In the room Heather was stretched out on a large bed, with several machines surrounding her. One was the breathing machine the doctor spoke of; it was a very noisy thing. As the shock of seeing Heather lying helpless in the large racked bed they were shocked to see Heather had been tied up with restraints.
"Are the straps really necessary?" Sid asked with horror.
"I'm afraid so, Mr. White; they are there for Heather's protection. If she awakens during the night she could hurt herself if she wasn't restrained. Taurs are very strong creatures when frightened. Once she is made aware of her situation they will be removed."
Sid didn't like seeing her this way but the doctor had a point and he knew how strong Heather could be if she wanted.
Nancy moved in closer to her daughter's side and just wept. They had the sides up on the bed that made it look like a huge cage. She gently reached in and ran her paw through Heather's hair. "It's going to be all right, Mommie's here." She rubbed her paw lightly against her daughter's face, praying hard for Heather. She meant the world to them.
Seeing Heather like that upset Sabrina immensely and she promptly left the group. Margrette followed her and they hugged and cried together.
"I feel horrible, Mom…….I left…..it's my fault." Sabrina sobbed.
Margrette held her tight, "It's not, my dear, things just happen. I doubt that Heather wanted you hanging around anyway; you've helped her a lot these last few weeks. She's very happy with you, she told me so."
Sabrina looked up into her mother's face, "Really!"
"Yes dear, she likes you very much." Margrette put her paw through her daughter's hair. "Now, my little one, she needs you more than ever."
Sabrina sniffed, "Yeah, that's true."
"Good; you be strong for her."
It was then that Sabrina's eyes went wide, "Sabrina……oh…. she should know what's happened."
Margrette wasn't sure if that was a wise idea, "Well, dear, it's late there…and maybe…"
"Mom, I think it would help me tonight just to tell her." Her tears had stopped but he face was still wet.
She couldn't deny that face, "Ok, I'm sure she'll understand." Margrette kissed her daughter's forehead and let her go to make her call. God she loved her, she understood what Sid and Nancy were going through. Having gone through it, not so long ago. She looked down at her paws and felt the phantom pain of her raw paws. She'd do it again in a minute for her; she smiled and returned to Heather's room.
The phone rang in Amy's apartment, it rang and rang but finally a sleepy voice answered.
"Hello, Amy speaking." She said groggily.
"Hello Amy it's Sabrina."
Amy thought it wasn't like Sabrina to call this late. "Sabrina is everything all right?"
"No, no it isn't, Amy; Heather's in the Hospital." Her voice was horse, and she found it hard talking.
"Oh no!"
"Yeah and it's serious; she's had a stroke." She found it hard to say the words. She gulped as it sank in; the thought of Heather not making it turned her stomach.
"Oh God! Sabrina I'm so sorry."
"Thanks Amy, I apologize for getting you up." Sabrina said sincerely, she really didn't like intruding this late.
"Oh, Sabrina, don't apologize, this is important. I'll wake Sabrina, hold on."
Amy opened Sabrina's door and turned on the light. Sabrina didn't stir, she didn't like doing it but it was important. "Sabrina, wake up." She gently shook her friend and Sabrina opened her eyes.
"Amy? What?" Sabrina said trying to get her bearings.
"Sabrina is on the phone, ah she has some bad news……. Heather has been hospitalized. She'd like to talk to you."
"Oh no!" Sabrina and Amy came back to the living room and to the phone. Sabrina picked up the phone hesitantly, "Sis?" She didn't want to hear this.
"Hi." Sabrina said, getting choked up.
"What's happening up there?"
"Heather's collapsed, and it's not good. She's had a stroke and she's not breathing very well."
"Oh no!" The news took Sabrina's breath away for a moment. "What's the prognosis?"
"They really don't know yet, it's a waiting game."
"What happened?"
"I don't really know, she looked tired when I left her at the shop. The next thing I know Mr. White called me to tell me they had taken her to the hospital."
"So it could have been because she was so tired?"
"Could be…I don't know, it's scary Sabrina. I don't want to lose Heather. I've just got to really know her."
"I know Sis, I'm there for you." God she wished she could be there right now. Sabrina stayed on the phone, trying to comfort her sister the best she could; although she wasn't sure if she was accomplishing anything helpful.
USA
The next day came and it was well into the afternoon before Ti's body stirred. She had another shower and got dressed. She phoned for some breakfast and relaxed until it arrived. She found it hard though. She was so close she could almost feel Swallow. She also phoned for the Limo to come and pick her up. It wasn't long before they were on the road and heading for ZZ Studio's. Her previous trips to the United States had been hectic, one meeting after another. Plus the fact that everyone just stared at her all the time; they weren't great trips. The trips did prove profitable but that was about all.
Zig Zag pushed back on her reclining chair and took a moment to breathe, it had been a hectic day so far. She had just relaxed when her moment of silence was broken by a blood-curdling scream.
AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH!
She was up faster than she ever thought she could move and heading towards the lobby where the scream had originated. Zig came to an abrupt halt, finding an astounded but no longer screaming Tina pointing at a giant.
"Yeah I see Tina." She could hardly believe her eyes but there was Sabrina all 6 foot of her, plus a whole lot more. She was built like a bulldozer and Zig was about to say something but the giant spoke first.
"Sorry my appearance has startled you, please accept my apology. My name is Ti Kent, I am looking for the one called Sabrina Mustelidae."
"Looking for Sabrina?" She thought. A crowd now had piled in behind Zig Zag and were all positively flabbergasted, the woman looked like Sabrina but she sure as heck didn't sound like her. There was muttering and some crude remarks were being passed around; listening, Zig had enough and finally put a stop to it. She broke up the crowd and told them she would speak to them about their behavior afterwards. Suddenly Zig's face lit up, Sabrina had said something about another sister. One who was really big but they believed she had passed away. No word had ever come from her, Zig put two and two together and smiled.
"Oh my God!" She thought, this just had to be her, but Swallow thought she was dead. This is going to be one big surprise, she said to herself.
She approached and addressed her, "Come this way, Miss Kent, I think I can help you; my name is Zig Zag. I'm the owner of this studio." She never pictured Sabrina as a powerhouse, but all that muscle looked good on her. The resemblance was uncanny; the lack of glasses, though, kind of threw off the illusion.
"Nice to meet you." She shook her paw and followed. Along the hall Ti saw a lot of the film posters with this Zig Zag as the main attraction. None were nude but came very close. This Skunk had sex appeal! As they entered Zig Zag's office she motioned for Ti to sit.
Clearing her throat Zig Zag addressed her guest, "Miss Kent I believe you're not looking for Sabrina; you're looking for a woman called Swallow, right?" As Zig spoke she found it hard to take her eyes off the giantess, even though the body wasn't the same the face still was. She found herself drawn to her; she was an incredible sight.
Ti was stunned. "How did you know that?"
"Sabrina is my webmaster and it's through her I know Swallow. I've talked with her; she's staying with Sabrina's parents."
This was news that Ti didn't quite grasp; she shook her head. "Hold on here, who is this Sabrina? I was under the impression Swallow was Sabrina!" She gave this Zig Zag a strange look.
Now it was Zig Zag turn to look surprised. "Huh? You thought Sabrina was Swallow."
"Yes, Swallow's my twin sister, there is no one like her you see."
Oh boy, Zig thought, she doesn't know the whole story. "Ah…. Miss Kent….I think we had better have a little chat." So Zig Zag started into the tale that Sabrina had told her weeks ago when she first introduced Swallow. Ti listened intently to the fantastic tale as it flowed from Zig Zag's mouth, but when she mentioned the white weasel a shiver went down her spine. She knew exactly who she was talking about. Then as the facts unraveled she was stunned to find out she was a clone of another female skunk! Fear, anger, loathing, how could Mother have done this to them! However all this news was downplayed by the fact that Swallow was here and alive.
As Zig Zag replayed the tale thoughts ran through her head, this taur version called Heather, this was one person she wanted to meet, making a mental note that there were now five Sabrina's around now made her grin.
"You have to take me there!" Ti said raising her voice in excitement.
"Whoa, Ok, hold on, I have to be sure they are there first. Let me make a call, ok."
Ti nodded to Zig Zag, she just couldn't believe it. Twins, clones, it was all really earth shattering; plus Swallow being alive. She took a deep breath and crossed her fingers. Ti watched as the woman called Zig Zag talked on the phone then hung up. The conversation was brief but seemed to have gone well from what she could make of it.
"Well you are in luck, Miss Kent; looks like we have an engagement."
Ti could hardly contain herself. "I have a Limousine waiting outside."
"Then let's not waste time; I'm sure that Swallow will be ecstatic to see you."
"I'm sure of that." Ti replied enthusiastically.
Endora thought about the phone call she got early this morning. It saddened her to think this new member of her family was in the hospital, seriously ill. She wished she could do something, the flowers she had phoned in to be sent seemed a very small gesture. She would have to phone Margrette soon. The phone rang again and she hoped it was Sabrina with some good news.
Endora listened intently then finally when the conversation had ended hung up the phone and she quickly dialed Warren at work. She explained what was happening and asked if he could come home. He said he thought he'd be able to; he'd talk with his boss. She blew him a kiss then hung up. She was so thrilled; she couldn't wait to tell Swallow. Her sessions with Dr Khan had been helping but she still kept mostly to herself and books. She had asked if she could buy a book and they had gone to a bookstore and picked up a few. Television didn't seem to interest her and the computer even less. It was great system that Sabrina and Chris had bought but Swallow didn't really care for it. However it was this news that she was sure would bring her out of the mood she was in.
Swallow was looking out the window when Endora entered into the room oblivious to her presence. "Ahem." Endora said.
"Ah…hi Mom." It still felt strange saying that but she knew eventually she would get used to it.
As she moved in beside Swallow there was one thing that bothered Endora but Dr Khan had said not to push the issue. Swallow didn't wear clothing when she was in private. Not that anything really showed much due to her fur, it was just the fact she did it. Clothing was a fact and she sooner or later was going to have to get use to it. For now that issue would have to wait. "I have some really special news." She could hardly restrain herself.
Swallow turned, "Oh!"
"Your sister is coming." Oh teasing was fun.
"The other Sabrina is coming?" She had hoped to meet her someday, they had, had a couple of brief conversations.
"Nope think bigger." Her smile was a mile wide at this point.
Swallow thought a second then her eyes went wide, "TI IS COMING HERE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!" She almost hit the ceiling.
"Yes, it seems that your long lost sister Ti isn't dead and has finally found you."
Swallows eyes blinked several more times; she just couldn't believe what Endora had just said. "Ti's really alive and coming here?" She said jumping up and down.
"Yes, Swallow, she's on her way here now. Time to have a family reunion of sorts."
Swallow embraced Endora and hugged her for all she was worth. Endora on the receiving end couldn't believe such a thin girl could give such a hug. "I thought this news might cheer you up." She looked into Swallows face and for the first time she saw life shine in her beautiful eyes, it was a good sign.
"I love you, Mom."
"I love you too, Swallow." Endora felt something coming from Swallow, something that wasn't really there before. It was something only a mother and daughter could share; Ti's arrival opened that door. In a way she saw Ti's arrival as a Godsend.
Swallow looked up and down the road awaiting the car to show up with Ti in it. Every moment felt like eternity. So many thoughts were filling her head. What to say? Would she still like me? So many doubts and fears. "Ti, where are you?" She said softly. The Limousine came slowly down the road and pulled up to the curb. One of the doors flew open and out stepped one of the largest skunks anyone had ever seen. Tears began to flow from Swallow's eyes, all these years just waiting for this moment. It was something Mother couldn't take away.
"Swallow!!!!!!!" The giant said with outstretched arms.
"Ti!!!!!" Swallow said as she leaped into the giant's arms, clinging to her if she was the last person on earth. The tears continued to flow but these were tears of joy, not sorrow. After what seemed like hours they broke apart and looked closely at each other.
"You look good Swallow." Ti said trying to wipe away her tears, but her eyes refused to stop. It was just too happy a moment.
"You too Ti, you've grown."
"Only you could notice that, and you have filled out."
Swallow knew she hadn't but it was a nice compliment. Out of the car stepped Zig Zag, Swallow had only seen her a couple of times, each one gave her the creeps. "Ah…. hi Miss Zig Zag nice to see you again." As Swallow spoke she moved up beside Ti .
"Nice to see you too, Swallow; you look good." Just as good as the day she first set eyes on her; boy, was that a day. She also made a mental note to talk with Ti about another type of career. She knew that she could make her famous.
"Ah.. thanks." Swallow replied. She knew of Zig Zag's tastes, Sabrina had tried to explain. She wasn't sure how to take that compliment. "Ti, come on in I want you to meet my new family." For Swallow this was the happiest day of her life; it was time to share it with her new family.
"Family?" Ti was a bit confused.
"Ti you won't believe what I have to tell you." She was tugging on Ti's arm.
"Well Miss Zig Zag here has told me a lot. Is it all true?" Said Ti questioning.
"If she told you that our biological Mother lives here, then it's true. Ti you're about to meet our real Mother." Swallow put on the biggest smile she could.
Ti took a hesitant step towards the front door, it was closed but then opened and there stood a female black and white skunk. And poking her head out from behind her legs was a young skunk that looked very much like she did. The lady Skunk too looked very much like they did, she had a warm and welcome smile. Now she saw where they got their looks from and somehow deep inside this felt like home.
Introductions were made, more tears were shed and conversations sprang up all over the place. The house was wall-to-wall skunks and Endora wouldn't have had it any other way. As all things do, things settled and Ti and Swallow went out to the back of the house. They found a lovely tree out there and sat down underneath it. It was time for them to have a private moment together.
Ti looked directly at Swallow and began to cry. "I failed you, Swallow." She sobbed.
Swallow didn't understand what Ti meant by that. "I don't understand, Ti, you have never failed me."
"I didn't take enough care on the boat, I lost you." She couldn't control her sobbing.
Swallow understood what she was talking about. "No one could have done anything different Ti. Look at yourself; you have to be one of the strongest females on the planet. Not even with your strength could you hold onto me and get us into the raft. It was never your fault." She tried to wipe the tears from her sister's face. Ti fell apart once again and cried on Swallows shoulder.
She broke away and found her words, "I've lived that day over and over! Its plagued my thoughts day and night for all these years." Ti couldn't stop shaking.
Swallow saw the pain and anguish on Ti's face and tried to calm her. "Then its time to let go of that place, Ti; it is the past, this is the present. Replace that horrid place with our reunion today." It was something Dr Khan had told her to try; it was a difficult thing to do. It felt right trying it on her sister; she too seemed to have her own demons.
Ti looked into her sister's face and found love behind her eyes. "I will try, your being here now eases the memory and the pain." She still couldn't believe that Swallow was here again and reached out and touched her. "You are real", she said softly. "Tell me what happened to you after.." She paused. "You survived just as I have. It seems we have both been blessed." Ti hugged her sister to the point of almost crushing her. Swallow didn't mind, Ti was being gentle, it was just a bit uncomfortable but she wanted it to last.
Swallow thought about the years that had passed. To her, time was more or less day by day. Not living in a normal fashion time passed differently for her. "Blessed? Well I wouldn't go that far, Ti. I guess I can start off after I fell off the boat into the bitterly cold water. Seems I got pulled under the boat and to the other side. I saw you frantically looking for me but I was pushed under the waves and away from the boat too quickly. I was constantly pushed under the water and in moments you were too far away for me to reach. Suddenly I was alone and knew that my time here would probably end very soon. I remember thinking how sad you were going to be with me gone." She stopped and looked down at the ground, in silence. She didn't want to remember those days, for they filled her with the loneliness that she still hadn't escaped from. She sighed and began again.
"You remember the pool back at Mother's mansion and the fact I could swim very well? You also know, Ti, that I am a lot heavier than a normal person, not because of my size, but because I am almost nothing but muscle for digesting large prey. I sink like a stone if I don't try to swim. Well, I couldn't swim but instead I sank Ti, so fast that I didn't really understand what had happened to me. The swirling ice cold water, the drugs and the rough waves made everything fuzzy, I was terrified."
"Oh my God Swallow…" Ti said with a look of horror on her face mixed with the damp fur from tears.
"I sank for a long time, almost like falling off a cliff only much slower. I held my breath and waited to drown as I fell into the dark. But fate had other plans for me, Ti; I didn't drown. I continued to sink but finally, I came to a sudden stop. I hit an outcropping of rocks, I spiraled down its side then came to a rest. My eyes hurt if I opened them so I kept them closed most of the time. Couldn't see much anyway." The memories of the pain and hopelessness came rushing back upon her. The darkness the cold and the horrible pain, she gripped her shoulder.
Swallow quit talking and wasn't sure if she could go on, the only one she had been able to tell this story to was Dr Khan. That session was a long one and she didn't really feel any better talking about it.
Ti saw how this was affecting her but she also knew that it is good to talk about things, even it they are unpleasant. As Swallow related the story Ti's mind was at work, she wasn't exactly sure why? "How?" Ti said out loud.
Ti's question brought Swallow back to reality, sort of. "Huh?"
"How did you survive? You don't have gills, I studied your anatomy thoroughly."
"I think it was my fur or quills, they tingled the whole time I was underwater. I'm not sure. Dr Parrish tried to take a sampling of them from me once and they bled horribly." Another incident she would have rather forgotten.
Ti thought about it a few seconds then she ran her paw through Swallows thick fur, "Bleeding….of course…" She banged her head with her paw to Swallows amusement. "Mother designed you to eat prey larger than yourself but I never figured out how you could breathe with such a large meal inside you. It makes sense now; you can't breathe because your lungs are compressed while it digests. Your body uses your quill-like fur not only as cooling, but for oxygenating your blood when you can't breathe. Amazing, Swallow…"
To see Ti happy made her happy, "Yeah, it seems I'm a superfreak."
Ti looked at Swallow then hugged her tightly again, "I'm sorry, Swallow. I didn't mean to…"
"It's ok, Ti, Mother did this to us both; may she rot in Hell and I hope it's half as horrible as the ocean was to me. It was so dark and cold, Ti; I wished I were dead. I was so scared."
"Well you're here with me and that's a blessing, someone cares enough about you." She held onto her making sure that she knew that she wasn't alone. She really couldn't imagine the terror she must have felt.
"Yeah I guess." She had never really thought about things in that way, maybe there was a God.
She thought Ti deserved to know what happened and began again, "I passed in and out of consciousness, days and nights all became one for me. I didn't have much feeling in my body, except for my arm which tingled and hurt horribly. I didn't want to move so I didn't, I stayed there clinging to that rock. In time my arm stopped hurting but loneliness crept in and overrode my fear and I ventured out. It was a strange day, the water was churning and I felt pulses hit my body but I couldn't think of what was causing them. So I began to swim towards the surface."
Something again puzzled Ti about this, "I can understand about the fur giving you oxygen but what about sea creatures, I'm sure that something must have noticed you." Ti was amazed that Swallow's body could have stayed in the frigid waters so long. The fur was designed more for cooling than anything, truly incredible.
"Oh well, I'm getting to that. The sea churned all about me making it hard for me to swim but I soon found out why! Something very large collided with me and began pushing me faster and faster towards the surface, suddenly I broke through and into the air once again with a huge splash! It took me a moment to get my bearings, it was a moon lit night. The sea was calm and what had just hit me had vanished. I was really scared out there when I couldn't see anything no matter where I looked."
Ti could feel the coldness surround her as she held on to Swallow as she told her tale, "What hit you?" Ti really wanted to know.
"Well as I floated there I heard noises, they carried across the waves like the sound of thunder, coming closer and closer. Then something hit me from behind and tossed me aside, then another, and so on. The noise was now on top of me. I screamed and a giant head rose out of the water right in front of me, it was a killer whale!"
"Killer Whales? My God, Swallow, they tear seals apart."
"I know; I was extremely frightened and I wanted to keep on screaming but I thought if I did it would attack. I tried to remain calm. It seems a pod of Killer Whales had found me, not just one and it was their sounds of breathing that had echoed across the waves." The whale's eye looked at me, just staring, cold and dark. It opened its huge mouth and I saw rows of large white teeth. It blew out water from its blowhole, which promptly made me empty my bladder. But it just floated there not doing much else, then I did some thing really stupid, I put my paw out and stroked its nose."
Ti gasped, "Swallow, why the heck did you do that for? That thing could have taken your arm off."
"But it didn't, Ti, I got to thinking. These things could have easily ripped me apart as you said but something was stopping them. I think they could tell I wasn't a seal and were really curious as to what I was. I think they were testing me to see if I was hostile."
Ti let out a huge breath, "Ok so you petted this whale what happened next? Well it submerged, I didn't know what to do; I didn't know if I was going to ripped to shreds by these things. Then I felt some thing coming up from underneath me. It was one of the Orcas; I was now on its back!"
Ti didn't think this story could get any more unbelievable but, "You were riding an Orca?"