"Don't Worry, April. Ah Got This Under Control."

(Originally by GentlemanJack)

Texas wanted to offer some assurance to her partner but the reality of their situation was grim. The sheriff had hoped that April would catch wind of her arrest and mount a rescue. With the two of them locked up in a prison full of dangerous criminals, most of whom bore grudges against them, the odds were not in their favor. Still, Texas wasn't one to simply roll over and accept defeat. She took in a deep breath and placed a hand on April's shoulder and smiled warmly.

"Don't you worry none, April. Ah got this under control" she said with as much confidence as she could muster. She could feel the tension in her partner's shoulder ease a bit. She gave April another quick pat before walking over to the bed and jumping onto the top bunk. Her body was still sore from the hours spent trapped in that rhino's sweltering ass-crack and she really needed some time to rest and collect her thoughts.

"Boss, you didn't tell me what the plan was" April said nervously as she leaned against the bedframe.

"Ah'll tell ya in the mornin', April. Get some sleep fer now. We gotta have our wits about us at all times" the sheriff instructed placed her hands behind her head and closed her eyes.

April complied without question, though getting a good nights sleep was easier said than done with how lumpy and stiff the mattresses were. The rough terrain of the desert was more preferable than their current accommodations. She would try and bare through it for the time being. A little bit of discomfort would be worth it in the end so long as they were able to get their hands on Vivian. She let that thought soothe her into a relatively peaceful slumber.

Texas heard her deputy's gentle snoring and smiled sheepishly. She might have been able put April at ease, but there was still the matter of how they were going to get out of this dilemma. From where they were, Vivian was completely untouchable. One step atta time, she thought to herself. We gotta focus on stayin' alive for now. She might not have had a plan to deal with the mayor, but she certainly had a plan to survive. It was risky, but it was the only thing she could think to do. She would have to wait until the morning to implement it though. With that in mind, she joined her partner and fell fast asleep.

"RISE AND SHINE, INMATES!"

Texas and April jumped up from their beds startled. Before either of them could collect themselves they were blasted with a stream of ice cold water, forcing the both of them against the wall. A solid minute went by before the water was shut off, leaving them drenched and freezing. A rather large cat woman in a guard uniform stood next to their cell with a hose in hand, a cruel grin spread along her face.

"That right there was the official welcome on behalf of the Gold Springs Correctional Facility. Better get used to it, cuz you're gonna get it every morning from here on out!" she cackled. "Now quit shiverin' and get your butts over to mess hall! Warden says we gotta feed ya so you got the energy to work. You ask me, that's way too kind for you lowlifes, but it ain't my place to judge"

Texas bit back the urge to lunge at the woman as she helped April get to her feet. "D-don't we g-go to the s-s-showers before b-b-breakfast?" she asked, trying to shake the water from her fur.

"That WAS your shower, inmate! How go on, git!" she ordered as she held the hose up in the threatening matter. Texas didn't need to be told twice as she scrambled to exit the cell with April in tow. The sight of the two lawbringers, soaked and miserable, drew heavy laughter from their fellow inmates. Texas tried to not let it get to her.

"So boss... you said you had a plan...?" April whispered as they trekked through corridor and into the mess hall. Behind them they could feel the cat guard's steely gaze accompanied by the sound of light dripping. She was waiting for the two of them to try something funny so she could have an excuse to spray them down again.

"If we're gonna survive here, we're gotta keep ourselves from bein' targets" Texas explained in a hushed tone. "A lotta punks are gonna be gunnin' fer us tryin' for the clout. We gotta show that we ain't the type t'be messed with"

"How're we supposed to do that?" April asked incredulously.

"It aint' that hard. We just gotta find the meanest, dirtiest, most lowdown varmint in this place and knock em on their behind in front'a everybody"

"That... sounds dangerous. Like, really dangerous" the deputy answered back with a grimace.

"It's either that or we spend most of our time kissin' ass and prayin' that we get left alone and I'll tell you this right now, the sheriff of Gold Springs ain't no brownnoser" Texas said with a determined expression. "You don't gotta follow my lead if you don't want. I ain't about t'drag ya into anything ya didn't signed up for"

April appeared uncertain but quickly nodded, her eyes mirroring her superior's fiery spirit. Texas never steered her wrong before, to she would defer to her for guidance.

"You two quit yer yappin and get a move on!" the guard behind them ordered irritably. She saw them whispering and was frustrated in her inability to pick up on any of it.

"Yes ma'm" the two answered back.

The mess was bustling with activity as the inmates laughed and conversed amongst each other. Texas' confidence waned a bit as she drank in the size of these women. There were a number of them that matched the sheriff in stature but there were a frightening number of behemoths scattered about. One woman in particular got her attention, a towering tattooed gator with a frighteningly large rear end. She sat in a circle of smaller gators, cackling and hollering as they ate their food. She made mental note of the giant before grabbing a tray and heading over to the lunch line.

"Look who's finally up" a rough voice grumbled from the other side of the counter. The hippo lunch lady was propped up against the counter on her shoulders, puffing away at a cigarette. "What can I get you fine ladies? We got slop, gruel, and something that I think is supposed to be meat" she offered pointing to three trays of indistinguishable grey mush.

"Do ya'll got anything... edible?" April asked, her stomach turning at the unappetizing dishes before them.

"You can try eating your clothes. Pretty sure you'd get more protein out of it" the lunch lady snickered.

"Never mind her. Just give us some whatever, for you would miss" Texas said politely.

"Nice to see somebody with some manners around here" the hippo said with a chuckle before plopping a glob of mush onto their treys with a ladle. "You're a sweet little thing, so I'll give ya a tip. Hold your breath while ya eat and it goes down much easier"

Texas nodded and lead April in the direction of the tables. Finding a place to sit was a trial in a half, as there didn't seem to be any empty spots left. In the corner of her eye she could see some of the scrawnier inmates seated against the wall with their treys on their laps. It didn't take a genius to see that they were the bottom rung of the prison. Texas considered sitting with them though she worried that it would paint her and April as weak for doing so. After scanning the room a bit more, she finally spied an opening... right beside the giant alligator.

Thinking about it, this might have been a boon for the sheriff. Her plan was to gain respect by taking down the biggest brute and that woman certainly fit the bill. The confidence she had in her plan was shaky now that she was actually in a position to enact it. It didn't help that she was surrounded by what appeared to be a gang of some sort. Stuck between a rock and a hard place, she eventually decided to...