Welcome to Nowhere (closed for Mairu)

[MisterDark]

Welcome to another night on Delacrox Island, in Bernard Parrish, Louisianna. Some folks call this place home. It is an eclectic mix of Cajun, French and just any down-and-outers the Mississippi might have washed into the swamplands of southern Louisianna. Crocodile hunting seems to be the primary job in these parts, although I would argue that there are a fair number of folk around these parts that pass their time gainfully employed spreading the latest gossip about the biker gangs, drug dealers and other such unsavory sort. However lately, I've heard tell of something new in our Parrish. Seems folk have sworn to seeing a lot of strange animals running in the swamp one second, only to see someone running naked the next. They swear they see these folk shift shape right in front of their very eyes.......and then down the next shot of whatever it is they've chosen to partake in to keep them semi sane.

Who am I? Oh, I'm nobody really. d'Artagnan Boudreaux, by name. Seems my mama was something of a fan of the writing of some author named Dumas and an even bigger fan of his works called The Three Muskateers. Well, at least that's where the first name comes from. Boudreaux was my daddy's name. A city slick drunkard that took advantage of my mama one night almost 30 years ago. Seems he done run off shortly after giving her a bun for the oven. Oh, but my mama was a sly one. Says she went to some swamp woman named Leaveaux and sold my daddy's soul to see to it I'd never want for nothin.

I guess I grew up well enough. Can't say as I ever really wanted for much. Now here I am, 6 foot 2 or so, about 235 pounds. Blonde hair, made maybe a little blonder by the sun. Lord, it does get hot down here. Guess I'm strong enough, least wise that's what folks around here say when then see me with a beer keg slung over each shoulder. Oh no, I'm no drunkard. Not for nothing my mama told me every night about my daddy's wayward ways. I've never touched the stuff.

However, I'm pretty smart too and when old Duke died, I bought this here place from his estate and I run it now. Seems old Duke believed as long as folk thought they could escape their problems with strong spirits or find the answers for what troubled them at the bottom of a bottle, well, he might as well help them along. Now, it takes some doing, but most Friday and Saturday nights, we manage to get a band of some form or another in here. Sometimes its southern rock, sometimes its country, sometimes its zydeco - that's my favorite. Something about it just makes a soul happy.

Oh yeah, so back to my story I was telling ya' all. Seems there was this one Saturday night, when all the rumors was really going, and the full harvest moon was bright, some weird things happened in my little bar called, "Nowhere."

 

[Mairu]

As Sasha was dragged to another place she almost groaned, but bit it back. Now some people are probably already wondering if Sasha lived like this, why not leave? Well because this man knew her secret, and had threatened to tell people which she couldn't afford because it could possibly get her in a worse situation then before. So for his silence she was his sex slave, and it was horrible, but she dealt with it, her heart and emotions locked up, waiting for someone to come help unlock them. They arrived at some bar and Sasha didn't even look up as they did, already preparing herself so if her Master got bad, it didn't hurt too much emotionally. Even though it hurt lots physically. She had marks all over her back and bruises where no one can see, the previous marks on her face gone, but she knew she might get some more tonight as they went up to the entrance.

 

[MisterDark]

Now, as part of the job of a proprietor, I guess it's my responsibility to make sure we haven't got any underage drinking in a respected establishment such as this. So, as Merleine, the young blonde barmaid made things ready for the evening, I stood by the door checking the ID's of those that came in. The band, Buckwheat Zydeco, was setting up on the small stage.

Old Cowboy Jack sat at the bar, letting me know how he would have my back tonight if any trouble broke out. In truth, I don't think the 98 pound old man even had his own back if trouble started brewing. I acknowledged my appreciation of that fact, then nodded for Merleine to give him another draw on the house.

"You're a good man, Boo (I don't think I ever heard him use my full name)." he said as he readily accepted it.

As the door swung open and the oddest couple I could recall seeing in some time walked through, I eyed them suspiciously. Something didn't set right, she seemed almost in fear of the man with her, and by the looks of it, there was a considerable age difference. I didn't bother asking for his ID, but held out my hand for the young lady's ID.

 

[Mairu]

Sasha walked in after her Master, looking around warily, she then noticed a man had his hand held out for her ID. She had recently turned 21, regrettably, because that was when things went from bad, to horrible. Now she had to go to bars with him, being humiliated and then punished physically in a ton of ways. Spanked, whipped, punched and slapped, the list went on, but the safety of keeping her secret kept her with him, trudging on. Though she was thinking lately maybe jumping off a building would be easier. Sasha gave him the ID and quickly went after her Master when she got it back. Sasha then sighed as her Master told her to go and leave him alone. Unfortunately that didn't mean she got to leave, she had learned that the first night, so she sat at an empty booth, just looking at the table, silent as she had been taught to be. Silently crying on the inside, the pain becoming almost too much.

 

[MisterDark]

I watched the quiet young girl retreat to a booth by herself, I could not hear what was said when Merleine walked over to find out what she was drinking but could tell from the worried look on Merleine's face that something was not sitting right with her after talking briefly to the girl. I didn't have a lot of time to think about it though, a group of college age guys, some of which I recognized from my childhood walked in. Most knew me and just called me Boo. A couple teased me about when I was going to find myself a woman - it was just good nature ribbing. A few of them had girls with them - their conquests for the night I assumed.

The old place was slowly beginning to fill up when the first strains of accordion, washboard and heavy bass music began to fill the air. The crowd was a little of everything, except, the gator hunters weren't there yet - I breathed a quick thank you under my breath as those guys could get really rowdy and I had no desire to see my place torn apart.

Someone bought old Cowboy Jack a shot (oh Lord I thought - this could be a long night if he gets drinking - Jack was a talker and alcohol just served to loosen his jaw a bit). A few middle aged couples made their way to the small dance floor. It looked like Merleine was getting a little slammed so I asked Rosie, a former barmaid for old Duke when he owned the place, to help out. Rosie was a terrible flirt. Now in her early 40's the ammo to flirt had long ago been used in other wars with other men, but she remained very proud of her prodigious breasts and loved the opportunity to rub them against any unsuspecting male patron she could. Add a couple shots of Jack to her and she'd be showing them too.

I looked around the slowly filling joint and smiled in satisfaction, when my eyes fell on the girl that had come in earlier with her head down. She still sat alone. He companion was at the bar hustling a couple of the swampland's finest 30 something hookers with stories of what appeared to be grand adventures. I just shook my head and stood back and watched, my arms folded across my broad chest.

 

[Mairu]

I looked as a barmaid came up and could tell the pain was clear in my eyes. "I don't want anything, thak you." Sasha tried to smile but failed and once the lady left she went back to her original position. Then fear struck her as her Master called her over and she quickly went. "Yes?" One other thing, never call him Master in public, even if he beat you even harder at home, because if you did people started to ask questions. He roughly grabbed my arm yanking me to stand sort of in front of him and put his hand on my waist, the little black dress the only thing between my skin and his hand. It was strapless though so he had full access to her arms, then he talked. "I just wanted to see how you were doing." That was actually 'are you talking to anybody and im having fun was no and im not having fun was yes. "I'm having fun." I smiled trying to keep calm, I could panic at home. "Good, now go." He then pushed me back out and let go of my arm, and saw there was already a bruise forming and I went back to my booth, in the same position as before.

 

[MisterDark]

The night was going along fine for the most part - I had seen the girl get up from her spot in the booth on one occasion, but only for the briefest of moments. She had not had anything to drink, yet her rather robust male friend had been chatting up anyone within shouting distance about one thing and another. Now, the one thing being the owner of this type of establishment allows for is the opportunity to watch people and spot trouble before it happens. This guy had trouble written all over him. Not the bust up the joint kind of trouble, more the, beat the hell out of someone small and unsuspecting kind of trouble. It worried me for the girl, but, it was her choice.

As 9:00 turned to 10:00 and then 10:00 to 11:00 the bar continued to liven up and people continued in and out. There were the druggies, inside for 15 or 20 minutes then out in the parking lot for half an hour, then back in laughing as if they had just heard the greatest joke in the history of the world. There were the 40 year old "babes"; women like Rosie, over the hill and one too many parties in their younger life, but still thinking they were all that and a bucket to carry it in. The bikers were there to lay claim to the joint and argue who had committed the greatest feats of masculinity with the gator and croc crowd. All in all, just another night, in Nowhere.

 

[Mairu]

Sasha was getting along just fine after that little event until her Master called her over again and something told her not to say a word as she went because now he sounded almost angry. He yanked her again and proceeded to pull her back against him roughly. "I've been lonely, where have you been." He said and she froze. Lonely? When he talked to about every single person in this place? Oh yes, death seemed much better than this. Lost in her thoughts she didn't answer him and he yanked her hairm gripping it so that it made her head hurt like crazy. "I asked you a question.

Oh no, this never happened before. What was she supposed to do? "I-i'm sorry. I was sitting alone waiting for you. For some reason that made him really angry and he threw her on the ground. "You little liar. You're just a bitch." Sasha was used to these words and wasn't scared of them but the thing that usually came after was so painfully she whimpered every time. Immediately after this thought his shoe came down, pushing her onto the floor and sending terrible pain shooting through her and she whimpered, tears welling. In her mind desperately pleading for anyone to help, a whispered word coming from her, so soft even her Master didn't hear it.

 

[MisterDark]

Now, I may be just a simple back water country boy, but I was taught at an early age by my mama that a man should always respect and treasure a woman and in return a woman would bind herself to him. Frankly I never understood the last part, but the one thing I could not abide was a man hurting a defenseless girl. When I saw this woman go sprawling on the floor, one strapless shoe going one direction the other going elsewhere, it was if I could hear her begging for someone to help, and seeing as it was my place, I guessed it would have to be me.

Oh, Cowboy Jack, was helpful alright, hollering at the larger man, "now you best quit that 'fore Boo gets mad."

All that succeeded in doing was to draw some derisive comment from the oaf, as he used his foot to press the girl into the floor much like one would do with the butt of a cigarette. I could see the fear and the tears in the girl's eyes, but it was as if she was afraid to cry. It was when the man reared back as if to strike the prone form of her, that I got involved. As quick as I could (and I am pretty quick), I turned the man using his arm that he had pulled back to strike her. Then in one motion I struck the side of his neck with my fist (face it, chins and faces have bones and those hurt to hit, all the neck has is the carotid artery, one good swift punch momentarily stops the flow of the blood to the brain rendering the person a bit dizzy). As he stumbled a bit trying to regain his senses and balance, I managed to pull his right arm up behind his back and hooked my left arm through his and started moving him toward the door.

Now, I shoulda known an idiot like that was going to put up a fight, and he struggled around a bit, but all he managed was to help me pull his arm up further behind his back until there was a popping sound. He just wasn't very smart and tried one more time to wiggle free just as we reached the door. I hollered for someone to call Sheriff Lafayette, and struggled with the large man. I allowed his own momentum to do most of the damage though as I steered his face into the wall next to the door. Again, he was momentarily confused about what had happened, and it wasn't until he had run himself into the wall 3 or 4 more times, that he slowed down enough for me to get him through the front door and into the parking lot.

As I gave him a shove to let him go, my timing could not have been better. Sheriff Lafayette pulled up just as the brute got up looking ready to charge me. The sheriff and his deputy got him under control relatively quickly and loaded into the back of the cruiser. The way he kicked and huffed, even tried throwing a punch at the deputy told me he had bought himself a good long stay at the local correctional facility. Sheriff asked if the girl wanted to press charges too, and I told him to give her a chance to recover a bit.

"You never know sheriff with a girl like that. Almost looked like she expected the whole thing. Funny thing is, she never made a move to run away. Probably by tomorrow she'll be the one down there posting bond for him."

As I made my way back into the bar, the buzz was all about the "fight" and I noticed that Cowboy Jack had made his move. He had both of the girl's shoes sitting at the bar in front of him and her sitting next to him as he tried to console her and let her know he would have jumped in there if I hadn't beaten him to it. I gotta admit, for an old codger, he was smooth.

 

[Mairu]

I felt myself getting crushed by the shoe and was thinking of just going into a position that could end this when suddenly I felt something become different. It was like something had stopped him from continuing his torture and then I felt him stumble and his foot went off of me and I scrambled away, my nose flaring, finally being able to breathe normally again. I then looked at what was going on and noticed it was the guy who asked for my ID. Now I was completely speechless... in a good way, and 'good way' things weren't an often occurrence. I then watched as whoever it was continued to get my Master in his hold and then drag him towards the door. I just looked on as my Master started fighting and I got my 'I knew he was going to do that' look. Seriously, this guy was drunk and when he was drunk he always looked for a fight or when someone started fighting him he fought back. The interesting thing was the guy who had him was pretty smart and used my Master's struggling and fighting against him, making it so he couldn't get away even more. Then the one guy said to call the sheriff and I perked a little at that. No one had ever done that, maybe I would be free soon. I then watched as Smart Man, which I decided to call him because I didn't know what else to call him, proceeded to use my Master's struggling to make him hit the wall about 4 times. Then my Master slowed down suddenly realizing what was happening and then out the door they went.

After they were out I proceeded to grab my shoes and sit down and right as I did this other man came up to me and I got an amused expression, but I wasn't really listening. With my very excellent hearing I heard the sheriff come up and get out, getting my Master, who by now I was just going to stop calling that, caught him and said they were going to take him to a correctional facility. Yay! Okay now I didn't need to worry about him, but where was I going to live? The place we had been living before was with that guys friend and I was NOT going back there ever if I could help it. For now though I was exhausted and pushed it from my mind, actually getting a water now and sipped it lightly as this guy talked, and I just listened, letting myself relax a little.

 

[MisterDark]

The strange young lady still spoke little, instead listening to Cowboy Jack, who, for his part, was doing a reasonably good job of not passing out on my bar on yet another weekend. There is, however, a certain point when talk is just talk and gets to be more than one can necessarily tolerate. Jack had found that point, and the hour was now getting late. The band was packing up, and so I began gently urging my patrons to finish up their drinks and begin to make their way home.

Rosie and Merliene were looking a bit haggard from the crush of people that had stopped into the place, but were being troopers as they picked up the empty glasses and wiped down the tables. As Jack finished his latest beer (was that 14 or 15 for tonight, and how many had he drunk for free?), he tried to get Merliene to give him one more, but I intervened and tipped his glass upside down.

"You're done Jack." I said in a matter of fact tone, my baritone voice leaving no mistake that he wasn't going to con yet another draw from the naive young barmaid.

"Well, I guess I better escort this young thing home then," he reasoned, indicating the young lass, as he struggled to stand upright.

"She has her own place to go, Jack, and it's not your fleabag bed. Let's go," I said as I helped him steady himself and steered him gently toward the door.

The last of the patrons filtered out. "Go home, Rosie. Merliene and I can finish up." I told the older waitress that had jumped in and helped out. She made sure I knew she had worked 6 hours, so I pulled 4 20's out of my pocket, "This cover it with your tips?" I asked.

"Well," she started as she helped herself to 2 more, "it was emergency duty." I smiled and let her go. We had had a good night. No need to be stingy with the help.

Merliene had finished counting the tips from her jar on the bar. "We did good tonight Boo." she told me. I gave her a smile and told her to go home too.

As the 2 of them walked out, I walked around behind the bar and poured myself a screw driver (mostly vodka), and turned my attention to the young girl sitting at the bar. "My name is, d'Artagnan Boudreaux," I said holding my hand out to her as if in introduction. "Can I call you a cab or something?"

 

[Mairu]

As I sat there in my strapless and short, but thankfully a little modest black dress I listened to this guy talk, feeling my ears start to hurt, thinking that the phrase, 'talk your ear off' might come true tonight. Seriously though, why was he talking to me? With my pale skin, long and clawlike nails, dark blue and cold eyes, and never-ending pink blush, you would think people would think me unattractive. Even the guy I was with said my long, straigh and dark brown hair that came to the top of my breasts was ugly and that my hairy arms that had some brown freckles along them were hideous and that I dressed like a slut. Though I had tried not to laugh at that comment. He had even bought this dress that barely covered my thighs and he made me wear no panties ir bra, saying whores didn't deserve to wear them. Thankfully the dress though covered my breasts and I could cross my relatively long and almost flawless legs, which I thought were probably my most attractive asset, though they had hair along them as well, that I couldn't shave because he had only let me shave my underarms. Seems he thought that everyone deserved to see how ugly I was. Coming out of my thoughts I heard Jack again and seriously, did this guy ever stop talking? I didn't want to be rude but I was thinking of just leaving when the guy who had helped me came over and I got a good look at him as he said the guy was done.

As I looked at him, I noticed that he had nice blond hair, that made him sort of cute and was tall, which I kind of liked in men. He wasn't skinny but he wasn't fat like the other guy I had been with was. He looked strong too and as I looked at him I could feel a little flutter in my chest but I scolded myself. No bad heart, you have just been freed and you will not get trapped again. You will not get all fluttery, but tell that to a stubborn and hard-headed heart like mine and all you get is defiance and it showed as it just fluttered more like a huge butterfly spreading its wings for the first time and flying all about on a summer day, while my head just frowned, sour and wary, like a child in foster care that got thrown from home to home. I looked at Jack with shock as he said 'I better escort thid young lady home' and even more shocked when the younger guy said she had her own home'. First, excuse me? I don't have a home! Secondly, they were talking like I wasn't there. What is that about? Am I suddenly a child? Seriously, at least ask the opinion of the person you are talking about! Wait, calm down. I'm sure they didn't mean to talk like I wasn't there. So I took a deep breath, my large breasts going up and then down making the very annoying tight dress hurt my breasts even more, I was always annoyed with how large my breasts were, it always made me uncomfortable with the tight and short dresses. At 36DD it was so annoying and no matter how much I prayed, they stayed that way. Even when my weight didn't exactly match, though it somewhat did. At least I wasn't starved, I had curves at 145 pounds. I was deep in these kind of thoughts as the people went out. I sighed, guess it was the streets tonight. I pur the small heels that were too tight on my feet and actually bruised them, back on, only wincing slightly. I was still sitting though, wanting to stay as long as I could, not really wanting to leave when I guess he must have been the owner came over, telling his name and asking if I wanted a cab while holding out his hand. I took it with my smaller and soft hand, noting how strong but gentle his hand seemed. "My name is Sasha and no need for a cab. I don't actually have a home so I wouldn't be able to tell the driver were to go and I don't have any money." I got off the seat lightly, the dress rubbing, aggrivating me and I spilled a little of the water, instantly licking it off my soft wrist, my tongue quickly lapping the water. I then noticed what I did and put my hand down and my tongue back in my mouth. "I'll go now, don't want to disturb you." I said softly, with a strained and exhausted smile. Then with my heels hurting like crazy I sort of half limped towards the door, sighing just a little bit.

 

[MisterDark]

As I took the demur beauty's hand in mine, I notice how light colored and soft her skin was. "Well Sasha, very pleased to make your acquaintance," I said as I really noticed her for the first time, "most of my friends, hell, everyone I know practically, calls me Boo. I guess its short for Beudreaux." This girl was no girl. She was all woman and put together really well. I quickly banished those thoughts. The last thing she needed was another would be lothario mooning over her.

She was different, this one. When she spilled some water on her wrist, she didn't just shake it off, she, licked it. Now, I don't mean that slurpy kind of lick that the cutesy girls with the frat boys do. No, this was more like something else. She licked her wrist and arm, like a cat. I shook that notion out of my head quick enough though.

I watched as she struggled with her shoes, her breasts threatening to burst from her dress as she did so. I followed the lines of her legs straight to.....holy shit.....I tried to look again, but I could have sworn she didn't have any panties on. Then, when she said she had no place to go, I felt bad for her. I could just hear Rosie admonishing me for picking up yet another stray, but hell, those eyes. I could tell she was the type that wouldn't be no trouble.

I don't know if it was chivalry, or stupidity, but I found myself telling her, "Look Sasha, if you've got no place to go, well, I have a little efficiency above the bar. You could stay for a couple days if you needed to. My place is out back, across the meadow, so nobody would really bother you. Well, nobody 'cept Leonardo, Raphael and Donatello. See, they're my cats. Kind of my little secret." I kept talking as I went about the business of restocking the bar. I grabbed 2 kegs from the cooler and brought them out to replace the empties under the counter. The whole time just chattering to the girl, not really paying attention to what she was doing.

"You see, they're kind of strays. Rosie told me to turn them out, but hell, out in the swamp, they wouldn't stand a chance with the gators and stuff. So I gave them names and a place to stay. I go up there in the morning and at night when I close and feed them. You don't mind cats do you? Hell, nobody minds cats." I answered myself. "I even gave them each their own collars. Kind of my own little teenage mutant ninja kitties." I chuckled as I thought of the joke for the first time. "We don't have a Michelangelo yet. They're just kind of my little secret. We all have secrets, right? But they'd like you. Something about you. You're gentle like they are."

I had finished connecting the new kegs and stopped talking for the first time. Mama always told me I talked too much. That I told way more than I needed to. The bar was completely quiet now.

 

[Mairu]

I was surprised as Boo I guess said I could stay there, that there was a place above the bar and some cats and I smiled, my pink lips curving upwards only a little. I was still wary but at least he was offering a place to stay. "Thank you." I said, my voice soft and light, my eyes showing curiosity and innocence as I watched him. I then took off the shoes, my feet feeling like they were being burned by an on going fire from within, and it hurt a ton. Then I thought about what he said and grinned to myself, almost like the chesire cat from Alice in Wonderland. Secret huh? I will show you a secret. With that I let my dress fall around me, feeling like I was floating for a few seconds.

I then came out from under the dress as a large black cat with silver spots, sort of like a leopards. I then saw a table and jumped on it laying on my back watching this man, completely silent, the only sound that was coming from me was my breathing, that you couldn't hear unless you were right up next to me. My tail was completely still as well, though I wanted to flick it, I resisted the temptation waiting for him to see me.

 

[MisterDark]

I had finished connecting the new kegs and stopped talking for the first time. Mama always told me I talked too much. That I told way more than I needed to. The bar was completely quiet now.

I raised my head up over the bar and shut the cabinet doors as I finished connecting the new kegs. I peered around the place, but I heard nothing and more important, I saw nothing. The girl had seemed to disappear. I thought it odd that I hadn't heard the front door if she went out.

"Guess I talk to much like mama said," I muttered to myself, then picked up the 2 empty kegs, one in each hand and took them to the back room. After one last look around the back room to make sure all was in order and the fryers were off, I shut off the light and returned to the bar. This was the part of the day I always liked the best. The old joint was quiet save for the soft humming of the ceiling fans and compressors on the coolers.

I went over to the register and hit the {REPORT} key. Tape started spitting out as it made its clacking noise. All the bars around these parts had started to go to something called the Digital Age. Automatic pouring of their liquor, bottom filled draws measured to perfection but with no head on the top of the glass. Hell, most of them didn't even use chilled mugs anymore. Not here. We were old school.

Merliene had wiped down the bar and finished washing up all the glasses. I pulled the plug on the sink as I poured myself another screwdriver (to hell with the orange juice this time I laughed to myself. Rosie had mopped the main floor of the bar, and I took the mop and bucket and started mopping towards the back, kind of lost in my own thoughts as I worked, when something strange caught my eye.

First there were the girl's shoes, still left on the floor. "Who could blame her for ditching those," I thought, "she was in some kind of fierce pain putting them on." I picked them up and set them on a nearby table figuring I would grab them on my way back. As I neared the pool tables, I found a black dress on the floor. "What the...." my thoughts trailed off as I lifted my head, and my heart stopped. There on the pool table was a puma or jaguar or holy hell some big cat!

"Oh my God! Oh my God! What the hell? What did you do with Sasha?" I started to back away, holding the mop as if a weapon. Now, critters getting into the bar was not totally unusual. I had encountered snakes (yuck) and gators (once), but they were more scared and confused and just wanted back out. Not this creature. It lay there, with it's bright yellow eyes, almost staring right through me! And.....was it smiling?

 

[Mairu]

I watched as Boo saw my dress on the floor, I wondered when he would see me up here. I was still completely quiet though it was getting hard not to move my tail, but then again the tail had a mind of its own so this was completely natural. After looking at the dress he looked up, finally. I was still grinning and watched with amused eyes as he backed away, wait was he holding the mop as a weapon. I let out a laugh, which sounded weird as a cat.

I decided not to scare him anymore and felt my fur slip away but let my tail and cat ears stay out, my tail now swishing, and my 36DD breasts showing themselves, along with the rest of my body and the scars that it has, especially the nasty one across my stomach. My nipples hardened a bit being exposed to the air but I was NOT putting that damn dress back on. I hated that dress and wanted it burned. I was looking at Boo this whole time and decided to speak. I sighed though before I spoke "You know a mop isn't going to do much to me, except aggravate me. I understand if you're scared and maybe it wasn't the best to show you that, but you have your secrets, I just have a bigger one."

I then sat up and hopped off the pool table, my tail still swishing. "It was actually why I was with that one guy, he knew my secret and I couldn't afford to let it get out, but I'm hoping I can trust you. I just hope you have a good enough heart." I held him with my cold gaze, my face now serious.

 

[MisterDark]

Now, secrets are one thing, but this was something totally different. Oh GAWD the tongue chewing I would get from Rosie if she ever found out what kind of a stray I had just......I couldn't get my mind around the whole thing. One second a cat, sitting on the pool table staring at me, and now, this.....well.....hell....SHE WAS NAKED.....AND HAD A TAIL!!!! And she was walking right towards me, telling me the mop would.....

My mind was honestly a haze and as I backed away I must have tripped over the mop bucket, because suddenly, there I was, sitting in a puddle of dirty water on the floor looking straight up at this naked......well.....she was a girl now.....but my eyes were at her waist level (or maybe a little lower).

"You....you...you're a.....well you were a.....and now you're a......what the hell are you?" My complete bewilderment only seemed to serve to amuse her as she continued toward me, walking softly. I continued to scramble to get up out of the puddle of dirty water but only managed to knock the mop bucket around and get my clothes completely soaked in the process. Now, I'm not the type to ever be helpless, but I'm pretty sure, the look in my eyes at that moment, looked as helpless as a newborn.

 

[Mairu]

I watched him amused and sort of sad, my eyes showing a lot of the emotion I was feeling. I felt almost like a monster as he kept backing up from me. He probably didn't mean to make me feel like that, but that was what it felt like. I remembered when the other guy said I WAS a monster and that I probably should be killed and he was actually giving me mercy by not killing me.

I sighed as he tripped over the bucket and my face showed a little of the pain I was feeling. "I'm sorry, I know now that I shouldn't have shown you that and I'm terribly sorry, but as to what I am... I'm a shifter, plain and simple and I will say it again I am very sorry for showing you that." I was scared now, this guy had shown his strength before and he could have me killed. I calmed myself though before I did anything rash and hurt him.

I then watched as he got mop water all over him and I decided I would help him and then get as far away as possible. I quickly got the bucket and mop away from him, careful not to touch him and turned my back to him, all my scars from that one guy showing themselves. They were from all sorts of whips some hurt more than others, my back was full of them, you could hardly see any white skin under them. I gently placed the bucket aside and then looked at him with sad and lonely eyes. "I'll go now. You don't have to be scared anymore." I then went to my cat form and started towards the door, my head hung low.

 

[MisterDark]

I looked for a moment at the scars on her back, buttocks and legs. Just as I started to stand, she lowered her head and told me I didn't have to be scared, and was quickly the large cat again, walking towards the door. I felt ashamed for a moment, but quickly regained my senses a bit.

"Wait, you don't HAVE to go." I started to reach for her. "I'm not afraid. Just a bit startled." I paused for a moment to see if she would turn again or remain a cat. Then softly asked, "Who did this to you? Who gave you those awful scars?" As I looked closely at her cat form, small patches with no hair could be seen, coinciding with the scars I had seen on her back. "Do they hurt?"

 

[Mairu]

I pause as I hear that I don't have to go. My ears flick once not quite sure I heard right but I turn around and sit, sort of like a puppy. I then tilt my head, like "did you really just say that?" I watch as he looks closely at me, asking who did this to me and I go back to my human form. "The man you saw me earlier with." I shiver with disgust and fear at the the thought of him and what he would do to me and I hugged my knees to my chest, watching him curiously. "Most people would have q gun aimed at me by now, getting ready to shoot. Why haven't you?"

 

[MisterDark]

I rub my eyes as the large cat in front of me is once again a very naked human girl, that wants to know why I haven't pulled a gun on her. I listen to her explain that the marks were left by the man I saw her with earlier.

"I ain't afraid of you none," I start out, "you aren't going to eat me or something are you?" I hold out my hand to help her up. "You can still stay upstairs if you have a mind to do so, but I think you best stay like this. I'm not sure what Donatello, Leonardo and Raphael would think of your......well......you know......" I stammered a bit, unsure of how to talk to her but totally mesmerized by her beauty.

 

[Mairu]

I raise an eyebrow as he asks if I would eat him. "Why would I want to eat you, or any human for that matter? That just sounds gross. Ugh." I shiver again in disgust, not wanting to even think of that. Then I hear about the cats. "They actually wouldn't mind. Cats don't usually even care. I've even had one lay on my back when in my cat form. It was a kitten though." I take the held out hand gently still a little wary, but stand up, placing one arm on my breasts, just a little shy at the moment.

 

[MisterDark]

I eye the beauty up and down as she stands and suddenly become aware of her discomfort being naked in front of me. I start to take my shirt off, but realize it is soaked from the dirty water. As I pull it off, and start to hand it to her I pause.

"It's wet, but, I thought, well, you're standing there all naked and I'm dressed and it doesn't seem fair and all but my clothes, their soaked and well.....what can I do to make you not feel out of place?"

I feebly hold out the dripping shirt to her not at all sure of what to do.

 

[Mairu]

I blink as I watch him take his shirt off and hold it out and my arm drops from my breasts and, I look at the shirt, and then at him, going back and forth. I then just stare at him, still not believing that a person would be kind enough to offer their shirt, even if it is wet. I then smile slightly, my eyes welling with tears because of my emotions at the moment. "It's fine, I really don't like getting wet but I greatly appreciate the offer."

 

[MisterDark]

"Oh right, right...." I stammer. "I guess I don't like being wet either." I begin to turn to walk away, "I just thought.....well....umm....nevermind.....follow me." I head for the main part of the bar and look to see if the naked woman is following. My pants drip all over the clean floor as I start to walk. "Crap. Gonna have to redo this in the morning too."