Hoppers Story - Chapter Five -

Story by Cederwyn Whitefurr on SoFurry

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#5 of (ZOO) - Hoppers Story

Hopper takes a short nap out on the grass where he excercises the Whiptail Doe, strengthening her muscles - and memories turn to nightmares, for the young, frightened Whiptail, as he remembers a fateful encounter when he was very young, with a Veterinarian - reminded of why he is so sensitive of his nape, and has an almost pathological fear of being sedated. Hopper is traumatised by the memories, suffering a major setback, and accidentally injuring Katy when she wakens him from his nightmare, but he can not tell her what happened - he never told anyone...about that day...


Hoppers Story

Chapter Five

© Cederwyn Whitefurr

13th February, 2012

All Rights Reserved

Under Hopper's sometimes, not so gentle tutelage, the Doe began the slow, arduous process back to a healthy weight - his regular exercise he put her through left the doe weak and trembling, but he knew - in some instinctive level - it was necessary if there was any hope to rehabilitate her. Of course, their bond of mutual trust grew almost hourly, and Katy gave Hopper almost unlimited access to the Doe, knowing as he was the best hope she had. One day, Hopper come in from his exercises with the Doe, his ears flat and a look of unmistakable confusion and fear in his eyes. Katy followed Hopper to the cafeteria, where he selected a meal of a salad and a nice hot cup of tea. He was unusually withdrawn and shy - yet he had been making fantastic progress With Katy, still not trusting her completely - but frequently coming to her for a friendly pat or a quick cuddle - now he seemed to have suffered a setback - and Katy grew increasingly concerned. She did not know wether to reach out for Hopper, who picked at his meal his mind obviously not on food, and Katy gently laid a hand on Hoppers paw, then blinked as he growled at her and snatched it away, before blinking and seeming to come to his senses.

"Miss...Katy - I...I'm sorry - I didn't mean - " Hopper sniffled, looking down at the table before him.

"Hopper? Whats wrong? You...you've been making such wonderful progress, both with the Doe and with me - please, what has you so afraid?"

"Nothing..." Hopper whispered, as he picked up a baby carrot and sniffed it, before delicately nibbling on it.

Katy knew better; having watched Hopper closely for the past two weeks, noting his body language and realising just how shy and insecure this frightened young buck still was - and she decided it was best not to pressure him into answering. Something - had obviously upset him, but what could the doe have done or said, to make Hopper so withdrawn and almost crying? Katy didn't know, but only knew, pressuring Hopper to answer, was not the right answer - if she wanted him to grow to trust her. He would tell her, if and when, he wanted her to know...until then, Hopper's mind would remain a closed book.

*

Hopper lay on his back in the special enclosure, naked as the day he had been born - and felt absolutely no shame or self-consciousness. He slept peacefully, his furred body warmed by the sun, seeming oblivious to the world around him - but even as he slept, his sensitive hearing kept a watch - and Hopper could awaken in seconds, if something alerted him as he slept.

He secretly despised having to wear clothing, knowing the Gods have given him a beautiful fur which kept his warm in winter, and cool in summer - but humanity had demanded that anthropomorphic animals wear clothing tailored to their unique physiology. Here, in the privacy of a well screened walled enclosure, Hopper could finally find a small amount of peace.

*

Katy had asked Hopper if the doe could be borrowed for a few hours, and Hopper had frowned, then grown nervous, asking multiple questions on why, where they were taking her, and other information. Katy politely explained, that the Doe needed to be checked by a veterinarian, her bodyweight, blood-work and other things. Hopper had spoken to the doe, gently soothing her and telling her it would be alright - they wouldn't hurt her, but she had been afraid and frightened by the humans. Hopper reassured her and gained her trust, before she relent and Hopper left the room, before the Veterinarian's come to give her a heavy tranquilliser, so they could do their examinations.

*

Hopper whimpered, his eyelids trembling and whiskers twitching, as he moaned and his foot-paws quivered, his sleeping mind slowly turning on itself, and conjuring up thoughts of many years ago - that he had long fought to keep suppressed and buried, deep in his mind....

*

He had been young, only about eight years old - and had been told he was being taken to the Vet, to get a check-up. Normally, Hopper didn't really mind the Veterinarian - she was gentle, very friendly and often gave Hopper a sweet treat if he was brave and didn't cry - and he liked her - as much as his natural fear and instinctual mistrust would allow. This day, the regular Veterinarian had not been there, but a substitute had been called in, and Hopper froze at the doorway, his senses instantly coming alert as he stared at the human male who smiled and gestured for Hopper to enter the examination room.

*

Hopper moaned and rolled onto his side, slowly curling into a foetal position on the grass, his eyes twitching beneath their lids and low, almost feral whimpers and moans escaped him, as the nightmare began sinking its claws into his mind.

*

Something - elusive - tickled Hoppers' primal mind, then vanished before he could bring his full will to bear and capture this elusive thought. Hopper glanced about the examination room, noting everything was as it should be - and the man slowly come forwards, noticing Hopper's reluctance and trying to reassure the frightened young Whiptail.

*

"No..." Hopper moaned in his sleep, his paws instinctively clenching and unclenching, as he whimpered and trembled, feeling the nightmare seizing him in its merciless grasp - dragging him down into its cold, frightening depths - and intending to keep him there....

*

Hopper bravely fought the instincts that demanded he flee this stranger, who at first, seemed genuinely concerned and his gentle touches on Hoppers' body didn't distress Hopper too much - the cold stethoscope making him whimper, as the Veterinarian placed it on Hoppers back and chest, listening tot he heightened heart rate of the timid Wallaby. For twenty minutes, the examination seemed to be just routine, before the Vet looked at Hopper and asked him to take is clothing off, on the premise, of a full medical examination.

Again, that furtive thought flickered across Hopper's mind, escaping his mental clutching, and with some hesitation, Hopper relent and done as he was instructed. He carefully placed his clothes on the chair, then stood naked, as the Veterinarian walked around him, noting Hopper's ears folding flat and his weak trembling. Taking some measurements with a tape ruler, the Veterinarian didn't take down any notes, and Hopper never thought twice about it...

A low, moan escaped the Veterinarian's throat, as he stood behind hopper, and fear sent an electrifying pulse down Hopper's back. His nostrils flared and he smelt the scent of the Veterinarian, which changed from calm and receptive, to a new scent, Hopper had never experienced. He whimpered and swallowed nervously, before his ears flashed backwards and he heard the unmistakable click of the door being locked behind him. Hopper whimpered, then began trembling helplessly, as the Vet returned and laid a hand on Hoppers shoulder, then leaned in close, breathing heavily against Hopper's back-swept ears.

"Listen to me, little Doe..." Husked the man, as he trailed his fingers up Hopper's slender neck.

"Sir...I'm not a Doe..." Hopper stammered, his trembling growing more pronounced.

"Shut up..." Growled the man lustfully, as he suddenly slapped a hand over Hoppers muzzle, silencing Hopper's immediate squeals.

Hopper struggled wildly, by he was no match for the human who easily overpowered him, forcing him down onto his belly - then there was a clicking sound behind Hopper, and he tried to turn his head - but the an merely grunted and slammed Hopper back down to the floor, crushing the oxygen from Hopper's lungs. With one smooth stroke, the Veterinarian slid the narrow gauge needle into Hopper's nape, and depressed the trigger. Hopper screamed and struggled, his cries barely a whisper due to the humans hand holding Hopper's muzzle tightly shut, as Hopper struggled and thrashed, feeling a bone-sapping coldness spreading through his body - his muscles going limp and within seconds, Hopper was almost completely paralysed by the powerful tranquilliser.

Roughly, the man grasped Hopper by the base of his tail and his slender wrists, before picking him up and dumping him on the white sheeted examination bed. Hopper lay helpless, on his back, as the man smirked and looked at the groggy, helpless Hopper with a look of unmistakable lust.

"What...did you do...to me..." Hopper gurgled, his tongue feeling like a block of wood in his mouth.

"Shut up!" Hissed the man, as he unbuckled his belt and then his trousers. "Just shut up..."

Giving Hopper a cruel, predatory grin, he man began rubbing a strange scented cream along his exposed penis, preparing himself for what he was sure, was going to please himself immensely - for this heavily sedated, young buck...not at all... As he forced himself under Hopper's tail, Hopper arched his back and tried to scream, but the humans hand come down on Hopper's muzzle like a clamp...

*

"NO!" Hopper shrieked, as he felt a hand touch his belly, and instinctively, he snapped awake, his paws locking and claws slashing violently across the human hand that had touched him.

Katy shrieked in agony, as Hoppers short, blunt claws tore across the back of her hand, gouging five deep furrows through the flesh, and he snatched her hand back and clutched it to her breast, tears welling in her eyes as she stared at Hopper, who took one look into her eyes, then rolled away and fled back inside, crying helplessly and overcome with grief and fear. He rushed past staff members, barely dodging them, before he barricaded himself into a recovery room, where he collapsed onto the mattress and curled up, eyes streaming tears and shaking helplessly.

He never meant to hurt Katy - the one human, in all his life - he genuinely felt he could trust - it had been an instinctive, primitive reaction to being woken from the terrifying nightmare - and he did not know what was going to happen to him now - he just curled up tighter and tighter, then began crying hysterically - overcome with fear, guilt and the cloying memories of the nightmare - that he had long fought to keep suppressed in his mind.

*

Katy found Hopper an hour Later, as she reached out a bandaged had and unlocked the door with a key, before cautiously stepping into the recovery room - a part of her mind noticing it was the same room where Hopper had fled before. She quietly stepped closer, but realising now how fast Hopper could react to a sudden fright, she kept a wary distance, then sat on a chair, facing him.

"Hopper..." Katy began, then swallowed and glanced at her bandaged hand. "Hopper, please...come here."

"No!" Hopper wailed, curling up even tighter.

"Hopper, please - we...I need to apologise. I didn't...I did not know you were sleeping - I did not mean to frighten you like that...." Katy sighed, then rose from the chair and began pacing the room.

"You hate me..." Hopper squealed, his voice becoming more feral, as his fear grew.

"Hopper...no...no my sweet, frightened young buck...I don't hate you. You...you acted out of instinct - you struck out in fear - of what, I don't know, I should not have woken you, I...I'm sorry."

Hopper twitched, his ears twisting backwards, as he heard Katy cautiously approach, then when she touched his shoulder fearfully, he flinched and trembled, before turning his head slightly and glancing at her with a look of pure fear and confusion.

"Please...please don't punish me..." Hopper whimpered piteously.

"Punish...no, Hopper - it was an accident - nothing more. You...you were...It was my fault. I forgot how frightened you are...you've been making such wonderful progress - and I...I just didn't think, come on, please...please don't cry sweety - you're such a shy, gentle and sweet natured buck - I hate to see you afraid and crying. Its alright...nobody is angry with you - least of all me..."

Hopper sniffled, before he slowly stood, then to Katy's surprise, he twisted about and clutched at her, burying his muzzle against her chest and sobbing heart-brokenly.

"Please...please keep that man away..." Hopper wailed, his paws grasping Katy's coat with a tightening grasp.

"What...what man?" Katy blinked, not understanding Hopper's frightened cries.

What human had so traumatised this young buck? Could it be something from Hopper's memory? Some memory he had repressed so deeply in his mind...he had reverted to an almost child-like mentality, to try and protect himself from? Katy did not have any answers for Hopper - all she could do, was gently hold him, letting him cry and wonder what on earth had triggered this terrible setback with Hopper...

To Be Continued...