Animal Beauty Shots

The Soul Stealer

Chapter 1

The Hotel

Leah dashed from the lobby upstairs, then, balancing the tray of food on her hip, knocked on the screen door leading into the Fruit Bedroom. The desert orange crocodile opened the door and grinned widely at the tray of food in front of him.

"Wow, itsa-me! This food looks great!" Alfonso squealed and took the load out the brunette's arms.

Leah smiled shyly folding her hands in front of her black-n-white uniform. "We at LocketHeart hotel cooked it special for you, Alfonso."

As she turned to leave, Alfonso grabbed her wrist.

"Where ya goin', itsa-me? A meal's not complete without a companion!" Leah turned, surprised at his invitation. Was she hungry? Yes, but…

"C'mon, itsa-me!" Alfonso dragged her inside and sat her in the Melon chair on the other side of his Grapefruit table, now taken up by food. "Dig in!"

Leah smiled her thanks and carefully picked up a piece of crayfish from the table in front of her. Peeling of the shell, she bit carefully into the steaming meat. Though very hot, the flavor kept her from putting it down. She bit the piece off and chewed, the shrimp-ish flavor coating her tongue.

Leah and Alfonso ate happily and quietly, every few minutes chatting about the food.

A half-hour past, and Leah got up from the table to leave. She bowed to Alfonso and told him to have a good night.

"Thanks for the meal, itsa-me!" He gushed. "I'm heading down to the new Photo Palace tomorrow before I leave town."

Leah's eyes perked up. "I've heard that was opening. Getting your picture taken, right?"

"Yep! They take great photos. I need one for a friend of mine." Alfonso yawned and walked Leah out of his 10x10 room. "I'll see you at check-out, itsa-me!" Leah smiled and slid his door shut, then turned down the hall and went downstairs to the lobby.

The lobby was filled with all sorts of couches and chairs. A fireplace crackled in the back, and Aishia stood at the front room podium, filling out a sheet of paper,p probably for a newcomer. Aishia twirled a strand of blonde hair and turned back towards Leah.

"Welcome back." She smiled.

"Alfonso invited me to eat with him, and I couldn't say no." Leah scratched the top of her head and walked over the podium. "He's getting his picture taken at that new place near Nook's."

"The Picture Palace?"

"Yep. Say, where's Will?"

Aishia turned back to her papers. "He's out collecting fruit and fishes."

"Oh, ok."

Leah walked over to the fireplace and stared into the flames. Why did Will have to collect supplies every minute he had to spare? They were supposed to be friends. Leah shook her head at her own sensitivity and smiled. It was going to be a beautiful day tomorrow, and she looked forward to going with Will to the fireworks.

Aishia watched Leah, grinning. Poor lovesick kid.

--

Inya grinned as she set the flash on the new 'camera'. Her sister Anya sat at the register, staring at the rain falling mercilessly on the town of LocketHeart. Their sinister journey had brought them and their 'equipment' here. After wiping other towns outside of this particular region, they decided to strike the next highest populated town. Inya finished with the camera and walked into the back room, gazing at all the 'photos' they had taken. A purple duck and a white and red cat were one of the many they had victimized.

There was a knock, and Inya walked over to the oaken door and pulled it open. A racoon-like creature stood infront of her in a green apron imprinted with a leaf.

"You just moved in, yes?" He greeted in a strange accent Inya couldn't place. "Allow me to introduce myself, hm? I am Tom Nook, owner of the shop down the road.

"And?" Inya raised an eyebrow.

"...just stopped by to greet you! I best get out of this rain. The town is talking about your opening, so be ready for your business, hm?" His mood dampened, he walked the ten meters down to his shop, Nook's Cranny, and scrambled inside.

Inya closed the door and looked over to her sister. "Seems we'll have our work cut out for us in this town, huh, sis?"

Anya laughed darkly. "So it seems."