Episode 2: "The Escape"
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1. Zira’s Concequences
The door slammed shut behind Zira as she stormed into the house. Her tail flicked angrily, and she stomped toward her room, determined to avoid her mom for the rest of the evening. But she didn’t make it far.
“Zira Lynn!” Her mom’s voice rang out sharply, making Zira freeze mid-step. Her mother stood in the doorway to the kitchen, hands on her hips and a stern look on her face. “What was that about slamming the door like that? And where have you been? We weren’t finished talking earlier!”
“I just needed to get out!” Zira snapped, not bothering to turn around. “You’re always on me about something. I can’t take it anymore!”
“Don’t you dare talk to me like that, young lady,” her mom said, her tone icy. “Slamming doors, yelling, storming out without a word—you know better than this.”
Zira clenched her fists, her frustration bubbling over. “Maybe I wouldn’t have to leave if you didn’t treat me like a baby all the time!”
Her mom’s face hardened. “That’s enough. Go to your room. Now.”
“But—”
“No buts, Zira,” her mom interrupted. “We’re going to have a talk about this, and you’re not going to like it.”
Zira stomped down the hall, slamming her bedroom door shut behind her. She threw herself onto her bed, burying her face in her pillow. But she barely had a moment to sulk before her mom followed her in.
“You think you can act like this and get away with it?” her mom said, closing the door behind her. “You’re going to learn right now that this behavior is unacceptable.”
Zira’s ears drooped as her mom sat down on the edge of the bed and pulled her over her lap. The spanking was quick but firm, and while it didn’t hurt too much, the humiliation burned worse than anything else. Zira bit her lip, determined not to cry.
When it was over, her mom stood and crossed her arms. “I want you to think about how you’ve been acting, Zira. You can’t just run away from your problems and slam doors whenever you feel like it.”
Zira stayed silent, staring at the floor as her mom left the room. But as soon as the door clicked shut, she muttered under her breath, “Watch me.”
Her resolve to leave only grew stronger. She wasn’t going to stay in a house where no one listened to her. She grabbed her backpack from the corner of her room and began packing: a water bottle, a flashlight, and the small stash of snacks she kept hidden under her bed. She added her favorite hoodie, a blanket, and a small notebook for sketches. Her mom thought she couldn’t handle life on her own? She was going to prove her wrong.
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2. Fenn’s Preparation
Meanwhile, Fenn sat cross-legged on her bedroom floor, her spare scarf draped around her shoulders as she packed her own small bag. She was careful not to make too much noise—her mom was in the living room, and Fenn didn’t want to risk another lecture.
Her bag was small, but she made sure to pack the essentials: a bottle of water, some bread rolls from the kitchen, her favorite stuffed rabbit, and, of course, her blue blanket, now clean and folded neatly. She also slipped in a box of crackers she’d been saving as a secret treat.
She paused for a moment, looking around her cozy room. Part of her felt guilty about leaving—she loved her parents, but they never let her do anything for herself. She was tired of being smothered, of feeling like she couldn’t make her own choices.
“I’ll show them,” she whispered to herself, tightening the straps of her bag. “I’m not a baby. I can do this.”
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3. The Meeting at the Park
The moon hung high in the sky, casting a silvery glow over Sunny Hollow’s park. The swings creaked softly in the breeze, and the crickets chirped in the distance. Zira sat on the bench, her backpack resting at her feet. She drummed her fingers on her knee, glancing around nervously. What if Fenn didn’t show up? What if her mom found out she’d left?
But then, out of the shadows, she saw a familiar figure. Fenn emerged from the path, her floppy ears swaying as she walked toward the bench. Her own bag was slung over her shoulder, and her blue scarf fluttered behind her like a flag.
“You made it,” Zira said, relief washing over her.
“Of course I did,” Fenn said, sitting down beside her. “Are you ready?”
Zira nodded, her green eyes gleaming with determination. “More than ready. You?”
Fenn smiled, though there was a hint of nervousness in her expression. “Yeah. I think so.”
They sat in silence for a moment, the weight of what they were about to do sinking in. Finally, Zira stood, slinging her backpack over her shoulder.
“Let’s go,” she said, holding out her hand.
Fenn took it, her grip firm despite the slight tremble in her fingers. Together, they stepped off the path and into the woods, their bare feet crunching softly on the grass. The night was quiet, the forest stretching out before them like a promise of freedom.
For the first time, they felt like they were in control of their own lives.
