up to him.  “And I want the guy there asap, I’m head right home….it’s kind of a huge surprise.”  She said with a little snicker, watching him nodding.

“That can all be set up, he can follow you when you leave.”  The ringtail said smiling, motioning for the driver to go out and get ready.  

She felt a tugging on her sleeve, and soon a note being held up.  “Momma, how are you paying for all of this?”  

“I’m a doctor.”  She signed down at her, stopping for a moment, “that and my other job….that you can’t tell Anna about yet.”  She signed, smiling down to the bat.

The bat nodded as the two made their way out of the building and heading to the car, helping her get into her seat and then getting into her.  The catwolf smiled as she saw the delivery truck waiting to follow her.  She started the car and pulled out, giving the truck a moment to get behind her before she pulled out and started driving to the house.  She knew that she had several hours before Anna would be home and she would have to explain things.

Pulling into the driveway, she got out and headed around to the passenger's door and let the bat out before walking with her to the door and unlocking it.  She smiled and snickered a little as she watched Curio following her back to the car trying to help her with all of the bags.  Shanoa was thankful for the help that she got from Curio and the guy that was bringing her the bed and putting it together.  She knew that she was going to hate being limited to just using the one arm for five weeks.

Once they got the bags into the house, Shanoa and Curio started getting things split up, the two putting the gifts under the tree, setting her clothing to the side to be hung up after the bed was put up.  The catwolf was happy that they had a spare room that was being used as something of an office, the only other things in it were a desk and TV on a stand.

Shanoa smiled as she sat in the living room, the little bat snuggled against her on the sofa, watching her typing stuff into a laptop, ordering something as she also got her little girl’s cell phone and tablet set up, Curio did ask what she was ordering, but only got that it was going to be a surprise.

Once she got everything set up and all of the needed programs onto the tablet she turned and smiled at the little bat.  “Ready for your surprise?”  She signed to her handing her tablet.  “Press the little app button in the middle.”

When the bat touched the little button in the middle of the screen, the screen changing to display a blank screen cut in half, a keyboard at the bottom.  The bat looked up to her mother and tilted her head a little.

“It’s a special program.  It listens to voices and then turns them into text.”  She said nodding down to the screen, smiling at the sight of the words appearing on the screen.  “And something else that it does.  Anything that you type there will be said, and you can make the voice sound how you want it.”  She said with a little snicker.

She took a moment to look it over before looking up to her mother and then to the tablet, typing something.  “Mom, thank you.”  The tablet spoke for her, her face lighting up the moment that she saw the smile on her mother’s face, knowing that it worked.

“That’s right.”  Shanoa said smiling as she looked at her, “and you’re welcome sweetie.”  She said watching the workers coming out of her room, nodding to her, letting her know that the bed was done.  “Wanna go see your bed?”  Nodding and getting up the bat followed the wolfcat off to the bedroom.

The sight that awaited the pair, made them smile.  Like she had told the worker, he had put the bed up by the window, so that the little bat could look out the window from bed or the little cubby hole.  Slowly the room was starting to turn into that of a little girl’s, and Shanoa knew that by this time tomorrow that it would be looking like a little girl’s dream room, that was provided that she wasn’t going to end up getting killed by Anna.  

Curio looked up to the momma wolfcat smiling and bouncing in place before typing something into her tablet.  “Oh thank you momma….it’s so pretty.” 

“Well a little princess like you needs a bed to match and soon the room will be fit for you too.”  Shanoa said, looking down at her.  “No, go play with your tablet and see if you can find a voice on it that you like…..I have dinner to get ready….and figure out how to spring this on Anna.”

“Ok momma.”  Came from Curio’s tablet as she skittered off to the little bed, and slipped into the cubby hole.  Shanoa could hear faint sounds of her trying out the different voices that the program had to offer.

Dinner and a show.

Shanoa moved around the kitchen of the house, getting everything ready from dinner, something easy and kind of quick, mostly easy given the fact that her arm was messed up.  She was a little more than halfway through making dinner when she saw a pink lancer pulling into the driveway.  She took a deep breath as she walked from the kitchen to the living room and opening the door.

“Oh God am I happy to be back home.”  Anna said as she walked through the door, the moment that she got into the room, she dropped the bags that she had in her hands, gifts and things spilling out.  “Oh my god, what happened?  What did you do to you arm?”  The doe squeaked out as she reached out and pulled the catwolf into a hug before breaking it and looking her over.

“I…..well there was an accident that happened at work.”  She said looking down at the floor.  “And we need to talk…..I think that it’s time that I told you a few things that I have been keeping locked up.’  She said walking over to the sofa and taking a seat.

“Wait….I thought that you told me everything last night.”  She said cocking her eyebrow a little.

“I told you almost everything….some of the things that I didn’t tell you….I don’t think that you would believe me.”  Shanoa said shaking her head.  “I mean, how many people would would believe them when their wife tells them that ‘I work for a secret group that goes around catching drug dealers, pedos, and bad people.’”

“Ok, slow down and start from the beginning.”  Anna said looking over to her lover.  “You work for some secret agents?  I thought that you were a doctor or was that a lie?”

“No, I am a doctor, I mean that is my job.  The secret agent thing is part time.”  Shanoa said pausing for a moment.  “I know that it’s a lot to think about and believe, but it’s true.  You remember reading in the paper about the anonymous group that donated all that money to the different families?  That was us….we do a lot to help people in many different ways.”

“Ok….so what else do you do in this group?”  Anna asked leaning a little closer, her hand reaching out to take her lover’s hand.  “And just how did you get this wound?”

“Well….we monitor people that might be pedos, drug dealers and things like that, and then when we find out that they are one, we go after them and make sure they get caught.”  Shanoa said leaning back against the sofa.  “As for this…..I got stabbed….I got a little careless and well I got cut, deep….so I’m going to be in this thing for a little bit.”  She said with a little huff.  “Other than that, that’s about as dangerous as it gets for me….I’m more of a desk monkey.”

“You’re a dick.”  She said pushing her lover.  “You can’t be doing shit like that…..I don’t want to lose my wife….”  She said clinging to her.  “I know that I can’t change your mind, but please don’t do anything that will get you hurt or anything like that.”

“Oh.”  Shanoa squeaked out.  “I have one more thing that I have to tell you.”  She said glancing past her lover.  “You know how we were talking about adopting a kid……”

“Yes…..Shanoa…..what did you do?”  Anna asked, turning to look at what the catwolf was looking at, only to seen an empty hallway.

“I…..well, come see.”  She said getting up and starting to walk down to the hall and up to Curio’s door.  “Anna…..Meet Curio….our new daughter.”

It took the doe a few moments to register what her wife said.  The sight of the bat that was peaking out of the cubby hole, smiling shyly up to her parents.  “Sh….Shanoa, you didn’t.”  She turned and looked at her wife.  “How?”

“Well.”  Shanoa paused and took a breath.  “I was out, walking to get the car and I saw a pair of guys dragging her off into a building so I went in after them….that’s when I got stabbed….and….and cause of a promise that I made someone a long time ago….I decided to bring her home….and before you ask, she had no parents, no past on the books or anything like that.”

“Ok….”  Anna said smiling and looking at the bat before looking to the catwolf.  “You’re in deep shit for this…..but….damn it….I love you.”  She said turning and walking into the room and up to the bat.  “Hey there sweetie.  I’m Anna.”  She said kneeling down.

“Um, Luv Nubs…..she’s deaf and mute.”  Shanoa said snickering a little as she watched the bat slipping into the cubby hole and poking back out with the tablet, typing something into it.

“Hello momma Anna.”  The tablet spoke for her, she had changed the voice to something that was softer and sweeter.

“Though the tablet is set up to hear what we say, and display it for her, and what she types will be spoken for us….cause I know that you don’t know sign language.”  Shanoa said with a little snicker.

“You know that you’re still in trouble for all of this…..I mean, this is a lot to throw at someone.”  Anna said shaking her head a little.  “But I’m still happy.”  She said blushing and walking back to her lover.

“I know that it is a little…..sudden…..but I just knew that you would love it….I mean, I knew that you wanted a family just as much as me…..and well….I kinda did it my way.”  The wolfcat said smiling, letting out a little mewl as she felt the doe’s arms wrapping around her hips.

“I know, but….it works out.”  Anna said smiling and pressing herself against her wife, looking up into her eyes.  “And I’m sure that you can convince me to forgive you.”  She said smiling and winking, before closing her eyes and pressing her lips against her loves.

The two stood there in one another’s arms, kissing and holding each other.  Shanoa’s tongue wiggled into Anna’s muzzle, starting to dance with her’s, the wolfcat’s paws sliding up her sides, before wrapping around her and giving her a nice squeeze. 

“Ummmm Momma…..what are you doing with Momma Anna?”  The voice of Curio’s table spoke up, causing the two to break their kiss, looking at one another, blushing hotly.

“Ummmm.”  Anna squeaked out, blushing and turning to look at the little bat, smiling.

“It’s something that lover’s do…..it’s the special way that we show that we love one another.”  Shanoa said smiling down at the bat, watching her nod as she looked at the tablet to see what her mother said.

“Oooooh.”  Came from her tablet.  “You two really must love one another.”  She said again before walking up to the two.

“We do.”  Shanoa said smiling and kneeling down, purring softly as Anna joined her.  “And now that we have you, our little family is nice and complete.”  She said as she put one arm around the doe, and held the other one out for the bat.

“Yes.”  Anna said smiling and putting her arm around Shanoa.  “Now we are one big happy family, and as long as you’re here with us, we will make sure that nothing bad will happen to you, make sure that no one tries to hurt you, or anything like that.”

“Thank you.”  The bat’s tablet spoke up before she pressed herself against her mothers, hugging and holding them tight, tears rolling down her cheeks.  The family stayed there for what felt like hours, just holding one another and listening to the sounds of their breath and heart beats, cementing their bond.

“Well.”  Shanoa spoke up.  “I need to get back to making dinner.”  She said pulling back and looking at the two.  “Would you two like to help me?  Make her first meal here a big family one?”  She asked, watching the bat nod and Anna smile.

The three of them worked together, making dinner, talking and getting to know one another.  Laughing and giggling at the stories that the mother’s told, Shanoa telling one that would make Anna blush and nudge her lover before telling one of her own.  Once the dinner was done, the new family sat down at the table and started enjoying the food and one another, still laughing and smiling the whole time.

Soon after dinner was done, the two mothers giggled a little as they looked over to see the bat starting to nod off in her chair.  “Well it looks like it’s someone’s bed time.”  Shanoa said as she got up and went over to the little bat and scooped her up and out of her chair.

“Yes, we need to get a little sweetie to bed so that Santa Paws can come and drop off her gifts.”  Anna said as she followed Shanoa into Curio’s room.  She busied herself with getting her bed ready as Shanoa helped her get changed into some of the PJs that she had gotten her just today.

“Looks like someone is already for bed.”  Shanoa said as she lifted her up and set her in her bed, pulling the blanket up and over her.  Smiling and turning to her wife, the wolfcat smiled and started showing her how to perform the sign for good night and I love you.  Turning to face Curio, the tree signed good night and I love you in near unison, to the point that you would have thought that Anna knew sign language better than she did.

After having tucked the little one in the two slipped out of the room, the doe turning and leaning in close to her lover.  “I know that you got her some gifts…..go sit them out….I have my own little gift that I need to get ready.”  Anna said smiling and kissing her lover on the cheek before slipping off to her bedroom, leaving Shanoa to ponder what she had planed as she went off to set out the gifts for her and Anna’s new daughter.

Coming back to her and Anna’s room she pushed the door open, smiling and purring at the sight that greeted her.  On the bed stands, several candles were lit, filling the room with a soft flickering light.  On the bed was the best sight of all to her, the doe was laying on the bed, propped up on some pillows, she had no shirt on showing off her tone belly covered in soft white fur, moving a little lower, she had on a pair of soft pink panties with little red and pink hearts on them, along with the matching stocking.

“Well Merry Christmas to me.”  Shanoa said as she licked her lips at the sight.  “I have been wanting to unwrap this gift for the longest time.”  She said as she started walking over the bed, working on getting out of her clothing.  The catwolf had no trouble getting out of her shirt and pants, despite her arm being in a sling, though her bra was another story.

“Come on now, you don’t get to have all the fun.”  Anna said as she got off the bed and wrapped her arms around her lover, “you have to save some for me.”

Without saying anything the doe spun in place, then softly nudging her lover so that she fell back onto the bed.  Softly pinning her to the bed the doe just smilied and licked her lips before taking Shanoa’s hand and holding against the bed above her, her other hand making short work of it.  

Nothing other than pants and soft moans came from the two as the doe leaned in, keeping her lover’s arm pinned.  Her lips meeting and planting kisses along the catwolf’s neck, before starting to nip at it and her shoulder.  “Mmmmh I think that I like this being on top thing.”  Anna said with a little giggle.

Shanoa let out a little snort that soon turned into a moan as she felt the warm maw of her lover wraping around her lover’s nipple, starting to tease and suckle on it.  “I might let you be on top this time.”  Shanoa said softly, purring loudly.

“Well I was going to be anyway.”  Anna said as she slipped away from her lover, starting to pull her panties down and out of the way.  “Now to get to the good part….we do need to get some sleep we have a big day tomorrow.”

“Yeeeeesssss.”  Shanoa moaned out as she felt her lover’s tongue starting to lap at her slit.  “The Bradleys will flip when we show up….bandaged up and with a kid of our own.”