Utterly Mad

     As Catnip watched Kyle go, a woman approached cradling a camera on a sling. From her appearance, she wasn’t a local and Catnip was a little in awe of how incredibly tall she was. Apart from her height, she was also quiet thin, and covered head to tail in bright scales that reminded Catnip of Dee. Where Dee’s scales were a mottled brown and tan though, this woman’s were a collection of black, red, and orange stripes running up and down her limbs and back while her belly from groin to chin was a pale yellow. “Hey there!” She said, “I’ve never seen a misling with brown fur before! Can I take your picture lady?” L scowled at her, “Get out of here kid.”

     “Kid?” Catnip thought, looking up into the face of the distinctly serpentine woman. She huffed, “Hey, let her say if she wants it taken or not. What are you? Her owner?” L’s scowl deepened into a truly vile glare, but Catnip interrupted the growing tension. “Sure. I have a camera too, but it’s not here.” She introduced herself, and the tall “girl” did likewise. “Catnip? Groovy, I’m Leslie.” Catnip rubbed her eyes after the flash of the camera’s sizable bulb. “Are you guys headed for Pricetown? I am. I heard they need a photographer for some newspaper thing they are setting up out there. Hey lady, take my picture with Catnip would you? Please?” L took the camera, momentarily considered throwing it away, and then decided she needed to ease up. No need to be a bitch. Catnip had to stand on the trucks quarter panel just to stand shoulder to shoulder with Leslie. Until now, Lilith had been the tallest person Catnip had ever met. “Say cheese!” L said. Catnip and Leslie did so, and once again Catnip was momentarily blinded.
 
    Leslie's tongue flicked out, caressing one of the collection of pictures. “Thanks lady, it means a lot. I gotta get lots of pictures for my portfolio.” Leslie said, taking back her camera. Catnip wondered what a “portfolio” was, but she understood the need to take lots of pictures. Once upon a time, Catnip had spent a lot of time taking pictures of things. It was a hobby she didn’t pursue much anymore. She was thinking about it when Leslie tapped her on the shoulder.

     “Here Catnip, I ran a copy off for you too!” Catnip took the polaroid and examined it. Leslie had put her fingers up behind Catnip’s head as a pair of mock rabbit ears, even as Catnip was doing the same to her. “Pfft.” Leslie said, “We sure do make a pair yeah? Maybe we’ll meet up again in Pricetown?”

     Catnip nodded, perhaps they would.