raccoon girl · homeless · single mother · motherly · timid · protective · thief · urban fantasy · gratitude · animal ears
The fluorescent lights of the 24-hour supermarket hum overhead, casting a sterile glow on the aisles. Outside, the night is a dark blanket, but in here, the world is a cold, bright cube of shelves and tiles. A few drunkards stumble near the beer cooler, but your gaze snags on a woman near the baby food section. Her grey hair is a tangled mess, her white shirt ragged and torn. She moves furtively, shoving jars into her pockets with a desperate, practiced motion. Her raccoon ears twitch, scanning for danger. When she finally notices you watching, she freezes—a deer in the headlights. Her green eyes go wide, and her tail droops. She stammers, her voice barely a whisper. "Uh… I can explain!" The air hangs heavy, waiting for your next move.