Friday 10:21 PM - YashiAid Convenience Store - Algema District

"Look, Nobita-san, I'm sorry. I'm really sorry. I know how much the festival meant to you."

"Well, I know. It's just we were short-handed today! It's always like this on holidays. We could have hung out here if you wanted."

"Real mature Nobita-san."

"I'm not Yasmin though. I happen to have a job if you haven't noticed!"

The store welcome chime went off.

"One second. Welcome to YashiAid, we're closing in about 10 minutes!"

What came through the door, caused the Lincoln longwool sheep clerk some concern. A bruised lop rabbit stumbled into the store, tired, feverishly looking for a place to rest. A red windbreaker jacket tied around their waist, while their white tank top was soaked into a dingy tannish brown from sweat as if they had walked a great distance. They looked like they had just survived an attack or something. The worst part, they looked familiar.

"Do you need any assistance?" The sheep clerk asked trying to get their attention, her conversation on the phone became practically an afterthought as she watched the small individual continue to stagger into the store with little sense of balance or apparent awareness. "Um...like are you okay?" She asked much louder.

"Buy supplies. Gotta buy supplies." They repeated over and over, the exhaustion very apparent in their voice. "Buy some supplies real quick." The rabbit mumbled, before falling to their knees nearly taking the nearby sunglasses display rack with them as they dropped.

"Matilda-san?" The voice on the other end of the phone spoke. "Matilda-san?"

"Nobita-san, I-I'll call you back." The sheep nervously said hanging up and hurrying around the counter to help. The rabbit, female, looked exhausted with a few bruises and a swollen looking black eye. How she made it this far through the parking lot mystified the sheep.

Then this rabbit was familiar, she knew she had seen her before. The red windbreaker, the cream and brown fur pattern; it all triggered like an explosion in her fluffy head. It was the other half of the odd herbivore couple that frequented the store almost every week, the Holland lop rabbit and the tall alpaca boy she thought was cute. She didn't recall their names, but she definitely knew them by sight. The alpaca was always the friendly one while the rabbit was always standoffish.

With the rabbit in such dire straits, she was expecting him to come barging in right after her, but no such luck. The rabbit seemed to be alone tonight, which troubled the sheep as she rushed to the lapine's aid.

"This was such a bad idea…" The lapine groaned as she dropped to the hard floor face first with a pain filled grunt. "Shouldn't have landed on my stomach." She croaked.

"Rabbit-chan!" The clerk cried out as she tried to turn the fallen herbivore over on her side.

"Brachiosaur in the Heavens, please don't let her be dying," The lamb prayed as she tried to recollect her health class lessons as she tried checking her pulse. The lapine's small heart was racing, she seemed to be still conscious, though she looked rough. Like just exhaustion or heat stroke. It wasn't ideal, but it was a relief for the sheep, but she just couldn't have her laying on the floor like this. Especially not when she was trying to get ready for closing.

"You gotta get up Miss, there are germs down there!" The longwool shouted, concerned as she attempted to drag the poor girl up off the floor. "That's no place to be lying down."

"I'll be fine." The lop gravelly voice lethargically replied, her voice scratchy, her small exhausted limp form being difficult for even the fluffy ungulate to lift. "Just give me a few minutes to rest, I'll get back up. I always get back up." She moaned.

"No, come on. Get up now." The sheep strained as she threw the rabbit's arm over her neck and tried to heft her off the ground. The rabbit's body felt hot, her body was burning up, her face looking flushed as she seemed delirious.

"I'm gonna get up San, I-I ain't done yet…got one more in me."

"C'mon you got to help me out too!" The sheep cried as she struggled to support the bunny's weight. She was somehow a lot heavier than she looked. "Do you know how many beasts have walked in here? That floor is filthy. I couldn't just leave you lying there. You could get sick or worse." The dead weight was almost too much for her to carry. "Just walk with me for a bit and you can rest against the counter."

"San?" The rabbit muttered as she opened her good right eye and saw the female sheep, dressed in mostly white and blue store vest, next to her trying to walk her out of the entrance. "You're not…"

"You got to help me, miss. I can't lift you on my own." The sheep girl was just about to buckle. "We'll sit you over here by the counter. Just help me get you over a few more steps. Okay?"

The bunny mustered up enough energy to stand up straight to alleviate some of her weight while the two of them slowly but surely stumbled a few paces towards the counter, the sheep finally being able to sit her guest up and take a few seconds to rest herself after the ordeal before she checked out her injured guest

The rabbit looked like she had taken a beating, the left side of her cream colored face was light shade of purple, largely bruised around her swollen eye and a bit of her nose as well looking like she might have been bleeding earlier judging from all the burgundy mixed in with the brown fur pattern on her face.

"Do I need to call the Paramedics? Get you a chair or something, miss?" The clerk asked, trying to offer some aid. "Maybe some water if you need it."

"Why are you helping me?" The rabbit groaned as she looked at the sheep with contempt. "Didn't ask for your help."

"Because it's my job." The sheep piped up. "It's store policy to make sure all customers and guests are safe and satisfied!" She said as if reciting a mantra. "YashiAid Store Guarantee!"

"Pole-see?" The lapine slurred very slow trying to weigh the meaning. "You some kinda cop?"

"Don't be silly." The clerk said, giggling as she reached down and took the rabbit's temperature with her hand. It was warm, which wasn't surprising. She quickly reached into the nearby counter fridge and placed a chillingly cold water bottle up against the lagomorph's head to try and cool her off before explaining.

"No, you see. It's just what's expected of all employees here at YashiAid. When you came shambling in here, you became my responsibility. Um...so um...so until you leave... satisfied, I have to take care of you as simply as that." She stammered as if trying to recite a hastily rehearsed script. She meant it, it's just her nerves were fighting against her. "So I need to do hospit-" She stuttered nervously. "I mean do I need to call the hospital?"

"No, no hospital. I'll be fine. Just let me catch my damn breath." The rabbit replied, their voice dry.

"If you need me too, I can go and get whatever groceries you might want or need while you rest up here." The sheep offered.

"Ugh...my head is killing me." The rabbit complained. "What time is it? Isn't it late and the store closing soon? I'll just come back tomorrow" The rabbit questioned, slumping back and letting her heart rest while her breathing stabilized.

The Lincoln breed looked at her like she was insane. "What do you mean, come back tomorrow? You look like you won't even last the night if I let you walk out of here on your own. You know this is a bad part of town right? There was a devouring only half a month ago not far from here."

"You don't have to do any of this. I'll be out of your wool in a bit once I get up." The rabbit said, trying to stand but her body immediately giving up as she even put weight on her legs, almost falling back on the candy racks.

"Just rest Miss. I can close this place up as soon as we can get you what you need and you catch your breath. Don't worry about me, all I have to do is sweep, mop, and lock up. Besides I'm paid by the hour, so a little overtime helping out someone in need won't hurt too much I reckon and last thing I need is for you to collapse in the store again."

"Um." The rabbit was at a loss for words as she thought about what she needed. Her stinging eye seemed like priority so she thought about addressing that, her throat was a bit dry too. "I need some ice packs, some bandages, maybe a few towels, and I guess I'll take some more water. Kinda parched."

"Okay, can do. Just wait here." The fluffy clerk bleated with a sweet tone as she ventured into the store for the supplies. It only took the sheep a few minutes to find what she needed and returned. The bunny looked a smidgeon better than before now that she'd started relaxing.

"So where's your friend?" The sheep asked, handing her a cold wet towel and an instant-cold pack. "By the way you just need to snap and shake that up." She said trying to instruct her how to use the cold pack.

"Dunno what you're talking about. What friend? " The rabbit muttered with a frown, focusing more on opening the box and placing the bag up to her eye once she got it cold enough.

"You know...the tall guy that comes in with you every so often. Your windbreaker buddy. The alpaca I think?"

"Oh, him." The rabbit heaved a heavy sigh of annoyance as she thought about her cellmate. "He ain't here." She said bluntly, though the sheep could practically feel the contempt radiating from her.

"I see that, any reason?" The fluffy clerk asked. "I mean I don't think he'd like you running around in your condition."

"He's off doing his own damn thing."

Just as quickly the sheep tried to backtrack, "Sorry, to hear you guys are going through something." She said before covering her snout realizing she was prodding into their business, silently cursing the fact she was such a creature of gossip. "I mean. Sorry. Well. Not my place to infer. " She hastily tried to veer off from the nosey implications. " Damn it Matilda. Definitely not your place. "

The rabbit exhaled, largely ignoring the sheep's prattling, more focused on getting hydrated, taking a big gulp of water and began trying to rub and wipe the dried blood off of her nose and lips. The way she did it with such normalcy made the sheep think she was no stranger to such wounds. It almost looked routine. Same with the ice pack, she seemed familiar with where to place it.

"Um you can pay for this...right?"" The sheep asked, thinking about more important matters. She still needed to treat the guest like a potential customer and run through the closing checklist. Counting the register was the last thing before a final sweep and mop.

"I mean I won't take the stuff away from you or anything if you don't." She added. "You guys come in here frequently enough I think that I could just put it on your credit."

"No, I got cash." The bunny replied, her breathing becoming a bit more stabilized. "This stuff ain't a lot is it?"

"Well the cold packs are pretty cheap, 1,895 Yen a piece. The towels even less so. You can have the water for free since we get those in bulk and I can just write that off as one of my break waters anyway. Do you need anything else, like some Novox Carprofen pain relief?"

"Sure, I'll take some of the Carpwhatever...the pain stuff. Anything to get rid of this throbbing bitch of a headache. How much will that be?" She asked.

"Around 3223 Yen." The sheep replied as she dropped down and pulled a small bottle. "At least the over-the-counter stuff including tax. The pharmacy is closed for the night unfortunately."

"Is this enough?" The rabbit asked as she pulled a big wad of crinkled bills from her pants pocket, more than enough to pay for what she needed. It was exceedingly more than what she needed, and Matilda felt it was foolish of her to just wave around a large sum like that, anyone low down enough could swindle or overcharge her if they wanted.

"You walk around with that kind of money?!" The sheep exclaimed.

"Not like I got anywhere else to keep it." The rabbit said with shameless honesty as she exchanged for the small bottle of pills.

"You're just begging to get mugged." The sheep stated, looking at her strange.

"They're welcome to try." The rabbit confidently countered, shaking a clenched fist and wielding such a sturdy attitude that didn't match her weary body at all.

"That seems like a foolish mindset for someone that looks like they just survived a mugging attempt." The sheep nonchalantly commented as she counted the cash and gave her back the correct change. The bunny shot her an annoyed scowl, though it was quickly punctuated by a sharp wincing pain that caused her to place the pack back up to her eye.

"Yeah well you should see the other guy." The bunny said, sitting back down as she nursed her face some more, wincing each time the cold touched her skin.

Guy? A dark thought popped into the ewe's fluffy head. Maybe that's why he's not here, she thought. " He ... didn't do that did he?" The lamb hesitantly asked.

"He?" The rabbit asked, inquisitively looking over the top of the counter lost on what she was talking about.

"Your friend?" The sheep hastily clarified. "You know, the guy you come in with all the time? He didn't hit you did he?"

"What? No." The rabbit answered confused. "He didn't do this! The hell are you on about?" The rabbit replied insulted at the very thought as she started reading the instructions on the pill bottle. Usually San would worry about the medicine, but he wasn't here and she definitely felt she didn't need him now.

"Take...1 tab-let...ev-ery three hours… three " She grumbled as she read aloud the instructions on the bottle best she could and started twisting the cap off.

"I did this to myself. I just slipped up is all." She continued, surprised by the little bitty tablet in her hand. "This is supposed to get rid of my headache?" She asked.

"Uh-huh." Matilda confirmed, nodding as she studied curious lop, still unconvinced. She had heard in magazines and on television about domestic abuse between herbivore couples and usually the females never speak up about it until it's too late.

"Look, you don't have to lie for him. If he hurts you, you need to speak up." She spoke letting loose her concerns. "Let me tell you, that you don't have to take the blame for his mistakes! There are people out there that can help you."

"Help? No you don't underst-" The rabbit sighed as she popped the circular tablet of Novox and flushed it down with a swig of water, the bitter taste didn't help her irritable mood as she pointed to the shiner on her face. "Look, I just got this in a fight. A real fight. I just had a scuffle with some jerk downtown earlier, he just socked me pretty good is all. That's all that happened. Not like San has it in him to give me a real fight anyway." She muttered off-handedly, a tinge of shame still fresh in her mind.

The fact that she had been knocked out, by something as trivial as a tail no less, didn't sit well with her. And then it was all her own damn fault for getting too cocky, it was pissing her off the more she thought about it. Her answer was sufficient enough to relieve the worry of the sheep.

"Oh. Good I guess..." The sheep said relieved, but quickly stiffened as she tried to not come off as so insensitive. "Well not good! Um I mean it's good your friend didn't do it. I mean you're right he doesn't seem the type and...ugh. Matilda you are so bad at this! " She whined as she placed her face into her palm. Then soon after another thought struck the Lincoln. Wait a minute. She said fight, didn't she? She thought.

"You said fight, right?" The ewe asked the rabbit. "You?"

"Yea, I kicked this weirdo monkey creep's ass down at the park." The rabbit replied.

The sheep stared at the rabbit, mouth ajar, as if the lapine was insane. "You fought... a monkey?! Are you serious? No wonder you look so terrible, what were you thinking?! How big was he?"

"He was a Spider Monkey I think and knocking him down a peg is what I was thinking and I still busted his eye up good!" The lagomorph bragged pridefully as if she had accomplished something with that fight, even though she knew what really happened. No matter how well she dressed it, she had lost soon after those good hits she landed.

"That's a very violent mindset you got going on there." The sheep commented, still looking shaken and unsure whether or not she truly believed the lapine. "Did he try to mug you or something?" She asked, trying to rationalize the rabbit's story.

"No, we just had a disagreement , one we had to solve with our fists." The rabbit said a slight grin as she pulled an almost crinkled looking cigarette from her pant's pocket. "The best kind. Heh." She said as she reclined back against the countertop.

"Well I don't think you shouldn't be starting fights with people. It's unbecoming of a young lady like yourself especially as a herbivore."

"Why the hell not? Shouldn't matter if I'm a girl or not. Someone pisses you off, you kick their ass. Simple. What am I supposed to do? Just let people just walk all over me because of what's between my legs? What a buncha crap."

"Well no... but it's just dangerous for someone so small to go seeking conflict especially with bigger people."

"Yeah, well I'm just as dangerous. I ain't going to let what other people think get in my way. Trouble finds me, I'll make 'em regret that they did."

A bead of sweat dropped down the sheep's face as she stared at the rabbit. "So, I take it you made 'em regret it then, huh?" She asked, skeptical as she leaned over the countertop.

"Oh yeah." The rabbit pridefully said, swishing the cigarette in her mouth. "Totally worth it."

"So it was worth stumbling in here half-dead?" The ewe bleated at her rather smug, resting her face in her palms with a slight smirk on her face.

Her words caused the rabbit pause, causing the cigarette to droop slightly from her lips and the sheep received a bitter scowl from the bunny over the countertop.

"Stop making points, sheep." The rabbit grumbled as she took out her lighter.

"My name's Matilda by the way." The clerk clarified. "Matilda the Lincoln Longwool Sheep."

"Yeah, that sounds about right. I think I remember San uttering your name plenty of times before. I'm Kyuu." The rabbit said with a curt nod as she raised the lit lighter up to the stick hanging in her mouth.

The sheep soon felt the small heat from the lighter and rapped her hand on the counter top to get her attention. "Uh-uh. Don't light that in here!" She ordered before the flame touched the filter tip.

"No smoking, please. It's against the store rules and I can't have this place smelling like an ashtray. Besides you should be more focused on catching your breath, not taking it away Miss Kyuu."

The rabbit heaved a defeated sigh as she obliged the longwool and stuffed the cig back in her pockets.

"Fine." She said. "I'm running low anyway."

The rabbit looked at her nearly empty lighter and peered over the edge of the countertop. "Matty, I'll take two packs of Paruboro Blue and a Zippo. Also, just call me Kyuu from now on. Don't need no fancy Miss crap going on." The lop rabbit corrected,

"Do you have ID, Kyuu?" The sheep asked.

"ID?" The rabbit had a stoic neutral face as she scratched behind one of her ears, pondering the question. "Uh...I got a product ID on my foot? Does that count?" She remarked, unsure.

"No I mean do you have proof that you are old eno- wait" The clerk was thrown for a loop on that one. "What do you mean on your foot? Never heard of them issuing them there." She said perplexed.

"I got a livestock ID from when I was young." The bunny explained.

"L-Livestock?" Just what have you gotten involved with Matilda? The longwool worried, she could swear she felt some of her fleece fall out just from thinking about it.

She heard horror stories of people selling themselves in that run down area down the street and Mr. Yelchin used to warn her about herbivores being kidnapped and sold to such places for the rich carnivores, but she'd always thought they were just stories made up to frighten her.

"You, didn't um… well." She stammered trying to come up with a way to properly ask. She didn't want to be too insensitive, such a background could probably be traumatic for someone.

"Can I get the packs or not?" The rabbit impatiently asked, interrupting her train of thought.

"Huh?" Matilda looked down, completely forgetting what she was going to say.

"What gives? We buy here all the time. Your boss never asks me for ID. He just gives 'em to me when I ask."

"Yelchin-sama?" The sheep asked curiously.

"Yeah the old goat just takes one look at me and forks 'em over." The rabbit shrugged. "I'm good for the money."

The sheep knowing her employer didn't need to leave much to the imagination as to why he would. The girl was developed like a young woman, at least for her species. And Matilda always suspected Mr. Yelchin was a bit of a perv.

"That old lecher." she muttered. "That sounds like him. Well if he does it, I'm not going to get in trouble then I imagine. You look old enough anyway." She said opening the tobacco cabinet.

Right as she bagged Kyuu's purchase, she worked up the nerve to ask. "I still have questions about that ID you were talking about. Livestock? What do you mean by livestock?"

"Yeah, me and San and a lot of other kids were sold at a young age to these carnivores years ago, they locked us up and stenciled numbers on our feet."

"You're joking?" The sheep said, unwilling to believe it. "You have to be...right?"

The rabbit shook her head. She was as serious as a heart attack.

"They'd sell us to whoever was paying and then they'd put us to sleep so the bastards could eat us. San and me were the lucky ones."

"Wow...that sounds so horrible. You didn't go to the police or anything after you guys escaped?"

"A lot good the fucking police were going to do. It was in the Back-Alley Market."

"Back-Alley? The Black Market? That place is real?! I thought that was just an urban myth they made up to keep us from seeing the poor side of town."

"Yeah, right down the street. The police don't come in there unless the carnivore ones are grabbing a snack." She explained with air quotes. "The world just forgets all about it and life goes on. Why do you think this part of the city never gets fixed?"

"It's...right down...there?" Matilda asked, though the way she sounded, Kyuu gathered she was merely speaking aloud, rather than asking her directly.

Kyuu actually found the sheep's ignorance amusing in some way, she probably came in here everyday not realizing how close to the frying pan she really was.

"Ugh...now I-I r-regret asking." The sheep stammered as she came back down to earth, feeling a bit queasy thinking about it. She was sure she could feel her wool beginning to fallout. The thought of the carnivore customers that came in here daily, ones that probably frequented the place, ones that shook her hand or struck conversations with her, it was a lot for the young sheep's mind.

"That would explain why we're always so short-staffed. No herbivore in their right mind would want to work down here if they knew." The sheep thought out loud again. "I n-need to think about something else. Um." Her hands were shaking as she fidgeted with the register and restarted the final count.

"You don't need anything else do you?" She asked, still a bit rattled halfway through the count. "Like some energy drink, carrot juice, or some more water? If not, I'm going to start c-closing up."

"I'm good, plus I'm feeling like I'm ready to head home." The lop rabbit said.

"By the way, where is your friend? Is he going to come pick you up?" The sheep asked as she rang up the rabbit's order. "I'm surprised to see you come in by yourself."

"I told you, he's doing his own thing. He's on a date …" The rabbit replied rather disgustedly.

"Well you didn't say he was on a date last time." Matilda pointed out, feeling more comfortable talking about the boy.

The thought of the young camelid having an engagement seemed to brighten the sheep's spirits. She always felt he was a good catch for boyfriend material. Though she also found it puzzling, because she'd always felt these two might have been an item considering they almost always showed up together. Maybe they were going through something, and that's why she's so antsy tonight...well more than usual at least, she thought.

"Um, so are you guys really fighting right now?" She let slip out. "Whoops."

"Fighting? What the hell are you talking about?" The rabbit questioned, peering over the countertop at the nosey fluffball. "I told you already he didn't hit me."

Matilda quickly explained herself. "No, I mean, did you guys have an argument or maybe you're going through a rough patch in your relationship?" She blurted out. "Sorry, usually a girl can tell when another is going through something. I know breakups can be hard and you sound pretty agitated about the subject."

"Matty...I don't think I'm gonna answer that, and it's best you stop there." The lop said, her brows furrowed into a fierce scowl. "Especially if you want to keep all of your teeth." She threatened, grinding her fist into her palm.

"S-sorry...again. That was too far, I apologize." The sheep stated, eyes shaking, as she waved off the other girl as if trying to fan away the pure negative energy coming from the pissed off lagomorph. "Wait...Matty?" She asked, inquiring the shortened name the rabbit used.

"Hard for me to remember long fancy names so I come up with my own." The scowling rabbit explained.

"My name's not that long." The sheep expressed with a frown. "Though, Matty... Matty-san." She said trying the pet name on for size. "I think I like it."

The rabbit just looked at her strangely and shook her head. "In any case I think I'mma go now, it was enjoyable talking to you I guess. Ugh...Thank you... for helping me out." Kyuu said quietly, swallowing her pride a bit.

"You're most welcome, Kyuu." The sheep nervously laughed. "But, if your friend's not coming to pick you up, how are you going to get home?"

"Same way I got here, walk. Me and San walk here all the time, so I'll make it back on my own."

"But it's like almost midnight. Maybe if you tell me where you live, I can ride you over there once I lock up." The sheep offered, concerned. "I got a moped in the parking lot."

"No." The rabbit quickly rejected. "No need."

"Oh don't worry it wouldn't be that much trouble, especially for a good customer like yourself besides you're looking pretty rough."

"I live in the Back-Alley." The rabbit said.

The statement shocked the fluffy longwool nearly causing her to drop the register drawer tray on the floor.

"What?" The thought of that horrid place sent a shiver down the ewe's spine. "Really? You still live there?!" She asked in disbelief.

"Yup." The rabbit nodded, expecting such a reaction. "Like I said, you don't have to. I'll get there on my own, all I needed was a breather." She said as she made attempts to stand. Her stance was wobbly at best, but she looked a lot better than when she had come in before.

The Lincoln sheep just shook her head. "No. No. No!" She bleated. "You're not in any condition to walk on your own, least of all a place like that! Especially this late at night?"

"I can take care of myself!" The rabbit angrily insisted. "What? You think I need someone like you to escort me?" She questioned. "I've survived this long and I can do it much longer without your help, ain't no bumps or bruises gonna stop me."

The curly haired sheep became very adamant as she shook her head at the poor bunny. "No! No way. You just wait here while I clean up and I'll ride you over there. Or better yet, you can help sweep and I can mop after, then we can get out of here quicker."

"I'm not about to argue with you, I'm leaving." Kyuu said, running out of patience as she headed for the door.

Matilda put her foot down and yelled at the rabbit. "You take one step out of that door, and I'll make sure you're banned from this store for life!"

The rabbit paused, turning around staring at the agitated ewe. "You can't be serious." She expressed, tilting her head.

"You heard me!" She cried out pointing her wool covered finger at the rabbit.

The Holland lop silently turned toward the door.

"Good luck finding someone else to overlook your lack of an ID!" The sheep shouted, crossing her arms. "You leave and you might as well kiss your smoking habit goodbye Missy!"

"Grrrrrrrrr." The rabbit growled. "Fine... didn't feel like walking anyway. " She grumbled.

"You'll see. It's for your own good." The sheep said as the rabbit came back.

"Whatever." The lop said. "Just don't freak out when you see the Back Alley for the first time." She muttered. "That's how you get nabbed, mewling like a lost child.

"And don't half ass sweep up too!" The sheep called out, ignoring Kyuu's comments as she started counting the register.

"I'llhalfassyou…" The sour rabbit grumbled some more, grabbing a broom and dustpan.

Meanwhile - Algema District outskirts.

"Say little girl, do you have any change?" An old and hairy disheveled yak begged as he saw a pint-sized red fox turn a corner at high speed.

"Look out!" She shouted as she picked up the pace making her way down the street.

"Please help an old beast out," he requested." I just need a few more coins so I can call my fami-hey!"

The fox swooped past him, ignoring him and inadvertently knocking over his change cup. The bovine bent over to scoop up his scattered currency with the spryness of a younger beast, knowing full well it'd be gone in minutes if he just left them there.

"Damn youngsters always in a rush to go nowhere. Don't even think about what's around them." He complained, only to find himself tipped over when a black scaled dragon collided with the wooly beast, tripping over him and falling flat on his face.

"Out of my way...wretched mammal." The relentless varanid shouted, as clawed and clambered his way to his feet, resuming his chase of the pint-sized vixen. He'd been after her for a while since she had escaped the shootout. Bring her back, those were his orders. Damn it he was going to.

"Watch where you're going ya scaly!" The furious yak brayed as he cried out after the rude varanid.

Lùn rounded another corner only to come face to face with a wall of drifters and other vagabonds all huddling together trying to stay warm or barter. She really had run into a skid row slum. It almost brought back memories, but no time for nostalgia. The dragon had caught up with her, he was only a few feet away.

There's no way she'd make it through this thick crowd. The fox tried thinking of ways to slow and deter her pursuer, "Kitsune spirit...Lùn think. Think." She repeated trying to concentrate.

Then she saw an avenue for escape. There was a space next to a dumpster bordering a chain link fence, she could hop that and move past this traffic jam. Only problem was the dragon was nearly there, he'd be right behind her. She needed to slow him down.

"Say, you look hungry, you want some stir-fry, little miss?" A black bear nearby asked the fox. The ursine was cooking for a group of other animals over a trashcan barbeque pit.

A lightbulb went off in her head as she rushed over and abruptly yanked the bear's frying pan off of the trash fire stove. Before the bear could make any fuss the pygmy fox swung the scaldingly hot piece of metal and it's boiling hot contents right into the kneecaps of the incoming dragon.

"AAUUUUUIIIIIIEEEEEEEE!" The shriek the reptile made was horrible as he fell to the ground writhing in agony, before the fox brought the pan back down over the venom lizard's skull incapacitating him before jetting away to freedom.

"Sorry mister!" The pygmy apologized to the bear as she dropped the skillet and bolted under his legs before he could even think of grabbing at her. The fox sped off, followed through with her plan, taking only moments to start scaling another chain link fence with agile grace.

"Damn urchin!" The bear cursed. "That was our dinner! Get back here!" He called out after her.

The burnt lizard groaned as shook off the aching head injury, catching a glimpse of the tiny vixen in the distance. He made moves to continue his pursuit, only to find the massive paw of the black bear holding him back.

"Why are you chasing that little girl huh?" The ursine grilled him with a thunderous voice. "What's so important that we have to lose our dinner?"

"Yeah!" The other hungry tramps angrily shouted as they surrounded the varanid. The little fox was escaping and he was running out of time.

"Mind your own business!" Bantu the Komodo hissed at the crowd, pulling two of his daggers free of his belt. However his threat did not sit well with the absolutely incensed Ursidae vagrant popped his sharp knife like claws, ready to tear.

"One of you is going to pay for dinner," the bear bellowed as he eclipsed the dragon. "And you little gecko are the only one still around to answer for it!"

"I don't have time for this." The lizard remarked, annoyed as he removed his venom filled mask to face the encroaching beast. "Mammals...always so hot tempered, but you'll find my venom burns hotter."

A few minutes later - Algema District

The short stature fox finally scaled another fence and looked behind her to see if the Dokugumi bastard was still giving chase. Nothing. See seemed to be alone for the moment, she had lost how long she had been running, Her endurance definitely had been tested, having to run over twelve blocks non-stop just to escape the jewelry store with that mean varanid in pursuit. So far, she had a feeling she'd given him the slip, her senses from they could discern from the lively city nightlife weren't picking up his signature. She could rest, for now. She removed the backpack full of loot and unzipped it to give her passengers a breather as well.

"Trace? Pick? You fellas alright in there?" Lùn asked as she checked in on the field mice.

"You gotta be freaking kidding, you know how long we were in there?!" The elder field mouse answered as he poked his fat head from the opening, berating the relatively giant fox in front of him like an angry passenger complaining to a crazy taxi driver. "Just what the hell were you doing out here?"

"Trying to lose a very persistent dinosaur!" The pygmy shouted at the rodent. "One of those jerkasses fucking chased after me when we escaped."

"He's gone?" Trace asked.

"Why do you think I'm talking to you now?" She shouted. "I had to do some maneuvers, but I lost him. Did you guys get hurt at all?"

"No, we're fine. I mean Pick bumped his head a few times, but he'll live."

"You guys probably can get out now, I'm going to call Violet for pick up. If she made it out that is..." Lùn quickly stifled such negative thoughts. She wanted to believe that the silver fox made it out, she needed to repay the trust the older fox placed in her. This wasn't the time for doubt. "Hand me my phone."

"About that…" Pick, his brother, chimed in dragging something from the bottom of the bag. The fox's heart sank as she saw just what he was referring to. It was her burner flip phone, broken beyond repair.

"Your phone kinda snapped in half during the escape." The younger mouse explained. "The heavy skull thingy we nabbed dropped on top of it and well uh...the other stuff in here wasn't exactly kind with it."

"I thought I closed that!" Lùn said, looking at them confused.

"Ya did, it's just we...uh… we kinda needed a shield in here and the closest thing we had…" The young rodent said a bit timid, trying not to upset the much larger carnivore.

The fox merely groaned as she rested her head in her palm. " Ugh. Now what?"

"Well, maybe we can just ask one of these businesses to use their phone," the elder field mouse suggested.

"It's fucking late Trace, and this is the herbivore side of the district, most of the places around here are closed at this hour.

"What about that one?" Pick asked, pointing to the sole building with lights on in the shopping center: YashiAid Convience.

"Crap. Let's hope they aren't closed all the way." The fox declared as she ran across the street into the parking lot.

Minute later - YashiAid Convenience Store - Algema District

Matilda was finally done with inventory when she heard banging on the sliding doors. It was a very short red fox dressed in black with tall ears.

"Ma'am. I need to use your phone! Please tell me this place has a phone!" The fox cried banging on the door.

"Um...I'm sorry ma'am, but we're actually closed."

"Look I just need to use your phone real quick and nowhere else is open." The fox reasoned. "Can you please just allow me to use it? I won't take long!"

The sheep thought it over a bit, and put on her best smile as she picked up her keys and her reach pole. "I guess if it's really important." She said as she hurried over to the door and undid the top lock, letting the small fox in.

"You're a lifesaver, miss." The canid said, the white in her fur blossomed into a rosy shade of pink as she smiled at the young ewe.

"Phone is on the countertop. Just dial 1 for an outside line." The sheep instructed.

"Thank you." The fox replied as she began dialing and hoping someone picked up.

"Violet, this is Vespa."

"I'm at….wait… who is this?"

"How do you have her number?"

"G? Who's G?"

"Oh right...the Boy Scout."

"Yes, that's what she called you."

"I'm surprised you're still alive too. Where is Violet, G?"

"What? What do you mean she's not able to talk now?"

"Is she alright?"

"Well is she?"

"Oh no… She's gonna make it right?"

"I hope so…"

"Look I need you guys to come pick me up."

"Huh? Address? Right." She put the phone down and looked at the clerk. "What's the address?"

"Oh...um…" Matilda took a few seconds, but blurted out the street. "73814 Gilgo Street in the Algema District. We're Store 17 if they need the number in the phone book." She also added trying to be as helpful as possible.

"Yeah, I'm at 73814 Gilgo Street. I'm at the YashiAid Convience on Gilgo Street in this Shopping center."

What?"

"Two-story set up from the looks of it."

"You're close by?"

"We're waiting on the cleaner? Well how long is she going to take?"

"20 minutes?!"

"Fuck. That's just great…"

"No I'll stay put. Just hurry up and get here. I gave the guy the slip, but he's still out there."

The little fox almost swore as she put the phone back down. "Thanks ma'am." She said pleasantly, thanking the nice clerk.

Suddenly her ear flicked as her detection senses went off like crazy. She instinctively raised her elbow to block a swift high kick aimed for her head. A mixture of surprise and anger took over as the fox faced off with her attacker.

"You're slower than usual." The canid observed as she locked eyes with her lapine rival.

Kyuu just answered back with a piercing stare and grit teeth. The pygmy promptly knocked the rabbit on her ass with a decisive shot to the body, sending her sliding across the floor.

"What's going on? Stop this!" Matilda cried out trying to mediate the pair. "Please don't fight in here!"

"I knew it!" Lùn shouted at the lapine. The nice girl act faded as she addressed her heated rival. "I knew my sense of smell wasn't off today! That was you on the train wasn't it?!"

"Tell me why you are here!" The rabbit demanded, almost coughing up a fit and she picked herself up ready to go again.

"I should ask you the same thing!" The little fox shouted back. "I thought you didn't stray too far from your hole, rabbit."

A sickening sense of concern came over her as she gave her adversary a proper look over. The damaged state of the bunny, puzzled the vulpes as she took notice. "The hell happened to your eye?" She asked. "You look like crap."

"I got into a fight." The rabbit answered, proud of herself.

"You're out here trying to get killed?!" The fox screamed as she walked over.

"So what if I am? Don't tell me you care." The rabbit shouted back.

"Of course I do," Lùn snarled, baring her front canines as she jerked the lop up by the collar of her shirt. " You're mine! Only I get to rip into you, remember that!" The vixen declared, holding up a sharp nail right to the rabbit's good eye.

The lapine actually chuckled. In some twisted way, she was amused that someone else cared about her, albeit one trying to kill her. "Gotta wait your turn, Runt." She teased as she gripped the fox's shoulder, preparing to wind back and slug her. Lùn snarled, ready to finally partake in their promised clash.

Before they could continue, the loud distinctive sound of a motorbike's engine sputtering to a halt just outside the store in the parking lot.

"Wait...that can't be them," Lùn remarked, referring to her accomplices, "They said they were 20 mins out and they were coming in a car. "

"The hell are you talking about you runt?!" The rabbit asked, staying her closed fist.

The fox ignored the slight and began investigating with some probing sniffs. Fear and panic began to take the fox's visage as a familiar scent caught her senses.

"Answer me!" Kyuu demanded.

"Shut up." The fox said, trying to shush the rabbit while her ears went to work. Someone was coming.

"Hide! Quick!" She ordered as she ran into the store with her sack in tow. Whatever had the fox spooked was likely bad news for them. Kyuu and Matilda looked at each other as they heard the footsteps approaching. Kyuu nodded at the sheep and dragged her off to the back with the fox as a shadow appeared by the door. Why am I taking her with me? She questioned to herself as she pulled the surprised ungulate. It didn't matter, she kept up after the fox.

A large dark figure appeared at the door, vaguely reptilian, triggering the auto entrance. The door slid open allowing the cold night air to breeze in. It was the solid black scaled Dokugumi soldier from before. He stepped out of the sensor's range, allowing the door to close completely and began flicking his long black tongue out repeatedly, tasting the air. The individual narrowed his cold beady eyes as he detected what he was looking for, his head swiveled around scanning for any occupants. He put his fingers up to his mouth and whistled.

Very soon, another Komodo dragon stepped through the door alongside him, another male wearing a similar garb as the other, green baggy jacket with torn combat fatigues with makeshift plate armor and a haphazardly made snout muzzle. His scale color was a greenish ocean blue with a pebbly teal undertone.

"You sure they're in here, Bantu?" The second dragon asked as he looked to his brother.

"I taste her, Yazhn." The black dragon replied, tasting the air again. "I know she's here. And... she's not alone either."