BACKGROUND – F2, Void where prohibited, prohibited where void, void and prohibited where not allowed

One of the more widely known Cat Clans is the 2nd Founding, or F2. Ab initio this clan primarily consists of families that are made up, but not limited to: lawyers, historians, librarians, negotiators, diplomats, judges, administrators, and/or any other profession not mentioned in this document but is related.

Many of them have been trained since the time they can walk to be mouth pieces or face-cat of the Cat Clans. The ruling families of these clans believe that one should be tested and retested often.

It’s joked that when one enters the school of negotiating; their final exam consists of selling sand to the Desert Cats, of the 3rd Founding, or to convince a Demonic Succubus to practice sexual abstinence for a year.

Children of the 2nd Founding are taught the old fashioned ways, and not from memory crystals. From that method, they learn the ancient ways of memorization through games and mental discipline. Parents or families, who can afford it, often employ teachers to awaken latent psychic abilities like photographic memory, command of the voice, mind-block and/or object read.

Even with the lowest skill levels in the ability to “object read”, psychics can pull answers directly from written exams!

With de facto evidence, F2 prize psychic abilities more than any other clan. Clan members see magic as more of a fancy to kill time or as a hobby. Their Child-Clan Founding, the Science Cats, are able to implant wet-ware, biochips, or even genetically engineer infants while still in the womb, F2 Clan prefer natural matting over science.

The Elders of the Houses have learned that 1 low level psychic is worth 10 altered psychics. It’s suggested that natural psychics have a better grasp of reality and powers, while altered psychics often break down mentally or often become psychopaths.

Obiter dicta, through arranged marriages families and Households have often better success with producing powerful offspring. This is why husbands typically have multiple wives (while this practice is rarely used except by traditionalists).

As a matter of res judicata, it is often said that those who come from the clan make the worst relationships, because F2 spouses WILL remember those promises you made as well as the dumb thing you said three years ago at 09:33.

An elephant never forgets, and neither do we, nor do we forgive….

***

I woke up to the sound of someone in my kitchen. As I carefully arose and opened the bedroom door I saw Henna was making breakfast and Anna was sitting on the tattered couch reading a book.

I paused for a moment, was I killed last night, am I still dreaming or did I enter some parallel world (which does happen on occasion)?

“Henna, whacha’ cookin?” I asked, half expecting this to be a shitty dream.

“Bacon and eggs,” she replied.

I could smell them that she was burning them, but however. Anna only glanced up for a few seconds to look at me and back to her book.

“You ain’t watching TV?” I asked her, checking my watch.

It was time for her favorite show, Ninja Team 7.

“Na, they are jus’ showin’ garbage filler arc crap, I hate when these lazy writers deviate from the main story for fluff and filler, so I’m readin’ about those fucks I beat up last night,” she said not looking away from her book.

The images of the fight last night filled my head, as I could see the massive wings and gore dripping from the demon-rat’s maw. The hungry look in its yellow eyes. I shook the image from my mind.

“There’s no fucking way we should have won ‘gainst dem Deratimps,” she said coldly. The name made the hair on the back of my neck stand up.

“Da-rahimps?” I asked with a slight laugh.

“Dee-rat-imps,” she corrected. “They are kinda like Fomoire or as da Sci-Cats say is Fomhòraigh,”

My body tenses up and I clenched my fist, ready for a fight. My nostrils flared and my fangs elongated ready to kill. My heart pounded.

It was Henna that broke my bloodlust as it started to boil over.

I heard the softest voice in my ear as she asked, “What’s wrong, honey?”

“I don’t know, I need air,” I opened the window.

The stale air of the city on my face was a relief. It’s the first time I could think have when I said that. I turned around and nodded to Henna that I was ok.

“What the hell was that all about?” she asked.

“I have no idea,” I looked at Anna.

“What the fuck did you say?” this time I was better prepared for a sudden rise in my anger.

“The Fomhòraigh? They’re sum sorta’ corrupted spirits that have escaped from the Abyss and bonded wit a humanoid host. When dey bond wit a rat or the ratlings dey become known as Derathimps. They are unstoppable beasts and you need mad skills to take them down,”

Henna threw in her two cents, “There musta’ bin at least 40 of them!”

Anna nodded, “Aye, I counted about 40 of the we lil’ cunts myself. This book says dey’ got a 2.5 rating, whatever that means.”

The room was silent. I had enough.

“Well, you gonna work today or what, lazy cat?” I asked.

She looked up long enough to turn the page and looked back down again. “Na, you heard my boyfriend, you gotta cover for me today at work.” Her nose was still buried in the book. “You better hurry or you will be late for work.”

I looked down at her, ready to knock the crap out of her, but she was right (once again). If the guest, or so-called boyfriend, or whoever he was spoke the truth, I should cover for Anna today.

I just hate being played by my 11-year-old sister.