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The Homeless One

In the entirety of our society, no one is more hated than for a species to be homeless. The only exception might be rare whited furs but overall we run neck in neck as to which is more hated. Many species have adopted the saying 'better to be dead than homeless.'

The reason why homelessness is stigmatized is that species have evolved to a sentient level. We are no longer as primitive as our animal ancestors were. Many of us have become bipedal and we wear clothing as status symbols, even though with our fur we don't need them. Many live in nice comfort homes with plumbing so that you can shower to wash yourself instead of having to lick yourself like animals used to.

Along the way there are some of us that for one reason or another lose our homes and are forced to live on the streets or in makeshift little homeless communities. Many of us don't have jobs so we are forced to do things that make society cringe. Rather than giving a helping paw to species like me, they'd rather stigmatize us.

Living on the streets means you have no plumbing, so many of us have to resort to licking ourselves to keep clean unless you are like the ones that just don't lick themselves and remain filthy and nasty.

I became homeless after I lost the will to live! My wife died in a car accident and even though our grown children reached out to me I just did not care what happened to me. Bills began to pile up and I stopped going to work so with no steady income coming in soon I was tossed out onto the street.

Nothing mattered to me and I just basically existed. I stopped washing because I did not care how my fur looked and even though I was hungry I had no desire to eat. I found food occasionally but I was like a hermit and just stayed away from everyone. There were a few runs in with youngsters that wanted to pick on a homeless one but they lost interest as they soon learned that I did not care what they did to me.

To be honest I did not care if I lived or died because with my wife gone, I had nothing to live for. I basically sat around waiting to die and I really did not care how or why and I even thought of killing myself but that seemed like it would take too much effort to do. The last thing I wanted was anything that involved work.

Fate had other plans for me and while I waited and wondered how long until I would die, something unexpected crossed my path. I saw a young female cub searching for food in a trash can. I don't know why she caught my eye but she did. Maybe it was something about a cub searching for food among trash that bothered me.

She was a bunny that was ginger colored but had a white belly from what I could see. Her clothes were dirty and tattered. Her eyes looked like black marbles and she struggled to reach into the trash can.

"Hey kid!" I shouted and she dropped the trash lid causing it to clang on the ground. She looked at me fearfully as if wondering what I was going to do with her. I must look like a rabid dingo as I sat there watching her. My mouth watered a bit and I was feeling hungry yet my lack of motivation just had me watch her.

"Need help?" I asked and I saw her tension melt from her slightly. She watched me as if trying to decide if I was friend or foe. She took a slow step backward then looked at the trash can and then back at me. She finally nodded and I guess she figured she had nothing to lose.

I groaned in pain as I tried to stand because my muscles were too used to their inactivity to suddenly have me moving about now. She eyed me wearily and kept a short distance away but she did not run even when I looked in the trash can to see its contents.

Inside I saw some lettuce that was turning brown as it spoiled. I guessed the smell must have attracted her attention. I searched around to see if there was anything better but I couldn't find anything.

"Nothing is in here," I announced and saw the sad look on her face. "I know of a soup kitchen where we can get food that is not spoiled." I said and I saw a look of hope on her face but she still kept away from me.

"Listen kid, I'm not gonna hurt you. I really have no interest in you other than you look weak and helpless. Where are your parents?" I asked.

"Slavers," She replied softly.

"Slavers?" I repeated as I wondered why they would rabbits. She nodded again as I looked at her in confusion.

"My parents hid me and used themselves as decoys. They were taken and I've been waiting for them to return and come get me." She said,

"How long ago did this happen?" I asked and she just shrugged. I felt annoyed that she could not tell me anything useful. Judging by her attire she had to have been left alone for a couple of weeks. At least she could eat the grass off the street if need be but she was probably running out. It had not rained in several weeks and the grass was not growing!

"Come along," I ordered and held out my hand. She hesitated at first then she carefully took it and I led her to the closest soup kitchen that I knew of. We walked in silence and I could smell the fear coming off of her.

"I'm Amelia," She finally said and it took a moment for it to register that she was telling me her name.

"Oh... hello Amelia my name is Buddy." I said gently hoping to ease the fear I could smell of her. It was odd because as dirty as she was she did not stink like I did. It might be another reason she tried to stay as far from me as possible.

"Buddy!" She said then she chuckled and I looked at her. She seemed to find the name playful and the smell of fear had vanished. I smiled at her and she began to hop along happily now that all fear had vanished.

We arrived at the soup kitchen which was a basement of an old building that was hardly in any use. The basement level was set up with a kitchen and tables so they could provide meals at the designated meal times. The upper levels had beds set up but the floors were separated. One was for men, another was for women, and the last was for cubs. They chose to separate the groups to keep everyone safe. There were troubles with strangers raping the other residents when the whole thing was co-opted. To limit this the groups were separated and security was hired to monitor each floor. Families could come together and eat at the meal times but because some of the residents could possibly have mental disorders they groups needed to be separated.

"Well, what have we here?" A female weasel said as she answered the door.

"Excuse me ma'am but I found this young lady abandoned,"

"I'm not abandoned! I'm just waiting for my parents to come back from the slavers!" She said defiantly and I forced myself to smile as the woman smiled at the girl and bent low so that she did not tower over the girl like I did.

"I found her picking for food in a trash can and was hoping you might have some leftovers for her to eat. I realize it is not the designated meal time,"

"This is a special instance! You both come inside with me." She ordered and we entered following behind her. I walked behind her and I saw her crinkle her nose, probably because of the smell of me. She led us into the dining room and had Amelia sit then she pointed to the male showering facilities and strongly hinted that I would clean up.

I marched in there and found some soap and towels and for the first time as I removed my clothes even I could smell the stink coming from them. I wondered what to do because if I washed then I could not put these dirty things back on.

I had a towel wrapped about my waist as I thought about what to do when the female weasel entered and picked up my clothes to size them and she looked ready to vomit. Having smelled them myself I understood her reaction.

"I'll get these washed and I know we have a set to loan you for the time being." She replied as she took them away. Without any other reason to stall, I entered the showers and washed away years worth of filth. I had forgotten how good it felt to be clean and when I finally finished my fur seemed to shine.

I found a set of clothes waiting for me as I entered the changing area. For the most part they fit but there was a musty odor like they had been sitting around for awhile. However, compared to my previous set, these were fantastic!

Amelia was busy eating when I returned to the dining room. There was a warm bowl of beef stew waiting for me. I ate it and although my hungry stomach seemed to be thanking me for the food, it seemed tasteless in my mouth. I mean I could taste it, however, the taste seemed meaningless. All I really cared about was the girl that she was able to eat.

After we finished, the female weasel returned and sat with us. She asked all kinds of questions trying to learn more about it. She started with Amelia then moved on to me. She seemed surprised that I was not her father and wondered what a child was doing with a perfect stranger. I couldn't blame her for being suspicious.

I helped her clean up and set up for the next meal. I was not really surprised by the number of species that showed up because having lived on the streets you learn that there are more of us than is actually reported.

The terrifying thing is the amount of teens living on the street. Some are runaways and some trying to escape becoming slaves because they have been displaced from their homes. They turn to doing anything in order to survive Even letting adult species mount them! I had seen this numerous times and I was again worried that the same might happen to Amelia.

"We both know what happens to cubs like Amelia, right?" I asked the female weasel.

"Cubs?" She asked skeptically.

"Her and others like her," I clarified and she nodded as she understood. "Is there a way we can help her without turning her into a slave?" I asked.

"Ultimately she needs someone to give her a home, someone that won't hurt her." She said, I groaned because she was saying what I did not want to hear. I was hoping for something like a way to find her parents and free them.

"What if there is no one who can do it?" I asked even though I already knew the answer. She raised an eyebrow as she glared at me.

"Honestly, I'm just waiting to die. The only reason I came here was to help the girl and get her to others that can save her." I replied.

"What makes you think that YOU are not that fur?" She asked me. She reached out and squeezed my shoulder before she walked away. Seemed she was not going to let me respond. Not that I had an immediate comeback. I was just standing there with my maw open as I tried to think of one. By the time I thought of something the moment had passed.

Amelia was seated waiting for the OK to get into line and get a plate of food. The dining area was divided between Prey and Predator and more species were in the Predator line than the Prey. She would not have to wait long while my line would take an eternity to move.

The most aggravating thing was not that there was a long line but that the guy at the front was busy telling the servor his life's story. It's like come on buddy the rest of us want to eat too! Finally the female weasel came over and told that jerk to move on. He attempted to try starting up his conversation with her but she folded her arms across her chest.

"Or I can just throw you out and ban you from ever returning." She said defiantly and he quickly took the hint and moved away. Finally the line could move again! I wasn't the only one to start breathing better now that he left. He moved to a table and I saw all the species rise and move somewhere else. It was obvious that he had a reputation here and I could see why.

He was old, probably senor age, and had no one left to take care of him. He was probably looking for a friend but his over talking would tend to turn species away. No one wants to be friends with someone when they can't get a word in edgewise.

"So what are we doing today?" She asked as I had just put a spoonful of food in my maw.

"Mmph?" I asked then held up a finger while I swallowed so I could speak clearer. "What?"

"After we finish eating, where are we gonna go? You do have a home right?" She asked.

"Actually, no I don't. Aren't you gonna stay here while they find someone to take care of you until your parents return?" I asked.

"Why can't you take care of me?"

"Because I'm homeless! Not to mention I'm unsuitable to be a parent." I replied.

"Why?" She said and I wanted to roll my eyes because the answer seemed obvious.

"Amelia, you're a sweet little girl but I can't take care of you. I've been waiting to die so I can hopefully be reunited with my wife." I said.

"But my papa says there is nothing after you die. He said it's like a flame on a candle, when you blow it out you go to the same place the flame goes. It's not scary and it doesn't hurt but it's the reason you need to make the most of this life because there is nothing after it." She explained and my maw dropped open that she knew so much. Believing in an afterlife was a pipe dream I know but it was the only comfort I had. I wanted so desperately to see my wife again that I'd believe or do anything just as long as I could tell myself that we'd see each other again.

"I'm a Predator! Aren't you afraid I'm gonna eat you?" I replied weakly because even I could see through this argument. She shook her head 'no' and held my paw and looked at me with eyes that seemed to bore through all my defenses.

"Nobody eats anyone anymore, not when you can get food at the store." She replied and I had to chuckle because it was not as simple as that. I had that sinking feeling in my stomach that I was losing this argument. She looked at me with a determined look and I knew I had lost the argument.

I finally agreed and it took some doing but I went from a homeless one back into a member of society. I was able to get us an apartment and decent clothes and even got her some toys. I sent her to school and last week she graduated with high honors.

We never found her parents, so although I live just waiting to see if they wever return, I have become her father in a way. My regular children love her and everyone has a great time when we all gather together.

Amelia is grown now and getting married next week. I keep waiting to hear that she's pregnant and going to be giving me more grandkids. It's funny in a way because I spent so much time just wanting to die but now that I have a family to live for, I no longer want to. I know I will one day but today is not that day. I keep expecting her parents to return and take her away.... But today is not that day.....