Chapter Text
A TAIL OF TWO CATS
By L.J. Anton
Illustrated by MORI Toshimichi
In a high-up mountain, there was a city called Kagutsuchi. In that city, there was a little village of cat people that lived happy lives. These cat people, called the Kakas, were known for wearing baggy hoodies that concealed their faces just enough to show only what's needed to be shown. Among one of the Kakas was the appropriately named Taokaka, a friendly yet scatterbrained girl that loved to eat, or whatever interests her in the moment.
What interested her in this particular moment was another cat person. This one wasn't wearing a hoodie. She found her while wandering outside of the Kaka village for food. Her face was as bright as day, and her hair was as blue as the sky.
That's one strange-looking Kaka, Taokaka thought, staring at her with rapt attention. But then, she noticed something about this cat girl that was most alarming.
"Hey!" Said Taokaka, calling to this unfamiliar catgirl. "You're naked!"
The cat girl rubbed the back of her head with her giant white paws. "Yeah, I get that a lot," she said shyly.
Taokaka paced around the cat girl, still fixated on her. "But...aren't you chilly?" She asked.
"No no, it's fine," the cat girl replied. "I run warmer than humans. The fur helps, too!"
Taokaka's ears twitched, signalling confusion. What this cat girl had for fur was way too minimal. It was more like stripes on nude skin.
Either way, Taokaka decided not to question it. She looks and sounds smarter than her, and she was taught to respect those who were smart.
"I have a feeling I'm not in Kansas anymore," the cat girl continued, now observing her surroundings.
Kansas... That's a fancy new word to Taokaka. She's never heard of a place called Kansas. Maybe she's just moved in to Kagutsuchi.
Suddenly, inspiration! An idea struck Taokaka's empty head! She should do her due diligence and show her around! ... But showing her around the city would be too long and too boring.
Instead, Taokaka offered to introduce herself.
"Hi, Taokaka! I'm Felicia!" The cat girl answered in kind.
Felicia! What a beautiful name! Taokaka felt a spark between the two of them.
Suddenly, she sprang up and beamed at her new friend! "You're pretty cool!" She said enthusiastically. "You wanna play?"
"I'd love to, but I have to figure out a way back home," said Felicia.
"Back to Kansas?" Assumed Taokaka.
Felicia giggled at Taokaka's innocence. "Something along those lines," she said. Then she decided to humor her new friend. "Tell you what; we can play for a little while, and then you can help me find my way back home! Sound good?"
Taokaka wasted no time and jumped right at Felicia. She wasn't going to just play...she was going to play competitively! Taokaka's gonna make this Felicia girl work up a sweat with all the playing they're gonna do.
And so, let the games begin!