Feral to All

Cat 'Scratch'

A young woman approached him, “Hello! Um, would you like to be seated?” She asked in a cute, shy voice. Her hair was mid-length, black as the new moon’s sky, her voice like silky satin sheets. Her scent was a pleasant combination of lavender and honeysuckle. Shyly he nodded, “Alright cutie, follow me,” she chirped, beckoning him to follow. "I’d follow you to the ends of the earth and further if it meant being near you," he thought.

They arrived at the table, she motioned for him to sit down, “How’s this spot?” she asked with the cutest smile. “P-pur-perfect,” he said, his heart pounding, hoping she didn’t notice how truly nervous he was. “My name is Kalia, I’ll be your waitress this evening. Can I get you anything to drink for starters?” She asked. “Uh just a glass of water would be fine,” he said sheepishly. "Sounds perfect," she said, looking up from her notebook and giving him a half smile. "Would you like a minute to look at the menu?" she inquired. "Um, actually I can... I can order now," he smiled. "Can I get the honey-glazed fish?" His eyes fixated on her smile as he asked.

She looked up from her notebook and noticed him gawking at her and blushing. "Sure thing, hon," she said, writing his order down as fast as she could, trying not to lock eyes again. "I'll be back in a flash." She turned towards the kitchen and, with a quickened pace, scurried to the kitchen doors, trying to get out of his sight.

As she entered the kitchen, the doors swung open, and a hefty man with a rugged appearance barged through, carrying several hot plates, nearly colliding with her. “KALIA!! You have a job to do, you stupid little girl,” he bellowed. She replied, “I’m so sorry, sir! I was just taking an order…” “I don’t care! Get moving, you’ve got one more warning left!!” He callously shouted over his shoulder. She quickly bowed her head apologetically and ran through the doors to the kitchen. "She’s so beautiful," he thought to himself, "I wonder if I’d ever have a chance..."

The man who had scolded Kalia, was delivering plates to a nearby table, his fiery mane-like hair flowed freely, and his stature almost seemed fit for a king. He was an older man, with a scar across his right eye. He turned and gruffly asked, "I didn't quite catch your name, boy?!" "Oh, I-I-I apologize, sir, my name is Jack..." he stammered out. The man snorts, "Hmmm... And what business have you got in these parts?" "I am uh... just passing through," he responded. The man looked him up and down, a slight glint in his good eye, "Well well well a drifter, just casually drifting, through," the man exclaimed. "Though I am looking for accommodation for a few days," Jack managed to say without stuttering. "Is that right?" the man asked. Jack looked at the man, "Yes sir, I was hoping to find a place, but I don't have a clue where to look. If you could point me in the right direction, Mr....?" The older man bellowed out a laugh, "The name's Maximal an sure, I know a place. Give me a moment an I'll let you know." Maximal turned, walking away from the dining room. At that moment, Kalia had exited the kitchen and was gracefully walking back to Jack's table blushing, "Here's your food, hon." "Thank you so much, Kalia," he said with an awkward smile.

Jack finished his food and was rightfully happy. The food did taste like how his mother made fish. He held onto a hope that it could be possible that they were all still alive, that she might be working in this very kitchen, cooking meals waiting for him to show up, but he knew deep down that wasn't the case. She was gone, and he had to keep himself in the here and now. Kalia saw the disappointment on his face and sauntered over to his table with a concerned look on her face, "Are you OK?" Jack, as if the trance of thought had been lifted, looked up to her and smiled faintly, "Yeah, I'm alright. I didn't realize I had a sour face. If you were worried that I didn't like the food, please be assured, that your cook did an amazing job, and it was delicious!" Kalia relaxed a bit and was smiling again, chuckling as she spoke, "Oh phew, I was worried it didn't meet your standards."Jack chuckled along with her.

Looking at the two, you could see a spark or connection between them. It was the most awkward flirting, by far, but at the same time, cute and innocent. Maximal returned to the dining room with a piece of paper in his hand, striding to Jack's table, "Here, boy, you'll be staying here and you'll be paying for the room and board by helping around the restaurant." Jack looked at Maximal in shock, "So, I help here at the restaurant and my pay will be the fact that I can stay here in the room upstairs?" Jack asked Maximal. "And you got a problem with that, boy?" Maximal asked. "No, no. No problems here, sir." He replied a bit irritated, since he had no money for spending, "I'm just a little worried about paying for things I need." "Oh don't worry you'll have some spending money. You also won't have to worry about food either," Maximal responded, "Follow me up the stairs. I'll show you where you'll be staying." As they made their way up the stairs, Jack could hear Kalia greeting more patrons to the restaurant in the most adorable voice he had ever heard.

The room he was lead into, wasn't in too bad of condition. There was a window on the far side that looked out to the bazaar, a small bed on the left of the window, and a nightstand right next to the bed that had a lamp on it. "this will be where you are staying," Maximal gestured to Jack, "My room is down the hall if you need anything, which I hope you won't. I like my peace so try not to bother me." Jack nodded, "Thank you again." Maximal nodded and departed the room. Jack walked over to the nightstand and placed the photo of his family down next to the light. "It's not much, but it will do," he thought to himself. He laid on the best, lost in thought, till sleep overcame him.

Jack woke several hours later to the sound of shouting. He scrambled out of bed, fear penetrating his thoughts, "Have they found me?" He moved slowly towards the door, trying to get a better idea of what was happening. Maximal's voice booming with frustration, "WHO DO YOU THINK YOU ARE, COMING IN HERE CAUSING PROBLEMS? I'VE TOLD YOU BEFORE LEAVE AND NEVER COME BACK!" "Max, Max, Max, no need for the yelling," the strange voice teased, "We will keep coming back until we get what's owed." "OH YOU'LL GET WHAT'S OWED," Maximal roared, "WHEN I'M SIX FEET DEEP!"

"No need for the theatrics," the stranger cooed, "we can make it an earlier grave if you want, but where's the fun in that? We'll be back very soon, Max, and when we do come back, you better have what we want. Ta-Ta for now hon." Silence fell, and Maximal slammed his fists onto the front desk with irritation. "Are they gone?" asked Kalia. "Yeah they're gone," Maximal sighed, "We've got to figure something out. This can't keep happening. I worry for you dear, I really do..."