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The Modern Huntress

The tigress spied her quarry in the distance through the black night air. It was far, and there were many obstacles between her and her target. There was no way she would be successful from here. She was ambitious, though. Her ears lowered; one twitched. She leaned forward. She pushed down on the accelerator of her minivan.

She turned the wrong way down the angled parking lane. Colorful metal and glass of parked cars rushed back past her. She slipped around a pair of rabbit women and the cars that stalked them. Furs hurled obscenities as she weaved by them. She gave them no heed. She hit her breaks and turned the van a hard one-thirty-five. She slipped the van perfectly into place, more so than in any other parking job she had done in her life.

An otter turning the right way into the aisle honked and gestured rudely at Selene's poaching of the prey he desired. She cared not. This was her kill, the first of many this night. Selene gathered her purse and exited her van. She parked a mere three rows from the mall entrance; just beyond the wounded prey - er - handicap parking stalls. The tigress stalked toward mall. The hunt had begun.

#

Twas the last shopping night before Yule, and all of the creatures stirred. They sought out their last minute gifts to make the holiday that extra bit special. Selene, however, was here to do all of her holiday shopping. She had just a few hours to accomplish it. Her friends who knew of her tendency to wait to the last minute and were understandably worried she would not succeed, as they worried every year. But this was the peak of the season for Selene. She stood to the side for just a minute to take in the decorations of the mall. Colorful lights wound through faux evergreen wreaths and garland. Golden tinsel hung from the ceiling. Selene smelled the cocoa, coffee, and cinnamon on the air. Holiday music played just over the sounds of the people wandering and chatting about. This was what she was here for.

The main item on her list was Mic the Toad. Mic the Toad, as far as Selene had divined, was not a character from any movie, television show, video game, book, comic strip, or whatever media kids these days were into. He was just some toad named Mic. The doll did not walk, talk, blink, hold a temperature, nor any of the other modern technological toy features. It was a doll of a toad whose popularity had come purely from the aether. Ninety-nine-point-nine percent of children had to have one, including her daughter Diane.

The first ground she'd stalk would be Mace's Department Store. A sign out front helpfully informed her that they were regrettably out of Mic the Toad toys. Selene did not trust it, and headed onto those hunting grounds anyway. She slipped through the shop to the toy section, and they were indeed out of stock. A few other folks searched through the shelves in hopes one might have gotten stuffed behind some others. Selene chose a different approach. She wandered through other parts of the store looking behind displays and in circular clothes racks on the hope that some other shopper had stashed one away for later retrieval and purchase. She took care to avoid raising the alarm of any shopkeeper who might ask if she needed any help.

This strategy proved fruitless; much to the tiger's frustration. She reminded herself she had others to shop for as well. Also she had a whole mall of shops that might offer her the chance to pounce a Mic doll. She departed the department store in pursuit of other game.

Her next hunting ground was Signet Gifts and Collectibles. Her babysitter Clark collected the Elves of the World figurines, and Selene knew he didn't have the one for Vitropolis. Signet had plenty in stock so that was an easy kill. Across the hall was the bookstore where she'd pick up a nice hardback fantasy/western/romance for their family friend Harley. Selene had done her homework and learned of a good book from a new author that likely went under Harley's radar. Third up was the novelties store. It was one of those places that existed purely to sell crude and lewd humorous trinkets. Selene wanted to make this strike as quick and painless as possible. Sure, she enjoyed a bit of low-brow humor, but there was a limit. Still, she needed a gift for her uncle who adored this crap. She found the closest thing she could to having taste and got that for him. On her way out, though, she spied a singing doll with absurd lyrics that managed made her chuckle a little. It would be a great white elephant gift for her girlfriend Krissy, as they did that exchange every year.

With the first round of successes fueling her it was time for the toy store. They also had a sign helpfully informing of the lack of Mic the Toad dolls. Selene read it in the tone of, 'No sambar deer here. Nope. Definitely not. Tigers should check elsewhere.' The striped cat prowled the aisles and peeked behind other merchandise for one that may have gotten stuffed behind it all. The stock on the shelves was already quite messed up and suggested other hunters had been here with the same idea. Folks pleaded with the unfortunate shopkeepers to check the back once again. Others in desperation turned to knock-off Mark the Tortoise and Sally the Salamander toys. Those poor souls.

The first pang of the possibility that she might not be successful hit her. Perhaps she should start searching for a parking lot with a scalper selling horded ones for a meager few hundred of dollars. No, those vultures weren't getting the satisfaction. Selene knocked some sense into herself. Of course the most obvious location would be the most picked over. She just needed some patience and cleverness in her technique.

She purchased a few other toys for her son and daughter. Her son would be getting the very large replica of the Crow Wagon from the War Racers cartoon program. Also she picked up a smaller Goose Mobile from the same show for the daughter Diane. Diane would probably forget about Mic in five minutes to play with her brother and his toys. Though practically speaking Mic the Toad would end up as part of their War Racers fan narrative.

Selene picked off a few smaller toys and stocking stuffers for her children. A quick jaunt back to her minivan to relieve herself of her trophies was in order. Selene was no beast of burden, after all. Then it was time for round two.

For her mother, chocolates. For her father, a watch. While at the jewelry store picking out that watch she found a beautiful sapphire necklace for Krissy, as they of course exchanged nice gifts as well as joke ones. One of the mall kiosks had these wooden frog things where you ran a dowel along its back ridges to make music. Selene loved them and got one for her aunt. Her aunt would hate it, but her aunt hated everything. Selene also bought a small one for herself as she adored kitschy little things.

She noted several more of the 'Sorry, we won't have any more Mic the Toad's in until next month. Let alone by close tonight' signs in front of various stores. That printing company did pretty good business in those signs this year. Selene kept herself from getting to anxious about it. The harder the hunt, the more satisfying the kill she remembered.

The bulk of her shopping done she rewarded herself with a food court dinner. A meaty slice of pizza would sustain the tiger for her ongoing hunt. As did a dessert of a gooey cinnamon roll and hot coffee. And with that she was off for round three.

It was time to buy for her hubby Zibby. A starship-in-a-bottle kit to both appeal to his love of nautical stuff and science fiction. She picked up a couple of video games for him as well; one a modern game of nautical warfare and the second an old school fantasy rpg. A third gift came from Ashley's Mystery. Not that Ashley left it much of a mystery. Lingerie and erotic products were their specialty. A few gifts were purchased, some for Zibby, some for Krissy, and all for herself. None of those gifts would go under the tree, of course.

Ashley's Mysteries also had a sign in front informing of the lack of Mic the Toad dolls. Why they would sell them at all was a question Selene knew better than to ask.

The final gift for her husband was a neon bar sign for his man cave, because he had a man cave. It was the last gift for him as it was large and awkward and mandated a second trip to the minivan.

Now she had just two gifts left to buy. One was a bottle of nice whisky for her in-laws, but that would be from a liquor store on her way home. The second was Mic. The hunt was on in earnest now. The tigress had to remember not to snap the toy's neck when she found it.

She searched through the gift shops, toy shops, and department stores regardless of whether the sign was present. All came up empty. As she searched she bought a few more odds and ends for various other friends and colleagues. They would complain they had nothing in return. But that didn't matter to Selene as she loved picking out the perfect gift for someone. More importantly this small game kept her morale up for the quest for her larger quarry.

She tried to think outside the box. What sorts of places might have it but not advertise? Board game shops were known for more off the beaten path things were one option. She tried stores owned by furs who didn't speak the language well. They might inadvertently order, stock, and fail to advertise dear Mic. She even chanced the edgy too-cool-for-school type novelty shops. All came up wanting. In desperation she tried the other lingerie store, Tina's Unknown, to no avail.

Leaning against the rail of the upper floor she looked toward the center of the mall where Old Nick was taking last minute requests for children. She should probably should get in line as he would be her last hope. Of course Diane herself had already asked half a dozen of them for Mic, so maybe he'd take the hint and bring her one?

Selene sighed. Damn it, why didn't Zibby order one online?

Because Selene had said that wasn't necessary. Because she wanted to do her shopping this way. She insisted it would be okay. This ritual of hers had never steered her wrong in the past. She gambled with her daughter's happiness and lost. Her heart sank to her tail.

Old Nick, though. Maybe that was the key. Her mind penned the letter.

Dear Diane,

I hope this finds you well. I had a Mic the Toad doll to give you, as you had requested in your letter to me. However, in my travels I met a young boy who fell very much in love with your doll. I could not bear to part them, and he had been a very good boy who had not asked for much for himself. I knew you would be understanding.

I will bring you another Mic doll soon. In the meanwhile I have left you a Sally the Salamander. I know she is not the same, but the original child she was intended for has been very naughty recently. And I know you would love her well.

Sincerely,

Nick

It practically wrote itself. Damn, that would work. Zibby and Krissy would still give her hell, but it would be enough to placate Diane until she got distracted with the War Racers.

A man leaned against the rail next to her. He was a tiger same as her. He was dressed as Old Nick except in a green robe instead of the traditional red. His arms held several bags from both Ashley's Mystery and Tina's Unknown. Again Selene knew better than to ask. She just said, "Well if it isn't Old Nick himself."

"One of his helpers," the man winked. He sipped his beverage. As though reading her mind he said, "Cocoa. Required by law for wearing this outfit."

She chuckled, "I hope it's good at least."

"Yeah, it's from the delicacy chocolate store in the A. J. Penny's wing."

"I'll have to grab some myself." Selene paused, "I don't suppose you can put in a good word for me with the big man?"

"Oh? What are you after?" he asked.

"A Mic the Toad for my daughter."

"Oof. Tall order this close to the holiday."

"Yeah, I know," She said. "I feel really bad if that helps."

"Well, has she been a good girl this year?" he asked.

"As good as one can expect from a five year old."

"How about you? Have you been a good girl this year?" he sipped his cocoa. Then he said, "That sounded creepier than I meant. Sorry, I'm not hitting on you."

Selene giggled. "It's alright, I know what you mean. And yeah, I've tried to do right by the world."

The tiger checked his phone. "I don't know. Waiting until the last minute to get gifts for your daughter? Not to mention that move in the parking lot was pretty questionable."

"Wait, what? How did..."

"Still, your daughter has been very good. Perhaps something can be arranged if you've learned your lesson. Have you learned your lesson?"

"I have."

"And what lesson was that?" Green Nick wasn't letting her off easy.

"Not to go shopping last minute?" she thought, "At least not for the hottest toy of the season."

"Good enough," he chuckled. "So I heard a rumor. And this is just a rumor mind you. That a truck full of Mic the Toad's bound for Maces got stolen earlier in the week. The thieves were going to sell them out of a parking lot at huge markup, but got caught. Normally the stock would be kept as evidence but the store managed to convince the police to release most of them as they're all basically the same. Now that shipment is headed here. If you head there now you might get a chance at one. Just a rumor, though." He winked again.

Selene nodded. "I better head over right away."

"Be sure to get you some of the cocoa first," he indicated his cup.

"Do I have time?"

"There's always time for cocoa."

#

She put her faith in the mysterious stranger as she had no other options. He was right about the cocoa being good, at least. By the time she reached Mace's again there was a sizable line. Green Nick's rumor had spread quickly. But it was accurate. She saw people leaving the store with Mic the Toad dolls as she stood in the line. Only two furs ended up in line after her. All of them anxiously hoped there would be enough.

Selene bounced and checked her phone-clock hoping they would sell them past normal closing time if need be. But she reached the counter with one minute until closing. The store still had three left and a strict one per customer limit. That math checked out fine for Selene. With tears in her eyes she thanked the store clerks profusely as they rang up Diane's doll.

Selene returned to her minivan. Half crying, half laughing. She tossed the toad atop her pile of trophies. She remembered, in-laws, liquor store. The tigress grinned at herself in the rearview mirror as adrenaline filled her once more. She shifted her car into gear and backed out of her spot. She had one more kill to make.