Fur Kingdom---CH.1
The entire premise for this story came from a dream I had one night. I enjoyed the dream so much I thought I should change it into a full length, multi chapter tale. The first chapter might have extended a little bit, coming up at just over 7 pages long. But I needed to get the foundation laid out. The rest of the chapters shouldn't be this long.
Fur Kingdom
Chapter 1
In the not so distant future of 2065, a new gene sprang up and spread faster then any scientist could control. No one could agree upon the origin of the gene, in fact the only thing people could agree on was what it did to you. In a world were humans were in control, new fur-covered babies were being born. Furries, they called them. Only about one in 10,000 was born with the unique gene. However if two furs were to mate, the outcome was always another fur. The interesting thing is the range of types that exist. There doesn't seem to be any one determining factor that will lead to what type you, but once you are born with the gene. There is no going back.
Naturally, with anything that is different, there was huge civil rights movements and hate crimes committed to the fur population on a daily basis. Some cities it was so bad you couldn't be seen in public without being beaten or assaulted in some way. Large groups of the furs would meet and march asking for equal rights and freedoms that all the humans received since through some technicalities and corruption in the government; furs were not covered by all the rights and freedoms expressed in the constitution.
It wasn't until late 2082 that the largest movement took place. One that opened everyone's eyes to the poor treatment furs received up until that point. One man started the largest hate group against furs that was ever set up; having some 200,000 members and constantly growing. A large number of furs, the actual number was never released by government officials, was collected in the cities that hated them the most. No one said anything, they were just happy for the streets to be clean again.
The group, who had the named Furban coined by the local newspapers, waited until midnight one night with all the furs locked in cages. The Furbanners emptied all the captives into a small central ring with most of the members sitting around the outer edges observing the act like it was a show just for them. Once all the captives were forced into the ring, the true punishment started. All the members in the stands started to throw whatever they had into the ring, giving each other high fives if the landed a hit on a fur. After they all had their fun, the gates around the ring opened again allowing dozens of mad dogs in and around the furs. In no time the slaughter had begun, and all the while the stands were in an uproar cheering on the dogs.
All hope seemed lost, like the Furban was going to get away with such a horrible act, but the sky suddenly was bright with police helicopters surround the ring and shining lights on all the Furbanners. The largest arrest in 30 years was made as well over 25,000 people were put in handcuffs and escorted to various prisons around the US. Each with nothing less then a life sentence for the crimes against the group as a whole. There was many more that made a quick escape, but there wasn't much heard from Furban after that day, and as a good turn out from the incident; new laws and restrictions were made to amend the constitution. From 2083 and on, all furs were protected under all laws that humans were.
After a few more years' tensions between furs and humans started to die down. There were still a few hard spots in some cities were racisms toward furs was just as strong as in the past. Most of the time someone who escaped the prosecution of Furban lived there. But nothing as major as the incident took place again.
********************************************************************************************
June 27 2099
Ryan awoke much earlier today then he normally. Ever since he had graduated, he enjoyed sleeping in everyday until around 4pm and stay up until 4am. But today was different, today was his 18th birthday. He quickly flipped the light switch next to his bed revealing a rather bright light right above his head. His arms shifted over his eyes until he could finally adjust the new light. He had a small room, but nothing he ever complained about. His bed was pressed into one corner, away from the window, with plain sheets and one pillow. He never got many luxuries even though his parents were well off from their jobs. Adjacent the bed was a closet filled with clothes. Not on hangers and neatly stacked however. No, all in one big pile on the floor. Ryan like it like that, and his parents just stopped trying to make him clean it. After he could look around without squinting, he pressed a button on a stand next to his bed. The wall in front of him jumped to life after the button was pressed, and his favorite T.V. station was still on from last night. As he watched the T.V. he kept looking over his arms at the white Fur that covered them. The same white fur that covered the rest of his body. Not one black or gray hair shown. He was a solid white wolf. Even though he had a lot of the basic genetics for a wolf, he wasn't very well built. He stood up at a full height of 5' 10", but he only weighted around 135 lbs. He was still strong in his legs as he ran a lot. As his usual T.V. watching rituals would go, he reached under the covers and started to play with his tail. He couldn't tell why, but liked to play with his tail.
Ryan was special. He wasn't like any of the other kids from his school, or in the city for that matter. He was a natural born fur. Both his parents were human and carried the gene for fur. Only a one in 10,000 chance to have a fur kid, but somehow they managed. Ryan knew he was different because he was the only fur in the entire city. He lived in a small house in a suburb with hardly any room between the houses to breath. But he was used to it, since he had lived there his entire life. He could never tell that the other humans in the city would look at him strangely when he would walk around the streets. For you see he lived in the city were the Furban started. No furs ever even toured the place. It was just a bad omen for furs to be there, and yet here he was a natural born fur from one of the longest living families in the area. No one could say anything to him since his parents' status, but that doesn't mean they had to like him. All through school he was picked on the worst from other kids. Even the lunch ladies would only give him half portions of food. Some nights he would even come home in tears from what the other kids would do and say to him. But every time his parents were able to calm him down and convince him that kids are just like that in school, its normal. However both of them knew the real reason he was picked on the most, and secretly they were a little ashamed of being the only people in the entire city to have a fur kid.
Ryan was finally free. No more school, no more mean kids to torment him, and no more humiliating walks through the city. He was quite content with just sitting in his room for the rest of his life, although he knew this wasn't possible. So he was just waiting until he turned 18 so he could leave this city and move someplace where he might be a little more accepted. He was going to break it to his parents that same day.
As he watched the T.V. bounce around with each movement from the show, a sudden beep was heard at the door. He could tell at once that it was his parents coming in to see him. Probably from all the noise the T.V. was making. "Yes?" he asked toward the door.
"May we come in son? There is something we need you do," the response came almost as quick, but didn't wait for a response as the door slide open reliving both his parents standing in the door way. They made their way across the floor to Ryan bed promptly sitting on the side. "Do you know what today is dear?" he heard his mom ask giving a wide smile. Ryan crawled up from under the covers sitting down and shaking his head happily. Ryan's dad's eyes looking down at his son but looked away again toward the wall. "Um, son. Maybe you should put some pants on...," he had said in a somewhat shaky voice. He had always seemed to talk a little different when he would talk to Ryan. Ryan had always noticed, but passed it off like it was nothing.
Ryan looked down to a rather exposed sheath and then blushing brightly. He never really felt bad when someone saw him naked because he felt like his sheath was more covering then most humans had, yet he was still a little embarrassed to be sitting naked in from of his parents, and he hoped they wouldn't see the stains still around his sheath. His paws quickly ran around under his covers looking for his shorts he kicked off last night. When he felt the elastic band on the tip of his paw he wrapped around it, pulling it out, and quickly slipping it on like nothing happened. Even letting out a little chuckle.
His dad let out a long sigh before turning back around to look at his son. "We need a few things from the stores to help make your cake. We thought it would be best if you go get them so we can arrange the house for you by time you get back," his bad had explained. Ryan just let out a long sigh before nodding. He didn't really want to go to the store, especially if one of the boys he knew from school was working today. But it would seem he didn't have a choice.
After his parents left the room he went to work through his clothes. He sprung off his bed into a pile of clothes on the floor starting to spread them out all over the floor, but making sure to sniff each one until he found some that were clean. He pulled on the shirt and pants, which had a special hole he had cut out in the back to allow his tail to fit through. After a few touches in the washroom he was bounding out the door toward the store just wanting to get this little trip of his done.
It was only a five-minute walk to the store from his house, but it felt longer. All the neighbors did their usual staring to him as he went by. It just ignored them all and focused on moving toward the store faster. It was like clock work for him to get to the store. Left on the first street and straight down the road until the store is on the left side. For some reason or another, the walk seemed to be taking longer today. It might have been all the extra stares he was getting from the people around the city. He was used to a few whenever he would go out, but it seemed almost all of them were watching him this time.
What seemed like ages, he finally arrived at the local store. Standing in the parking lot he looked up at the sign reading it to himself, much like he would do every time he was there. "Jimmys." He never understood the name since the owner was named Jack. If someone was driving by and saw the name "Jimmys" they probably wont think its a grocery store, but it didn't bother him any so he continued into the double doors that opened automatically once he stepped on the black pad in front.
Once inside he could see the bright florescent lighting burring his eyes some. He couldn't help but twitch his tail some as he adjusted to the new light, quickly drawling attention to himself. "Oh, it's you.....great," he heard from a guy behind the register. He could tell right away from the voice that it was the one in fact he wished wasn't there on this day. The biggest bully he had to face at school. All his friends called him Bert, but Ryan thought that just calling him a dick suited him much better. "......Hi Bert...," he found himself responding even thought he didn't want to.
"What are you doing here little furface"
Ryan never had a reason why, but being called furface made him ready to bust out and thrash at Bert until he couldn't any longer, and Bert could tell too. Yet he always found a way to hold back his anger. "Nothing to do with you Bert, I'm just here to pick up a few things...." Ryan responded while walking toward the back of the store, but making sure to hold his middle digit up on his paw in plain view for Bert as he left.
Finally getting the few things he needed, he took a double check to make sure he got it all. Out of his back pocket came a small piece of paper with words scribbled into a list. "Lets see.... Eggs, check......Milk, check.......Cookie Dough, hehe check," he knew the last thing wasn't on the list, but it wasn't his money. Besides all the evidence would be gone before he made it back home anyway.
As he approached the checkout lines, he made sure to go through the line farthest from Bert, and to his luck the exit door was on the same side. With the items scanned, placed into a bag, and the money traded, Ryan started to pad out of the store to make his way home. First he made sure to reach into the bag and pull out the tube of cookie dough. The top was pushed into his maw as he took a bite around the top pulling the plastic wrap off and suckling on the sugary food.
The walk back home was a lot more enjoyable and quicker, mostly from the added bonus of having the snack in his paw the whole time taking his attention off the people staring at him. Closer to home he smelled a faint scent of smoke. Being so intent on his dough he just took a few sniffs while keeping his maw over the remaining sweetness. "Someone is burning wood again," he thought to himself finding that the added smell of a wood fire was making the cookie dough not as pleasant as before.
With he was finally able to make the only turn on his trip he stopped in his track, dropping what groceries were still in his paws. For directly in front of him was his house, fully ablaze from one end to the other. Police cares and fire trucks were lining up in front trying to fight the blaze. The fire wasn't even what stuck out the most to him. No, it was the two white body bags that were being pulled aside from the blaze and placed into a black car. His heart stopped for a few minutes. Thoughts rushed through his head. Was those his parents in the bags, did he start the fire, was this even his house.
He just happened to look down and see one of the police officers showing his picture to a neighbor. The neighbor nodding and pointing toward the store he had gone to. Ryan panicked and started breathing even heavier. Were they accusing him of the fire? He didn't give himself time to think as he took off running as fast as he could in the opposite direction. A quick outcome came to mind for him. It consisted of him either getting out of this city or being arrested for starting a fire he couldn't have done. He thought it best to leave the city, so he starting making his way to the train depot.
After a nonstop 20 minute run, Ryan arrived at the station more winded then he had ever been. He made sure to rest some before going in. Upon sitting down on the ledge right outside of the doors he suddenly got a memory of long ago. Back when he was a lot smaller then he was now. Sitting on the same stone block he was now, only then his parents were smiling and laughing beside him. Now he was alone. This was the first time the thought of his parents maybe being dead sank into him. They might have been ashamed at times, and avoid talking to him if they could, but they were still the only people he knew in this world that was nice to him. It was tough being the only fur for miles.
Once Ryan was able to regain his composure, he stood up making his way to the door. Coming up to the entrance he saw the doors slide open for him, he tilted his head a little as there wasn't any strip under his feet. He just accepted it and walked through. Once he entered, however, a voice came through the speakers. "Welcome Ryan Cummings, are you were for an arrival or for departure?"
Ryan had never been inside the train station before, just waited outside for family and friends to come out. He laid his ears back feeling a little uncomfortable with the voice knowing more about him then he thought it should. "Um.... Departure?"
"Confirmed, new departures should take the left hall to gate A," the voice responded. Ryan kept his eyes locked on the speakers around him, but started to walk down the hall. He didn't want to remain any longer then he had to.
The hall wasn't that long, but he still had time to think more about what all had just happened. His eyes remained on the blue carpeting stretching from one end of the hall to the other. The whole time his tail swaying around nervously. He had to get out of town yes, but where would he go. He didn't know where any family lived, even if he did; no one liked him. He was too different.
He was taken aback when he heard someone say something. "Where would you like to travel today Mr. Cummings?" another voice came from a control box. "Well, do I have to have a place to go, cant I just get on and ride until I feel like I want to get off?" he asked back.
"Error, invalided selection, please choose again." He was about to get frustrated with the machine until a train arrived behind him. As he turned to look he saw something he had only wished for he entire life. Out of the train came many Humans, but one different. One was a bright red furred Fox. Ryan couldn't take his eyes off the fox as it exited the train. The fox had noticed the shorter Wolf staring back at him giving a small smile while approaching. "Well, well I guess I'm not the only one stupid enough to come here after all," the fox said to Ryan giving away the fact that he was male.
"Huh... what are you talking about?" Ryan felt really confused yet happy to see another fur for once in his life.
"This town, boy, no fur should ever have to be here. Don't you know anything," the fox making sure to sound as sarcastic as possible.
"Well I um, live here. Or at least I did live here. Or something," Ryan was too dumbfounded to respond like he wanted to.
"Live here?! Why on earth would any fur want to live here. This place is horrible," the sincerity in his eyes made Ryan calm down some more.
"Look I cant really stay here and talk, there was just an accident, now I have no where to live. I have to leave here quick," Ryan felt his ears lay down some as he looked toward the floor.
"Hmm, need a place to live you say, what if I told you I know a place, you might like it. It's for furs only. There are lots of us there. And you get to live for free?" the fox's tail starting to pick up a pace of swinging as his interested in the wolf increased. Ryan felt his ears suddenly perk up straight as he locked eyes with the fox again. "Are you serious?" Ryan didn't even care; he just wanted somewhere to go. The fox gave a few nods seeing the wolf was really taking into his offer. "Fine ill do it!"
"Excellent," the fox made it clear he was happy as he turned to the control panel. "Two tickets to Skylark town please"
"Confirmed, please enjoy your ride," two tickets stuck out of the bottom slot while the voice responded to the fox. "Well kid, my name is Dale, how about you?" the fox asked as he grabbed the tickets and began leading Ryan toward the already docked train. "My name is Ryan..... Thanks for all the help"
"Oh don't worry about it kid, I'm sure we will see a lot more of each other from here on out," the fox gave a small smile leading Ryan into the train with a paw wrapped around his shoulder. Once in side the doors closed and the train shot off on the moveable tracks toward Skylark town.
Things might look like they aren't the best in the world for poor little Ryan, but they will get better. I promise ^-^ if there is anything that can be bettered about the story in general or poor writing styles. Please let me know so I can correct them for future chapters.