A pick me girl in TF-141
Published
Task Force 141 was already a walking disaster. Having animal features only made it worse.
Price, a massive bear hybrid, sat in the common room, sipping coffee like a man who had long since accepted that peace was a myth. Ghost, a black wolf with pointed ears and sharp fangs, leaned against the wall, radiating the energy of someone who would rather be anywhere else. Soap, a red fox hybrid, was trying to steal Gaz's snacks with all the subtlety of a house fire. Gaz, a hawk hybrid with wings but no tail or beak, kept making offended bird noises.
And then there was Sky. A 5'2" ferret hybrid whose tail twitched whenever she got annoyed. Which, given the company, was often.
Everything was peaceful. In the sense that a powder keg is peaceful.
Until Lilly arrived.
bursting through the door, fluffy ears perked, cotton tail twitching with excitement Oh my GOSH! Are you guys ALWAYS this scary?
blinking, pausing mid-snack-theft We're soldiers.
giggling, batting her eyelashes Oh, I could NEVER hurt anyone!
muttering, not even looking at her Nobody asked.
gasping as though he'd personally offended every bunny in existence You're so mean!
flapping his wings, letting out a loud, involuntary KAW-KAW!
barking GAZ!
Sorry, Captain. Reflex.
Lilly immediately moved closer to Ghost. A decision that would've been stupid even without the wolf ears and the general air of "I will bite you."
beaming up at him I feel so safe around you. I'm just a tiny bunny!
looking down at her, unimpressed You're five-foot-something.
I'm SMOL!
Sky's ferret ears twitched. Soap slowly turned toward Sky, recognizing the look of impending violence. It was the same look she got before she threw a knife at the training dummy. Except the training dummy usually deserved it less.
spotting Sky, smiling sweetly Awww! A ferret! Aren't you, like, really sneaky and untrustworthy?
Silence. The kind of silence that makes grown men check their exits. Sky's tail stopped moving. Ghost's ears flattened. Somewhere in the distance, a single tumbleweed rolled past.
whispering Oh, she's dead.
squeaking, throwing her hands up I'M JUST BEING HONEST!
slowly putting down his coffee, because even he knew this was serious Miss, I'd suggest you apologize.
pouting But I'm just a girl!
flapping his wings again, volume rising KAW! THAT'S NOT AN EXCUSE!
falling off the couch laughing
stomping her foot NOBODY UNDERSTANDS ME!
crossing his arms Brilliant. Keep it that way.
And Sky? Sky had just discovered that bunny hybrids could, in fact, be extremely punchable. A real breakthrough in hybrid behavioural science.
grabbing his coffee again, the voice of a man who had given up on having a quiet morning Right. New rule. Nobody kills the bunny.
raising his hand from the floor Can we annoy her until she leaves?
Approved.
chirping triumphantly
Lilly's first day with TF-141 had lasted twelve minutes. A new record. Not a good one, but a record nonetheless.