CHAPTER TWO: Home Life
Zasha awoke earlier than usual the next morning. She glanced around the dorm. All her friends and recruits were still fast asleep. She looked to her feet to see her bear-wolf, Nala, looking at her with expectant blue eyes.
"Haha, okay Nala baby. Mommy will feed you." She chuckled quietly. She dressed and pulled her hair into a ponytail, being careful not to wake anybody. Nala stayed glued to her side all the while. While she perfected her hair, Zasha glanced down at her loyal friend.
"You sure are getting big." She mumbled. Nala seemed to smile and smacked Zasha's legs with a paw like that of a small bear's. After Zasha finished getting ready, she and Nala headed downstairs to get breakfast. Much to Zasha's surprise, Cho was already at the table.
"What are you doing up so early?" she sneered, folding her arms over her chest. Zasha sighed and poured out some food for Nala.
"You know I have to visit Nani and Koda today," she said firmly, referring to her grandmother and younger brother.
"I wonder if that's all your doing." Cho scoffed.
"Hey, I don't pester you when you go to work at the clinic." Zasha snapped. Cho rolled her eyes and stalked out of the room. Zasha flopped into the chair next to her and ran her fingers through Nala's thick, black coat.
The sun was sweltering and bright as they stepped out into the lively streets. People glared as the two strolled by peacefully. Zasha ignored the hateful glances and merchants trying to sell her things that she had no use for.
"You should put that mutt on a leash." Somebody jarred. Narrowing her eyes, Zasha turned to face the offender.
"You should put a muzzle on your mouth." She said loudly. She reached down and grasped her whip. With a quick flick of her wrist, she cracked it loudly over the pavement. People moved out of her way as quickly as they could the rest of the way.
"Nani! Let me in!" Zasha hollered, pounding on the stone door with her balled fist. Nala made a whining noise and looked up obediently at her master.
"Coming deary!" called the wobbly and old voice of her grandmother. There was a few seconds filled with the sound of numerous heavy locks clinking and then the door swung open revealing an old women with large glasses and a wiry gray bun on top of her head.
"Zasha, it's so good to see you. You know you hardly ever come by anymore." Nani grinned, ushering her grand daughter inside the tiny rock house.
"I was here just last week." Zasha reminded her. Nani was becoming more and more forgetful with her old age. This made Zasha worry intensely.
"Oh, I must've been thinking about the delivery boy." Nani shrugged, leading her into the living room. "KODA! GET YOU BUTT DOWN HERE!" Nani called up the steps. Zasha sat down on the raggedy couch and Nala sat by her knee.
"Still taking care of that dog are you?" Nani asked sarcastically. She wasn't much of an animal person.
"She's not a dog, she's a wolf." Zasha corrected. Nani was about to say something, but the loud thumping of Koda's footsteps as he thundered down the stairs filled the room.
"Za!" he shouted excitedly as he jumped off the last two stairs and sprinted to his sisters side. Zasha pulled the thirteen-year-old into a warm embrace and ruffled his nappy black hair.
"You brought Nala." He smiled, kneeling next to the gigantic dog. He scratched her ears and mussed up her hair.
"Of course I did. She's my partner in crime. How have you been doing kiddo?" Zasha asked, putting her hand on his shoulder.
"Everything is fine." He shrugged, sitting next to her on the couch.
"Good. Keep your grades up. Don't turn out like me." she joked, but with a serious note. Koda laughed and shook his head. "So are you two okay on food and such?" she asked. Financial trouble was a regular occurrence with this family.
"Yes, I think we'll have enough to last for another week or so." Nani confirmed. Zasha looked at Koda and he nodded.
"Do you two want some lunch? Maybe some tea?" Nani asked, smiling at the close siblings. Zasha grimaced and shook her head.
"Sorry, but I can't stay too long. I have to get to work." She apologized, lowering her head as not to see the disappointed glare coming from Nani.
"At that blasted bar? Or will you be out robbing people this time?" she scolded.
"Nani, you know it isn't like that. I do not steal from people." She said sternly. Koda twiddled his thumbs nervously, secretly wishing that they could just get along for more than a few minutes. You think that after all they've done for each other, they would be nicer to one another he thought.
"Not anymore. But old habits die hard." Nani said, pushing a cruel reminder of her old life back into her head. Zasha balled her fists and knitted her brow.
"I'm sorry that I have two jobs to take care of you and Koda. I'm sorry that I can't do everything around here!" She said sarcastically. She was the main source of income for everybody. Nani had been a hairdresser, but she was far too old and her arthritis had gotten the best of her. They still had some money left in Nani's savings, but it was quickly running out. It was a lot of responsibility for a seventeen-year-old girl to handle. It was a big burden to carry, but she knew it was what she had to do.
"I'm sorry too. I'm sorry that I am raising your mother's child while you run around like a wild girl!" Nani countered. Zasha had had enough. She stood up and beckoned Nala to follow her. She marched outside and Koda followed her.
"Koda, I am so sorry. I know this is tough on you, but things will work out, I promise." Zasha said, her eyes growing hot and prickly as she stared at the face of her disappointed little brother.
"I know that this is what you have to do. I'm sorry Nani is so tough on you." He said, bowing his head. Zasha caught his chin in her hand and made him look at her.
"Hey, I don't want you to worry about Nani and me. Okay? I don't want you blaming yourself. We disagree sometimes, but we still love each other." Zasha said firmly, looking into Koda's big silver eyes.
"You sound like mom." He said flatly. Zasha's face fell. Her mother used to talk that way whenever her and father fought.
"Listen to me, I love you. I love you more than anything." She said, hugging him very tightly.
"I love you too. When are you coming back?" he asked when she pulled away. She bit her lip sadly.
"I don't know. But tell Nani I'll have money next time." She said. Koda nodded obediently, but looked sad. "Take care kiddo." She said, stealing one more kiss from his forehead and sprinting down the street and to the bar where she would prepare for her night shift.