The Underlings

Chapter 2

You wouldn't be able to tell that I am an Underling, though. When I was three, there was a great discrimination act against Humanimals, led by city officials. They burned down our houses and murdered many of our people. My grandfather feared for my life, since I was so young and helpless. He snuck into the city and pleaded that a Scientist change my appearance to that of a human. The Scientist said that he would change my looks, but it would cost my grandfather his life.

My grandfather graciously gave his life to save mine. The Scientist changed my looks to that of a human – except for my ears. That was no big deal though. Due to poor living conditions, many humans were born with birth defects much worse than pointy ears. Plus, my long, dark red hair did a good job of hiding them if I didn't want them to be seen. Looking like a human didn't only help save my life; it helps with trade. See, Underlings are really sneaky and have been known to be unfair during trade with humans – especially the fox Humanimals. But Humans still trade with them most of the times because Humanimals are the best at growing things.

I live in a treetop village right outside of a human community. Many forest and air Humanimals live in our village in the trees, and ground and water dwelling Humanimals live below us beside a stream. Every morning, I wake up and tend to my gardens and, if I have any ripe vegetables or herbs, I carry some to the nearby human community for trade. This morning is no different.

Half of my garden was good and ripe today, so I got a burlap sack and filled it. I threw it over my back and started on my way to the human village.

“Oh!” I exclaimed. I dropped the sack and undid my braid, to let my hair hide my ears, before continuing on.

“You need help with that, Fawna?” Someone asked.

I turned to see who it was.

“Hey Andler!” I exclaim.

Andler is another one of the deer Underlings in our community. I know what you are thinking, and yes – we all have names like this. It's kind of a Humanimal thing.

Andler is tall with olive skin – well from his waist up is skin. From his waist down is covered in fur. He doesn't have regular legs, he has deer legs. His black hair hangs down to the middle of his back and is decorated with feathers and other things found in the forest. Two antlers stick out from under the dark hair. He is seventeen, two ears older than I am, so his antlers aren't fully grown.

“Yeah, I can use some help,” I laugh.

He takes the bag into his muscular arms.

“I'll carry it until we get to the village; you might have better luck trading if I stay unseen,” Andler laughs. “I like that outfit by the way.”

I look down at my “human clothes”, a plain, white, sleeveless shirt and a brown, ripped skirt. “Thanks, I like your clothes too,” I joked.

In fact, he wasn't wearing clothes – well, a shirt. He had no need to wear pants because of the fur. In fact, most male Humanimals didn't wear shirts at all, and the females wore tops made of leaves and other forest materials.

“Thanks,” Andler says. “I stayed up all night sewing it up!”

We both start laughing. Soon we begin to smell the fires of the chimneys in the human village.

“Well, I'll stay here,” Andler says. He hands the sack of vegetables back to me.

“Thanks for the help,” I say.

I walk through the final bushes in between me and the village and enter into it. Without the veil of the peaceful forest I can see the city in the distance. Its shiny buildings tear through the morning clouds.