The screeching that came from behind the dressing room curtain was grating on Ike’s nerves, even Dee was starting to get annoyed. The two dancers had been going at it for the last 15 minutes with no end in sight. It had started as a simple argument over the big Christmas number the girls were doing and it had escalated into a shouting match. While this was normal behavior for Evelyn the instigator, Ike was surprised that Jez had taken the bait so easily. “Pischouette, you know good n’ well dat I’m always Vixen! ‘Sides you look absolutely zeerah* with dat get up!” “Well Evelyn, it’s time we had a switch up around here. Besides I look marvelous in this reindeer outfit. It fits me better.” “Arrete toi**, I don’t see how any’ting can look good on that wide frame o’ yours.” The squeak of anger that echoed through the facility was followed closely by a string of profanities that were unbecoming of the feline who uttered them. The argument had only intisifed and Ike realized that there was no way the two would resolve this on their own. But before the elk could step in a heavy paw landed on his shoulder, rooting him to the spot. “Don’t worry Sam, I’ll handle this.” The rumbling voice set Ike’s nose twitching, his flighty nature kicking in and telling him that danger was afoul. No matter how many times he was in the presence of the tiger he got that flighty feeling. The hulking mass of fur and muscle waltzed over with the grace of a gazelle. He parted the curtains and slipped inside. Curiosity spiked in the manager and he followed quickly behind. The two dancers were still screeching, oblivious to the entrance of their boss. The polecat had snatched the antler headband off the head of her co-worker and was not waving it around and shaming the outfit the leopard had on. The feline was about to respond when Yury cleared his throat. The words died on the leopard’s lips and he ears flattened on her head. “M-Mr. Sykes…what brings you here?” She had a sheepish grin on her face and a light bush spread across her cheeks. “Well, I came to check in to make sure everything was, how to you say, ‘hunky-dory’ for tonight when I heard two of my girls fighting like ally cats. What is the problem ladies?” While Yury’s words held no malice his eyes were alight with irritation. “No problem! Just a…misunderstanding!” The clouded leopard fixed a smile on her face to assure the looming tiger that there was no issue to be dealt with. “Coo-Wee, all dat hullabaloo you just heard was just how us folks down the bayou express our love, mon cher. It don’t mean much.” The polecat gave a wide smile as she gently placed the antlers back on the head of her fellow dancer. The two then linked arms in a show of good faith. That was enough to please Yury and he gave a curt nod. “That’s more like it. We do enough fighting with Sapo and his crew, we don’t need and disagreements among ourselves…speaking of which, I have some business to take care of with Sam and Dee. Beverly, Evelyn, could you two come with me to tend to some guests?” The two noded in unison before following their boss out to the main area of the Spiked Tiger. “Don’t think you’ve won this. I’m still Vixen in the performance, sweetie.” Bev whispered to the polecat. “Mais, jamais d'la vie! You bonne a rienne, I have half a mind to stick you in a caisse and leave you ‘dere until da show, vielle fille!***” Evelyn yanked on Beverly’s arm causing her to stumble a bit. Beverly pushed back and the two jostled for a bit until they laid eyes on their ‘guests’. The gasp that left the two simultaneously caught the attention of the large bear that was lounging in one of the large evening chairs that were resevered for the V.I.P.s of the Spike Tiger. He gave a slow smile as he rose from the chair to bow, the two jaguars at his side did the same. The last guest in the room was a grumpy looking elephant who was still seated in his chair, refusing to make eye contact with the two dancers. Evelyn and Beverly straightened up and returned the bow with a curtsy of their own. All signs of the tomfoolery that was going on before had vanished and been replaced by the placid expression that was reserved for serving guests at the speakeasy. “Good afternoon sirs, may we interest you in a drink?” Beverly addressed the small group with a sickly sweet smile on her face. “Oh nothing for me, mija. I need a clear head, besides I doubt I’d be able to down any of the coffin varnish you sell here.” The off handed insult was not lost on the pair and they bowed politely before stepping off to the side to observe what was about to happen. It wasn’t long before Yury returned with Ike at his heels, the two stopped before the bear and his gang and gave a cursory bow. “Sykes.” “Sapo.” The two regarded each other for a brief minute before jumping right into business. “Right, well it seems as if there is some confusion on who owns what shipments. I caught wind that you’ve been dipping into my supply, Sykes.” The warning in his voice was coupled with annoyance and neither went unnoticed by Yury. “What proof do you have?” The tiger sneered as he leaned back in the chair that he was in. Sapo slammed his fist on the arms of the chair “To hell with proof! You know what you’ve done and I’m here to tell you that if you don’t watch your back you’ll soon find a knife in it.” The jaguars by his side growled for emphasis. “Sapo, when will you learn that your treats don’t scare me? I’m not one of your low key backwater gin joints. I am not to be trifled with.” Yury gave another sly grin before lacing his digits together to signal that he had said all he needed. “I figured you’d be difficult. Sykes, I’d like to introduce you to my pal, Kamran,” Sapo gestured to the silent elephant that had been observing the exchange. He stood and adjusted the rimless glasses perched at the bridge of his long trunk. “Nice to finally meet you, Mr. Sykes. I’ve heard so much about you and your establishment.” The pachyderm spoke in a sharp British accent tinted with the native flair that was common for residents of British India. His eyes finally flicked over to quickly asses the two attendants who had been watching the exchange with rapt interest. “Who is this?” Yury demanded as his hackles rose. He got a nasty vibe from this fella, even though he looked nice enough. “Kam is just here to make sure we all keep to our own jobs, in our own districts. I’ve let you thrive here Sykes, don’t make me squash you out like my other competition.” Sapo stood and gave a jerk of his head, notifying his torpedoes that it was time to go. They followed him towards the exit, but Kamran lingered. He sauntered over to Bev and Evelyn, surprisingly light on his feet. He loomed over the two and gave a toothy grin. “Word on the street is you have a mean right hook Miss Collins.” Kamran’s smile only widened as he watched the shock bloom Beverly’s eyes. As he strolled towards the exit he left Beverly in a state of disbelief, Ike with something akin to panic in his eyes, and Yury and Evelyn sporting a confused expression. It seemed as if the holidays wouldn’t be filled with as much joy as they initially thought. -------------------------------- Uh-oh! Looks like our merry band of mischief makers are in for some trouble from our neighborhood pachyderm. *Zeerah- Ridiculous **Arrete Toi: 'Stop, you!' ***Rough Translation: Well, never in my life! You heathen! I have half a mind to stick you in a trunk and leave you there until the show, old maid!