[Current Location: Sticky Park in Enig Sweden at around nineteen thirty six o'clock.]

Blinking awake, the fixer upper rubbed his eyes. Did he hear a familiar voice just now? Looking up, the young adult groaned. Ugh, what's Pira doing here? Can't he see he's trying to rot here? What time is it? Oh, close to eight, whatever. Sigh. How did he even find him here? Who knows, who cares?

"Kiddo, let's go home, everyone's waiting for you," Pira said in a quiet voice.

"Dinner almost coldie!" Walker shouted.

[No, let me just rot here.] An electronic voice said through his smartwatch.

"You can't sleep at the park like this, what if someone finds you and takes you in for questioning?" Pira asked.

Remaining on the ground, the young adult sighed. Can't he just rot here forever? He'll even buy a tent and hide by a bush! Camping, woohoo! Camping out here for all eternity! No job, no bills, no soulcritters to get in his way. Just, bush, bush, bush. Bush all the way, baby! Just let him sit here, it's not like it matters if he's at the dinner table.

[I think I'll move into the park, thanks. Let me rot here.] An electronic voice said through his Smartwatch.

"No can do, kiddo," Pira said, shaking his head. "If mother and father heard you type that, they'd have a heart attack. Let's go home."

[It's not like they'll ever be returning from Russia, so who cares what they think?!] An electronic voice shouted through his smartwatch. But, a sigh had come his way.

"Look, kiddo, I know that job of yours puts you through the wringer, but, you have a nice warm apartment waiting for you. So, let's go." His voice was stern.

Ugh.

He just can't win, can he?

Lifting himself up from the crunchy grass beneath him, the chimera rolled his eyes. Whatever, fine, he'll go back home, but if Natalie and Coiote yap about their soulcritters, he's excusing himself forever! Dragged off towards the pesky Property Manager ritzy dining room, he turned his head off towards the window. He's here, can he go back home now so he can rot?

"Did ya manage to find him?" Varg asked.

"Woof, woof, woof!" Halen shouted.

[Hi, hi, your fellow SoulCritter Translator here, what did Halen say just now? Why, he said, "Little lazy loser probably rotting at a park somewhere!" Okay, Soulcritter Translator out, peace! Gonna grab a bite to eat!]

"Varg, can you please tell your darling Halen over there to watch his mouth?" A tenor, but gentle, feminine voice asked.

"Wan, wan!" A poodle barked.

[Hi, hi, your fellow SoulCritter Translator here. What did that poodle say just now? Well, she said, "Yeah, simmer down!" Okay, SoulCritter Translator out, peace!]

"There he is!" An alto voice said. "What kept you, Siorc?"

"Working, Swork was working!" a little monkey cried.

"Well, yes, we know that, but not this late, Soiree." A headshake.

Petting a little pink poodle in the corner of the room had been a tall, feminine hyena chimera with light purple hair pulled into a large side bun. One singular heart shaped earring on their left ear, they had violet paws with claws. Dress the same shade as her hair, on the side had been a sewed on poodle patch. As usual, Natalie has to incorporate little Opalene into every aspect her brand. Whatever. How was she ten years older than him? He'll never have the answer to that question.

 Sitting at the main chair in the middle of the dining room had been a short hyena chimera woman close to forty. Excuse him, a young spry lady who definitely was almost thirty. So, ridiculous, he swears. Why does Coiote care so much about a number? Light purple hair a curly mess, her ponytail looked like it could use a million years of brushing. Brownish red shirt cut at the bottom with a tiny monkey in the center, her eyes were the same color as her locks. Teeny monkey with dark chestnut fur next to her, he rolled his eyes. Oh, look, it's Soiree! The shopaholic! He's surprised these two could make it!

[It's not like I came here by choice, just saying.] A page from his communication log said.

"Let me guess, tough day on the job again?" Coiote asked.

"Swork's job toughie!" Soiree cried.

"It very much is, I'd say." She sighed. "I'll heat up the stew."

Meaty stew placed in front of him, the young adult attempted to wolf it down as fast as he could muster. Well, that was tasty better return home! Ha ha, as if he could leave before everyone else is done. Blah, blah, don't be a party pooper, or whatever. He knows, okay? Maybe, anyway. Can he rot in his bed now forever?

"So, how's the boutique goin', Nats?" Varg asked. "Anyone buy any dresses fer their soulcritters?"

"Going pretty good, why, I think we might sell out on our soulcritter fits pretty soon, actually!" Natalie cried. "Right, Opalene?"

"Wan, wan!" Opalene cried.

[Hi, hi, SoulCritter Translator here! What did Opalene say? She said, "Business booming!" Okay, bye, bye!]

"So, how's your job going, dearie?" Natalie asked Varg.

"Oh, ya know, demons and humans always askin' me to translate this and that," Varg said, shrugging. "Is yer mall doin' aight, Coiote?"

"Going okay, though, Soiree wants to buy out the entire store," Coiote sighed.

"More clothes!!" Soiree shouted.

"You can have two treats per month, alright?" Coiote groaned. She then turned towards Siorc. "So, Siorc, how's the fixer upper business going?"

Pesky question coming his way, the chimera pushed his plate away from him. Sorry, he just remembered, he has to go rot in his apartment right about now! Can he go? No? Sigh. Whatever, scribbling away, his pen almost snapped in half. Why waste their time asking such a pesky question? She knows the answer already!

[You know how it's going. The same as always.] A page from his communication log responded.

"Dear, what do you mean by the same as always?" Natalie asked.

"Jobbie go boomie!" Walker cried.

"Walker? We have talked about this many times, we do not say boomie at the dinner table," Pira said, sighing. "Let's stop asking him questions for now." He then stepped up from the table. "I'll take you back to your apartment kiddo."

[No need, excuse me.] A page from his communication log responded.

"Ah, dearie, wait, before you go, we need you to go to the meat market tomorrow, is that okay with you?" Natalie asked.

[Fine, whatever, I'll go. Goodnight.] A page from his communication log responded.

Slam.

Dragging himself back to his apartment, the chimera plopped himself face first onto his bed. Ugh, why did he move into this stupid apartment complex in the first place? He should have just gone to Russia with mother and father after he graduated from school. Whatever, too late for that now. Television turned on, he glued his eyes to the thing until he dozed off.

Ring, ring, ring, ring.

Alarm blasting through him off towards the early afternoon, the fixer upper groaned. Does he have to get out of bed? Can't he just rot here? A million texts racing his way to remember to go to the meat market, the hyena let out a scream. Alright, whatever, he'll go! Light purple dress with black cat heads on it, his tail twitched from behind him. Oh, great, it's a scorcher out there, isn't it?

[Current Location: The Meat Market in Central Enig, Sweden.]

Mrow, mrow, mrow, mrow.

Hearing a mewing somewhere close by, the young adult shook his head. What, is it kitty alley day or something? Ha, forget it, he'd better enter the store before Natalie texts him a thousand more times or something. Aisles filled to the brim with humans and their accursed soulcritters, he resisted the urge to put ton a blindfold. Go away, just, fade into the sand!

Staring at the sausages, the chimera placed his finger on his chin. Was this enough for the five of them? Excuse him, nine of them? No, he's going to have to buy six whole packages, isn't he? Groan. Cart soon filled, he placed his hand behind his ear. Why does those meows sound like they're waiting for him? Forget it, keep shopping and focus.

Checklist three quarters of the way done, the young adult tried to not pull his hair out. Can whatever is meowing shut their mouth? He's trying to shop here! Sigh, how much more does he have to get? Oh, right a couple of duck steaks, or whatever. Better get them and hit the road. Many plopped down into the basket, he raced off towards checkout. Creatures plopped down into the bags, he raced out of that joint. Whelp, time to go home, he guessed.

Mrow, mrow, mrow mrow.

Mrow, mrow, mrow!

Groan.

Meows getting louder, the chimera groaned. Alright, fine, he'll go see what's up, alright? Quit mewing! Trudging off towards an alleyway, a sight to behold soon caught his attention in the corner. Large box with the words take me home crudely drawn on it, he soon peered down at the contents from within it.

Mrow, mrow, mrow!

Oh.

Wait a second.

Cut. Is that?!

Sitting in the box had been an awfully small male back cat with huge lavender eyes like no other. Circular eyebrows above him, his top paws looked like they were meant to be hands. Skinny body with three pawed feet beneath it, a spark popped through him. Wait a second, hold on, this cat doesn't have a tail! Could this mean?

"Mrow, mrow, mrowwwwwww!" the cat cried.

[Hi, hi, hello there, your friendly neighborhood SoulCritter Translator here. What did this poor, poor, unnamed Black Cat say just now? Well, he said, "You have my tail!" Okay, gotta dash!]

Tears streaming down his face, the world was ready to flood. Wait a second, did this thing just say he has his tail? No, he didn't right? He had to have been mistaken. Little kitty looking like he hadn't eaten in who knows how long, his heart fluttered. What is this spark he's feeling? Could it be, he's the one? No, that couldn't be it, right?

"Mrow, mrow, mroooooooooooow, mrooooooooooooooow!" the black cat shouted.

[Hi again, it's me, the SoulCritter Translator. What did our friend here say just now? Well, he said, "Please, take me home! You have my tail!" Okay, I'm off, buh bye!]

Opening up the empty shopping bag, the chimera ducked down. Should he really be doing this? Maybe he didn't find the one after all? How is he supposed to know if he did?! Ugh, whatever. There's no time for questions, any second now, and it's going to rain. Tapping his smartwatch, he crossed his fingers.

[Come on, get into the bag.] An electronic voice said through his smartwatch.

"Mrow, mrow!" The black cat cried.

[SoulCritter Translator here! What did the Black Cat say, well he said, "It's mine now!" Well, bye bye!]

Black cat hopping into the bag, the hyena closed his eyes. This little fella could use a bowtie, maybe. Ugh, no time to think about that! He has to head home now! Running back towards the apartment complex, he quickly dropped the meat off at the property manager building. Dragging himself back to his own, he plopped the kitty down onto his bed. Staring off into space, questions flowed through him.

So, he has a soulcritter now, maybe.

Why does he feel like there's something strange about this fella?

Agh, no, come on be happy about something for once in his life!