I slowly turned in front of the floor length mirror , admiring the dress as it shimmered and sparkled, the deep scarlet colour nicely setting off my pale fur , my only jewelry a gold locket and a couple of gold studs in each ear “Well guys what do you think?” I asked the row of silent plushies on my bed “you don’t think it’s too daring?” the neckline was very low and the back was cut down almost to my tail “no you’re right I need to live a little”

I smiled at my reflection and walked over to the window to look outside, my apartment was on the 2nd floor of the club and this window overlooked the front main doors.
The sun was just setting sending fiery streaks of light across the night, a few stray clouds hurried across the horizon
If I leaned out a little I could make out the extra bouncers we had hired for this evening checking invitations and ID’s before letting people in , there was a short line and a few more joined it while I watched, most of the invited people had already arrived these were the stragglers and *fashionably late* ones  

We were celebrating The Pink Pussy Club’s second year of business , we had decided to wait until our second year before celebrating as we both knew that many businesses failed in their first year, to celebrate it ,we thought, was just tempting fate.
I leaned on the window frame staring out across the city two years ago I had met curvia here, we were both looking for a place to make a new start, it was only chance that we had both arrived at this building at the same time, Id arrived first and even tho Id loved the place I knew it was to big for just me to run on my own , Curvia had arrived as I was leaving and I overheard her talking to the real estate agent about how she wanted one more look even tho it was more then she was looking for as well

After a long chat we decided we would be able to do this if we joined forces, the papers were signed and three months later the “New Look” club opened  , at first business was slow , it did pick up eventually and by the end of the first year we were turning a profit,
The party tonight was for us and our staff plus selected friends

It was full dark before I turned away from the window and headed down to the club, I paused outside my door, in front of me were the stairs leading down to the staff area, I could hear laughter filtering thru from the club itself.
When we found that the club came with an apartment I took it, I thought living in a club would be great fun and as curvia already had her own place in town she didn’t mind, she liked her privacy to much to be constantly available to the staff when she was supposed to be off duty

I gathered the skirt up in my hands, wouldn’t do to trip and fall, and slowly walked down, at the bottom I looked across to the security room and noticed someone inside, the room was situated just off the main staff area next to the hallway leading to the backstage area, I was pretty sure who was in there and had those suspicions confirmed as I saw a familiar figure bent over a keyboard a look of concentration over his features
“Digi! What are you doing in here? Everyone’s supposed to be enjoying the party; we hired extra security and staff tonight so none of us would have to work”
He didn’t stop typing or look around “I have to fix this problem with monitors 5 and 9 they are not recording like they’re supposed to, I’ve almost got it” He tapped a few more keys and sat back a satisfied look crossing his sharp rodent features “ There that’s done it!”

He leaned back in his chair and stretched before turning around to face me, his eyes widened as he looked me over, I spun slowly in place for him showing off “Like?” I asked “Curvia’s is the same except hers is black and silver”

He grinned “Very nice” standing up he stretched again and offered his arm to me “Well shall we join them in the club?”
“Of course, I see you took the time to dress up as well” I said waving my free hand at his usual attire of jeans shirt and jacket.
“Well how could I let down my admiring public?, besides this is Curvia’s and your night, I’ll show off my finery some other time” he winked and we walked down the hallway to the back stage area

Curvia was waiting there, she glance up when we entered “About time you get here what have you been doing? Simon has been stalling; we were supposed to show up 10 minutes ago”
She looked great in her dress to, sparkles of silver shone whenever she moved; we would look fantastic under the stage lights
“It’s our night Curves let them wait”
Digi escorted us to the stage door “I’ll go back out front” he hugged me and added “I’ll see you out there later”
Curvia watched this exchange with a strange look on her face “I thought he turned you down?”
I had to admit I was just as surprised “Maybe he changed his mind?”
She humphed “Well if he has don’t you make it easy for him, first he has to get your forgiveness then he has to win you back”
I giggled “anyway lets let Simon know we are ready to go from the sounds of things he is getting into his bad jokes”  We could both hear good natured jeering and catcalls coming from the audience.

I peeked around the curtains and got Simons attention, he looked relieved and in his best announcers voice said “Ladies, Gentlemen and Others, please welcome to the stage the reason we are all here tonight Curvia and Foxy!!”
Thunderous applause and wolf whistles greeted us and we walked onto the stage, Simon jumped down into the audience and added his applause to the rest

We took a bow and waited for the noise to abate, Curvia stepped up to the microphone first “We want to thank you all for being here tonight as this party is not just for us its for all of you as well, The club wouldn’t be a success without all of you as well” She waited for the cheers to subside before continuing “As you’ve seen we’ve hired extra staff tonight so all you have to do is enjoy”
Over the louder cheers she handed me the microphone and stood back, I looked out over the crowd, so many people and I knew almost all of them , smiling I waited once again for quiet
“As Curvia has already said, this is your night as much as ours, a lot of hard work went into getting this place up and running and a few of you have been here from the time we first opened we thank you for standing by us as we know the first few months were tough on us all, Now we get to enjoy”
The crowd clapped and cheered and most of them started to drift over to the bar and dance floor, a few stayed seated around the stage waiting for show to start, some of the dancers had volunteered to put on a show, I think they looked on it as extra practice so we were happy to allow them to go ahead.
Curvia had gone back thru the stage doors I decided to take the short way out and walked over to the side of the stage where I saw Laz sitting, as I approached the black bunny raised his head, his silver hair flopping down over one eye “Hey Foxy” He greeted me “Looking good”
I smiled at him as I sat on the edge of the stage “Hi yourself, mind giving a lady a hand?”
He stood and offered his hand so I could use it steady myself as I  stepped down onto the stool , before I could jump the rest of the way he put his hands around my waist and lifted me down
I let out a squeak of surprise “Laz!! I could have jumped down!”
He grinned totally unrepentant “I know but I can’t have the boss lady jumping about and looking undignified can I?”
“I guess not” I poked my tongue out at him “Anyway you’re looking very nice tonight, that white suit sets off your black fur very nicely and the little carrots on the blue waistcoat just adds to the total effect”
he struck a pose for me “Why thank you, I will say it took some searching to come up with this look”
I giggled at him “I’m sure it did; now if you will excuse me I must go mingle, I’ll see you again later”

He waved and turned back to the stage, the dancers were just beginning their first number, Id come back later on to see how they were going, Dee had promised us an illusion show for the finale and I didn’t want to miss that.

Al joined me as I made my way thru the guests, he had his usual mug of coffee in one hand, but tonight instead of his usual club uniform of pink and black he was dressed in an all black outfit that wasn’t quite a suit “Expecting trouble tonight?” I asked him, as I stopped and chatted to a few guests, “not really” he replied “It’s all invited guests and we know almost all of them, it’s the hired staff I’m keeping an eye on”
“The hired staff? They come from a reputable company, Digi recommended them” I tilted my head to look up at him “Don’t you trust his judgment?”

He looked uncomfortable for a moment, tail twitching nervously “Its not that at all, it’s just that we don’t know them and they have access to all the staff areas”
I patted him on the arm “Its just for tonight , but if it makes you feel better you can keep an eye on them, now why don’t you go join Sirsan and have some fun?’

Leaving him to go back to his mate , I made my way to the far end of the bar, it was quieter there with most people either watching the show or gathered in the social area listening to Simon telling one of his famous stories, I choose a stool at the end of the bar and settled back to indulge in a bit of people watching

The constantly changing swirl of groupings had always fascinated me, in some cases it was like an elegant dance, in others a kaleidoscope of colours forming new patterns  

I was resting one hand against my chin watching when I felt someone stop beside me, looking up I discovered Ivory a drink in either hand and a smile on her face “You look like your miles away” she said as she handed me one of the drinks and hopped onto the stool next to me, she arranged her dress around her “What's up?”

I sipped the drink before answering “I'm just thinking, things could have turned out so differently in my life, I'm thankful I got another chance”
She nodded and for a while we both sat in a comfortable silence, we had become good friends since being introduced it seemed as tho I’d known her years instead of only a few short months

Curvia had introduced us one evening and we had immediately clicked, I found her company restful, a rare trait in a rabbit I must admit

A soft voice interrupted my reverie “Excuse me ladies would I be permitted to join you?” I looked up into a pair of eyes the colour of the sea after a storm, I shook my head and looked again, the owner of the eyes was a tall black panther, he was dressed in an immaculate and expensive looking dark blue suit, he wore it like it wasn’t something he was used to and seemed almost self conscious, his hand lifted to brush thru his hair and I noticed his right ear was gone leaving an ugly mass of scar tissue

Seeing my look he hastily brushed his hair down to conceal it and started to turn away, I put my hand on his arm “Not at all take a seat” smiling at him Ivory slid over so he could sit between us

Ivory looked him over and he started to raise his hand to his hair again before realizing what he was doing and lowered it, in stead he smiled at us both “Can I buy you lovely ladies a drink perhaps?”

I signaled the bartender who bought us three drinks “No need for that tonight, all drinks are on the house”
Ivory asked the question before I did “So who are you I don’t think I've ever seen you at the club before?” she looked at me and I nodded slightly “How did you get the invite?”
We both waited for his answer, he took a sip of his drink “It’s true I have never been here before but my cousin Altoina is a dancer here she is not feeling to well so she said I could have her invitation she said you wouldn’t mind?” He looked at me questioningly

“Yes she did call me earlier and mention that, she didn’t give me a description” she also had given me a name I didn’t mention it to see if he would introduce himself, I looked at him questioningly

“Ah I have not introduced myself, I have the advantage over you” He got to his feet and bowed over my hand “I am Jonah D’Marco, my friends call me Jonah” as he took his hand away I felt a slight prick and tingle on my palm I rubbed at it as he repeated his introduction with Ivory
“You however I do not know and I must make up for this as soon as possible”
Ivory was not taken in by this smooth talk and merely smiled politely at him “I'm Ivory and it’s a pleasure to meet you, I can’t say I've ever heard Altoina mention you tho and I can’t believe she hasn’t talked about me, we were quite close at one time”

“Come now my dear how was I to know that you were in fact The Ivory bunny, the one dear to my cousins heart of course she has talked about you” He smiled widely displaying his fangs,  Now I knew that wasn’t good manners  for a carnivore, but Ivory took no notice of it and smiled in return.

I was beginning to feel a little strange; shaking my head I took a sip of my drink to clear it
“So anyway Jonah what brings you to town? Just visiting your cousin?”

He looked closely at me and grinned that wild sharp grin again “Let me just say business has bought me here, business soon to be concluded”

I nodded at him ,then leaned back against the bar feeling suddenly dizzy, I thought for one frightening moment that I was going to pass out as the lights started to fade , I realized the club lights were being turned down and brightening over the stage , the show was about to begin I needed to be there for that

I took a step and stumbled, a soft hand on mine helped me back to my seat
“Are you feeling all right Ms Malone?” Jonah asked me, his hand still resting on top of mine.
Ivory knelt in front of me “Foxy are you ok? Let me get you some water”
She rushed off before I could stop her

“Let us go for a walk Ms Malone, maybe you need some fresh air”  I didn’t want to go with him but let him help me up and steer me towards the doors,  No one was looking in our direction , all eyes were on the stage, We were almost to the door when ivory arrived back with the promised water
“Where are you going? Shouldn’t you go upstairs if you aren’t feeling well?” I tried to answer her but for some reason Id lost the ability to talk I shook my head weakly at her
“Ms Malone thought some fresh air might make her feel better so we were going to take a short stroll outside” His arm tightened around me and we moved forward again, Ivory looked at me uncertainly for a moment, then making up her mind came to my other side and took my arm “I’ll come with you, just in case you need some help”
I smiled gratefully at her, we were almost to the main doors, I couldn’t see the guards we’d hired, there was supposed to be a pair inside and another pair outside

I could tell that ivory had noticed that to as she stopped for a moment “Why don’t I just tell Digi or Curvia where we are going” she said brightly “they might need Foxy soon and will need to know where she is”
She turned and started towards the stage , before she’d barely walked two steps Jonah had grabbed her shoulder, he pulled her roughly towards him “You listen to me, turn around and walk out of here with us” His hand moved along her shoulder and around her throat “If you don’t I’ll snap your delicious little neck and take you along anyway I could use a snack” His bared teeth inches from her face must have convinced her as she turned back into line with me, her hand reached for mine and I made an effort to squeeze it in what I hoped was a comforting grip.

The door started to open and I had a moment of hope, short lived as an unfamiliar face looked thru “All clear boss lets go!”
He looked quizzically at Ivory as Jonah led us thru , a warning headshake was all he got and he shrugged as he pulled the door shut behind us.

Outside the club all was quiet, there was no traffic at this time of night and a light mist hung over everything giving familiar objects an unreal quality, there were no guards out here either.
The only things in sight were a battered looking white van and the owner of the face that had been at the doors, a Lynx just as battered looking as the van, one pointed ear so ragged and shredded that it hung down and a face covered in scars and bald patches, and yet he looked almost familiar to me, I stared at him trying to remember.

The lynx looked at Ivory again “what's with the rabbit? The boss said just the leopard, you know what he’s like” he shifted nervously “Lets get rid of her and get going!” he moved towards ivory claws extended I tried to move in front of her as she shrank back but only succeeded in tripping on the edge of my gown and falling into her, taking us both to the ground

“We’ve got no time for this” Jonah snarled dragging me back to my feet, I hissed weakly at him, “Just throw them both in, I’ll take responsibility”
He half dragged half carried me to the van, wrenching the door open he shoved me inside, Ivory was almost thrown in and landed against me, once again sending us both to the floor, the door slammed shut, sending us into darkness, Ivory leapt to her feet and threw herself against the door, kicking and pulling at it and letting loose an astonishing string of language that had me staring at her wide-eyed.
I managed to pull myself into a sitting position as the van started forward, ivory crawled over and sat next to me “Who are these guys and why do they want you?”
I could only shake my head at her, I felt sick and weak and my brand new dress was ruined! Slumping forward I passed out.