"Thank you." Kat said quietly, as she was lowered into her chair. Before she could say anything more, Donta was whisked away. Kat's smile faded, what was she supposed to do now? Where was she supposed to...<br/><br/>"Katina!" She turned, her pale blue eyes scanning the crowd, Her mother? "Katina, I'm so glad you're alright, when we were called, I was so worried!" The whir of her mother's electric wheelchair was softer than her own, her mother's a far more advanced version. Her mother had the same cold, blue eyes, and dull red skin, but she was much bigger. Her mantle neared five feet long, while Kat's was barely three, and her tentacles could stretch the length of a bus, while Kat's could reach just over half as far.<br/><br/>"No need to worry, Mom, Donta helped me out." She smiled under the scarf. Her mother wore no such scarf, revealing why Kat wore hers, in place of soft, lush lips was a thin slit, behind it, a black, shimmering beak clicked dangerously. "What do you know of a new student. Donta...." she faltered, realizing she didn't know his last name.<br/><br/>"The ..." She stopped herself, she, and many others, often used the phrase 'mutt' to describe those with mixed heritage, she fought to use other descriptions in Kat's company, not wanting her daughter to obtain that habit. "The mix-breed? Not much, I got an email telling me he was a new student, it was really vague about what he was, I'm pretty sure his own family doesn't know... maybe a bastard child, maybe adopted."<br/><br/>"Maybe." Kat echoed. "Mom... have you ever ... been in a relationship with a human?"<br/><br/>"Kat, is there someone at this school you like?" Her mother smiled wryly.<br/><br/>"What!? No!" Kat blurted suddenly, "Well, not human, no."<br/><br/>"Ah." The smile only grew. "I've had my crushes, but never acted on them, in my time, humans and ferals didn't mix. Some things never change it seems." She looked around at the school. "Why do you ask?"<br/><br/>"No reason." She stared into space, her mind filled with curious thoughts. What would life have been like if I were a half-feral? What if I do fall in love with a human... can I bring myself to have his children? Ultimately, dwelling on these thoughts would reveal insecurities, which she didn't wish to think about in public. "I'm ready whenever you are."<br/><br/><br/>The car ride home was quiet, a stark contrast of Kat's mind.<span style="font-style: italic">Human.</span>The screen still flashed in her mind.<span style="font-style: italic">Human.</span>Could that possibly be right? Could a human and a feral not only fall in love, but bear a child, was it even possible?<span style="font-style: italic">Human. </span>She tried to shake her mind free of the screen, an unsuccessful attempt. It flashed mockingly in her mind, reminding her of the boy who had saved her. The boy who offered friendship.<br/><br/><span style="font-style: italic">Human.</span>