Based on  SummertownMall created by  rhodes - with a story by  Skyward
featuring Lenora's Lucy,  Tf-Sential's Rowena,  Foxxy-TF's Darcy,  rhodes's Ciara and  Icaron's Sylvie

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The readings were off the chart. But it wasn’t possible to locate. Not for a long time, not until they worked out the energy was that of Fae.
So of course they sent Zeydaan. The wolf had the best shot of finding out whatever it was they were looking for if it was anything fae related.

Whoosh!

What they weren’t expecting, was a rather pleasant looking mall as they came through the portal. It looked quite old looking. Like it was built in the 80s, though the decorations looked vaguely 90s. Or the early 00s Zey couldn’t be sure. Documenting what they had seen for their check in message.

What they saw was a bunch of anthros walking around. Mostly Teenagers. Must’ve been towards the end of school, judging by how many of them were around. The adults seemed somewhat… out of focus for some reason they couldn’t explain just yet.


They sent a message to their team and entered the mall. Taking their time to look around the entrance to the grand building, none of the storefronts they could see looked familiar at all. And that was exciting, the prospect of a whole swathe of new stores to explore while they gathered intel!

As they dipped in and out of stores they found themselves looking over odds and ends that seemed a bit older than they could swear was normal. But they didn’t seem to mind. If anything it was a blast to be looking over everything. Even if everything was a little blurry. And getting worse as time went on.
Their eyes were perfect though, 20/20, so why was everything VERY blurry now. Rather conveniently at least they seemed to have wandered into an optometrist.

“Here for your prescription I see!” There was someone behind them, giving them a start when they spoke up. Even squinting didn’t really clear up who they were speaking to. Everything was over and done so fast, they barely remembered making it to the mirror to check out how the glasses looked.
At least they could see again. Even if the lenses were remarkably thick. Did they always have that purple streak? Their vision was horrible without glasses so they weren’t sure at htat moment as they toyed the lock of hair.

She was here for a purpose! She had to… They had to focus! Even if they couldn’t quite remember why they had to be at the mall today. Were their teeth always this sharp, Zey couldn’t quite remember.

They bumped into a clothing rack, “Oh clothes!” They spoke as if that had been their purpose for being out. They wanted a new hoodie, before the break started! They hurried over to where they had last seen it, getting excited at finally getting a Pink Floyd hoodie! It was a little oversized. But that was exactly how they liked em!

Ring Ring!

That was their phone but, something was off about the ringtone. They grabbed it and held the massive mobile up to their head. “Hello?” They spoke, their voice sounding just a little different. Everything seemed normal. The phone they had was heavy but not everyone had a mobile! Even if it was a chunky brick like hers.

“Lilly? Where are ya, needed t’show you somethin!” A mostly familiar Australian voice came through the speaker. Although familiar, the name of who was on the line was eluding her.

“What, who is this.. .again?” There was uncertainty in her voice, and who was Lilly? That name didn’t seem…to… No, that was right. Why did they feel like they were forgetting something?

“Ya ain’t waggin are ya?” Ugh Lucy always used too much slang when speaking. It made it a lot harder to understand what she was saying.

How did she just remember–

“Wagging? No my tail ishn’t-” There was the taste of metal in her mouth.

“Nah skippin school! I know It's the last day but you never miss a day!”

Lilly(…?) frowned, unsure of what Lucy was saying to her. School? She hadn’t been…

“Jufft tell me now!” Lilly said over the phone. Holding the hoodie close to her chest. Something strange was in her mouth. Something felt off. But she was already used to the braces…

“Nah I’ve not got the minutes for that. See ya here”

Click. The phone call ended there.

That was confusing, and she certainly felt guilty for skipping school. But she just had to have this hoodie right?
So why did it all feel so strange? Like it wasn’t quite right!

As soon as the hoodie was paid for they were slipping it on over their head. This would be so much easier if she wasn’t messing around with a backpack too.
Wait where did–

She didn’t have much time to think about that. When she could finally see again, ahead of her was the music shop. Right there in the window was her dream guitar. She was good with the one the school provided but she wanted her own! But this one always seemed just out of reach.

Lilly hurried over to it, wanting to get a closer look. Her mouth hung open as she stared at it fogging up the glass. She wanted it so bad.

“Half priysche!!” She saw the tag. It was on sale too! And she had enough money for it!!

Someone cleared their throat! “Miss California?” Quickly, Lilly turned around to meet her gaze with a security guard. She immediately shied away from them, pressing her sleeves together awkwardly.

“I know it's the last day of school but you shouldn’t be skipping school young lady! What would your parents think! Honestly those friends of yours…” He went on for a bit.

“I jush- jusht needed a guitar for my final lesshon today!!” She lied. Pointing at it and the still fogged up window from where she had been fawning over it.

The guard looked between her and the guitar. Raising a brow at what she said.
“Go on then. But I am taking you straight back to school.”

She nodded and let out a little “Yesshsir!!” and hurried inside purchasing the guitar there and then. Slinging it over her backpack and hurrying out. No need for a case today!

The school looked as unexceptional as ever, so why did the whole walk through the building fel off. Like she wasn’t supposed to be here. She had been sent somewhere to do… something?
Their head felt so fuzzy as they tried to focus.

“Well look who it is!” Lucy! That brought her back to the moment. She looked away, finding the wall furthest away from the rest of the class to be more interesting at that moment.

“Sshorry I’m late” Lilly spoke and sat by the fox sitting her things down by her desk, listening as the teacher got back into talking about the holiday reading and other activities the class could do on their break.

Lilly just looked embarrassed as the bell rang for Lunch. She stared at the red left in her hair, thinking. So completely lost in those thoughts as the fox spoke next to her. Something was off but she couldn’t quite work out what, like the thoughts were there! Right on the tip of her tongue.

Locker's opening brought her back to what she was doing. She had to finally gather the last things out of her locker before the last period. Final day before summer vacation.
She opened the locker and saw various things that seemed to slot into place in her mind- the calculator with the cracked screen, the pages of various homeworks for various people, the girl scout sash her mom made her show off to the rest of class, and of course her beloved gameboy and pokémon cards she wanted to show off. Lastly, atop them all was her bright pink shoes staring back at her.

That must be it, she wasn’t wearing them today. And a beanie…her beanie. She picked it up and stared at it for a moment.
The last of the red fading away as she settled on this being the reason she felt so off all day. Pretty silly thing to leave at school, especially so close to leaving for the summer!

“I swear ya ain’t listenin or am I just earbashin ya?” Lucy laughed, closing her locker, turning to face the wolf.

Lilly turned to face Lucy, “Wh-what? No no I’vffe felt a little off today–” Whatever was troubling her seemed to be completely gone now. No nagging feeling, guess it really was her beanie and shoes!

“Good! Because you’ll be stoked mate! I got us tickets to that Green Day show this weekend!”

Lilly completely matched the fox and her excitement, a nice change from the usual resting bitchface Lucy usually had.

“Really?! You’re sherioush!” Her tail was wagging side to side barely able to contain herself as she let out an excited squeal!

“Yea mate! ‘m pretty rapt I got em! ‘S gonna be heaps of fun!” She gestured Lilly to follow as she walked. “Glad ya got a guitar too! We got practice tonight!”

“Oh shoot! Practish right! Yesh!” That was why she needed it! The band was going to put on a show!
And she never felt anxious on that stage with them.