Jon wondered what the deal was with everything that had happened. Mostly though he was just glad to have Mikey back. He quickly gave the bird girl a hug.
“Ah- Jon-” The bird-girl blushed. “Come on-”
“Sorry,” Jon whispered. “Everyone was just.. really worried about you. I couldn’t help but think it’s because I said some stuff- I- I mean I’m not good at knowing what’s the right thing to say something.”
Mikey looked sheepishly. Jon hugging her was just.. unsettling to say the least. Guys didn’t as a general rule hug but maybe Mikey didn’t appreciate just how long she had been gone for. “It’s okay… we learned some new stuff about… another world.”
“Well let’s go home first.”
Biff looked at the two a bit.. jealously. She half imagined what it would be like if her father had decided to come back suddenly.. and tell her it was okay… that he didn’t mean the things that were said… that he had a siebling or a… mother. Though Miss Collins was nice it wasn’t like Biff ever had a real family of her own. Now she never would either… would she have to find a guy who would be happy having little freaky cubs with wings… that she would have to carry- urgh! Why was she even imagining this.
“Mission’s done,” The sphinx whispered idly scratching at her neck with her hind paw. “I’m.. done.” She knew Sarah was lying… she could smell the change upon her. She had fur- a lot of fur. Enough that it was probably a tail? Whatever it was, the girl decided not to tell her. She would have told old Biff.. wouldn’t have she? They treated her like she was a friend only when… when she had been a human male. Now she wasn’t even there.
“Wait-” Jon called.
“What...” The Sphinx snarled… but softened at Jon’s look.
“It’s.. it’s just it’s late and you must be tired from all that flying. Why don’t you crash at our house for a while?” Jon asked hopefully.
Biff glanced at her sore wing. She guessed it was still a little bruised from her accident but it was mostly healed. Still flying even more on it was probably not a good idea… and she could use a… change of scenery. “Yeah… well.. okay. I guess it’s a good idea.”
“Why can’t we just fly back...” The harpy girl Mikey asked her brother.
“Not all of us have wings,” Jon rolled his eyes.
“You can’t go on Biff’s Back again?”
Jon glanced awkwardly at Biff. “That was.. an emergency situation. I want to stick with you until we get back home.”
Biff continued to walk behind them on all fours. Flying had certainly been a fun experience… one of the best she had ever had. Though that itchy feeling just wasn’t going away. She stood on a street and suddenly had a massive attack- she had to scratch herself all over. Damn it! Was this that stupid heat cycle everyone teased her with.
From across the street it seemed someone was observing her…
Elliot was just passing by after some late football practice. Seeing the sphinx out there made his blood run cold. That primeval instinct when a human saw something he might fear- and wondered just how much in control was he of the situation. He would never forgive Biff.. never for humiliating him like that- he still remembered it… being attacked in class. Perhaps his joke was crude but… he was going to make sure Biff knew not to mess with him.
He felt a half smirk when he saw the sphinx start scratching herself. The fleas were working? He ducked quickly into the store and called James.
“Hey...” he said. “Yeah.. I’m watching Biff. The fleas are working…”
James seemed hesitant on the other end of the phone. “You think I got a chance dating Sarah?”
“Once her pet is out of the picture I don’t see why not, but frankly do what you want afterwards. I just want that pussy to suffer.” He whispered the words grimly.
James actually shivered. “Dude… Elliot.. I’ve been thinking.. maybe we’ve gone too far...” He sounded reluctant. “We just wanted to prank him back...”
“Prank? He’s going to wish he was dead once we’re done...” Elliot took a deep breath. “I’ve been reading up more on lions. We can seriously mess him up.”
“I just wanted to get back at him- her- well- for taking Sarah away,” James admitted. “I think he’s humiliated enough.”
“Alright,” Elliot paused. “Look.. I’m planning something… big. He’s going to pranked big time. I got a big idea.. but I need you to invite him to the football match.”
“What… you want me to invite Biff to a practice match?”
“No.. not practice.. the actual match. I want you to bring him to a real game.”
James sounded hesitant.
“Problem? Can’t you bring him to the game? The couch did like him and would probably let her on the pitch as a helper even if she can’t actually ‘play’.”
“… yeah… I mean... Curtis is.. pretty cool about that stuff- but-”
“What’s the problem then?”
“It’s just.. it’s the game you know? I don’t want to mess up our chances even more. Without Biff we’re pretty much going to lose… but I don’t want us to become clowns and mess up the game for everyone who wants to watch it.”
“Heh.. you’re worried about the curse.. you’re superstitious.” Elliot pressed.
James protested wildly. “No- of course not. I mean… okay maybe a bit. Come on is it really worth inviting karma to bite us. Biff might deserve it but.. being a freak is punishment enough. I don’t want to end up changed into some kind of million eyed lizard thing. ”
Elliot found himself laughing. “I don’t think it happens like that. First of all, changes are rare. We’re not going to get any more… secondly… think of this as… entertainment,” Elliot explained. “It will be at the start of the game.. everyone gets their laugh and Biff will wish he- or she- eh whatever- it will wish it was never born.”
James sighed. “Okay- but after this I’m out okay?”
“Yeah fine. After this we’ll be done…” He looked out the window. “Man the fleas are getting into her good… she’s actually losing her fur on the side. I don’t think she’s noticed.”
