A Star is Transformed: Part 14
Hunter finally has to return to the human world, but not before planning out the exciting future of her career with the studio.
End of the mating season arc. This is a very emotional chapter. If that's not your thing, then fear not, as the next part I have planned will be a light and fun one to help Terry get out of his human world funk. Hope you all enjoy!
Hunter packed the last of her things in her suitcase, wiping her furred brow with a satisfied exhale. This mating season trip was the most incredible thing she'd ever taken part in, but like all good things, it had to end some time. At the very least, she would be leaving this lodge spent and satisfied. The amount of sex she had these past two weeks alone simply couldn't be quantified with two paws, and it was certainly far more than her human body could have endured. It was a shame that her new semester started before the end of mating season, otherwise she'd be able to get her rut on for longer.
With a zip of her bag and the extension of its handle, Hunter finally rolled the wheeled suitcase out of the room and down the stairs, where the rest of her lodge guests were waiting. Nick, Jonah, Rudd, Doe, Allison, Sven, Kiera, Flissa, and Jordana all stood in the living room. Everyone was ready to leave. Well... almost everyone...
“Anybody seen Julie?” Jonah asked, bare claws clicking against the hardwood floor.
“She said she had to get one last thing from our room,” Kiera replied, her wedding ring glinting on the digit of her paw. Since her marriage with Julie, Kiera had been on Cloud 9. Their mating had never felt so amorous, so passionate, even within the past six years they'd been romantically involved. It was the best honeymoon the two lovers could ever ask for, but they also couldn't wait to return home and start their brand new lives together.
“By the way, Hunter,” Rudd announced, “I just got a call from Jeremiah. He's got a slew of meetings lined up for you as soon as you make it back to the city.”
Hunter chuckled, “Couldn't even wait for me to settle back in?”
“Well, you are returning to the human world right away. Gotta capitalize on your limited availability now that you're a hot commodity.”
“Mmmhmm. Well I suppose it's my duty as your new star. Tell the old bull that I'll be there first thing in the afternoon.”
Rudd smiled and nodded, ready to start the next phase of their transformation porn project together. Doe cut in to wrap an arm around Hunter's waist. “Look at you, negotiating like a natural. You've really grown as my protege, kitten.”
Hunter smiled and nuzzled the doe, “Meewwrr, I only learned from the best, after all.” She leaned in to lovingly lick the cervine's muzzle, only for them to be interrupted by the arrival of Julie, padding into the living room with a look of wide-eyed shock.
Kiera stood straight upon seeing her wife in such a state. “Julie? Wh-What's the matter, hun?”
“I...” Julie croaked, her paws behind her back. “I know we promised to wait until we got back home, but I couldn't hold it in any longer.” With one fluid motion, she pulled her paws out from behind her back and showed something held in one:
A pregnancy test, with a big red plus sign on it. Kiera's legs weakened at the sight, shuddering at the news.
“We're gonna be mothers, Kiera!” Julie exclaimed with tears in her eyes. The cat lunged in to embrace her wedded skunk as tightly as possible, the skunk's jaw agape at the news. The two began to laugh and cry with sheer happiness, both feeling more connected and in love than ever before. The rest of the crew could only gasp in approval, happy to see one of their stars take this overwhelming step forward.
Allison and Sven padded closer to rest their paws on the couple. “Congratulations, you two!” the vixen beamed. “And welcome to the ex-human cub-bearers club, Julie. If you guys ever have questions, feel free to message me and Sven. We've been around this block many times now, and we know everything two budding parents need to know.”
“This is glorious day!” shouted Sven in his vaguely Scandinavian accent. “Stock up on diapers ahead of time. So many likeminded couples also breed in mating season. Baby stuff often sold out nine months from now. You thank us later.”
Kiera chuckled lightly and lightly pounded the husky's shoulder. “Thanks for the heads-up, Sven. And feel free to expend your fatherly wisdom to me. I am like the dad of this mateship, after all.”
As Sven laughed heartily, Julie turned to a certain leopardess standing frozen in the corner. “Come join us, Hunter! We have you to thank, after all!”
Hunter nodded shakily and stepped forward to the celebrating couple. She knew what she was signing up for, breeding Julie that night, but it was still so surreal to hear out loud. She had just fathered a child. A non-human. A cub. The reality of it all dawned on her feline mind, as once-latent instincts awoke in the vestiges of her mind. Food. Find food for mother. Must feed cubs inside womb. Fulfill your role as father. Hunt for kin. It took every ounce of her human rationale to shake those instincts aside to allow Kiera, the real co-parent of this child, the attention and celebration she deserved.
The snow leopard finally wrapped them both in her arms, hugging them tightly. “I'm so happy for you two! You're gonna be wonderful mothers, I can already tell.”
“Thank you, Hunter. For everything,” Julie purred sweetly. “You've given us so much. I don't know how we'll ever repay you.”
“Oh, guys, you never have to. Just getting to be a part of your family, no matter how small, is enough for me.” Hunter kissed both mammals on the cheek, alternating between muzzles. Their tails swayed happily, the three unified with love for each other and for their cub (or cubs) to be.
After a heartfelt goodbye with Allison and Sven, everyone took their separate cars, with Hunter driving Kiera, Julie, and Doe back to town. It took a while to get used to the anthro model of cars, as well as pedaling with her hind paws, but eventually she got the hang of it. The four girls couldn't stop chatting about Julie's baby, their shared excitement of motherhood spreading. Doe offered every baby name under the sun, while Hunter wondered whether it would be a boy, a girl, or a whole litter. Both Doe and Kiera were only-cubs, and they said the chances of it being one versus a litter were an even 50/50. Regardless, Julie and Kiera were ready for whatever life threw at them.
After four hours on the open road, the girls' car finally made it to the freeway leading to downtown Groveside. The hustle and bustle of town practically assaulted their animal ears, having gotten used to the peace and quiet of the lodge these past two weeks. Traffic seemed to flow normally, even as public rutting was at an all-time high. Many groups and couples were openly fucking on the sidewalk, in the park, at restaurant patios. The movie theaters still had long lines extending outside of them, too. Hunter could only imagine just how many of those anthros were in line to see her film, whether for the first, second, third, or even fourth time. The phenomenon of Hunter Prey seemed to only be gaining speed rather than slowing down. The snow leopardess could only imagine just how busy her new life would become.
Eventually, they made it to the Ruttweiler Studios lot, where far more cars than normal were parked while a row of paparazzi stood behind the fence wanting to snap photos of the human star's arrival. Gods, how'd they know we'd be here already? Hunter thought to herself. Damn vultures worked fast. Well, not vultures but... Phew, it would take a while to unlearn some of her human colloquialisms.
“On three, we'll leave the car together,” Doe instructed, having been through the paparazzi rigmarole many times already. “One, two, three!”
All four mammals exited the vehicle, causing the cameras to erupt with flashes. Doe, Julie, and Kiera formed a wall over Hunter, shielding her from the cameras' prying gazes and invasive flashes. They stayed in formation until they reached the studio door, entering the building and leaving the camerapeople with the bluest of balls.
Hunter, Doe, Kiera, and Julie entered the conference room to a stunning sight. Every seat besides the four reserved for them was filled. Jeremiah and Rudd were on one end, of course, but sitting on the sides were a parade of anthro men and women of varying species, all wearing the sleekest of suits. It was clear that they were producers, and they all wanted a piece of the Hunter Prey pie. Each of them stood up at the sight of the magnificent snow leopardess standing in front of them.
“Welcome, Miss Prey,” greeted Jeremiah. “We were just discussing you. Oh, and sorry I couldn't make it to the wedding, Julie and Kiera. I've been busy, as you can see.”
“No worries, Stud,” Julie said. “What have you got for us?”
“Well, let's all have a seat before we get started.” The four porn stars took their seats, facing the rows of producers surrounding them on both sides of the conference desk. “Hunter, literally every adult film producer in Groveside called asking to co-produce something with us. With you, to be frank. I took the liberty of narrowing down the field to some candidates I feel would suit you and Mister Wyler's tastes.” Wyler smiled to Hunter from the opposite end of the desk. Hunter smiled back, happy to be having this meeting with a friend and industry know-it-all like him to guide her. “Let's start from this side, shall we...?”
Every producer in the room stood up and gave their pitch to Hunter, each with a take on how to do a transformation porn with their own spin on it. Some were promising, such as peacock producers Violet and Gil Threadfeather detailing one in which she'd play a human test subject being experimented on by sadistic anthro transformation scientists, or tiger mogul Zane Talbot's idea for Hunter to star with and be rutted by a very famous male porn star named Kit Bellfry, who Doe assured was a great costar and a sexy puma.
Others were... less than promising. A rather sleazy-looking boxer-terrier named Taine T. Swallow wanted Hunter to do a cameo in a sorority slasher movie in which she played human coed who gets transformed during a ubiquitous horror movie sex scene... before getting beheaded by a killer named Thistlemaw. Another was clearly not a film producer but involved with a porn app, wanting her to do promotion for their service. It was clear that other industries wanted to capitalize on Hunter's stardom and this new transformation trend in a very quick and easy way without actually understanding the appeal of what she and Rudd did.
Thankfully, the last producer, a female kangaroo named Lizzie Bounder, managed the best pitch of the day: “So, I and my company represent an up-and-coming name in the adult film talent pool. Not one, not two, not three, not even four... but five actors who all star as a group.”
“Heh, like a boy band?” Hunter joked, resulting in a confused tilt of the head from the anthro producers. Hmm, I guess if they do have boy bands in this world, they go by a different term.
Lizzie continued, “My clients are a first in the industry. They're the first ever wolf pack in porn history, and all five of them act together for films involving group sex.”
“Ooohh shit, I've heard of these guys!” Doe exclaimed. “We talking the Moonblood Pack?”
“The very same, Miss Adira!” Lizzie smiled before turning back to Hunter. “Just imagine it. You, a lone human, being fucked and rutted by five wolves of varying genders, taking in their knots in as many holes as you can fit...”
Hunter tried her damnedest to hide the tent in her skirt, already panting at the idea.
“...and just when you think you can't handle anymore, you yourself are turned into a wolf and inducted into the pack.”
“Ahnn, fuuuhhckk,” Hunter moaned, not even hiding how hot the idea got her. The other producers took note of this, realizing their pitches paled in comparison. “I would love to do something like that, Lizzie. Very much up my alley.”
“Glad to hear it, Miss Prey.”
“Yes, it is a great idea for sure,” Rudd interrupted. “But with one logistical problem. We can't control what Hunter turns into. There's still much we don't know about the process and it can be quite unpredictable, which is both part of the magic and a severe creative limitation for scenarios. Don't get me wrong, we'd love for her to costar with an emerging talent like the Moonblood Pack. But I think the success of this idea hinges on her transformation into a wolf specifically, culminating in her joining the pack that changed her in the first place. It wouldn't quite work as well if we filmed such an intense and thematically resonant sex scene, only for her to change into a mountain lion.”
Lizzie and Hunter nodded, knowing the rottweiler had a point. Jeremiah cut in, “It really is a fantastic idea, though. We'd love to make it work, someday.”
The kangaroo sighed, “Well, I do hope we learn more about the process soon, because it's such a grand opportunity.”
“Indeed,” Hunter added. “And I'm sure if worst comes to worst, we can find another project that'll get me and the Moonbloods together.”
“Wonderful. We'll keep in contact for sure!”
Hunter's heart fluttered for a moment, still not used to being treated like an important figure by the bigshots like this. Just the idea of her having her pick among a variety of options was a welcome change of pace from being left with no choice but to be railroaded through minimum wage hell, barely scraping out of poverty to afford college.
Jeremiah stood up from his chair. “Thank you all for coming and lending us your time. We'll keep in touch with you all on our final decisions.” Everyone stood up from their chairs, the conga line of producers nodding to Hunter and the girls as they walked past and left. Eventually it was just the actors, the producer, and the director left in the room. “So, what do we think? Anything we wanna fast track?”
Julie raised her paw. “I wanna see her get experimented on by scientists. It's a classic transformation premise in the human world, and it would work great here too.”
Hunter nodded, “Absolutely. And why don't we get that puma guy Kit Bellfry to play the scientist? Two birds with one stone?”
Jeremiah and Rudd tilted their heads. “Two birds with one stone?” the bull asked. “What the hell kind of phrase is that?”
“Sorry, it's a human expres— It means taking care of two things with one action, like, being efficient.”
“Ugh, you humans and your phrases... That said, it's not a bad idea. Every porn star under the sun wants to work with you now. Getting a variety of costars that aren't just Doe and Julie will help keep the transformations fresh.”
“Can't believe I'm agreeing with you on that,” Rudd complied. “Considering our improvisational shooting style, getting their natural reactions to how the transforming process works will do wonders for our formula of sorts.”
Doe stood up. “Well, don't forget about us. We still need gigs to pay the bills and we're under contract.”
Rudd smiled, “Fear not, we'll reunite you all with Hunter every now and then. You're all A-listers now, not just Doe, and a good old-fashioned star vehicle will help build up and diversify our library.”
“Even me?” Kiera asked innocently.
Rudd nodded back, confirming her suspicions. “You especially, Kiera. After video of that Q+A got leaked online, everyone kept buzzing about the fact that a non-actor managed to put out such a performance.”
Kiera's muzzle went slack. It felt surreal being on the same level of stardom as her wife after years of modestly being “the regular one” of the relationship. Julie smiled and nuzzled her skunk. “Well, now that we know I'm pregnant, I won't be able to act as much while I nourish this litter growing inside me. I'll be depending on you to provide for us, this time.”
The skunk's mind burned, gaining new instincts she'd never contended with before. Provide for cubs. Provide for mate. Hunter saw the look in her eyes, seeing Kiera go through exactly the instinctual surplus that she'd been going through. They truly were co-parents now. Kiera smiled at her beloved, the newfound confidence of paternal instinct hitting her like a shot of adrenaline. “Don't worry, my love. I'll shake my tail for the cameras all day for you.” Julie smiled back, feeling warm in the tender embrace of her wife, the other mother of her future cubs.
“Huh, never got the memo you were pregnant, Julie,” Jeremiah chimed. The couple turned to their bull boss.
“Sorry, Stud!” Julie apologized. “I literally just found out this morning.”
“Well congrats. I'd break out a bottle of champagne, but you gotta look out for your cubs now.”
“Heh, thanks for your concern, boss.”
“Hrmph, ain't used being thanked by my employees... Not bad, if I do say so myself.”
“By the way,” Hunter began with a realization, “Is there even a way to find out more about how the transformation process works? Perhaps if we found a way to control it we could get rid of a lot of filmmaking headaches.”
“I for one like the random element of your transformations,” Doe stated. “It feels like tearing open wrapping paper to see the fun surprise inside. Makes it new each time.”
Rudd nodded in agreement. “That's true, and I feel that limitations are important for flexing your creative muscles. Keeps us from being complacent... That said, it would be nice to have at least a little control for some projects. As long as we don't over-rely on it.”
Jeremiah smirked smugly. “Well, I did get another call I was gonna inform you all about. It came from a rather interesting party... The Department of Genetic Research.”
Everyone's ears perked at the mention, all except Hunter, who tilted her head confusedly. “I assume they research genetics??”
“They're the Genetic Researchers,” Rudd corrected. “The best of the best. What the hell do they want with us, though?”
“What don't they want?” the bull bragged. “They've been wanting to learn more about this ex-human phenomenon ever since the film came out, but the Department of Intel's been blocking their efforts for funding. If we fund their research, we will not only gain some valuable data on the transforming process, but also have a government institution in our pocket.”
“Oooh, Stud. Always finding new ways to stuff your pockets to the brim.”
“So I should just ignore their call?”
Rudd sighed. “Nah, you made the right decision. This could be helpful later down the line, especially if we wanna nail that Moonblood gig.”
Hunter nodded along with the girls. “I'm down. Do I need to contribute anything?”
Jeremiah snorted. “Just a few genetic samples. Tufts of fur, blood donations... vials of both your human and anthro fluids.”
“Ahh, want a sniff of my godly cum, don't they,” Hunter said in her most regally feline tone.
“Well, don't give them any until the lawyers draft up some protections,” Doe heeded. “They're not the shadiest government organization, but they're up to some stuff. Without protection, they may use your cum for all sorts of weird experiments, like making mutant babies or some other form of new life that shouldn't be.”
“Well, what if I give them my consent~”
“Ohh, Hunter, you naughty girl—”
“Joking! I'm joking...”
The six laughed in unison, for once all on the same page with their big shot exec. A warmth spread in all their chests, everyone filled with the sparks of creativity and sexual freedom. The entire industry, hell, the entire world was bending to their favor, enraptured with their horny magic. They couldn't wait to share their depraved work with the rest of their viewers, to share in the delights of sex and transformation. This new year was shaping up to be the most exciting in Hunter Prey's life.
The four girls drove back to Kiera and Julie's apartment in total silence, aware that this would be their third goodbye to Hunter. It was always bittersweet, seeing her off on her return to the human world, but it would be especially so this time after mating season allowed Hunter her longest stay yet. The snow leopard was tempted nearly every second to stay in this rapturous form, knowing that the chances of her transforming back into this exact species and gender were very low. Her human self knew that it wouldn't be goodbye to her anthro friends, as she'd be back for more fun and smut in the future.
But it did feel like goodbye to this body.
Hunter hugged herself, squeezing her arms around her stomach as it twisted into knots. Of course she knew she had to go back. She wanted to return to the human world... but not to her human body.
The ex-human slapped her cheeks like a pro athlete psyching themselves up. This was Terry's wake-up call. As soon as he moved into his new apartment, he'd make an effort to live as freely and uninhibited as he did in the anthro world. Well, not as uninhibited, but as much as he could within the social parameters of human society. He promised to himself to be less afraid to be a furry freak, to be a little effeminate, to be more sexually open and adventurous in general. From now on, he'd vow to make it so his human life didn't drag him down.
“You okay, Hun?” Doe asked, noticing her self-slap hype.
“Sorry! Just trying to get myself pumped for going back home.”
“Is that a human ritual? Not sure I get how bapping your face like that gets you pumped.”
“Heh, I'll be honest, it works better when you have flat cheeks and small little hands.”
“Gods, I'll never get tired of learning what weird things you humans do.”
Hunter smiled and rested her head on Doe's shoulder, feeling lucky to have a friend like her on this side of the world. “Thanks for mentoring me through this whole Being a Star thing, Doe.”
Doe nuzzled the leopardess lovingly. “Thanks for being my protege, little starlet.”
Hunter beamed at the sound of that word. 'Starlet'. Something about it resonated within her. She thought about the way it sounded coming out of her muzzle, pronouncing herself with cuteness and cosmic wonder. Starlet... Starlet... Starlet... The leopardess was lost in thought. Perhaps if I transition back home, or choose to stay here permanently... Yeah. That would be a nice, non-pornstar name for me. Starlet Slate.
She frowned again. If only her parents were alive to meet Starlet... to see who she truly was...
Hunter stood before the open closet door, the strange rift still floating within like an interdimensional tear in reality. Leaving had never felt this hard before. She turned back to her three gal pals behind her, all three waiting for her to take the step forward. Julie was first to sense something up with her fellow feline.
“What's wrong, Hunter?”
Hunter choked up a little. “I'm just... I'm gonna miss you guys. And this body. And mating season.”
Doe chuckled. “Heh, don't you just wish it lasted forever?”
Hunter laughed weakly with her... Then sighed, her smile flattening again. She walked up to Julie and held a paw over her gestating stomach. The leopard turned to both her and Kiera. “You two take extra good care of our cubs, got it?”
The two wives nodded back to her. “Of course, Hunter,” Kiera said comfortingly. “And you take good care of yourself back there. We'll keep you posted on the pregnancy with each letter we send, okay?”
Hunter nodded... Then nuzzled her face against the two's cheeks, a forlorn smile on her muzzle. The couple nuzzled her back, then shared kisses with her, treating her as lovingly as they would each other. “We'll see you very soon, okay Hunter?”
“Okay... I love you guys so much.”
Doe clopped over to the group to join in the intimacy. “We love you too, Hunter. Now make sure you fulfill your promise to your parents, or I won't forgive you.”
Hunter smiled, drying the light beads of tears from her eyes. Doe didn't often like talking about her own dead parents, but just that reminder was enough to know the cervine was as invested in Hunter's human life as she was.
The leopardess leaned up to kiss the doe passionately, their muzzles intertwining and tongues dancing. Upon letting go, they stared at each other, Doe blushing under her fur. “Just like I taught you, my protege.”
Hunter nodded to her, happy to have had her first transformation with a friend and lover as tender and warm as her.
With that, she finally separated from the three and stepped closer toward the rift. She turned around for one last look and wave goodbye at her three best friends.
In just two steps, Terry was back in the alley near the abandoned factory, wearing barely fitting feminine clothes on his soft, pinkish skin. He hugged at his chest and patted his butt, feeling the absence of his tits as they had reverted back to flat pectoral, as well as his tail, which was no more. His hair had somehow grown in the weeks spent away, a little shaggier and coarser, as if time continued to pass for his human body even when it wasn't active. Terry sniffed at the air, realizing his keen sense of smell was gone, his inner consciousness a lot quieter now that his feral instincts had been silenced by human rationale.
The human shivered, his warm fur coat no longer there to protect him from the cold wind. Sniffling from the chill in the air, Terry stepped forward until he made it out of the alley and onto the sidewalk, where his apartment building stood across the street. The road was empty, bereft of cars. Feral crows cawed in the sky, adding to the haunted timbre of his ghost town of a neighborhood. No one could even see him with his masculine body wearing feminine clothes, no one to laugh or leer or even so much as pay him mind.
He was alone.
The day passed like any other. A new semester had started, and all students were expected to be present for their new courses on time. Terry made sure to wake up early enough to hop the metro train from his poorer part of town to the more expansive, affluent campus town that neighbored it by a few miles. He made it to each new professor's lecture five minutes early, from his biology courses to his brand new queer studies courses.
Classes seemed to go along without a hitch. Terry drank his coffee, ate lunch at the on-campus cafe, went to the library with his new laptop to work on his first assignments, and then made the metro back home.
Before walking up the stairs to his apartment, he noticed a distinct pink envelope in his mailbox. Terry eagerly took it and ripped it open. It was from Rudd, or rather, Clive as it was signed.
Dear Hunter,
I can't stop thinking about our time together this mating season. I wish I could have been there to see you off back home with the girls, but studio duties call at inopportune times. Maybe someday I can take you on a night out on Groveside, without the added horniness of mating season. We'd just chill and get to know each other. Just the two of us.
Make sure you update us on your new address when you move. Don't want our letters to be found by some human weirdo. :P
Regards,
~Clive Caldwell
Terry smiled, heart fluttering at how comfortable Clive was with using his real name around her. A part of her wanted to not even go up her stairs, just barging straight through the rift so she could spend another night with the rottweiler, or with Julie and Kiera, or Doe, or...
But he couldn't. He had a bunch of reading to take care of with his new textbooks. He couldn't fall behind. Not when he was this close...
Three more days passed, with Terry finally packing his paltry amount of belongings up in two separate boxes in time for his move. The new apartment was ready and waiting, and he managed to get through this interim in the old apartment without further fanning the flames of his roommate Derrick's suspicions. Speaking of Derrick, the young human roommate emerged from the living room, eyeing up the boxes he was set to move out with.
“That's all your stuff, man?”
Terry nodded, “Yeah dude... You find someone to sublet the room yet?”
Derrick groaned. “Nah. It was honestly a miracle I suckered you into splitting the rent for this shithole with me.” He chuckled, thinking it was funny. In another time, Terry would've laughed with him, trying to make light of his financial situation to make it more bearable. Now, though? Nothing about the comment amused him. If anything, it bit into his hide, thinking about how desperate he was to have allowed himself to be taken advantage of by douchebags like Derrick. Had Terry really thought that lowly of himself back then, before finding himself in the anthro world?
“What? C'mon, I'm joking,” Derrick sighed, noting the dour look on his former rommate's face. “Besides, you got your payback on me. I'm absolutely fucked if I don't find another roommate by the end of the month, so I'd say we're even.” Terry couldn't even fake a smile. “Be honest with me, though: You totally started sucking dick for cash to afford getting out of here, yeah? Look, I'm not judging. I have a friend who does the same thing. And I make sure to tip him good!”
He waited for Terry to laugh at his joke. He did no such thing. The human wished he could deck Derrick in the jaw, or bite into his shoulder with the strength of a bear muzzle. It all hit Terry just how much he put himself through, how little self-respect he had for his own mental wellbeing. And Derrick represented all of it. He couldn't wait to be rid of him.
“You know what, you're right,” Terry finally responded. “I do suck dick for cash. And now I get to afford a better apartment, don't have to bother with student loans, and fuck whoever I want... And where will you be? Still here??”
With the mic fully dropped, Terry grabbed his two boxes, slung both his backpack and laptop carrier on his shoulders, and left the apartment without saying goodbye. Derrick stood there, slackjawed and without a good comeback. The human could hardly even seethe with contempt, just stunned that his roommate had changed so much that he could tell him off like that. It was like Terry was a completely different person now...
With a turn of his key, Terry opened the door to his new place, a spacious one-bedroom apartment with a modest view of a green park outside. The human dropped his boxes and bags and stood there in the empty, unfurnished space, soaking in his new home.
He took in a deep breath of his first brush of true independence. For all intents and purposes, Terry had made it. He had a job, a slew of new friends, a stable financial backing for his graduate courses, and a private space all to himself.
So why did it feel so hollow?
Terry stood in the middle of the empty space, unable to believe he had made it this far... unable to share it with the people that were now closest to him. And in his rush to get out of his old place, and the busyness that came with starting his new semester, he only just realized he hadn't gotten himself furniture. It was just him in this box, with only his laptop and the bare hardwood floor to accompany him.
Leaving his things in the living area, Terry walked down the hallway to the apartment's lone bedroom, which featured a bedframe and a mattress with no sheets on it. Something about the sight of it overwhelmed him with emotion. He had gone so far, worked so hard to reach this point in his life, and the image that summarized this grand accomplishment was a lone mattress by a window, the amber glow of a streetlight pouring through the glass.
Hoping to fill the hollow crater in his chest, Terry laid down on the mattress and curled into a ball. Yup. This was it. This was the life he fought so hard to achieve. He should be happy.
Yet all he could do was cry himself to sleep, thinking about when he'd get to leave this world behind once more...