You leap from branch to branch. “It’s like this, Mam. We can understand each other because of some nanites in our bodies.”
“Nanites?”
“Microscopic robots. They’re hooked-in somehow into the zoo’s wifi system. The zoo’s mainframe does the translation between animal and human. I don’t understand it better than that yet.”
You pause a moment to let them catch-up and flick your tail in contemplation. “But what I don’t understand is how I could have infected Timmy and then you. That shouldn’t be possible. I was in the zoo infirmary until given a clean bill of health.” You start off again.
“So, why do we need to leave right this moment?”
“I’ve already told you too much. If you stay, they’ll make you exhibits in the zoo like me.”
She slows down a moment. “Wait…you use to be human?”
(drooptail) “Yes. As I’ve said, I’ve told you too much. You need to get out now and out of range of their wifi network. I suspect it has something to do with the transformation, which involves those same nanites now helping us to understand each other.”
You all round the next bend and can see the exit just twenty feet away. “Go!” you implore them.
“But what about you?”
“I can’t leave. I don’t think I have enough natural instincts to survive it out there. After all, I was coming up to Timmy to accept a treat.”
“You could be my pet!” Timmy chimes in.
You wigwag your tail in the negative. “They can track me, or so they claim. If I go with you, I’d simply lead them to you. GO!”
They run for the gate, but tumble to the ground in front of it and simply lay there. Four zoo personnel appear with stretchers, lift the two of them onto the stretchers and begin to carry them towards the administration building. You droop your tail in dismay and dart for the same building yourself.