HUMAN

Chapter 49 - A Decade Ago, The World Changed Pt. I

It was always strange to me why Ms. Avery had dropped all things about the human. The hype was there, and even aired on national television about it. Although the government was on her heels for a while, many others have come to support her back and protected her from them. 

Even then, that wasn't enough. I knew Ms. Avery isn't the type of Anthro to drop something like that, because she's been my professor for five years now. I've only heard drops of the tale of the human. 

I remember the class becoming so quiet whenever she spoke about the human and her experiences with him, but not in full detail. For years I've swarmed her about the human, and plagued her with questions that would drive any normal Anthro insane. But Ms. Avery wasn't any normal Anthro, her first hand experience with the human wasn't the only thing she was known for anyway. 

You'd say lunacy, I'd say bravery. Cringey as hell, but it's really the best way I could describe her. My peers and, I, included turned cold when she announced she'd be travelling over to a foreign warring country to gain inside knowledge between a massive terrorist group and our country's military. 

We didn't expect her to be interviewing with the leader of that group. Watching her in live television surrounded by Anthros with guns in the background and her asking questions toward the extremist leader like a geeky celebrity interview made my blood run cold for the entire 40 minutes it aired. 

I'd be shitting bricks if I were in her position. But she showed none of that weakness, she didn't need to hide it when it wasn't in her in the first place. All the more respect to my teacher, whom I also see as a friend. 

 I stopped bothering her about the human for months after that. I figured that she her priorities are too important over a student's meek request. 

Yet. . .here I am, halfway across the country, my backpack straps constricting my shoulders as if the nerve was getting to it as well. 

'Welcome to Oakfield!'

I stared at the sign for a long moment. Ms. Avery had approached my about her work on the human one day, and had tasked me to continue it for her. "Find him, ask him questions. Learn about everything."  She said. 

Pissed my pants out of excitement the next day when I shared the news to my peers.  

I didn't need to travel across the globe, or chase different Anthros in all walks of life. But I wasn't expecting all of them to be gathered so closely.

Not across states, but towns just shy of being a day from each other. And places between that, is where I'd be bouncing around piecing the puzzle together.

The truth of what happened to the human.

The truth of what happened 10 years ago. . .

There's something deeper into that story than what was given to the public or what Ms. Avery had vaguely clued the class in. I need to find out. Fast forward to the evening after a tiring day of asking questions and seemingly getting nowhere, I choose to finally settle in the odd warmth of a popular noodle shop in the humble town of Oakfield where I met the first Anthros who could guide me in the correct direction. 

"Goodness kid," The women tossed back my I.D. "You're only 19 and already at this point in your life?" The black wolf questioned. I slid my I.D. back into my wallet and looked up at her. "Why don't you just play video games in your room or something, and do uhh. . .hey, Vannie, what do the kids do now again these days? Vape? Oh okay - yeah! Vape!" The black wolf, who previously introduced herself as Gina slurped a long strand of noodles with two sticks. 

"Actually! I take that back, vaping is bad!" She pointed at me. Great. So these are the Anthros that supposedly know something. Unbelievable. I don't even do whatever she's on about.