An Ocean Cruise

Binx’s ears were flattened and the tip of her tail whipped with rapid attentiveness as she watched the pale man escort his lady into the waiting boat. Kylean was given an envelope and the skiff slipped silently into the water and, within moments, both Kylean and the boat were gone. Klaws’ paw reached for Binx and found only her tail. Grabbing it, he whisked her into his cardboard castle quickly hushing any protest.

Once out of sight of the city, Ethan relaxed comfortably on the skiff gazing at his wife who was leaning over the side trailing her fingers through the clean ocean water. He sometimes wondered about her thoughts as she moved to the other side to again dip her fingers into the water. He was tempted to peek within her mind in times such as this: Her random repetition of simple actions. What held her attention so? To him, both sides were the same, and so he watched with amusement as she moved from side to side as though she were making multiple new discoveries.

The waning gibbous moon caused the night to seem quite bright. Brit looked over her shoulder catching his gaze. The gentle breeze ruffled her hair a bit and her mossy green eyes glowed from the moonlight. She looked much as she did the night on the rooftop, where she first invited him to view within her mind. At first, he thought she was teasing, but he quickly realized that she had no idea what she was offering. The invitation was too enticing to refuse and, once inside, he noted that there were no barriers or filters on the chaos of her thoughts regarding the constant flow of information. And though he wondered how she functioned within the rapid stream of consciousness, he marveled at her lack of guile and stark honesty. To him, she was like no other he had encountered and, unlike his encounters with any other, he was compelled to kiss her.

Since that night, she never closed her mind to him, however he felt her thoughts were private and hers. Brit continued to watch him and Ethan wondered whether she sometimes could see within his thoughts which caused him to shift uncomfortably. Would she think him horrid if she saw the thoughts in his head? The sounds of her heartbeat and the air moving in her lungs beckoned him. Would she turn away if she understood the beast within all that were like him? He could easily find out. The temptation grew - to peek just for a moment - just to see her thoughts. Her body shifted and she slipped next to him impulsively pressing her blood-warmed lips against his. He froze for a moment before slipping his arm around her and returned a deeper kiss before simply holding her close. He closed his eyes to regroup and opened them to see the glow from the mainland city, which gave him a new focus.

“A cruise?” said an incredulous Ethan to the gentleman who greeted them on a dock. “Cruises were quite nice once upon a time,” continued Ethan who rummaged through the information given to him, “but I fear that time is long past.”

The nosferatu dressed in the dark cloak replied, “Once upon a time, you were quite fond of cruises as I recall. It was not until…1947?” Noticing Ethan’s glare, the cloaked man continued, “As if anyone knew the ship would run aground, Ethan. Come now, and tell me that you do not miss the grace and elegance of an ocean cruise.” With a gesture toward Brit, the nosferatu added, “And it will be an opportunity to share a gentler time with your lovely wife.”

All valid points, Ethan conceded. Besides, he wanted a world that was suitable and controllable until the city grew calmer. Tapping the envelope in his palm, Ethan shrugged remembering the Queen Elizabeth’s mishap, which was not a huge problem at the time. The problem was the talk of off-loading passengers during the daytime. The envelope shifted hands as Ethan continued to consider. It would be hard for harm to come to either of them while on a ship. Nodding, he said, “Many thanks. Brit shall enjoy it, I believe.”

The nosferatu clasped his hands together and opened them again. “I am pleased that you have determined the selection of your get-away to be satisfactory. You did not give us much time.” Ethan shrugged before forcing a smile and handing over payment. Though unspoken, Ethan felt the amount was more than sufficient for the inconvenience of limited planning.

Brit and Ethan arrived to the ship at 2 AM, which Ethan felt was time enough to settle into the room and take a romantic walk along the topside deck to acclimate prior to sunrise. The perky director happily informed both that their room had been upgraded to a balcony suite. “I require an inside room,” Ethan told her. “I’m quite allergic to sunlight.” The director’s smile fell as she informed him that no inside rooms were remained. The compromise was to swap the sleeping space with the living room so that sun could not aggravate Ethan’s condition. The director’s smile reappeared as a solution was found, and she happily informed them that both had time to make the limbo contest at the poolside bar.

A Change of Pace

Ethan watched the small group of vampires on the corner. Gone were the days when they were boisterous and gaming like a group of second sons from earlier times. Somber and hungry, he thought with a grimace thinking their demeanor was reflected in the night. The blood fountain remained broken, and he was seeing more of the younger ones starting to prowl the streets with each passing day. When the fountain was first destroyed, many citizens offered donations to the vampiric populace. Ethan knew the cycle of disasters: Lots of giving in the beginning, but the public quickly forgets. Now, the suffering was truly beginning for many. Ethan watched the once-charming playboys start to take on characteristics of starving predators.

Earlier, Ethan had discovered, one of the older ones asked Brit to write a letter asking Omega’s assistance in rebuilding the fountain. The vampire’s hunger was so great that Ethan’s daydreaming wife could sense his pain even though the vampire had remained restrained and courteous. Ethan knew how difficult it was to control the beast when starving. His grip tightened knowing that the other likely heard Brit’s innocent heart beating loudly in her body as if it were a dinner bell. At least, thought Ethan, most vampires had to rest during the day when he did, and he silently cursed those who did not as he felt they made the world more treacherous for his mortal wife in such trying times. “Will Omega assist with the re-building of the blood fountain, Brit?” he asked as he stroked a small piece of her hair.

“Of course, she will,” responded Brit who had not yet spoken to Omega, but Brit was positive that the lady would assist anyone in need. Ethan hinted a smile at her absolute belief in the goodness of all people. He doubted that Brit would be proven wrong in the case. It was in Omega’s best interest to have the fountain operational. Sensing someone observing them, Ethan glanced over his shoulder at the female vampire. The bewildered expression told him that this was another young one who was likely lured by the sound of a human heart. Ethan’s eyes flashed red warning the kindred, who wisely left. Watching her go, Ethan knew that, without changes, soon a warning glance would not be enough.

“The night grows late, princess,” whispered Ethan. In fact, the night had several hours left within it, but Ethan disliked the climate of the city tonight. He guided Brit to the door turning left. As they reached the corner, the sirens started to howl breaking the quiet of the night. Ethan turned expecting to see yet another beast having clawed its way from the sewers. Citizens were battling a creature that had crawled from the sea, and another came from the dead woods just south of where they stood. Tightening his arm around Brit, Ethan reached with his free hand and pulled out his pistol before practically dragging her toward their resting place. He kept their backs toward the acid-crumbled bricks when Brit gasped seeing a reaper rise from the street before them. People were pouring into the streets and shots were being fired recklessly. Feeling his arm take a hit from someone’s gun, he grimaced and turned so that his body protected Brit. As the reaper turned to attack a group that was shooting, Ethan took the moment to relocate the two of them a few meters away.

Something was closing in on them fast. Ethan turned quickly raising his pistol again while keeping Brit turned away from the street and ended up pressing it against a male neko’s chest. Both of the kitties squeaked as they were simply scampering for higher ground and were clearly not expecting to face down a pistol with the mayhem on the street. The male neko said nothing, but the female said, “There are at least five of them. Tree-like…froglike…that guy over there.” She gestured at the reaper.

The male recovered from the surprise enough to toss a bit of bravado. “Yeah, man. You might want to save your ammo. Streets are crawling with them.”

Ethan looked from one to the other. They looked pretty thin. Just young nekos with more guts than wisdom, he thought. Sparks flew off of the bricks behind him and he said to both kits, “Follow me.” He picked up Brit and went quickly through an alley. The neko couple struggled to keep up and they both seemed dedicated to getting away from where they had been.

The street nearest to the resting place was quiet but Ethan knew it was only a short matter of time before chaos would find it. He set Brit down in the entry way of a building. The nekos were nervous. Neither had any idea why they followed the odd man who was carrying a human girl. Ethan quickly wrote on the back of a card and handed it to the nekos. “Near the voodoo shop, you can find a man named Kylean. Give him this card.” The neko couple looked at each other and back to Ethan. Rising an eyebrow, Ethan said, “Do so, and return here just before sunrise and I will reward you.”

The girl neko peeked up at the boy neko after giving Brit another look. The male glanced from the girl to Brit as well. “What’s up with her?” he asked Ethan.

“She is not of your concern. Do as I ask,” Ethan replied. Gunfire and screams were getting closer. “Do so now…we have not much time,” Ethan added. The couple took the card and dashed down the street each thinking they had just left a human girl, who seemed dazed to them, to her demise. Ethan directed Brit upstairs and entered their resting place. He secured it with some arcane words before turning to Brit. “Pack, baby. We are leaving town at sundown tomorrow night.”

Brit heard the screams and shouts from outside along with guns and the sound of steel. “Where are we going, Ethan?” Suddenly, she felt fearful as the battle was obviously just outside. “Are we safe?”

Cocking a brow, Ethan said, “Indeed.” He looked toward the street before turning to her smiling comforting. “You are always safe with me, Brit.” She had turned on the small radio he had purchased for her. The DJ at the local station sounded frantic. It seemed the entire city was dying tonight. Ethan switched the device from radio to MP3 player. He brushed Brit’s hair and told her stories to keep her mind off of what was happening outside. His pistols were within reach while he spoke.

The neko couple kept to the rooftops and alleys dodging trouble as best they could. The male, Klaws, took a hard tumble as he tackled something that seemed to be going after the female, Binx, however, it was just someone else trying to run from trouble. “Yeah, sure,” meowed Binx. “Some dude name Kylean is just gonna appear near the VooDoo shop. We are so dead. And why didn’t he go himself? HUH? And you know he is gonna drink that girl until she ain’t nothing but a human husk.” Klaws decided he would worry about it another day. For now, this task took the two of them further from trouble.

Both kitties were surprised to see Kylean sitting near the fortune teller almost as if he was part of a script. Kylean read the card and told them, “Tell Ethan sundown tomorrow is satisfactory.” Binx turned to ask Kylean something, but he was not there causing her to ask Klaws where the man had gone.

Klaws grumbled, “The real question, Binx, why are we heading back to meet this Ethan? We don’t know this guy. And there is nothing but trouble over there.” Both kitties stood watching each other for a long time. Finally, both mouthed hopefully, “Money.” Nodding they dashed back to meet Ethan.

Ethan was waiting when they arrived. They gave him the message. Binx’s nose twitched seeing no sign of the human girl. Ethan gave Klaws an envelope which Klaws opened right then. As Klaws thumbed through the contents, Binx said, “Your name is Ethan right? That is what Kylean said.” Ethan raised an eyebrow. “Where’s your lady?” she demanded.

The corners of Ethan’s mouth tipped up in amusement at the boldness of female neko. Klaws put away the envelope and gave Binx a glare, which she ignored. Ethan replied coolly, “My wife is of no concern to you. Good day to you both.”

As Ethan turned away, he heard Klaws chide Binx while showing her the contents of the envelope. The sassy kit hushed for a moment, but then blurted out, “I didn’t know it was his WIFE, so SHUT UP. Besides….he might have just EATEN her up anyway.” Ethan glared in their direction but noticed the lightening of day break. More gunfire was heard and Ethan was very sure that getting out of town for a short while was a prudent plan.

Cookies & Claws

((Taken from RP))

Flicking her tail-tip, Binx pressed her nose against the dirty glass of the diner and watched the dark-haired waitress with huge eyes. Platters of pancakes, sandwiches, pastries, and other goodies were served up and consumed by those trying to ignore the kitty girl looking pitiful through the window. The waitress’s occasional glance and lip-pursing caused Binx’s ears to droop. Klaws yawned behind Binx and she told him, “I’m hungry. And the lady remembers last time when we didn’t pay.”

Klaws could hear her tummy rumble and shifted uncomfortably knowing his pockets only contained lint. With another peek into the diner, he tugged the back of Binx’s jeans pulling her from the window. “Don’t be so obvious, you impatient minx.” Her look of hopeful adoration encouraged him to scrounge up a plan. With a grin, he waved her to the side of the diner behind the bricks where the waitress could not see. Looking both ways, he acted as if he was planning a conspiracy of epic proportions. Binx walked backward following him. He caressed her ears and said “We shall outwit the evil powers of capitalism and other evils demanded of that diner. And redistribute its wares to rightful owners.” His stance changed. “That would be us, by the way.”

“Can that happen before I lose a life to hunger?” she asked before being distracted by the intoxicating smell of food coming from the diner. Suddenly, the plan to simply rush in and grab the platters of food from some diners seemed like a fantastic idea. Seeing her tail twitch and her muscles tense, he slipped the tip of his paws in to the back of her jeans and tightened his hold telling her that they would outwit the waitress in the diner which meant that they would steal with a plan! Binx’s tummy didn’t care about any plan, but she trusted him enough to listen. Her nose twitched at the scent of food, so he knew he only had her in a rational mindset for a short moment or so. He outlined the plan: She would distract and he would grab food. With that, she bolted inside.

With a plan in mind, Klaws watched Binx walk up to the counter and eye the tip-jar. “Do not even think of it, kitty-girl,” said the waitress in a thick accent. “Get out of this diner! I know you from before,” she continued. Binx reached for an individual creamer and then for another. The waitress focused on her. “You! Get out now! Right now!” Klaws grinned. It was just as they planned. Binx held her ground and the waitress, Annika, walked nearer to her. Just as Klaws had told her, Binx reached and pulled Annika’s dark hair before jumping back to flip her off. First, the waitress stared, so Binx did it again. As the waitress screamed at Binx, Klaws hid behind the column waiting for the moment when the waitress would chase Binx.

The waitress stayed behind the counter so Binx popped open a creamer and drank it, but the waitress changed to a language Binx did not know when Binx flicked the container hitting Annika in the forehead and slowly extended a second middle finger toward her. Shouts were heard by other diners. As Binx gestured with both hands, the waitress reached under the counter and pulled out a sawed-off shotgun causing Binx to freeze with an audible gulp. Klaws mouthed “What the fuck?” He never dreamed the waitress would have such a thing, much less know what to do with it. As Annika fumbled looking for shells, he jumped from behind the column and grabbed a small pitcher of syrup from a nearby customer and threw it at Annika soaking her in stickiness.

Annika screamed at both kitties and slammed a handful of shells on the diner counter. She fumbled chambering two as Binx grabbed tips out of the tip jar and screamed to Klaws, “Kitty! Kitty!” Annika swung the shotgun up and fired it directly into the ceiling. Plaster fell like snow and both Binx and Klaws sputtered while being almost frozen in place.

Hearing Annika fumble to reload caused both Binx and Klaws to move fast. Klaws put both paws on the counter and leaped over it. He shouted, “DEATH TO THE DINER OPPRESSORS!” as he ran toward Annika hurling creamers, chocolate milk and syrup. Binx hissed as a large piece of plaster fell from the ceiling and shattered on the floor. Only Binx's fast reflexes kept it from hitting her. Annika swung blindly at Klaws with her shotgun. He hissed and shouted while grabbing up pastries, cookies, and sandwiches out of the pie safe at the edge of the counter.

Binx turned to two diners who had yet to touch their food. “I’ll be your waitress today,” she mewed quickly grabbing up steaming pancake platters dumping one on top of the other. She grabbed up a container of syrups and ran out of the door at the sound of two shells being chambered. “RUN!” she shouted at Klaws who was eyeing an entire pie. He put all in his shirt and held it grabbing a quarter of a cake instead and bound for the door.

Both ran as fast as they could trying not to lose any of their treasures. Covered in plaster powder and carrying food, neither attracted as many stares as they would in any other city. Reaching the room in the abandoned building where they had drug a cardboard box, Klaws started to unload his shirt of the food. “Damn. That shotgun wasn’t planned,” he mumbled while he inspected his loot.

Binx put her platter of pancakes down inspecting them. “I dropped a pancake,” she whined. Klaws dipped a soiled cloth in water and wiped the plaster from her. “That went well,” she smiled meaning every word. It was difficult to clean the plaster from her as she divvied up the money from the tip jar and gave him half.

Forcing a smile, he finished dusting her off before she returned the favor while he picked a piece of busted debris from his paw. She inspected it while he stood obediently for her to tend to him. “Yes, baby,” he said nuzzling her. “We got lots to eat now. This should keep us fed for at least two days.” He was unsure where they would obtain food after two days since they just robbed the main eatery in town.

Binx helped him clean up after soaking the pancakes in syrup and butter. Both snuggled on the stained, patchwork blanket and hungrily devoured the pancakes sharing the platter together, each taking one bite and giving the second to the other. As Binx fed him bites of cookies, he counted how much money each had received from the tip jar. It was not much, but would buy them each a couple of drinks at the Haven between bull rides. With the cookie, they each had a few shots of creamer.

Caressing her, he asked, “How is your belly feeling now?” She pulled his paws against her tummy while licking his lips with her rough tongue. He pawed playfully at her tummy that was now slightly rounded with food before settling her behind him. Binx reassured him that all was good and returned the light scratches along his belly and sides while whispering that she was his kitty. At her words, he growled low and softly, “You are damn sure as muthafucking hell right….my kitty.” His eyes narrows and he raked his claws over her jeans. The sound of the denim almost ripping fills the room.

Continuing to scratch his skin lightly, she licked his neck very slowly. Her claws extended slowly. “Miiiiiiine,” she said possessively. He responded in kind. She repeated, “MIIINE.” Her nails clawed harder at his back as she repeated herself slowly over and over. Klaws arched his back as he felt her claws sink into his skin. His own claws dug slightly into her thigh as he held his breath enduring the unexpected pain. Her paws scratched his skin drawing blood along his back and he moved from side to side resting his head against her shoulder when she stopped.

Giving him the sweetest of mews, she pulled him tightly against her feeling the wetness of the seeping scratches on her belly. He lay against her wondering what she scratched before pressing her against the pillows and rubbing his claws gently over her thighs. Turning, he cupped her face kissing her lips and rubbing the corners of his mouth over her face and hair.

Later Binx stared transfixed at her reflection in the window. Baring her tummy, she traced the word “Mine” that was printed there in blood from her scratches in his skin. He said sleepily, “Why did you write that?”

She replied, “Writing my name would be too possessive.” He grinned wickedly as he settled back on the rolled-up newspapers. She traced the letters while watching herself. Soft purring could be heard behind her from where Klaws now slept curled up in the broken-down cardboard box amidst the rolled-up newspapers. Klaws’ face was covered by his paws and a small pillow that he clutched protectively. She curled up next to him usurping the pillow’s placement.

Cat Tails

Klaws said to Binx, “Stay here.” He made an X in the ground. “Don’t move.” She nodded. He eyed her suspiciously, “Do not get into trouble.” Binx crossed her heart and everything. The street was calm. No trouble anywhere to be seen, so he left Binx watching an odd kitty boy with goggles on his nose who muttered curiously while petting a cold metal tank with a soft “oo” on his lips.

The kitty boy obtained a tool from his belt pouch and started to cut into the metal. “AWWWW,” he whined before exclaiming, “Doctor no let Mr. Pinkles use the sparkly to cut ANY thing!” The kitty boy looked off toward the Fish Company and saw Binx. “Hi-lo, pretty kitty,” he said. She wondered if he was trying to open the tank to live in it. He struggled to explain that he simply wished to see inside. His words were disjointed but, during the conversation, Binx discovered that the kitty boy’s name was Mr. Pinkles and that Mr. Pinkles had nice toys. Nice as in they looked expensive, which was always interesting to Binx who owned very little of value.

While talking with Mr. Pinkles, Binx felt her tail yanked by a woman who was passing by. Binx turned quickly and grabbed her tail protectively. Another woman said teasingly to Binx, “Kitty Kitty…meooww.” Looking from one to the other, Binx’s ears flattened and she tried to look menacing while telling the first lady that she could lose a bra doing such things to kitties. Binx thought she sounded all sorts of bad-assed, but both women laughed at her words until Binx swiped at the first woman’s top catching the bra and cutting one of the straps. The woman stopped dead in her tracks and turned slowly. She glanced at the goggled Mr. Pinkles almost as if assessing him and then focused again on Binx. “I don’t like kittens,” she said dryly. “The only good kitty is a drown one.”

Binx’s ears went flatter as her whiskers twitched. Her eyes narrowed dangerously. It was obvious that neither woman viewed her as a threat. Excellent, thought Binx who noticed that their guards were clearly down. Binx hauled back and smacked the first woman as hard as she could with claws extended while Mr. Pinkles was watching from the shadows and was saying, “Aw. Dead kitties no good.”

The woman’s friend rushed to her side, “Tanika, are you okay?” Tanika angrily brushed her friend aside, and touched her face while glaring at Binx. Binx’s tail whipped sassily as she gleefully noticed that the woman’s bra strap was cut on one side. Tanika brought her hand hard across Binx’s face as quickly as any cat. Never in her life had Binx been struck so hard and, for a moment, she completely forgot where she was!

Mr. Pinkles saw Tanika grabbing for her gun. “Nuuuuuu, Leave pretty kitty ‘lone!” he wailed. Someone on the street shouted not to kill the kitty as others screamed to kill the cat. Tanika shoved Mr. Pinkles from her. “Scat cat!” As he stumbled back, Binx saw the gun and took the opportunity to swipe at Tanika again landing one more blow. Tanika returned much better than she got. Gun fire was heard and Tanika nearly ended one of Binx’s lives. The quiet street seemed animated! The shouting from others contributed enough chaos to allow Binx to back away. “Nuuuuu! No shooty,” Mr. Pinkles shouted as he wrapped his fingers around the end of Tanika’s gun. Another who had arrived told Mr. Pinkles not to touch Tanika and, for a moment, the focus shifted and Binx was left standing shaking in her boots on the street.

Conversation was heated and animated. Binx’s ears were alert as she licked her boo-boos and felt her tummy quiver with nervousness. If truth were told, Bix was terrified but, with the crowd, she was unwilling to back down. However, she was not a dumb kitty and her mind scrambled to think of what to do. She had no intentions of attacking again without provocation. Trying to look cool, Binx licked her arm in what she hoped to be a nonchalant gesture, but her knees were knocking. Mr. Pinkles continued to interfere until Tanika released her guns and drew the bat that had been slung over her shoulder. “Fine,” Tanika said, “So you want to take her place then. Hrm?”

Binx watched as Tanika became momentarily distracted by the cut strap which was slipping on her body. Mr. Pinkles noticed too. He bolted trying to grab Binx to run with her. Unfortunately, at that very moment, Binx had decided to make a run for it. The two collided just after Binx attempted to spring over one of the other friends of Tanika. Binx quickly landed on her feet and hissed at something moving. She realized with no little embarrassment that it was simply her own shadow, and she ran down the street as fast as she could go until she was well-hidden in the woods. She watched as the women talked a moment before going, and she noticed that Mr. Pinkles had also gone. Binx felt her eyes tear up as she licked the blood away with her rough tongue. It hurt.

Binx waited for Klaws to return. Her wounds were throbbing. Rather than Klaws, her friend Jou and Mr. Pinkles were there. After some discussion, it was decided that Binx needed to see a vet. Mr. Pinkles told them of his doctor friend an asked them to follow. Follow, they did, down streets and alleys until they ascended to the rooftops only to arrive on the roof near the hospital. There they found a pod that spoke. Its voice was exceptionally precise. Other kitties came and went. The pod had blinking lights and probes that examined the wounds and healing each one miraculously fast. While working, it asked Mr. Pinkles to introduce his friends. During the examination of the wound, the pod provided food to eat to Jou, and gave Binx some fresh catnip after implanting a radio-activated monitoring microchip into her ear without her knowledge. Mr. Pinkles seemed thrilled to introduce his new friends to the doctor pod.

Later, Jou left. Binx rushed back to where she was supposed to be. Klaws had been waiting and looked relieved to see her. He checked her over quickly and flattened his ears. “Where have you been?” She told him what happened. His eyes widened as his mouth opened in horror at the fact some woman pulled Binx’s tail. He stammered, “And then…and then…..of course, you kicked her ass, right?”

Looking woeful, Binx put her hands in front of her like she was carrying two huge melons. “She was LOTS bigger than me, Klaws.”

His tail flicked and he said, “I don’t care. No one is gonna pull my kitty’s tail without her giving them an ass-kicking.” Her grumbled and put his arm around her steering her toward an abandoned building that he felt would be safe for the night. “Tomorrow, I will teach you how to do more than scratch.” He nodded as he took her to their temporary home.

Klaw's Kitty

Binx had hardly woken from her string cheese and catnip stupor when she was tackle-pounced by Klaws. He rubbed his nose over hers and licked her lips. Pawing at her whiskers, he purred, “Hellooooo there, sexxxxxy” before starting to smooch on her like he was a 17-year old human boy in the back of the school yard. Binx reeked of catnip and string cheese, and she demonstrated all evidence of having partied all night. His whiskers stiffened as he pawed at her while searching suspiciously for any remaining catnip and cheese. “Brought me any of that?” he asked her.

With a non-descript sound, Binx blearily reached in her pocket and pulled out some warmed string cheese. She pulled off the pocket lint before offering it to him. Klaws inspected the cheese before tasting it while watching her stretch. She grabbed her backpack and pulled out a large bundle of fresh catnip. His eyes widened as she said, “A catnip dealer um..dropped it.” He looked directly at her curiously for a moment sniffing before his ears flattened and he glared at her.

The trouble with catnip is that, after the euphoric high wears off, one should sleep. And if they do not sleep sufficiently, the paranoia sets in. Klaws was in the process of wondering whether she had slept enough when she questioned him about who the kitty was that just happened to glance their way while walking down the street. Klaws facepalmed telling her that did not know and he was not surprised that Binx did not believe him. He started to interrogate her more about the catnip and cheese, but the only information he got from her was additional questions about every kitty girl who happened to walk by. Churlishly paranoid was simply annoying to him. Plus, she was not answering his questions! He pinched her rump and demanded, “Do not change the topic. Kitties and catnip…catnip dealers never just drop their stash. Nor does string cheese fall off trees.” Pawing at her tail, he grumbled, “So straighten out your story or at least give me one that is more believable.”

She grumbled, “So you *do* know that kitty.”

Grabbing her firmly in response, he pressed her against the chain link fence. “You are still trying to change the subject," he said. She mewed up and licked his lips before chewing on one of his whiskers. He twisted his face so she could not reach it and growled, “No getting frisky on me! I demand the complete story about how you got cheese and catnip.” He quickly shoved the chain on each side of her causing her to bounce back and against him quickly. Her tail wrapped around his waist and she purred as she licked his lips. The taste of catnip on her lips diverted him a moment. He licked her lips in return but only after she told him about the mayhem of the night before that left “Dealer Dalton” injured in the middle of the road.

Klaws grinned after the story satisfied his curiosity and then raked his claws over her tummy up to her chest. He purred, “Why not immediately give me the entire story?” She said nothing but continued to cuddle and he started to feel cuddlier as well. He glanced down the street. “As for that kitty that passed, I do not know her name, face, or family. Just random, I guess.” He shrugged making big eyes and felt her claws lengthen. Sleep, he thought. She really needed to sleep off her current high. Seeing that she was not placated with his explanation, he tickled her tummy and smooched her soundly holding her close. “Don’t be mad at me, you uber-jealous little power-bundle.” She pouted and he decided the best thing to do would be to kiss her until she slept or was happy again.

Binx’s mood did improve greatly. She crushed a few leaves of catnip from her pack and rubbed it on her lips. Another kitty girl approached only to speak and go. Binx narrowed her eyes at him again while he blinked at her with an innocent mew. She grumbled, “Kitty girls never come up to talk unless you are here.” Her tail flicked and her mood started to plunge again.

Wiping his forehead as if removing sweat, he stammered, “See? Now…Look. I had nothing to do with that person.” She twitched her whiskers with annoyance. He swished his tail as he watched her. Catnip lows, he thought sourly. “I didn’t kiss, talk, or flirt. I don’t do that with anyone!” She simply watched him. He licked her lips and pawed her playfully. She didn’t look amused so he looked left and right while thinking what he should do. More kissing, he decided before grabbing her tightly and exclaiming, “MY KITTY!”

Binx had heard that exclamation all of her life, and she smiled cuddling again and seemed thoroughly placated. Klaws barely remembered many things from when he was a small, but he remembered one thing clearly: The day Binx was delivered along with a few other kitties in a cardboard box to the Good Sister’s Foundling Center. He was but a toddler and had been waiting to show Sister Anne Marie the mouse he had caught. It squirmed miserably in his little paws while he patiently followed the good sister until he could have her undivided attention. Only this Sister had time to read bedtime stories, so she deserved to get to watch him kill the mouse.

When the box arrived, groans were heard from the sisters. Who had time to tend to another batch of homeless kits? Klaws looked in the box and saw the one red-headed kitten with its eyes still closed. Reaching in the box, he grabbed her exclaiming, “MY KITTY” and ran down the hallway to the room he shared with many others. He named her Binx and wanted her to play, but she was too little. He watched her eyes hoping they would open, but it took a few days before he saw their green color. The mouse waited for the occasion. Fed and fattened so that its demise was the first thing she witnessed immediately following his introduction and announcing that she was his.

Pulling her from the chainlinked fence, Klaws scooped up Binx after setting aside his memories for the moment. She fell asleep as he carried her to a rooftop and crawled into a cardboard box refrigerator box. She immediately slept and again Klaws smiled watching her. His thoughts returned to the foundling center and he remembered the box he kept her in when she was so very little. While waiting for her to sleep off the rest of her catnip high, he sniffed her over knowing that he had better never pick up a scent of anything or anyone he would not want to pick up. Satisfied that all was well, he ate the string cheese and chewed on a catnip leaf wondering if Dealer Dalton lived or died.

Fishing for Dreams

Flopping on the back of the ripped sofa, Binx looked at Klaws who was sleeping. “Borrred,” she caterwauled. He didn’t move even. Binx swiped at him lazily and upped the octave, “Borrrred.” Klaw’s whiskers did not even twitch. “BOOOORRRRED,” she bellowed.

One eye opened as Klaws looked up at her, “So what? You are always bored and hungry.” He thought for a bit. “And I’m always sleepy, but I am also guessing you won’t let me sleep much, now will ya?” His speaking caused her to perk happily. Batting her eyes, she seemed bright-eyed without any evidence of exhaustion. With a slight motion in her direction, he said, “Come here and rub my tummy. It itches.” He wriggled a bit in place and closed both eyes again, “It will give you something to keep yourself busy.” Obviously, he was too lazy to use his own paws.

Binx slipped down and scratched his belly. Klaws purred loudly as his wish was granted, and occasionally, he reached up to give her tummy a soft pat. While scratching, she said, “Dancing?” A small pause, then she said, “Hunting?” She felt annoyed when there was not even a slight twitch of interest from him. Falling silent, she scratched a bit more with a hint of claws. Knowing that silence means nothing good, both of his eyes opened and he examined the situation before jumping up and pouncing her with a mighty “RAWR.”

Pouncing him back playfully, she repeated, “Dancing? Hunting? Play?” While waiting him to answer, she climbed him like a jungle gym.

Dropping to the floor, he rolled about with her and pawed at her tail. “Yes.” Sitting up, he mauled her slightly before licking his paw while looking her over. “Let’s go dance hunting…and you can scratch my tummy some more.” He said it like it was a huge gift.

She pulled to her feet and hopped over his tail like it was a jump rope. “Dance, dance, dance! Wherrrrre?” Klaws shrugged and told her that he did not wish to go to a fancy place – not that either had the clothing for somewhere fancy anyway. Then, without telling her where they were going, he dashed off telling her to race him. Both practically ran over those standing on the first floor of the abandoned fish market as they dashed down the street.

Klaws was momentarily concerned when he seemed to lose her. Retracing his steps, he saw her on the breakwater with a fishing pole. Walking to Binx, he asked, “Have you ever successfully used that thing?” She explained that you simply bagged fish and let them bake in the sun for a few days. With a shake of his head, he tapped the pole. “That thing,” he said indicating the fishing device.

Looking at the fishing pole, Binx mewed, “How hard can it be? You throw string in the water and fish get tangled in it.”

Klaws repeated, “So have you caught anything with it before…and where on Earth did you find it?” He examined the hook to see whether anything was dangling from it, but only found rust.

“I found it on the boat by the fish market,” Binx replied. “And I saw pictures one time long ago…and people use to fish off of the dock back home.” She also looked at the rusty hook. “So, the fish…they get tangled in the string and then, when you pull, you HOOK them!” She smiled fully understanding as she gestured out the explanation.

“Hmm,” said Klaws. “Okay, let’s start with the basics. Number one: You need to LURE the fishy to the hook somehow. And I don’t think they like rust too much, but usually you use bread. Some idiots will use yummy shrimps.” He raised his hands in complete confusion why anyone would waste shrimps. “The other thing is: Have you ever seen fish here? No? They are allllllll deeeeaaaaaadddd!”

Binx whipped the pole around some listening. “You don’t want to eat live ones so dead is good. Especially after they have set in the sun for a few days wrapped in plastic. YUM. We like dead fishies. We can even dry the scales and eat them like potato chips.”

Klaws face-palmed for a moment and patted her rump. “Okay…just curious how the fish will get on the hook if they are dead. Don’t mind me. I will just watch how you do it and pat your rump.” Letting his claws show barely, he raked them over her skin lightly.

Peering in the water, Binx pouted. “Well, if they don’t have fish in the water, then where are they? The diner has square fish. And they were likely caught with bread cause they have bread all over them!” She could feel her plans for fish slipping away and wondered how he learned about fishing.

“Don’t worry, Binx. I will get you fishies.” He scratched her tummy and then her back down to where her tail met her bottom. “Just not out of the water,” Klaws said. “Just like catnip, we will get them with ‘special services.’ All we need to do is find a new dealer, I believe.” Both went silent as they last time they saw the catnip dealer, he was running down the street pretty fast.

Binx furrowed her brow thinking about having no cred or currency. She knew few were worth stealing from. With a shudder she mouthed ‘jobs’, which caused Klaws to blink and paw away the thought. “Jobs are for humans…and dumb people. I have my kitty right here and I don’t need anything else! Just some food…and somewhere to sleep.” He scratched his head and then exclaimed, “Catnip!” Nodding repeatedly, he licked her nose chuckling.

Binx forgot the fishing pole and stretched rubbing against him. “Catnip.” With a soft sigh, she said, “Nothing grows here either.” She looked in the direction of the ferry. “Just me, you, food, sleep, and dancing. And catnip.”

Klaws rubbed his chin over her head, which he only did when he was feeling very protective of her. “We will own this town before the summer is over.” Thinking a bit, he added, “And then…maybe we will have our own torn couch to sleep on!” He nodded once move and kissed her forehead licking her fur clean at the same time.

Binx looked up at him with wide-eyes daring to hope! “Our OWN torn-up couch???” She bit her lower lip and murred against him while he nuzzled. Petting him softly, she cuddled up forgetting all about fishies for a while and focused on the new dream.

Binx and Klaws

((Taken from RP))

Exactly how they came to the city would forever be a point of contention. Each blamed the other and the memory was never the same, but one thing was agreed upon: They had stowed away on the ferry from the mainland, and neither had the money to return. While not use to these streets, the two were use to surviving and so it took little time to find the old fish market. Others like them had started to furnish the abandoned building with a few old, torn sofas, a table, and a make-shift kitty tree. They could smell the scent of others and saw a few come and go, but those never lingered. This was fine as well since both had relied on each other since they were kittens in the foundling kennel.

He sprawled on the sofa while sleeping and had woken Binx from her own slumber by knocking her off her perch on the sofa's back. She landed on her feet and hissed as she swiped at his tail. She was not an early riser by choice and was grumpy. Binx heard someone coming up the steps. “Are you the catnip dealer,” she asked. “If so, you are late,” she continued. The newcomer was not. Binx asked whether he had food or toys. He had neither, which caused her to wonder what good he was. She introduced herself before going back to the lazy sack of fur, who was named Klaws, and pounced him with an exclamation, “Feed me!”

Klaws growled in protest curling up tighter than before. His body language indicated that it was much before “rise and shine” time. With a wriggle of his shoulders, his whiskers relaxed with a deep sigh as he tired to return to his slumber. Binx sat on the back of the sofa and braced herself. She used her feet to slowly press against Klaws’ back to move him off the sofa. “Feed…..me,” she demanded.

Klaws almost fell on his face as he tumbled off the sofa. He landed on his paws and stretched all of his muscles before glaring up at her. “What time is it?” She shrugged telling him it was clearly time to feed her. He stiffened his whiskers and pawed sleepily at her tail. Practically pouting, he grumbled, “You are always hungry.”

Binx lazily swiped at the air above him. Her eyes narrowed seeing he was clearly intending to return to his sleep. “Of course, I am always hungry,” she said. “I’m expecting kittens.” She figured that would wake him up.

Springing to his feet, Klaws beamed, “What? When? Where? How? I thought?” The stranger returned with fresh tuna. He glanced at the stranger and then beamed some more as he turned his full attention to Binx and was wide awake. Klaws asked, “How do you know?”

Binx flicked her tail, “I don’t. I am just hungry. And now that you are up, we can find food.”

Klaws blinked a few times before narrowing his eyes with a growl that would have intimidated most others. He hissed, “You don’t joke around about those things!” He pawed at her tail and yanked it. “Bad kitty!”

Binx yowled as her tail was pulled and turned fast clutching it protectively. Remembering that she wanted to get food, she batted her eyes and perked her whiskers prettily. She suggested, “Fooood? Pancakes? Sharing? Pancakes with strawberries and ice cream.”

The stranger offered fresh tuna. Binx stared at it in bewilderment. Where was the pink mush packed in yummy aromatic oil? She nibbled a piece and thought that it might not be bad if allowed to bake in the sun for a few days. Klaws said to her, “There. Now you should be happy. Can I go back to sleep?”

Binx shook her head and followed Klaws with the second bite of the fresh tuna. “No…here! Sharrrre. Then pancakes.” Klaws ignored the tuna and settled back on his pillow admiring its attributes. Binx chomped the second bite of tuna. Licking her paws, she shrugged, “I guess I will go to the diner all by myself. Alone. And order pancakes by myself. If I make it safely, I’ll have pancakes and bring you back some. Since you are too tired to go with me to protect me.” Her whiskers drooped and she sniffled bravely. She then asked the stranger if he was going in the direction of the diner, but he was clearly not getting involved.

Opening one eye, Klaws grumbled slightly, “You would not be trying to get my sympathy, would you?” He caressed the pillow with one hand and placed the other on the ground as if trying to stand up, but was unsure what to do.

Sounding overly sincere, Binx replied, “Oh goodness no. I know that you will feel secure knowing you did all you could do should I perish getting you pancakes.”

Klaws smirked and slowly got up. “Alright, alright.” After rubbing his eyes until he was awake, he looked at her. “I have like so spoiled you since you were just a little kitty with closed eyes. Let’s go to the diner.” Pawing at her rump and patting it, he motioned to the door, “Now, be a good kitty.”

They walked through the quiet streets to the diner where a mouse-like waitress took their order. Two sets of pancakes with strawberries, ice cream, maple syrup, and whipped cream. Binx noticed the waitress scurried as she ran to fetch the food and reached over to the coffee machine to get the pitcher of cream. She poured two glasses to the brim of the heavy sludge-like cream and gave one to Klaws. The waitress noticed the empty creamer and glared as she sat plates before each of them. Binx perked happily as she mashed the strawberries and ice cream into the pancake after licking most of the whipped cream off. She almost emptied the maple syrup bottle and stirred the syrup into the gooey, pancake-crumbled concoction.

Klaws took big bites of his pancake and balanced the strawberries and ice cream on each piece. He fed her as well between bites and licked the whipped cream from her lips. “This isn’t bad actually,” he exclaimed. He ate hastily and took the bites she offered him in return. He watched her as she fed him another bite. With a drink of the cream, he said, “You are not really expecting kittens, right?”
She nodded, “Right. I teasssssssed you to wake you up.” She bounced slightly eating more of her sweet pancake almost as quickly as he did. Seeing his ears flatten, she gave him an extra big bite as a consolation prize and attempted a subject change. “This is a way good idea. I thought we were too broke to buy pancakes!”

Klaws looked momentarily uncomfortable when she mentioned the broke issue. He gave her a very scolding look when the waitress looked away. Shushing her with a whisper and finger to his lips, he continued to devour the pancakes even faster than before her comment. Taking his lead, she also picked up the pace and ate happily while sharing bites until it was all gone. Finishing her cream, she noticed the creamer was now out of reach. The creamers to go were still there and she dumped the sealed creamer shots into her pack.

Gunfire was outside of the diner and someone staggered through the door collapsing onto the floor. “OH NO,” yelled Klaws. “We need to help him! Call 911! Call the fire department! Get help quick!” The waitress quirked slightly and focused on the man on the ground while Binx and Klaws dashed through the door and down the street.