On Top Of The World

Dawn broke gradually over the city of Verss- washed vivid orange by smog, filtering grudgingly around tens of thousands of tall buildings woven around each other, stacked into a single mountainous structure alive with its wolfish inhabitants. Some levels, some depths of urban crush, never saw daylight at all.

Some depths of urban crush were literally that- subway caves that had once been upper levels in the forgotten past, that were now not merely abandoned hellscapes of acrid air and failed lighting, not merely home to the most desperate failures the city held, but were tombs to those ragged wanderers when the weight of Verss produced another subsidence- when the world groaned, sagged, and made those forgotten ones a part of itself.

Nobody of importance would be found near enough to those dangerous areas to hear any screams- one would literally rise in Verss, spending one's time nearer the top of the city, if one could afford to do that. One would try not to think about the levels one came from- one would try to forget that in Verss, fate literally stretched vertically from the abodes of the impossibly wealthy down to corpses without even the rank, stale air left around them anymore, bodies that had been shunned while life remained and were now the tortured soil Verss rested on.

But then, this city forgot everybody eventually.

Dawn broke over a spot which wasn't exactly at the peak of the city, but was very much on the outside layer. A small cafe basked in the lurid, smog-painted glow, a cafe with a wide, sandy patio and green trees in terracotta planters. The color alone told a story of wealth and privilege- to the wise, it told a story of teams of gardeners switching out weary, pollution-worn trees for fresh ones, and whisking the sick ones off to special nursery bubbles with clinically purified air and fresh water, to recover and then serve another tour of duty outside at the cafe.

Dawn broke over one of the first arrivals to the cafe, and her guest. Jennis didn't think of it in this way, but in the ecosystem of the cafe she rated as less important than the trees- certainly, they were given lives in the nursery where they were cared for and given the strength to go to the cafe and do their jobs. In turn, she returned to the cafe not to give strength but to gain it- and, replenished, return to her job. Today, she was bringing Allie, who was new to this job.

Jennis felt a bit envious, though her spirit was well enough to appreciate it vicariously- Allie had been increasingly awestruck as she ascended to the level of the cafe, and stepped out onto the patio as if she was a princess arriving at the ball. It was understandable, thought Jennis- though the cafe couldn't claim the staggering view as its own creation, it certainly made the most of it- and paid for it in property taxes. Jennis knew that for the same reason she knew she was welcome...

Jennis paid for this welcomeness with barter, with hedonism, above all with discretion. The manager was a driven, gaunt wolf who was constantly getting in fights with his wife, and his fanaticism for maintaining his exquisite cafe and his pose as a debonair maitre d' was matched only by his fanaticism for blowing off steam in bed and perversity when in it.

And Jennis was not merely a whore- she was the straw-boss at the notorious "Mistress Elistary". She was more than able to handle the manager's desperate needs, she was big and rangy enough to cope when he got crazy, and she was more than street-savvy enough to turn a few minor injuries into a free subscription for entrance to the cafe- for life. The small electronic card which opened the gates was one of Jennis's prize possessions. It still cost a great deal even to have breakfast there, but without a little careful blackmail she'd not have been allowed near the place.

Now, she watched her new employee look around in awe, and played it cool. There were many things this Allie didn't know- Jennis felt quite concerned for her, while at the same time fighting off the enviousness. Allie seemed so vulnerable and was clearly on the run from some terrible abusive situation- earlier conversations had made that abundantly clear. Allie was on the young side, had nowhere to go, and wished nothing more than to escape to Verss, and- what? Jennis doubted that Allie's plans had read 'get fucked for money', but the young wolfess was so unprepared for the biggest of the big cities, and her options were frankly terrible.

Allie had light brown fur with a white blaze running from breasts to belly to right under her tail- she sported a 'two-tone' pattern that Jennis knew was money in the bank. Allie seemed totally unfazed by the idea of selling her pussy for money, which again said 'fleeing abusive life that makes being a whore seem relatively cozy'. Allie had no ID, no licenses for any form of work, no connnections for getting on the waiting list for an apartment, nobody she knew in the city at all. Allie had no idea how to get any of these things, no clue that if she turned up at a shelter she would end up fought over and claimed as a prize, which was to say slave, or even a corpse if the fighting became too intense. Allie, in fact, acted like a rich kid who was sheltered from the real world- or more accurately, kept from the real world by some family member who wanted the stunning two-tone wolf girl all for himself.

Jennis knew that some of those never made it out. Some committed suicide. And some fled- often to Verss, in the belief they wouldn't be found easily. All too often, they were found by the dregs, and the city gradually crushed them without a second thought.

This one had turned up in a room at Mistress Elistary, and Jennis was expected to make a working girl out of her. It seemed like Mistress Elistary had some way of finding these girls- they would turn up, often emotionally shattered, and go to work like whipped dogs, terribly obedient and fearful. Allie had turned up shattered and fearful, but without that obedience- again, like a rich kid on the run and out of options. She wasn't going to find another place to live that was remotely acceptable, and Jennis was going to have to train her or see her turned out on the street.

As she watched Allie gawk at the view, Jennis felt both envy and anxiety. This girl was going to make a bundle, hopefully without being hurt too badly, and she seemed to be aware of neither her beauty, nor the unfairness of her situation. Jennis was going to have to be her boss and teach her all the things school had never hinted at.

As they accepted cups of coffee from the cafe's morning staff- who treated Jennis with great but mocking deference- Jennis thought that was going to be a real bitch, and hoped desperately that the lovely wolf girl would be impressed by her street-savvy and den-mother loyalty. She had to gain that upper hand, for if Allie copped an attitude or acted entitled like a rich girl, she'd be thrown out by Mistress Elistary in no time at all. Jennis knew she had to get Allie up to speed or see her sucked into the maelstrom of Verss and lost forever.

The cafe staff had given Allie a menu for breakfast, and did not give Jennis one- they gave her, instead, the faintest possible smirk, but she dared not rebuke them. She quickly told them, "Yeah, the usual" and hoped like mad that Allie'd take it as a symbol of special favor.

As she watched the younger, prettier wolf who was to be her subordinate poring over the menu, Jennis glowered briefly, then fought back her rage at the cafe staff. She'd tell the manager, when she got a chance, of what they had done.

They knew Jennis could not read. 

Allie looked around, and her eyes sparkled. "Oh, this is nice!" she cried, and Jennis suffered another pang of jealousy. She'd never had a cute little voice like that, even when she was young- if you wanted to call it 'young'.

"Yeah," said Jennis, "always have a nice breakfast, in case the johns are assholes that day. They ain't there to take care of you!"

She caught a look of alarm in the younger wolf's eyes. Good, she thought. You learn respect, missy, and maybe we won't lose you after all...

"So, what'll you have?"

The alarm turned to embarrassment, and Allie looked down, not meeting Jennis's eyes. Oh, no, thought Jennis- I called it. She's remembered what I am. She'd forgotten. Next, she tries to get away, makes some excuse.

"Just the coffee, thanks- I'll pay you back!"

Sure you will, thought Jennis. "Ya sure? I better get you more. You know it's physical work, right? What'll you have?" said Jennis, and thought, there you are, my dear- picture it. If you're going to run, do it now, so I don't have to see your damned pretty face over breakfast, knowing what's likely to happen to you.

The girl didn't react well. Jennis, alert to the small telltales of Runge behavior, saw her draw a breath and look about anxiously. The older wolf's mood soured further as she gauged the tantalizing heave of Allie's breasts under the low-cut t-shirt- when she'd had that, she made half again as much damn money a night. Allie's paw scratched at the patio sand. Her tail bristled faintly, as did her ruffs and facefur, all very subtle but dead giveaways to the experienced observer.

The experienced observer sat, waiting. Just you say it, missy, thought Jennis. Just dare to suggest I'm not good enough to be seen with.

"Oh no, no." breathed Allie. "I couldn't!"

That was enough for Jennis. She didn't even let Allie finish the little apologetic eyeroll she was in the middle of.

"Now, look, Missy! If you object to a whore buying you breakfast, I got nothing but bad news for you. Now. What will you have?"

That sank in. Jennis wondered if she'd been too brutal- Allie cowered as if trapped, and then looked down, her eyes filling with tears, making no reply. She heaved a shuddery, woe-is-me sigh, and Jennis watched her breasts rise and fall again, and thought, that's another twenty credits to you, if only you knew it. Or are you the kind of rich girl who knows it quite well already? If so, you're about to learn it doesn't work on me.

"I just ruined your day, huh?" said Jennis, levelly. "Well, you're ruining mine."

Jennis began counting seconds to herself- in expectation that the girl would stand about fifteen seconds before springing up and rushing off to her fate- but before three had passed, the lovely tan wolf had looked up, and Jennis found herself staring into pleading amber eyes, brimming with tears.

"It's not that!"

Jennis blinked. This was seriously off the script.

"I want to be like you..."

Seriously off the script! What?

"More than anything... but..."

It was Jennis's turn to be off balance. If this wasn't contempt, what the hell was it? Jennis faced her stunning young subordinate, would-be whore, possibly somehow hero-worshipper (how on earth did that happen to a brazen shaggy byotch in a white ribbon bikini with tits like melons and a cunt like a muscular goddamn cavern?) and tried to find less harsh words.

"Really? 'But' what?"

Allie's eyes dropped again, miserably. "I don't have any money."

Jennis laughed, startling her. "Oh please! Spare me. Look at you! A little coaching and you'll be filthy with it."

Interestingly, the girl didn't look at herself- or brighten up, or show any sign she'd been paid a compliment. Jennis considered this. Girls usually had some degree of vanity, but then there were some that were so damaged they couldn't get their heads around the idea. Self-image was so goddamn relative. You could count on those ones to not quit, or throw a fit over conditions (even when one ought to be thrown), or demand more money- but there was a price you paid that Jennis took very seriously. Those girls didn't protect themselves well. They could be talked into stuff that hurt them- they attracted creeps like crazy- and you had to look after them, because if they lost their center, if their world got too dark and empty, they weren't just no good to themselves, they weren't even any good at their job.

And when their job was to be fucked by strangers... well, you could say that didn't help. You had to keep a pretty level head for that not to mess with you. It was almost a job requirement- if you were in it for the long haul, anyhow.

Allie looked up again, with a very polite pleading gaze. "I don't have any now. Can I borrow some? Like, properly- with interest and whatever?" 

Jennis looked at her in astonishment. "Why the flying fuck do you want to pay me interest? I'm your fucking boss, not a bank! Explain."

It seemed like this was unexpectedly hard to explain. Allie's eyes dropped yet again, and she bristled harder, the Runge equivalent of a blush, and her ears went back as if she expected a blow, but it was a psychological blow rather than a physical one.

"I... don't ever want to depend on anybody, ever again."

With that, the young wolfess looked up, a strange intensity in the way she held Jennis's eyes, and she continued with alarming conviction, as if it were a matter of life and death- "You shouldn't have to buy me breakfast."

Jennis was taken aback, but now she knew exactly what was up.

"You are poor, aren't you? You've got that pride they get."

Allie winced. "Please, stop it..."

"Or should I say, new poor? You're acting like someone who was raised with a life. You wanna tell me anything about what happened?"

"I... I..."

"Take it easy." said Jennis. "You're safe enough now. Though some people wouldn't see it that way, let me tell you. But... some of us know better, don't we?"

It took a while for Allie to pull herself together- she would try to look at Jennis, and tear up or become upset, but the older wolf watched with approval as Allie got a grip. That was going to be a useful skill- it boded well. Finally, she was able to trust her voice, and Allie spoke again.

"We?"

"I was six. Looks like you hung in there for longer than I did, my dear. That probably gained you some good things, you know. I really did hit the streets too early."

"Really?" said Allie, fascinated. "Too early for what?"

"I bet you've got more schooling than me. Am I right?"

"Um... yeah, probably. You stopped at six? I was still going right up to last month when... when all this started happening."

"There you go." said Jennis. "It might not get you very far in this city, but that's a resource. I bet there are lots of things you can do. I hope you trust me, though, because I'm telling you there are lots of things you don't know- and I honestly don't want you to be hurt. You fell into a job that you will be able to do- I promise you that- but you're going to have to start learning all over again."

Allie thought, and Jennis let her think. The two Runge sat quietly, sharing the beginnings of an understanding. When Allie spoke again, it wasn't about what she was expected to learn.

"Why did you run away at six? I didn't understand what was happening to me when I was six. I didn't understand it was... different."

Jennis gazed levelly at the younger wolf, but her eyes were chilly.

"I thought I'd better leave while I still had one unbroken arm."

Allie actually cringed at this, unable to meet Jennis's gaze, as if the shaggy black-furred wolf was the bearer of a reality too terrible to look at directly. When Allie's eyes found Jennis's again, the older wolf had not looked away, and the gaze of the wolf girl was full of awe.

That's it, thought Jennis. I've got her. I'll never thank that bastard for what he did, but every time I'm able to reach a kid like this, the pain's not wasted. This one's not going into the shelters, this one's not turning junkie or chew-toy if I can help it...

Okay, call it even money she makes it, then. That still beats the usual one in four. ...this goddamned city!

Jennis shook her head, dispelling the grim calculations of survival odds for pretty young runaways with no street sense. Across from her, the pretty young runaway perked her ears, wide-eyed, and drew a breath expectantly. Again with the heaving tits, thought Jennis. I can't believe you aren't aware of that. No, I guess I can, I've seen it before. You might be a crawling worm, in the privacy of your own head. I was.

"Okay, listen. Boss speaking."

"I'm listening." said Allie eagerly.

"We're having breakfast. You're getting what I get. That way, you don't have to choose."

"...okay." said Allie, suddenly abashed again, and feeling outmaneuvered.

"While you have this breakfast, I'll tell you about some things to expect. You will pay attention to all of it. You will not be paying me back for the breakfast. You'll pay attention, that's what you'll pay, missy. Understood?"

"...okay." said Allie, planning to buy this amazing woman something later to square it.

"You can be rich and sore and buy your own breakfast tomorrow."

Allie laughed, in spite of everything.

"Heh! Okay..."