Peppa grew increasingly nervous about her plan with each passing second. Once she met up with Mint, who was no supporting a slight limp, the twins walked to the bus stop. It had taken longer than normal as the younger twin didn't seem to have her normal energy. In fact, Pep's other half had none of her normal energy. Mint looked like a zombie, simply following her older sister to and fro. Peppa couldn't imagine grades and Johann causing this much stress, but maybe relieving one of these dilemmas would help.

The ewe was lying on her stomach on the couch, tapping a pencil against it as she tried to figure out her homework. At least, that's what she told Jezz. In fact, Pep already knocked out the simple Geometry homework and was skimming through the next chapter. She may not have cared about school, but she didn't want to be left behind either. A C+ average was fine for her. The real reason for her location was the short distance to the front door. Peppa wanted to make sure she was the first to answer it and avoid any interrogation of Johann by Jezz or Saff. If all went as planned, Mint and her spotted sweetheart will be smashing lips in the twin's room before either adult realizes it. The older twin hoped it simply stayed a make out session, and thankfully their bunk beds didn't allow for too much "extracurricular" activities.

Normally Mint would be right next to Pep, but the younger twin opted to stay in their room tonight. It wasn't too odd, even siblings as close as they needed alone time. What did make it peculiar was the younger sheep's decision to shower as soon as she got home. Peppa tried not to notice the time, but her other half spent close to forty-five minutes in there. It would work out fine, as Mint would be upset if the older twin allowed Johann to see the younger without freshening up, yet it was still another odd thing to add to the oddities of the day. Peppa really, really hoped her plan worked.

The ewe dropped her pencil on her textbook with a groan. "Where is he?" Peppa reached to the floor, the twins cellphone falling off the couch earlier, and picked up the cellphone. There were still no new messages from Johann. The sheep had texted the snow leopard the address as soon as the twins arrived back home, and outside of an "Ok", the feline had remained annoyingly silent. Even just an update that he was on the way would be nice! Peppa huffed as she focused on the time, 5:22 p.m.

"He's late!" the ewe seethed at the phone, ignoring the fact that she never gave Johann a specific time. She pushed off the couch and sat up, phone still in hoof, while trying to think up the most scathing text she could send to the feline. Maybe something connecting his tardiness with his anatomy? Idly questioning his loyalty as a friend, while also attacking his experience in bed? Maybe a scathing assessment about his physical form, while pointedly announcing that the snow leopard was on a much lower level than her sister?

Peppa scowled, hoof frozen mid-type, as she realized all of her insults dealt with a physical part of Johann. Why was she thinking like that? The ewe shook her head, trying to remove those thoughts from her mind. She needed to focus on getting the feline here, then she could insult him after Mint and him have their five minutes in heaven. Finally, the sheep opened a text for the snow leopard, and sent a simple message.

Wher U

Pep placed the phone down as she nervously bounced her leg up and down. She hadn't realized that she picked up her pencil to chew on it till she tasted rubber eraser. The sheep spat out the pieces, running a hoof over her tongue to remove the remaining bits, her phone vibrated. The sheep glanced at the message on the screen, not bothering to unlock the phone.

here

The ewe jumped off the couch and scrambled out of the living room. A cursory glance of the hallway showed it was empty of any meddlers, allowing the sheep to rush to the front door. Pep flung it open, expecting to see Johann standing at the ready. No one was there. Peppa frowned. She poked her head out into the cold, hoping that the feline was playing some terrible prank. Still nothing.

The sheep scowled and was about to march back to her phone and give the snow leopard a piece of her mind, when she noticed an unfamiliar car parked just to the left of the house. It was a grey sedan that had a noticeable dent in the passenger side door. Pep's gaze slowly moved from the car to the house next door. A large figure, hidden by the shadow of the house and lack of streetlights, appeared to be peaking in through the dark front window.

The ewe stepped through the doorway and into the freshly fallen snow. Wind sliced through thin clothes as flurries stung her face. Peppa faced the figure, planted her hooves on her hips, and shouted. "Hey!" The figure's head whipped in the direction of the sheep. "Over here idiot!"

The large figure started towards the sheep, trudging through the high snow of the combined yards. It was some time before the light from the open door hit the shadowy figure, but there was no surprise for the ewe. It was Johann, wearing a thin, black winter jacket with a grey beanie on his head. The snow leopard sheepishly removed his hat.

"Sorry Pep. I thought it was the other house."

Peppa rolled her eyes, "That's thirteen eleven. No one lives there!" She frowned in thought, "What were you doing?"

The feline gestured to the house behind him, "I thought I saw movement."

The sheep shook her head with a heavy sigh, "You definitely didn't." She waved a flippant hoof, "And even if you did, it's probably just a squatter."

"Is that common around here?" Johann asked tentatively, glancing around the neighborhood, "Is this place safe?"

The ewe grinned wickedly, "Doll, I'm the only thing around here you should be afraid of. Now come on! It's cold!"

"But-" the feline started

"No butts, but yours getting in here!" Peppa interjected firmly. She turned and walked back through the door expectantly. Hurried steps crunched the snow behind her. The ewe planted herself next to the door and waited for Johann to enter. She fought the urge to smile.

Pep's plan was back on track.

Mint didn't know what to do. She had been sitting on her bed motionless, just staring at the wall. The twins bunk bed was situated in the top left corner of their room, between the wall and the only window in the room. The only other piece of furniture was a small dresser across from the bed that held most of the sister's clothes. A closest held the best, and rest, of their attire. What little that was.

The younger twin liked to bemoan the lack of a vanity mirror, but that was now a blessing. Mint couldn't even look at herself in the bathroom mirror, no matter how steamy. She had spent forty-five minutes in the shower, weeping silently and scrubbing futilely as she wished the water would wash away more than the ram's stench. Afterwards Mint did her best to dry off, but even still her wool refused to dry. No matter what, she still felt dirty.

After Daddy's time with her, the ewe didn't even bother going back for her last three classes. She simply limped to the nearest bathroom and locked herself in a stall. The student was much the same as she was now, staring blankly at the door and wondering why this was happening to her. A part of her wanted to run straight to the Principal and just put everything out in the open. Fear of the consequences of making such an accusation froze her in place. Another part wanted her run away and never. If she wasn't around, then Daddy couldn't hurt her. That's all Mint wanted, no more pain.

Neither her body or mind offered any form of comfort. The young ewe's body ached in a way that was all too familiar, yet so foreign. Her mind raced over the events of the last three days relentlessly. Memories spiraled around her as the ewe became dizzy with indecision. That part of her that called for action still did, but it was much weaker now. Time had passed, and the possibility of Mint coming forward grew less and less.

Daddy found her.

He would never let go.

"My fault..." the ewe mumbled absentmindedly running a trembling hoof over her wet cheek, "All my fault…"

The sheep pulled at her face, eyes stinging from the cool air of the room. Mint needed to change. If she was ugly, then maybe it would stop. The ewe would be able to move on with her life. Daddy wouldn't touch her if she was hideous. Deformed. A monster. She could live without fear of the ram coming back. The ewe just needed something!

The ewe abruptly stood, just missing the top bunk as her wide eyes scanned the room. A metal shine from the top of the dresser caught her attention. Mint walked with innocent curiosity towards the shine, head tilting as eyes remained wide. The metal was long and thin, with crisscrossing abrasive sides and ending in a dull point. It was a hoof file. The sheep reached a tentative hoof for the item but paused just before grasping it. Mint needed to change. She needed to not be her anymore. The ewe firmly grasped the middle of the file, the abrasion digging into her hoof, and brought it closer to inspect. The point seemed a promising start, but Mint needed more. She pressed the flat of the file against her forearm and pulled it roughly across.

There was a slight pain, and with it, a moment of clarity.

For the first time since fifth period, Mint felt aware. Not just of her surroundings, but the weight of every damp curl on her body. She could feel her heart racing, pounding against her chest with each rhythmic pump. How her lungs expanded and compressed. How even the slightest movement of her legs sends a dull, throbbing pain shooting into her core. For one moment, Mint was alive.

A sudden knock at the door tore the ewe away from this found lucidity, and she drops the file back onto the dresser as if it was on fire. Mint cleared her throat, before calling out.

"Hello?"

"Hey Min," Peppa called through the door, "You decent?"

Mint was about to respond, when she realized that in fact, she was nude. The ewe's gaze quickly shot to the bed where a damp towel was crumpled as if someone, more than likely Mint, had been sitting on it. How much time had passed?

"J-just a second!" Mint shouted, desperately looking around for something to put on. The ewe bent down and yanked the bottom left drawer open. The younger twin had the left side drawers, so she knew where everything was located. Pristinely folded shirts and pant were tossed aside as the sheep dug deep. Finally, Mint reached the outfit of her salvation. It was an old pair of green sweatpants with a similarly green sweater. They were a pick up from a thrift store, and didn't come close to fitting the sheep correctly, but she used this outfit for lazy days.

In a flash, the ewe pulled the sweater over her head, struggling to find the correct holes, before finally getting it correct. Mint quickly grasped the elastic waistband of the pants and unfurled them. She heard the telltale click of the doorknob turning. With more force than normal, the sheep yanked her pants up to her waist. The door opened, and in popped the head of Peppa. She frowned at the younger twin as Mint stood stock still. Eventually she shook her head and smirked mischievously.

"Guess who decided to drop by!" the older twin exclaimed with an impish twinkle in her eye.

"Who?" Mint asked perplexed.

Peppa swung the door completely open, and behind her was Johann. The snow leopard's black winter jacket was zipped open, revealing a dark blue t-shirt underneath. The feline's paws were stuffed deep into his pants pockets as his wide eyes bounced between the twins.

Mint didn't know what to do. Standing in her room was the male she dreamed about, where he whisked her away to far reaches of the world. The one who was hooves down her best only behind her sister. The one the ewe truly considered exploring intimately, and hoped he felt the same. The one who was now staring at the younger twin in an outfit that made her look like a giant grape thanks to her wool underneath. The trio stood in awkward silence for several moments before Peppa spoke up.

"Spots wanted to tell you something," the older sister stated matter of fact.

"I do?" Johann exclaimed nervously.

"He does?" Mint breathed, still not sure what's happening.

"Yes, he does," Peppa stated confidently. She elbowed the feline and gestured with her head to the younger twin. "Go on. Tell her what you told me."

Johann gaped at the older twin in abject confusion. Pep glared silently back. They remained that way for several moments, before the feline sighed heavily. "Ok," he said quietly, "I'll tell her."

Peppa smiled triumphantly, "Great!" She gave the larger mammal a hard shove, forcing him to step forward, before grabbing the door knob. "Call me if you need me!" The older twin slammed the bedroom door shut, almost pinching the snow leopard's tail in the process.

Johann glared at the door, holding his almost crushed tail in his paw, before turning back to Mint. He tried to smile that sweet smile that always made the ewe's heart race, but it eventually settled into a grimace. "I-I didn't plan this," the feline stuttered out, "an-and if I knew this was her plan...well I wouldn't have come…" The snow leopard breathed in deeply, letting it out slowly as he released his tail and flexed his paws. "...but I'm here now," Johann continued, his voice more confident as he grey eyed gaze filled with resolve, "and I want to get something off my chest."

Mint hadn't moved, her hooves frozen in place as she could only stare wide eyed at the feline. The ewe was once again stuck in a room with a male. There was no escape. Peppa had betrayed her by leaving the younger twin alone with this male. She had no way out. In the back of the sheep's mind, she knew it was Johann. She knew that the snow leopard would never hurt her. He was blocking the door. With adrenaline pumping and shallow breaths fogging her mind, the moment could only end one way to the young female.

The nightmare would go on.

Jezebel felt a bit hot under the collar, and it wasn't because of the stove next to her. The sheep couldn't help it. With her pretty kitty acting all domesticated, cooking dinner and worrying about the twins, it just riled the ewe up. Not in the same way seeing the tiger lift something heavy, muscles rippling as Saffron did the seemingly impossible, but in hopelessly giddy way. As if the older sheep was her teenage self again.

"Maybe we should get you an apron," Jezebel stated coyly, already planning what type to buy.

Saffron's gaze was on the stove. Her focus bouncing between flipping chicken patties in a pan with a black plastic spatula and turning vegetables over in a skillet with a pair of metal tongs. The feline had left Helping Paws early to pick up some pred food. Even though there were two in the house, the fridge rarely seemed to have that option. "Oh? Why's that?"

"Well doll, I don't want you to burn yourself," the sheep replied lightly, reaching out a hoof for the tiger's midsection, "or any of your clothes." Jezebel glided a hoof over the feline's core front, shirt dragging along with her touch, as the ewe slid in closer to her lovely kitty. The ewe stood tall on the tip of her hooves and whispered, "It'd look cute on you too." Before Saffron could respond, the caprid slapped her on the ass and gave it a firm squeeze.

An un-Saffron like surprised squeal escaped the larger mammal. She immediately retaliated against the smaller mammal by trying to wiggle out of the ewe's grasp. When that failed, the tiger tucked an arm between the two and firmly pushed away. "What are you doing!?" Saff hissed, her attention now torn between the food and the sheep, "It's gonna burn!"

"Honey, I know you have that gentle touch," Jezebel teased, pushing feebly against the feline's arm, "So quit your worrying!"

The play fighting, at least it was play to the sheep, continued for some time before the tiger let out a frustrated growl and pointed the spatula threateningly at the ewe. "Stop!" Saffron commanded, her tone serious and gaze narrowed.

A single brow rose on Jezebel as she planted her hooves on her hips. "Don't point that me doll," the ewe smirked, "unless you're planning to use it." The ewe stepped closer to the tiger, gaze unwavering from the feline's, and slowly lifted a hoof. She touched the tip of the spatula and pushed it up and towards the tiger. "I would," Jezebel whispered sensually.

Many nights ago, the ewe made a mental list of some of the best things that have occurred in the last year. There the obvious points, better job, better pay, better living overall, but there little things that stuck out. One of Jezebel's favorite changes was Saffron from streetwalker in sequin to mom jeans. The tiger was never the most sexually explorative of the working girls, that was Jezz hooves down, but the fact that the predator in the sheets could be flustered by teasing, priceless.

This was one of the moments. The feline's ears turned red as a blush barely peeked out from behind her orange and black. Saffron's eyes darted between the spatula and the sheep, thoughts racing behind her golden gaze as she performed the necessary mental arithmetic. The feline had to judge how serious the sheep was plus to how much time they had before Johann arrived, divided by how much comeuppance she may or may not receive.

Jezebel knew the answer. It was going to be a long night in the best way.

A sudden gust of cold air caught the ewe's attention. The old house may be a bit drafty, but that felt like someone opening the door for too long. The ewe flicked the spatula, "Looks like Johann's here."

Saffron blinked owlishly, then turned back to the stove. "Foods almost ready," she mumbled, ears still red, "When do you think they'll eat."

Jezebel frowned as she poked her head from the kitchen into the dining room. She could only see her and Saffron's bedroom door but heard the low murmur of mammals talking down the hall. The ewe smirked. Jezz knew that Peppa set up in the living room specifically to run interference between the adults and the elusive snow leopard. She'd stay out of the way, for now, but the twins wouldn't escape dinner. The older sheep had a plethora of embarrassing questions for all the teenagers, and it would only take a little prodding to rile Saffron up.

The voices grew louder, but still not enough for Jezebel to make out anything specific. "Sounds like they're heading to the twin's room," the older ewe murmured over her shoulder to the big cat, "We should give them some time, honey." Saffron snorted in response. The ewe turned her head further to look at the tiger. "What?"

The feline scowled at the stove, "Is that such a good idea?" Saffron sighed heavily, "I mean...he's a...he."

"And he's a nice one too," Jezebel countered sharply, "I met him." The sheep sniffed haughtily, "He's a gentlemale, Saff." Saffron remained silent. The ewe turned back to her observation of the hallway.

The sound of a door creaking opened reached the ewe's ears. There were several more seconds of low voices before a very loud, and quite high pitched "I do?" echoed into the dining room. Jezebel grinned, "Sounds like things are heating up."

"Better not be," Saffron grumbled.

"Relax kitty," the sheep shot over her shoulder, rolling her eyes in the process, "they aren't going to do too much with two adults in the house."

"Funny, I only see one," the tiger snipped, "and she's busy with dinner."

Jezebel scoffed in mock ire, "Doll, are you saying I'm not mature!" Saffron remained silent. The ewe frowned. The feline would pay for that later. She turned back to the hallway, just in time to see her bedroom door close. The sheep's gaze narrowed. "Somebody's messing around in my bed."

"What?"

Jezebel waved a flippant hoof, "Never mind doll. Just keep looking beautiful." The ewe didn't wait for the tiger's response, instead she quietly made her way to the other side of the dining room. It wasn't like the former working girl had problems with anyone going into her room, she had nothing to hide, but when they snuck in that was different. The sheep glanced down the hallway, empty as expected. She glided to the other end of the hall, right next to her door. Jezebel silently grasped the doorknob, and gently turned it. With a dramatic flair, hoof on her hip and triumphant smirk on her snout, the ewe threw open the door.

Peppa jumped away from the right wall, ear obviously pressed against it. The younger ewe scowled and folded her arms defensively. "You scared me."

Jezebel raised an eyebrow, smirk still in place. "You're in my room."

The young sheep opened her snout to retort, then scoffed and looked away. "You're not my mom," Pep muttered halfheartedly.

The older sheep's smirk grew to an amused grin. "You're still in my room." Jezebel glanced at the wall the younger ewe was pressed against, the one that separated the twins and the couple's rooms. She gestured to the wall, "Why not stay in there if you wanna here?"

Peppa rolled her eyes, "They wouldn't have done anything if I was there. Besides…" The younger ewe's animosity momentarily disappeared, replaced with genuine worry. "...I think this will be good for Mint." she muttered, gaze on the floor, "She's been acting weird...and she won't tell me why."

Jezebel warily glanced at the wall. She had noticed the change as well, but the older sheep didn't feel it was appropriate to bring it up. Like Pep always said, she wasn't their mom, and with that came the limitations of the awkward position of pseudo-guardian. Easily ignored and rarely listened too. Jezebel sighed and stepped further into the room. "I know," she admitted quietly, "but you know Mint. She doesn't keep secrets." The older ewe grinned knowingly, "Give it time, and she'll be telling us all about her boy troub-"

An ear-splitting scream echoed from the twin's room, startling both sheep. Jezebel only had time to glance wide eyed at the wall before heavy pawsteps stomp behind her. "Saff!" the older ewe gasped. It felt as though the former working girl was moving in slow motion. She was barely two feet away from her doorway and back into the hall, yet it felt like miles. Jezz heard a door slam open, shaking the walls of the house, followed by a deafening roar.

"What did you do!?"

Jezebel knew right away it was Saffron, and the eternity to the doorway sped to an instant as she found herself standing outside of the twin's room. The older ewe noted clothes scattered on the normally clean floor, Mint curled into a ball on the bed weeping, and weeping uncontrollably, and her tiger holding Johann off the ground by the throat. The panicked expression on the snow leopard's face matched the older sheep's as words flew right out of her snout.

"Saff, no!"

Saffron tried to focus on cooking. If the feline remained focus on not burning the chicken patties, then she couldn't do something rash like show Jezebel what she'd really do with the spatula. The tiger frowned as she flipped over the vegetables one last time, a simple mixture of sliced peppers, asparagus and eggplant, before turning off the heat and placing the skillet on one of the cold back burners. The patties were almost done as well, and the feline turned off the heat for it as well. All of this would get cold if the twins didn't hurry up.

The tiger sighed and shook her head. Saffron did not like inviting this Johann over, and when she first heard the news, she was ready to fight. Now though, with several hours waiting and rushing around for dinner, the feline was simply worried. Her experience with males didn't paint the opposite sex in a good way, but she also hoped that Peppa and Mint would create their own opinions. It was a difficult line to walk, one that less than a year ago she never thought she would.

Saffron's not sure when it happened, but it just seemed like one day the tiger cared about the twins. She isn't heartless, but for what felt like forever all the feline cared about was Jezebel, Cherry and herself. In that order. They were the first to show her any kindness, and the ewe was the first mammal Saff could honestly say that she loved. It was that way for years.

Then it wasn't.

In comparison to the just under eight years Saffron spent as a prostitute, satisfying a never-ending array of males who never gave her a single thought afterwards, the change that overcame the Frostbite Way residence was immediate. One day the trio made friends with a what they thought was a voyeur weasel, the next he "freed" them from Rameo. Of course, Ex's version of freedom was leaving the girls to their own desires and making no money off it. Then Ex turned into a cop, or always was one, and then was missing. Then Beatrice showed up, or was already there, and Cherry and the she-wolf had their adventure while Jezz and the tiger talked to the police.

It only sped up after that.

There was the immediate stop on prostituting, then resumes after resumes after resumes, followed by a lucky break at a strip club, only to lead into Helping Paws. On top of that, things grew quieter. Twenty-three females used to live in the house, only six remain. Gradually, girls started to leave. Whether it was to get caught back up in the cycle they escaped all over again, or because they pushed for a new life, seventeen left the old home in the past. It was during that transition period, when Saffron never knew who would still be left when she arrived home, that the tiger started noticing the twins more.

Even though she had been tasked with getting them into a school, that didn't mean the feline talked much to the youngest of Rameo's working girls. She would pitch in if they were coming up short at the end of a week, but everyone did that. It was during this time of constant change and transition that Saffron truly talked with the twins. Mint opened up easily enough, while Pep still hasn't. Still, the feline knew she had a soft spot in her heart for the twins. This spot was the reason for the feline's apprehension.

Saffron shook her head with a grimace. She needed to focus on setting up the table and thinking about the past won't help with that. The feline moved to an overhead cabinet on the other side of the kitchen. She opened it, and her grimace deepened. They only had paper plates. The feline decided earlier in the day that she didn't like Johann, but she also didn't want him to think little of them. If he decided to say anything, the tiger would be more than willing to increase the male's fiber with said plates.

"They'll do," Saffron finally grumbled, picking up the almost depleted pack. With plates in paw, the feline moved into the dining room. She started placing the plates around the table, even though they only had four chairs. The tiger would stand, and possibly loom, behind wherever Johann decided to sit. Before the large mammal finished her task, a shriek echoed into the hallway.

Saffron reacted, as if she was waiting on a starter's pistol. Her brain already assumed it was Mint, and the feline immediately started for the twin's room. The tiger barely noted their room door was open, but she did see the door separating her from Mint. The large mammal didn't reach for the knob but threw her full weight against the door with a snarl. It gave, and Saffron plowed into the room. The predator part of her mind ignored everything but her prey, watching events fold in slow motion.

Johann was standing next to the bed, paw reached towards a sobbing Mint. His frightened expression, and retracting paw, suggested that the tiger had caught him mid act. The ewe was curled away from the male, backpedaling futilely into the wall that separated the twins and the tiger's room.

Saffron saw red.

The tiger charged forward, paws outstretched and fangs on full display as a primal roar escaped her threatening maw. She went for the throat, claws out and aiming for the smaller feline. The male seemed frozen in shock, as he offered no defense against the larger mammal's attack. Saffron pushed Johann back and slammed the leopard into the corner of the bedpost and the window.

"What did you do!?" she roared. He didn't respond. Her grip tightened as she loomed menacingly over the silent male.

"Saff, no!"

Saffron whipped her head around, searching for the disapproving voice. The feline saw Jezebel and Peppa standing in the doorway, both horrified. The older twin rushed to the side of the other as Jezz approached the tiger apprehensively with hooves raised.

"You can't do this Saff."

The female feline snarled, whipping her head back to the leopard. "He hurt Mint!" she growled, her terrifying image reflected back in Johann's eyes, "I'm gonna hurt him!" The tiger squeezed, ignoring the pain as the leopard's claws dug into her wrists. She would make sure he would never hurt Mint, or anyone, ever again.

"Stop!"

Saffron paused at the command of the voice, grip not loosening but staying the same. Slowly, the tiger glanced over her shoulder. The feline saw the twins, Mint clutching Peppa desperately as she silently cried onto the older sister's shoulder. Pep glared at the larger female.

"It wasn't him," the elder twin stated evenly.

Saffron's grip loosened, her anger disappearing and confusion taking rein. "Wh-what?"

Peppa sighed and closed her eyes, hugging her sister tighter and laying her head on top of her twin, "It wasn't Johann…", the ewe opened an eye and looked right at the tiger, "... Daddy's back."

Hello Readers,

Sorry for the late update, but here it is for better or worse. Let me know what you think.

-CG