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Sanctuary Shadows

Chapter Six

© Cederwyn Whitefurr

2nd March, 2024

All Rights Reserved.

The air hung heavy with the scent of death and blood as Misty cowered in the woods, Rachel beside her. They had disobeyed Dr. Kale's orders, not regrouping at the designated rendezvous – Rachel placing her trust in Misty. The nervous young Red Kangaroo was weak, exhausted, and panting, leading them in a circle that ultimately brought them back to the sanctuary.

“Misty, it's too dangerous -" Rachel whispered.

Misty merely flicked an ear and grunted something Rachel didn't understand. Something compelled her; she couldn't find the words, but she knew instinctively the danger had passed – at least temporarily.

Carefully, Misty crawled out of the woodlands, pausing to scent the air. Her tubular ears swished to and fro before she hopped another dozen times, repeating the same movement. Rachel followed, placing her entire faith and trust in Misty's much sharper senses. As Misty stood upright, her eyes fixated on something in the pre-dawn light, a quiver rippling through her.

Cautiously, Rachel crawled over, then stood up, squinting in the direction Misty's unblinking attention lay – then the realization of what Misty was looking at turned Rachel's blood to ice water.

“No, no, no!" Rachel squealed in pure marsupial agony, bounding across the field towards the body.

There, lying still against the canvas of the sanctuary's grassy expanse, was Dr. Kale. His unusually vibrant eyes were glazed, and his body lay motionless, surrounded by the aftermath of the brutal battle. Rachel's heart shattered in her chest as she gripped his corpse, shaking him and crying out, tears sliding down her muzzle.

“Dr. Kale!" Rachel shrieked, her voice a mix of grief and panic. “No, my love, please... Please wake up!"

Misty approached slowly, her ears drooping, as if sensing the man, the buck she had known, was gone. Rachel, tears streaking down her face, clutched his lifeless head to her pouch, her heartbroken sobbing tearing her apart.

Misty suddenly stood upright, her head snapping around and ears pricking forwards. At first, it was one, then five, twenty, more! Individually, or in a small group, eastern grey kangaroos slowly crawled or hopped out of the forest. It was like they were instinctively drawn here, called by someone, or something – beyond their ability to comprehend. They kept their distance, their large, dark silhouettes visible in the pre-dawn light.

With a nervous grunt and a clutching motion with her paws, Misty tried to get Rachel's attention – but Rachel was beyond paying attention – her grief over losing her mate had too strong a grip on her heart and mind.

One of the kangaroos, a young doe, hopped over, seemingly unafraid, her own eyes welling with tears. She bowed down and coughed in submission to Misty, then rose and used her leathery paw pads to wipe at her eyes.

“Doctor Kale..." spoke the doe quietly, her lips trembling as she fought her grief.

Oblivious, the young doe was unaware as Misty edged closer, sniffing her scent and realising, like Rachel, she too was a grey kangaroo therian – then Misty quivered, getting the faintest hint of a floral scent – one she vaguely recalled from one of the staff members.

With a nervous twitch, the young doe turned and looked sideways at Misty. “Yes... I'm... Stacy. I worked the front desk. I also assisted Rachel with your rehabilitation... You might not remember, there's me, Rachel, Dr. Kale..."

Her voice broke, and she burst into fresh sobbing, grieving alongside Rachel for her lost friend and Therian. Slowly, others approached, a male who was almost the same height as Dr. Kale, yet slender and more effeminate of build, then another buck – finally, a doe.

Misty crawled away, leaving the grieving Therians to their mourning, as she shivered and realised just how alone she really was. Misty was a therian as well – but these were not her kind – their grief was primal, raw, and heartbreaking – but Misty found she could not weep for Dr. Kale. If anything, she felt – nothing – it was as if the person who had saved her life, literally, was a stranger to her.

“We need to honour him," Rachel sobbed piteously, laying the buck's head down on the ground, then wrapping the sobbing young doe in her arms and awkwardly holding her.

“He was my mate – my... husband..." Rachel whimpered, trying to be brave for her fellow brothers and sister Therian's, their muzzles wreathed in tears and their grief insurmountable. “Emily, be strong sister, he's at peace now..."

“How... how did - “ came the broken, anguished cries from Stacy. “We've been here for twenty years – how many... brothers and sisters have we saved? How many have been sent to the refuge, free from hunting and persecution? Where these... these..."

Stacy glared at the dead Hunter, her paws contracting into fists, as her eyes went from brown to ink-black.

One of the large males, sensing the darkness within Stacy, immediately grappled with her. His strong muscles rippled and contracted as he held her tight against his chest and belly.

Stacy, consumed with the dark Therian's presence, struggled wildly in his iron-like grasp.

Rachel shuddered and turned on her, then with a sharp slap to Stacy's muzzle, stared her down until her eyes returned to their deep brown.

“Now is not the time, sister; we must honour him. He dedicated his life to saving us, protecting us, helping us and our kind to find safety and sanctuary..."

As the sun crested the distant horizon, sending its first rays streaking across the sky, Rachel addressed the two males.

“Liam, Jackson... Please, I need you both to shift back. Emily, prepare the staff shower please – we will bathe Dr... I mean, Leonard. It is the least we can do for him; then we will cremate him in the sanctuary. Now they know about – about us, where we are... We cannot remain here. There are enough oxygen cylinders and other materials... the fire will destroy the building... and turn my beloved mate's remains to ashes."

Misty, observing the grief-stricken scene, felt an unfamiliar weight in her chest. The connection she had forged with Rachel and, to a lesser extent, Dr Kale, and even lesser again – the others, seemed to unravel in the face of the mourning Therians. Unsettled and alone, Misty decided to retreat to the outskirts of the sanctuary, seeking solace in the quiet shadows beneath an Eucalyptus tree.

As Rachel coordinated the preparations for Dr. Kale's final farewell, Misty's keen senses detected movement at the sanctuary's perimeter. The air carried the scent of Hunters, lingering like a sinister omen. Instinctively, Misty's ears twitched as she stood up on her toes, her head twisting from side to side, trying to zero in on what caused the disturbance.

Meanwhile, Rachel, Liam, and Jackson, the two males having reverted to their human form, carried Dr. Kale's lifeless body into the building. Emily, though stricken with her own grief, prepared the shower, and Liam and Jackson washed Dr. Kale's body clean from ears to toes. Others busied themselves inside and out, moving the heavy oxygen cylinders and other tanks, draining gasoline from the van outside, and gathering flammable liquids.

Dr Kale's corpse was laid on a gurney, then covered with a blanket – each of the Therians, in turn, taking a moment or two to privately grieve over him, before Rachel herself kissed his forehead and covered his head.

“Now we shall honour him, in the way our kind has since time immemorial. His soul is at peace; his body is now – nothing but an empty shell. Rest now, my love..." Rachel sniffled, barely holding herself together.

As Liam and Jackson uncapped the fuel cans, Rachel's grief burst forth anew, and she fled the building. They covered his body, splashed more around, and opened the tanks – quickly heading out the back.

“Vale, Leonard..." Rachel wept unashamedly.

“Vale, Dr. Kale - “ came the murmurs of the gathered Therians.

As they prepared for the cremation, Misty approached cautiously, her senses heightened. She urgently grunted, tugged, and clawed at Rachel until she turned and looked at the red kangaroo. Misty's eyes were wide in fright, and she articulated as best she could with her paws, trying to communicate her fear and warning.

Frustrated, Misty bounded over, clawed at the dead Hunter, then pointedly looked down at it, then up at Rachel – repeating the gesture again, before looking towards the road.

“No..." Rachel moaned, her paws slapping to her muzzle as her eyes widened. “Brothers, sisters! Hear me, now!"

Instantly, the Therians turned to stare at Misty, their eyes slowly widening in shock and horror.

Liam struck a road flare, then tossed it into the building, before all of them turned and ran – uncertain of what was about to happen... behind them, there was a whoosh and then an ear-shattering whomp as the fuel vapour ignited with the oxygen. A massive fireball exploded the windows of the buildings, and acrid, black smoke curled into the air as the building itself caught alight.

“My brothers and sisters, for the love I hold for you, and for each other – flee! Scatter, retreat however you can! Make your way to the sanctuary, our true sanctuary... go, now!" Rachel shrieked at them.

Misty's heart raced as she fixated on the white van that slowed and eventually came to a half not far from the now-burning sanctuary building. The familiar sound, shape and colour reminded her of the one she was trapped in – the one that was taking her to an unspeakable fate. A shiver ran down her spine, and an overwhelming fear paralysed her.

Rachel, sensing Misty's terror, screamed her name and shook the frozen red kangaroo until Misty snapped her head around, eyes wide and fearful.

“Don't think, just run! Quickly now!" Rachel's urgent voice penetrated Misty's fear. The echoes of what they'd done to her mingled with her present danger, urging Misty to move.

With a surge of adrenaline, Misty broke free from her paralysed state. Without a second thought, she bounded away from the burning sanctuary, her powerful hind legs propelling her forward. The memories of her entrapment fuelled her terror, urging her to escape the potential threat.

Behind her, the flames consumed the sanctuary buildings, the acrid smoke billowing into the air. The other Therians, alerted by Rachel's terrified cry, scattered in all directions, their minds filled with horror and fear, seeking safety in the face of an unknown peril.

As Misty dove and weaved amongst the increasingly thickening forest, her mind replayed the haunting memories of her capture and confinement, impelling the terrified young doe to flee for her life in a primal instinctive urge – Rachel desperately trying to keep up.

*

White-faced, the innocent motorist stared at the burning sanctuary. Her body shook as she looked at the bundled-up crying joey in the makeshift pouch. Quickly, he called emergency services, alerting them to the conflagration.

“I guess little one..." The lady stared in horror struck out the windscreen. “I got to find you another home..."

*

Misty's breaths came in ragged gasps as she tore through the dense underbrush, the echoes of the sanctuary's destruction haunting her every hop. The urgent pounding of her heart pounded in her ears, drowning out any rational thought. Rachel struggled to keep pace, her cries for Misty to slow falling on deaf ears.

Whilst the forest offered concealment, Misty's instincts urged her to go deeper, to put as much distance as possible between herself and the burning remnants of the sanctuary. The memories of her time in Hunter captivity clung to her, a relentless phantom driving her ever forwards.

As they sprinted through the woods, the distant wail of sirens pierced the air, announcing the arrival of emergency services responding to the sanctuary inferno. Meanwhile, Misty's fear-fuelled flight led her into the heart of the forest, where the shadows seemed to embrace her. Rachel, though struggling to match Misty's speed, refused to let go, her unwavering determination evident in every strained step.

The forest offered an alien sanctuary to Misty's mind, a maze of ancient trees and winding trails. Misty's mind, torn between past trauma and present dangers, wrestled with the chaos within. The echoes of captivity, the scent of the sanctuary burning, and the adrenaline-fuelled urgency formed a cacophony of sensations that threatened to overwhelm her.

As they raced deeper into the unknown, Misty's acute senses detected a subtle shift in the air – the scent of damp earth and moss, a stark contrast to the acrid smell of smoke that lingered behind. The forest, despite the threat Misty felt it posed, suddenly offered an odd comfort, a refuge from the known and unknown perils.

A small, clear stream drew Misty like a magnet, her muscles aching and throat parched – she didn't even hesitate as she dropped down into a crouch and began drinking as fast as she could swallow.

Rachel paused, standing upright, her long ears twitching to and fro, as she listened for potential threats or dangers, grateful for the momentary respite before she too joined Misty in drinking. At last, their thirst slaked, Rachel placed a paw on Misty's quivering neck.

“No, no more running, there's an old cottage not far from here, we'll rest there tonight, and then I'll need to procure transport. It's a long way to our refuge, where we will be safe – I promise." Rachel spoke quietly, but the determination in her voice made the frightened Misty acquiesce to her.

When they'd rested for a while, Rachel rose and shook herself off, Misty meekly following, her fear still spiked high as she kept looking around and over her shoulder – as if she expected to see those that she suspected hunted them – right behind her.

*

Misty slept fitfully, Rachel even worse, despite her aching muscles and heightened awareness. She kept waking up and listening then scenting the air, that niggling fear constantly making her twitch as the sound of a falling branch or an animal browsing or breaking a twig sent her adrenaline spiking.

You're being paranoid – Her inner Therian laughed at her. What proof is there that there – is – a second team? Think they'd stop in plain sight so you could get a warning they were coming for you both? For any of you? Think, doe, you – do – have a brain between those ears, don't you?

Rachel did he best to block out the whispers in her mind, desperately fighting to suppress them once more, as she'd been taught. Looking at the quivering and trembling doe beside her, Rachel gently placed a paw on Misty's shoulder, the exhausted doe not even twitching.

“Sleep young one, I will get us to safety, I promise..." Rachel murmured, bracing herself against the wall and sitting awkwardly, her thick, black-tipped tail between her hind legs.

It was a long, miserable night for Rachel, as she stayed awake, keeping watch over her young charge – and mourning the loss of her husband and mate...

*

A gentle shaking roused Rachel from her exhausted sleep, and with a startled grunt, her eyes snapped open and she slashed out with her curved claws on her paws. Thankfully, the human who had touched her – was far enough back to avoid the slicing claws.

“Woah, easy Rachel – it's me! Dr. Mercer!" He yelped in fright.

Rachel shuddered and shook her head, fully awakening, her body trembling in fright. “Dr. Mercer? You scared the hell out of me!"

Beside her, Misty slept, oblivious – despite the noise.

“Is she... alright?" Dr. Mercer asked, looking down at Misty.

Rachel shuddered and used the backs of her paws to rub at her eyes. “Misty's exhausted – poor thing. How did you - “

Dr. Mercer smiled weakly. “You think you're the only one who knew about this place? I was lost in the woods for a long time, until I found footprints – two – sets of kangaroo footprints, and guess where they lead me?"

You want to get caught, tortured and killed you foolish doe? Her dark Therian mocked her. That is how you do it – why not just lead the Hunter's straight to both of you?

“I wasn't..." Rachel began, before she looked away, the pain and grief still too raw, like an open wound.

Seeing the expression on her face, Dr. Mercer looked away, trying to mask his grief.

“We can't stay here – do you have a car? Some way we can - “ Rachel's voice began to quiver, as she gently shook Misty, the exhausted kangaroo fighting her way out of deep sleep and looking at Dr. Mercer, her eyes wide and nervous. “Easy Misty, easy – it's Dr. Mercer, remember? He's a friend..."

Dr. Mercer nodded. “I have my car about three miles away. It won't be comfortable for her – I'm sorry about that, come to think of it... Have you asked her if she can... you know – do what you do?"

Rachel frowned, then scratched at the back of her right ear. “I've... never asked her... I know she's a Therian, like me – but..."

Misty, following the conversation, began grunting and coughing, before she sighed and shook her head.

“You don't know? Or you can't? There's so much about you that we don't know Misty..." Rachel gently patted her. “You can't speak – like I do, so how can we communicate? I doubt you could hold a pen between your paws – not that I expect you'd even be able to write... No, you were raised in the wild, so... In time, I hope, I can teach you to read and write, even if it's just scratching with a claw on the dirt – it'd help us understand you."

Misty looked up at Rachel, then slowly pulled herself up onto all fours, before she shuddered and gave a wide yawn, shaking her head. Rachel understood that all too well.

“Three miles..." Rachel shuddered, then crouched down and rubbed at her aching thighs, feeling the tense musculature beneath the fur. “It's going to feel more like thirty..."

*

Misty curled up uncomfortably in the back seat of Dr. Mercer's 4WD, her muscles tense and sore from the recent ordeal. The rhythmic hum of the engine and the occasional bump in the road only added to her growing displeasure and discomfort. The drive felt endless, the only thing she could see from where she lay was the occasional tree and the gathering storm clouds.

Rachel, having reverted to her human form and borrowing some clothes from Dr. Mercer, stole glances at Misty from the front seat. She could see Misty's unhappy expression, and began to wonder if travelling like this was bringing back terrible memories – or if the poor red kangaroo was getting car sick. However, the urgency of their situation left little room for comfort.

Dr Mercer concentrated on the road ahead, occasionally checking the rearview mirror. His thoughts were a mixture of concern for Misty and the weight of what had transpired back at the Sanctuary. The reality of the loss of Dr. Kale and the destruction of their haven hung heavy on his heart.

The journey continued for hours, the monotony broken only by the occasional stops for gas and food. Misty's unease persisted, and the car felt increasingly oppressive. The ache in her cramping muscles and the haunting memories of the recent events made the journey feel like an eternity.

At last, they approached their destination, the landscape turning into fields and farmlands. Misty, curious, managed to pull herself up high enough to look out the window, her eyes taking in the surroundings through which they passed. Rachel, glancing around, felt a sense of comfort come over her, recognising the familiar landmarks that led to the refuge where the surviving Therian's knew to come – those they'd sent before over the years living there, or close by.

Finally, the 4WD turned onto a dirt path, then the tyres thudded across the steel cattle grid and drove down the driveway that led to their sprawling refuge farmstead. It was nestled in a remote area and was a haven for Therians seeking safety and community. It was a place known only to those humans who could be trusted implicitly, a secret sanctuary, safeguarded by the bonds of trust amongst its inhabitants – be they Therian or Human.

At last, the 4WD pulled to a stop, and Misty, though still uncomfortable, drew deeply of the fresh air as Rachel opened her door. The refuge, surrounded by nature and hidden from the prying eyes of those who would hurt them, was a place where the therians could regroup, mourn their losses, and plan their next moves.

As Misty was helped from the car, Misty instinctively crouched and moved behind Rachel, her fearful gaze looking around at the strangers – both kangaroo and human.

Crouching down, Rachel gently took Misty's paws in her hands, fixating Misty's gaze on her eyes.

“It's alright Misty, I promise. This is a safe place for our kind. I understand you're scared, but it's alright. We are safe here – no one here will hurt you, or frighten you. Come, I'll take you to a place where you can rest and get some food, will that be okay?" Rachel soothingly rubbed the back of Misty's paws with her thumbs.

Fearfully, Misty stayed close to Rachel, who led her around the side of the farmhouse, and then out to a separate little bungalow. Here, she opened the door and stepped inside, Misty quickly following.

“Here's a bed for you, a proper bed, not a mattress on a floor, you're free to come and go around the farmstead – you're perfectly safe here Misty, I promise. We're self-sufficient, we have Dr. Mercer and another vet, a fully functional operating room and recovery room – in case one of us gets hurt..."

Misty looked worried and concerned, her fear radiating from her in verifiable scent Rachel didn't need to be in her marsupial form to comprehend. Carefully, she crouched down, gently enfolding Misty in a gentle hug.

“You don't have to be afraid anymore Misty – any of us, human or Therian – would die to protect you. You've become a part of our family, as it were. For the first time, Misty, truly... you're safe, none of us will frighten you, hurt you, or drive you out... I promise."

Misty sniffled, looking up into Rachel's warm, brown eyes.

“Yes Misty, you're finally safe..." Rachel smiled, then leaned forward and lightly kissed Misty between the ears.

END OF CHAPTER ONE