Explain

Dakota composed herself quickly. None of her friends thought she was a monster so why should she? Her parents where not there when she needed them. They where not understanding or caring. Her friends back at the academy where. So she shouldn't care what her parents called her. Her friends thought she was great as she was and she was proud of herself. The cat had learned a lot thanks to the school. Things her parents kept hidden from her.

The woman soon returned to the girl and sat beside her. Her gray eyes softened when she saw the cat had been crying but did not comment. Brushing her thumb over her daughter's cheek she let out a saddened sigh. Dakota knew that meant bad news. Under her hat, the cat's ears flattened even closer to her head. Looking at her lap, the girl waited for whatever her mother planned to say but the words actually caught her off guard.

“In order for you to understand why your father and I have acted as we have I must explain how this came to be.”

“But you said you didn't know how this could happen to me.”

Removing her hand from Dakota, “I lied my love. I just wanted you to be a normal girl. Not the freak people call you.”

“I am a normal girl! I have feelings and interests and want to have friends. You tore that away from me! You fed me lies! I was young I didn't know any different but I do now! Now stop lying to me and explain what I am!” Dakota hissed.

Nodding, the woman explained everything. Dakota came from a pure blood line of Nekomata. A cat that had the power to turn human with two tails and matching ears or into a monster. Dakota went to question how that was possible when she only ever had the one tail even in her monster form but her mother stopped and continued her story. About a hundred years ago, an ancestor had a child with a human causing a hybrid. Once the family found out, the woman was exiled. Over the years the blood of the cat has weakened to almost nothing, taken over by the human blood. The feline traits no longer existed and magic abilities were extremely rare. Not worried about her blood line, the woman never told the man about where she came from. Dakota being the exemption and being born a cat, the woman had no choice but to tell the father.

“Dad had no idea about us. That's why he looks at me the way he does. He wanted a daughter but a normal human daughter. He's disgusted by me. He loves you because you look human. I'm the one who does not belong.”

“That's not true. He loves you. He just doesn't know how to show it.”

“Stop lying to me! He shows you love everyday! He knows how, he just refuses to!” The girl stood as tears stung her eyes.

The woman knew what the cat said was true because she looked away. Dakota was sick of the lies and being betrayed by the two people who are suppose to be everything to her. She now understood her parents just wanted a normal girl, not the cat they got. The tip of her tail flicked in anger. She wanted to leave. Just grab her bag and walk out the door but this was the only family she had. How could she just walk away?

“My love. We lied to keep you safe. What if you were in a human school and your monster form got out? And remember all those times you came home crying because you were teased? I did not want you growing up in a puddle of your own tears. I wanted you safe and happy.”

“Did I seem happy to you? I lived in a cage! My own safe place had become a cell!”

“Stop raising your voice to me young lady. I am still your mother.” The woman's face hardened.

“No. You are the witch that locked me away! You didn't want to be seen with a freak for a daughter.”

Without a word, the woman stood and slapped her daughter's face. Dakota winced and looked away, a red mark started to form on her cheek already. Her mother told her to go to her room. Without a word, the cat went to the front door, grabbed her bag then headed for her bedroom. She held back tears till her door was shut. Dropping to the floor, she let her tears flow freely. She wanted nothing more than to be loved by her family. Why was that so much to ask? She began to wish she was a normal girl and pictured the happy life she would have had.

Dakota's hair would have been just like her mother's but would have the fighting spirit her father held. He would have been around all the time and she would have many friends. The days laying in the grass in the sun or dancing in her room when it rained. She would have a boyfriend and when he broke her heart her mother would hold her and her father would make her laugh. But it was nothing more than a dream she longed for. A normal life with her parents.

But then she would not have the friends she does now. Ignoring the pain in her chest, Dakota thought about the academy and how it had always felt like home to her. She was welcomed with open arms and met many wonderful people. She even has a new kitten who must be missing her. A smile played with her lips as she thought about the white ball of fur following Kazu to class but he's too lazy for class so she pictured them sitting in her dorm. Kazu bored or even irritated by the kitten as he planed with the boys tails or purring in the boy's lap.