Hunger woke Erin far earlier than they had planned. It took all of the motivation in their body to hoist herself off their cot and drudge to the almost barren pantry. Carefully she swept the canned rations off the bottom shelf into her pack with their tail. With lunch now accounted for they tentatively reached for the nearest can.

[color=limegreen][i]Come on dearie, you can do it. That's it, grasp with one hand, hold it in place; pinch the pull tab with the other. Fuck it snapped off, let me just get a closer look I'm sure I can get this....[/i][/color]

The instant after she started to adjust her look they knew they had slipped up. They tried to hold themself back from the involuntary lurch forward and subsequent hawking back of the entire can. The attempt was not unlike a small child trying to dogwalk a car. The can and its contents vanished down her gullet with a gulp that filled the small basement apartment. A shameful sigh was what came up in response. 
[color=limegreen][i]Well nothing can be done bout it now but try again. Maybe the aches later will be tolerable later.[/i][/color] Are lies whiter when they are to yourself? 	

The snare tucked behind the shelves was retrieved and her jaw was affixed to prevent subsequent incidents. The aluminum string stung but small pain now was worth avoiding worse pain later. Hopefully one day they wouldn't need the damned thing and would just be able to maintain basic self-control. By the time the remaining cans had been emptied onto the table and the self applied muzzle was off the drone of the rust gnats above had been drilling into their skull for minutes. It was almost bothersome enough to drive out the undeniable fact that rent was not getting made this month. Junk-diving wasn't cutting it; hadn't been for a while now. Only one other place in this town where she could apply themselves enough to earn a living.			

The VET office was crowded by the time her tail was dragged through its door. She tried to find a corner to consume, it and her yellow sundress attempts to appear less imposing. Strangers too often see their own instigations as defensive if their victim is perceived as the inherent threat, and the Odilia's had passed down the lesson down. [color=limegreen][i]Granted the fellers round this room prolly 'ave swam that same pond.[/i][/color] they thought after a few glances round the room at her future coworkers. She listened attentively when her new boss spoke, stifling a chuckle at the "sit in my lap" line. [color=limegreen][i]Ma'am you may be good for your size but id still crush ya, lil thing. A head pat was a far more plausible reward, but hopefully this place offers some nice financial benefits somewhere; my landlord ain't gonna take a lil head pat.[/i][/color]	

Erin existed after most of the crowd and subsequently showed up after the others had already gotten started in bringing the beast down.

[color=limegreen][i]Most of the others seemed like smaller folk, staying at a distance or trying to look for a soft spot to capitalize upon and a route to it. Except blondie who seems to be attempting match this thing head on. I recon the scales on the underbelly have to be a might softer than the ones there on the back. If I can simply get by.[/i][/color]

They dove into earth, which while mere seconds ago was hard rock, now moved round them like calm water. For most of the charge only eyes and snout were visible, but once they got close enough she took a deep breath and dived. Seconds later she ruptured forth adjacent to the stone-horns left hind quarter. Her jaws tried to lock on the base of the tail, right hand grabbing further down to control the flail like appendage, left hand on its hip. She put all of her weight into trying to force the beast down either into a sitting position or onto its side.