"My name is Ian. I'm 26. It's been five years since the conquest. Humanity is nothing but... adaptable, and
the Jaded, the long living bastards that they are, do have a nack for planning ahead. What makes me sick is
even if humanity manage to outlast the Jaded, they most likely would become the gods and legends people will
believe in.
I live in what once was Finland, now Yoseia, after the name of the Overseer choose for itself. I never even
met it yet, and I don't wish to. To enforce the clothing banning rule in such a wintry place like this must
Overseers choose to simply change the weather to a more tropical environment. Yoseia choose instead to
transform all the humans within the province into Antro-Artic-Foxes. Perhaps to hammer down the point of we
being nothing but animals to them. Feet, tail, ears, nuzzle and the tuck in genitals. Otherwise we remained
relatively the same but with a white fur coat.
They have choose a few that they call Wanderers. They figure out that humans don't like to be caged, although
most of them would live their lives relatively in the same place they are born, we like the illusion of
freedom. So instead of complete isolation, and very limited cases of actual province travelling, the Wanderers
are the only ones aloud to travel freely between provinces, as long as they continue to travel and sparse the
news of the other provinces with them, abide by the rules of each province and never return to their original
providence, or relinquish such a privilege to another if they choose to stay.
Like I said, smart bastards. They did it to enable the illusion of the hope of freedom and to keep the genetic
pool of the provinces fresh. No use on having despairing and inbreed toys I suppose."
"And that's what you are? One of those wanderers." asked me the Snow Leopard antro bar tender.
"About a year ago, one came to me I lived in the outskirts of a town. He... the old man was seeking a place to
spend his last days. And choose my cabin. This necklace is the mark of a Wanderer, can only be taken off when
he want to pass it out, and the other wants to receive it."
"Haven't heard of such thing as a wanderer." said the bartender.
"This province must be one of the most isolated ones, and the wanderers appear to be from the south. No wonder
none have reached yet. One of the reasons I choose to come here, before going to a warmer place." I said
taking another sip from my drink.
"Must be nice being young with nothing to regret leaving behind. Now must than ever yours is nothing short of
a golden chance."
"You think... Have I told you about the garden?"
"The garden?"
"Yeah... I asked around you don't have one of those. Yoseia seems to follow the rule of respecting kids to
tee. Instead of transforming our children, we were forced to sent to a garden a place natural bliss, where
they can grow up until their 16th birthday in which they transform into foxes and are banished from the
garden. Inside their every need is cater upon. But without parents to teach them, and only the older ones to
impart any knowledge and direction to the younger ones. It's though. Micah a friend of mine who was expelled
last year told about it. Inside they have formed little tribes of almost savage children. The food is
plentiful and they play games against each other to pass out time, the older ones become the leaders and not
all of them choose to teach the young ones about the outside world. We expect the coming generation to be out
almost illiterate in the coming years."
"Damn, that's harsh. I mean I am a fucking leopard, and my son is also, but at least I get to spend time with
him. I though that was just for choosing their desired victims. Not EVERYONE."
"Hmph... you make it sound like we are not all victims." I paid my drink and left the bar, I had to choose
were to go next. This leopard body is much stutter than I'm used to, still, I wish I hadn't told him about the
garden. That always makes me remember...
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"Micah, please take care of him. I know this is a tall request but..." I said in tears.
"As long as I can. I will." he responded.
"Please leave they said the changes will occur at midnight. I don't wish for him to see me as a beast. Let him
remember his father like a man."
He complies I saw my son leaving in the hands of the naked teen. I plummet myself there defeated, I curse the
Jaded as they turn my flesh into a beast.
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No point in turning back now, where should a go?