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She has grown to discover unrequited feelings for the young male railroader. With Angel by his side, and clearly a part of his life, what use is it to try? That is, until she finds herself an opportunity to make Scamp her own, and all she has to do is slip a little bit of something special into his drink.\n\nThat, and sell Angel's soul to the devil.\n\nA little more supernatural then some of my other works. But one that still follows the mythos set in this universe.\n\n2021: This is a re-upload of an original story. Mostly to fix a number of typos that I found on a re-read. So, this is a bit of a 2.0\n", "description_bbcode_parsed": "Vitani has been harboring a secret from Scamp and Angel. She has grown to discover unrequited feelings for the young male railroader. With Angel by his side, and clearly a part of his life, what use is it to try? That is, until she finds herself an opportunity to make Scamp her own, and all she has to do is slip a little bit of something special into his drink.

That, and sell Angel's soul to the devil.

A little more supernatural then some of my other works. But one that still follows the mythos set in this universe.

2021: This is a re-upload of an original story. Mostly to fix a number of typos that I found on a re-read. So, this is a bit of a 2.0
", "writing": "[center]The Outlander[/center]\n\n\n\n[i]October 1893, Marceline Georgia[/i]\n\n\n\tThe sound of a steam whistle, low and melodic, echoed from outside the building. To dreamers and wishers, it was an age-old invitation to adventure, to others simply a wakeup call.\n\n\tThe air in the pub was thick with the scent of cigar and cigarette smoke, a physical cloud visible hanging just below the tin-plated ceiling and surrounding the gas light fixtures in a hazy veil. Standing behind the great oak bar, one would find a mid-20s lioness, scruffier than average with a short bang that fell between her ears. Vitani leaned back against the great wide mirror behind the bar. Looking over her little kingdom. Grabbing a damp washcloth, she began cleaning the inside of a set of recently clean but still damp glasses, then setting them up on a rack hanging above the bar to fully dry. Taking a moment for her blue eyes to drift down as she examined herself in the looking glass. A habit she had gotten into just to be sure that she looked something akin to presentable. She rose a hand to gently brush out the breast of her white cotton shirtwaist. It fit snugly against her chest. Its fabric outlining the natural curves of her torso. The young lioness didn't particularly like her job, working the counter at the tavern which was aptly named “The Watering Hole,” it made her feel trapped. Constantly seeing the many faces and hearing the many stories told by the railroaders, teamsters, and farm laborers who frequented that particular dive had the effect of seeing the world run by while she stood in place. Yet she didn't fully dislike it either, the ends of her mouth turned up in a smile as she took a breath, then turned to face the inside of the counter.\n\n\tThe room was a great symphony of voices mixed with an orchestra of silverware and glassware from the crowd that occupied the popular pub. It was a small establishment, purposefully kept local and out of the way, its wood paneled and newspaper-wallpapered walls known mostly to railroad and steamboat men. Vitani's time was spent between the rush of lunch and dinner, and depending on the day of the week, the madness of the evening crowd.\n\n\tBeing a barmaid paid well and it meant that she did not have to deal with her overbearing mother. Unfortunately, it did not pay enough for her to be able to strike out on her own, a fact which she greatly lamented. Vitani had come to hate life in the time-haunted old plantation she had grown up on. Born the middle child with a perfect younger brother and an unstable mess of an older brother she found her time working in town to be all her own. Getting away from her mother's snarls made working late nights at the counter worthwhile even if it meant she was filling glasses for an unruly gathering that catcalled her behind her back.\n\n\tThere were, however, other incentives. One of which she found was a bright beam of light on an otherwise gray existence.\n\n\t“Hiya 'Tani!” A familiar male voice called, instantly drawing the lioness's attention. “Good to see you!”\n\n\tWith a sly smile and a roll of her eyes Vitani finished sorting the glasses, only then sauntering over to the lanky, scruffy mutt that had called her. “Hey Scamp, good to see you're back in town. The usual?”\n\n\tScamp's triangular ears flopped forward as he plopped himself down on a bar-stool. Vitani couldn't help but eye up the handsome mongrel. Countless men came to her bar, most of whom she was friends with and had no qualms about getting chatty. However, there was something different about Scamp. Perhaps it was his seemingly eternal optimism? Although some, including the lioness, would call it foolishness. He reached into a pocket on his cotton shirt and quickly produced two coins which he slapped down on the hardwood counter-top. “Yep, two glasses if you will. Just got into town an hour ago, Angel is still down in the yard cleaning up so hold her's until she gets here,” He flashed a white toothed smile, “It was a rather slick trip, if I do say so myself.”\n\n\t“Which way did you guys go?” The lioness grabbed two clean glasses off the rack, and ducked one under the fountain nozzle. Her thin tan tail whipped back and forth from the seat of her black rainy daisy skirt. “North or South?”\n\n\t“South, to Atlanta,” Scamp spun around in the bar-stool and leaned back against the bar, placing the back of his arms on the counter-top. “Spent the night in a hostel, then back today. If I can I plan to not leave this bar-stool for the rest of the night.”\n\n\tVitani grinned, rolling her eyes playfully before placing a glass down next to the mongrel’s open hand. She couldn’t help but feel a slight upbeat at the handsome mutt’s presence. “You're welcome to it, be nicer company then most of the rats that pop in this late. Just try not to go all blotto on me.”\n\n\t“No promises,” Scamp grabbed the glass and tilted his head back, taking a quick sip. “How are things since I've been gone? Going well with your folks?”\n\n\tVitani's ears flattened and her scowl told Scamp everything. The feline's tail whipped against the back of her legs as she let out a snort. Standing back, she put a hand on each of her nicely curving hips, while her long tail rigidly hung high. “Mother's doing her usual thing, wants me to find some nice male lion with dough so she can inherit something. I think Nuka's finally lost it from working in the plantation fields. He's convinced that the mansion is haunted and claims that spirits are following him around and causing mischief. Honestly, the guy is clumsier then a bull in a china shop and I'm pretty sure he's bringing it all upon himself.” She wrinkled her nose and gave her head a little shake. “So yeah, I think I'd rather spend my time in town.”\n\n\t“Well, I’m glad you’re here,” Scamp's ears flicked forward and he gave her a cheesy grin from over his shoulder. Vitani could hear his tail whipping against the back of the bar. “If nothing else, it’s nice to come back to a cool drink and a warm face,”\n\n\t“Good to know I’m appreciated! Especially by someone who is willing to put up with frequenting this dump to do such.” The lioness crossed her arms over her chest and smiled, it was so hard to not admire that cute puppy face. “So, how was your trip?”\n\n\tScamp huffed, blowing his wandering bang out from in front of his face. “It went pretty well until Mom gave Angel the throttle. Just for practice you know.”\n\n\t“Right, Angel has been talking about wanting to move onto engine crew at some point.” The lioness felt a slight hint of jealousy about the idea that Angel was starting to forge a better life for herself.\n\n\tScamp’s tail began to wag against the barstool. “Well, she brought the train into the yard all stretched out, set up the brakes and brought the head end to a stop. Apparently, she looked at my mom and said 'Wow, I got that stopped like a pro!' and then WHAM!” With a wide grin plastered on his face the mongrel held his hands out and gave an almighty clap, mimicking the railcar couplers bunching up. “The slack rolled in and banged the locomotive so hard it tossed Angel out of the engineer’s seat. My parents were not amused.”\n\n\tThe lioness chuckled. Scamp had a way of showing such expression. He was so outgoing, far removed from those she usually had to associate with. From outside came the low wail of a steam whistle. The Watering Hole was located close enough to the railroad yard that it wasn't uncommon to hear the goings on from the bar. Vitani had actually worked long enough to start recognizing the individual whistles. “So, if Angel is moving up to the cab are you planning on changing ends of the train too?”\n\n\tScamp arched an eyebrow, his head tilted as if he was thinking, making one floppy ear stand up at an odd angle. “Nah, I don't think so. I like being a conductor, the money's swell and I like being in charge of the train,” He rubbed a hand on his chest and that toothy grin was back. “Did you know the conductor is actually fully in charge of the train?”\n\n\t“Mmmm, is that so?” Vitani wasn't sure why, but she was blushing badly under her fur.\n\n\t“Yes, indeed. It's not a job just anyone can handle, lots of responsibility that falls on my shoulders.”\n\n\t“Yeah, responsibility that you like to skirt. Right tenderfoot?”\n\n\tHis big ears swiveled back as Angel sauntered up to the bar. Vitani flicked one ear at the sound of Scamp's nervous laugh, despite her words, Angel’s fluffy tail was wagging playfully front the seat of her brown trousers. As she slid into the barstool next to Scamp she plopped a small notebook on the bartop. Vitani couldn't help but notice a smudge of coal dust on the blonde furred dog's cheek. No doubt a small trinket from being tossed from the engineer's seat.\n\n\t“Hiyah Angel, just you know...talking shop.” The young mongrel tried some spin control however little seemed to pass Angel. Vitani turned away to fetch the two ordered glasses, but kept an eye on her two customers. She felt herself deflate slightly at Angel's presence.\n\n\t“Yeah, well maybe next time you'll take responsibility and do the car count instead of leaving it to me. After-all,” She fluttered her eyelashes. “You are the conductor, the big dog in the caboose.”\n\n\t“But Angel, I figured you would need to walk the train anyway. If nothing else just to be sure you didn't smash any couplers on that roll in you did.” Angel rolled her eyes and playfully shoved Scamp hard, sending him almost falling out of the barstool.\n\n\tThe two railroaders laughed as Scamp pulled himself back upright. The lioness secretly loved watching the pair. Even though they were always picking on each other everyone knew that the two railroaders were very much in love. Vitani couldn't help but feel a slight envy at the chemistry they seemed to have. She had no interest in such grungy and hard work as that of the railroad. Yet it seemed like Scamp and Angel were a glow of light and warmth set before such a harsh world. Her envy though, seemed to be more towards one member of the duo than the other. As she returned with two glasses full of refreshing hard drink she silently wished she had someone like that in her own life. It would make dealing with her mother and her family far more bearable.\n\n\t\"Oh, Scamp, when will you learn?\" She asked as she placed the glass in front of him.\n\n\tAngel burst out with a gruff and happy, “Oh, I don't think he'll change anytime soon. Either way, he'll always be my tenderfoot!\"\n\n\tThe handsome gray mongrel nodded in agreement, bringing the glass back to his lips. As much as she wished she could stay and spend time with these two the lioness could see another customer finishing his glass, while yet another saddled up on another barstool. She sighed, her maw wrinkling and ears flicking back. It was going to be another long day.\n\n\n\t\t\t\t\t\t*********\n\n\tThe sun had long vanished from behind the Appalachian range that ringed the town of Marceline when Vitani started her way home. Flipping the sign on the front door to 'closed' she plucked a fob-watch, sans chain, from her breast pocket and sighed. Another day wasted behind the bar counter and not much to look forward to on the return home. Brushing off her weather-beaten skirt and blouse the lioness started to silently plod down the sidewalk, her eyes drifting down to the cobblestones. A cool wind fluttered her skirt and pulled on the fur of her tail. A recent rainfall had left puddles in the street and long lines of standing water in the gutters. Turning the dirt roads into a surge of mud and muck. Reflecting back the glow of the gas-streetlamps.\n\n\t She had long known that she had a crush on him, just his happy outlook on life and his seemingly bottomless level of optimism drew her to him. These were two things Vitani felt she needed more of in her life however he was happily with another girl. A fellow dog who seemed to match him in every way possible. The lioness had no reason to openly dislike Angel, other then the fact that she was with Scamp. They were a cute couple and the three had been friends, or at least acquaintances, for a long enough time that she felt reprehensible for her developing affections.\n\n\tHer ears perked up, and her eyes glanced up as the wail of a steam whistle reached her ears. She wasn't far from the W&A RR's yards. Lonesome and melodic, it sounded like a cry from somewhere in her heart and for a moment the very ends of her mouth turned up as she imagined that it was Scamp, calling out into the night for her. The town was closing up for the night, other then the railyard and the distant clopping of the occasional horse-drawn wagon echoing down some distant street one could be forgiven for thinking that Marceline was abandoned.\n\n\t“Shit, I have it bad,” the lioness tiredly whispered to herself. Admitting openly for the first time that something was happening her mind was so preoccupied that she misjudged the drop from the sidewalk to the muddy street. Her foot twisted and her eyes burst open as her leg turned out from underneath her. Vitani stumbled forward, throwing out her hands to keep from falling completely into the mud. She landed on her side, hands sinking into the muck as she fell to the street.\n\n\t“Oh, for god's sake,” Vitani moaned, laying sprawled out in the gutter. Mud splattered on her skirt and blouse. Looking down at her leg she found that one of her heels had snapped, the old worn material giving way to leave her muddy and unbalanced for the rest of the way home. It was enough to break the poor girl's heart; her lower lip trembled as she balled her fists up and did her best to keep from roaring out in anger. She could no longer keep her head up, her shoulder sagging in defeat and dropping her head down. Her eyes fluttered shut as she lay prone in the gutter.\n\n\tBut she would not remain that way for long as a dark skinned, slender-as-toothpicks, very human hand slid under Vitani's chin and slowly forced her head to rise up. She saw no eyes as they were covered by the rim of a black and red hat, only a roguish grin with a thin black mustache welcoming her.\n\n\t“Looks like you could use a hand there 'darlin'.” Those were the hauntingly friendly words that hummed out through this sinister smile, \"How'ya doin'?\"\n\n\tVitani instantly recoiled. Eyes narrowed and teeth set, she whipped her head out from his grasp and scrambled back in the mud, a dirty hand fumbling into her blouse for a blade she tended to keep there. The man stepped back, holding his hands up for her to see that they were indeed empty. That smile, sharp and thin, never wavered.\n\n\t“Now hold up there little one, no cause for alarm. Allow me, if you please, Miss Vitani,” He plopped the hat back atop his head, then extended a hand for her to grab.\n\n\tVitani's expression turned to one of shock. “How did you know my...”\n\n\t“Your name? Why sweetie, it's all in the cards.” In the glow of the street lamp's flickering flames, the man cast a long shadow against the brick building facade. Vitani hesitantly slipped a hand into his, and allowed him to pull her out of the puddle. She quickly discovered that he was a lot stronger then he initially appeared. Once she was upright, and attempting to wipe the muck off her blouse and skirt the man pulled his top hat off in a greeting, revealing the square-shaped hair-style of his.\n\n\t“Excuse me?” The lioness started to back away, her steps uneven due to her broken shoe heel.\n\n\t“The Cards, the Cards. The Cards will tell...” He laughed, with a roll of a hand, soon, a set of tarot cards were in his hand, all the suites and Arcana visible as he fanned them out perfectly, before closing again, to which they vanished. Another roll of his hand and a new card appeared. “Allow me to introduce myself, here's my card.”\n\n\tTaking the card and looking it over Vitani read it out loud, an eyebrow raising as she took in it's odd wording. “Dr. Facilier, Tarot Readings, Charms, Potions...” Looking up from the card she saw from the corner of her eyes the dark form of his shadow behind her, the way it moved odd to the lioness's own motions. \"Dreams made real... I must say I'm skeptical.”\n\n\tDr. Facilier chuckled, curiosity killed the cat. Leaning on his cane, he looked to Vitani with a gaunt grin. \"Yes ma'am, my power is unmatched for miles! I can see your future, change it around some too and I can see you have a dream for sure. One that perhaps I can help you abide to.”\n\n\tVitani pressed the card back at the man then stumbled past him with a roll of her eyes. “Yeah, I don't think so.”\n\n\t“You don't think you deserve him?” His voice stopped the girl in her tracks as she turned her head to look back at the strange man from over her own shoulder. “There is nothing wrong with desiring the company of someone your heart yearns for, especially when life can be, well, less then pleasurable.”\n\n\tVitani opened her mouth to retort when the evening air was split by the shriek of a steam whistle. The way it blew, with such a lonesome wail her mind made it out to be Scamp's train, calling to her in a voice that used no words. The lioness closed her eyes and took a deep breath, her nostrils flaring while the card somehow found its way into a pocket. “Dreams...made real?”\n\n\tThe Shadow Man nodded ominously. “Mmmhmm. What's his name, if I may be so bold?”\n\n\t“Scamp,” His name fell from her lips as a tender whisper, her head bowing to cast her gaze at the sidewalk. “He's just, such a nice guy. Goofy! But...well...”\n\n\tHis movement was oddly quick, suddenly putting an arm around her. \"Say no more. Why, with a little encouragement my dear...\" he promised, tapping her chest with the head of his cane. Almost instantly his shadow shifted from his feet, grinning devilishly as it rubbed its thin fingers together. \"Ain' nothin I can't do, with the right connections! All it takes is the right price.\"\n\n\t“I don't have much money,” Vitani started to say.\n\n\t“Leave that to me,” The Shadow Man whispered before giving his cane a spin, and bringing it down on the ground. In an explosion of purple smoke and light Dr. Facilier's shadow seemed to swirl around the glow of light from the nearby street lamp, protracted onto the brick wall of a building facade. Vitani's head whipped side to side, peering up and down the deserted street to see if there were any other witnesses to what seemed to be occuring.\n\n\t“Don't be alarmed, parlor tricks, my sweet feline friend,” The man laughed. “But, like a good magician, their secrets are not to be told. Now then, let's look at the cards, shall we.”\n\n\tWith one arm wrapped around her shoulders, he held her close, his hand before her face suddenly had three cards between its thin fingers. The center one was flipped around with a twist of those digits, the image on its front showing a very stylized heart with a sword through it.\n\n\t“Ah, love. So sweet and innocent,” the man began. The right-hand card turned and to the lioness's bewilderment showed a portrait of the smile tousled face and floppy ears of Scamp. This had to be magic, either that or some crazy fluke. Regardless, she saw the pup she admired in those chocolate eyes, no matter if it was intended or not.\n\n\t“Scamp...” Vitani whispered again, feeling emotions well up in her chest.\n\n\t“He would be perfect for you miss. Such strong features and healthy spirit, oh the good it would do to have him in your life...oh, but what's this?” The final card turned, its image being that of a set of lovers, hand in hand. “Why, it would would seem that he's already spoken for. Someone else stands in your way! A jezebel incarnates!”\n\n\t“Her name is Angel,” The lioness admitted, feeling all resistance to admitting the truth slip away. “She's his girl, she has been for as long as I've known them.”\n\n\t“So he needs a nudge, I think I have just the thing,” The cards vanished with a fold of his hand. In their place, his fingers unfolded to reveal a small glass vial. Vitani's eyes widened and her ears flattened back, her long tail flicking back and forth behind her legs. The vial seemed full of a pink liquid that gave off a similarly colored glow, the vial had a cork in its flute and it's glass surface was etched with strange runes. “Just a few drops of this and your face will be all he will be able to think about.”\n\nVitani felt her heart in her throat as he slipped the vial into her hands and closed her fingers around it, letting go of her and stepping back. It felt so light, as if she was holding nothing at all, yet she could feel it pulsating with heat. “Just a few drops?”\n\n\t“Just a few,” His shadow mimicked chugging down a glass on the wall behind them, “And he'll be all yours.”\n\n\t“Wait! What about Angel? Surely, he won't just forget about her?”\n\n\t“Hmm, well.... don’t worry about her.” His grin split his face and sent a shiver down the lioness' spine. On the brick and glass facade of the closed store, in the glowing orb of light cast from the streetlamp, the shadows began to swirl and morph. Creatures slithering along the very edge while in the center formed a remarkable shadow silhouette of a particular female dog. Vitani recognized the folded ear and curly tail, the figures danced around the shadow dog, pointing and jeering without noise while the ghostly Pomeranian stood stock still, as if trapped and bound in place. “Magic is never free however nothing says someone else can't foot that bill...”\n\n\tThe shadows swirled, curling around 'Angel' like a serpent till only her head, screaming silently was visible. Vitani's heart skipped a beat as the edges of the circle of light closed down atop the phantasmal image of her romantic rival like the closing jaws of some great beast.\n\n\t“Wait, this won't hurt her?” Vitani's tail whipped around one of her own legs as she took a step forward, stumbling slightly on her missing heel.\n\nThe Shadow man gave an exasperated gasp, dramatically planting a hand against his chest. “Ma'am, you offend me. Of course, nothing will come of Miss Angel.”\n\nVitani couldn't see the laughing shadow behind her back. She looked down at her hand, where the cracks between her fingers pulsed with pink light. “Scamp...”\n\n\t“Will. Be. Yours,” The Shadow Man's smirk never died. “C'mon, don't you think you deserve that? Someone in this world who actually cares about you and will give you something to live for. A bright spark in an otherwise dull life, sandwiched between an insane mother and a retarded brother...Vitani, this is all for you.”\n\n\t“All. For. You.”\n\n\tHer hand slowly released its grip and the vial seemed to call with the song of a siren. Her own eyes glowed with the same deep pink hue, throbbing in time to the vial and its strange brew. It would be so easy. Then, just as if a gust of wind blew past her, she felt her skirt rustle and the light from the gas streetlamp flickered. Looking up from the vial, breaking whatever spell it seemed to hold, she saw that the strange man had vanished. Vitani's heart was by now thundering in her chest, her ears perked and she whipped her head one way then the other, the tuft of fur between her ears flopping as she did. The street was deserted, only her own footprints in the mud could be seen. It was as if he had never been there to begin with, only his final three words echoed about her skull.\n\n\tShe quickly dropped the vial into the breast pocket of her blouse right next to his card. It would be a long walk home and on a broken shoe no less. Taking a deep breath to settle her nerves, she pulled her skirt up so that it wouldn't drag and catch her foot and started her way home. The clouds moved from in front of the moon and their shadows seemed to creep along the building fronts and streets making Vitani feel all the more as if she was being watched by many eyes. She could feel the heat from the vial palpitating against her chest.\n\n\t\t\t\t\t******************\n\n\tVitani slammed the door to her bedroom shut behind her, quickly flicking the latch shut in the thick wooden door. She lived with her widowed mother, however the less said about her the better. Suffice to say the relationship between mother and daughter was rough at best. Hastily kicking her broken shoes off, the lioness galloped barefoot across the threadbare carpet of her room to close the thick curtains on the long line of multi-pane windows, closing off the view over the overgrown abandoned cotton fields that surrounded her mother's ruined mansion. Beyond the solid black steel gate that surrounded the manor, tipped with spikes to keep out intruders, the grounds of the estate weren't exactly fitting of nobility. The grass was sickly in color and growing through various cracks and missing chunks in the stone pathway. The trees that followed the path up to the manor house were all dead. Without leaves, they creaked and groaned in the breeze, now unable to sway easily.\n\n\tHer room was her sanctuary, a set of rooms, really, as one was once a servant's parlor. Her large four poster bed with its drippings of lace dominated the space. The silk wallpaper was dreary and the plaster ceiling cracked but she called it home and home it was. A soft glow from twin gas lamps spaced apart from each other gave plenty of room for shadows to dance. Producing a flickering blossom of orange that highlighted her dark tan fur. Once the curtains where drawn Vitani slowly walked over to her vanity with its large mirror. The vial took its place atop the wooden top, next to her curry combs and brushes. Standing back, the lioness examined herself in the vanity's mirror.\n\n\tRunning a hand across one shoulder and then the other, she mentally critiqued her own body. For a lioness, she was rather rough and scruffy, where others were sleek. That scruffiness being something she shared with Angel. However, where the canine was complimented by the occasional rough tuft of fur, Vitani felt hers just made her look messy. Those large blue eyes, full of uncertainty, coupled with soft eyelashes accented her thick feline muzzle with its nose. \n\n\tFingers began plucking at buttons, first one, then the next, and the next. The shirtwaist fell from her frame, falling down her shoulders to reveal a sturdy stomach and torso. Fingers reached behind her back to undo the clasps of her simple corset and allowing the folds of cloth to fall away to the floor, releasing her bosom to drop down. Her breasts where nice and heavy, good handfuls that one could cup and grope. Ones which she was pleased to admit were slightly bigger than her canine rival's. Each tit was crowned by a dark pink nipple. The light tan pattern that started at her muzzle carried down around her breasts and over her gut before diving down between her legs to highlight her mound.\n\n\tReaching out she grasped the vial between a thumb and a forefinger and uncorked it. “I wonder what's in this thing?” she asked herself, looking inside at the pink liquid. The fluid did not seem appetizing, yet Vitani couldn't stop herself as she grasped the glass and inhaled as small sip, before putting the opened bottle back down on the vanity. It tasted...like nothing, which surprised the topless lioness. Although it shouldn't have surprised her, after all, if it had a taste then it would be detectable in a drink. \n\n\tHer own fingers slid into the hemline of her skirt and undid the clasp, allowing it to slide down her legs showing off her solid limbs. Dressing down for the night, she stepped out of her skirt, her bare paws now standing on the carpeted floor. She tended to sleep in the nude, sometimes with a window open to cast a cool breeze into her room. Her fingers and toes where a light tan color, set against the dirty brown fur of her body. Vitani's thighs and hips had a hard curve to them and nestled between her legs was a pert mound with a fine slit. Looking at herself in the mirror she knew that she was attractive as much as felines could go. However, she lacked the sleek body most lionesses obtained, instead, standing tall and thick with heavy breasts and strong legs.\n\n\tYet even as her gaze returned to the mirror, the room seemed to tilt. Her head started to spin, her body grew weaker and weaker by the second. Realizing that something in the vial must have kicked in and instantly regretting taking that test sip, Vitani started to feel sick. She placed a hand on each side of her head and closed her eyes, gritting her teeth as she found a sudden pounding entering her skull. She stumbled over to the bed and fell backwards into the down pillows and mattresses. Staring at the ceiling, trying to gather her thoughts, but nothing was working. She wasn't able to think about anything other than Scamp, and she finally gave in, letting herself picture the gray mutt in her mind's eye. \n\n\t“Scamp...” She whispered, slowly grazing her imagination over the pup's form. As her mind was filled with images of her object of affection, the lioness felt her heart-rate increasing. She found herself growing short of breath, as if she was running a marathon. Her thoughts became fuzzy, and the space between her thighs was growing warmer and warmer by the second.\n\n\t\"Fuck...\" Vitani sighed, feeling her lower lips begin to tingle. Somewhere in her steadily fuzzy mind, she knew this had something to do with the vial. However, at that moment, there was an itch to scratch, and its demands had grown too high to ignore. Turning to the side table, she slipped open a drawer and plucked from whiten a strip of leather.\n\n\tIt had been a while since she had pleasured herself in this manner. The leather was wrapped around her left wrist with a loop left open to slide in her right, and tightened down with a tug from her mouth. Firmly tying her hands together in front of her. She felt free in that moment, already naked and just the act of running her bound hands across her body brought forth sensations of pleasure. She couldn't even stop herself before she slowly lifted her legs and widened them, showing off her feminine pride to anyone that would look. Luckily, she was alone up here, with her brothers down in the lower floor, and her mother in her own wing. She licked her lips and snaked her lashed hands up toward her breasts. She cupped a breast in her left hand before giving herself a playful squeeze and ending with a demanding pinch to the very tip of her nipple. Making her folds ache and throb for attention as she set to messaging her own cups with grace and skill.\n\n\tThe lioness laid her head back and slid her hands down her stomach until she reached her lower lips with her delicate fingers. Teasingly, she used her right hand to spread herself, letting her index and middle fingers expose the tender, pink of her inner folds. She twisted her left hand underneath her right and began stroking her clit. The leather creaking softly as it strained against her wrists. Keeping them tightly together. Teasing herself more than she had in several weeks.\n\n\t\"God...\" She sighed, moaning as she slipped her paw lower and began stroking the tips of her index and middle fingers onto her entrance. She began drawing shapes on her clit, turning her fingers and swirling them, trying to surprise herself with the sensations that followed. It wasn't anywhere near as good as someone actually touching her, but she loved it anyway. She shivered, bucking her hips gently against her bound hands, using her thumb to stroke and rub her clit as her two fingers danced inside of the tight lips. Her mind was getting more clouded, and she was finding it hard to think straight. Before long, she was no longer thinking at all. She was simply moaning to the ceiling with her fingers knuckle deep inside her tight lips, forcing her to pleasure her body without having to think of what movements to make or how fast to go.\n\n\tSo badly she had wanted to have Scamp spread her legs and show her pleasure like she had never known before. Her mind was full of that gray furred face, and the vision of him between her legs and plowing her with vigor that was beyond what he had ever possibly given Angel. She licked her lips, swaying her feline hips from side to side just to get the rubbing sensation from her bedsheets.\n\n\t\"Oh Scamp...\" Vitani whispered to herself, moaning softly as she continued teasingly prodding her slit with the tips of her fingers, sliding them inside herself just enough to get the tips soaked before pulling them back out. Her limbs felt limp, yet the glow of desire continued to ebb from between her legs. The whole world spun around her, shadows seeming to slowly sway from the corners of the walls.\n\t\n\tThe lioness did nothing as those shadows swirled around her. They danced around her limbs. Encircling her wrists and pulling them back against the bed-frame above her head. The leather already tied around her wrists grew tighter as the specters formed into solid straps. Wrapping around her wrists and tightly binding them against the frame with polished black bands.\n\n\tVitani lay like that for what felt like hours, on her back, looking through the lace of her bed cover at the plaster ceiling. Hands tightly bound above her head. Feeling her breathing slowly coming back to normal as her lower lips throbbed. In reality it had to have only been a few moments. However it wasn't the passing of time that awoke her from this trance, it was the sudden presence of another in her room. Looking up from her pillow, her blue eyes became the size of dinner plates as she saw who it was that stood at the end of her bed, those deep brown eyes drinking in the sight of the nude feline laying bound and spread before him.\n\n\t“S-Scamp! What are you, how did you? What's going on?” Vitani struggled to put together words from her racing thoughts. Her hands balled into fists and she weakly pulled against her bindings. Not only was the object of her affection standing over her, smiling at her nudity. He too, was very, very, naked. “Oh...wow,”\n\n\tScamp was everything she imagined him to be, his body light and firm yet covered with a soft pelt of gray fur. The mutt was slightly feminine in nature, with slender legs and arms and smooth thighs ending in a well-turned set of paws, a trait he obtained from his purebred mother. Her eyes slowly descended down his body. Drinking him in from the scruffy bang between those two triangular ears to his bare chest and slender torso. His arms where held folded across his chest. Her gaze continued to fall down until it became riveted to the package the young dog possessed. It was completely pink with a nice sized head; dangling under was a set of gray furred balls.\n\n\tScamp slowly approached the bed, his chocolate colored eyes fluttering full of mischief as he slipped onto the mattress. A mischievous smirk plastered across his tousled furred muzzle. Sitting on his knees, a hand reached out to grasp hold of the lioness' ankles and lift her legs into the air. Vitani watched as Scamp brought a foot to his mouth, and gently kissed the top of her paw, sending soft ticklish sensations up her leg. With her hands wiggling uselessly above her head, the lioness let out a contented sigh as he gave her toes a quick lick before slowly running his lips across them. Her other foot was likewise brought forth and given the same treatment.\n\n\tShuffling forward, the gray canine then spread her legs to each side of his pelvis. His hands danced along the sides of her torso until they came to her neck. The mutt wrapped them around her throat gingerly and the lioness felt a sudden weight there. As Scamp brought his hands away, a jet black collar appeared in their place, firmly locked around her neck. It had no features, just a dark color that matched the straps that seemed to unwind from the mutt's palms as he drew them away. Scamp pressed them into her legs, folding her backwards into a mating press. The lioness looked down between the cleavage of her breasts and hiked her legs up to help him bind them in place. The black leather straps from around her neck locking them in place, folded.\n\n\tShe couldn't believe this. In fact, she should be asking questions. A lot of them. However, as she looked through the valley of her cleavage up at Scamp, she knew he was getting a full of view of her mound and it's moistening slit. The head of his shaft lined up and ready for impalement. She found she didn't care, her fingers dug into her own legs and she gave her head a few nods. She couldn't fight it, didn't want to fight it. This was what she wanted. Vitani wiggled her toes, then sighed as the head of Scamp's cock nestled into her folds.\n\n\t\"Please,\" She whispered, giving a little squirm to test her bondage. \"Don't be gentle,\"\n\n\tScamp seemingly heard her request and grinned mischievously as he placed a hand over her mouth. Vitani shivered as the dog pressed hard. Huffing through her nose as he lined up the tip of his dick with her soft folds and teased her a little bit. Scamp pulled his hand away, and in its place a black square-shaped panel was left across her mouth. It adhered to her like a second skin, but lay like a strip of tape. Effectively gagging the lioness.\n\n\tHolding the head of his shaft cupped within her sex, Vitani felt her body swelter with anticipation at its inevitable lancing into her own flesh. Her eyes clamped shut and she squealed through the gag as he slid in with a solid thrust. With permission given he thrust deep and hard, not waiting for her to adjust at all before pounding her. Her pulsating mound was velvety soft and smooth while the folds and flesh had become nicely lubricated with her womanly juices. A hand squeezed her tit as he started fucking. She could feel it bounce in his palm as her walls stroked and milked him. He took his time, gently pinching one nipple before giving it a playful tug that sent sensations sparking straight to her groin. \n\n\t\"Mmmo GHAWD!\" The lioness murred through sealed lips, her head rolling back and ears pinned. Her breath was coming out in a harsh hiss through her nostrils as the canine began to piston her.\n\n\tEach slap of his crotch against her caused the flesh of her restrained thighs to ripple and move in a fluid ripple. Her snatch instantly tightened around his throbbing member in a desperate attempt to adjust to the sudden intrusion. Her tits bobbing in his grasp as he kneaded and squeezed them, those deep colored nipples sticking out between his gray fingers. Her vaginal folds felt so remarkably warm; she puffed her cheeks as her cunt muscles clutched and massaged his shaft as is slid in. Then, with a roll of his pelvis, Scamp quickly pulled back out with a sharp exhale from her nose.\n\n\tShe openly moaned through the panel gag, such a sweet and loving sound as her voice was muffled. Her legs curled back so that her feet and ankles where at neck height with him. Her thick toes clinching. The straps running to her knees vibrating as they took the stress. Unable to hold back, she let out a shiver and 'wumphed' into her gag as his cock felt and claimed it's way deeper along her inner walls, sending small, hot waves of pleasure through her. \"Mumph, Fwuch, fruck, HooooH FRUCK!\"\t\n\n\tThe lioness inhaled through her nose at the feeling of his penis sliding back, her cheeks puffing as her mouth strained against the seemingly impossible adhesive that glued the panel to her face, then exhaled in a low moaning sigh when he bored his cock back into her. Again, and again, and again his thrusting had the added effect of causing her to shift and rock back and forth in the bed, the headboard hitting the wall with hard \"thunk\" in time to her vocalizations. Her hands were wiggling above her head. One of her legs rose straight up, the paw pointed to the ceiling, and Scamp grasped the up-turned paw and held it as he pounded deeper. Feeling her tight passage squeeze and caress him, his eyes fluttered shut and he clinched his teeth and set out a canine growl. She let out a shallow hiss of air, her chest rising and falling, those thick breasts quivering as she did. \n\n\tLooking up at him, Vitani's heart soared, any reason as to how or why this was happening had left her. All she knew was that she was tied up tight and the boy she loved was between her legs. The pounding of the headboard gave him a rhythm to fuck to as he bucked hard into her. She was glad for the gag, keeping her shouts of pleasure muffled. As it was, there was a slight worry that her mother would hear the headboard and investigate. However, that and any other thoughts not related to the harsh mating press she was bound in were wiped from the scruffy feline's head when Scamp slipped both of his hands over her bouncing breasts, fingers digging into the soft mounds of female flesh as her kneaded first her right tit, then her left.\n\n\t“Hyesshmm,” Vitani hissed. “Hoh pwease, pwease, hyus.”\n\t\n\tThe bucking lioness rolled her head to the side and buried her face into the side of her raised arm. Her eyes clamped shut as each smack of his hips against her sent waves of flesh and fur that rippled through her thighs and hips. Leaning his body back, Scamp returned a hand around the ankle that rose perpendicular to his, toes pointing skyward. The other hand slipped under one of her knees to nestle where the straps where secured. Leaning his head back, he started to roll his pelvis with forceful thrusts. Her fingers digging deep into the palms of her tied hands as each of the mongrel's sudden evacuations left her feeling empty. The inner flesh, now very slick, closed and massaged the head of his dick as it slid out, which only served to send a wave of pure euphoria to slam through her ahead of that pulsing head when he rammed it back home. Bringing forth a sharp grunt from the feline's throat each time the action was repeated. Her raised leg twitched, ankle locked around his fingers, toes clinching and splayed in unison with those thrusts, her ears bobbing in rhythm.\n\n\tVitani was lost within the waves of pleasure that rocked her furry body, she rocked her hips up and down in time to his thrusts. Her breasts rolling in circular motions within his one hand and her whole-body rocking in rhythm. She curled her free leg back so that her knee was almost touching her own chest and put a bare paw on his abs, the other leg remaining vertical with the ankle in his hand. One strap hanging loose, while the other went taught. Her instincts had taken over, and as Vitani gasped loudly through open nostrils and a sealed mouth, she felt her lower lips tighten like a vice around Scamp's shaft, making her whole-body jolt with bliss as her love flesh erupted with juices. She wiggled from side to side, moaning and squealing into the panel as he continued to plow her. \n\n\tThose clouded eyes cracked open and she peered between their bodies when she felt the base of his crotch bump against her nether lips. Balls deep inside her. She barely had time to recognize what was happening before his head rammed home against her cervix and a bolt of pleasure raced through her frame. Quickly followed by a gush of warmth that blasted through her whole body as if she had been plunged crotch first into a warm tank of water. Vitani's body went ridged, staining against her bondage.\n\n\t“MuuuMmm...MUMM...HUMPF-AAAAH!” Her eyes shot open as her body suddenly flopped down, complete free. Her mouth wide open in a joyful cry. To her great confusion and disbelief, she found she was alone in her own bed, the sheets wet with sweat and sexual fluids. Her mound pulsating and squirting into the empty air.\n\n\tSitting up on her arms, she realized all of the bondage was gone. Her free legs falling back atop the mattress and her bare chest heaving as she gulped down air. Her nipples, now devoid of any real attention, pointed hard at the cracked plaster ceiling. Rising and falling with each labored breath. \n\n\t“Shit...” Her voice was a low hiss of air with realization hitting her that whatever it was inside that vial, it had more than a superficial effect. Jumping out of the bed she rushed over to the vanity. The vial calling like a siren's song. Grabbing the glass ampoule, the lioness dropped it into one of the drawers and slammed it shut.\n\n\t It had all felt so real! Like he was here in the flesh and fur. Vitani dropped to the floor, back against the side of the vanity, her head lolled back to look up with dull eyes at the plaster ceiling with it's cracks. A wave of pure dejection splashing over her to subside the last ebbs of pleasure.\n\n\tOne drop, and it could all be real. One powerful drop.\n\n\n*************\n\n\n\n\tThe reflection that looked up from the polished bartop showed a level of fatigue that matched the churning inner realms of Vitani's gut. Drawing her rag over the surface, distorting the reflection, the lioness let out a soft grunt. Returning to her senses the last night, she had left the vial locked in that drawer, trying to put it out of her sight and out of her mind. All night, the lioness tossed and turned in her lonely bedroom, it was as if the vial called to her with a silent siren's song. It would be so easy to just let a few drops into Scamp's drink the next time the mongrel came by the Watering Hole. Angel would be fine, she was a strong canine and would support Scamp no matter what choices he made.\n\n\tEven if those choices were not his own.\n\n\tWhat would happen to Angel afterwards? The Shadow Man's words rang around the cat's head...what was the price Angel would be forced to pay? The same loneliness that haunted Vitani? That was something Angel could have! Or, was there something more? The vial seemed so unnatural. By morning's light, she grabbed the vial without thinking and quickly washed up for her first shift. The scent of cigars and cigarettes seemed thicker than usual, and the young lioness felt seemingly more aware of the shadows that filled the corners of her bar.\n\n\t“You look like death rolled over,” A familiar voice snapped Vitani out of her string of thoughts. The lioness looked up, her ears flicking back and a hand drifting to the back of her head to rub her fingers down her own neck nervously.\n\n\t“Oh, uh, hello Angel,” Her throat was raw and she could practically feel the trepidation rising in her chest.\n\n\tAngel sat bent over at the bar, one arm laying causally across the counter top. Her head was tilted, making one floppy ear stand up at an odd angle while an eyebrow rose. It seemed the dog could see something was off. “Wow, anything I could do to help?”\n\n\t“Oh, it's nothing,” Vitani brushed it off. Pulling herself up and quickly swallowing, her eyes darting around the blonde furred railroader, looking for the very soul she was dreading seeing the most. “Where's Scamp?”\n\n\tAngel shot her friend a questioning look but answered anyway. “Still in the yard. He'll be here soon, we have a small rest before we set out on a coal train this afternoon.”\n\n\tVitani gulped and her heart skipped a beat as she clearly saw the shadows start to grow from the corners of the building behind the dog, slowly spreading from the corners of the windows and above the door. The lioness' ears perked as she wondered if anyone else could see them, or if she alone was to bear witness. The vial sat in her pocket, seeming like it grew heavier every passing second. “Oh, well can I get you anything while you wait?”\n\n\t“Yeah, my usual,” Angel rapped her fingers on the bartop, her curly tail giving great swooshes side to side above the seat of her pants. “In fact, pour a glass for Tenderfoot!”\n\n\tThe lioness' heat skipped a beat. A glass for Scamp? The vial felt like it resonated a pulse that echoed through the girl, she wasn't sure if that was real or if she had just imagined it. Vitani put her back to the Pomeranian as she reached over the back counter for the glasses that hung over the great mirror. Seeing beyond her own reflection and the look of fatigue that seemed etched into her thick feline muzzle, her throat became dry as she could see the shadows behind Angel stretchering towards the unsuspecting dog. “S-sure, coming right up” she stuttered.\n\n\tTwo glasses were pulled off the rack, set down on the counter with a soft “clink”.\n\n\t“So, you and Scamp. You guys have known each other for a while?”\n\n\tAngel's ears perked up and the dog let out a soft chuckle and playfully rolled her eyes. “Yeah, you could say that.”\n\n\t“But you had a life...before him? Right?” The cork was removed from a bottle.\n\n\t“Oh sure. When I first met him, he was this little mutt who spoke endlessly about adventure and being a wild soul and traveling the world.” The end of Angel's mouth cocked up in a sly smirk. “He tried so hard, it was beyond adorable.”\n\n\t“I can imagine that,” The very tip of Vitani's tail flicked back and forth as the girl shifted her weight from one leg to the other. A hand reached for the vial, tucked away, was she really going to do this? “So, and forgive me from asking...but could you go back to that life? Without Scamp?”\n\n\tAngel's big, floppy ears went backwards for a split second at the abruptness of the question but she perked them back up. “I've, well, never thought about that. He's just such a part of my life. Why?”\n\n\tThe lioness started to pour the two drinks with one hand while the other had its fingers wrapped around the vial. If she was going to do this it would have to be slick. With her back to Angel, the blonde furred railroader couldn't see what the lioness was up to while Vitani had a full view thanks to the mirror of both herself and her victim. “Just, you two seem like you work so well together.”\n\n\tAngel had an eyebrow raised in her direction now, clearly wondering where all this was leading towards. One end of her mouth tipped up in a slight smirk as she reached out with a guess.\n\n\t“You like someone, don't you?”\n\n\tIt was like she was hit with lightning, the sudden jolt that rippled through her body caused Vitani's hand to shake spilling a small amount of drink on the counter. The feline looked over her shoulder, the look in her eyes saying everything.\n\n\tAngel was quiet for a while the sounds of the bar's few patrons becoming faded background noise. Barely registering. When she finally spoke, her voice was soft.\n\n\t\"I see everything in him, he's my entire world,\" Her blue eyes were sparkling while the weak sun caught her fur through the dirty window, making it shine a bright and beautiful gold. The shadows that swirled around the back-wall seemed to retreat at that. \"He saved me from the streets, I couldn't imagine anyone I would want to be with more.\" She went on warmly.\n\n\t“Saved you?” One of Vitani's ears perked in interest, the vial held tightly between her fingers as she slipped it out of her pocket. The lioness realized that for as long as she had known the two railroaders she had never once asked about their past. “That bad, huh?”\n\n\t“You wouldn't believe it,” Angel motioned with her hand. “Let's just say that I was not in a good place. Scamp found me and I found him. Together, we found the railroad, we found a future.”\n\n\tVitani could feel her heart pounding in her chest and she looked down at the vial, its substance seeming to pulsate in time to her heartbeat. She wanted Scamp, oh how badly she wanted him. To be saved herself, much like Angel had been.\n\n\tAll it would take was one drop.\n\n\tHer thumb passed over the cork in the lid, pressing up till the cork popped free. Looking up into the mirror, the lioness gazed at her own reflection, holding the vial over the glass she intended to give to the mutt. Behind her sat Angel, casually tapping a finger against the rough wood of the bar top unaware of the shadows that crept towards her figure from behind. Could she even see them? Or where the specters Vitani's personal hell?\n\n\t“That's what I want,” Vitani's voice was low and wistful so that one she could hear, her head bowed slightly. “A future...”\n\n\t“So, who is he?” Angel's voice, upbeat at the prospect of hearing some news, cut through the lioness's thoughts like an arrow. “Is he one of our railroaders?”\n\n\tShe put the vial down on the counter-top and turned around to face Angel, planting a hand on the counter to each side and leaning back. The shadows appeared like arms, fingers outstretched over Angel's head. She couldn't do this, could she?\n\n\t“Do I know him?” Angel's voice was innocent. \n\n\tThe lioness opened her mouth to answer when a familiar tousled maw appeared behind Angel. The shadowy spectators retreated back into their corners. The pom looked over her shoulder at him as he slid up to the counter, a big goofy smile plastered across his face. Vitani felt her heart sink at the sight of him. From those warm brown eyes to that bang that fell between her ears, she just felt a natural attraction. The vial behind her seemed to cast a heat into her chest from the base of her tail on up.\n\n\t“Hey 'Tani! Angel. What's up?” Scamp yipped as he plopped down on a bar-stool. Vitani felt sick at the fact he mentioned her first.\n\n\t“Fashionably late as always, eh Tenderfoot?” Angel reached out and gave a playful tug on Scamp's sleeve. “Had you been any later I would have taken your drink for myself.”\n\n\t“Hey, I was late cleaning up your mess Miss Engineer-in-training. You know how much sand you threw on the ground getting that cut of cars moving? I had to help hand buckets up to load that dome again,”\n\n\tAngel visibly blushed causing Vitani's heartbeat to pick up instantly. She wondered if Scamp's ears could detect the sound she was sure it was making. On the wall behind the lovebird pups the shadows showed two silhouettes, one of Scamp the other of Vitani. Sitting side by side, arm in arm.\n\n\t“Well, perhaps I should buy your first round them, provided we don't distract Vitani any more then we already have.” Angel playfully rolled her eyes.\n\n\t“Right, I'm on that,” Vitani blurted out before swiftly spinning back around.\n\n\tShe grasped the vial in her shaking fingers, looking at its patterned glass and the liquid it held. There was Scamp's glass. There was Scamp. One drop and she and he would be together. Did it work instantly? Would she have to explain to Angel why her boyfriend suddenly got affectionate to her? What would happen to Angel? At this point Vitani was sure that whatever the price to pay was, Angel would suffer. Emotionally for sure...and perhaps worse. Those shadows seemingly spiraling on the walls and in her head were pushing her, telling her it was alright. They might have been real, or figments of her imagination however their actions certainly drove her. Making her hand slowly move the vial over the glass.\n\n\tOne drop, just one drop.\n\n\n *****************\n\n\n\t“See you later 'Tani!” Scamp gave a smile and a wave of his hand and he and Angel passed through the door to the pub.\n\n\tThe sun was starting to drop and as the door closed behind them the lioness could see them through the big window as Angel slipped an arm though Scamp's, leaning her head to rest on his shoulder. The two were off into the evening. Off to wherever it was that railroaders went when they waited on their next assignment. In so many ways it was like Scamp and Angel both gained their wishes. Angel got her rescuer, Scamp his adventure. Both facing life together while Vitani faced it alone.\n\n\tThe lioness took a deep breath, there were still some customers in the dining room however she couldn't really focus on them at the moment. Instead, she dropped her towel on the counter and swung around to walk through the door that led to the kitchen. As soon as the door shut behind her, it was like a flood of shadows suddenly swirled around the room.\n\n\t“STOP IT!” The lion screeched, waving her arms in the air, attempting to disperse them. They flew to the far corners of the room and she reached for a door that led out back to the alley behind the pub.\n\n\tIf the shadows inside had been bad, outside in the setting sun it was worse. The alley may have been empty, aside from the number of casks, crates, and garbage bins that lay scattered around its stone slabbed avenue. Looking around the dark alley Vitani felt as if the great shadows looked down from the buildings, glaring at her, waiting for something. Glancing up she scowled and opened her arms as if to say 'now what'. Reaching into the pocket in her shirtwaist she pulled the vial out, instantly her face was lit by the ebbing pink glow as she held it up. She felt her face drop slightly as she took in its phosphorus glow.\n\n\tShe couldn't do it, as much as she wanted to she just couldn't. Angel did not deserve whatever fate would have awaited her and if Scamp was to become attracted to her, then she wanted him to do it under his own volition. Not one that was created by a cursed object. Vitani took a deep breath, settling her nerves. Dropping to a knee, she leaned over and gently placed the vial on the stone pavement.\n\n\tFor a few seconds, she sat there, on one knee as if she was proposing, looking at the strange vial and the pink ripples of light it cast on the damp stone of the alley-floor. She rolled her lower lip and softly bit it, her tail curled around a leg. She could try again, just lay in wait until she had enough courage.\n\n\tAs soon as that very thought crossed her mind Vitani stood up, her shoulders steady and a determined look on her face. She raided a foot, and the heel was pressed against the vial with a sharp 'tink' of glass. The lioness closed her eyes and felt her heart swell, the corners of her eyes growing moist as she recognized that her only sure-fire chance was about to be scattered. With a shift of her weight, she heard the vial crunch before her foot sank down suddenly.\n\n\tIt was like a great wave washed through her body, Vitani kept her eyes clamped shut feeling energy surge through her body. She didn't know what was real and what was imaginary or what forces she had unleashed. Her back arched, and her arms felt as if they were pushed up as if she was falling into a body of water. The rush of air moaned as if a thousand voices called out and where suddenly silenced.\n\n\tWith a great exhalation of air Vitani's eyes snapped open and her mouth dropped in a wide “O”. She was alone in the alley other than the shards of broken glass underneath her foot. There was no sign of the substance inside the vial or anything out of the ordinary. Her eyes slowly passed around the brick and wooden walls that made up the urban valley she stood in. The long shadows of the end of the day were steady and still, no figures danced and no eyes glared down at her. Just the final rays of the day slowly retreating.\n\n\tA hand absentmindedly rose up and down an arm and one ear slipped down. It was as if an immense weight had been released from her while a small smile lifted the ends of the feline's mouth. She wrinkled her nose while she gave her head a little shake. Hands coming up to rub at her eyes removed any remaining traces of wetness from the corners of her eyes and cheeks.\n\n\tTaking one final deep breath and a sigh of content, Vitani spun on her heels and passed through the rear door of the Watering Hole. Her shift would end soon and she had a long walk home. Leaving behind a few traces of broken glass and gaining a resolve to bring change in her own way, and her own time.\n\n\tSomewhere, not far away, a steam whistle blew.\n\n\n [center]The End[/center]", "writing_bbcode_parsed": "
The Outlander




October 1893, Marceline Georgia


\tThe sound of a steam whistle, low and melodic, echoed from outside the building. To dreamers and wishers, it was an age-old invitation to adventure, to others simply a wakeup call.

\tThe air in the pub was thick with the scent of cigar and cigarette smoke, a physical cloud visible hanging just below the tin-plated ceiling and surrounding the gas light fixtures in a hazy veil. Standing behind the great oak bar, one would find a mid-20s lioness, scruffier than average with a short bang that fell between her ears. Vitani leaned back against the great wide mirror behind the bar. Looking over her little kingdom. Grabbing a damp washcloth, she began cleaning the inside of a set of recently clean but still damp glasses, then setting them up on a rack hanging above the bar to fully dry. Taking a moment for her blue eyes to drift down as she examined herself in the looking glass. A habit she had gotten into just to be sure that she looked something akin to presentable. She rose a hand to gently brush out the breast of her white cotton shirtwaist. It fit snugly against her chest. Its fabric outlining the natural curves of her torso. The young lioness didn't particularly like her job, working the counter at the tavern which was aptly named “The Watering Hole,” it made her feel trapped. Constantly seeing the many faces and hearing the many stories told by the railroaders, teamsters, and farm laborers who frequented that particular dive had the effect of seeing the world run by while she stood in place. Yet she didn't fully dislike it either, the ends of her mouth turned up in a smile as she took a breath, then turned to face the inside of the counter.

\tThe room was a great symphony of voices mixed with an orchestra of silverware and glassware from the crowd that occupied the popular pub. It was a small establishment, purposefully kept local and out of the way, its wood paneled and newspaper-wallpapered walls known mostly to railroad and steamboat men. Vitani's time was spent between the rush of lunch and dinner, and depending on the day of the week, the madness of the evening crowd.

\tBeing a barmaid paid well and it meant that she did not have to deal with her overbearing mother. Unfortunately, it did not pay enough for her to be able to strike out on her own, a fact which she greatly lamented. Vitani had come to hate life in the time-haunted old plantation she had grown up on. Born the middle child with a perfect younger brother and an unstable mess of an older brother she found her time working in town to be all her own. Getting away from her mother's snarls made working late nights at the counter worthwhile even if it meant she was filling glasses for an unruly gathering that catcalled her behind her back.

\tThere were, however, other incentives. One of which she found was a bright beam of light on an otherwise gray existence.

\t“Hiya 'Tani!” A familiar male voice called, instantly drawing the lioness's attention. “Good to see you!”

\tWith a sly smile and a roll of her eyes Vitani finished sorting the glasses, only then sauntering over to the lanky, scruffy mutt that had called her. “Hey Scamp, good to see you're back in town. The usual?”

\tScamp's triangular ears flopped forward as he plopped himself down on a bar-stool. Vitani couldn't help but eye up the handsome mongrel. Countless men came to her bar, most of whom she was friends with and had no qualms about getting chatty. However, there was something different about Scamp. Perhaps it was his seemingly eternal optimism? Although some, including the lioness, would call it foolishness. He reached into a pocket on his cotton shirt and quickly produced two coins which he slapped down on the hardwood counter-top. “Yep, two glasses if you will. Just got into town an hour ago, Angel is still down in the yard cleaning up so hold her's until she gets here,” He flashed a white toothed smile, “It was a rather slick trip, if I do say so myself.”

\t“Which way did you guys go?” The lioness grabbed two clean glasses off the rack, and ducked one under the fountain nozzle. Her thin tan tail whipped back and forth from the seat of her black rainy daisy skirt. “North or South?”

\t“South, to Atlanta,” Scamp spun around in the bar-stool and leaned back against the bar, placing the back of his arms on the counter-top. “Spent the night in a hostel, then back today. If I can I plan to not leave this bar-stool for the rest of the night.”

\tVitani grinned, rolling her eyes playfully before placing a glass down next to the mongrel’s open hand. She couldn’t help but feel a slight upbeat at the handsome mutt’s presence. “You're welcome to it, be nicer company then most of the rats that pop in this late. Just try not to go all blotto on me.”

\t“No promises,” Scamp grabbed the glass and tilted his head back, taking a quick sip. “How are things since I've been gone? Going well with your folks?”

\tVitani's ears flattened and her scowl told Scamp everything. The feline's tail whipped against the back of her legs as she let out a snort. Standing back, she put a hand on each of her nicely curving hips, while her long tail rigidly hung high. “Mother's doing her usual thing, wants me to find some nice male lion with dough so she can inherit something. I think Nuka's finally lost it from working in the plantation fields. He's convinced that the mansion is haunted and claims that spirits are following him around and causing mischief. Honestly, the guy is clumsier then a bull in a china shop and I'm pretty sure he's bringing it all upon himself.” She wrinkled her nose and gave her head a little shake. “So yeah, I think I'd rather spend my time in town.”

\t“Well, I’m glad you’re here,” Scamp's ears flicked forward and he gave her a cheesy grin from over his shoulder. Vitani could hear his tail whipping against the back of the bar. “If nothing else, it’s nice to come back to a cool drink and a warm face,”

\t“Good to know I’m appreciated! Especially by someone who is willing to put up with frequenting this dump to do such.” The lioness crossed her arms over her chest and smiled, it was so hard to not admire that cute puppy face. “So, how was your trip?”

\tScamp huffed, blowing his wandering bang out from in front of his face. “It went pretty well until Mom gave Angel the throttle. Just for practice you know.”

\t“Right, Angel has been talking about wanting to move onto engine crew at some point.” The lioness felt a slight hint of jealousy about the idea that Angel was starting to forge a better life for herself.

\tScamp’s tail began to wag against the barstool. “Well, she brought the train into the yard all stretched out, set up the brakes and brought the head end to a stop. Apparently, she looked at my mom and said 'Wow, I got that stopped like a pro!' and then WHAM!” With a wide grin plastered on his face the mongrel held his hands out and gave an almighty clap, mimicking the railcar couplers bunching up. “The slack rolled in and banged the locomotive so hard it tossed Angel out of the engineer’s seat. My parents were not amused.”

\tThe lioness chuckled. Scamp had a way of showing such expression. He was so outgoing, far removed from those she usually had to associate with. From outside came the low wail of a steam whistle. The Watering Hole was located close enough to the railroad yard that it wasn't uncommon to hear the goings on from the bar. Vitani had actually worked long enough to start recognizing the individual whistles. “So, if Angel is moving up to the cab are you planning on changing ends of the train too?”

\tScamp arched an eyebrow, his head tilted as if he was thinking, making one floppy ear stand up at an odd angle. “Nah, I don't think so. I like being a conductor, the money's swell and I like being in charge of the train,” He rubbed a hand on his chest and that toothy grin was back. “Did you know the conductor is actually fully in charge of the train?”

\t“Mmmm, is that so?” Vitani wasn't sure why, but she was blushing badly under her fur.

\t“Yes, indeed. It's not a job just anyone can handle, lots of responsibility that falls on my shoulders.”

\t“Yeah, responsibility that you like to skirt. Right tenderfoot?”

\tHis big ears swiveled back as Angel sauntered up to the bar. Vitani flicked one ear at the sound of Scamp's nervous laugh, despite her words, Angel’s fluffy tail was wagging playfully front the seat of her brown trousers. As she slid into the barstool next to Scamp she plopped a small notebook on the bartop. Vitani couldn't help but notice a smudge of coal dust on the blonde furred dog's cheek. No doubt a small trinket from being tossed from the engineer's seat.

\t“Hiyah Angel, just you know...talking shop.” The young mongrel tried some spin control however little seemed to pass Angel. Vitani turned away to fetch the two ordered glasses, but kept an eye on her two customers. She felt herself deflate slightly at Angel's presence.

\t“Yeah, well maybe next time you'll take responsibility and do the car count instead of leaving it to me. After-all,” She fluttered her eyelashes. “You are the conductor, the big dog in the caboose.”

\t“But Angel, I figured you would need to walk the train anyway. If nothing else just to be sure you didn't smash any couplers on that roll in you did.” Angel rolled her eyes and playfully shoved Scamp hard, sending him almost falling out of the barstool.

\tThe two railroaders laughed as Scamp pulled himself back upright. The lioness secretly loved watching the pair. Even though they were always picking on each other everyone knew that the two railroaders were very much in love. Vitani couldn't help but feel a slight envy at the chemistry they seemed to have. She had no interest in such grungy and hard work as that of the railroad. Yet it seemed like Scamp and Angel were a glow of light and warmth set before such a harsh world. Her envy though, seemed to be more towards one member of the duo than the other. As she returned with two glasses full of refreshing hard drink she silently wished she had someone like that in her own life. It would make dealing with her mother and her family far more bearable.

\t"Oh, Scamp, when will you learn?" She asked as she placed the glass in front of him.

\tAngel burst out with a gruff and happy, “Oh, I don't think he'll change anytime soon. Either way, he'll always be my tenderfoot!"

\tThe handsome gray mongrel nodded in agreement, bringing the glass back to his lips. As much as she wished she could stay and spend time with these two the lioness could see another customer finishing his glass, while yet another saddled up on another barstool. She sighed, her maw wrinkling and ears flicking back. It was going to be another long day.


\t\t\t\t\t\t*********

\tThe sun had long vanished from behind the Appalachian range that ringed the town of Marceline when Vitani started her way home. Flipping the sign on the front door to 'closed' she plucked a fob-watch, sans chain, from her breast pocket and sighed. Another day wasted behind the bar counter and not much to look forward to on the return home. Brushing off her weather-beaten skirt and blouse the lioness started to silently plod down the sidewalk, her eyes drifting down to the cobblestones. A cool wind fluttered her skirt and pulled on the fur of her tail. A recent rainfall had left puddles in the street and long lines of standing water in the gutters. Turning the dirt roads into a surge of mud and muck. Reflecting back the glow of the gas-streetlamps.

\t She had long known that she had a crush on him, just his happy outlook on life and his seemingly bottomless level of optimism drew her to him. These were two things Vitani felt she needed more of in her life however he was happily with another girl. A fellow dog who seemed to match him in every way possible. The lioness had no reason to openly dislike Angel, other then the fact that she was with Scamp. They were a cute couple and the three had been friends, or at least acquaintances, for a long enough time that she felt reprehensible for her developing affections.

\tHer ears perked up, and her eyes glanced up as the wail of a steam whistle reached her ears. She wasn't far from the W&A RR's yards. Lonesome and melodic, it sounded like a cry from somewhere in her heart and for a moment the very ends of her mouth turned up as she imagined that it was Scamp, calling out into the night for her. The town was closing up for the night, other then the railyard and the distant clopping of the occasional horse-drawn wagon echoing down some distant street one could be forgiven for thinking that Marceline was abandoned.

\t“Shit, I have it bad,” the lioness tiredly whispered to herself. Admitting openly for the first time that something was happening her mind was so preoccupied that she misjudged the drop from the sidewalk to the muddy street. Her foot twisted and her eyes burst open as her leg turned out from underneath her. Vitani stumbled forward, throwing out her hands to keep from falling completely into the mud. She landed on her side, hands sinking into the muck as she fell to the street.

\t“Oh, for god's sake,” Vitani moaned, laying sprawled out in the gutter. Mud splattered on her skirt and blouse. Looking down at her leg she found that one of her heels had snapped, the old worn material giving way to leave her muddy and unbalanced for the rest of the way home. It was enough to break the poor girl's heart; her lower lip trembled as she balled her fists up and did her best to keep from roaring out in anger. She could no longer keep her head up, her shoulder sagging in defeat and dropping her head down. Her eyes fluttered shut as she lay prone in the gutter.

\tBut she would not remain that way for long as a dark skinned, slender-as-toothpicks, very human hand slid under Vitani's chin and slowly forced her head to rise up. She saw no eyes as they were covered by the rim of a black and red hat, only a roguish grin with a thin black mustache welcoming her.

\t“Looks like you could use a hand there 'darlin'.” Those were the hauntingly friendly words that hummed out through this sinister smile, "How'ya doin'?"

\tVitani instantly recoiled. Eyes narrowed and teeth set, she whipped her head out from his grasp and scrambled back in the mud, a dirty hand fumbling into her blouse for a blade she tended to keep there. The man stepped back, holding his hands up for her to see that they were indeed empty. That smile, sharp and thin, never wavered.

\t“Now hold up there little one, no cause for alarm. Allow me, if you please, Miss Vitani,” He plopped the hat back atop his head, then extended a hand for her to grab.

\tVitani's expression turned to one of shock. “How did you know my...”

\t“Your name? Why sweetie, it's all in the cards.” In the glow of the street lamp's flickering flames, the man cast a long shadow against the brick building facade. Vitani hesitantly slipped a hand into his, and allowed him to pull her out of the puddle. She quickly discovered that he was a lot stronger then he initially appeared. Once she was upright, and attempting to wipe the muck off her blouse and skirt the man pulled his top hat off in a greeting, revealing the square-shaped hair-style of his.

\t“Excuse me?” The lioness started to back away, her steps uneven due to her broken shoe heel.

\t“The Cards, the Cards. The Cards will tell...” He laughed, with a roll of a hand, soon, a set of tarot cards were in his hand, all the suites and Arcana visible as he fanned them out perfectly, before closing again, to which they vanished. Another roll of his hand and a new card appeared. “Allow me to introduce myself, here's my card.”

\tTaking the card and looking it over Vitani read it out loud, an eyebrow raising as she took in it's odd wording. “Dr. Facilier, Tarot Readings, Charms, Potions...” Looking up from the card she saw from the corner of her eyes the dark form of his shadow behind her, the way it moved odd to the lioness's own motions. "Dreams made real... I must say I'm skeptical.”

\tDr. Facilier chuckled, curiosity killed the cat. Leaning on his cane, he looked to Vitani with a gaunt grin. "Yes ma'am, my power is unmatched for miles! I can see your future, change it around some too and I can see you have a dream for sure. One that perhaps I can help you abide to.”

\tVitani pressed the card back at the man then stumbled past him with a roll of her eyes. “Yeah, I don't think so.”

\t“You don't think you deserve him?” His voice stopped the girl in her tracks as she turned her head to look back at the strange man from over her own shoulder. “There is nothing wrong with desiring the company of someone your heart yearns for, especially when life can be, well, less then pleasurable.”

\tVitani opened her mouth to retort when the evening air was split by the shriek of a steam whistle. The way it blew, with such a lonesome wail her mind made it out to be Scamp's train, calling to her in a voice that used no words. The lioness closed her eyes and took a deep breath, her nostrils flaring while the card somehow found its way into a pocket. “Dreams...made real?”

\tThe Shadow Man nodded ominously. “Mmmhmm. What's his name, if I may be so bold?”

\t“Scamp,” His name fell from her lips as a tender whisper, her head bowing to cast her gaze at the sidewalk. “He's just, such a nice guy. Goofy! But...well...”

\tHis movement was oddly quick, suddenly putting an arm around her. "Say no more. Why, with a little encouragement my dear..." he promised, tapping her chest with the head of his cane. Almost instantly his shadow shifted from his feet, grinning devilishly as it rubbed its thin fingers together. "Ain' nothin I can't do, with the right connections! All it takes is the right price."

\t“I don't have much money,” Vitani started to say.

\t“Leave that to me,” The Shadow Man whispered before giving his cane a spin, and bringing it down on the ground. In an explosion of purple smoke and light Dr. Facilier's shadow seemed to swirl around the glow of light from the nearby street lamp, protracted onto the brick wall of a building facade. Vitani's head whipped side to side, peering up and down the deserted street to see if there were any other witnesses to what seemed to be occuring.

\t“Don't be alarmed, parlor tricks, my sweet feline friend,” The man laughed. “But, like a good magician, their secrets are not to be told. Now then, let's look at the cards, shall we.”

\tWith one arm wrapped around her shoulders, he held her close, his hand before her face suddenly had three cards between its thin fingers. The center one was flipped around with a twist of those digits, the image on its front showing a very stylized heart with a sword through it.

\t“Ah, love. So sweet and innocent,” the man began. The right-hand card turned and to the lioness's bewilderment showed a portrait of the smile tousled face and floppy ears of Scamp. This had to be magic, either that or some crazy fluke. Regardless, she saw the pup she admired in those chocolate eyes, no matter if it was intended or not.

\t“Scamp...” Vitani whispered again, feeling emotions well up in her chest.

\t“He would be perfect for you miss. Such strong features and healthy spirit, oh the good it would do to have him in your life...oh, but what's this?” The final card turned, its image being that of a set of lovers, hand in hand. “Why, it would would seem that he's already spoken for. Someone else stands in your way! A jezebel incarnates!”

\t“Her name is Angel,” The lioness admitted, feeling all resistance to admitting the truth slip away. “She's his girl, she has been for as long as I've known them.”

\t“So he needs a nudge, I think I have just the thing,” The cards vanished with a fold of his hand. In their place, his fingers unfolded to reveal a small glass vial. Vitani's eyes widened and her ears flattened back, her long tail flicking back and forth behind her legs. The vial seemed full of a pink liquid that gave off a similarly colored glow, the vial had a cork in its flute and it's glass surface was etched with strange runes. “Just a few drops of this and your face will be all he will be able to think about.”

Vitani felt her heart in her throat as he slipped the vial into her hands and closed her fingers around it, letting go of her and stepping back. It felt so light, as if she was holding nothing at all, yet she could feel it pulsating with heat. “Just a few drops?”

\t“Just a few,” His shadow mimicked chugging down a glass on the wall behind them, “And he'll be all yours.”

\t“Wait! What about Angel? Surely, he won't just forget about her?”

\t“Hmm, well.... don’t worry about her.” His grin split his face and sent a shiver down the lioness' spine. On the brick and glass facade of the closed store, in the glowing orb of light cast from the streetlamp, the shadows began to swirl and morph. Creatures slithering along the very edge while in the center formed a remarkable shadow silhouette of a particular female dog. Vitani recognized the folded ear and curly tail, the figures danced around the shadow dog, pointing and jeering without noise while the ghostly Pomeranian stood stock still, as if trapped and bound in place. “Magic is never free however nothing says someone else can't foot that bill...”

\tThe shadows swirled, curling around 'Angel' like a serpent till only her head, screaming silently was visible. Vitani's heart skipped a beat as the edges of the circle of light closed down atop the phantasmal image of her romantic rival like the closing jaws of some great beast.

\t“Wait, this won't hurt her?” Vitani's tail whipped around one of her own legs as she took a step forward, stumbling slightly on her missing heel.

The Shadow man gave an exasperated gasp, dramatically planting a hand against his chest. “Ma'am, you offend me. Of course, nothing will come of Miss Angel.”

Vitani couldn't see the laughing shadow behind her back. She looked down at her hand, where the cracks between her fingers pulsed with pink light. “Scamp...”

\t“Will. Be. Yours,” The Shadow Man's smirk never died. “C'mon, don't you think you deserve that? Someone in this world who actually cares about you and will give you something to live for. A bright spark in an otherwise dull life, sandwiched between an insane mother and a retarded brother...Vitani, this is all for you.”

\t“All. For. You.”

\tHer hand slowly released its grip and the vial seemed to call with the song of a siren. Her own eyes glowed with the same deep pink hue, throbbing in time to the vial and its strange brew. It would be so easy. Then, just as if a gust of wind blew past her, she felt her skirt rustle and the light from the gas streetlamp flickered. Looking up from the vial, breaking whatever spell it seemed to hold, she saw that the strange man had vanished. Vitani's heart was by now thundering in her chest, her ears perked and she whipped her head one way then the other, the tuft of fur between her ears flopping as she did. The street was deserted, only her own footprints in the mud could be seen. It was as if he had never been there to begin with, only his final three words echoed about her skull.

\tShe quickly dropped the vial into the breast pocket of her blouse right next to his card. It would be a long walk home and on a broken shoe no less. Taking a deep breath to settle her nerves, she pulled her skirt up so that it wouldn't drag and catch her foot and started her way home. The clouds moved from in front of the moon and their shadows seemed to creep along the building fronts and streets making Vitani feel all the more as if she was being watched by many eyes. She could feel the heat from the vial palpitating against her chest.

\t\t\t\t\t******************

\tVitani slammed the door to her bedroom shut behind her, quickly flicking the latch shut in the thick wooden door. She lived with her widowed mother, however the less said about her the better. Suffice to say the relationship between mother and daughter was rough at best. Hastily kicking her broken shoes off, the lioness galloped barefoot across the threadbare carpet of her room to close the thick curtains on the long line of multi-pane windows, closing off the view over the overgrown abandoned cotton fields that surrounded her mother's ruined mansion. Beyond the solid black steel gate that surrounded the manor, tipped with spikes to keep out intruders, the grounds of the estate weren't exactly fitting of nobility. The grass was sickly in color and growing through various cracks and missing chunks in the stone pathway. The trees that followed the path up to the manor house were all dead. Without leaves, they creaked and groaned in the breeze, now unable to sway easily.

\tHer room was her sanctuary, a set of rooms, really, as one was once a servant's parlor. Her large four poster bed with its drippings of lace dominated the space. The silk wallpaper was dreary and the plaster ceiling cracked but she called it home and home it was. A soft glow from twin gas lamps spaced apart from each other gave plenty of room for shadows to dance. Producing a flickering blossom of orange that highlighted her dark tan fur. Once the curtains where drawn Vitani slowly walked over to her vanity with its large mirror. The vial took its place atop the wooden top, next to her curry combs and brushes. Standing back, the lioness examined herself in the vanity's mirror.

\tRunning a hand across one shoulder and then the other, she mentally critiqued her own body. For a lioness, she was rather rough and scruffy, where others were sleek. That scruffiness being something she shared with Angel. However, where the canine was complimented by the occasional rough tuft of fur, Vitani felt hers just made her look messy. Those large blue eyes, full of uncertainty, coupled with soft eyelashes accented her thick feline muzzle with its nose.

\tFingers began plucking at buttons, first one, then the next, and the next. The shirtwaist fell from her frame, falling down her shoulders to reveal a sturdy stomach and torso. Fingers reached behind her back to undo the clasps of her simple corset and allowing the folds of cloth to fall away to the floor, releasing her bosom to drop down. Her breasts where nice and heavy, good handfuls that one could cup and grope. Ones which she was pleased to admit were slightly bigger than her canine rival's. Each tit was crowned by a dark pink nipple. The light tan pattern that started at her muzzle carried down around her breasts and over her gut before diving down between her legs to highlight her mound.

\tReaching out she grasped the vial between a thumb and a forefinger and uncorked it. “I wonder what's in this thing?” she asked herself, looking inside at the pink liquid. The fluid did not seem appetizing, yet Vitani couldn't stop herself as she grasped the glass and inhaled as small sip, before putting the opened bottle back down on the vanity. It tasted...like nothing, which surprised the topless lioness. Although it shouldn't have surprised her, after all, if it had a taste then it would be detectable in a drink.

\tHer own fingers slid into the hemline of her skirt and undid the clasp, allowing it to slide down her legs showing off her solid limbs. Dressing down for the night, she stepped out of her skirt, her bare paws now standing on the carpeted floor. She tended to sleep in the nude, sometimes with a window open to cast a cool breeze into her room. Her fingers and toes where a light tan color, set against the dirty brown fur of her body. Vitani's thighs and hips had a hard curve to them and nestled between her legs was a pert mound with a fine slit. Looking at herself in the mirror she knew that she was attractive as much as felines could go. However, she lacked the sleek body most lionesses obtained, instead, standing tall and thick with heavy breasts and strong legs.

\tYet even as her gaze returned to the mirror, the room seemed to tilt. Her head started to spin, her body grew weaker and weaker by the second. Realizing that something in the vial must have kicked in and instantly regretting taking that test sip, Vitani started to feel sick. She placed a hand on each side of her head and closed her eyes, gritting her teeth as she found a sudden pounding entering her skull. She stumbled over to the bed and fell backwards into the down pillows and mattresses. Staring at the ceiling, trying to gather her thoughts, but nothing was working. She wasn't able to think about anything other than Scamp, and she finally gave in, letting herself picture the gray mutt in her mind's eye.  

\t“Scamp...” She whispered, slowly grazing her imagination over the pup's form. As her mind was filled with images of her object of affection, the lioness felt her heart-rate increasing. She found herself growing short of breath, as if she was running a marathon. Her thoughts became fuzzy, and the space between her thighs was growing warmer and warmer by the second.

\t"Fuck..." Vitani sighed, feeling her lower lips begin to tingle. Somewhere in her steadily fuzzy mind, she knew this had something to do with the vial. However, at that moment, there was an itch to scratch, and its demands had grown too high to ignore. Turning to the side table, she slipped open a drawer and plucked from whiten a strip of leather.

\tIt had been a while since she had pleasured herself in this manner. The leather was wrapped around her left wrist with a loop left open to slide in her right, and tightened down with a tug from her mouth. Firmly tying her hands together in front of her. She felt free in that moment, already naked and just the act of running her bound hands across her body brought forth sensations of pleasure. She couldn't even stop herself before she slowly lifted her legs and widened them, showing off her feminine pride to anyone that would look. Luckily, she was alone up here, with her brothers down in the lower floor, and her mother in her own wing. She licked her lips and snaked her lashed hands up toward her breasts. She cupped a breast in her left hand before giving herself a playful squeeze and ending with a demanding pinch to the very tip of her nipple. Making her folds ache and throb for attention as she set to messaging her own cups with grace and skill.

\tThe lioness laid her head back and slid her hands down her stomach until she reached her lower lips with her delicate fingers. Teasingly, she used her right hand to spread herself, letting her index and middle fingers expose the tender, pink of her inner folds. She twisted her left hand underneath her right and began stroking her clit. The leather creaking softly as it strained against her wrists. Keeping them tightly together. Teasing herself more than she had in several weeks.

\t"God..." She sighed, moaning as she slipped her paw lower and began stroking the tips of her index and middle fingers onto her entrance. She began drawing shapes on her clit, turning her fingers and swirling them, trying to surprise herself with the sensations that followed. It wasn't anywhere near as good as someone actually touching her, but she loved it anyway. She shivered, bucking her hips gently against her bound hands, using her thumb to stroke and rub her clit as her two fingers danced inside of the tight lips. Her mind was getting more clouded, and she was finding it hard to think straight. Before long, she was no longer thinking at all. She was simply moaning to the ceiling with her fingers knuckle deep inside her tight lips, forcing her to pleasure her body without having to think of what movements to make or how fast to go.

\tSo badly she had wanted to have Scamp spread her legs and show her pleasure like she had never known before. Her mind was full of that gray furred face, and the vision of him between her legs and plowing her with vigor that was beyond what he had ever possibly given Angel. She licked her lips, swaying her feline hips from side to side just to get the rubbing sensation from her bedsheets.

\t"Oh Scamp..." Vitani whispered to herself, moaning softly as she continued teasingly prodding her slit with the tips of her fingers, sliding them inside herself just enough to get the tips soaked before pulling them back out. Her limbs felt limp, yet the glow of desire continued to ebb from between her legs. The whole world spun around her, shadows seeming to slowly sway from the corners of the walls.
\t
\tThe lioness did nothing as those shadows swirled around her. They danced around her limbs. Encircling her wrists and pulling them back against the bed-frame above her head. The leather already tied around her wrists grew tighter as the specters formed into solid straps. Wrapping around her wrists and tightly binding them against the frame with polished black bands.

\tVitani lay like that for what felt like hours, on her back, looking through the lace of her bed cover at the plaster ceiling. Hands tightly bound above her head. Feeling her breathing slowly coming back to normal as her lower lips throbbed. In reality it had to have only been a few moments. However it wasn't the passing of time that awoke her from this trance, it was the sudden presence of another in her room. Looking up from her pillow, her blue eyes became the size of dinner plates as she saw who it was that stood at the end of her bed, those deep brown eyes drinking in the sight of the nude feline laying bound and spread before him.

\t“S-Scamp! What are you, how did you? What's going on?” Vitani struggled to put together words from her racing thoughts. Her hands balled into fists and she weakly pulled against her bindings. Not only was the object of her affection standing over her, smiling at her nudity. He too, was very, very, naked. “Oh...wow,”

\tScamp was everything she imagined him to be, his body light and firm yet covered with a soft pelt of gray fur. The mutt was slightly feminine in nature, with slender legs and arms and smooth thighs ending in a well-turned set of paws, a trait he obtained from his purebred mother. Her eyes slowly descended down his body. Drinking him in from the scruffy bang between those two triangular ears to his bare chest and slender torso. His arms where held folded across his chest. Her gaze continued to fall down until it became riveted to the package the young dog possessed. It was completely pink with a nice sized head; dangling under was a set of gray furred balls.

\tScamp slowly approached the bed, his chocolate colored eyes fluttering full of mischief as he slipped onto the mattress. A mischievous smirk plastered across his tousled furred muzzle. Sitting on his knees, a hand reached out to grasp hold of the lioness' ankles and lift her legs into the air. Vitani watched as Scamp brought a foot to his mouth, and gently kissed the top of her paw, sending soft ticklish sensations up her leg. With her hands wiggling uselessly above her head, the lioness let out a contented sigh as he gave her toes a quick lick before slowly running his lips across them. Her other foot was likewise brought forth and given the same treatment.

\tShuffling forward, the gray canine then spread her legs to each side of his pelvis. His hands danced along the sides of her torso until they came to her neck. The mutt wrapped them around her throat gingerly and the lioness felt a sudden weight there. As Scamp brought his hands away, a jet black collar appeared in their place, firmly locked around her neck. It had no features, just a dark color that matched the straps that seemed to unwind from the mutt's palms as he drew them away. Scamp pressed them into her legs, folding her backwards into a mating press. The lioness looked down between the cleavage of her breasts and hiked her legs up to help him bind them in place. The black leather straps from around her neck locking them in place, folded.

\tShe couldn't believe this. In fact, she should be asking questions. A lot of them. However, as she looked through the valley of her cleavage up at Scamp, she knew he was getting a full of view of her mound and it's moistening slit. The head of his shaft lined up and ready for impalement. She found she didn't care, her fingers dug into her own legs and she gave her head a few nods. She couldn't fight it, didn't want to fight it. This was what she wanted. Vitani wiggled her toes, then sighed as the head of Scamp's cock nestled into her folds.

\t"Please," She whispered, giving a little squirm to test her bondage. "Don't be gentle,"

\tScamp seemingly heard her request and grinned mischievously as he placed a hand over her mouth. Vitani shivered as the dog pressed hard. Huffing through her nose as he lined up the tip of his dick with her soft folds and teased her a little bit. Scamp pulled his hand away, and in its place a black square-shaped panel was left across her mouth. It adhered to her like a second skin, but lay like a strip of tape. Effectively gagging the lioness.

\tHolding the head of his shaft cupped within her sex, Vitani felt her body swelter with anticipation at its inevitable lancing into her own flesh. Her eyes clamped shut and she squealed through the gag as he slid in with a solid thrust. With permission given he thrust deep and hard, not waiting for her to adjust at all before pounding her. Her pulsating mound was velvety soft and smooth while the folds and flesh had become nicely lubricated with her womanly juices. A hand squeezed her tit as he started fucking. She could feel it bounce in his palm as her walls stroked and milked him. He took his time, gently pinching one nipple before giving it a playful tug that sent sensations sparking straight to her groin.

\t"Mmmo GHAWD!" The lioness murred through sealed lips, her head rolling back and ears pinned. Her breath was coming out in a harsh hiss through her nostrils as the canine began to piston her.

\tEach slap of his crotch against her caused the flesh of her restrained thighs to ripple and move in a fluid ripple. Her snatch instantly tightened around his throbbing member in a desperate attempt to adjust to the sudden intrusion. Her tits bobbing in his grasp as he kneaded and squeezed them, those deep colored nipples sticking out between his gray fingers. Her vaginal folds felt so remarkably warm; she puffed her cheeks as her cunt muscles clutched and massaged his shaft as is slid in. Then, with a roll of his pelvis, Scamp quickly pulled back out with a sharp exhale from her nose.

\tShe openly moaned through the panel gag, such a sweet and loving sound as her voice was muffled. Her legs curled back so that her feet and ankles where at neck height with him. Her thick toes clinching. The straps running to her knees vibrating as they took the stress. Unable to hold back, she let out a shiver and 'wumphed' into her gag as his cock felt and claimed it's way deeper along her inner walls, sending small, hot waves of pleasure through her. "Mumph, Fwuch, fruck, HooooH FRUCK!"\t

\tThe lioness inhaled through her nose at the feeling of his penis sliding back, her cheeks puffing as her mouth strained against the seemingly impossible adhesive that glued the panel to her face, then exhaled in a low moaning sigh when he bored his cock back into her. Again, and again, and again his thrusting had the added effect of causing her to shift and rock back and forth in the bed, the headboard hitting the wall with hard "thunk" in time to her vocalizations. Her hands were wiggling above her head. One of her legs rose straight up, the paw pointed to the ceiling, and Scamp grasped the up-turned paw and held it as he pounded deeper. Feeling her tight passage squeeze and caress him, his eyes fluttered shut and he clinched his teeth and set out a canine growl. She let out a shallow hiss of air, her chest rising and falling, those thick breasts quivering as she did.

\tLooking up at him, Vitani's heart soared, any reason as to how or why this was happening had left her. All she knew was that she was tied up tight and the boy she loved was between her legs. The pounding of the headboard gave him a rhythm to fuck to as he bucked hard into her. She was glad for the gag, keeping her shouts of pleasure muffled. As it was, there was a slight worry that her mother would hear the headboard and investigate. However, that and any other thoughts not related to the harsh mating press she was bound in were wiped from the scruffy feline's head when Scamp slipped both of his hands over her bouncing breasts, fingers digging into the soft mounds of female flesh as her kneaded first her right tit, then her left.

\t“Hyesshmm,” Vitani hissed. “Hoh pwease, pwease, hyus.”
\t
\tThe bucking lioness rolled her head to the side and buried her face into the side of her raised arm. Her eyes clamped shut as each smack of his hips against her sent waves of flesh and fur that rippled through her thighs and hips. Leaning his body back, Scamp returned a hand around the ankle that rose perpendicular to his, toes pointing skyward. The other hand slipped under one of her knees to nestle where the straps where secured. Leaning his head back, he started to roll his pelvis with forceful thrusts. Her fingers digging deep into the palms of her tied hands as each of the mongrel's sudden evacuations left her feeling empty. The inner flesh, now very slick, closed and massaged the head of his dick as it slid out, which only served to send a wave of pure euphoria to slam through her ahead of that pulsing head when he rammed it back home. Bringing forth a sharp grunt from the feline's throat each time the action was repeated. Her raised leg twitched, ankle locked around his fingers, toes clinching and splayed in unison with those thrusts, her ears bobbing in rhythm.

\tVitani was lost within the waves of pleasure that rocked her furry body, she rocked her hips up and down in time to his thrusts. Her breasts rolling in circular motions within his one hand and her whole-body rocking in rhythm. She curled her free leg back so that her knee was almost touching her own chest and put a bare paw on his abs, the other leg remaining vertical with the ankle in his hand. One strap hanging loose, while the other went taught. Her instincts had taken over, and as Vitani gasped loudly through open nostrils and a sealed mouth, she felt her lower lips tighten like a vice around Scamp's shaft, making her whole-body jolt with bliss as her love flesh erupted with juices. She wiggled from side to side, moaning and squealing into the panel as he continued to plow her.  

\tThose clouded eyes cracked open and she peered between their bodies when she felt the base of his crotch bump against her nether lips. Balls deep inside her. She barely had time to recognize what was happening before his head rammed home against her cervix and a bolt of pleasure raced through her frame. Quickly followed by a gush of warmth that blasted through her whole body as if she had been plunged crotch first into a warm tank of water. Vitani's body went ridged, staining against her bondage.

\t“MuuuMmm...MUMM...HUMPF-AAAAH!” Her eyes shot open as her body suddenly flopped down, complete free. Her mouth wide open in a joyful cry. To her great confusion and disbelief, she found she was alone in her own bed, the sheets wet with sweat and sexual fluids. Her mound pulsating and squirting into the empty air.

\tSitting up on her arms, she realized all of the bondage was gone. Her free legs falling back atop the mattress and her bare chest heaving as she gulped down air. Her nipples, now devoid of any real attention, pointed hard at the cracked plaster ceiling. Rising and falling with each labored breath.

\t“Shit...” Her voice was a low hiss of air with realization hitting her that whatever it was inside that vial, it had more than a superficial effect. Jumping out of the bed she rushed over to the vanity. The vial calling like a siren's song. Grabbing the glass ampoule, the lioness dropped it into one of the drawers and slammed it shut.

\t It had all felt so real! Like he was here in the flesh and fur. Vitani dropped to the floor, back against the side of the vanity, her head lolled back to look up with dull eyes at the plaster ceiling with it's cracks. A wave of pure dejection splashing over her to subside the last ebbs of pleasure.

\tOne drop, and it could all be real. One powerful drop.


*************



\tThe reflection that looked up from the polished bartop showed a level of fatigue that matched the churning inner realms of Vitani's gut. Drawing her rag over the surface, distorting the reflection, the lioness let out a soft grunt. Returning to her senses the last night, she had left the vial locked in that drawer, trying to put it out of her sight and out of her mind. All night, the lioness tossed and turned in her lonely bedroom, it was as if the vial called to her with a silent siren's song. It would be so easy to just let a few drops into Scamp's drink the next time the mongrel came by the Watering Hole. Angel would be fine, she was a strong canine and would support Scamp no matter what choices he made.

\tEven if those choices were not his own.

\tWhat would happen to Angel afterwards? The Shadow Man's words rang around the cat's head...what was the price Angel would be forced to pay? The same loneliness that haunted Vitani? That was something Angel could have! Or, was there something more? The vial seemed so unnatural. By morning's light, she grabbed the vial without thinking and quickly washed up for her first shift. The scent of cigars and cigarettes seemed thicker than usual, and the young lioness felt seemingly more aware of the shadows that filled the corners of her bar.

\t“You look like death rolled over,” A familiar voice snapped Vitani out of her string of thoughts. The lioness looked up, her ears flicking back and a hand drifting to the back of her head to rub her fingers down her own neck nervously.

\t“Oh, uh, hello Angel,” Her throat was raw and she could practically feel the trepidation rising in her chest.

\tAngel sat bent over at the bar, one arm laying causally across the counter top. Her head was tilted, making one floppy ear stand up at an odd angle while an eyebrow rose. It seemed the dog could see something was off. “Wow, anything I could do to help?”

\t“Oh, it's nothing,” Vitani brushed it off. Pulling herself up and quickly swallowing, her eyes darting around the blonde furred railroader, looking for the very soul she was dreading seeing the most. “Where's Scamp?”

\tAngel shot her friend a questioning look but answered anyway. “Still in the yard. He'll be here soon, we have a small rest before we set out on a coal train this afternoon.”

\tVitani gulped and her heart skipped a beat as she clearly saw the shadows start to grow from the corners of the building behind the dog, slowly spreading from the corners of the windows and above the door. The lioness' ears perked as she wondered if anyone else could see them, or if she alone was to bear witness. The vial sat in her pocket, seeming like it grew heavier every passing second. “Oh, well can I get you anything while you wait?”

\t“Yeah, my usual,” Angel rapped her fingers on the bartop, her curly tail giving great swooshes side to side above the seat of her pants. “In fact, pour a glass for Tenderfoot!”

\tThe lioness' heat skipped a beat. A glass for Scamp? The vial felt like it resonated a pulse that echoed through the girl, she wasn't sure if that was real or if she had just imagined it. Vitani put her back to the Pomeranian as she reached over the back counter for the glasses that hung over the great mirror. Seeing beyond her own reflection and the look of fatigue that seemed etched into her thick feline muzzle, her throat became dry as she could see the shadows behind Angel stretchering towards the unsuspecting dog. “S-sure, coming right up” she stuttered.

\tTwo glasses were pulled off the rack, set down on the counter with a soft “clink”.

\t“So, you and Scamp. You guys have known each other for a while?”

\tAngel's ears perked up and the dog let out a soft chuckle and playfully rolled her eyes. “Yeah, you could say that.”

\t“But you had a life...before him? Right?” The cork was removed from a bottle.

\t“Oh sure. When I first met him, he was this little mutt who spoke endlessly about adventure and being a wild soul and traveling the world.” The end of Angel's mouth cocked up in a sly smirk. “He tried so hard, it was beyond adorable.”

\t“I can imagine that,” The very tip of Vitani's tail flicked back and forth as the girl shifted her weight from one leg to the other. A hand reached for the vial, tucked away, was she really going to do this? “So, and forgive me from asking...but could you go back to that life? Without Scamp?”

\tAngel's big, floppy ears went backwards for a split second at the abruptness of the question but she perked them back up. “I've, well, never thought about that. He's just such a part of my life. Why?”

\tThe lioness started to pour the two drinks with one hand while the other had its fingers wrapped around the vial. If she was going to do this it would have to be slick. With her back to Angel, the blonde furred railroader couldn't see what the lioness was up to while Vitani had a full view thanks to the mirror of both herself and her victim. “Just, you two seem like you work so well together.”

\tAngel had an eyebrow raised in her direction now, clearly wondering where all this was leading towards. One end of her mouth tipped up in a slight smirk as she reached out with a guess.

\t“You like someone, don't you?”

\tIt was like she was hit with lightning, the sudden jolt that rippled through her body caused Vitani's hand to shake spilling a small amount of drink on the counter. The feline looked over her shoulder, the look in her eyes saying everything.

\tAngel was quiet for a while the sounds of the bar's few patrons becoming faded background noise. Barely registering. When she finally spoke, her voice was soft.

\t"I see everything in him, he's my entire world," Her blue eyes were sparkling while the weak sun caught her fur through the dirty window, making it shine a bright and beautiful gold. The shadows that swirled around the back-wall seemed to retreat at that. "He saved me from the streets, I couldn't imagine anyone I would want to be with more." She went on warmly.

\t“Saved you?” One of Vitani's ears perked in interest, the vial held tightly between her fingers as she slipped it out of her pocket. The lioness realized that for as long as she had known the two railroaders she had never once asked about their past. “That bad, huh?”

\t“You wouldn't believe it,” Angel motioned with her hand. “Let's just say that I was not in a good place. Scamp found me and I found him. Together, we found the railroad, we found a future.”

\tVitani could feel her heart pounding in her chest and she looked down at the vial, its substance seeming to pulsate in time to her heartbeat. She wanted Scamp, oh how badly she wanted him. To be saved herself, much like Angel had been.

\tAll it would take was one drop.

\tHer thumb passed over the cork in the lid, pressing up till the cork popped free. Looking up into the mirror, the lioness gazed at her own reflection, holding the vial over the glass she intended to give to the mutt. Behind her sat Angel, casually tapping a finger against the rough wood of the bar top unaware of the shadows that crept towards her figure from behind. Could she even see them? Or where the specters Vitani's personal hell?

\t“That's what I want,” Vitani's voice was low and wistful so that one she could hear, her head bowed slightly. “A future...”

\t“So, who is he?” Angel's voice, upbeat at the prospect of hearing some news, cut through the lioness's thoughts like an arrow. “Is he one of our railroaders?”

\tShe put the vial down on the counter-top and turned around to face Angel, planting a hand on the counter to each side and leaning back. The shadows appeared like arms, fingers outstretched over Angel's head. She couldn't do this, could she?

\t“Do I know him?” Angel's voice was innocent.

\tThe lioness opened her mouth to answer when a familiar tousled maw appeared behind Angel. The shadowy spectators retreated back into their corners. The pom looked over her shoulder at him as he slid up to the counter, a big goofy smile plastered across his face. Vitani felt her heart sink at the sight of him. From those warm brown eyes to that bang that fell between her ears, she just felt a natural attraction. The vial behind her seemed to cast a heat into her chest from the base of her tail on up.

\t“Hey 'Tani! Angel. What's up?” Scamp yipped as he plopped down on a bar-stool. Vitani felt sick at the fact he mentioned her first.

\t“Fashionably late as always, eh Tenderfoot?” Angel reached out and gave a playful tug on Scamp's sleeve. “Had you been any later I would have taken your drink for myself.”

\t“Hey, I was late cleaning up your mess Miss Engineer-in-training. You know how much sand you threw on the ground getting that cut of cars moving? I had to help hand buckets up to load that dome again,”

\tAngel visibly blushed causing Vitani's heartbeat to pick up instantly. She wondered if Scamp's ears could detect the sound she was sure it was making. On the wall behind the lovebird pups the shadows showed two silhouettes, one of Scamp the other of Vitani. Sitting side by side, arm in arm.

\t“Well, perhaps I should buy your first round them, provided we don't distract Vitani any more then we already have.” Angel playfully rolled her eyes.

\t“Right, I'm on that,” Vitani blurted out before swiftly spinning back around.

\tShe grasped the vial in her shaking fingers, looking at its patterned glass and the liquid it held. There was Scamp's glass. There was Scamp. One drop and she and he would be together. Did it work instantly? Would she have to explain to Angel why her boyfriend suddenly got affectionate to her? What would happen to Angel? At this point Vitani was sure that whatever the price to pay was, Angel would suffer. Emotionally for sure...and perhaps worse. Those shadows seemingly spiraling on the walls and in her head were pushing her, telling her it was alright. They might have been real, or figments of her imagination however their actions certainly drove her. Making her hand slowly move the vial over the glass.

\tOne drop, just one drop.


                                                           *****************


\t“See you later 'Tani!” Scamp gave a smile and a wave of his hand and he and Angel passed through the door to the pub.

\tThe sun was starting to drop and as the door closed behind them the lioness could see them through the big window as Angel slipped an arm though Scamp's, leaning her head to rest on his shoulder. The two were off into the evening. Off to wherever it was that railroaders went when they waited on their next assignment. In so many ways it was like Scamp and Angel both gained their wishes. Angel got her rescuer, Scamp his adventure. Both facing life together while Vitani faced it alone.

\tThe lioness took a deep breath, there were still some customers in the dining room however she couldn't really focus on them at the moment. Instead, she dropped her towel on the counter and swung around to walk through the door that led to the kitchen. As soon as the door shut behind her, it was like a flood of shadows suddenly swirled around the room.

\t“STOP IT!” The lion screeched, waving her arms in the air, attempting to disperse them. They flew to the far corners of the room and she reached for a door that led out back to the alley behind the pub.

\tIf the shadows inside had been bad, outside in the setting sun it was worse. The alley may have been empty, aside from the number of casks, crates, and garbage bins that lay scattered around its stone slabbed avenue. Looking around the dark alley Vitani felt as if the great shadows looked down from the buildings, glaring at her, waiting for something. Glancing up she scowled and opened her arms as if to say 'now what'. Reaching into the pocket in her shirtwaist she pulled the vial out, instantly her face was lit by the ebbing pink glow as she held it up. She felt her face drop slightly as she took in its phosphorus glow.

\tShe couldn't do it, as much as she wanted to she just couldn't. Angel did not deserve whatever fate would have awaited her and if Scamp was to become attracted to her, then she wanted him to do it under his own volition. Not one that was created by a cursed object. Vitani took a deep breath, settling her nerves. Dropping to a knee, she leaned over and gently placed the vial on the stone pavement.

\tFor a few seconds, she sat there, on one knee as if she was proposing, looking at the strange vial and the pink ripples of light it cast on the damp stone of the alley-floor. She rolled her lower lip and softly bit it, her tail curled around a leg. She could try again, just lay in wait until she had enough courage.

\tAs soon as that very thought crossed her mind Vitani stood up, her shoulders steady and a determined look on her face. She raided a foot, and the heel was pressed against the vial with a sharp 'tink' of glass. The lioness closed her eyes and felt her heart swell, the corners of her eyes growing moist as she recognized that her only sure-fire chance was about to be scattered. With a shift of her weight, she heard the vial crunch before her foot sank down suddenly.

\tIt was like a great wave washed through her body, Vitani kept her eyes clamped shut feeling energy surge through her body. She didn't know what was real and what was imaginary or what forces she had unleashed. Her back arched, and her arms felt as if they were pushed up as if she was falling into a body of water. The rush of air moaned as if a thousand voices called out and where suddenly silenced.

\tWith a great exhalation of air Vitani's eyes snapped open and her mouth dropped in a wide “O”. She was alone in the alley other than the shards of broken glass underneath her foot. There was no sign of the substance inside the vial or anything out of the ordinary. Her eyes slowly passed around the brick and wooden walls that made up the urban valley she stood in. The long shadows of the end of the day were steady and still, no figures danced and no eyes glared down at her. Just the final rays of the day slowly retreating.

\tA hand absentmindedly rose up and down an arm and one ear slipped down. It was as if an immense weight had been released from her while a small smile lifted the ends of the feline's mouth. She wrinkled her nose while she gave her head a little shake. Hands coming up to rub at her eyes removed any remaining traces of wetness from the corners of her eyes and cheeks.

\tTaking one final deep breath and a sigh of content, Vitani spun on her heels and passed through the rear door of the Watering Hole. Her shift would end soon and she had a long walk home. Leaving behind a few traces of broken glass and gaining a resolve to bring change in her own way, and her own time.

\tSomewhere, not far away, a steam whistle blew.


                                                                              
The End
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