The following morning, I awoke to the pleasant smell of waffles. Eyes still closed, I smile until I opened them. Then seeing myself in the mirror across the bed, my face fell. Quite literally in fact, fell onto the bed. Screaming, I rush to grab my face off the sheets. Doing so bunched up the sheets, muffling my screams along the way.
	Probably because of my screaming, Rita bursts through the door, “What’s wrong, Rakita?!”
	The cat exhales in relief in seeing it was much my face on the sheets. Instead of what I was doing, she peels my face off the sheets then puts it back on my face. I let out a sigh of relief. It felt wonderful to have my face back on, strange as all that sounds. Afterwards, I grip my sheets while pondering what to ask Rita. 
Should I ask how did I get here? Is It possible to return to the human world? 
More importantly, why can’t I remember my name?
Just the mere of thought of not being able to do such brought on tears. Unlike yesterday, Rita rolls her eyes. The cat that held and comforted me the day before seemed to be disappeared. A calmer, colder cat that I was more familiar to seeing was present. Even still, she holds one of my paws and wipes away the tears.
“I’ll be honest, I can’t imagine what’s going in your head. Honestly, I really wish it didn’t happened, but it has,” Rita says with a sadden tone. I look past her and at the mirror at the foot of the bed.
“How did this happen? What happened to cause this?” I ask. The cat opens her mouth, though as I was yesterday, didn’t speak. She most likely had the heart to tell me, just not how to word it. So instead, she gives me a bittersweet smile and chuckles to herself. 
She ruffles my head-fur while saying, “I really don’t know. For now, though, you’re my daughter and your name now is Rakita Valrunt.”
“Rakita Valrunt,” I repeat softly to myself. This name, though only hearing it yesterday, felt… nostalgic. It felt as though, the name genuinely was mine. Not…whatever my actual name was. 
Rita made her way to door, looking back towards me with a puzzle expression, “Ya hungry or what?” 
For the first time since arriving, I smile. Once out of bed, I steady myself on all four legs. Laughter from Rita startles me, causing me to lose my balance.
“Can barely walk, can you?” Rita asks. Well…she’s right, walking in this body is difficult, but she won’t catch me admitting it. Stubbornly, I turn my head away with my nose in the air. Rita stifles her laughter for a bit. She walks over to me, helping me to my feet. The pair of us take a step towards to the door. On the first step or two, I nearly topple over. Fortunately, Rita was there to keep me standing.
“Remember to use your tail for balance,” Rita reminds me. At a certain point of her teaching me to walk the one would a toddler, she lets go of my paws. My legs tremble for a bit, but I’m able to maintain balance. Then the following statement made me roll my eyes, “Now you can walk like a big girl.”
Now wondering if I was actuality a girl now, I put a paw to my crouch. Quickly Rita grabs my paw, shaking her head, “This is something you’re gonna have to trust me on. Now let’s go, we’ve got a busy day.”
xxx
	Downstairs, Rita and I see the rest of her family sitting at the table, eating breakfast. I take my seat between Runt, who was sitting at the head of the table, and across from Sora. Befitting a hungry toon or anime character, I devour my food. My cheeks swell similar to balloons as I shove biscuits, fish, bacon, and waffles into my mouth. Against rationality, I’m still able to chew my food and swallow. My gut inflates as a result, myself sighing whilst rubbing my stomach.
	“That was delicious,” I happily praise. Runt smiles and pats my stomach.
	“Thanks for the compliment, definitely, I mean definitely thanks for the nice words,” Runt smile. I look over to him, doing the most adorable begging face as I could manage. Before asking for another portion, a thought occurred in my, which was problematic. 
	It wasn’t my thought.
	She’s not home for longer than a day and already showing her true colours. Why did mom ask the Warners to bring her home? This was a thought produced by Chazz.  Ceasing my adorable begging face, I give him a menacing stare. Then shifted my stare to Rita and Runt.
	“That’s a something I’d like to know too. Why did you take me from the human world?” I ask. Chazz’s face fell, shocked that I read his mind. His brother and sister look at me with concern. Meanwhile Rita and Runt look at one another, sighing in disbelief. Clearly, they didn’t want a repeat of the day before. At least, not at the breakfast table. However, I wasn’t gonna be ignored this time.
	I had a right know why I was kidnapped and brought here.
	“The answer is simple, we want our family back together,” Rita answers while taking a sip of water. Placing the cup on the table, she locks eyes with me, “Two months is all I ask. You should be adjusted to life here and then I’ll answer your questions.”
	Whatever ability enable me to hear Chazz’s thoughts, I tried the same with Rita. There was no way hell that I’d wait two months for answers. Unfortunately, I wasn’t able to read her thoughts. Even so, I slowly nod with eyes of doubt. For now, I’ll play along. I’ll be Rakita Valrunt.
	Rita grins, “Now that we’ve got that little issue out the way, let’s finish breakfast. We have things to do.”
xxx
	After breakfast, we venture off to the mall. Normally, I keep a certain of level of nonchalant and composure when surrounded, rarely showing emotion. However, I couldn’t stop myself from being surprised with my mouth agape. The mall was crowded, no different than any other mall, except there was one detail: duplicates. For every one toon I saw, there   were two or more much just like them.
	“Artists in the human world use duplicates or dups to save time,” Rita briefly explains. We reach our destination at what I assume at a hair salon. I cock an eyebrow at Rita and Runt.
	“Really?” I ask.  Rita doesn’t give a second glance, Runt does on the other hand. He ruffles my head fur, smiling that dumb goofy smile he’s known for.
	“Minerva’s definitely, defi-definitely get you a new image.” Runt says. Looking straight ahead, I read store’s sign: Minkique. The name alone caused me to give the sign a funny look. Minkique sounds like something a name some idiot made on the spot. This feeling, however, wasn’t returned by the receptionist. 
	“If you don’t like it, get lost. That simple,” the blonde mink receptionist nonchalantly states. I get a bit of a chuckle of our response. After a closer examination, I realize that this was Minerva Mink, the slut that only got two episodes. Shrugging off the remark, Sora brushes pass me. Tail swaying back and forth, she gazes upon the mink with unbridled affection.
	“Miss Mink, it’s good to see you again!” Sora greets. Minerva looks at the kitten with a fond smile. She leans over the desk, scratching the kitten’s head.
	“You’re looking well,” Minerva comments, looking back to the rest of us, “It’s good to see all of you. Although, I’m not sure about…” 
	“Rakita.” Glancing to my right, I see Rita slightly grin. Perhaps, she was content that I said her daughter’s name. Or was it something else, who knows. Either way, it was probability wasn’t important…at the moment. Minerva’s startled reaction to Rakita’s return was more amusing, anyway. The mink got up from her seat and walked around me in a circle. She stops in front of me and hugs me.
	“It’s so good to know you’re alive. When did you get back?” Minerva mumbles. Sheepishly, I wrap my arms around her. My eyes shift to the curtain behind her table. Several sparks flickered from behind it, my eyes widen with worry.
	“The Warners dropped me off yesterday,” I replied then proceeds to ask, “What’s behind the curtain?” 
Realizing who was behind the curtain, Chazz and Dale smile. They scurry pass us to the curtain to meet the stranger. Sora follows her brother, although she leads me by my paws along with them. Cheerfully, Sora informs me, “C’mon sis, you’re gonna love this guy.”
	I turn to Rita, Runt, and Minerva for support. Not surprised to see that they didn’t seem concern. Right before I go behind the curtain, Rita tells me that she and Runt will be talking with Minerva for a bit. Behind the curtain, a chubby fawn Great Dane with a face shield over his forehead, gives Chazz and Dale high-fives. 
	“Thought you two were gonna be online last night, what happened?” The Great Dane asks. The brothers point behind them as Sora and I join them, our eyes making contact. He tilts his head in confusion. I didn’t have to try to read his mind to figured he was curious to who I was. An awkward tension flared up as neither of us said anything to each other. Thankfully, Sora broke it.
	“This is our big sister, Rakita. Rakita this is Rashea, Ms. Mink’s stepson!” Sora introduces. Making a face, I shift look back in the direction of where Minerva was then to Rashea. Eyes focused on him, he extents his paw forward as a friendly gesture. We shake paws, smiling at one each, although I couldn’t help but notice his slight nerviness.
	“It’s a pleasure to meet you, Rakita. I didn’t know these guys had an older sister,” Rashea said.
	“Well they do, but the feeling is mutual. I didn’t know Minerva had a stepson.”
	“Nor did I expect Rita and Runt to have an older daughter but, here we are.”
	“HA! Rashea, we’re gonna get along great,” I laugh with sincerity. Laughter truly is infectious as we all begin to laugh. After a good minute or two of laughter, Rashea goes to the machine covered by a large sheet. Mimicking an igor’s face, he rips off the sheets. 
	Sadly, it was just a tablet on a drawing table in front of a greenscreen. The three kittens stare at the sight before us in wonder and amazement. Rashea with pride rubs his knuckles against his chest. All the same, I’m simply blink at the rather display.  Whatever amazement and proud they felt, I couldn’t see it. Although, there was a definite sense of dread.
	“Ready for your redesign?” Minerva asks as she, Rita, and Runt join us. I look from them to my body, if I call this my body. This body belonged to Rakita Valrunt, not whatever my name is. Who was I to decide whether or not to change her body’s appearance, even if I’m currently using it. 
	“You defi-definitely don’t have too if you don’t want to,” Runt reminds me. Never looking up at any of them, I shake my head. For reason, beyond this not being my real body, I couldn’t change this body. The way Rakita Valrunt’s body looked felt right. I grip my new paws tightly. I continue to shake my head at the notion of changing my appearance.
	Even though my decision was acknowledged and accepted, Minerva still recommended clothes. In the coming days, my body would begin to become like hers: human-like with animal features. As such clothes would be necessary. The very notion of it sent Sora into state of unquestionable happiness.
	She grabs my paws, leading over to a large pile of clothes on the floor. Had she not kicked into it, I would’ve asked why she brought me here. However, the first few seconds made the kitten’s logic clear… as clear logic can be in cartoons. Various types of clothing (blouses, shirts, skirts, shoes, etc.) forced themselves on and off my body rapidly. Imagining an entire celebrity wardrobe would barely describe the experience.
	I, eventually, was forced out of the pile of clothes, taking in a large breath of air. Sora sat in front of me, smiling as if she didn’t cause to nearby drown in clothes. Initially, I glare at just Sora then shift it to everyone. In moving my head, I noticed something that there before.
	“Hair?” I mumble.
	“Yup and you came out…okay. Could look better, but you’re cute,” Minerva grabs a mirror off the counter and shows me my reflection. Covering myself from the waist up was a silver short-sleeve blouse. From my waist to my ankles was a pair of dark blue jeans.  My newfound hair came down to shoulder-length, colored bright enough to match my fur. However, anyone could tell it wasn’t natural head-fur. 
	I yelp in pain after trying to remove it. Everyone, particularly Chazz, got a kick out of that.
	“Never gets old. Now turn around so you see the rest,” she instructs. While turning, I notice my had tail had changed. Now it was undeniably fluffy versus it’s original narrow design. Honestly, seeing myself front and back, I couldn’t deny that I looked cute. Minerva looks to the others, “What do you all think?”
	“Super cute.”
	“Nice.”
	“Eh.”
	“Definitely, cute.”
	“Agreed.”
	“I’d hit that.” All eyes immediately turn to Rashea, except mine. Blushing, I switch from looking him to staring at the ceiling. The Great Dane shoots his paws, defensively and smile nervously at Rita and Runt, “I mean, what I’d to like to say is-”
	“Don’t put the other foot in your mouth,” I recommend. Rashea, giggling sheepishly to mine, walks back to the desk in front of the store. His awkwardness got a small chuckle out of me. Rita gestures for me and the kittens to follow him, most likely to discuss payment with Minerva.
	There we see Rashea sitting at the receptionist desk. Mumbling to himself, he seems to be going over something in pencil. At this moment, it occurred to me to try to and read his mind like I could with Chazz.
	How come every time I meet a girl, I make an ass of myself? Rashea thought to himself. An ass of himself? His earlier remark was a bit…flattering if I’m honest with myself, it wasn’t insulting. It was the first compliment someone gave me about my appearance, be it as a human or an animal. Something that I would’ve relayed to him, had Rita, Runt, and Minerva not come from behind the curtain.
	“Now that’s done, we’ve got another visit to make before we’re done with the day,” Rita announces. At this moment, my ears perk up. Perhaps, this could lead to an opportunity to understand the new world I stuck in. Now all I needed was an excuse.
	“In that case would be fine if I hung with Rashea afterwards?” I ask to the canine’s surprise. Rita, Runt, and Minerva look at each other then smile back at me.	
	“I don’t see a reason why not,” Rita responds, Minerva and Runt nodding.  Shortly after, we leave the Minkique. All the while, there was something I couldn’t shake. A familiar feeling of dread and anxiety filled the air around me.
	I could feel a pair of eyes watching me.