Tanya lay on the floor of her room with Luca. Her feet swung happily as she looked at the pictures in the brochure for Burns' Isle. She was lost in thought, imagining herself on the amusement rides, taking pictures with the mascots, and watching the stage plays. Planning the future, Tanya began doodling herself and her family into the brochure pictures.
"This is your fault!"
"My fault?!"
Her parents voices were coming from their bedroom. Tanya stopped doodling and sat up, listening carefully. Her parents continued arguing for a few minutes before she realised they were arguing about the trip to Burns. Running into her parents' room, Tanya pushed her way between them, trying to stop the argument.
"Mom, dad, stop fighting! I promise I won't ask to go to Burns anymore." Tanya shouted over her parents.
"Get out the way!" her mother yelled, stretching her hand to push Tanya away.
Luca jumped onto Tanya's shoulder and wrapped his tail around her neck. His eyes enlarged as he hissed at her mother. Losing his balance on his unsteady perch, Luca dug his nails into Tanya's shoulder. She lifted her arm, allowing him to recover his balance and lie across her shoulders.
Tanya's mother looked at the two of them and took a step back.
"Stay out of this, Tanya." She said, keeping her eyes on Luca.
"But you're fighting because of me."
"No, we're not." Her father said, "Your mother booked the trip without telling —
"You'd never give me the money. So I had to take it myself."
A deep, throaty growl permeated the room.
"But—" Tanya started.
Her parents watched as she took Luca off her shoulders, set him down on their bed, and left the room, closing the door behind her.
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