Chapter 2

Daz looked at Sally as he drove neither of them were speaking presently, Daz was focused on driving and Sally was curled up in a ball rocking back and forth trying to deny the reality of the situation. He didn't want to press her into talking but after what he saw he wasn't going to just be some hapless side kick if he was going to put his ass on the line he deserved to be a co star of this adventure. "Sally I know you don't want to talk so I'm just going to ask you some simple questions, answer what you can and I'll consider it even." Daz continued to drive to an unknown destination, from what he knew about spy movies all he had to do was keep going and he'd lose his tail. "First off, who is that?" Daz pointed to the nearly naked cherub girl cradled in Sally's arms, her wings spread out as she lay on her side with her face in Sally's breast.

"I don't know." Sally responded very quietly, she wasn't lying, she had no idea who this child was. Hex was the obvious answer because physically and genetically this was Hex but without her memories or personality was she truly Hex wasn't this the core of the dilemma? Sally groaned in frustration not sure how to answer even simple questions because everything had gotten so damn complicated so quick.

"Right, why is she with you?" Daz frowned this was sounding less and less ideal.

"Because that monster was going to hurt her and I couldn't let him, Grey told me to take her." That was why at least, she was following orders originally she planned to hand Hex over with no resistance but then Grey, poor Grey. Sally's ears folded as she remembered seeing Grey get choked to death and she buried her head into her other arm hiding her eyes.

"What monster?" Daz was only getting more confused the more he learned, steady frustration building up, he was already angry that Sally was so scared his natural protectiveness breaking through but he didn't know who to be upset at and that made it worse.

"Oswald Fet," Sally couldn't say the name without growling her fangs showing barely under her lips.

"The media mogul, is trying to hurt that child, that you don't know the identity of, why?" Daz was lost this sounded like a bad movie plot but in those kinds of movies the kind and supporting best friend was usually either captured and used as bait or killed off screen to give the main character sympathy and he wasn't going to go out like that, the more he knew the more important he made himself.

"Profit." Sally responded and that was the last straw, this was some kind of underhanded shady business deal and Daz wanted to part of it. Daz slammed the brakes on the car making everyone jerk forward and Sally clutch Hex tighter. "Daz?" Sally turned to see Daz snarling his rage finally bursting through.

"Alright let's try this again but this time you're going to talk, you're going to tell me everything that happened every little stupid detail and then we will move if you don't I will walk away from this car and leave you stranded in the middle of the road." Daz was finished being strung along by an invisible collar Sally held if she wanted his help she was going to treat him equally.

"Daz you don't mean that please just drive." Sally didn't want to recount the events, she just wanted to go back to the dorm and sleep.

"Try me." Daz opened his door the cars behind him honking and blaring their horns making an awful noise.

Sally covered her ears trying to block out the noise the mounting pressure around her causing her to panic and hyperventilate. "Okay Daz, okay just drive please I'll tell you everything, make it stop." Sally whimpered ever since she was a little girl she had social anxiety, Daz wasn't her best friend for any old reason he was her only friend, the studious vixen never making time for social interaction as she focused solely on her career and shunned everything else Daz was just convenient and she happened to know him.

"Then talk," Daz commanded sitting back down and shifting the car to drive.

"Hex." Sally answered and Daz nodded.

"Yeah the terrorist who got caught what about her?" This was starting to get interesting and scary if Hex was involved.

"That's who that child is, she's Hex, except she's not, that's Hex's Penitatas body but her mind is... gone." Daz almost hit the breaks again but he was sure he'd get rear ended.

"OF COURSE HEX IS GONE SHE'S FAR GONE HEX IS CRAZY SALLY WHAT THE HELL!?" Daz was overcome with fear as he realized the thing he was jealously watch fondle and snuggle his best friends breast was a psychopathic murderer shrank to fun size.

"NO DAZ!" Sally yelled to regain some control of the situation feeling Hex shift. "She's not gone as in crazy, Hex's mind, her memory and personalities were scanned but never imprinted she doesn't remember being Hex or anything she did she's physically Hex but mentally she's something different, someone new." Sally struggled with the explanation in truth there was never a case of this happening. To be able to fabricate memories you had to be familiar with the original brain patterns and then be able to analyze the new brain patterns meaning so much data was required that only computers could do it as far as Sally was aware the level of intelligence needed to pull off a complete memory synthesize was staggering.

"Alright so say I buy that and believe that what you are holding is not the anti christ reborn." Daz gripped the steering wheel trying to keep his calm. "Why do you have her, why not let Oswald Fet have her, I'm pretty sure he's a better choice for her eventual return to brutal murder than you Sal." Daz was wracked with concern, how long, how long until Hex snapped and hurt Sally even without her memories crazy was crazy.

"Grey and I messed up, we botched her rejuvenation and Grey said that Oswald was going to kill us both," Sally frowned. "I didn't believe him but then he," Sally shivered remembering. "He was right Oswald freaked out and killed everyone in the offices I was holding Hex at the moment prepared to hand her over but then I just panicked and ran." Sally had no better explanation she just lost her sense of reasoning and fled.

"Why didn't you call the cops!?" Daz was astounded Sally was acting like she was some kind of movie heroine.

"I was told not to, by.. someone." Sally didn't know why but the text D sent might have saved her life, she trusted D even more when she learned from Daz that they were jamming the area so D somehow got her phone a message when she had no signal, for whatever reason D seemed to want to help Sally and she wasn't turning down any assistance in that came her way.

"Ah great more mysterious figures, alright so Oswald is after you, you run thanks to a strange message get in my car and put me in danger." Daz was upset that Sally didn't even think to warn him she just expected him to be cool with this. "Why does Oswald want her so badly, I can't imagine anyone actually wanting to raise this kid." Daz was having the hardest time grasping why Hex was the center of all this, she should be like a radioactive rod, no one should want to touch her but as far as he knew she was the prime object of this conflict.

"Remember the president said the day of sentencing Hex would be rehabilitated on a reality show, one that Oswald owns, this is all about profit to him," Sally shifted Hex to her other arm. "He wants to abuse her and beat her for the viewers but he has no intention of actually raising her and reforming her even when I told him she didn't have the memories so rehabilitation was impossible he just threatened me and then D helped me again, they gave me a way out to you." Sally had shared the entire story up to the point where they were.

"Sally I don't know what to think I mean, what do you say, you just.. you," Daz started but Sally jumped ahead of him slamming her head into the dash.

"I know, alright, I know I'm stupid and selfish and childish and a cry baby and a coward and all I ever do is mess things up for you and I'm so lucky to have you as a friend while I constantly screw my own life up but I didn't know what to do and you always do and I understand if you hate me and never want to speak to me again but I needed help and I." Sally rambled off a long list of self loathing making Daz frown reaching over as he pulled the car to a stop he grabbed Sally's shoulders and brought her up placing his forehead against hers.

"Stop talking." Daz said rubbing Sally's neck and ears. "I'm lucky to be the friend of such a smart, energetic, and pure woman." Daz broke the contact leaning back into his seat watching Sally's cheeks light up. "Now the question is, what to do." Daz was pondering how he should proceed Sally and Hex were in trouble it was probably not a good idea to go back to the dorms, if he was being tailed they'd know where she lived if they didn't already in which they might be waiting for them.

While Daz pondered Sally felt Hex stir rolling around and sighing contently as she relieved herself, the gel she swallowed during the rejuvenation passing through her as a dark blue urine staining the front of her diaper causing it to swell up and the car to fill with the scent of piss. Sally noticed first her ears folding back but Daz wasn't far behind his nose twinging and his eyes watering.

"Oh god." Daz rolled down his window sticking his head out. "Really, on top of everything, she's not house broken!?" This day was just getting better. Daz grumbled and got out of the car as Hex peed herself not wanting to smell another creature on his territory, not that he ever peed in his own car to mark it but he should have had to.

"No please don't." Sally begged stepping out of the car into the cold holding Hex out at arms length watching the front of her diaper turn azure and sag down below her crotch. She whimpered softly closing her eyes in frustration. "We don't have any spare diapers." Sally threw her head back in frustration and looked at Hex her eyes glaring but Hex's calm and quiet expression softened her growing anger. "It's not like you can help it." Sally sighed and pulled Hex back into her arms feeling the warm bulk of the wet diaper and shivering praying it didn't leak on her.

Daz slapped the top of his car pointing to Sally. "Got it, drugstore first then the mall." He hopped in opening the door for Sally.

"The mall?" Sally stepped into the car sitting down and buckling across herself, they really needed a car seat.

"Yeah its Christmas eve and we possibly have a tail, so what better place to lose them than a crowded mall where two young adults and a baby would blend in with any of thousands of people all moving too fast to track, Christmas camouflage," Daz smirked and Sally shook her head not really believing how dumb Daz sounded right now.

"Or they could blend in and pick us off easier." She offered a counter but Daz gripped the wheel looking very serious.

"I won't let anyone touch you Sally, I promise." Sally felt eased by Daz's conviction and his work quietly backing down and curling up holding Hex safe.

Daz drove to the nearest drugstore and parked the car handing Sally a twenty dollar bill. "Diapers, wipes, powder, a bottle of formula and a candy bar." Daz repeated the shopping list, he had four younger siblings he remembered the trips to the corner store his mom made him take when she was neck deep in screaming puppies.

"She's too young for candy." Sally took the twenty and Daz shook his head.

"No for me, deluxe chocolate you know my favorite." Daz remained in the car making Sally's tail flicker.

"You're not coming in?" She asked and Daz shook his head.

"No I'm going to stay out here and watch if I see some suspicious people I"ll text you and meet you around the employee exit don't let anyone grab you or Hex just in then out." Daz confirmed and Sally nodded. She walked through the sliding doors holding Hex out at arms length rushing past the friendly mouse clerk who was greeting shoppers.

"Merry!" He got out before she was gone striding to the baby isle and grabbing the first pack of pawpers, wipes, a random can of instant formula. She walked to the women's room and set the items down drawing the collapsible table from the wall. Using her knee to balance it she assumed a kind of karate kid stance and wobbled back and forth as she tried to hold Hex with her hand to keep her from falling off.

"First time?" A female Ocelot asked appearing out of the stall beside Sally, her fine fur and dark spots giving her amber yellow eyes more definition. "You're just going to end up making more of a mess like that, here." The Ocelot moved in brushing Sally aside and deployed the stabilizing kick for the changing table then strapped Hex in with the buckle just knowing where these things were even though there was no indication. "Oh you look a little wet girlie but you're not ready for a change yet." The ocelot purred and stroked Hex's belly greeted by a pair of crystal blue eyes and a fit of giggles. "You can't just rush to change them when they're wet it's a waste of diapers for one and two you're just going to be back in the bathroom every hour or so," The ocelot's tail swished and she turned to Sally using her tail to entertain Hex bobbing it out of her grasp. "Have you ever changed a diaper before miss?" She was so kind and her aura was motherly itself, the younger vixen was astonished. "Do you mind if I help you, I promise I won't hurt her." The ocelot smiled and Sally shook her head. "Right." Turning back around the ocelot moved the strap up to cover Hex's chest and picked up her legs bending them at the knee. "Good girl, that's right, we're such a happy little girl." The ocelot noticed the golden feathers on Hex's back and brushed them making Hex squeal. "Alright now, one, two, push." The ocelot pushed Hex's knees into her stomach making her tense and grunt. "That's it good girl, push, good girl." She cooed reassuringly watching Hex's stomach tense and then relax hearing the sputtering of her bowels as they emptied the foam that was occupying her stomach cavity. "Good girl, you made poopy all by yourself." The ocelot gasped and purred, Sally was mortified she didn't understand what was going on, was Hex being praised for crapping herself. The ocelot turned to Sally smiling. "See miss, that's a diaper worth changing immediately if there's not a poopy mess you should wait and get the maximum use out of every diaper, they can hold a lot if you get a good brand but once they make a mess its time to change them right then and there, you wouldn't know it but diapers are only second to wipes in the number of things that eat up your expenses as a new..." The ocelot's tail flickered. "Hmm, are you big sister or mommy, maybe an auntie?" She couldn't place Sally, she obviously had no experience so new was a good term but she didn't seem to possess any qualifying traits.

"She's a Penitatas, I'm her guardian." Sally replied not sure herself what she was.

"Oh dear a penny, well she looks like any other normal little girl to me, I know it must be hard on you to have to punish her but I'm sure you have plenty of time to love her as well." The ocelot patted Hex's belly making sure it was empty, the swell gone. "Do you want me to change her?" The ocelot chuckled softly. "I don't mind and I've never changed a Penny before." She seemed incredibly helpful, Daz warned Sally though don't let anyone touch her but the stink coming off of Hex's diaper burned Sally's nose making her unable to even get near the dirty child.

"Yes please, I'm sorry." Sally whimpered and the ocelot laughed deeply licking her lips as cats strangely did.

"No worries dear, this may be my first penny but this is my millionth or so poopy diaper, you get used to the smell but when you're just starting out it can be, intimidating usually your maternal instincts push through but I guess guardians don't have the same feelings as a real mother." The ocelot went to work busting open the wipes and diapers taking one out and pulling down Hex's soiled one using the front to clean away any mess then holding her up by the legs with one hand she wiped away the remains leaving a fresh clean pink bottom. Placing a fresh diaper underneath the squirmy little girl, the entire time she was reaching out for Sally, her speech having deteriorated due to lacking the memories of ever having learned to talk. Hex could giggle and coo and say one word as far as Sally knew, Mommy. Hex was as good as an infant despite having a toddlers body which was common for the first few days of Penitatas care but how long would this last? As the ocelot finished up she tickled Hex's bare belly with her tail making her squeal and kick. "Good girl, you were such a little angel, I wish half my kittens were so well behaved." The ocelot turned to Sally holding Hex in her arms, even the way she held Hex was different from the cold indifferent way Sally did. "There we go all clean, she's a penny so, does she.. get a spanking?" The ocelot questioned and Sally's face fell, she didn't know how to take care of a Penitatas, she didn't know how to do anything this woman just did with almost an artistic level of ease.

"Yes, I mean no, I mean.. I will." Sally fumbled and the ocelot nodded handing Hex back to Sally.

"Do you mind if I watched, like I said I've never seen a penny but I've heard stories I'm curious as to what actually goes on, of course if I"m being a bother." The ocelot's tail flickered and Sally whimpered bouncing Hex in her arms, she was trapped.

"No that's okay." Sally sighed and moved one table over, next to the changing table was a Penitatas's Table, like the changing table it hung in the wall but folding down it had more straps and a hole for the face of the child to be put into. Nervously Sally laid Hex down placing her face in the hole, strapping her wrists down, then her ankles, then her back fitting the belt over her wings to pin them. Sally looked at this device and shook her head, it was like they were about to be executed. Shivering she pulled down the back of Hex's fresh diaper showing her rosy pink butt cheeks. Panic flooded through Sally, she didn't know what to do she knew she could just wail on this child as she felt was necessary but that wasn't the point of the program, if she was too nice she might be discovered and the woman might report her or ask for her license, every penitatas's parent was licensed by the state.

"What did she do, you know in her previous life?" The ocelot asked leaning in and looking at the strange table with curiosity, she understood the need for all the restraints.

"She was a criminal." Sally responded and the ocelot chuckled.

"No dear what was her crime, what's her ranking doesn't that determine how severely she is punished?" The ocelot had some good questions ones Sally didn't have an answer to, thinking back to the rankings she chose the lowest she knew of so that she could be done and gone.

"One star identity theft." Sally responded and the ocelot nodded clicking her tongue.

"I see that is a very naughty thing that can hurt a lot of people, but a good guardian will do the right thing and paddle a naughty penny's bottom until they see that it was wrong." The ocelot purred and Sally swallowed a lump in her throat.

"Yeah, they will." Taking a deep breath she raised her hand and brought it against Hex's backside the crisp crack of flesh meeting fat ringing throughout the women's rest room.

Hex's eyes went wide, suddenly she felt a sharp sting of pain and she thrashed with amazing strength screaming at the floor. Sally now understood the restraints children displayed a ferocious level of strength when under duress. She continued giving Hex four smacks to the bottom each one tearing a larger hole in her own heart.

"Oh dear..." The ocelot's tail flickered and she saw the stiff robotic movements Sally was making her hand jerking on impact her knees shaking her tail curling, she didn't enjoy this one bit. "You can stop, I get it." The ocelot felt bad for the young vixen, bad for the cherub in her care, she felt bad in general seeing Sally tear up as she stopped spanking Hex gripping the sides of the table. "Dear are you okay?" The ocelot swooped around and felt a tear hit her hand.

"I'm sorry, I don't, I don't like this, I don't want to hurt her for no reason." Sally sniffled unstrapping the screaming Hex after pulling her diaper back up letting her flail on the table, afraid to hold her. "I'm sorry." She was mired in self pity but the observing ocelot knew what to do striding over and picking up the thrashing Hex she held her gently and kissed the top of her head. Sally watched fighting back her own tears.

"Its okay, it's over now, your mommy didn't want to spank you but you were a naughty girl and needed to be punished for what you did, stealing people's lives is wrong, if you don't like your own life change it don't just take someone else's, yes I know let it all out sweetie I'm here, Miss Kerry's got you." The ocelot apparently named Miss Kerry coddled and cooed to Hex as she sobbed and simpered until she stopped falling back asleep, cranky from being woken and scared from being suddenly punished.

"You're amazing, you just know what to do and it works, I'm a failure and I can't even figure out how to change a diaper, why don't you keep her?" Sally felt defeated both physically and mentally maybe Hex would be better off with Miss Kerry. However as she wallowed in self pity Miss Kerry picked her up by her shoulders with one hand pushing Hex into her arms.

"You're not a failure, you're a mother, you're going to make a lot of mistakes but you're going to eventually get it right, stop trying to run from her and embrace her, I may not know about Penitatas but I know what being a mommy is and you are her Mommy whether you accept it or not she has chosen you." Miss Kerry leaned over kissing Sally on the forehead, the young vixen was stumbling but she'd be okay, she obviously cared enough to release custody to someone she recognized as better. "Stop relying on other people to solve your problems and figure it out dear, I hope we meet again and our little ones can have a play date, until then, ta." The ocelot flicked her tail exiting the rest room leaving Sally to hold Hex.

"I'm not her mommy, I'm just the person stuck with her..." Sally mumbled feeling Hex grab at her fur. When Sally exited the bathroom she saw a security guard waiting for her pointing to the open pack of diapers and wipes and glowering. "It was an emergency?" Sally sheepishly chuckled and produced the twenty dollar bill. She purchased the items and the candy bar but was given a warning that she wasn't welcome back in that store. Sally signed an agreement that she wouldn't return and took her bag full of items back out to the car throwing Daz's candy bar at him smacking him in the face startling him.

"Jesus what took so long did you do a cavity search?" Daz yawned he got tired waiting for Sally and keeping look out.

"Just drive, I want to go home already." Sally set Hex down next to her, not wanting to hold her anymore just wanting everything to be over.

"Want some?" Daz asked peeling back the candy bar with nuts int it.

"No I don't want to see anything resembling chocolate for a while." Sally felt ill the image of a soiled diaper stuck in her mind ruining perhaps her favorite desert.

The car ride was quiet, Hex slept the entire way only waking up once to mumble and cuddle up to Sally's tail which she used to keep her secure during the ride, a big bushy pillow of warm fur like a temporary car seat.

Daz pulled nine lots away from the mall into the middle of an empty lot and stopped the car. They had a long walk to the mall ahead of them. The afternoon was chilly it was probably going to snow in the next twenty four hours, dark clouds gathering around the sun blocking it out. Sally shivered, she was only wearing a formal shirt and a pair of pants she took her lab coat and fashioned a swaddle out of it for Hex who had no clothing at all on. Carrying the bundle of fabric in her arms she shook from the intense cold. Daz noticed Sally's shivering and snapped his fingers taking a leather jacket he had in the back of his car out of the compartment, the zipper was broken so it couldn't open but it still had its uses. Tossing it over Sally's head he pulled it down and zipped up the zipper, the Jacket's front slightly bigger than the svelte vixen allowing her to rest Hex's bundle in the gap between her body and the jacket's front like a sling cradle that the trendy mommies had for arms free child care.

Sally thanked Daz for the coat but he just laughed at her saying she looked like she was pregnant and how ironic that was. Sally kicked him in the back of the heel making him hop around before they both settled. Entering the mall was like being punched in the face for Sally, there was screaming in every direction. Kids screaming, adults screaming, clerks screaming, clocks screaming so very much screaming. Sally's ears pinned themselves against her head trying to keep the noise out, she never did well in crowded places like this. "Daz I want to go." Sally meekly whimpered her social anxiety winning out but Daz shook his head grabbing a rent a stroller with a swipe of his card.

"You promised me you'd make it up to me, well, this is it, I want a date with you on Christmas Eve." Daz refused to let Sally worm out of this he was usually the one on the defensive but now he was all the offensive.

"Really Daz, can't we?" Sally protested but Daz crossed his arms showing that he wasn't listening, reluctantly she sighed and curled her tail around her waist crossing her arms inside the jacket. "Fine." Sally pouted but Daz smiled reaching into the jacket and taking Hex out he placed her in the stroller seeing her open her big blue eyes and look at him.

"Mommy?" She asked before shutting them again and Daz shook his head.

"Let's hope not." Daz was neutral towards the presence of Hex, she was a great excuse to force Sally into a date with him but she was also the main source of their problems presently, he recognized how handy it would be if Hex just disappeared but also that Sally would return to her selfish, demanding, egotistical self if she did. He was conflicted but not being one to dwell in the realm of possible he decided to live for the now, and right now he had one hand on a baby stroller and one hand around the woman he loved since he was seventeen-years-old. Daz pushed the stroller and drug Sally along taking her first to the clothing store, they looked at cute outfits for the normally plain looking vixen, some sporty, some playful, all adorable on her toned and luscious body, despite being a meek science nerd Sally was still one of the most attractive species known to furdom, she couldn't escape being seen as sexy it was her genetic stereotype. Daz also insisted that they get clothing for Hex because he didn't want to be carrying around a half naked child all day, Sally agreed only because Daz suggested it.

When it came to Hex Sally was passive always listening to others suggestions or directions she seemed to completely abandon the idea of taking control of the situation. Daz frowned as he was dressing Hex in a red one piece with a snap on bottom fitting a cute green skirt over it for the holidays. He paid for her clothes and the clothes he decided he wanted for Sally as well as purchasing a portable stroller for cheap, one that didn't smell like diaper sweat from god knows how many random children.

"Thank you." Sally clutched onto his arm as they were walking out of the store Daz beaming seeing become so shy and demure, it wasn't normally like her but it wasn't bad, Sally was always a bit too masculine for her looks but Daz loved her butch or bitch. "I'm sorry for making you spend all this money, I know its not your job and you're usually so good with money and now I'm just wasting it all I." Sally started to spiral again Daz sighed stopping and turning to grab Sally by the shoulders shaking her while looking into her eyes.

"I LIKE SPENDING TIME WITH YOU, I LOVE YOU, STOP MAKING IT SEEM LIKE THIS IS SOMETHING I'M OBLIGATED TO DO AND ENJOY SPENDING TIME WITH ME AS WELL!" Daz shook Sally back and forth drawing the attention of nearby shoppers. Older couples laughed at the awkward and cute confession while younger children laughed at Sally getting yelled at, all the attention, all at once, it was too much Sally went crimson and buried her head into Daz's neck hiding her face wrapping him in a tight locking embrace. Daz jumped a little bit but returned the embrace closing his eyes and enjoying the warm vixen trying to squeeze him to death.

Hex was stirred by all the noise, opening her eyes and seeing a cacophony of lights, motion, and strange people. She was immediately overwhelmed turning looking for Sally, when she saw her holding Daz she began to whimper and sniffle reaching her hands out to be picked up. "Mommy!" Hex called out but Sally didn't respond. "MOMMY!" Hex shouted louder but no response, her eyes welling up with tears and he shoulders going back opening her mouth for a wailing scream. "MMMMOOOOOOMMMYYYY!" She screeched and Sally shivered holding onto Daz tighter. The wailing child drew the attention of a patrolling security guard a crocodile female dressed in a grey and gold uniform.

"Oh sweetie did you get separated from your mommy?" The crocodile reached down and unstrapped Hex as she wailed bringing her up to her shoulder and patting her backside gently to calm her. " There, there sugar it's okay we'll find her, a beautiful little darling like you has got have her mommy worried sick if she's missing." The crocodile smiled showing rows of teeth but Hex still bawled struggling to reach Sally now closer. The crocodile noticed the direction she was reaching and saw two young adults locked in a passionate embrace the female vixen kissing the dalmatian male's neck. "Excuse me do you know where this girls mother is, she seems to be lost." The crocodile spoke with a heavy southern accent likely a swamp gator moved up north, she had large breast and wide hips indicating that she had children before and her demeanor was definitely that of someone experienced around young children. Daz went to accept ownership but Sally reached up grabbing his arm.

"Dante please, I want to go." Sally signaled that she didn't want to be identified as the caregiver using his real name to accentuate her point.

Daz sighed and looked at the security guard with emotionless eyes. "No officer me and my girlfriend were just making out when she started to cry that stroller was there when we got here or I don't know I was too busy looking into her lovely eyes." Daz looked down and lifted Sally's chin bringing his lips to hers and kissing her passionately.

"Well don't do that here, there are children present!" The gator snapped and turned back to the bawling squirming Hex. "Calm down sugar we're gonna go to the security office, I got lots of toys you'll love and we'll wait for mommy together okay?" The crocodile cood and rubbed her nose to Hex's cheek getting it soaked in tears.

"What happens if no one comes?" Daz asked the crocodile breaking his kiss with Sally and turning his back to her.

"Well if nobody comes we have to take this baby angel to the police so they can do a more thorough search using genetic identification, likely if they can't find the parents within twenty four hours she'll be put in a foster office and her parents will be notified if they don't come get her they'll give her to a new set of parents that want her." The crocodile explained and Daz nodded, so if he did nothing Hex would be removed from the situation, Oswald would stop chasing Sally and likely Hex would be discovered as a Penitatas and placed where she belonged on a show dedicated to her torment for the enjoyment of the whole nation it was a way out that none of them expected. "If you see someone looking for a lost angel child please tell them she's at the security office." The officer walked off holding the still squirming Hex.

"Will do officer." Daz sighed feeling like a burden had been removed from his shoulders. Now looking at the adorable vixen's hands who were on his shoulders instead. "You okay Sal?" Daz felt Sally's grip tighten as the screaming faded she looked up her nose wet with tears.

"Am I a bad person?" She felt miserable, a side of her was screaming at her present self, the maternal Sally that wanted to pick up and coddle and tickle and kiss Hex until she couldn't breath was enraged furiously berating Sally inside her own head while the pragmatic Sally was confidently praising Sally's decision to let her go, it was a battle field.

"I can't answer that, you did what you thought was right, Hex isn't your baby Sally you don't owe her any personal responsibility she was dumped on you by Grey and getting rid of her was the safest way to ensure Oswald doesn't come after you, looking at a purely survival aspect, you did the smart thing." Daz assured Sally rubbing her head and wiping her tears away with a lick to her nose. "I don't blame you for wanting to be safe and happy, Hex made her bed and she has to sleep in it." Daz did believe that Hex needed to be punished for all those years of terror and the people she murdered even if it was excessive too much punishment was preferable to no punishment, why should Hex get a pass because Sally made a mistake, why when there were much better Penitatas suffering right now.

"I want to go back to the dorm Daz, please?" Sally begged but Daz stood firm, he knew he had to wait this out, if he left now Sally would never get over her decision. The mall closed at midnight, Christmas Day, he had to keep her here just in case she decided to change her mind if she didn't decide by Christmas then he had confidence she wouldn't regret her choice to abandon Hex.

"Our date remember, I still have things I want to do and you still need to get me a Christmas present." Daz whispered gently and Sally sighed reluctantly breaking her grip with him, Daz had the car so Daz made the rules which was why Sally always made her purchases online and had them delivered everything she bought was from an online store even food.

Daz took Sally to a sexy lingerie store and had her try on some panties and night sets watching her with amusement as the beautiful vixen stumbled showing off her sexy body. Sally had the curves of a model and the beautiful fur of a professional actress she was to Daz the most attractive woman he had ever seen but prior to today she never took Daz seriously when he confessed to her or tried to make his move, now with her so shaken up she didn't have her usual barrier between them maybe she was being honest with herself for the first time, maybe Daz was taking advantage of her shock, he didn't care because of how good it felt to have Sally notice him.

"These don't have a seat." Sally said her tail flickering covering her backside in a pair of ass highlighting panties her white bottom sticking out between the folds of fabric the stiff seams separating her butt cheeks for presentation. Daz sat up stiff as a lamp post in more ways than one and the female clerks giggled seeing the boyfriend girlfriend dynamic between the vixen and the hound. Daz paid for the panties and some other items from the shop chuckling as he carried the dainty black bag and Sally was flush with embarrassment. Next was a stop to the food court, Sally was a light eater but she enjoyed chicken and burgers so Daz got her a mixed platter from the grill while he got french fries and a peppermint holiday shake.

"I'm having fun Daz, thanks, for making me." Sally commented while eating her burger, starving after the events of today it was already seven just five more hours to go. She could fight and kick the entire way or she could enjoy the fun parts, she did really appreciate Daz all he did for her and what he was to her but before today she never considered him her partner or more seriously her mate. Sally blushed at the thought of calling Daz her husband and focused on her meal the obliviously happy dog just enjoying her presence.

"I'm glad, maybe we can do it again?" Daz asked chewing on a french fry.

"Maybe after all this dies down in the spring." Sally wanted to hibernate and just sleep away the winter, forget about Hex and Oswald and even Grey she just wanted normal again. The two focused on their meals ate quietly until there was only one of Daz's fries left. He popped it into his mouth catching it on end but Sally moved quickly catching the other end, their noses touching over the length of the fry. Slowly he took a bite, then she took a bite, then he took a bite and they were one bit away from their lips contacting when a scream cause Sally to duck causing Daz to choke on the fry.

"LOOK WHAT YOU DID YOU LITTLE MONSTER!" A hulking black haired boar woman was looming over a tiny ram, he couldn't have been more than six or five who was petrified of this enraged woman in a flower print moo-moo gown her stench faintly present even from the distance of two tables away, sitting in one of those corner booths the obese boar continued to screech. "I BUY YOU FOOD AND YOU THROW IT ON THE GROUND, UNGRATEFUL LITTLE HOOLIGAN!" She squealed and the ram quaked and quivered making Daz focus on him, he was poorly dressed his shirt was slightly torn, his pants were stained around the cuffs and he had the look of someone who lived in a shack.

"I"m sorry mamma I didn't mean to, you were, you were just, eating so fast, and I really did appreciate it but your elbow knocked the cup and I tried to save it but..." The ram's face jerked to the left as a right handed slap came across his face making his eyes well up with tears. Daz growled seeing the blatant abuse and stood letting Sally hit the table. "Please mamma I was naughty but not here, it's Christmas?" The ram bargained but the boar grabbed him by his tiny horns pulling him up over her lap forcibly yanking his shorts down to reveal a shaggy wool backside, with splotches of brown dotted over it, the scent was heavy with iron. "MAMA NOOOO!" The ram bleated his head held up against his will and his backside smashed into by the hard fingered boar her hooves hard as wood against his agonized flesh.

"She's just beating him this is disgusting, come on Sally lets go." Daz couldn't watch, criminal or not nobody deserved to be beaten that badly. If it was a normal child he might have stepped up and stopped the woman she was obviously being cruel but with it being a Penny who knows what sick shit the ram did in his adult life he could deserve much more, it wasn't for Daz to judge. He motioned to leave but Sally stayed watching, she may have watched this boy at her old job, saw him rejuvenated then sent him off to this hell, she may have felt responsible.

"HOW!" The boar smacked the ram's backside making him buck and squeal. "DARE," Another smack the ram bleating pitifully tears soaking his chin. "YOU," several quick punishing slaps each one cracking so loudly that it drowned out the noisy Mall, Daz folded his ears down to block out the sound but Sally's ears perked hearing every painful blow and every sobbing plea from the ram. "BLAME," The final smack came and the ram stopped bleating and crying and screaming his voice was gone he was slowly stopping movement as well Sally's eyes went wide. "ME!" One last smack the ram not responding as he lay limp tears pooling around his chin. "Now that you're warmed up you can really say you're sorry." The boar lady reached to her side purse pulling out of it a torture device that resembled a paddle crossed with a meat tenderizer long pointed pyramids along the face of the flat tool. Daz looked in horror he couldn't watch anymore trying to leave as fast as he could but he noticed a brown blur shoot past him like lightning "THIS WILL TEACH YOU SOME RESPONSIBILITY YOU MISERABLE," The paddle came down but it didn't connect Sally's hands reaching out and grabbing the instrument so hard that her palms began to bleed holding it back, she looked at the woman with hate and disgust. "What, who are you?" The boar snorted.

"Daz take him away." Sally commanded and Daz's ears perked up.

"Sally it's not your." Daz started but Sally raised her shoulders and lowered her head.

"DAZ I SAID DO IT!" She shouted startling Daz into obeying running over and grabbing the boy sliding him off the boars lap taking him to their table.

"What the fuck do you think you're doing that is my penitatas you have there!" The boar moved to rise but Sally put all of her strength into her legs and pushed keeping her from getting up. "What are you on girl, DO YOU NEED A GOOD ASS BEATING TOO!?" The woman reached out grabbing Sally's tail and pulling it but she didn't budge she only pushed harder forcing the woman's hand back with a SNAP causing her drop the paddle and howl in pain, she also released her tail so she could grab her other hand.

"What is a Penitatas?" Sally asked her eyes low snarling so loudly that entire mall went silent all eyes on this exchanged.

"They're criminals, convicts, sinners." The woman responded terrified of the agitated vixen in front of her

"THEY'RE GOD DAMN CHILDREN!" Sally shouted her fists clenched. "THE MAY HAVE BEEN CRIMINALS BUT THE WHOLE POINT IS THAT WE'VE FORGIVEN THEM FOR THEIR CRIMES AND ARE GIVING THEM A SECOND CHANCE BEATING THEM SENSELESS ISN'T ATONEMENT IT'S REVENGE!" Sally pointed at the ram who was still in a catatonic state not responding his eyes watering on their own his shivering form lifeless. "You're supposed to use love to treat them, not, not this." Sally picked up the paddle looking at the painful instrument, OTK Equipment Co. "What's the point if you're just going to traumatize them back into a life of crime when they're done their sentence, they'll just be stuck in an infinite loop of bad childhoods and worse decisions until they finally meet someone who gets it, the Penitatas system shouldn't be trial and error on the parent's part." Sally gripped the paddle and glared at this woman, this disgusting filthy child abuser.

"Shut up, you little bitch, I'm a licensed parent I paid my fees and passed the test his ass is mine to do with what I wish." The boar snorted back and Sally couldn't contain it bringing the face of the paddle across her face and smashing it over her mouth causing her to bleed in multiple places. "WHEEEEEEE!" The boar screamed and squealed as Sally took the paddle and swung it again watching her try to run but trip due to her own poor shape on her hands and knees trying to crawl away.

"You did this to him, not just this time, but every time you hit him with this, that pain you feel he felt it worse, YOU WERE SUPPOSED TO GUIDE HIM NOT INJURE HIM!" Sally shouted taking a good arch and smashing the paddle into the boar's exposed ass crushing her flesh underneath the pointed teeth tearing at her hair. "YOU BETRAYED HER, YOU MONSTER YOU LET THEM TAKE HER AWAY AND YOU DIDN'T SPEAK UP EVEN THOUGH SHE CALLED YOU MOMMY!" Sally screamed and her eyes went wide, she realized who she was really furious at and beating this woman wasn't going to help.

"He's a filthy whore, the little, slut, he, wanted, every second." The boar woman wheezed her breath uneven despite being punished she was squirming but not in pain. Sally turned to face the boy paddle still in hand and marched over, Daz was holding him up by his shoulders keeping him on his feet.

"Daz spread his cheeks." Sally crouched down and Daz obeyed, his fingers slick with blood from the fresh bruises. Sally gasped, she took a course on identifying sexual abuse in her junior year, in hopes of helping victims on campus, one of the signs of forced entry was cracked skin around the entry point, multiple fissures were spreading out from this ram's tail hole it wasn't just once it was multiple times. Sally felt ill, stumbling over to a potted plant she vomited up her burger and chicken disgusted by what she saw. "He, they, his... rrrrrAH!" Sally lunged back on the woman taking her gown up and pulling her pants down exposing her ass and a foul stink of excitement. "YOU BITCH!" Sally grabbed the paddle tight and brought it down repeatedly not even saying anything just furiously smashing this woman into the ground feeling her knees collapse she knelt down and kept beating her until blood started to drip from the paddle head. "You evil, stupid, bitch." Sally gasped her rage draining from her and her senses returning the entire mall was in shock calling the police on this, absurd assault, Sally shook smelling a foul odor coming from the woman, her hooves around her cunt playing with it as she was beaten by Sally.

"Don't stop, I'm, so close." The boar shuddered and Sally just closed her eyes, taking the paddle head in her hands and lining the handle up with her ass she thrust down making the boar squeal out and orgasm as she stuck her paddle far up her ass handle first. The boar collapsed and Sally walked over to the ram leaning down and placing her hands on his shoulders.

"I'm sorry," The ram whimpered not sure what this crazy woman was going to do to him, his life since he became a Penitatas was a nightmare, he would never commit another crime again he just wanted to die so he could be free but he knew they'd revive him and make it worse. "I'm sorry." He apologized not knowing what else to say, he flinched when Sally dropped to her knees and wrapped her arms around him.

"I'm sorry, you don't deserve what happened, just because you messed up doesn't mean you're bad, it means you're a person, you don't have to go back to her anymore." Sally whispered her throat sore from the feral rage she just exited.

"You mean it, really?" The ram's tail began to wiggle and his eyes teared up wrapping his arms around his savior. "Thank you, THANK YOU!" He bawled happily

The police were there in minutes, Sally was questioned as to her choice of action but she claimed self defense showing her bleeding hands and nobody got a good enough look to see who struck first so she was dismissed with a warning, the young ram was treated with medical salve while the boar woman was arrested on the charges of child endangerment, Penitatas abuse, and public fornication Hauled off to detention to have her fate decided soon she'd know what it was like on the other end of the paddle but knowing her, being a Penitatas might be a treat. The young ram thanked Sally worshiping her like a goddess. But Sally didn't take any praise she just looked at the clock, it was nearly midnight.

"Thank you so much lady, my name is Dennis Richards I'm a car thief and." Sally put her hand on Dennis's head making him stop speaking.

"Your name is Dennis Richards you are a six year old little boy who needs a good strong caring hand to guide him to become a proper adult, Dennis Richards the car thief is dead you are a new person use this opportunity to bring about a new you don't cling to the past but don't forget it either." Sally felt she understood Penitatas a little better, the goal was rehabilitation through correction but the point was not to hurt them but to love them, gently or firmly whichever was required the daily punishments were their penance for their crimes but they could live happy lives as well.

"Yes Ma'am... what's your name?" Dennis bleated sheepishly feeling the soft lady's hand on him but she turned and ran towards the center of the mall. "Oh Okay, bye Cinderella lady!" Dennis waved and Daz watched sighing softly as he went out to the car to wait for Sally to come back making one last purchase before the mall closed, well two.

Sally gasped and wheezed as she sprinted through the almost empty mall, it had began to snow and Christmas was minutes away only the truly lonely or crazy were still out. She came up to the security office and saw the crocodile woman from before, she was holding Hex and nursing her a bottle while humming softly. "Oh sweetie I don't think mommy is coming, lets get you in a carrier and take you down to the station, I should stop and get the boys some hot chocolate and donuts, that would be nice wouldn't it?" Then crocodile cooed to Hex who was sleeping peacefully tear trails under her eyes. She was holding hex in the cup of her arm leaving space for her wings to poke through the back, unlike Sally who tucked them into her arm ruffling them.

"Wait don't go." Sally gasped approaching the counter drawing the crocodile's attention.

"Its you, the young woman making out with the dog boy, did you find her mother?" The crocodile had a wide smile which looked like a toothy grin depending on your perspective.

"No, I mean yes, I mean.. I am her mother." Sally stumbled trying to come out with it, the grin turning to a scowl the crocodile glaring at Sally.

"So when this baby girl was screaming for you, crying for you, you weren't but now a minute from midnight you're suddenly her mother, I don't believe you." The crocodile turned away from Sally and Sally reached into the office window trying to grab her.

"Please, don't take my baby, I'm sorry, I was scared I just couldn't handle the pressure, please I'll do anything just don't leave me alone." Sally begged and the Crocodile sighed, opening the door to the office letting her in, she closed the door behind her and crossed her arms while still holding Hex.

"You are some piece of work child, this little darling cried for four hours straight she only stopped because I think she ran out of tears." The crocodile was incredibly cross with this impetuous girl who called herself a mother, a stain on the reputation of true mothers everywhere. "Take off your pants." The crocodile woman demanded and Sally looked at her. "Did I stutter, pants off, now or say goodbye to baby." The security guard wasn't playing around Sally whimpered lowering her pants to her ankles standing in a pair of pin floral underwear. "Panties too, off, now, bare but lets go." The woman was commanding and Sally whined pulling them down until she was bottom bare to the woman. "Yes, good now." The crocodile woman walked over and placed Hex behind the child gate shutting it as she exited, she grabbed a chair and sat on it pushing her tail aside. "Over here, face down, no hands." The crocodile instructed and Sally looked at her again. "CHILD DO YOU THINK I AM PLAYING!?" Sally shivered and shuffled over placing her belly on the knee of the crocodile woman hanging her chest over the other side she felt her come from behind and grab her tail raising it up forcing her to stand on her toes using her hands for balance. "You want to call yourself her mommy?" The crocodile asked and Sally nodded closing her eyes because she knew what came next. "THEN YOU ACT LIKE IT!" The crocodile woman raised her hand and smacked Sally's ass hard pushing her forward causing her legs to kick. "YOU DON'T GET TO JUST TREAT HER LIKE A STRANGER WHEN ITS CONVENIENT FOR YOU!" Another smack and Sally started to cry hanging her head letting the tears drip down. "MOTHERS HAVE IT HARD WE GOTTA BE THE GOOD AND THE BAD AND THE UGLY ALL AT ONCE WE ALL WISH WE COULD JUST WALK AWAY!" Every word was accentuated with a spank Sally's cheeks glowing red by the end of the sentence and she was sobbing into the floor. "HOW DARE YOU BETRAY THAT SWEET BABY'S TRUST IN YOU YOU LITTLE ROTTEN CHILD!" another cascade of spanks and Sally couldn't take it anymore crying loudly.

"I'm SORRY I'M SORRRRRY" She howled and the crocodile scoffed lowering her tail and letting her flop to the floor writhing and sobbing. She retrieved Hex from behind the pen and held her out glaring.

"Pull up your pants and act like a grown woman, you got what you deserved, and If I ever see you around here again without this child on your hip I'm going to put my foot so far up your ass they'll call you a fur slipper." The crocodile woman threatened and Sally took Hex crying into her hair.

"I'm sorry baby I was a bad mommy but not anymore, I won't ever let you go again, you're my baby good or bad or whatever you're mine and only mine." Sally felt a hand reach up and saw Hex's crystal blue eyes meet hers.

"Mommy?" Hex reached up and felt Sally's crying face

"Yeah baby, Mommy's here." Sally wrapped her arms around Hex and the crocodile smiled looking at her clock.

"Well you two need to get, bye bye cutie I'm glad your Mommy finally decided to show up, you be good now or Mama Lacey's gonna find you." Lacey warned to both Hex and Sally, the former nodding with a smile wiping her tears away. Sally carried Hex through the mall, empty and dark she made her way for the door but someone stood in her way.

"Excuse me." She said trying to move past him but he reached around grabbing her arm squeezing it hard.

"No, Excuse me Miss Yoles." Sally recoiled in horror, it was Oswald. "You are a clever one, hiding in a busy mall, it was very difficult to track you but then this happened." Oswald held out his phone showing a recording from the security camera's that taped Sally's assault. "Such a violent temper, easily provoked, oh and Hex isn't anywhere to be found in this picture." Oswald clicked his tongue before sticking it out, letting the long serpentine appendage flick Sally's cheek. "Not fit to be a mother at all I'd say." Oswald laughed but Sally snarled lashing out and biting the tongue pulling her back out and placing her hands around Hex's head pushing it into her chest.

"She's mine, I won't let you have her, I'll kill you with my own hands before I do." Sally found her conviction, she was going to be Hex's mother and reform the former terrorist even if she didn't remember she was going to protect the world from Hex and similarly Hex from the world.

"IMPUDENT BITCH!" Oswald cursed retracting his tongue dripping blood across the floor. "GET HER!" Oswald commanded and the guards began to encroach on Sally, She prepared to fight them all biting with her teeth and scratching with one claw but her phone's message alert went off.

"What's Christmas without snow?" -D

Sally looked at the message and then at the ceiling where snow was falling on to the glass dome she saw, squares on the panes and then realizing what it was ducked as the goons loomed over her

"Bang" -D

The planted charges erupted in a shower of fire and smoke sending glass towards the ground cutting the goons in the back and side, as soon as Sally heard the explosion she dashed holding Hex over her shoulder allowing her to run on her legs and hand scampering as foxes famously did around Oswald and out the door. "GET UP YOU MORONS GRAB HER!" Oswald shouted and a truck slid in front of the door as soon as Sally cleared it, a panel on the side of the truck showing XD in green and red lights. "GOD DAMNIT!" Oswald swore and stomped a piece of glass entering his soft foot.

Sally huffed running as fast as she could reaching Daz in the parking lot. "What happened I heard and explosion and.. is that blood!?" Daz reached out picking a shard of glass out of Sally's back but she smiled laughing. "Sally are you okay?" Daz was concerned, Sally was breathing hard and she was running so fast. "Come on, lay down." Daz went to take Hex but Sally growled at him running on pure instinct. "Sally, its me, I'm not going to hurt her." Daz reassured his feral friend and gently removed Hex from her clutches setting her in a freshly installed car seat in the back row, Sally crawled in and laid down resting her head at the foot of the car seat her feet propped out the window. "Come on Sal, lets go home." Daz got into the car and started it looking back at Sally who was already fast asleep, Hex's hand on her forehead as she too was passed out. "Guess I'm the last man standing, ho, ho,ho." Daz chuckled to himself taking a bag with Sally's present and placing it on her lap, inside a certificate, it was a cheap little good job ticket you bought at a general store but with the words Good Job crossed out it read

"In recognition of this momentous occasion, Happy Birthday, Phoenix Yoles"