10 to 2

"Woah." We were standing in the middle of a path that leads to a city. Everything was futuristic yet had elements of the jungle around us. There wasn't a car in sight, just people or Zonoya, I guess, flying or walking. Some looked like actual cats, others with cat ears and tails. There were a few that looked like humans walking together. Around half of them were traveling in pairs, usually either an earth cat or a human with a half-half one. And the buildings. Oh, the buildings. Massive twisting glass spikes which resembled the horns of a gazelle. They reflected the colors of the trees that grew around and throughout the city and the waterfall that towered behind it. The blues, greens, and yellows reflected down on the streets and the catz below. It was one of the most enchanting things I'd ever seen.

"I feel the same way every time I see it," the little girl said with a grin.

The eldest boy grabbed me by the hand, "Hate to break this up but we have to get you out of sight before someone sees." He led the way to one of the huts opening a beautiful door, a winding vine carved into the front and a thin window running through the middle. I followed them inside to find the interior to be fairly regular, you know, not including the ledges on the walls of the living room which were visible from the entryway. "Wipe your feet," he said gesturing to what looked like a built-in doormat which he had just used. I brushed my feet off then stepped to the side to let the others past. "Follow me," the little girl said before turning and starting through the hallway just in front of us. She opened the second door we came to and ushered me inside before shutting the door in her brothers' faces. Ok then. "You can sit there," she pointed at a curved ottoman at the end of the bed.

I sat down glancing around the room. The walls were probably white but freehand paintings covered almost every available space on them. A dresser on one wall was covered in knick-knacks, art supplies and spools of thread. There was a work desk under one window with what vaguely resembled a sewing machine at one end, the rest covered in cut fabric and a half-finished garment on a mannequin at the other end. There was a wardrobe on the other side of the room with a landscape of the lake I'd met them at painted on its doors. The bed was round and had a white, fabric headboard embroidered with pink and green flowers. The same pattern was on the bedspread and the ottoman was the same shade of pale green as the flowers.

The girl whisked over to the sewing table and pulled two small devices out of the draw. The first one looked like a one of those handheld price scanners. She pointed it at me and brushed her thumb from front to back, over the top of the device. "Stand up, feet apart, arms out," she instructed. I did as told and a greenish light suddenly shot from the device and swept me from head to toe. "Pants or skirt?" she asked.

"What?"

"Do you want pants or a skirt?"

"Why?"

"You can't walk around here like that," she said waving a hand at my current attire, "and you promised I could make you an outfit, so pants or skirt?"

"Pants."

She brushed her thumb the opposite way over the device and a holographic pattern for a shirt and pants appeared above it. She swiped the image and it sailed through the air onto the mannequin and my mouth dropped open when it then morphed to exactly my size. "By the way my name's Shera," she said as she collected up some fabric stored in a built-in cupboard I hadn't noticed under all the paintings.

"Like the show?"

"What?"

"Oh, uh nevermind, I'm Inaya. Hey, how'd you do that?" I asked pointing at the mannequin.

"So, where are you from?" she asked, ignoring my question. "You said you'd tell us everything if we helped you," she said, turning to me and cocking one hip.

"Ummm Earth."

"Where's that?" she asked going back to arranging the fabrics on the mannequin.

"You mean I'm really not on Earth?"

"No, this is Fega."

"I'm actually on another planet. You're an alien?"

"Ohh, you're from a slow world."

"A what?"

She smiled at me as the excess fabric on the mannequin melted off. She turned back and began going over the joins with the other device, stitches appearing in its wake. "A slow world, your Earth is the planet in the dimension our Queen was lost in. Around two thousand years ago, the Katrena and the Crimson were researching teleportation to other dimensions. There was a device that amplified a portalist's abilities allowing for stable interdimensional travel. The Queen was going to be the first cat to test it but the machine was faulty and it malfunctioned sending the Katrena to Earth with no way of reaching her. She's been stuck there for the past two thousand years while we searched for her. The Crimson thinks we're getting close and says they've narrowed it down to three girls that could potentially be her but she's still not sure yet. Most of us aren't sure she'll ever find her," she finished with a sigh, "We were just learning about it in school."

She pulled the finished garment off the mannequin and tossed it to me. She turned around so I could dress. "What's a Crimson? Actually, what's a Katrena?" I asked as I changed. The pair of black... I'm gonna say jeggings and white, off the shoulder blouse with a light blue wash and a weirdly flared sleeve fit like a glove. "The Katrena is Queen of the Zonoya and Fega. The Crimson is the title given to the Katrena's second in command," she said, turning to look at the outfit, appraising her work. She walked over to open her closet and rummaged around, "The current one is the Katrena's twin sister, Princess Coconsense-"

"Canellia Catswille," I finished with a frown. Shera turned to look at me with a cute pair of blue, lacey ballerina flats and a confused look. She tossed the shoes to me, "How'd you know her name?"

"Not a clue," I said putting them on.

"Do you know anything else?" she asked sitting down on the bed behind me with a hairbrush.

I thought for a moment as she began brushing my hair, "Umm, ow, the Katrena's name, ow, watch it, was Sunoles Cortonia Catswille, right?" I asked, shooting a glare at the wall, hoping the feeling behind it would bounce off and hit her.

"Yeah," she said putting down the brush and pulling my hair up into a ponytail which I brought tears of pain to my eyes. She then began to braid, and I began to contemplate shaving my head. "Did she grow up around here?"

"She was rumored to have, yeah."

"Oh, did she live in that cave in the woods?"

Shera pulled my braid.

"Oww," I hissed again only this time she let go.

She whipped around in front of me. "What cave in the woods?" she asked in a hushed tone.

"The one in that overgrown clearing just back from the lake," I replied with a raised eyebrow, "Why?"

She jumped up grabbed me by the arm and hauled me down the hall into the kitchen where her brothers were eating a raw something that I think used to be a rabbit. "Raqushaw, I need to speak with you," she said. The eldest nodded at her and stood slowly then winced. He pressed a hand to his head, "Geez, Sheese I'm coming, don't get your tail in a knot."

She spun on her heels and started down the hall, "I told you not to call me that."

A door closed down the hall and I turned to their younger brother. He held up a rabbit leg to me, "Want some?"

"No thanks."

He looked at me like I was crazy before taking another bite and asking around a bloody mouth full, "Wha ar ou?"

It was my turn to dish out the crazy look, "Uh… a human."

"How'd you get here?"

"Well, you know that guy that was chasing me, he was in my room poking around my stuff and watching me sleep. I woke up and freaked because creeper alert and he freaked for currently unknown reasons and opened this swirly, blue portal thingy. He went through and I followed." I realized I had been staring intently at the wall and looked over at him.

His mouth was hanging open, rabbit leg still in hand. He blinked at me, setting his food down he called down the hall not taking his eyes off me, "Rawk, Sheese, will you come here a sec?"

"We know," Raqushaw said, striding down the hall. He grabbed me by the arm and tugged me towards the door. He was surprisingly strong for his size and easily dragged me to the door despite my protests. "I'm sorry but it's for the best," he said reaching for the door.

"You need to go before-"

"Before what?"

"Before I show up and this becomes an act of treason."

There he was. Six foot something of holy ever-loving crap, you're gorgeous. He was leaning in the door frame, blocking out any view of what was behind him with his now wide, muscular shoulders. Earlier I was too busy having a heart attack out to admire the eye candy that was an older Kegan Hamm. And, oh my, yummy. Golden tanned skin, chiseled face with a jawline I could slice cheese on, slightly shorter hair but the same dusty brown, golden brown eyes slightly heated with frustration giving them a wild gleam. Clad in leather from head to toe, he stood in a way where you could just tell there's a six-pack under there. He looked equal parts prankster and bad boy. One would think the tiger ears and tail would be weird but the gold ring in one ear and the tail curling around long, crossed legs, it was easily the hottest thing I'd ever seen. Like immediate fantasy inspiring hot. I really need to stop reading erotica.

I met his eyes and knew I was caught. They danced with laughter as he raised a knowing eyebrow and my face burned. He shifted his gaze to shoot a menacing look at Raqushaw who ducked his head, "I'm sorry, we didn't realize who she is."

Kegan reached out and tilted Raqushaw's head up to meet his eyes and growled, "Next time side with your own kind." Let me tell you a little something about disrespectful men, they drop from a 10 to a 2 real freaking quick. I folded my arms, "Excuse you."

He sighed, pinching the bridge of his nose, "Just for once stay out of it, Inaya."

"Apologize," I said bluntly.

"It's fine, he's right," Raqushaw said, his ears drooping.

I spun to face him, "No, it's not, you helped someone in need of help." I turned back to Kegan who now had his arms crossed, "That should be commended, not punished. And," I said, cocking a hip, arms crossed, "It's shouldn't matter what species the person helped is so I refuse to leave till you apologize."

I stamped my foot to push my point home. Childish, I know, but I was really tired. Like really, just so tired. In response, Kegan grabbed me by the arm, tugged me out the door then threw me over his shoulder like I weighed nothing. "PUT ME DOWN RIGHT NOW," I shrieked, pounding on his back. He ignored me and, beating his tail, he raised into the air. My protests quickly turned to clinging on for dear life as he suddenly shot away into the air. I squeezed my eyes shut as the ground got further and further away. "Kegan, take me back!" I yelled, the rushing air whipping my words away. I could practically feel him smile as he instead let go of me and let me drop down so I was hanging by one arm, screaming. Suddenly, in my head, I heard his voice, "What's the magic word?"

"Please, please, PLEASE!" I yelled, trying to bring my other arm up to grab the hand that was holding me but the gravity and air resistance glued it to my side.

"That's all I wanted to hear." He pulled me up so I was cradled in his arms. I immediately latched on to him, burying my face in his shoulder crying, just a little bit. Hey, how would you feel if someone just nearly dropped you about a mile to prove a point? Let me tell you, not fun. He descended gently to a clearing and set me on my feet, "Now do me a favor and don't run away this time."

"Why." I said, leaning on him till I felt like I wouldn't fall if I let go, "would I stay with you?"

"Since I found you snooping around my bedroom I've nearly died TWICE! Which reminds me WHY ON GOD'S GREEN EARTH WERE YOU SNOOPING AROUND MY ROOM!?"

"Well, why do you hate me so much?" he countered, "I was nothing but nice to you and you hated me for NO REASON! Even now, when I have spent all day trying to keep you safe after you JUMPED THROUGH A PORTAL AFTER ME! Hell, if you were any other human I'd think you actually wanted to see me."

"You're the mind reader, why are you confused when you can just check?!"

"Because I was TRYING to be a gentleman and NOT invade your privacy."

"If you know I hated you, you clearly didn't worry about my privacy before, speaking of which, I CANNOT BELIEVE YOU READ MY MIND!"

"Well, it's not like it took a mind reader to figure out you hated me."

"But you read it ANYWAYS?!"

"And you wonder why I didn't want to do it again," he said, throwing up his hands in defeat. He scrubbed his face and ran his hands through his hair and despite how much I hated myself for it, I found myself staring again at how gorgeous he was. He looked down at me and I knew I was caught again as a slow, arrogant, annoyingly perfect smile spread across his face. He took a step towards me, leaning in as I stood frozen in place. "Huh," he said as my ears turned red, "maybe you did want to see me."

He gave me a smug smile and thankfully my composure returned. "Oh please, get over yourself," I said taking a step backward and quietly gasping for air.

"Then," he said, taking another step towards me, "why are you blushing?"

I opened and closed my mouth like a fish out of water. Wait a damn minute. Closing my mouth, I narrowed my eyes. "Why do you care?" I countered taking a step towards him to get right in his face. A flash of confusion quickly replaced fear as he went bolt upright taking several steps away from me. A triumphant smile spread across my face before I realized he wasn't looking at me but something behind me.

I turned to find nine glowing blue knives floating in the air behind me. Behind that two Zonoya, these ones with leopard ears and tails, dressed in leather like Kegan was. Kegan crossed his forearms in an X in front of him then head bowed, he hit his arms together twice before dropping to a knee, ears pulled back. The two others did the same thing with their arms before turning to face each other and stepping apart to reveal a third Zonoya. She was gorgeous. Tall and lean with skin almost an identical color to my own. She had striking purple eyes which flashed with undertones of red. Clear skin, full lips and stick straight, coal black hair with honey blond ends reaching just past her waist, swept-back over her head. She was clad in a leather catsuit that zipped in the front or I guess unzipped in the front as it was only zipped to just above her belly button. Underneath she wore a hot pink corset crop top covered in black lace. She looked like she strolled off the Victoria's Secret catwalk. You know if Victoria's Secret hired aliens which on one hand I'm not entirely sure they don't cause come on, who looks like that. She had a lion's ears pressed flat to her head, and a lion's tail, which was currently flicking as she glared down at me with those chillingly vivid eyes.

She stalked closer to me and the knives parted as she peered down at me. "Explain", she snarled, not taking her eyes off of me, "now."

"She woke while I was watching over her," Kegan said quietly, head still bowed.

"Why didn't you immediately wipe her as protocol states," she asked turning her harsh stare on Kegan, walking towards him.

"The Crimson ordered never to wipe potentials," he responded.

"So you thought bringing her here was a better idea?"

"It wasn't his fault, I'm the one that jumped through the portal thingy," I piped up.

She turned to look at me. "Speak only when spoken to, vikin," she hissed.

"How DARE you," I snapped in response striding towards her, "who do you think you are to call me vikin!"

"Oh, forgive me," she said taking on a sarcastic tone and a sugar-sweet smile that didn't reach her eyes, "my name is General Laon Huntress, commander of the royal military and defense advisor to the Crimson and the Katrena, when she was here." She made a show of bending down to look me in the eyes, "So as a superior officer I must ask, who do you think you are, humie?" She stood back upright looking down her nose at me in triumph for a moment then her face changed to confusion. I seemed to be getting a lot of confused looks today. "Wait a tail flicking moment, how do you know what vikin is?" she asked, eyebrows furrowed as she thought. She turned back to Kegan, "Who is she again?"

"I am Inaya Elaine McCarthy," I said in a clipped voice as Kegan responded at the same time with, "Discarded from the main three but Coco still had her suspicions due to how similar she looks so asked me to continue watch, just in case."

"Seems like she might have been on to something," Laon said glancing at me.

"Would someone care to clue me in," I said, arms crossed.

Laon gave a crooked smile, "Definitely sounds like her, best take her in see what Coke thinks."

"I get the feeling she isn't terribly fond of that nickname," I said to myself, with a half-smile and a memory flash of a scowling face that was identical to my own. "Huh." I suddenly felt the urge to laugh so I did. Everyone was staring at me now, dead silent. Laon got her voice back first, "Castle, now."