Canada: Next day.
She had spent last night and the morning trying to find that pesky little tape recorder. Finally she did but its batteries were long dead. She sighed knowing she had to make another stop on her way to her Mother's house. The place didn't look any different, the only outside change she could see was the name on the mailbox, Kathren P. Otex. She hoped that today Kathren would show her some family photos. She had become very curious of her family ever since Kathren had described them. She was also curious as to what sort of family her Mother was getting associated with. She rang the doorbell and expected the worst. However Kathren opened the door fully clothed, well sort of. She had on a very tight Speedo one piece swimsuit, which looked excellent on her. Probably had most of the guys around here drooling and doing something else.
"Hi Sabrina nice to see you again, just about to have a swim."
"Ah, I didn't know there was a pool around here?" In fact she knew there wasn't. It was a long drive to the nearest one as well.
"We have a pool." She grinned.
"Really?" Sabrina thought, wow that was neat. Why couldn't mom have put in a pool when I was younger, Sabrina sighed.
"Your welcome to join us if you want. I'm sure one of your mother's suits should fit you."
She wasn't too sure about that, but then again most suits stretched anyway. She hadn't been swimming in a long time and it sounded like fun. "You know, I think I will join you."
Sabrina entered into the house and was a bit taken aback. What she remembered as the place she had grown up in, was now totally gone. The place was nice but all the familiar things she knew and loved were gone or in different places, this depressed her. However she didn't have long to dwell on that thought for her mother came up behind her.
"How's my girl today?"
She turned around and found her buffed and quite attractive mother in an identical suit to Kathren's. She shook her head. "You two must have every guy around here talking about you."
"Talking? My dear, we have telescopes on us every time we go out to the pool." Kathren said with a grin.
"But doesn't that bother you."
"It did at first dear but we had a chat with the young lads mothers. That put a lot of them out of commission. There are only a couple now and one will never look at us again. His computer got in the way of Kathrens fist."
"Ouch."
"Yeah for him." Kathren said. "He had a subscription webcam site with us as the unknowing stars. He wet himself, when I showed up at his door." She grinned. "Sorry ladies but the pool beckons, I'm heading out, see you there." Kathren left the two of them alone and Sabrina noted that even Kathren's tail seemed to ripple with muscles.
After a momentary lapse she turned to her Mom. "I have the recorder, want to listen or swim first." Sabrina said.
"Let's have a swim first. I have another suit like this one in my room and I think it will fit."
"Mom that suit is really snug on you." And it was true..!
"This suit is a size smaller than it should be. Kathren picked it out for me, she likes me in tight things. And I have to admit I like it as well." She blushed.
Oh boy, Sabrina thought, what have I gotten myself into?
Sabrina got changed, the suit wasn't as snug on her as it was on her mother but it was tight. They went outside and up some stairs to a newly constructed deck. And there before her was a huge pool. She was awed by its size.
"Mom this must have cost a fortune."
"Well Kathren and I "pooled" some of our resources as you might say. It's good for Kathren to be able to swim. She is an otter after all.
"Uh…that's true."
The water felt great, it had been too long. She had forgotten how much she liked the water. Kathren showed off how she could maneuver under the water. It was unbelievable that something her size could move like that. She asked Kathren about family photos and she said she would pull them out after drying off. As time went on something happened that Sabrina found very strange. Kathren kissing her Mother, it was all a bit too strange so she just turned away.
After they were dry they went in and got the tapes out so Sabrina could play them. She put the small cassette in and the new batteries, then pushed play. For a few moments there was nothing then a man's voice came through. It was harsh and sounded old an ailing.
"Good day Mrs. Johnston, you do not know me but I know you in a way. My name, well it's not really that important but what I have to tell you is." He began to cough for what seemed like ages then as things settled he resumed. "I am dying and by the time you hear this I will be most probably dead. But I could not let my soul carry this deep and dark secret with me to my grave."
There was a pause and heavy breathing could be heard in the background. "Twenty-six years ago, or so, you were admitted into the hospital for implantation of a fertilized egg from a donor. Well that egg came through my department." There was a pause here and Margrette got a very worried look on her face. Then the voice from the grave returned. "Mrs. Johnston I tampered with that egg. I divided it into four identical ones. I took the other three and sold them to pay off debts I had accumulated."
Margrette shouted "No this can't be! It can't be true!" All the while the tape machine played on. Sabrina picked it up and rewound it.
"Mom, calm down. Let's just listen first; this sounds very suspicious if you ask me." Sabrina pushed play and Kathren hugged Margrette.
"..four identical ones. I took the other three and sold them to pay off debts I had accumulated. I won't go into depth here on how I did it, just suffice to say I did. The other tape is my log on how things progressed, I thought you deserved to have everything. I know this sounds very suspicious to you but I know the donor's name. Her name was Endora Mustelidae from the United States; she is a skunk like you."
At that point Margrette fainted dead away. Sabrina and Kathren just stared at each other not knowing what to say or do.
The tape played on while Kathren attended Margrette. Sabrina got a pillow for her mother and finally they got her settled.
"Rewind that, I want to hear the end." Kathren said.
Sabrina put the machine into rewind then started it up again. "sold them to pay off debts I had accumulated. I won't go into depth here on how I did it, just suffice to say I did. The other tape is my log on how things progressed, I thought you deserved to have everything. I know this sounds very suspicious to you but I know the donor's name. Her name was Endora Mustelidae from the United States, she is a skunk like you." The tape went silent for a time, Sabrina was about to turn it off believing it blank but the voice returned. "Please believe me when I say I meant you no harm. I took extra precautions to make sure the original fertilized egg was what you received. As to whom I sold them to, I only know what the person who picked them up looked like. She was a tall thin Albino weasel with dark red eyes. She showed no signs of modesty and was of a crude nature. Mrs. Johnston, I only ask if you can forgive me for what I have done. I only hope that this explanation will ease my guilty conscience." There was a whole lot of coughing then the tape clicked off.
Sabrina turned the tape machine off and thought that this was probably the last thing the man ever did. Sabrina didn't know what to think. She knew that she was Sabrina's and Tabitha's sister but now she knew there were other embryo's, genetic copies, out there of her and her sister. Then a horrible thought entered into her head, what if Heather was one of those embryo's? She was about the right age. The look of horror transferred to her face for all to see.
"Sabrina!" Kathren called out, it seemed that Kathren now had two comatose patients. She gently shook Sabrina until she came around.
"Huh!"
"You zoned out, girl. What happened to you?"
"I had this horrible thought. What if Heather is one of these embryo's brought to life?"
Kathren had heard about the Skunktaur. "You maybe right there, Sabrina I think it might be best if you contacted Heather and see what she thinks."
Sabrina was about to then stopped, "It might be better if mom talked to Heather's Mother first."
"Yes, that might be better."
Kathren comforted Margrette as she came around then listened to the tape again. She still couldn't believe it was possible. But what Sabrina had concluded, made sense. Heather had to be one of these embryo's.
"I think I'd better talk to Endora about this, it affects her as well. I believe your theory is sound Sabrina. Heather looks too much like you to be a fluke. Her being one of these lost embryo's is probably right on the money. After I've talked with Endora, I'll call Nancy she'll want to hear this as well."
Sabrina was almost positive that Heather was her…well sister. Biologically speaking she guessed, she wasn't so sure. Now that the White's adopted her was she still her sister technically? Oh man she thought this could get into a legal mess, with Heather right in the middle.
Present Day USA. : Same Day Early Morning.
Endora and Warren had been up for quite awhile hoping that Swallow would come down to join them. As the time had passed they had become overly worried.
"You think she is all right?" Warren said.
"After last night, I'm not sure if I'm even all right. How could that evil woman do those horrible things to poor Swallow?"
"I agree, it's horrible, that poor kid. As I held her last night, I didn't want to let her go. I wanted to make everything ok for her."
"I know we both want that." Endora took her husbands hand. "I'm going to go upstairs to see if she's ok."
"Not without me, love." Warren smiled.
Upstairs they approached the room they had put Swallow in. They had pulled the door partially closed to give Swallow some sense of safety. Endora pushed the door open quietly but was shocked to find the bed empty. However as she scanned the room she saw Swallow all covered up in a corner of the room. She had removed the warm blanket from the bed and wrapped herself in it. Then fell asleep soundly there. She was about to move forward when Warren stopped her. This surprised her as she turned her head to address him.
Warren smiled, "Call out to her instead. If you try to touch her she might strike out at you."
"Do you think so?"
"I believe she could. She's been on the streets for a long time and one day isn't going to change her habits. I doubt she would mean it, but it would be instinctive. I don't want my lovely wife hurt."
She gave him a kiss and he smiled. She turned her attention back to the task at hand, "Swallow, Swallow." Endora said loudly to rouse their houseguest. There was movement and then she saw a head emerge from the blanket.
"Huh! What?" Said the disoriented skunk, which at the moment looked very silly. Endora had to giggle. Swallows fur was a complete mess.
"It's Endora, Swallow. It's morning, time to get up."
"Oh, Ok." She stretched and got up, some of her fur gently settled then the blanket fell away exposing her nakedness for all to see.
Warren turned his head and quickly said, "Your department hon." He winked and gave her a kiss. "I'll be downstairs waiting for you two." She watched as he walked away and was overwhelmed with a feeling of love. It was the reason she married him and times like these it showed through even more. She then turned her attention to Swallow.
"Well young lady how did you sleep?"
Swallow yawned and Endora gulped getting a really good look inside the gaping cavern. She was glad that she wasn't on the menu.
"Not very well, Endora, as you can see, sorry."
"No need to be sorry, Swallow, you're in a strange place and it will take you awhile to adjust." It was then that Endora saw a strange look come over Swallows face. "Swallow?"
"Gottah pee."
Endora smiled, "Next door." She stepped aside and let Swallow pass. Endora noted that Swallow seemed very at home without clothes. "If you have any problems, holler."
"Ok." Endora heard through the door. In a few minutes she heard the toilet flush and Swallow came out looking relieved. "Oh that felt good. Endora, thank you for letting me stay here, I don't know how to thank you."
"It's ok, Swallow, our pleasure. Now if you will follow me, I think I have a robe for you. Then we can go down and have some breakfast. Sabrina should also be here soon with Tabitha."
"Tabitha?"
"Our youngest, I'm sure I mentioned her last night."
"Sorry Endora but last night is very blurry for me."
"Oh, sorry Swallow." She should have guessed. "Tabitha is six, she looks much like you and Sabrina. She's been staying with her Grand parents."
"A child!" Oh boy she thought. Children had always been mean to her every time she had run into one. Now she wasn't sure if she wanted to meet Tabitha.
Endora saw the worried look on Swallow's face. "She won't bite Swallow, I've told Sabrina to talk to Tabitha before she gets here. She'll know that you're here and she better be on her best behavior, or else." Swallow didn't want to find out what 'or else' was.
The breakfast was good but Swallow enjoyed the juice the most. She didn't get it very often, when she did manage to scrounge enough money she bought some. It felt good going down. The tranquil morning was shattered by the ringing of the phone. Swallow almost hit the roof spilling juice all over the place, then she began shaking like a leaf. Warren tried to calm her down as Endora went to answer it, as she picked up the receiver the bells became silent. Much to Swallows relief. Her life outdoors had not prepared her for the onslaught of modern technology.
The voice on the other end she recognized instantly. "Hi Margrette it's nice to hear from you. I was going to phone you later, I have some really interesting news."
"It will have to wait." Her tone immediately had Endora concerned so she concentrated on listening to what her friend had to say.
"I've had something really serious happen here, that involves you." This put Endora's ears up and put her news on the back burner. She was of course concerned but as Margrette told her what had transpired she deduced that Ti and Swallow were the other two embryos. She listened as Margrette played the tape and now she was positive.
There was a long pause then Endora spoke up. "Margrette you're not going to believe this but one of those other embryo's is right here."
Margrette almost dropped the phone. "WHAT!" She exclaimed.
Endora pulled up a chair and sat down and began to explain to Margrette what her theory was and what she believed had to be the truth. Margrette hardly could believe it but it was making sense. She then paused and told Margrette to hold on she wanted to do something. Endora put Margrette on the speaker.
"Margrette, everyone is here. Could you please play the tape again so everyone can hear. I think this will fill in the gaps to our guest here. She smiled at Swallow knowing it would at last answer some of her long and unsolved questions.
The whole room was silent as the tape played, the voice sounded as it was coming from the grave. And truth be told it was, when it reached the part about the large white weasel Swallow gasped! Swallow just stared blankly at Endora then she began to shake in fear.
Endora had to tell Margrette that she would call her back. Margrette agreed and gently hung up.
"Swallow, it's ok…..what's the matter?" Warren said gently taking her shaking paw in hand.
"Mother…the voice described Mother!"
Warren and Endora just looked at each other. Now they had a description of the woman who did this to poor Swallow. Swallow wasn't very forth coming on a description of this 'Mother" figure. Now the authorities would hear about this.
They did their best to comfort Swallow, the obvious fear that had taken hold of her could be plainly seen in Swallows eyes. This 'Mother' was not someone to trifle with.
Realizations hit Endora like a wave, Swallow and Ti were her biological daughters. How to prove it was another story. Their chemistry was probably so convoluted that they probably couldn't ever determine anything from them. That's if Ti survived her ordeal like Swallow.
So now Sabrina, Swallow, Sabrina and Ti were all biological sisters, and if Margrette's daughter was right, Heather the Skunktaur was also. Endora's mind was in overdrive, all this information so early in the morning. This now affected everyone's life and how things turned out from this information was anyone's guess. A can of worms had just been opened she only hoped that they could contain it.
End of Chapter 6
Hey look our gene pool just became a puddle!
"Luke, I am your father. And your father and your father and your father…."