{ "submission_id": "198771", "keywords": [ { "keyword_id": "5471", "keyword_name": "anthropomorphic", "contributed": "f", "submissions_count": "26768" }, { "keyword_id": "2193", "keyword_name": "fantasy", "contributed": "f", "submissions_count": "26953" }, { "keyword_id": "123", "keyword_name": "female", "contributed": "f", "submissions_count": "1091582" }, { "keyword_id": "23", "keyword_name": "forest", "contributed": "f", "submissions_count": "14879" }, { "keyword_id": "33", "keyword_name": "fox", "contributed": "f", "submissions_count": "249321" }, { "keyword_id": "2832", "keyword_name": "humans", "contributed": "f", "submissions_count": "4140" }, { "keyword_id": "165", "keyword_name": "male", "contributed": "f", "submissions_count": "1200563" }, { "keyword_id": "326", "keyword_name": "panther", "contributed": "f", "submissions_count": "8331" }, { "keyword_id": "92", "keyword_name": "river", "contributed": "f", "submissions_count": "1835" }, { "keyword_id": "4267", "keyword_name": "science fiction", "contributed": "f", "submissions_count": "1903" }, { "keyword_id": "82013", "keyword_name": "snowhare/polar bear", "contributed": "f", "submissions_count": "1" }, { "keyword_id": "30057", "keyword_name": "society", "contributed": "f", "submissions_count": "76" }, { "keyword_id": "11798", "keyword_name": "town", "contributed": "f", "submissions_count": "829" }, { "keyword_id": "82014", "keyword_name": "wild flowers", "contributed": "f", "submissions_count": "7" } ], "hidden": "f", "scraps": "f", "favorite": "f", "favorites_count": "2", "create_datetime": "2012-01-30 08:22:54.404466+00", "create_datetime_usertime": "30 Jan 2012 09:22 CET", "last_file_update_datetime": "2012-01-30 08:18:01.605065+00", "last_file_update_datetime_usertime": "30 Jan 2012 09:18 CET", "username": "kurorozu", "user_id": "72925", "user_icon_file_name": null, "user_icon_url_large": null, "user_icon_url_medium": null, "user_icon_url_small": null, "file_name": "255875_kurorozu_chapterone.doc", "file_url_full": "https://nl1.ib.metapix.net/files/full/255/255875_kurorozu_chapterone.doc", "file_url_screen": "https://nl1.ib.metapix.net/files/screen/255/255875_kurorozu_chapterone.doc", "file_url_preview": "https://nl1.ib.metapix.net/files/preview/255/255875_kurorozu_chapterone.doc", "files": [ { "file_id": "255875", "file_name": "255875_kurorozu_chapterone.doc", "file_url_full": "https://nl1.ib.metapix.net/files/full/255/255875_kurorozu_chapterone.doc", "file_url_screen": "https://nl1.ib.metapix.net/files/screen/255/255875_kurorozu_chapterone.doc", "file_url_preview": "https://nl1.ib.metapix.net/files/preview/255/255875_kurorozu_chapterone.doc", "mimetype": "application/msword", "submission_id": "198771", "user_id": "72925", "submission_file_order": "0", "full_size_x": null, "full_size_y": null, "screen_size_x": null, "screen_size_y": null, "preview_size_x": null, "preview_size_y": null, "initial_file_md5": "3156b174fef61b5e591d8a841e7a0155", "full_file_md5": "3156b174fef61b5e591d8a841e7a0155", "large_file_md5": "", "small_file_md5": "", "thumbnail_md5": "", "deleted": "f", "create_datetime": "2012-01-30 08:18:01.605065+00", "create_datetime_usertime": "30 Jan 2012 09:18 CET" } ], "pools": [], "description": "It's the year 2034 and a mysterious illness has caused a certain number of humans to become anthropomorphic, this story follows the adventure of Luke Blackthorn whom is a Finder of lost things, as well as a fighter. Follow her stories to find her human family and answers to how things changed so drastically. \nThis is only chapter one and it probably has grammatical errors so apologies in advance. \n\nAlso, constructive criticism is welcome, and if something confuses you, then please comment n,n \n\nstory and characters © me", "description_bbcode_parsed": "It's the year 2034 and a mysterious illness has caused a certain number of humans to become anthropomorphic, this story follows the adventure of Luke Blackthorn whom is a Finder of lost things, as well as a fighter. Follow her stories to find her human family and answers to how things changed so drastically.
This is only chapter one and it probably has grammatical errors so apologies in advance.

Also, constructive criticism is welcome, and if something confuses you, then please comment n,n

story and characters © me", "writing": "\t[i]Never forget life before the Change.[/i]\n\tI felt a cold rush of air circle me... envelop me, cover me in mist. Questions circled my mind as a blurry vision of a barren, grey landscape came into focus. Dead trees scattered across the dark background, gnarly and hiding demented secrets. \n\tWhere am I? How did I get here? Fog rolled over the solid but soaked land under my feet. Feet. Not paws. I glanced down and saw my pale flesh, it molded over my unseen muscles and moved fluidly when i rolled my ankle slowly. I slowly trailed my eyes over my creamy skin up to my knee then to my thigh. I saw enough and averted my eyes to the side. I’m naked. I’m human. I’m human and naked. Naked in the middle of a forest that had fog rolling in up to my hips.\n\t How is this possible? I haven’t been human in almost 3..no wait 5 years. How did I get here? I stepped forward, and as my breath caught in my lungs I fell to my knees, an unknown force was holding me. I can’t move. Why can’t I move? I closed my eyes as a rush of panic filled my heart. Taking deep breaths I finally opened them again. I could hear my heart pounding in my ears. \n\tI glanced around. As I began to realize this was a dream, I knew something bad would happen since I’m trapped and that’s how most of my modern dreams go. Suddenly, gun shots split the once quiet atmosphere! I tried to cover my ears as the thunder of military boots shook the ground. Shadowy figures surrounded me as I tried to cry out. No! Not this memory! They took me away once and cannot take me away again! Men and women, faceless, circled me. All I saw was a blur of the colors of military uniforms and lab coats. They were the ones who took you away from your family, and they had gotten me 3 years ago. Slowly, arms and hands reached for me. Not again! I tried to shout and struggle. I tried to make them bleed by clawing and biting them, which was impossible without claws or fangs.\n\tA voice broke through the chaos. The voice echoed in the landscape. I heard my name being called. I felt my body shaking gently and a bright canary light intruded my vision as I opened my eyes rather quickly. I took a deep breath of air and coughed a bit as I sighed in relief. Sitting up, I noticed I had my fur, my paws, my tail... although, my face-fur was wet. Another nightmare had caught me and didn’t want to let go. I looked up at the furry person who woke me up as I rubbed my furry hand-like paws under my eyes. He was tall and a little bulky. It took my brain a few moments to register it was my mercenary partner. His name was Sev and he was an anthropomorphic snow hare/polar bear hybrid. He was about six feet tall, covered in white fur and had a scar over his left eye. His giant floppy ears hung behind his head in a pony tail fashion to keep them from harm in a fight. Sitting a top his head was a charcoal beret to hide his neon blue head fur. His bright sky-blue eyes were hidden behind his night black shades as he looked down at me. He wore the same clothes I’ve seen him wear for two years.\n\t“You were crying in your sleep.”\n\t“I know,” I sat up and rubbed my eyes as i breathed deeply some more. “Is it morning already?” \n\t“Yeah.” He picked at the remnants of our campfire and fished through his bag for his canteen. “Here,” Sev mumbled. “You need all your strength if we’re gunna go home.” \n\tI took the canteen gratefully after I noticed I had flicked my tongue over my lips out of thirst. Chugging the water like it was the last water on Earth, I closed my eyes and felt the sun warm me to my core. The birds were singing and the sky was the deepest shade of blue I’ve ever seen. You never would have guessed there was a world war going on.\n\tMy name is Luke Blackthorn. I’m an bipedal anthropomorphic black fox. While Sev’s fur is probably the purest form of white possible, my fur is the dirtiest shade of charcoal. His neon blue accents counter-balance my midnight purple accents. He was huge, I was small. We both used to be human. I used to be human. Half of the population of the United States, maybe the world, used to be human. That was, of course, before the Change.\n\tI’m not sure how to describe the Change. There were no explosions. Nor were there any warnings of it coming. It just sort of happened. Humans who considered themselves “furries” became those who they wished they could be: their true selves. What the humans thought caused it was a simple cold. But that answer just led to more unanswered questions. No one knew why furries were affected and transformed. Those wonderings both fueled hatred and curiosity.\n\t Many people think I was a boy before the outbreak and kept the name “Luke” even though I have boobs now. Some people just think I’m a boy with boobs, which isn’t entirely impossible. Others think I’m just a hermaphrodite. I never correct any of them and ignore questions of my past usually. I live by only two rules. \n\tRule number 1: Never trust anyone but yourself. My before-change-name (or BCN) is currently under lock and key. My human gender is also unknown to almost everyone. Sev knows the truth though, I figured he deserved to know some aspects of me if he’s going to put his life in my hands and vice versa whenever we’re on the job. He knows how I experienced the beginning of the first war on United States “front”. We had actually met while both trying to find shelter. You see, there is no Furry country, providence or territory. If you know where to look, we have towns and villages but they’re all spread far apart. Most are located in wild forests, which grow every day due to some Furries that have a “way” with plants and Earth. \n\tIn those towns and villages, societies quickly built up and we have systems of jobs and hierarchy. Towns are built rather quickly and change easily. The Leader of the town is usually the founder unless challenged by a both physically and mentally stronger opponent. The Leader is usually the most important member of the community, then the next most important are the Medics. Medics are Furs who have modern medical backgrounds and can work with tools gathered by the Finders. Unfortunately, Medics are practically the only furs who can have an occupation that fits what they did as a human due to the fact that towns need to be able to evacuate at a moments notice. Finders are also important to the Town. They go out into human civilization to find whatever their client or town wants them to find. After that they have Gatherers and Builders and Hunters, which are still important in a town, but it’s rare to find good Hunters and Builders because most Furs are still learning to work with their new bodies.\n\tSev and I are Finder-Merceneries. We don’t belong to a particular town and we also do a little more than what Finders do. We find things and bring them to people but we also fight the humans to keep them from locating towns as well as free enslaved Furs. From time to time, I find a few free Furry squatters lost and far from towns and guide them to one. We get paid in whatever our clients have that they can give up. Most Finders don’t usually expect money in return for their services because they always have a reason for walking among the humans. Humans are dangerous and scared of the unknown. The “Change” was a big unknown to history. It still is. It broke many bonds and formed new ones. Bonds... so strong yet so fragile.\n\tAnyway, my rule number two is to never, I mean, EVER fall in love. A lot of people break this rule, including Sev, but it’s much, much easier on a Fur to never fall in love. Why? Well, we’re being executed, we’re running for our lives and being slaughtered and abducted daily. It’s just easier to focus on yourself and leave others behind in a safe place without having to worry about you. The only person I worry about is Sev, and that’s only during a mission. I always have to make sure he makes it home to his mate and cub that’s expected in a few months. I’m sure Sev worries all the time about his wife, and I don’t blame him. We can be, and usually are, gone from a Town for weeks. It’s obvious to tell that he worries about her because he carries a picture of her in his coat pocket and I can tell he prays to it each night. Praying for her protection, praying for the Town to be undiscovered, praying that we never run into humans. Why would he leave his wive and worry over her? Because, while we’re near civilization we rummage through fallen and burnt buildings for clothes, food and even bags. He risks his life so his wife can live, and he must do it. \n\tGlancing over our loot from this run, I held the reason we left the safety and shelter of the Town. Sev and I had risked our lives looking for a locket a panther had lost in her house while evacuating for safety. It was an old family heirloom, and her house had been mostly in tact so this run had been an easy one. We even found decent food and clothes in the abandoned house, so we made out like thieves. I let Sev keep most of what we had found for his wife, while I had only really wanted a bracelet found outside the house, and about 1/3 of the food. Some of which, I would ask the client if it would be alright to keep, or of she would like some. \n\tWhile deep in thoughts and leading the way to town, I walked along a path forged from pheromones and slight altercations in nature. Sev carried most of the loot and walked slower while along these paths so we wouldn’t disturb where Towns were. My ears turned to the noises of birds chirping and rustling, I stopped and sniffed the air, then closed my eyes and imagined the Town, remembering where it was located. I turned my body slowly and Sev waited patiently while I moved the trees so we could walk directly into town. \n\tYes, I can move trees, and no, I have no idea how it’s possible but a lot of Furs can do extraordinary things. Right now, all I can do is move shrubbery to conceal where I’ve been, which is much handier and it sounds like. \n\tAfter wondering through the maze of trees and hiding our tracks, we emerged directly in town. I nodded at Sev as I stuck the locket around my neck from fear of pick-pockets. \n\t“Go find your mate. I can handle the black kitty, and if I have any trouble, I can find you,” I said as he had opened his mouth to state something, he sighed and rolled his mint green eyes at me and left to find her. \n\tI smiled a bit at myself while I looked around. While I was out, I hadn’t spotted anything that could lead me to my family, but for some reason, I was happy. Maybe it was because the bracelet reminded me of my sibling. It was a simple black cord that had several metal beads and a couple of star-shaped charms. I played with it, feeling every crook of the metal beads with my finger-pads. The metal beads were smooth, but had tiny cracks in the coating that kept the metal from rusting. I breathed in the summer breezes while i toyed with a star-charm. I miss my family, that’s a truthful statement. However, I feel serene. I feel like I could take on the whole world. \n\tPushing my emotions aside, I still have to get the locket to the panther. Rolling my shoulders, I passed by multiple tents and make-shift houses. I saw the panther at a distance, she was alone and gathering water from the pond. I snuck up behind her and took off the locket. \n\t“Ahem. Here’s your family heirloom. I suggest you wear it rather than stick it in your pocket, there;s a lot of pick-pockets around.” I handed it to her only to get a soft mew in return. Obviously, this panther was depressed but really, I’m not a psychiatrist and I see death everyday. I am not one to talk to about feelings....but i sighed and pulled a can of baked beans from my pocket and tore it open and offered her some. \n\t“Here, you have to keep up your strength if you want to survive. I know you miss whoever, but the only way to find them is by surviving.” I ate some of the beans as she stared at the can then timidly ate some as well. I eyed her pink markings and shrugged, she probably won’t open up to me but I have nowhere really to be right now. \n\t“...I.. I yelled at my boyfriend the day before the outbreak. He changed a few hours after the first picture of a real...Fur.. was shown on television. I was afraid... I felt like he betrayed me. I screamed at his appearance and ran... I told my family what he was and they called the police on him. I don’t know where he is or if he’s even alive. After I changed.. well.. that’s when I realized that I betrayed him...” She sniffled and hugged herself while I scarfed down a few more beans and kept listening. \n\t“A-after I changed, my family kicked me out. They called the police and called me a d-demon....I ran and didn’t look back. I didn’t even know where I was until I found this town.” She rubbed her face and put her heirloom around her neck and showed me a letter. \n\t“I.. I found this while I was foraging for food one day, it must’ve fallen from a mail-carriers bag but it’s my grandmother’s will... It showed me that despite what I had become, she wanted me to have this locket...” \n\tI kept listening as she told me about how devastated she was on not knowing if she could ever find that locket, but she smiled and went on to tell me how brave I must be and how much integrity I must have for someone who actually returns what people ask for me to find. I just nodded my head and finished my can of beans and was about to get up to leave.\n\t“Wait! Please, I know I don’t have much but I help out in that old shack near the center of the Town. It’s a food and drink bank. We, well I make delicious drinks and I was wondering if you wanted to.. stop in and I could give you a free drink....” She blushed and looked down, “my name is Sasha by the way, and a free drink is the least I could do....”\n\tI shrugged and rummaged through my pockets to pull out a blue bandana and hung it around my head fur to symbolize I was a finder and I was ready to get another job. Finders tie blue fabric objects around their heads to show they’re available to keep from people getting uncomfortable and confused. My “bandana” is actually my old favorite shirt that i ripped up. The blue phone box on it is still visible.\n\t“I’ll think about stopping by before I leave again.” I smiled and bowed at Sasha, who was obviously no longer distressed now that she confided in someone. “It was a pleasure doing business with you, but now I must go wash up and rest before my next mission.”\n\tI turned and walked down through the rows of tents, only to stop at mine and slip inside of it. I looked around inside the tent, it was big enough for myself, a pillow, a bowl and a broken mirror that leaned against a box. The dirty glass swayed with the wind in it’s rusty frame. I looked at myself through the cracks, my charcoal fur blended with my leather outfit well enough to make me look like a shadow. The blue bandana certainly popped from my figure, as well as my silver eyes and mauve nose. I swayed my tail in the picture, and could barely see the midnight purple on it’s tip in the reflection. \n\tStretching, my leather squeaked when it rubbed against itself and I removed my leather jacket. It wasn’t anything fancy, just a black, long leather coat. It went down to my knees and was a good, lightweight replacement for armor, though not as durable in some cases. Underneath the coat I wore dark leather pants and a white teeshirt with a brown cowhide vest layered on top. My paw immediately touched what was disturbing my shirt by it’s collar. I could feel the metal engravings under the cotton. It was my family’s necklace. It was our family’s crest with my father, mother, and sister’s name engraved on it. I pulled it out from under my shirt and smiled at the shield-shape. It had an owl with it’s wings spread in mid flight with a moon and star, as well as roses and a lake on it. That wasn’t our real clan logo but had contained the elements, it was just set up to be more glorified. I looked outside my tent and saw twilight slowly spreading over the sky, I listened to the plants and could feel everyone going back to their personal tents and sheds. This was a perfect opportunity to go bathe. \n\tI didn’t care much of grabbing a towel and continued to walk down an unmarked path to the nearest river while twilight’s blanket grew darker and the stars cautiously peered through the light polluted sky. I smiled up at the full moon as my eyes adjusted in the darkness. The tall grass tickled my calves as a slight breeze encompassed me in the sweet smell of wildflowers. I walked over to the river slowly, the Earth murmured with the breeze, secrets that I barely understood were exchanged. I couldn’t hear anyone as I slowly undressed and slipped into the river, water washed over my fur and embraced my body. It was sort of a ceremonial thing, the water caressed the scars scattered over my body, but it would never heal them. I would always have scars from my time in the laboratory. Every time I see a scar on my shoulder or breast, I remember the tortures, the sickness, the dreadful feeling of being so close to death yet so far away. \n\tI whimpered a bit as I remembered my past. The tortures, the scientists. They fed me the bare minimum and made me fast day after day. Treated me like a lab rat. Housed me in a tiny room with only a toilet, water and pillow. They laughed at me when they drugged me up and made me go through a maze. They made me scream when injecting me with various serums. I shuddered and fell into the water, it was warming up to my skin and consoling me about my past. I focused on the soft sway of the water. I buried myself in the water’s comfort. \n\tMy ears twitched softly and warned me, I opened my eyes quickly and felt the weight on the grass. Someone was watching me. Someone in the darkness, someone behind the trees. I stared in the general direction and growled, slowly and softly at first as I moved to get out of the river. The slight breeze only made my fur spike to help intimidate whoever was watching. The wind carried a soft laughter around me. \n\t“My, my. Look at the pretty girl.” A soft male voice whispered to me. My ears where sensitive to hear him as I wandered closer to the trees that housed him. \n\t“Show yourself, coward.” I stalked over to the tree but the being had moved. \n\t“I’m not a coward, I’m merely behind you, Finder.” The voice was directly behind me, I could feel his breath on the back of my neck and I hissed as I turned to face him. The second I did, I jumped back and hissed.\n\t“Human. How did you get here? How do you know what I am? With our powers we made your satellites and heat seeking technologies obsolete.” I snarled and he laughed and just moved closer. In the moonlight, I could see he was only wearing an open button up flannel shirt and jeans. He was barefoot and looked lean, and amused more than anything, which made me more confused. His hair was shaggy and light and his eyes were dark. \n\t“Relax. I have a job for you.” He moved closer and stood directly in front of me, he was a good foot taller. My fangs and claws didn’t seem to threaten him. \n\t“I don’t work for humans.” I spat and glared, not breaking eye contact . \n\t“I’m sure in the morning you’ll change your mind.” He smirked and pulled a card from his pocket without looking away. “You know, you’re very good looking for someone named Luke.”\n\tI took a step back and snarled. “How do you know my name?” He merely chuckled and swooped an arm around me and pulled me close. I hadn’t been able to blink, it was so fast. His face was inches from mine. \n\t“I’ll answer some questions in the morning when you meet me at the location and time on the card.” His pink lips curled into a smile and pressed against mine for a second then he stepped back. “You should get dressed and head back to the town, you never know what’s out here.”\n\tStunned, I watched him walk away like what had happened was just normal. Before I could come to my senses he had disappeared and I growled softly and ended up making a bunch of wildflowers grow rather high. I paced and then looked at the card that was left on the floor. It just made me furious. The flowers grew taller than me and after a few more paces, their scent relaxed me enough for me to actually look at the card the human had left. \n\tHe wanted me to meet him at the same place Sasha worked. I sighed and laid back in the field of wildflowers. Rubbing myself in the flowers, I pondered about meeting the human, he knew my name and he knew how to maneuver the forest. Both were very hard tasks for anyone, especially a human. Sighing, I looked at the moon and thought of my family. I have to find them, and if he knows my name then he could’ve met my sister. \n\tBegrudged, I got up and gathered my things. I would need to rest and have energy when I talked to this stranger. Walking back to my tent in the moonlight, I couldn’t help but wonder, how would a human be able to walk around the Town in the daytime.
", "writing_bbcode_parsed": "\tNever forget life before the Change.
\tI felt a cold rush of air circle me... envelop me, cover me in mist. Questions circled my mind as a blurry vision of a barren, grey landscape came into focus. Dead trees scattered across the dark background, gnarly and hiding demented secrets.
\tWhere am I? How did I get here? Fog rolled over the solid but soaked land under my feet. Feet. Not paws. I glanced down and saw my pale flesh, it molded over my  unseen muscles and moved fluidly when i rolled my ankle slowly. I slowly trailed my eyes over my creamy skin up to my knee then to my thigh. I saw enough and averted my eyes to the side. I’m naked. I’m human. I’m human and naked. Naked in the middle of a forest that had fog rolling in up to my hips.
\t How is this possible? I haven’t been human in almost 3..no wait 5 years. How did I get here? I stepped forward, and as my breath caught in my lungs I fell to my knees, an unknown force was holding me. I can’t move. Why can’t I move? I closed my eyes as a rush of panic filled my heart. Taking deep breaths I finally opened them again. I could hear my heart pounding in my ears.
\tI glanced around. As I began to realize this was a dream, I knew something bad would happen since I’m trapped and that’s how most of my modern dreams go. Suddenly, gun shots split the once quiet atmosphere! I tried to cover my ears as the thunder of military boots shook the ground. Shadowy figures surrounded me as I tried to cry out. No! Not this memory! They took me away once and cannot take me away again! Men and women, faceless, circled me. All I saw was a blur of the colors of military uniforms and lab coats. They were the ones who took you away from your family, and they had gotten me 3 years ago. Slowly, arms and hands reached for me. Not again! I tried to shout and struggle. I tried to make them bleed by clawing and biting them, which was impossible without claws or fangs.
\tA voice broke through the chaos. The voice echoed in the landscape. I heard my name being called. I felt my body shaking gently and a bright canary light intruded my vision as I opened my eyes rather quickly. I took a deep breath of air and coughed a bit as I sighed in relief. Sitting up, I noticed I had my fur, my paws, my tail... although, my face-fur was wet. Another nightmare had caught me and didn’t want to let go. I looked up at the furry person who woke me up as I rubbed my furry hand-like paws under my eyes. He was tall and a little bulky. It took my brain a few moments to register it was my mercenary partner. His name was Sev and he was an anthropomorphic snow hare/polar bear hybrid. He was about six feet tall, covered in white fur and had a scar over his left eye. His giant floppy ears hung behind his head in a pony tail fashion to keep them from harm in a fight. Sitting a top his head was a charcoal beret to hide his neon blue head fur. His bright sky-blue eyes were hidden behind his night black shades as he looked down at me. He wore the same clothes I’ve seen him wear for two years.
\t“You were crying in your sleep.”
\t“I know,” I sat up and rubbed my eyes as i breathed deeply some more. “Is it morning already?”
\t“Yeah.” He picked at the remnants of our campfire and fished through his bag for his canteen. “Here,” Sev mumbled. “You need all your strength if we’re gunna go home.”
\tI took the canteen gratefully after I noticed I had flicked my tongue over my lips out of thirst. Chugging the water like it was the last water on Earth, I closed my eyes and felt the sun warm me to my core. The birds were singing and the sky was the deepest shade of blue I’ve ever seen. You never would have guessed there was a world war going on.
\tMy name is Luke Blackthorn. I’m an bipedal anthropomorphic black fox. While Sev’s fur is probably the purest form of white possible, my fur is the dirtiest shade of charcoal. His neon blue accents counter-balance my midnight purple accents. He was huge, I was small. We both used to be human. I used to be human. Half of the population of the United States, maybe the world, used to be human. That was, of course, before the Change.
\tI’m not sure how to describe the Change. There were no explosions. Nor were there any warnings of it coming. It just sort of happened. Humans who considered themselves “furries” became those who they wished they could be: their true selves. What the humans thought caused it was a simple cold. But that answer just led to more unanswered questions. No one knew why furries were affected and transformed. Those wonderings both fueled hatred and curiosity.
\t Many people think I was a boy before the outbreak and kept the name “Luke” even though I have boobs now. Some people just think I’m a boy with boobs, which isn’t entirely impossible. Others think I’m just a hermaphrodite. I never correct any of them and ignore questions of my past usually. I live by only two rules.
\tRule number 1: Never trust anyone but yourself. My before-change-name (or BCN) is currently under lock and key. My human gender is also unknown to almost everyone. Sev knows the truth though, I figured he deserved to know some aspects of me if he’s going to put his life in my hands and vice versa whenever we’re on the job. He knows how I experienced the beginning of the first war on United States “front”. We had actually met while both trying to find shelter. You see, there is no Furry country, providence or territory. If you know where to look, we have towns and villages but they’re all spread far apart.  Most are located in wild forests, which grow every day due to some Furries that have a “way” with plants and Earth.
\tIn those towns and villages, societies quickly built up and we have systems of jobs and hierarchy. Towns are built rather quickly and change easily. The Leader of the town is usually the founder unless challenged by a both physically and mentally stronger opponent. The Leader is usually the most important member of the community, then the next most important are the Medics. Medics are Furs who have modern medical backgrounds and can work with tools gathered by the Finders. Unfortunately, Medics are practically the only furs who can have an occupation that fits what they did as a human due to the fact that towns need to be able to evacuate at a moments notice. Finders are also important to the Town. They go out into human civilization to find whatever their client or town wants them to find. After that they have Gatherers and Builders and Hunters, which are still important in a town, but it’s rare to find good Hunters and Builders because most Furs are still learning to work with their new bodies.
\tSev and I are Finder-Merceneries. We don’t belong to a particular town and we also do a little more than what Finders do. We find things and bring them to people but we also fight the humans to keep them from locating towns as well as free enslaved Furs. From time to time, I find a few free Furry squatters lost and far from towns and guide them to one. We get paid in whatever our clients have that they can give up. Most Finders don’t usually expect money in return for their services because they always have a reason for walking among the humans. Humans are dangerous and scared of the unknown. The “Change” was a big unknown to history. It still is. It broke many bonds and formed new ones. Bonds... so strong yet so fragile.
\tAnyway, my rule number two is to never, I mean, EVER fall in love. A lot of people break this rule, including Sev, but it’s much, much easier on a Fur to never fall in love. Why? Well, we’re being executed, we’re running for our lives and being slaughtered and abducted daily. It’s just easier to focus on yourself and leave others behind in a safe place without having to worry about you. The only person I worry about is Sev, and that’s only during a mission. I always have to make sure he makes it home to his mate and cub that’s expected in a few months. I’m sure Sev worries all the time about his wife, and I don’t blame him. We can be, and usually are, gone from a Town for weeks. It’s obvious to tell that he worries about her because he carries a picture of her in his coat pocket and I can tell he prays to it each night. Praying for her protection, praying for the Town to be undiscovered, praying that we never run into humans. Why would he leave his wive and worry over her? Because, while we’re near civilization we rummage through fallen and burnt buildings for clothes, food and even bags. He risks his life so his wife can live, and he must do it.
\tGlancing over our loot from this run, I held the reason we left the safety and shelter of the Town. Sev and I had risked our lives looking for a locket a panther had lost in her house while evacuating for safety. It was an old family heirloom, and her house had been mostly in tact so this run had been an easy one. We even found decent food and clothes in the abandoned house, so we made out like thieves. I let Sev keep most of what we had found for his wife, while I had only really wanted a bracelet found outside the house, and about 1/3 of the food. Some of which, I would ask the client if it would be alright to keep, or of she would like some.
\tWhile deep in thoughts and leading the way to town, I walked along a path forged  from pheromones and slight altercations in nature. Sev carried most of the loot and walked slower while along these paths so we wouldn’t disturb where Towns were. My ears turned to the noises of birds chirping and rustling, I stopped and sniffed the air, then closed my eyes and imagined the Town, remembering where it was located. I turned my body slowly and Sev waited patiently while I moved the trees so we could walk directly into town.
\tYes, I can move trees, and no, I have no idea how it’s possible but a lot of Furs can do extraordinary things. Right now, all I can do is move shrubbery to conceal where I’ve been, which is much handier and it sounds like.
\tAfter wondering through the maze of trees and hiding our tracks, we emerged directly in town. I nodded at Sev as I stuck the locket around my neck from fear of pick-pockets.
\t“Go find your mate. I can handle the black kitty, and if I have any trouble, I can find you,” I said as he had opened his mouth to state something, he sighed and rolled his mint green eyes at me and left to find her.
\tI smiled a bit at myself while I looked around. While I was out, I hadn’t spotted anything that could lead me to my family, but for some reason, I was happy. Maybe it was because the bracelet reminded me of my sibling. It was a simple black cord that had several metal beads and a couple of star-shaped charms. I played with it, feeling every crook of the metal beads with my finger-pads. The metal beads were smooth, but had tiny cracks in the coating that kept the metal from rusting. I breathed in the summer breezes while i toyed with a star-charm. I miss my family, that’s a truthful statement. However, I feel serene. I feel like I could take on the whole world.
\tPushing my emotions aside, I still have to get the locket to the panther. Rolling my shoulders, I passed by multiple tents and make-shift houses. I saw the panther at a distance, she was alone and gathering water from the pond. I snuck up behind her and took off the locket.
\t“Ahem. Here’s your family heirloom. I suggest you wear it rather than stick it in your pocket, there;s a lot of pick-pockets around.” I handed it to her only to get a soft mew in return. Obviously, this panther was depressed but really, I’m not a psychiatrist and I see death everyday. I am not one to talk to about feelings....but i sighed and pulled a can of baked beans from my pocket and tore it open and offered her some.
\t“Here, you have to keep up your strength if you want to survive. I know you miss whoever, but the only way to find them is by surviving.” I ate some of the beans as she stared at the can then timidly ate some as well. I eyed her pink markings and shrugged, she probably won’t open up to me but I have nowhere really to be right now.
\t“...I.. I yelled at my boyfriend the day before the outbreak. He changed a few hours after the first picture of a real...Fur.. was shown on television. I was afraid... I felt like he betrayed me. I screamed at his appearance and ran... I told my family what he was and they called the police on him. I don’t know where he is or if he’s even alive. After I changed.. well.. that’s when I realized that I betrayed him...” She sniffled and hugged herself while I scarfed down a few more beans and kept listening.
\t“A-after I changed, my family kicked me out. They called the police and called me a d-demon....I ran and didn’t look back. I didn’t even know where I was until I found this town.” She rubbed her face and put her heirloom around her neck and showed me a letter.
\t“I.. I found this while I was foraging for food one day, it must’ve fallen from a mail-carriers bag but it’s my grandmother’s will... It showed me that despite what I had become, she wanted me to have this locket...”
\tI kept listening as she told me about how devastated she was on not knowing if she could ever find that locket, but she smiled and went on to tell me how brave I must be and how much integrity I must have for someone who actually returns what people ask for me to find. I just nodded my head and finished my can of beans and was about to get up to leave.
\t“Wait! Please, I know I don’t have much but I help out in that old shack near the center of the Town. It’s a food and drink bank. We, well I make delicious drinks and I was wondering if you wanted to.. stop in and I could give you a free drink....” She blushed and looked down, “my name is Sasha by the way, and a free drink is the least I could do....”
\tI shrugged and rummaged through my pockets to pull out a blue bandana and hung it around my head fur to symbolize I was a finder and I was ready to get another job. Finders tie blue fabric objects around their heads to show they’re available to keep from people getting uncomfortable and confused. My “bandana” is actually my old favorite shirt that i ripped up. The blue phone box on it is still visible.
\t“I’ll think about stopping by before I leave again.” I smiled and bowed at Sasha, who was obviously no longer distressed now that she confided in someone. “It was a pleasure doing business with you, but now I must go wash up and rest before my next mission.”
\tI turned and walked down through the rows of tents, only to stop at mine and slip inside of it. I looked around inside the tent, it was big enough for myself, a pillow, a bowl and a broken mirror that leaned against a box. The dirty glass swayed with the wind in it’s rusty frame. I looked at myself through the cracks, my charcoal fur blended with my leather outfit well enough to make me look like a shadow. The blue bandana certainly popped from my figure, as well as my silver eyes and mauve nose. I swayed my tail in the picture, and could barely see the midnight purple on it’s tip in the reflection.
\tStretching, my leather squeaked when it rubbed against itself and I removed my leather jacket. It wasn’t anything fancy, just a black, long leather coat. It went down to my knees and was a good, lightweight replacement for armor, though not as durable in some cases. Underneath the coat I wore dark leather pants and a white teeshirt with a brown cowhide vest layered on top. My paw immediately touched what was disturbing my shirt by it’s collar. I could feel the metal engravings under the cotton. It was my family’s necklace. It was our family’s crest with my father, mother, and sister’s name engraved on it. I pulled it out from under my shirt and smiled at the shield-shape. It had an owl with it’s wings spread in mid flight with a moon and star, as well as roses and a lake on it. That wasn’t our real clan logo but had contained the elements, it was just set up to be more glorified. I looked outside my tent and saw twilight slowly spreading over the sky, I listened to the plants and could feel everyone going back to their personal tents and sheds. This was a perfect opportunity to go bathe.
\tI didn’t care much of grabbing a towel and continued to walk down an unmarked path to the nearest river while twilight’s blanket grew darker and the stars cautiously peered through the light polluted sky. I smiled up at the full moon as my eyes adjusted in the darkness. The tall grass tickled my calves as a slight breeze encompassed me in the sweet smell of wildflowers. I walked over to the river slowly, the Earth murmured with the breeze, secrets that I barely understood were exchanged. I couldn’t hear anyone as I slowly undressed and slipped into the river, water washed over my fur and embraced my body. It was sort of a ceremonial thing, the water caressed the scars scattered over my body, but it  would never heal them. I would always have scars from my time in the laboratory. Every time I see a scar on my shoulder or breast, I remember the tortures, the sickness, the dreadful feeling of being so close to death yet so far away.
\tI whimpered a bit as I remembered my past. The tortures, the scientists. They fed me the bare minimum and made me fast day after day. Treated me like a lab rat. Housed me in a tiny room with only a toilet, water and pillow. They laughed at me when they drugged me up and made me go through a maze. They made me scream when injecting me with various serums. I shuddered and fell into the water, it was warming up to my skin and consoling me about my past. I focused on the soft sway of the water. I buried myself in the water’s comfort.
\tMy ears twitched softly and warned me, I opened my eyes quickly and felt the weight on the grass. Someone was watching me. Someone in the darkness, someone behind the trees.  I stared in the general direction and growled, slowly and softly at first as I moved to get out of the river. The slight breeze only made my fur spike to help intimidate whoever was watching. The wind carried a soft laughter around me.
\t“My, my. Look at the pretty girl.” A soft male voice whispered to me. My ears where sensitive to hear him as I wandered closer to the trees that housed him.
\t“Show yourself, coward.” I stalked over to the tree but the being had moved.
\t“I’m not a coward, I’m merely behind you, Finder.” The voice was directly behind me, I could feel his breath on the back of my neck and I hissed as I turned to face him. The second I did, I jumped back and hissed.
\t“Human. How did you get here? How do you know what I am? With our powers we made your satellites and heat seeking technologies obsolete.” I snarled and he laughed and just moved closer. In the moonlight, I could see he was only wearing an open button up flannel shirt and jeans. He was barefoot and looked lean, and amused more than anything, which made me more confused. His hair was shaggy and light and his eyes were dark.
\t“Relax. I have a job for you.” He moved closer and stood directly in front of me, he was a good foot taller. My fangs and claws didn’t seem to threaten him.
\t“I don’t work for humans.” I spat and glared, not breaking eye contact .
\t“I’m sure in the morning you’ll change your mind.” He smirked and pulled a card from his pocket without looking away. “You know, you’re very good looking for someone named Luke.”
\tI took a step back and snarled. “How do you know my name?” He merely chuckled and swooped an arm around me and pulled me close. I hadn’t been able to blink, it was so fast. His face was inches from mine.
\t“I’ll answer some questions in the morning when you meet me at the location and time on the card.” His pink lips curled into a smile and pressed against mine for a second then he stepped back. “You should get dressed and head back to the town, you never know what’s out here.”
\tStunned, I watched him walk away like what had happened was just normal. Before I could come to my senses he had disappeared and I growled softly and ended up making a bunch of wildflowers grow rather high. I paced and then looked at the card that was left on the floor. It just made me furious. The flowers grew taller than me and after a few more paces, their scent relaxed me enough for me to actually look at the card the human had left.
\tHe wanted me to meet him at the same place Sasha worked. I sighed and laid back in the field of wildflowers. Rubbing myself in the flowers, I pondered about meeting the human, he knew my name and he knew how to maneuver the forest. Both were very hard tasks for anyone, especially a human. Sighing, I looked at the moon and thought of my family. I have to find them, and if he knows my name then he could’ve met my sister.
\tBegrudged, I got up and gathered my things. I would need to rest and have energy when I talked to this stranger. Walking back to my tent in the moonlight, I couldn’t help but wonder, how would a human be able to walk around the Town in the daytime.
", "pools_count": 0, "title": "Chapter 1: A Night to Remember", "deleted": "f", "public": "t", "mimetype": "application/msword", "pagecount": "1", "rating_id": "1", "rating_name": "Mature", "ratings": [ { "content_tag_id": "2", "name": "Nudity", "description": "Nonsexual nudity exposing breasts or genitals (must not show arousal)", "rating_id": "1" } ], "submission_type_id": "12", "type_name": "Writing - Document", "guest_block": "f", "friends_only": "f", "comments_count": "0", "views": "101" }