Human (An Oc insert of Beastars!)

Chapter 31 - The Dream of Vigilantism, Made True

The city sprawled out before David, alive with its usual chaos. Flashy signs hung overhead, advertising everything from herbivore care products to carnivore-exclusive dining establishments. The air buzzed with a cacophony of footsteps, engines, and chatter as anthropomorphic figures of every species bustled past, each wrapped up in their own lives. David adjusted his coat, the fabric doing little to shield him from the sharp edge of rejection that had become all too familiar. He clutched his resume—a crisp, hopeful sheet now crumpled at the edges—from another wasted interview. The excuses had started to blur together. "We're looking for someone with a diploma." "Your species might not fit our clientele's needs." "We'll call you." The last one had stung the most, spoken with a polite smile that barely hid the underlying discomfort.

"That marks interview number seven... geez, how can some people be so polite, but so crushing at the same time...? I sure hope Legosi is having better luck..."

As David walked aimlessly through the city's towering maze of steel and glass, his mind churned with doubt. Was dropping out of Cherryton the right choice? He'd thought independence would be freeing, but the reality of being a human in a world that had little space for his kind was starting to weigh him down. David had assumed being an endangered species would encourage businesses to hire him to stand out from the competition, but in reality, they were either scared of the target they'd be putting on their back or afraid how their customers would react to what they don't understand.

David turned a corner, ready to take the familiar shortcut home just when it started to turn dusk, when a sharp cry echoed from a nearby alley. David froze, his breath hitching. It was faint, almost drowned out by the hum of the city, but unmistakable, a plea for help. Peering cautiously into the narrow alley, he saw two figures looming over a smaller, trembling one. The larger figures—a wolf and a hyena, judging by their silhouettes—were growling low, their sharp teeth flashing in the dim light as they rifled through the victim's bag. The smaller figure, a sheep, clutched their arms around their chest, shrinking against the wall. David's heart raced as he gripped the edges of his coat. His logical mind screamed at him to turn away, to let someone else handle it. What could he even do? However, another part of him, a stubborn flame that hadn't yet been extinguished by the day's rejections, urged him forward.

"Hey! Leave her alone!"

David's voice came out steadier than he expected, but he had an air of confidence, fists clenched at his sides as he approached the offenders. The wolf and hyena turned to him, their glowing eyes narrowing in irritation.

"Eh? And who are you supposed to be?"

The hyena said, facing towards David with his teeth flared at the human. The wolf would maneuver next to his partner and growl, they're both trying to appear intimidating, but David feels hardly phased. The wolf shifts his gaze back to the sheep they're trying to mug to make fun of her helplessness

"Is this your boyfriend, lamb chop? You must like the freaks!"

David doesn't appreciate the comments being made to scare the lamb and make the human seem freakish.

"Last chance, give the lady her things back and you can walk away..."

The hyena had the purse belonging to the sheep, he would toss it aside as he and his friend were getting ready to fight David. The human's eyes darted between them while the sheep remained silently scared, worried for her rescuer's safety.

"You know, of all the people who'd step into our business, I'm glad it's the last rare ape! I wonder what he tastes like...!"

It wasn't the first time David was threatened of being eaten, but still being known as the last human, even by punks like these, was dangerous. Everyone knows of him, but they don't know what he is. The wolf would grab for David's arm, but David counters by stomping on the wolf's foot hard, and manoeuvring the wolf's arm back behind his head while he is caught off guard by having his toes crushed. David then comes down hard with his free fist, hitting the wolf's throat, causing him to gag and breathe weakly. David would let him go as the wolf passed out, the hyena now alone.