The albino cat demon sat herself at the table, and poked at Zapook, who sat up a few moments later with ink smeared on her forehead.
"I'm up...I'm up....what I miss?"
"Oh, nothing out of the ordinary. Zee's hyper and it's early. That is about the only thing that differs from other mornings in this house. I'll have to agree with Zee, It has gotten quite dull around here."
Zapook was about to speak up when Zee ran through the room, giggling up a storm and leaving a trail of catnip behind. Tina immediately covered up her nose, growling. "Clean up in the kitchen! Please!"
Whiplash slithered into the room, hooked a plastic bag with his tail tip, and followed after Zee, picking up all the bits of catnip.
Zapook just giggled as she stared at Tina.
Tina glares at Zapook, "The catnip may not affect you, but it does affect the actual cats in this house. I would appreciate it if you did not laugh at that."
Zapook smiles, pointing at Tina's torso, "I'm laughing that, not the catnip. I gotta say Tina, I think you put everyone else in this house to shame."
Tina looks down at her open bathrobe and quickly covers herself, turning red. "Um...O-on another note...How do you feel about coming into town with me? I have a few things I need to do in Aekea. Including a nice little surprise for the house."
"I'll go on one condition."
"Yes, dear?"
Zapook looks back at the nearest exit of the kitchen, "Think you can tell me where Zee got that second egg?"
Tina scratched her head. "In all honesty, I was wondering the same thing. Though when I asked my dear sister about it, she first screamed 'I didn't steal it!' then yelled 'Chazu did it!' before running off once again."
Zapook shakes her head, folding the news paper. "You know...I wonder about her...and that's really bad coming from me."
Tina giggles and sets her cup in the sink. "Go on and get dressed hun. I'm going to put some clothing on as well..."
"You do that. You'd cause accidents with those things."
Tina glares back at Zapook, and Zapook smiles innocently at her.
Later that day, the two of them were heading into Aekea after a semi-long walk. The two of the made plans to meet up again later, and split up, heading to different parts of the town. Tina headed into a random building, pulling out her wallet and a note pad, while Zapook headed to the nearest bar.
Sitting at one of the counter, she glanced around and sighed, "Crowed today..."
"You said it." A girl spoke up at Zapook's right.
Zapook calmly looked over at her, smiling. The girl wore a brown tank top, and black shades. Her skin was a dark brown, and her ears were pointed. She wore baggy black pants but had bright orange hair. Dim yellow eyes peeked out from behind the shades she wore, and her feet kicked at the air where she sat, sporting black boots. She seemed a bit timid, but very intelligent at the same time.
Zapook smiled, looking her over. "New around here?"
The girl glanced over, with a grin on her face, "That obvious?"
"You're scent is a lot different from most people I've met."
"Scent?" the girl looked up at Zapook's hair. "Oh, I see. You're a cat girl?"
Zapook laughs a bit. "No no. Human actually. Sorta, anyway. My hair just...Looks like I have cat ears."
"Oh really? And the tail?"
Zapook looks back, wags her tail a few times, then sighs, "The tail actually isn't mine...Long story, but it's a wolf's tail. I don't feel like going into..."
The girl nods. "So, you live around here?"
"Well...it's not too far off, but I live with .... I guess I can call them...well. My family..." Zapook smiled when she said this, a warm feeling overtaking her.
"You seem pretty happy about it. So. Big family? Small?"
"Unique. I'll just leave it at that." Banging on the counter a few times, Zapook growls, "Can I get some Red Bino over here?! I'm parched!"
"I know you say you're human, but...I can't help but think there's something else about you...What is it..."
"Well...If you must know..." Zapook leans toward her, in almost a whisper, "I'm part vampire too. But don't say it too loud..you know how people are."
The girl nodded. "Ah! There have been a lot of them around lately."
The waiter sets a bottle in front of Zapook, who effortlessly pops the tab, "Oh please...I'm nothing like them. Plus, I've been here way before that outbreak happened."
The girl nodds, and holds her hand out to Zapook, "Yinxao Shoucuo. Those close to me call me Xao."
Zapook sets her drink down, shaking the girl's hand, "I'm Zapook Renard."
Quickly picking up her drink again, she takes along drink, before rubbing and wiping her mouth and face.
"Not to be rude...Zapook, but the only reason I said something was different about you, was because you struck me as somewhat...I don't know..catish."
Shake the empty can in the air, Zapook sighed. "I'm not surprised....after all, I do live with a bunch of cats and cat girls."
Xao grew quiet, looking down at an empty plate in front of her. She seemed to be thinking to herself; in a deep thought, until Zapook put a hand on her back.
"You ok, girl?"
Xao smiled and nodded. "I'm fine. Just thinking. I should probably be heading out. Heh. I got a charge waiting on me. She'll be pretty angry if I screw around out here for too long."
The waiter hands Zapook two cans of Red Bino in exchange for her empty can, and Zapook eagerly hands one to Xao, "You seem pretty nice...I don't go into towns too often, but we gotta meet up again. Got a cell phone or communicator I can contact?"
Xao smiles warmly, and nods. The two of them walk out stand out in front of the bar after Zapook paid the drinks and talked for a bit, exchanging random facts about each other, as well as information, until Tina walks up, a bit crossed.
With her ears flattened angrily, Tina growled. "Zapook, hun, Did you for forget that we were suppose to meet up again?"
Zapook stared at Tina blankly, then hung her head, "Actually...yeah. I did. Sorry about that...Got caught up in other things."
Tina shakes her head as she speaks, "You and my sister with your reliable memories..."
Xao stared at Tina in awe, but remained speechless.
"Oh right." Zapook smiled, nudging her new acquaintance, "Tina, this is Xao. She's new to these parts. Xao, this is Tina. She's sorta like a sister to me."
Tina set down the bags she was carrying and bowed. "A pleasure to meet you, Ms. Xao. I am terribly sorry for stealing away your new friend, but I must speak with her, and get home."
"It's...it's no problem. ..I'm sorry for my...well...disposition, but ...You are one gorgeous cat girl....I mean..Your coat...and your eyes...beautiful.."
Tina blushed, "I do realized that albino feline anthros are rare in these parts, but I do not think I am, as you say, gorgeous..."
"Trust me!" Xao smiles, taking Tina's hands, "You are! I'm really jealous of you actually! But...I digress, I must be moseying along as well." She turns to Zapook with a smile. "Keep in touch! I look forward to hearing from you!"
Tina and Zapook waved Xao off before heading toward the town's exit.
Tina sighed happily, "Well, she seemed extremely nice."
Zapook nodded with a grin, "Ain't she? Turns out we share an interest in magic too. Maybe I can invite her over one day. Oh, where were you Tina?"
"Hmm? Oh. I was keeping an appointment at Sam's Body and Parts."
"Heh......I could make a dirty joke about that...Wait. The car place? Why were you there?"
Tina grinned, "Seeing about getting a car. I could use one. Especially for grocery shopping." Tina says as she lifts the bags into the air.
"Ha! That would be nice!"
"Oh yes. And at such an affordable price? We may be able to get a second one soon after. For you of course. Since Zee can't go five minutes behind a wheel without crashing into something."
Zapook laughs, "Good idea. Though...we don't have a road, or even a clear path leading up to the house."
"That is true...Well. With Zee's strength and Aussa's ground based abilities, I'm sure we can work something out. It will give those two something to do besides playing video games, run around, and tear up my house."
