Dream
Note from the author:
This short story is closely related to a dream I had on July 3rd 2010. Keep in mind that this work does contain an anthropomorphic being, so stop reading now if you have a problem with that. Also keep in mind that my parents should not read this for that very same reason.
My family and I were vacationing on some oceanfront property on some sparsely populated inlet on the west coast. Everyone was there, my parents, my two siblings, and their significant others. We were having a grand old time, fishing in the ocean, or the small lakes inland, hiking all over the place, and generally enjoying each other's company. It was easy to have a good time in the coniferous rainforest.
In the dream, I had overheard my parents talking about "another one of those fucking creatures". I approached them and asked what they were talking about and they described the creature as some kind of abomination, "The offspring of a man who likes to fuck animals, and the animal of his choice. The product is a retarded half man half animal." My parents went on to tell me that any of these "things" should be avoided at all costs, that they are immoral sex fiends who fuck every moving thing. I only pretended to side with them, because in my mind, I would need to experience the creature first hand before make a decision on how I felt about it.
A few more days passed and every once in a while I would think about the things that my parents had said, but generally I kept enjoying the vacation. One morning we all woke up early to drive out to a small lake to some more fishing and hiking. Everyone was waiting by the vehicles when I had realized that I forgot something down by the waterfront. As I neared the ocean, I heard some sloshing in the water about 200 meters down the beach. I didn't think much of it, probably just a big fish going after a smaller counterpart. I reached the water and peered out to see what caused the disturbance and saw a slender male human form walking out of the water. I had to do a double take before I could comprehend what I seeing. The man was covered in white fur! He had the head of a Siberian tiger, with feline ears and a big pink nose. Black spots covered his barely clothed body from ear tips to tail tip. The humanoid form glistened in the sun as he walked back into its property which I could not see.
As I walked back up to my waiting family at the vehicles, I couldn't help my mind from racing at what I had just seen. I felt like I needed to get a closer look so I simply told my family that I would sit this excursion out. They obviously didn't think much of it as they drive off. I walked back to ocean and looked over to where I had last seen the tiger man. He wasn't there, so I curiously walked along the beach to investigate. As I neared the clearing that he has obviously made I noticed a small structure, barely a platform raised about seven feet off the ground slung between a few trees. I couldn't see the tiger man, so I called out "Hello" to see if that would summon him. His furred head popped out over the lip of the platform somewhat surprised so see a guest. What surprised him more was the fact that a human was visiting.
He cautiously invited me up to the platform. After scrabbling up a tree trunk I reached the top only to see numerous books neatly stacked in a row. I asked "You have read all of these?" he nodded. I said "My parents said that your kind are the dumb offspring of a man who likes to mate with animals. He winced at me saying that and looked hurt, but I quickly responded with "But you don't seem as dangerous or dumb as they said, you seem intelligent and nice." We spent the rest of the day talking, and we got to know each other pretty well. At about seven pm I heard my mother calling for dinner, so I bade the fur farewell, and that I would visit tomorrow. When I got home I explained to my mother that I was out exploring. I spent the rest of the night with my family, but didn't say much. I was still thinking about what my parents believed the tiger man to be, and how he really is.
The next day, as promised, I visited the fur again. We chatted about his and that ad he told me that humans usually misunderstand furs. He explained that not all furs fuck every single moving creature, but there are some. Humans have them too, but they're called nymphomaniacs. I couldn't help agreeing with him as we talked for hours. Suddenly his feline ears pricked towards the ocean. I asked what was wrong and his long white tail fluffed up. We both saw it at the same time. My family was walking along the beach towards the fur's property.
Each member of my family has some form of weapon in their hands. They had chain saws, baseball bats, even a pistol. We could hear them chanting, "Skin the fur, crush its skull, mash its brains." The fur and I both flattened ourselves against the platform in the trees as we heard the sound of the chainsaw being started. The whole structure that the fur had created started to tremble and list to one side as the trees were cut down. The books began to slide towards the ground and finally the structure gave way, sending the fur and I tumbling to the ground along with the platform and all the books. As the fur and I lay on the ground, rattled from the fall, my father who had the pistol, grabbed the fur by the throat and slammed him against a still standing tree.
As he was choking my new friend, lifting him a few feet off the ground, my father drew the pistol with his free hand and placed the revolver to the furred forehead. The agonized choking sounds were barely audible over the sound of my family's chanting, "Skin the fur, crush its skull, mash its brains." My father cocked the hammer. All I can remember of the dream after that point is myself crying. The dream ended here and when I woke up, my pillow was damp from tears.
Take from this story what you will, but keep in mind that prejudices can lead to some seriously fucked up things. My parents, as smart and moral as they think they are, are still prejudiced as fuck against furs, and look at what its done to me. Im afraid what they will say or do if they find out that I'm a fur.