Ding-dong! John smiled at the sound of the doorbell. “I wonder who that could be?” He questioned making sure he could be heard through the door. She was already giggling before he opened it.
“Twick ow tweat!” She yells too excited to keep her tail from wagging.
“Oh my!” He mocked surprise to go with your genuine delight. “What a wonderful costume! And who would this lovely lady be?” She wraps around his shin laughing harder.
“Siwwy daddeh. Am Tuwip!” He picked her up in a swift and graceful pirouette and hugged her close. She squealed in delight outstretching her limbs to feel the full force of the air.
“So you are, and what a good fluffy you are as well.” ‘She really did do a fine job.’ He thought. The oil paint markers had been put to liberal use touching up her face. Wrapped around her back was a red mixing bowl, cracked in half and sporting new round spots of black spraypaint. Visible just beneath it were delicate paper wings covered in a pencil drawn lattice of geometric shapes. If he hadn’t been the one to sand down the cut edge on her red and black carapace he’d think it was store bought.
“She’s been wanting to show you all day.” Marissa said inviting herself in.
“I can see why. What’s with the headband?” She laughs a little, thinking it obvious.
“It fits doesn’t it?” He really didn’t think so. The black headband wrapped over her head stood out like a sore thumb. He had expected yarn or little pom poms on springs to mimic antennae. Instead they were adorned with great felt triangles akin to a cats ears.
“I don’t know. cat ears on a ladybug?” Tulip pouted at that.
“Daddeeeeh, nu am wadybug am kittybug!” John looked to Marissa looking for answers and found nothing. She shrugged without commitment.
“Some space cartoon she seems to like.” That seemed to settle the matter. It seemed there was nothing more to delay the more uncomfortable conversation he had planned out. “Would you be willing to take her this year?” He asked innocuously enough. Her smile fell a little but she wouldn’t let it disappear entirely in front of Tulip.
“Have some blowout bash planned this year? You wouldn’t think of not inviting me would you?” She knew him better than that. No, he’d sooner swim through a spirit store worth of actual knives, machetes, and samurai swords before trying to keep social with forty odd strangers. Still the fight to push her towards sobriety had been a well fought one. That six month chip in her pocket had only been earned by removing temptation entirely. On a night like tonight with a dozen odd drunkards roaming around in varying states of disrobe it was more a question of when she would be offered alcohol, not if.
“Quite the opposite. You know how the super gets about the noise complaints so I’ll hold the fort. Meanwhile tulip can’t go alone.” Marissa knew what he had meant but the trap was already sprung. Tulip perked up suddenly worried.
“Pwease mama? Tuwip wan’ go twick-ow-tweat-ing and show pwetty costume.” She was cornered. John had seen those eyes enough to know there’s no way to get away from them.
“We can at least go for a while sweetie.” Tulip shot around the room like a bullet screaming “yay!” Marissa gave John a dirty look to match his dirty trick but he ignored her. He reached into the candy bowl and grabbed a piece to settle in for a low stakes night of fun.
‘Damn it’s cold.’ She thought trying to still her teeth from chattering together. The wind tore through her jacket and stabbed into her bones like knives of ice. She had no idea how her fluffy walking buddy could stand it with just paper wings and plastic pieces to cover her. ‘Probably just excited enough to ignore it.’ She grumbled internally. She wasn’t happy about having to spend a prime party time like Halloween babysitting a fluffy. ‘All the same noone says no to tulip.’ She smiled grimly. ‘Straight to the nuclear option. I’ll get him for that.’ Tulips “eyes” look had grown to a sort of legendary status with how swiftly people fell to her charms. It was said they had a way of cracking through a heart of stone. She glanced at her watch and dreaded how little time had passed. The night had been pretty tame so far but she was getting further from home now, and she didn’t want to be out on rougher streets after dark. She kept her head on a swivel and tried to always keep one eye on Tulip. Wandering alone out there looking for her wasn’t an option this late. Unfortunately trying to look out for herself she had been looking too high. While anything big enough to concern her could be a threat to Tulip she failed to consider how tulip could be threatened by many things much smaller, even other fluffies. She hardly noticed the uninvited guest before it was out of the shadows and looking at her.
“Nice wady? Pwease gib fwuffy nummies.” It begged weakly. She grabbed for Tulip but she had already bounded into hugging range.
“Nu siwwy yu say ‘twick ow tweat.’ nu ‘gib nummies.’” She lectured the filthy creature. The feral tilted her head at her.
“Wha am twick ow tweat?” Tulip gasps in horror. Marissa took the time to squat lower and just slip her hand over the collar.
“Yu no kno’? Is bestest time ebah! Hab costumes an nummies fwom eb’wyone! An humans teww scawy stowies fow funsies!” The feral looked at her in disbelief. She thought this strange time of free food and beautiful clothes to be some childish fairy-tale. This one actually hadn’t seen a halloween yet. It was a little too young at nearly a year old. The matted coat hadn’t shed the baby fuzz for full fluff yet. ‘Poor thing’s going into its first winter as an adult.’ Marissa suddenly felt sorry for the creature
“Twick ow tweat.” It repeated as though sounding through it.
“Not tu us siwwy. Yu go tu human doows an’ knockies! Come wif us! Wiww show yu!” It took a moment for Marissa to realize that Tulip had just invited a friend without a second thought.
“Uh tulip I think the nice fluffy is busy. We should probably go on ahead.” Marissa lied quickly not knowing or trusting the strange fluffy and not wanting anything further to slow her down. Tulip looked at her with the face of a black cat being kicked in the darkness, and before she made a sound Marissa knew to expect whining.
“Buh fwuffy nu kno’! We hab to take hew wif us.” Her eyes turn round and wet and Marissa could feel the stone pit of her heart cracking. ‘Oh god, no, why the eyes?’ She thought feeling a sympathetic set of tears gathering in her own.
“She doesn’t have a costume!” She cried looking for any excuse and grasping at straws. ‘Please have mercy. Just forget we ever met this stray.’ Tulip offered no such comfort as she worked through the idea.
“Den Tuwip be wady bug. Gib fwuffy kitty costume.” Marissa was stunned. All the effort she put into making sure she had the perfect catbug look and all the pleading and insistence not to be a cat or ladybug and it melts the second she met someone she thought needed it more. It was too cute for her to handle.
“Alright we’ll try.” It would be hard explaining the missing parts but at least she hadn’t agreed to take her in. Her ice queen persona and all the mystique she kept firmly around it was on shaky grounds with Tulip. Another would completely ruin that cultivated image.
ten minutes later
Marissa looked over her handiwork with a semblance of pride. ‘Overall it’s not a bad effort.’ She thought. ‘Scavenged ears, a ribbon to tie together the tail, and some lines on the face and it’s a passing resemblance of a cat. Can’t even tell the bags slung over her shoulder were to pick up after Tulip.’ It wasn’t perfect of course. She had left the grease pens at home and nothing could be done about the padded hooves having even a passing resemblance to claws. But for a random feral it was enough and she hardly cared if the sharpie came off in a few weeks or not. Her colors were nicer than she expected of gutter trash. The pale green would have fit catbug more and the red mane and tail were nice accents.
“You two ready?” Marissa asked them.
“Tuwip weady!” Just as excited as before.
“H-howwy weady.” A little more hesitant but excited too. She walked them all of four feet over to the first house on the block. ‘They probably saw the whole thing’ She thought grimly. ‘Hopefully they don’t hold it against Tulip.’
“Jus’ ask human mummah to wing doow beww and humans come out!” Tulip was excitedly describing the tradition of trick or treating to her new friend. ‘As long as she’s having fun’ Marissa thought. They wouldn’t get as far or as fast but that was hardly why she was there.
“Howwy nu hab human mummah.” the feral said sadly. Tulip was taken aback but recovered quickly.
“Weww den jus’ knockies! Wike dis!” She reared back and smashed her hooves against the wood to make a point. She sounded like an especially persistent moth from the inside, but it didn’t matter as the couple inside had been staring since Holly had approached the pair. The door opened with a creak and the two shambled to it dressed in usual zombie attire. It was just a slap of grey paint some moth eaten sweaters and strawberry syrup but it was enough to shake little Holly. They stared expectantly trying to hold the cliche outstretched arm pose. Tulip poked her side and beckoned at them with a throw of her head. Holly mustered up her courage and tried to speak.
“T-Twick ow tweat!” The words still seemed unfamiliar. she casted the phrase like a b-movie archeologist stumbling through latin in some heinous black book. The effect was immediate.
“A treat!” the woman droned. “Fetch us a treat!” Holly was enamored immediately. Thoughts of unimaginable power surged through her as fistfuls of bite sized candy were tossed into the bags either side of her. It lasted only a moment as the two finally broke character to address Marissa.
“We’ve been watching, er that is not in a creepy way, though that is the season.” They spoke as though intimately familiar and it put Marissa on edge. She waved it off as them being old and used to such invasions of privacy being commonplace. “We just wanted to thank you for taking in Holly. She really is a good fluffy, save for the night terrors, we just couldn’t take in a feral at this time. I’m just glad she has somewhere to go before winter.” Marissa didn’t have the heart to tell them she had far less space to take in ferals off the street and just nodded. As they walked to the next house down the road tulip tried talking to her new friend.
“Wha’ humans mean Howwy am fewaw?” Holly didn’t look up when she spoke.
“Howwy not wike yu. Nu hab pwetty cowwaw. Ow anyfing dat come wif it.” Tulip didn’t understand.
“Why nu ask human daddy tu gib yu one?” Holly sunk a little lower.
“Nu hab human daddeh.” Tulip was shocked.
“Bu’ yu say nu hab human mummah?” Holly shook her head.
“Nu hab eifer.” Tulip was silent thinking it impossible. The next house had its treats laid out for kids and fluffies to grab. There was a smiling orange pumpkin bowl perched atop a chair and a plain brown box behind it. A note was set in front of it with neat curling calligraphy. Though tulip couldn’t read it experience told her what it said.
“Take one”. She explained to her apparently orphaned friend. “Dey nu wan’ be bugged but stiww wan gib tweats.” Holly nodded at the more reasonable generosity and tried to climb onto the chair. “Wha’ Howwy doin’?” Tulip asked tilting her head at her silly climbing.
“Gwabbin’ tweat.” said Holly thinking it obvious.
“Dose human tweats. Fwuffy tweats am back hewe.” Holly felt her heart sink. She’d seen people feeding dogs or cats thinking them better than fluffies. Any time food was marked for fluffies she had to check for glass shards or poison.
“Maybe we go tu nex’ house den?” Holly suggested. She didn’t really want to go looking for issues in the disorganized bag. Tulip looked as though she had been shot.
“But dese best nummies!” She protested. Holly was curious.
“What am dese?” She asked lining up to step down carefully. Even the low chair could hurt a fluffy if it tumbled off it wrong enough.
“Am cans ob-” But she didn’t get to finish. In that moment Holly spasmed with a force Tulip had never seen. It was a painful sound and there was a hearty thwack when her head hit the concrete step.
“C-CANS!? CANS?!” She stumbled to her feet and read headlong into the railing. She leaned against it heavily apparently blind in her sheer panic. A moaning sobbing escaped her throat and broke up an attempt at singing an off key jingle.
“Nee’ a gift dat’s wots ob fun? Foaw in can is numbew one!” It was a simplistic up down pattern designed to be quick and easy to memorize. She jolted and shook as though trying to escape the blows of some unseen attacker.
“Fowgetting someone’s speciaw day? Foaw in can can is da way!” Her breaths were ragged. She sang loud and with a desperation unnatural to the somewhat cheery corporate messages. “Mummah hewp!” Tulip screamed. Marissa tried to grab the feral but its panicked breath only quickened.
“Stock is goin’! goin’ fas’! Take us home now! Don’ wawk pas’!” Marissa, unsure of what to do hugged the quivering ball of fluff and hummed the first lullaby that came to mind. She held her, gently swinging, until her breathing calmed and she was whimpering miserably.
“Can yu wet Howwy down?” She asked wanting to be far away before they turned on her for how she acted. She obliged and put concrete back under her hooves. She wanted to run but too quickly Tulip had launched into a hug.
“Nu hab tu wowwy howwy. Fwuffy nu wan’ yu scawedies.” Holly burned with embarassment. She wasn’t used to such kind words but it made her feel even worse for making them feel that way.
“Fank yu tuwip.” She muttered and returned the hug. Tulip sighed slightly and grabbed her in a more forceful, mean manner.
“Tuwip wan’ show yu tweats. Show dewe’s nufin’ tu be scawed ob. Nu foaws.” Despite the comforting hug Holly felt her heart speed up again.
“N-nu foaws?” She asked her voice creeping to a higher pitch.
“Nu foaws. Jus’ skettis.” Holly lit up. She couldn’t remember what skettis were but she knew it was good.
“Skettis?” She asked dumbly. Tulip nodded and half led, half carried her to the box. It was a shallow cardboard flat with rows of gleaming metal cans wrapped in red. Tulip carefully picked one up and put it in her friends bag.
“Am bes’ skettis! Am gud foweba an’ is weady as soon as yu open!” Holly wasn’t sure just how long it would remain unopened but the thought was nice. She started on to the next house and Tulip grabbed a can for herself and ran to catch up. The conversation was more tense than before but Tulip was sure with a few more questions her new friend would like her and she would understand.
“Su why yu not wike cans?” Tulip asked oblivious. Holly visibly cringed hoping to avoid this conversation.
“Bad owd memowies. Befowe human famiwy.” Tulip was puzzled.
“Thought yu say nu hab humans?” Holly began crying.
“Humans sabe Howwy fwom bad times, but humans nu wan’ bad memowies eifer.” Tulip nodded unsure what to say. She looked to next house and saw it was dark.
“nu stop hewe. onwy go tu housies wif wights.” Holly nodded glad the conversation shifted, though she suspected not for long.
“am dis why su saddies? nee’ humans an’ cowwaw?” Holly turned inward. She wasn’t sure what to say. How do you explain to someone that’s never wanted what it’s like to need? The more she thought the more she simplified it in her own mind. She rationalized how these little changes could take away the freezing nights, the endless hunger, and all the fear. She thought so long she hardly noticed as they walked up to a decrepit mansion, its yard alive with animatronics and marionettes.
“Yes.” She answered not wanting to explain everything. Tulip beamed at her. She looked back at her mama Marissa but she was busy talking to a scarecrow in a spooky mask.
“Take mine!” She said brightly. Holly was unsure. As much as she hated being out in the cold it hardly seemed fair to Tulip to be thrown out for her.
“Fwuffy nu kno…” She tried to refuse but couldn’t lie about how tempting it was. Tulip just got more insistant."
“Weawwy! Aftew dis housie!” She sighed and accepted feeling guilty. She knew on some level Tulip had no idea what she was getting into. The walked to the house and knocked not willing to bother waiting for Marissa. Tulip knew that look, she thought the scarecrow was cute. Tulip shook her head. ‘Why go after some silly bag of straw when daddy is always there?’ She of course had no way of knowing the inner workings of her mamas mind and she was better off for it. Even Marissa didn’t fully understand her reasoning. The old lady inside the house was delighted to see the pair.
“Twick ow tweat!” They called out in unison. She set aside her bowl of candy and wheeled over a gleaming soup pot with a heavenly aroma coming off it. Tulip grimaced a little at the feeling of skettis being ladled into her treat bag. Holly savored the feeling. It was warm and she could barely hold back from tearing into her treat bag to get to it.
“Would you like some garlic toast dears?” She asked politely.
“Wes nice wady!” Holly cried out trying to to be rude about her excitement. The woman didn’t wait for an answer from Tulip stuffing half a loaf of buttery warm bread into each of their bags. Tulip was finding it harder to be polite.
“Be sure to rush home now dears! Don’t want it getting cold!” she said and shut the door. Tulip looked ack at her mama. She had even changed how she stood while talking to him. ‘The feeling faint bit.’ she thought. ‘We’ll be here a while.’
“Bettew wisten to da nice wady. Dwop youw bags an’ eat. Tuwip wiww get cowwaw off.” So Holly let the bags slide off her and feasted harder than she had in days. Tulip true to her word pawed the collar over her head. It was slow going and Holly had finished her feast by the time it was free. Getting it onto Holly was easier as her cheeks seemed oddly thinner.
“Dewe! now hab cowwaw!” She beamed proudly. Holly wasn’t sure what her plan was but was thankful anyway. they wandered back to Marissa who was doing a good job of snuggling up the decoration. “Wet’s go mummah! Dewe’s mowe tweats tu get.” Marissa looked at her watch.
“Don’t think we can Tulip. It’s getting pretty late. We should head home.” Tulip was dissapointed but didn’t fight too much.
“Aww howwoween obew awweady?” she whined. Holly didn’t get it.
“Why not go tu housie? Am safew dewe and wouwd be easiew in mowning.” Tulip suddenly remembered Holly didn’t know everything about halloween.
“Am onwy one night a yeaw. nu can gu tomowwow.” Holly was surprised she hadn’t mentioned this earlier but found it made more sense. Humans always hated repeated requests for food so one night it was always acceptable was ideal to get it all over with.
“We’ll go to one more house. then it’s straight to bed ok tulip?” Marissa stated firmly.
“Yes mummah.” Tulip sulked. The next house was a little further out of the way but Marissa liked visiting it. The owner was cute and he liked fluffies.
“Twick ow tweat!” They shouted. “Ah, yes the perfect season for tricks.” he shouted maniacally. He swung a toy chainsaw that roared a canned sound over a tinny speaker. Holly shrank in fear but Tulip was used to his antics. “Now, which of you was the root canal?” He asked gesturing to each in turn. Holly shook her head not understanding his word but not wanting any part of the plastic saw. Tulip giggled in his face.
“Quit bein’ so siwwy Doctew Dywan.” she said. he pulled the filtration mask from his face and sighed.
“Can’t blame an old dentist for trying. Here you go Tulip and one for your friend as well.” Holly was too scared to realize he had dropped a treat in front of her. She took it carefully and was delighted at how sweet it was.
“fank yu nice doctew.” he laughed and dropped another into her bag.
“This is why I love halloween. You give a kid an apple he might egg your house. You give a fluffy one and they thank you for it. See you in four months Marissa.” He closed the door still chuckling. Marissa didn’t like the perfect memory he seemed to have for his patient files, but he was still cute.
“Alright time for home. come on tulip.” Tulip stood still. She looked at holly and tried to gesture to her in small hard to read movements. Marissa didn’t notice but she was also a human and far more observant than a fluffy was even capable. “Fine, I’ll carry you.” She said scooping Tulip into her arms. Tulip thought fast but not well enough to outsmart her mama.
“F-Fwuffy nu am Tuwip. am- am Howwy.” She lied. Marissa looked at her strangely and answered the only way one could at such a blatent lie.
“No, you’re not. Now let’s go.” Holly understood what tulip meant but she had tried to trick humans many times. She knew it wouldn’t work.
“Is ok Tuwip. Howwy nee’ tu keep goin’ anyway. If onwy one night nee’ many mowe tweats befowe cowd times.” Marissa didn’t really want to leave the feral there but it wasn’t her responsibility. She ventured to at least warn her.
“You go much further you’ll be going down some bad roads. Are you sure you don’t want to follow us back?” Holly smiled a dark smile.
“Nu much choice. G’bye fwiend.” She said.
“G’bye Howwy.” Tulip said sadly and the two parted.
down some bad roads
Holly didn’t like the night so late. She hadn’t noticed the sounds of the birds of prey overhead or the unchained dogs barking as they ran like mad when she was with Tulip. With no human and no friends around she felt vulnerable and exposed. She tried knocking on doors but most of them had no lights and wouldn’t respond. By sheer luck she finally found one and felt a wave of relief that someone had answered. The man that answered was portly with an extended beer gut and a cigarette hanging off his lips.
“Twick ow tweat!” She said joyfully. He blew a choking black cloud at her when he spoke.
“Can’t you read shitrat?” He demanded pointing to a sign by the door. She hadn’t actually noticed the sign but it scarcely mattered.
“Nu.” she answered truthfully.
“Care to guess what that says?” He had an accusatory tone in his voice but Holly couldn’t remember what halloween rule she might have broken. She had only seen the one sign all night.
“Uh… Take one?” She guessed wildly. His face turned a shade of purple in sudden anger.
“It says ‘no fluffies!’ and that means you.” Holly knew this was a dead end but it seemed he was the one breaking the halloween rules not her! Tulip said all the humans give treats for trick or treats!
“Bu’ why nu fwuffies?” She asked feeling confused and cheated. The purple in his face darkened and he threw the dark glass bottle in his hand at general direction. She felt the rain of glass shards as it shattered behind her.
“Fank yu Howy weavin’” she choked out before swiftly making her escape. she ran to the next house and thought this really wasn’t worth it. She decided to try a new street as she made her way back. As long as she counted the blocks she walked she could get back alright. She tried several doors on the way but as they passed one by one the hours grew long and the lights turned out. The most she had seen in three blocks was a boy on a bicycle. He hit her nose with an egg as he passed and while it stung and tasted sour she ate it as it was the most food she’d found since leaving Tulip. There was only one house that bothered to answer before she found her nest. The man inside stank horribly like he bathed in the stripey cats that were run over on the road. He laughed in her face when she asked about nummies but he did at least offer something.
“Have a brownie.” He had said. “Be sure to share it now. The more the merrier.” He doubled over at this thinking this the funniest thing ever. Holly tried not to think too hard about it. When at last she found her nest she found two fluffies nestled into her bedding. “'Scuse me. Dat’s howwy’s nestie.” She tried to plead with the two. The larger of the two looked at her with disgust. He puffed out his cheeks and stood over her trying to look intimidating. To any other creature it would be silly but to the tired and cold Holly he looked towering and impressive. He had a good inch of height on her and he looked ready to beat her down if she stood against him.
“Dis Woscoe nestie now! Gib nummies ow go away!” Holly was distraught. She barely got enough for herself but she really didn’t want a fight tonight.
“H-Hab bwownie.” She said hopefully. “Human said tu shawe it.” Roscoe didn’t wait for her to take it out instead tearing apart the treat bag.
“H-HEY!” Holly cried. “Gib dat back!” roscoe bopped her nose hard enough to knock her over.
“Dis Woscoe bwownie now! get yu own!” he ate it in seconds and started on the rest of the bag.
“Human said tu shawe!” Holly cred the tears stinging in her eyes.
“Nu cawe!” Roscoe kept digging around licking the plastic anywhere he could still smell sauce or butter. “Whewe dummeh fwuffy hide skettis?” he demanded. Holly cried even harder. This meanie fluffy had no intent to share, only take. None of them noticed the shadow from the end of the alleyway. Roscoe was the first to be scooped up. His mate didn’t have the good sense to run and was taken last. Holly was in to much pain to hear the short scuffle and was grabbed and lined up with the others. A trio of what looked like humans were staring over them while holding them in place, but each was missing their face leaving white bone exposed.
“Happy halloween fluffies.” The center one spoke. His voice was muffled but could clearly be heard with how close he was. “I want to play a little game.” Roscoe was foolish enough to speak up.
“Woscoe nu wan’ pway game! wet gu!” The hand at his neck grabbed tighter and pushed him into the concrete.
“I think you will play my game. the prizes are random but if you won’t play you only get mister hammer.” Holly didn’t like the sound of that.
“Wha’ am mistew hammew?” She asked her voice wavering.
“I’m glad you asked.” He nodded to the one on the end and he swung down at the concrete inches in front of her face. She screamed as the sound of metal and stone ringing at their impact. and the other two squirmed to get away. “Do you want to play with mister hammer?” he growled angrily. The hammer struck again even closer. another inch and it would smash right through her nose. Holly sobbed desperate to get it away.
“Nuuuhuhuuu.” She screamed twisting to try to get free.
“Good. All you have to do is take one of my tricker-treats and eat it. Do that and we’ll let you go.” the other two laughed at this evilly. Holly was stunned. All they wanted was to give a treat? Why would they threaten mister hammer if the alternative was good? Roscoe evidently thought the same.
“Why dummehs gwab fwuffies jus’ to gib nummies? Gib an’ go away!” Mister hammer struck right by his ear causing him to yelp in pain.
“These are special nummies. Some are dangerous. Some are painful. One might even be simple sweetened gel.” One of the other not humans groaned.
“Again with this dude? What’s the fun if they enjoy it?” The middle one, apparently the leader, shushed him.
“It’s always the most fun if they have hope. Let them be the ones to decide their fate.” he turned to Roscoe first. “Pick a tricker-treat.” he said holding out a mixing bowl of colorful round things he pulled from his backpack.
“Dose eastew eggs human.” Mister hammer swung down onto his forehoof and he screamed when the bone broke. Roscoe was of course correct in the shell being easter eggs but the boys were not accepting hesitation anymore.
“Last chance fluffy. Take the treat or play with mister hammer.” Roscoe had learned not to speak and took one gently. “Break it open. Eat the contents.” Roscoe bit down slightly harder and coughed and spluttered as wood tacks fell out of his mouth.
“Dose nu am nummies! Nu can eat.” the leader leaned in closer. roscoe shrunk back as far as he could while held down.
“I said eat it.” Roscoe seemed to find a taste for wood tacks. He coughed and cried the entire time but soon was licking the concrete to find them in the dark. The boys laughed at his tears and tossed him aside to walk off with a broken leg. They turned to the other two but turned back at the fluffys sudden cries of discomfort.
“Tummeh… su huwties…” Roscoe collapsed and began screeing as he painted the wall a mix of brown and red. The boys dodged out of way with shock and dismay.
“Like a fuckin’ shit fountain!” One exclaimed. “What the fuck did you do to him?” The leader shrugged.
“Wasn’t me. Those were normal wood tacks. Someone else must have gotten him with chocolate laxative.” To Holly’s relief he turned to the other fluffy instead of her. “Pick one.” He demanded holding out the bowl again." She began sobbing but knew better than to refuse. She picked one the same color as her hoping it would be lucky. “Break it.” He growled impatiently. She closed her eyes and bit down. A cloud of white mist rose over her and she screamed.
“See pwaces! Tu many buwnies!” the others laughed as she rolled on the ground trying to rub it off.
“What was that man? Pepper spray?” He laughed at the suggestion.
“Nah. Have a bottle of crazy strong hot sauce for that this was just a happy accident.” They looked at him expectantly.
“So what was it?” He looked at them and pointed to her as though that explained it.
“Nair bomb.” Holly looked at the fluffy. She immediately wished she hadn’t. The fluffy… wasn’t anymore. The soft cute features had fallen away and from the shoulders up it was a wrinkled pink thing that could hardly be thought of as fluffy. She watched as the mare grabbed at the tufts of fur as they fell away trying to put them back on but only rubbing more off as she did. “you can go.” The leader told her as she hyperventilated in front of him. she squinted up at him with swollen red eyes.
“Pwease nice mistew. Gib pwetty fwuff back? Fwuffy nee’ fwuff.” His companion gave a frightful swing of mister hammer and shoved her away.
“Go on! Get out of here!” He screamed. The panicked fluffy ran half blind crying harder with every step. The boys laughed at her pathetic waddle and gave a few more noisemaking swings of the hammer. “Enjoy the winter shitrat!” He called after her. With that Holly was alone and realized they weren’t going to let her go.
“Last one.” the leader said grabbing her personally. “Pick.” Holly, terrified, shook her head. “I said, pick.” He shoved the bowl into her snout. She tilted her head as far back as it would go and shook again. “Take one or you’ll be eating it with half your teeth!” He yelled. Holly cried. She couldn’t take the idea of what happened. She hoped the hammer would at least be quick.
“You boys stop that!” She heard a woman scream from far away. “I ought to call the police and arrest you for vandalism!” the leader groaned and loosened his grip.
“It’s just a feral!” he cried back. “Think of it as a public service!”
“It most certainly is not!” She replied closing her robe tighter as she crossed the street. “Now you give that animal up!” He turned to his friends but they were shaking their heads.
“Dude she’s right. Bitch has a collar on her.” He checked and found they were right.
“Why didn’t you say anything?” He yelled at them. They only shrugged. The woman had closed the gap and was right behind them.
“That’s to say nothing of the animal cruelty charges. Or maybe I should tell your school and your parents what you’ve been doing? What are your names.” the leader of the three put the bowl back into his pack and the other two nodded in agreement. he turned to face the furious grannie.
“Well the best name would be CHEESE IT!” and he bowled past her. the other split in different directions to make themselves harder to follow.the kind old woman looked to holly and scooped her up.
“Come inside little one. We’ll see if your mama will pick you up.”
one awkward car ride later
Marissa rung the doorbell on the familiar house and waited for an answer. She glanced back at the car and Tulip sleeping in the front seat. The call was a strange one even for the dead of night on Halloween. Some near stranger that shouldn’t have her number calling to say they have a fluffy she held in her lap? It was at least checking out to tell them not to call back. The same old woman answered the door now cleaned up and in a bathrobe.
“Oh come in! come in! she’s right this way!” She said and beckoned to one room. Sitting inside like a filthy little loaf of fluff was the feral she had met. “She must have gotten away from you. We barely managed to get her away from some nasty hooligans. Surprised at the name change really. I thought Holly fit better but it’s your fluffy and Tulip is more than fine by us!” Marissa brushed some shards of glass and egg shell off her neck and found the collar. It was the same bright blue Tulip’s and had the little gold medallion she got for tulip. Everything clicked into place and she smiled tightly at the feral. Holly dropped her head in shame. “Really, just glad we got her to you safe. I’m glad to see you reunited. I have some lemon bars if you want to celebrate. I’ll call you with the recipe sometime.” Marissa resisted the urge to sigh and resolved to make nice while in front of her.
“Thank you.” she said briskly. “But, really I’ve got to get her back befre bedtime.” The woman threw up her hand in understanding. “Say no more, I’ve raised three grandkids and two fluffs I know how cranky they can be.” Marissa headed out as swiftly as she could and tried to think of how far away she’d have to drive before kicking out this dirt bag.
“Fank yu fow sabin’ howwy.” she muttered meekly on the way out. MArissa threw open the rear door of the car and buckled the fluffy in next to Tulip. “I’ll have to grab the collar first.” she reminded herself and climbed into the drivers seat. Tulip woke up when she slammed the car door and looked around. She gasped in excitement. “Howwy fwiend!” she cried out and twisted to try to hug her. “Does dis mean howwy am comin’ tu wib wif us?” Marissa couldn’t believe her little fluffy would even suggest that. “No.” She spoke firmly. There was no hint to give in her voice. Tulip couldn’t understand it.
“Bu’ mummah! howwy nee’s us. fwuffy nu hab mummah.” Marissa focused on the road as best she could.
“I said no, tulip.” She could feel that stare burning into her. A little hoof pressed on her forearm and she bit her lip.
“Pwease mummah?” A little voice so soft and scared pulled at her heart. She had to be resolute. She had to command. She looked her in the eyes. Those damned eyes.
“Just for a little while.” She sighed. There went her prestige. Still maybe holly had a shot. She had good colors. Maybe she could find a decent home for Christmas time? Holly sat back cried. She really did have perfact christmas colors, but if anyone asked her? her favorite was halloween.