A Ruff Relationship And A Purrrfect Ending

Emma

Third p.o.v.

Smash! Bang! Crash!
Oh....dad's home.

Emma walks down stairs to her drunk dad coming home from another "stressful" day of work. He needs to get a better job.

"Hey baby." He says, kissing Emma, mistaking her for her mom....who hasn't been home for 12 days.

"Collectors came."

"Isaak's?"

"Bills. But you got a call from Isaak. Didn't sound pleasant." She says, digging from her dad's wallet. She took out a 50 before putting it back.

"What did it say?"

"Something about how if you pay your bills before paying him, he'll cut off the water, lights, and electricity before he comes in the middle of the night. Then, something about shaving and tagging you?"

Tagging was actually just branding. Its how Isaak shows that he is serious about the money you owe him and how he keeps tabs of the debt owed. He brands a letter per time that you miss his payments. He kills you when you earn the "k", dad was already on his first "a".

" when is he coming?"

"Next week?"

"Shit. Fuck!"

Emma's dad doesn't get paid next week. He's going to earn an "a".

" you need to round up 500 by next week, we already have 350."well just heat up our water on the stove and pay for water."

"Where the fuck am I supposed to find 500?"

"I don't know!!!Figure it out."Emma says, leaving.

" where are you going?"

"Out." She says, before slamming the door behind her.

A ten dollar bus ride over, Emma finds herself on the bad side of town. She knocks on a motel door.

"What's the password?" A hoarse voice calls out from in the room.

"The password is grasshoppers." Emma calls out.

The door opens after you can hear the sound of several heavy duty locks being undone.

A human woman, small and fragile, comes out with a light smile.

"Hello, Emma." She says.

"Move your ass, Cheer." Emma says with a growl.

Cheer nods meekly and let's Emma sashay past her to find her mother high off her mind, painting a new "masterpiece". She could only paint when she's high or drunk.

Bottles of the drugs and water was sprawled out on a table on the far side of the room, the room smelled of incense... Nauseating. Emma knew her mom has a problem.

" How my she did she take this time?"

"850 dollars of the good stuff." She mom giggles, striking her canvas, as if she was smoothing out a wrinkle in it.

"850 we don't have."

"Oh Emma, don't be a fuddy-duddy."

"Dad's going to earn an A."

Emma's mom stops painting, the words resonating with her. She couldn't clean up now. She tried but Passion had gotten to her, blackmailing her into buying again. She pays for her art supplies, the small apartment she has,and for Cheer to be there to make sure she doesn't overdose.

"What happened to the 1050 that I made from my last painting?"

"It went directly to Isaak."

Emma's mom nods in distress.

"How long have i-"

"12 days."

Cheer looked upset, knowing that she was a part of Passion's scheme made her feel guilty. All she could do is sit and watch the family struggle to get by.

"Dad's in deep debt trying to help."

"I know that!"

"Really? "

Emma groans in disgust, leaving.

Emma struts down the street, upset. Her tail flicked side to side as she walked. She was so mad that she didn't realize that she pushed past a small cheetah keidren. That is...until she felt the kid bite down on her tail.

She looks back to the most adorable pair eyes she has ever seen.

"I'm sorry...its just... You looked too good to be real....so I had to make sure."
The keidren's ears winced at the pick up line just used. Emma laughs for the first time in what seems like forever.

"Oh trust me, baby, I'm real." Emma giggles, caressing the young ones cheek. For a moment, there was an undeniable spark. "So did I taste as good as I look?"

"I-i-..."

Emma caressed the cubs lips with her thumb.

"Maybe...if I see you around....you could get a better taste." Emma teased, not really planning on seeing her again. She turns, caressing the cub with her tail before walking off.

She had one more place to go for the night.