Photo by Anton Kraev on Unsplash
Written for the inkwell prompt @theinkwell/the-inkwell-fiction-prompt-226
Love at first sight?
Teeth normalish, no excessive hair where anyone can see it, and my overly long nails are painted with hello kitty characters. I am fit for the outside world. Jacket on for the cold, and the fortune cookie from last night in my pocket for good luck. It said I’d find love today. Not just love, but 'a love that would last until their last breath'. It seemed unlikely, but being open to the idea that something could happen would help, right?
The chilly air and dark clouds promised more rain. The side walk was flooded, but my boots kept my feet dry. The steakhouse I was meeting my date at was only a few blocks away. My date. A first in months, and a first with a fellow were-wolf. Which meant if things went well, he wouldn’t be surprised when I tore up the basement every month. Unlike Jace. Jace who'd seen me change once and run screaming all the way across an ocean to France.
No. I am not thinking about him. It’s been eight months. He couldn’t cope and no one’s broken this curse before. The relationship is gone. I already moved cities, it’s time to move on from him. Dalia set this date up to help me and I am not going to sabotage it by pinning for my ex.
Alex stood outside the steak-house in business casual. Nice slacks, classy button up, and even a tie. Okay it was a clip on bow-tie but still. I’m in jeans and a windbreaker and didn’t even put on lipstick. My nails look awesome though.
“Hi,” I greet him in the most unoriginal way possible. “Alex, Right?”
“That’s me.” He smiles showing his big canines. “Cassandra right?”
“Yup!” I sound way to eager. I can smell the wolf on him. Does that mean he can smell it on me? Is that something we could talk about or is it rude? And more importantly why was it dark inside the restaurant and no smell of steak? “Is it just me or is it looking rather closed?”
Alex stepped aside and flourished at the sign taped to the door.‘Flooding ruined the kitchen. Closed. Sorry.’ “There’s a food truck over in Beck’s park. It’s a short walk from here.”
“Sounds good..” I said, but a sad meow distracted me. In the dismal shelter of a mostly disintegrated cardboard box was a kitten. Small, mangy, and one ear oozed pus and its tiny ribs were visible through the soaked fur. “Oh that poor thing.”
“You do not want to handle that thing. We can get fleas.” Alex glared down at it.
“It’s been abandoned.” I knelt in front and it toddled toward me.
“Just nature taking its course. The weak ones get culled.”
“I’m not letting it get culled.” I took my jacket off and wrapped the cat in it. It wasn't that cold I would be fine without it. And it could get washed easy enough. The tiny thing purred like a jet engine. “We’ll get rid of those nasty fleas. I have shampoo at home that’ll get rid of those nasty bugs.”
“That thing is disgusting, and it’s a cat.”
“It just needs some love, and a bath.” Love. Could the fortune cookie have meant this cat and not…well romantic love? Not that I believed a bit of paper handed out at random could really tell my future. Could it?
Alex grimaced at the word bath. “Let’s just get something eat.”
“Lead the way to the food trucks.” I doubted any restaurant would let this little girl in. I couldn’t blame them, she was not hygienic.
Alex gave the kitten one more disgusted look and lead the way through a well lit park. His wing tipped shoes splashed in the puddles. I rushed to keep up, trying to take in the flower beds and sculptures. Another little treasure in this town that I hadn’t known about. I kenw about places like this back home. Wonder if I'll ever live down the chicken incident so I can go home. Mom had gotten over it but having a trail of blood and feathers leading to me sleeping naked under the deck had made things really awkward.
I smelled zesty and spicy Mexican before I saw it, along with the revoltingly appealing smell of hot-dogs and the promisingly sweat and oily scents of deep-fried everything. Around one more tree filled bend and we could see the trio of food trucks all in bright colours. Muncho Mexican, Henry’s hotdogs and Phil’s Fried Fomo.
“You Alex!” The teenager running Mucho Mexican called. “We got fish tacos!”
Cats liked fish. This could work. The little kitten looked like he hadn’t eaten in days. We ordered, and I got some plain fish for the kitty.
“You realize that thing is not going to want to stay with you once it isn’t dying? Animals do not like people like us.” Alex sat at a picnic table. “As soon as it’s strong enough it will run away and be one more stray.”
“I’ll deal with it if that happens.” I sat across from him, and put the kitty on table beside me. I held a little piece of fish out to it with my finger and giggled as its tongue tickled me.
“You really aren’t accepting the reality of what you are.” He growled, as if my wanting a cat offended him. “You’re still acting human.”
“Most of the time I am,” I retorted, surprised at the growl in my own voice. “I spent most of my life human.”
“And how are the humans in your life handling your changes?”
Well my fiancé left me, my mom freaked out but then apologized and has been awesome, my dad helped me design and build the wolf containment room in my basement, and my best friend revealed she’s a witch and has been helping me learn about this weird and wacky world I didn’t know existed until a year ago. After far too long a pause I said, “That’s none of your business.”
“You need to spend more time around your own. You’re never going to be accepted with something like that. The only reason one of us should have a thing like that is for food.” He was serious, his eyes were hungry for it. “Though it’d barely be worth it.”
Well done killing my appetite Alex. I stood up, cradling the Jacket wrapped kitten to my chest. It was asleep but woke up hissing. “I’m going home.”
He stood up and blocked the way. He was drooling, actually drooling like a dog. He smelled so much less human now. “Give me the cat and you might have a chance, girl.”
“Get lost!” I yelled. People were watching. I reached into my purse and grasped the comforting cylinder of pepper spray.
His voice was a quiet growl. “If you ever want respect in the were-wolf community give me that cat.”
“I said get lost. Go chew on a bone or roll on a dead fish.” I wasn’t going to take this from anyone. Human or were-wolf.
He lunged. I sprayed him and watched as he fell to the ground clutching his face. The cat yowled. I gave him a swift kick to the family jewels and ran. I couldn't go home right away, he’ll follow. I ran down Main Street, there was a 24 hour vet. Dalia's girlfriend worked there sometimes.
Inside was quiet, smelled sterile with a hint of animal and human fear. A dog show was playing on the a tv in the waiting room. The receptionist put down her coffee. “Are you alright miss?”
“Yes, I just, I saved this kitten from... A wild dog.” After all something between a human is a kind of dog isn’t it? “But they aren’t in good shape.”
I showed her the mangy, scrawny kitten that had bits of fish on her face.
The receptionist tutted. “Probably abandoned by the mother by how skinny it is.” The receptionist grabbed a clipboard and pen. “Fill this form out and a vet will be with you as soon as possible. With the right care that little cutie will be okay.”
“Thank you.” I sat down and filled out the form. “You hear that little one, the doctors are going to make you all better.”
She purred louder than a motorcycle.