In Time

-Thirty-

9 April 2017, Sunday

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"Hey Xavier, you're back! We were starting to worry that cats won't be getting rescued anymore, after your absence for the past two weeks!" Shawn welcomed me while busying himself with paperwork behind the counter.

I was absent for two weeks? But I always made it a point to volunteer at the animal shelter every week.

"Well, I'm back now, all ready to clean cages again."

Shawn's smile from a few seconds ago seemed to have disappeared as he dropped his voice into a low whisper, "You aren't getting involved with the Blood Eagles around the area while you're gone, aren't you? I've heard that their influence is getting really strong around here and that they were recruiting."

My heart skipped a beat. I recalled the dream I had last night. I was in the Blood Eagles, and I was working for Tristan. But I was baffled, I'd never been in the Blood Eagles, so how could I have dreamt of something in such elaborate detail? With such surrealism? I really had to hand it off to my imagination.

"Nope, I don't associate myself with the Blood Eagles."

"That's great, wouldn't want my animal rescuer to go astray now wouldn't I?" Shawn grinned, giving me a shoulder slap. "Ohhh and by the way, your favourite little kitten, was it KitKat? He definitely switched sides while you were gone. There's this new lady who comes here at least thrice a week to volunteer with us and she and KitKat seemed to have taken a liking to each other. And boy are her donations generous! We can probably run our shelter for a whole month without putting any animals down solely on that sum alone," Shawn raised his eyebrows.

I smiled. That meant that cats like Kitkat could be given a second chance at life. I wondered who the lady was.

"Are you supposed to tell me this? Donor's confidentiality remember?"

Shawn paled, then rummaged through a thick ring file of donation documents. "Here see, she didn't check the box to remain anonymous alright? I'm not violating any rules. And speak of the devil! She's here today!" Shawn gestured to the glass entrance with his typical bright smile.

It was Diana. Her hair was pulled up into a high bun, several loose strands framing her face. She had a cotton pullover on with shorts that accentuated her slim waist. As soon as she saw me, her eyes widened in surprise and the grin on her face from greeting Shawn faded immediately.

"You again?! Why are you here?! Have you been following me around?!" Diana walked straight up to me, pointing an accusatory finger at my face.

"Xavier's a long-time volunteer at the shelter over here, and he's our top rescuer!" Shawn exclaimed with his typical enthusiasm. "It's great that you two know each other, I shall skip the introductions. Even though it seemed like the two of you might have gotten off on the wrong foot," Shawn twiddled his thumbs.

Diana narrowed her eyes, as though she didn't believe Shawn's account of me.

"Go on you two! Go socialise with the cats, especially KitKat! I'm sure he'll be stoked to see two of his favourite people together!" Shawn led us to the area with the cat cages, closing the door behind him.

Diana folded her arms, a distasteful scowl on her face. She made a beeline for Kitkat's cage, as though she didn't want anything to do with me.

I tried to make conversation. "Diana, so why did you volunteer with this shelter?"

"Because I've got too much time on my hands. I've got nothing else better to do. I simply want to. Do I have to report it to you?" she replied curtly, Kitkat nestled in her hands.