FSE

Furry search engine

formerly SoFurry search engine

Author's note: Unlike my other stories, I am pulling the narrative for this one straight out of my ass as I go along. Just putting that out there.

___

Christmas time.

That part of the year where Jack Frost nipped at one’s exposed skin if they dared step outside.

For a certain forty-year-old father, it meant that he finally had the chance to spend some quality time with his son; even if it felt like his fingers were going to turn blue.

The hopping piston of a six-year-old could barely contain himself as both he and his father stood at a crosswalk. All that stood between them and the outdoor mall was a digital sign that printed an orange palm.

“Wait,” said the sign over and over again. “Wait.”

The child’s anxiety forced his feet to hop. “Come on, come on!”

Dad just couldn’t help but chuckle. “Relax, son. We’ll be there soon enough.” Vibrations tickle at the pocket of his gray wool coat; it was his phone. “Hello?”

“Hi, honey!” His wife. “Are you almost back yet? I miss you!”

Dad chuckles. “What? But we left not too long ago. How can you already miss us?”

“Oh, you know how I get around the holidays! Just get back as soon as you can, okay?”

God, he loved her so much. “Will do, honey.”

“I’m serious! Love you!”

“I love you too-oh! The light just changed! Talk to you when I get home, okay?” He advanced along with his son.

“Okay! Stay safe!”

“Wouldn’t dream of doing anything el-”

“CAAAAAAAAAR!”

Droves of people dove out of the street to avoid the screeching hunk of speedy death barreling towards dad’s one and only son.

‘Shit!’ Dad thought. “DANNY!”

He didn’t dare check his strength when he pushed his son off the road.

Bam!

Little Danny, at least, was safe.

The same could not be said for dad.

He wasn’t even conscious by the time his bloody and battered body hit the pavement with a bone-chilling thud.

“Hello?” Asked his wife. “Dan? What was that?? Dan!?”

And as for his child, how could he not scream his lungs out after what he just witnessed.

Darkness. At least for the moment.

…no, wait. Now he was moving forward against his will.

The first thing he could make out was Earth’s magnificent blue aura. Then, slowly, the red tint of Mars made an appearance.

Then Jupiter.

Uranus.

The constellations, gradually, tore their stars apart until even the big dipper was unrecognizable.

All while other stars passed him by like they were specs of dust blowing in a violent storm.

The sun wasn’t even a big circle anymore. It was a dot that grew fainter and fainter, until-

Dan gasps awake and immediately sits up.

Where was his son?

Why was it warm now?

Where was that car?

But one second of consciousness was enough to tell him that he wasn’t on that street anymore.

Tall shelves of books surround him from all directions. In the middle, there’s some weird circle of blue light.

That is currently where Dan sat, and-

“WHAT THE!?”

His arms and legs! They were fuzzy and looked of manilla!

Fortunately, he still had his fingers!

…well, on his hands, anyway. His feet looked like a dog’s.

Was he man, or beast?

“Ah. A new Arrival.” A woman’s cheerful voice greets him from a doorway behind him. She-

Forced Dan to back up as far as he could. “BLAZES!” But walking proved awkward on his new feet. “Oof!” He collapsed on his butt as soon as he stood.

She was tall! Very tall!

Likely twice his height!

Unlike him, fur had not taken over her entire being. A fluffy cloud of hair atop her head sags to the point where Dan can’t make out what her eye color is. It was pitch black, unlike the goat-like ears that reach out and tilt down ever so slightly.

But her most remarkable feature had to be the skin—almost the darkest a brown could possibly be to the human eye—that sparkled like she was made of obsidian. The only thing darker was the plump pair of lips that smiled at the smaller man.

“My name is Camilla.” She bows using the hand that wasn’t holding a golden staff. As she enters the room, her weird hoof legs just couldn’t help but show off the golden ankle-wear that resembled that of roman sandals. “I am the keeper of the Arrival, the building that captures brave souls who have met their end.”

She stops; and with her, the pure white toga-like fabric covering her body sways to a standstill.

Dan furrows his brows. “You talk like I am-”

She nods. “Dead, yes.”

“So, then. This is…heaven?”

She shakes her head. “I am afraid not. It is a realm different from the one you came from, but it is not the afterlife. You could think of it like a second chance.”

“A second chance?” He shakes his head. “I-I have a family! A life that I love! I don’t want a second chance here! I want to go back!”

Her posture jerks ever-so-slightly. “Unfortunately, we are both left in undesirable situations.”

And her tone. It was a bit lower all of a sudden.

Dan’s eyes narrow. “Explain yourself. Why am I here?”

“It is as I said before, the Arrival has deemed your soul courageous. As a result, it was pulled here instead of heading for what you would consider ‘heaven.’”

“What!?” Dan’s new claws reach out in front of him. “Why!?”

Camilla taps her staff on the ground. Between her and Dan, a near-white hologram forms from seemingly nothing; giving off hints of blue in its mesmerizing glow. The first thing Dan sees is a giant shadow of a monster with the skull of a human, and the horns of a bull.

“This is The Destroyer.” All around him, the light and beautiful flora quickly exploded in dark wither. “Long ago, he cast a spell in what used to be the most advanced nation of our world. We call this spell ‘the corruption.’ Any living creature that comes into contact with it immediately becomes his slave.”

Under The Destroyer, relatively infinitesimal-sized knights in shining armor went limp as they found that their protection took on a dark, dull color. When they rose once again, their swords turned on what Dan perceived as more beast people; ones who ran for their lives with haunting screams.

Camilla continued. “The greatest warriors of the time were unfortunate enough to meet that fate.”

As upset as Dan was about his own problems, he had to admit that the hologram was oddly mesmerizing.

But he said nothing, and allowed her to finish. “Fortunately, they were not able to defeat the entirety of our military. But, their strength still resulted in heavy casualties despite being heavily outnumbered. And ever since then, we have faced severe losses in our attempts to defeat the corruption once and for all.” Camilla’s attention flicks to Dan. “That is where you Arrivals come in; warriors with just spirits that do not freeze in the face of death.” With another tap from her staff, the hologram fades away in static. “I know that you have objections to this, but please know that we have no other choice. The survival of our world depends on-”

Dan shook his head. “I don’t care. Just send me to heaven so I can wait for my family.” But Camilla’s nervous face reeked of hiding something. “…what?”

“I am afraid I cannot do that.”

“Fine. Then I’ll just kill myself.”

“That is not an option.”

“Not an option?” Dog feet be damned; Dan awkwardly wobbles past her, and out the large wooden door. “We’ll see about that!”

She didn’t move; not even to look back at him.

There was only a thin strip of land around this floating building. Beyond the edge, he could see several more buildings suspended in the light milk-lime fog that stretched out forever.

Below him? He couldn’t even see the bottom.

Perfect.

“If I can’t see my family, then I have no reason to be here!”

He jumps, and closes his eyes.

“Find someone else to be your errand boy!”

It was funny; the sensation of air tickling the fur all over his body.

Is this what the family dog felt like when he stuck his head out the window?

Probably not. Feelings of suicide were likely not running through his mind.

Hopefull-

“Oof!” Something hard smacks him right in the…well, everything in front of him. One eye open reveals that he was once again back in the room that he’d woken up in. “…huh?? W-what!?”

“Welcome back,” Camilla says. “Did you enjoy your flight?”

“But I-I jumped! I should be dead!”

“As I tried to tell you, that is not an option. If you die, your essence will return here as if nothing happened.”

“So…” His angry brown eyes stare daggers at Camilla. “I’m stuck here!?”

She nods. “Yes. You have been blessed by the Arrival-”

“Take it off,” Dan calmly demands.

“That is not-”

“I said TAKE IT OFF!” He grips at the fabric at her knees. “I DON’T WANT IT!”

He was now close enough to vaguely make out golden eyes that radiate pity. “Please calm yourself-”

“NO! FUCK YOU!” He scoots backs a bit, and points up at her with one of his black claws. “YOU BRING ME HERE AGAINST MY WILL, AND NOW YOU WANT ME TO- TO- NO!”

“If you really care about your family, then you will calm yourself and listen to me.” That shut Dan up. Albeit reluctantly. “If the Arrival can reach your land, then so can The Destroyer.” And that widened Dan’s now despaired eyes. “Should our land fall, so will yours. I hope you understand the consequences of such an event.”

“Wait…so…” He shakes his head. “Y-” He covered his short snout with one of his large hands.

He was able to push his son out of the way of that car.

But, should that walking Armageddon reach Earth, then-

The white winter wonderland of Christmas would make way for an age of eternal darkness.

A ruthless army of ghouls would hunt everyone to extinction; especially his family.

He didn’t want to imagine his wife’s blood-curdling scream as she tries to shield their only son from a corrupted sword.

And all he’d be able to do is just sit here and let it happen.

His fists clench just pondering the horrid sight.

“Do you have the ability to undo my immortality?”

Her posture stiffens. “Awakened, I-”

“Answer the question. Can you undo it, yes or no?”

She sighs. “According to ancient texts, such an option is possible. However, it is not what you think it is.”

There was a mirror on the wall of the circular room opposite to the door. Upon closer inspection, he took notice of upright ears bigger than his hands; and a long canine tail to match. In addition, oddly enough, he had a full head of brown hair that ran down like he was part of a Japanese boy band.

He wasn’t naked, fortunately. Though he was only covered by big black shorts that sink to his knees.

“If that’s your way of saying yes, then I will help you on one condition.”

Lord, even seeing his words come out of a maw was weird.

“I feel like I know what this condition is given your previous-”

“If I do this, I want you to undo the immortality.”

His stare was serious; a contrast to the unease in Camilla’s pursed lips.

“Listen to me-”

“Those are my terms.” He awkwardly wobbles up to her. “Will you undo the immortality if I kill The Destroyer? Yes or no?”

He didn’t like the delay in her voice.

Was she waiting to see if he was bluffing?

“Well?” Dan asked.

“You are serious about this, are you not?”

“More than anything.”

Her lips were crinkled shut with anxiety.

Just what was she so nervous about? He was the one begging for an end to his ‘life,’ not her.

“Before I answer your question, you should know that this is no mere ‘undo immortality’ ritual,” Camilla says. “It is a punishment reserved for the worst of offenders. For you see: not only is your immortality undone, but your soul is destroyed as well.”

It felt like the world around Dan was shaking up and down; like gravity couldn’t decide if he should fly to the ceiling, or fall to his knees. “So…”

“You will not be able to go to heaven, or even hell,” she says. “Your thoughts, emotions, sensations, everything; it ends right then and there.”

The wobbling Dan didn’t need help falling on his hands and knees, though the despair certainly helped sweep him off his digitigrade legs.

“So…what?” He could see his eyes fog up with moisture. “You rob me of everything I love, and you just expect me to help you…?”

She takes a knee, and places a reassuring hand on Dan’s shoulder. “Arrival-”

He smacks her hand away. “DON’T TOUCH ME!”

Along with the slap, a wave of ice spreads from the epicenter of his attack and refuses to stop until it takes her entire arm.

The sight, of course, shocked Dan.

But then it only fueled the rage in his heart.

With a mighty scream, the short fennec man makes the best of his new legs and claws as he wobbles over to her.

But, before he could touch her, a mundane tap of her golden staff to the ground sent him flying towards the wall.

The books that fell on his head only added the greatest insult to injury after he flopped to the ground from the wall.

That was until a mere flex of her thin frozen arm shattered the ice.

It was like she was never attacked to begin with.

“Your attacks are misdirected,” Camilla says with hints of aggression. “The Destroyer is the reason for your Arrival. Were it not for him, there would be no need for you to have come in the first place.” Another tap of her staff lifts the books from Dan’s dizzy body. “And have you already forgotten that he is on a path to your world as well?” Her hooves click as she makes her way over to him. “Forget death. I am giving you the chance to save the ones you love from eternal agony.”

Again, she waves around her magic staff. This time, however, Dan can slowly feel all of his injuries turn back the clock.

“Now,” Camilla continues. “I am sorry that you can never see your family again. I truly am. But you are not the only one with loved ones forever lost. There are many times where I wish that I could just go back and see my dearest love once again. But I have a job to do, and so do you.” Once more, she kneels down to the small sitting man. “Because if we do nothing to stop The Destroyer, then even their memories will permanently fade away. Can you at least agree with me that that is an undesirable outcome?”

Despite her hostile tone, she extends a helpful hand out to him.

“…wait,” Dan says with leered eyes. “I thought we never died here. How could your ‘dearest love’ leave you forever?”

“…” An extended palm turned into a balled fist. “The Destroyer can eat our souls. It is how he continues to live.”

Odd that The Destroyer wasn’t automatically immortal himself.

Maybe there was a threshold he didn’t meet.

But for the time being, he felt as if he shouldn’t pry on that topic any further.

Now he was starting to feel bad.

“I see,” Dan says. “I apologize. It hadn’t dawned on me that you had losses of your own here.”

“It is fine. It was ages ago.”

“But it feels like it was just yesterday, right?” …yep. Her silence told him everything. “I lost my mother when I was seven. My family did a good job of making me forget the pain while they were in my presence. But one second without them, and…” Dan shrugs. “…I can still see the casket. Even remember how peaceful she looked lying there.” He shakes his head. “Sorry, I don’t know why I told you this out of the blue.”

Where the hell did that come from, he wondered?

He’s only known her for a few minutes.

“Even in death, my husband was beautiful. His soul was like a rainbow set ablaze when The Destroyer ripped it out of him by force.” Her one-legged kneel turned into two. “I remember the relieved shine he had in his crystal red eyes. It was like he was telling me that he was not afraid of what was happening. He was just happy that I would be okay.” Her hands unite at the groove between her thighs, though they looked a bit tight. “There is not a day where that scene does not replay in my head. No night where the ghost of his loving touch does not tease my body with the memory of what once was. If given the chance, I would surrender everything I have just to see him one last time; even if for only one small moment.” Now her eyes seemed to be focusing on nothing. “At least enough to feel his touch once more.”

A small blast of air comes out of Dan’s black, wet nose. “I feel the same way about my wif-”

Her cold hands rest atop his fuzzy mitts.

Additionally, she seems to bend forward in a bow until her snout touches her hands. This reveals the stubby fluff of a tail she had further back.

“I realize that I am asking a lot out of you, Arrival…but I do not see any other way of setting my husband free…” Her voice was shakier than a windy bridge made of rope. “His soul has become a part of The Destroyer…so he cannot even properly die!” Her hands stiffen. “My power; My body; I don’t care what I have to give you…I just want him to rest in the peace he deserves…” Her head cranes up, revealing golden eyes stained with tears. “So please…help me…”

Her glance of pity from earlier made sense now.

It wasn’t pity at all.

It was sympathy born from experience.

Both of them were feeling the very same thing.

…no. She’s likely been holding this in for a while now. It’s the only explanation for why she just exploded.

One small prick, and boom; just like a balloon.

Just looking at her pained eyes reminded him of the loving look his wife gave him every time he woke up.

Of the shine in her eyes when she told him she was pregnant.

And certainly of the moment they met eighteen years ago.

His life hadn’t been the best up until that point. Everything felt pointless; to where he didn’t even bother to brush his teeth.

But she didn’t care. No matter how much he complained, or gave up, she was always there to pick him up and pour more gas in his tank.

And nothing he did was ever weird. All of his eccentricities were appreciated with a gentle smile; not shunned, or used as justification to ignore him.

She was the first to ever make him feel seen.

The first to paint the world with colors that weren’t gray.

The first to make him realize what love felt like.

And he was never going to see her again.

Now Camilla’s tears weren’t the only ones dropping. His were starting to mix with hers.

“Can I really not see my family again…?” Dan chokes up.

But the question leaves her unable to look at him anymore. Her river of tears forces her eyes to shut.

And his own eyes follow suit.

Neither one could even speak anymore. Their heaving and sighs of misery didn’t allow for even one word to escape from their maws.

He was never going to see his family again.

He was never going to see his family again.

It was all The Destroyer’s fault.

Even if he dies, he can’t go to heaven.

Even if The Destroyer dies, Dan can’t see his family.

Days, weeks, years, decades, centuries, and millennia will pass. His family: eventually nothing but a distant memory.

He didn’t want that.

He wanted to see his family again.

He wanted to see his son ask Santa for presents.

He wanted to know if his second child was a boy or a girl.

He wanted to see them smile; grow up; love; ache; mature.

He wanted to grow old with his wife.

He wanted to see her writing career take off.

He wanted to just open his eyes, and have all of this be a bad dream.

Yes.

He’s going to open his eyes, and his wife is going to smile a good morning to him. Like always.

Here we go.

And…

…

Camilla’s sniffling.

This isn’t a dream.

It’s real.

They really are gone.

Forever.

He has NOTHING to remember them by.

No photos, clothes, or even a hair.

Nothing.

He has nothing.

He hopes for nothing.

He thinks of…

…

Storm Clouds. Up above.

He can see The Destroyer.

In one punch, his skull turns to dust. But that does nothing to the rage brewing in Dan’s heart.

The skull reforms, but Dan just pulverizes it under his knuckles again.

And again.

And again.

And The Destroyer is screaming in agony every time he’s killed, too. It’s better that way.

Because he wasn’t going to die until Dan was satisfi-

“Ow ow ow!” Camilla pulls back. “Awakened! Watch the claws!”

Dan blinks fast. But, he’s not quite in the apologetic mood. Not when he was this pissed. “We have to kill him to stop him, right?”

Camilla nods. “Yes.”

“Good.”

“Then…” She stands, wiping a tear from her right eye. “…I take it you are in agreement?”

Once again, her smooth hand offers Dan some assistance.

Help he gladly accepts with a loud clap. “You’re goddamn right.” And up he stood, eyes full of angry determination. “Because he’s a dead man- whoa!” He had to take hold of one of Camilla’s legs just to stay up. “…one step at a time. And uh…sorry about the contact. I’m still-”

She waves a dismissive hand. “Do not worry. You are being more respectful than…others.” The hand that calls for the staff to fly right into its palm. “I will be more than happy to support you. No matter how long it takes.”

“…okay…”

Dan, arms wide-open, stands with a light shake.

“…I believe I am stable.”

The sand-colored fox man’s step was still a bit odd, but he could move.

A happy accomplishment, if Camilla’s applause was any indicator. “Splendid! Now you are walking like a Fennec!”

“A Fennec, huh?” His stubby hands slide over his massive ears. “I’m surprised you know what that is.”

Her cloud-like hair bounces with the shake of her head. “I do not. Other Arrivals voted on it.”

“Other Arr-?” Lightbulb. “…right. I cannot be the only one.”

“Of course not!” Her smooth and shiny arms direct his eyes towards the door. “They all currently await your debut!”

A phrase that claps Dan’s skeptical brows together. “What? How? I already went through that door. There was nothing around us except for floating islands, and a drop of death.”

“Oh no, that was just a protection spell! It activates every time a new Arrival…well, arrives.”

“So…it’s not active right now?”

“Oh, it is! It will not deactivate until two conditions are met. First, I must approve of your leave. Then, you simply touch the door.” She explains. “I had not given the go-ahead when you opened it the first time, so…”

“Yes, okay. I think I understand now.” Dan, having clicked his way to the door with his strange new legs, grips at the door’s handles once more. “But what puzzles me is why this place even needs a protection spell if it’s in your territory-”

BAM! The door slams out to the max, violently cracking the wall its hinges hold on to.

“IT’S OPEEEEEEEEEEEEN!”

A tsunami of men and women flood the place in no time flat; each no taller than Dan was.

“MOVE IT, YOU!”

You, being Dan, who was flung towards the wall yet again by what he could only assume was magic.

“CAMILLA!”

“MOMMY!”

“WE MISSED YOU!”

It was almost impossible to make out everything they were saying. Their lustful barks and heaves practically blend into a white noise that sours Dan’s face.

‘…what the hell is this?’ Dan thinks, squinting.

It didn’t take a rocket scientist to know what those men wanted.

Their words aside, they surround Camilla; hungry to feel her touch in their grubby little hands.

Even if they had to pull at her toga.

“Please marry me!”

“Sit on my face!”

“Let me drink your breast milk!”

Dan’s vision began to warp; his hands balling into fists-

BOOM!

“UNHAND ME!” One slam of her golden staff, and the other arrivals joined Dan at different spots along the room’s circumference. This fixed Dan’s vision problems, and eased his hands. “If you have the time to lust after me, you have the time to drive back the corruption! Now come on, new Arrival! Let us go!”

What? She can’t even use his name?

…

…the one he never gave?

Oops.

“Okay. You can call me Dan, by the way. No need for that ‘Arrival’ nonsense.”

“Very well, Dan,” Camilla says. “Follow me. I will give you the tour.”

“Dan’s actually a nickname. My full name is Daniel Lopez-”

“But m’lady!” Another guy. He kind of looked like a cat: mostly black; barring the white muzzle, hands, and feet that slide in front of Camilla. “You mustn’t waste your time on a nobody like him! You have much more important matters to attend to!” A hand slams against his chest. “Allow me to save you the time by showing him around myself!”

“Stand aside, Arrival 57,” Camilla warns. “I said I would do it.”

Maybe it was just Dan, but her tone took a subtle dive just now.

And she looked kind of tense; but not in a scared way.

“Oh, I insist!” Arrival 57 rests a possessive hand on her right thigh; a sight that coaxes a leer out of Dan. “It would be no troub-”

She immediately taps his hand off with her staff. “I said no. Now stand aside. I will not ask again.”

Her words were tough, and firm.

The same could not be said for Arrival 57’s wormy posture as he bows and slithers to the right. “…I was just trying to be nice…what did I do…?”

Now Dan looked as if he had eaten the most sour lemon in the world with how painful this sight was to him.

‘Does he have no respect? For others, or even himself…?’

But Arrival 57 had more thoughts as Dan descended down the Arrival’s stone steps.

“…never seen her give a tour to anyone…”

…weird.

But, a lingering question popped back into Dan’s head. “Say, you called them Arrivals, right?”

“Yes. All of you are Arrivals; each designated a number.”

“Really? Well, uh…earlier, you also called me Awakened.”

“Did I?” A hand lightly smacks her cheek. “Oh, my apologies! That is what we used to call you Arrivals! I guess old habits die hard!”

She giggles.

It was the laughter echoed ‘round the world, apparently; with how hard everyone was staring at the two of them just now.

Many men and women, without much surprise to Dan, were practically radiating their first-degree-murder plans right into Dan’s soul.

Everyone else just looked like they’d seen a ghost.

“…Camilla,” Dan whispers, scanning the area. “…what’s going on?”

“Ignore them,” she responds. “It is not every day I give tours to Arrivals.”

Just as Arrival 57 had said.

“When was the last time you did so? Ten years ago?”

“More like two-hundred.”

Dan leans away from her. “Not one in all that time!? Goodness…”

Before long, the roar of socialization came back to the area.

He didn’t quite know what the cobblestone-like road was made of, but he was surprised to find that his feet weren’t burning on contact. It wasn’t exactly refreshing out here, after all.

The blue sky was clear, and the sun was a scorcher above his head.

As for the buildings, a mixture of stone and wood seemed to be the most popular material. The more stone it used, the more intricate the design.

And then there were your standard wooden shacks, no bigger than a bedroom; though they were mostly occupied by what looked to be street merchants. Clothes, food, trinkets; the standard fare, from what Dan could see.

“This is Main Street,” Camilla says. “Eat, sleep, date; this is where you can ‘chill,’ as the new Arrivals say.”

“Main Street?” Dan asks. “This place must be pretty big.”

“Nope! Everything you see is our entire city!”

“What?”

“The corruption made great strides months ago. We used to control a big swath of land, but now we hold out in what is practically a grain of sand by comparison.”

“That’s horrible.” His eyes still can’t help but scan the place; mainly because of all the leers. “Though I guess things are going well if everyone is able to smile right now.”

Or, at the very least, they are with enough peace to give him death threats by blinking in Morse code.

“Yes. A blessing in disguise, I suppose.”

“The corruption must be one tough customer.”

“You have no idea.” But, as if a switch had been flicked, one of her giddy hands highlights a tall stone structure before them. “Anyway, ta-da! Welcome to your new home!”

The first thing that caught Dan’s eye in this behemoth of a structure were the four bay windows that bulged out of the second and third stories; two windows on each.

The exterior? All cream-colored stone. Even the trim between the windows.

Even the pillars that looked smooth as a baby’s bottom.

And even the stone statues that stood tall and proud atop the roof.

Though it was hard to make out what they were from this angle.

Dancers? They were definitely pointing towards the sky.

“I assume the entire building doesn’t belong to me?” Dan asks.

“Correct,” Camilla confirms. “Your room number is 1989 to match your Arrival number.”

‘1989?’ Dan thinks. ‘That man back there was Arrival 57. Which means he’s older than me. Likely by a factor.’

That revelation hurt Dan in what he could only describe as his manhood. A painful wave of secondhand embarrassment, if you will.

To act in such a way despite being beyond a grown man…

It made Dan want to vomit.

But then his ears perked up. “I’m sorry…room number what? How can so many rooms fit into-” It clicked near-immediately. “It’s magic isn’t it?”

“Correct!” Her hooves clock past the front doors of Dan’s new home. “Follow me! I will show you how it works!”

But even the interior wasn’t safe for Camilla.

Many men shamelessly spun around to check her out as she passed them.

Another bumped into Dan’s shoulder on purpose.

“My bad,” groaned one angry-looking lizard man.

A response that wrinkled Dan’s short snout. “Excuse me!” He semi-yelled. “That was very rude! I demand an apology!”

“I said it was my bad. What’s the big deal?”

“You did that on purpose, and you know it. Didn’t your mother teach you any manners?”

“Oh that’s rich coming from someone luring Camilla into his apartment.” He pokes Dan’s chest with one of his green fingers. “You think I don’t know your game, you jerk?”

Camilla’s grip tightens on her staff.

And Dan, well…

His disbelief narrows his eyes. “Pardon?”

“I know his kind, Camilla. He’ll use you for some fun, and then never talk to you again.”

A sentiment echoed by other men.

“Hey, yeah!”

“That guy is a jerk!”

“Get away from him, Camilla!”

Dan pokes back at the lizard man’s chest. “How DARE YOU-”

And in slides Arrival 57 once more. “I knew it! I knew you were no good!” He even had his sombrero tipped; that’s how Dan knew he was serious. “Step away from him, m’lady! I will keep you safe from-”

“WILL ALL OF YOU PLEASE STOP!?” Camilla’s screams echo throughout the room. “I am here of my OWN volition! He did not lure me here! I brought HIM here! I do not need any of you to protect me, or keep me company, or- or-” She grips at her hair. “GAAAAH! All of you drive me INSANE! How many times must I tell you that I am NOT interested in ANY of you!? I do NOT want to go out on DATES with you! I do NOT want you to FOLLOW ME to my QUARTERS! I do NOT want you to SPANK me when I bend over to pick up a book from a low SHELF! And I do not want to be a ‘ PREGGO MOMMY MILF!’ All I want is for you to do your jobs, and leave! Me! Alone! We are NEVER going to happen!? Okay!?”

Arrival 57’s ears drop. “B-but m’lady-”

“I!” Camilla towers over him. “Am not!” She exposes her teeth inches from his face. “ Your lady…” She groans. “And I NEVER! WILL BE!” She groans out a huff, standing up tall once more.

To Dan’s stunned eyes, it was evident that she intended to leave it there; if her steps towards the newly single father were any indicator.

But what was there to say now?

‘…wow,’ Dan thought. ‘How long was she holding that back?’

But Arrival 57’s smiling scoff demanded more of Camilla’s time. “You think I called you m’lady because I liked you?” He shakes his head. “Nonsense. I call every woman m’lady. You are nothing special.”

Dan’s brows furrow. “Well now, hold on! I get that rejection is hard, but-”

He scoffs again. “Rejection? Me? Nonsense! I’m glad she doesn’t want to date me! I thought she was ugly anyway!”

“Wh- hey! Excuse you!” Dan’s fists ball up. “That is a disgusting thing to say about someone else!” He points at 57. “Apologize right now!”

“Who do you think you are giving me orders, newbie?” A ray of blue light forms in 57’s right hand; and from it, a small wooden staff takes shape proportional to his size. “It’s not my fault that used-up whore just ruined her chances with a good guy like me. I would’ve treated her better than you ever will, you jerk.”

“I don’t care if you HAVE been here longer than me,” Dan groans, balling his furry fists. “I’m gonna beat some manners into you!”

“That right?” 57 steps outside. “I’d like to see you try that out here. The building has an offensive magic suppression spell active at all times.”

Camilla’s tender touch lands on Dan’s shoulder. “You do not have to do this. Nothing is gained from entertaining his tantrum.”

But Dan merely walked off of her touch.

In all likelihood, he was almost certain that she could reduce 57 to ashes if she wanted to.

But the father within him wanted to teach 57 a lesson; age be damned.

“You just got out here not even ten minutes ago, right? Which means you don’t even know what your powers are.” His staff aims at Dan. “Not like it matters. I was able to acquire the most powerful spells in the land thanks to my superior intellect. Your fate was sealed the moment you got on my bad side, you neanderthal.” But then his cat brows furrow. “What’s with that face?”

Dan’s face once again looked foul; like he had a small piece of cow dung in his mouth, and he was forced to keep it in. “Everything you say and do is chicken poop for the soul. How did someone like you even become an Arrival?”

“Honestly, I don’t quite remember. I think it had something to do with the leader of my home town. I know I was hanged for stopping him from doing something, but…” 57 fans the thought away. “Doesn’t matter!” He raises his staff. “You’re going down, asshole!”

If the twitch of 57’s olive cat eyes towards Camilla just now was any indicator, Dan knew that he was clearly hurt by her rejection.

No matter how hard he tries to deny it with more of his yellin-

Holy crap that was a big fireball forming atop 57’s staff.

This seemed to startle Camilla. “You’re going to do that here!?”

Much to 57’s amused laughter. “Impressed, Camilla? Well, too bad! You had your chance, you stupid whore! Now watch as I turn this entire place to ashes!” His free palm aims at Dan, spawning what looked to be a green shield of light right in front of himself. “I doubt I’ll need this, but I like to cover all my bases. You know, in the off-chance you might actually know a harmful spell or two. To put it in terms your dull mind can fathom, your magic is useless!”

It wouldn’t be until 57 began to talk that the fireball began its grand expansion.

“Oh divine beasts! Hear my prayer!”

Dan’s brows once again furrow. ‘What is he doing?’

“I call upon your destructive power to turn a sinner to ash!”

‘He needs to recite something?’

“For thousands of years, you have carefully kindled your hatred until its very essence made even the sun beg for relief!”

‘He’s really doing this?’

It looked to Dan like 57 had to stand in one place to make his attack work. Otherwise, why bother with the protection?

Magic was useless, as previously established.

But, he had another idea.

‘How did I do that thing again?’

He places a hand on his torso.

Nothing.

‘Come on…’

All the meanwhile, Arrival 57 was still talking. “Let your thirst for death and destruction flow through me so that the world can embrace your overwhelming might!”

Everyone around them, except for Camilla, cowered before the unbearable ball of fire’s sizzling heat.

And yet somehow, Arrival 57 at ground zero seemed unfazed. “NOW-” Slap! “Huh?” 57 could see that Dan’s torso was now covered in ice. “…what the?” Full panic didn’t set in until Dan began to book it straight for 57 himself. “Oh crap! Uhh…” Now his words began to shoot out like a machine gun. “…now watch as I-holdupwaitI’MNOTDONE-!”

But Dan was.

His patience had run thin, and he was willing to prove it with a clean fist to 57’s face.

Down 57 goes, slamming onto his back with his hands to his new injury. “ AH!” He wails. “YOU JUST PUNCHED ME IN THE FACE!” He screamed. “WHAT THE HELL IS WRONG WITH YOU!? YOU WEREN’T SUPPOSED TO DO THAT! WHERE ARE YOUR BATTLE MANNERS-”

‘Just as I thought,’ Dan thought. ‘His defensive ability doesn’t guard against physical attacks. How usele-’

Full panic set in for Dan when he saw the ball of fire—having jumped far into the sky after the punch—slowly fall towards him and 57.

Every passing second only added to the pain searing throughout Dan’s new body.

And he knew that 57 was also feeling the heat now. Mainly because-

“Oh my god that burns!”

-He was making it obvious while crawling away like a coward.

The heat did, in fact burn.

But-

“I have to undo the spell…”

-Dan kicked the staff out of his reach for reasons unknown.

Though even Camilla was shocked by that decision. “Dan! What are you doing!?”

“Yeah!” 57 agreed. “Are you trying to burn? I can’t do anything without my staff!”

“That right?” Dan says, kicking him down on his back once again. And before 57 could sit up, one slap on his cat chest from Dan glued him to the ground with ice that covered all but the neck up. “Good to know.”

“What do you think you’re doing?” 57 asks, wriggling his neck in futile resistance. “Unfreeze me this instant!”

“What’s that?” Dan asks, hovering a hand near one of his ears. “You want to stay there? Okay, m’gentleman!”

“What are you, stupid? I told you to let me go!”

“You got it, m’gentleman! I’ll make the ice thicker!” Another slap ensured that Dan was true to his word.

“Hey, c’mon now! That fireball doesn’t kill us instantly, you know! It takes its time cooking us layer by layer until we’re nothing but black dust! Now, unfr-”

“Dan!” Camilla screams. “Leave him there! I’m erecting a barrier!”

“Understood!” Dan screams back.

A sentiment 57 did not share. “Wh-hey! No, Dan! Don’t leave me here! Melt the ice! Please!”

“I mean…I could, but that would involve respecting your choices and desires. And I know you don’t do that, so-”

Camilla raises her arms. “Divine barrier!”

A sharp pillar of bright blue light claws out for the sky. It surrounded 57 and the fireball, and stopped somewhere around the height of the Arrival building.

If 57 was saying something, no one knew. The barrier appeared to block out all sound.

‘Burn in your own hubris, you son of a bitch.’

But what they did see, briefly, is a fat swell of blinding yellow light at the base of the barrier; the fireball’s explosion, no doubt.

It quickly travels up the barrier until its deafening boom shoots out of the top with a rocket’s hissing flame.

“Jesus!” Dan screams.

Instinct pulled every single one of them down with their hands to their ears.

‘Huh…’ Dan thinks, squinting. ‘It kind of looks like a candle made for a very big god,’ Dan thought.

But something didn’t feel right.

This victory felt…

…empty.

Was it because Agent 57 died to his own attack?

Was it because Camilla helped him?

No, no…

That’s not it.

He waits for the fire’s hiss to drop to levels that don’t hurt his ears, and then-

“Dan?” Asks Camilla. “Where are you going?”

Dan’s little digitigrade feet push themselves to the limit as he makes his way towards the Arrival.

If he remembers right, he was forced in there after he’d died by jumping off the edge.

Which means…

…bingo.

“…oh god…” Heaving and twitching, 57 was hugging himself. “Is it over…?” And then his eyes flick to the doorway. “Huh?” A confused look turns to shock. “What are you doing here so fas-!”

Dan spared no words; instead opting for message by fist to the face.

“Ow! St-ow! Stop it!”

Punch after punch slowly escorts 57 out of the Arrival against his will. Not all were on his face, but they didn’t have to be.

“What’s wrong?” Dan asks. “Don’t like it when someone puts their hands on you against your will?”

“Hey-ow! I get it’ okay! I’m sorr-ow! Sorry!”

Dan was glad the crowd ran over here. It made the next step much faster.

“Wrong person!” He kicks 57 to the ground just shy of Camilla. “She’s the one you have to apologize to!”

And just for good measure, one of 57’s legs were kicked frozen so that he couldn’t escape.

“What? Why-” Wrong answer from 57; Dan raises another fist. “Ah! I’m sorry! I’m so sorry for what you think I did!”

“Oh you better remember what you did, or I’m turning your balls into shaved ice!” Dan raises one of his feet.

A shriek—one to rival a girl scout—escapes 57’s maw. “I’m sorry, Camilla! I’m so sorry! It was wrong of me to put my hands on you! You say no, I hear you loud and clear from now on, okay!?”

“There,” Dan says. “Was that so hard?” And his foot came back down gently. “Now, you’re never gonna bother her again, right?” He asks, kneeling, and with a hand on 57’s shoulder.

“No! I swear to god, I’ll only be a background character as far as she’s concerned!”

“Good. Because if you ever come near Natalie again, no Arrival in the world is gonna be able to fix what I do to you.”

57’s brows furrow. “Who’s Natalie?”

Dan froze.

And for a moment, the world went still.

It was so quiet on Main Street, they could hear the grass waltz with the gentle breeze.

“She…” Dan croaks. “…uh…I meant…” And then he stands. “Just…don’t do it again, okay?”

All of the aggression in his voice was gone.

“Okay…?” 57 says. “…so, uh…can you unfreeze my leg now?”

“Huh? Oh. I don’t know how to do that. I just know how to freeze things.”

“It will melt with time,” Camilla says, her head tilting from Dan towards the apartment building.

“Oh, come on!” 57 pleads. “I could get frostbite before this melts! Don’t leave me here! Please?”

Dan follows Camilla, walking beside her once again.

He said nothing, however, so Camilla took it upon herself to initiate. “Well…that was exciting.”

“Yep,” Dan replies.

“I cannot believe that you coaxed an apology from Arrival 57. My apologies for saying that nothing would come of this; I need to remember to properly thank you in the future.”

“It’s fine.”

Camilla’s lips pucker; a sad curiosity matched by her drooping ears. “Are you?”

Dan looks up at her. “What?”

“Fine. Are you fine?”

He looks towards the apartment building again. “Yep.” Silence. “You don’t believe me.”

“I mean…your words…they are brief and stiff.”

“Oh, don’t mind me,” Dan fans off. “That guy just really made my blood boil.”

“Oh, my apologies…”

“Like I said, it’s fine,” Dan says. “It’ll pass.”

Camilla simply nods. “Okay. Well, then, if that is that…” Once again, she sets foot into the apartment building’s lobby. “…then let me show you to your room.”

The building was nothing special.

The floor was, of course, white and marbled. Carpet would be a foolish choice with claws, after all.

As for the square pillars with the most intricate of trims and engravings, they were white.

And the walls. A beautiful white stone!

Then there was the ceiling, which was…uh…white.

Along with the white stone tables…

White stone chairs…

…the uh…

…white crystals hanging off of the enormous white chandelier above him…

…and the stone guardrails of the stairs which were also…

…white.

‘Even the flowers and vases are white…’ Thought Dan.

A disgusting and blinding view, if he said so himself.

“The lack of color bothers you, correct?” Camilla asks.

“It’s very boring.”

“Yes, that is a common complaint. Unfortunately, the architect is not open to suggestions.” Camilla points to what looks to be an elevator; white, of course. “Anyway, that is where you need to go! Now, to-”

The fur on Dan’s nape shivers.

Someone’s looking right at him.

And not because he’s with Camilla.

Maybe.

He’s not exactly sure what this stare is, but it felt…different.

And now it was coming from someone else.

Now three more.

Many from all sides; it made it difficult to narrow down exactly who it was.

Or…maybe he was going crazy?

He’d know if someone was staring at him; let alone a whole gang.

And this was nothing more than a feelin-

“Dan?” Camilla asks. “Is something the matter?”

“Uh…” He shakes his head, and waves. “…no. I thought I saw something.” Again, he sees her lips pucker. “Really. It was nothing.”

“Right…” Camilla says. “Well, then, as I was saying, all you need to do is step into that transporter, and tell it where you need to go. Allow me to demonstrate, if you will follow me.”

Dan nods. “Ok.”

Inside the transporter, there was a grid of tiles on the floor. Each square was roughly large enough to fit Dan’s bodily dimensions.

Some of them were glowing a steady yellow. Others, blinking red.

It was roomy in here, too; likely as big as a fast food building; maybe bigger.

“If the square is yellow,” Camilla says, “It means an Arrival in a different floor is standing on that square in a different transporter. If it blinks red-” Just then, on one of the blinking squares, an Arrival pops into existence following a flash of white; this one looked like what appeared to be a snow leopard. “-that means an Arrival is currently en-route to that exact square.

The very square that was now yellow since the leopard was currently standing on it.

Just like the one Dan was on.

“Okay, that looks like it could be maliciously abused; but how do I work this thing?”

“Simple.” Camilla clears her throat. “Room 1989.”

She vanished immediately, replaced by a dissipating silhouette of white smoke.

“Okay, uh…” He clears his throat. “Room 1989.”

The universe around him was replaced with the same scene he saw right after his death: many stars in all directions, but they flew past him like they were nothing but dust.

“OH MY GOD!” He collapses onto his back in a panic. It took a second of him squirming and screaming for him to pause, and feel at the invisible force under him. ‘A floor?’ And breathing seemed like an important second step. ‘And air?’

He sat up.

Just in time, too. He found his surroundings quickly blend and transform into another transporter.

And of course, Camilla was towering right over him. Though her head tilts right as she registered his existence.

“What are you doing?” She asks.

“Recovering from a panic attack,” Dan says, getting off his butt. “You could’ve warned me that I’d suddenly find myself in outer space.”

“That scared you?” She giggles. “That is a fist.”

“Wh- of course it scared me! Why wouldn’t it!? Outer space is the most hostile biome in all of existence!”

Her hands raise themselves defensively. “Okay, okay, I apologize!”

“You’re still laughing.”

Though it was shaky, and muffled. “Just…” She points behind him; towards the exit. “…look.”

This exit looked different from the hole that was on the other elevator. For starters, it was actually a door.

And for some reason, it was also white.

It was tall enough to allow Camilla entry, but the doorknob was at Dan’s height.

An odd design choice, given what he was used to back on Ea-

Mental sigh.

In the adrenaline from earlier, he’d forgotten about that.

Now he felt sad again.

“So this is it, huh? My room?”

“Yes! Just turn the knob, and look inside!”

Dan furrowed a look at Camilla. “You haven’t given me my room key.”

“You are the room key. The door only responds to you,” Camilla says. “And anyone you authorize, but that requires paperwork and a modification to the lock spell.”

Dan’s stubby paws grip at the white doorknob, and give it a twist.

Sure enough, no resistance.

“…wow,” Dan croaks. “This is…” The size of a bedroom; minus the area of whatever was behind the two other doors he could see. “…something.”

And white; the hardwood floor, the paint on the drywall, the bed (and its metallic frame); everything.

The only color in here came from him, Camilla, and the view out of the large bay window ahead of him.

“I know, I know…” She shakes her head. “…but the good news is that you have the freedom to decorate the room as you see fit! Barring certain rules, that is. Spoiler: you can increase the size of the room.”

“Oh thank goodness,” Dan says. “That was my main concern.”

“Now that we are here…” Her fingers tap together nervously. “Uh…this is very unprofessional of me to ask, so feel free to say no, but will you allow me to rest on your bed for a brief moment?”

The pink of Dan’s ears runs hot. “Excuse me!?”

“Yes, I know how it sounds, but I honestly just need some time to rest. The barrier spell uses a lot of magic, you see. The world around me has been dancing these past few minutes.

“What!? Why didn’t you say anything?”

“Because the other Arrivals-”

Dan nods. “You know what? Point taken.” His hand waves towards his bed. “Go right ahead.”

“Thank you…” She practically plops onto it like she hadn’t slept in days. “Finally…”

“Whoa! Jeez, you weren’t lying about being tired.” But she said nothing. “Camilla?”

Dan’s head tilts.

He steps closer.

“Are you okay?”

And that’s when he heard it.

A light snore.

She really just fell asleep in an instant.

And she dropped her staff.

Well, no reason to just leave it lying on the floor.

Two hands on the golden pole, and Dan would-

…

…apparently just shake his limbs in an attempt to lift.

‘Oh my GOD this thing is heavy!’

Second time’s the charm.

He would…

…

-lllllliiiiffffffftttttt-

He falls on his butt, gasping desperately for air.

And no, that pole hadn’t moved even one millimeter from where it rests.

‘What the hell?’ Dan wonders. ‘How can she even lift that thing like it’s a meter stick?’

He made what was likely to be the most important mental note he would ever make.

Do.

Not.

Anger.

Camilla.

She should NOT be the one scared in a scenario where those predators find her like this. If anything, it is them that should be afraid.

She definitely had more than enough strength to open their skulls like a bag of chips; there’s no way that’s not the case with how heavy that staff is.

And yet, someone with such monstrous strength gently lays in peaceful slumber right in front of him.

She looked peaceful. Like she wouldn’t even hurt a fly.

And though this was unrelated, he noticed the gentle rise and fall of her tail that matched her snoring.

Inhale, up.

Exhale, down.

Over and over again.

…

‘I am staring at a random woman while she sleeps.’ The sour-faced man turns towards the bay window. ‘Stop that, Dan. It’s creepy.’

Oh, was he glad his wife would have no way of know about this.

She would’ve found a way to bypass the Arrival, and send him straight to hell.

His room was high enough that he could actually see beyond the obstructive height of Main Street’s buildings. Sure enough, he couldn’t make out even a single building in the distance. It was just rubble, and more rubble, and-

A sight that draws his hands to the window with a powerful slap.

That brown hair.

That fair skin.

“Janice!?” Dan screams.

He twitches when Camilla groans and turns, looking back to see if she was still asleep.

Sure enough, she was.

When his eyes snapped back to Janice, she was still there; leaning against an alley wall that led towards some of the old city’s rubble.

‘She’s not an illusion…but…how is she still human?’

He looks back to Camilla.

If she wants to sleep, then she can take her time.

This tip-toeing Fennec was now on a mission to see his wife again.

“Janice!” Dan screams.

She was still leaning against the alley’s wall.

Good.

Ever since he’d set foot outside of that apartment building’s weird elevator, he hadn’t stopped running.

The closer he got, the more he was sure that was his wife.

He could practically see the streaks of red glimmer to life in the sea of rich mahogany hair that ran down to her elbows.

And that amber sparkle in her eyes. No other woman in the world could match their beauty.

Not to Dan.

Odd choice to be wearing a red cloak over a black dress, since she hated dark colors, but he figured she couldn’t be a chooser in this world.

Just another few seconds or so, and he would reach her.

But something was wrong.

When it looked like she’d taken notice of him, she broke into a sprint.

And not towards him.

“Hey!” Dan screams. “Wait! It’s me! Daniel!”

No good. She continued on towards the ashes of what used to be more of the city.

“Don’t run over there! It’s not safe!”

She wasn’t listening.

She just ran, and ran; not even bothering to look back at him even once.

‘Oh to hell with safety,’ he thinks, officially setting foot in the alley; and running in even deeper. “Why are you running from me?”

The alley was short. One end to the other was about a ten second sprint; and the other end itself revealed an endless field of black and gray destruction.

But he didn’t care about that. He just wanted to hear her voice again.

“What’s with the weird look?” Her young cheeriness echoes in his head. “I’m not joking! We should totally hang out!” He could even remember how her touch felt on that day. Those hands, so gentle and attentive, rested on his shoulders for the first time. “Okay?”

If a building was lucky, maybe half of the first floor’s walls were still intact. The windows, however; completely annihilated.

“I mean, yeah! Your teeth are obviously gross,” she echoes again. “But that doesn’t mean you should just give up!” She practically shoves a toothbrush into his chest with the angriest amber glare she could muster. “Your body’s not trash, it’s a temple! And temples need maintenance!”

He was also hard-pressed to find any piece of wood that hadn’t turned to charcoal.

And the pebbles of what used to be stone walls…

‘Ow ow ow ow ow ow ow-’

Every step was agony…

Unlike the memories of her. “Why do I keep hanging out with you?” She asks, resting her head on his chest. “Because life feels good when I’m near you, silly! Does there need to be another reason?”

And freezing his feet for makeshift shoes didn’t work. They shatter after one step.

‘Darnit!’ He thought, looking down. ‘Cursed animal feet!’

But he wasn’t going to let that stop him.

She was in his sight, and he was not going to-

She was gone when he looked back up.

If he had any energy, it was now gone; all accumulated exhaustion from his sprint now hit him all at once, and he was unable to stand.

That, however, was mainly due to to the wave of grief that washed over his soul.

“Why?” He asks, inhaling to give his next words all he had. “WHY ARE YOU AVOIDING ME!?”

Only his echo responded.

And as if today wasn’t odd enough already, he noticed that his body slowly started to remove itself from the ground.

“Huh?” He asks. “What the-”

In an instant, it felt like his arms and legs were tied shut with rope. No matter how much he wiggled and-

Wait, he couldn’t do that either.

He couldn’t wiggle.

Not even his fingers and toes!

He couldn’t move at all!

“What’s going on?” He asks. “Janice?”

He could see someone stepping out of a shattered wall’s cover.

It was another creature, tall as him; this one with white fur.

He could forget about seeing any identifiable characteristics. Not only was their face hidden behind a black mask, but the red cloak atop their head blocked their hair from his view.

“You bastard!” Dan screams. “Use my wife’s image in malice, will you? You’re gonna wish the Arrival let you die when I get my hands on-”

Now, he couldn’t even unclench his teeth thanks to a swipe of their humble wooden staff.

One tap on the ground, and their surroundings explode in a lime green flame that engulfs them from all sides.

Their dissolution revealed not the ruins of the old city; but a new, darker space.

This one colored only by a crimson red hue far as the eye could see.

One quick look at this place made it glaringly obvious what it was.

Jail cells on both sides of an endless hall. A prison.

He hovers alongside his captor as they walk forward. Cage, after cage, after cage reveals nothing.

And into one, seemingly at random, is where Dan was carelessly tossed like he was dirty laundry.

The door was shut with an ear-piercing clink, and Dan sees what appears to be a blue ripple spread from the door before dissipating into nothing.

“What?” Dan asks. “You think I’m just gonna sit here because you want me to?” His palm violently slaps against the cold stone floor.

But nothing happens, much to his shock.

He taps, and taps, but the captor’s patience runs thin and they explode in another green flame.

“Hey!” He screams, gripping at his cell’s bars. “Get back here! What did you do to me!?” In his fury, he slams his fist against the bars. “Gosh darnit! It’s one problem after another in this accursed world!”

“Oh my god! Shut the hell up!”

“Don’t tell me what to do, you Irish tramp!”

“I’m Scottish, you fuckin’ cock gobbler!”

To his right, the neighbor of the empty cell across from him, a pair of white human hands practically slam against her cell-

“Hey, whoa whoa whoa whoa whoa!” Dan tries to get as close a look as he can. “Hold on a second! Are you human!?”

“Yeah?” Her head tilts to get a better look at him. “What’s it to ya?”

Sure enough, that freckled face left no room for error. She was human, alright.

And the violent waves atop her head further confirmed her origins; along with that aggressive fire in her eyes.

“How is that possible? I thought we didn’t keep our bodies after we died?”

“You died?” She asks. “So then, you’re an Arrival, too.”

“Yeah, I got here like an hour ago. What about you?”

“It’ll be my first year tomorrow.”

“First year? Just how old are you?”

“Twenty-one.”

“You died at twenty!? Oh my lord! That’s too young!”

“Ah, it wasn’t all bad when I was free. Being a close-ranger gives me the power to kick ass here that I didn’t have in the old world.”

“Close-ranger?” Dan asks.

“Yeah. It’s the class that best aligned with my kick-ass attitude. Didn’t Camilla tell ya about this stuff?”

“No. After I left the Arrival, I got into a fight with an Arrival 57.”

She rolls her eyes. “Of course you did.”

“Then, after that, Camilla fell asleep in my apartment, I chased after what I thought was my wife (but turned out to be an illusion), and then I was tossed in here-”

“Wait a second! Back up! Camilla’s in YOUR apartment!? And she’s ASLEEP!?”

“Well, yes, but-”

“Oh, that’s it! We need to get out of here because I want to hear everything in detail!”

“…” Dan’s eyes narrowed. “You’re another Camilla…uh…‘fanatic,’ aren’t you?”

“What? No! I’m not a queer!” She shouts, almost too fast.

“Whoa!” Dan screams. “There is no need for that kind of-”

“We don’t have time for that! Now listen up because I have an idea! But before I tell you about it, I need to know what class you are.”

“Your guess is as good as mine. All I know is that I can freeze whatever I touch.”

“So you’re in the Balanced class, eh?” She nods with a hand to her chin. “Yeah, yeah, that can work.”

“Okay, so…what’s your idea?” Dan asks.

“Well, you know how you can’t use your magic while you’re in that cell?”

“Yes, it’s the first thing I took note of.”

“Try jumpin’, and using your freezy magic in the air.”

“…okay?”

The only thing that he could touch in the air would be himself, so that’s what he decided to do.

Up he jumps, slapping a random piece of his fur; and sure enough, the tiniest of ice crystals form.

Maybe it wasn’t the usual blanket of ice he was used to, but…

“Oh my goodness! It worked!”

“Yeah, but you’ll notice that it’s much weaker than what you can normally do. That’s because you don’t have a lot of time to use your magic before you have to land again.”

“So…how does this factor into our escape?”

“Well, close-rangers have what I call ‘rage.’ It happens when we take enough damage to be just under what would be considered lethal. It gives us the strength and speed to fuck up everythin’ and anythin’; even the strongest of prison enchantments. So…I want you to form as many ice balls as you can, and hit me with them ‘till I’m almost dead.”

“You want me to stone you!?” Dan shakes his head. “Absolutely not! I cannot in good conscious assault someone that has done no wrong! Especially not someone so young!”

“I’m not a child! I’m twenty-one! And unless you have a better idea, chop chop! Cause we’re not in here for no reason!”

“You know why we were thrown in here?”

“Not the full reason, but I know the end result,” she says. “We’re nothing more than food for The Destroyer, waitin’ to be eaten.”

Dan’s wide eyes encourage him to start hopping and clapping. “One load of ice balls, coming right up!”

“Come on, fox man! One, two! Chop chop! Hurry up and hit me in the face with your balls!”

“Oh, come now! Don’t make it weird-”

As if having heard of their plan, another explosion of green flame sprouts from the girl’s cell.

It was the cloaked warden again.

Like usual, they said nothing. But he didn’t have to; the opening of her cell was more than enough to tell Dan that bad things were happening.

‘Oh no!’ He began to hop as fast as he could, tapping all fingers together in rapid succession. What began as tiny crystals of ice slowly started to grow with every tap. ‘Come on! Come on!’

“What? You think I’m just gonna let ya-”

Her limbs clap together, as if bound by rope; similar to how Dan felt before.

And there was something about her petrified eyes that called out something deep from Dan’s subconscious.

It was a familiar feeling. One that wrinkled his snout, and snapped off the balls of ice that had formed in his fingertips.

He hoped that cloaked figure could understand the meaning in the message he was about to send.

His hand, golf-ball-sized hail in its clutches, pulls back; right before one swift swing lobs it straight for the back of the warden’s head with as much force as Dan could muster.

Clock!

The shattering of his skull was an unmistakable sound.

But he wasn’t dead yet.

The new girl, before Dan even realizes it, strikes at the ground with a flaming fist, and blinding speed; after striking it through the warden’s skull with a spine-chilling crack, that is.

The prison floor stood no chance. Even the ground at Dan’s feet wasn’t spared from the remnants of cracks.

“Have a nice trip, asshole!” She screams.

From her one fist, she flips over and slaps her bare feet against the floor.

All while the warden’s body evaporates in a white mist.

‘A nice trip to where?’ Reality slaps some focus into him. “Wait,” Dan says. “You’re not wearing shoes?”

She was also wearing a white tank top, and black spandex shorts that cling to her athletic thighs something fierce.

“Yeah. They got me when I was trainin’,” she says, walking over to his cage.

“I’m sorry to hear that.” Not like Dan even cared about her appearance. Only one thing was on his mind. “Now, stand still while I lob you with the rest of these. I want to get out of here as soon as possible.”

She grins at his cage with malicious intent. “No need!” Just one firey punch was all she needed to split one of his bars into two with a explosive metallic grunt. “My stamina’s no longer locked away, so I don’t even need mah rage mode!”

Her strength was, of course, shocking. “All I’m hearing is that I don’t have to assault you with hail,” he says, stepping over the lower portion of the bent bar. “So I’m not complaining. Now, let’s get out of here.”

“I couldn’t agree more!” She cracks her knuckles. “So hold still! I’m gonna set you free in one hit!”

“What? How are you gonna-”

Wait.

Does she intend to send him back to the Arrival with her fist?

That realization hits Dan with mortal panic.

“See ya on the other side, shrimp!” She says, clenching a fist up to her head.

“Hey! Wait wait wait-”

Fwoosh!

The explosive green glow of the warden’s fire lights up the hall in paralyzing fury.

Forget casting a spell. They, instead, opt to bash Dan’s head in with their staff.

“Shit!” The girl screams.

But she was given no time to process her shock before she was once more bound by invisible forces.

Only this time, the binding force seems to grow stronger and stronger; squeezing her like she was an old tube of toothpaste.

Dan could see her eyes widen along with her jaw.

She couldn’t breathe.

The world around him may have been oscillating something fierce, but he couldn’t do nothing at the sight of someone’s daughter suffering through such horrid torture.

With the exception of the ground directly underneath himself, Dan’s small hands desperately press against the ground; practically clawing at it to surf a wave of smooth ice in the warden’s direction.

The warden, of course, jumps.

But, then something interesting happened in Dan’s eyes. The mysterious enemy now stood idly in the air, but the girl’s bind had been released.

Yes, Dan’s narrowing eyes were happy about this little detail.

But now what was he going to do about the fact that the cloaked figure was now flying straight for him?

Especially after he’d surrounded even himself in ice?

Oh, how he cursed his lack of magical experience.

“WRONG ANSWER!”

It was the girl’s flaming hot foot of rage, and it just clocked the back of the enemy’s head with a speed far too ridiculous for Dan to keep up with. She was like a human rocket with the way a long tail of fire followed her as she flew.

He didn’t even see her get up before doing that kick.

Like before, the enemy’s body turned to smoke before leaving the two to themselves once more.

But, Dan knew that wouldn’t last long.

And so did the new girl when she stomped a cascade of fire on and around the ice Dan had created, melting it in an instant.

“Come on!” She screams. “Let’s go!”

The click of his small clawed feet, and the echoing slap of hers, make way for one end of this seemingly endless hall.

“You know…” Dan pants. “…now that I’m getting used to these new feet, it’s surprising just how much further I can run before I start to feel tired!”

“Good for you, shrimp! Just keep running!”

Fwoosh!

Again, the warden appears.

This time, between the new alliance and a door.

But that didn’t stop them.

“Oh for fucks’s sake!” She screams. And, in the blink of an eye, before the enemy’s staff could even tap at the ground, her comet-like kick of hell splinters her and the enemy straight through the door. “GET OUT OF MY WAY!”

‘How did she even get captured?’ Dan wonders. ‘That man can’t even weather one of her hits.’

“Hey!” She screams. “Watch out! This is a fake!”

A phrase uttered too late as Dan’s stiff body was lobbed at the girl like a rag doll.

She had more than enough time to grab him, but she would come to regret that decision when she felt herself unable to move once again.

Now, even if Dan himself was still at liberty to struggle, he couldn’t go anywhere; not while he was in the Celtic girl’s paralyzed grasp.

But there was a more urgent issue that the married man was now faced with.

The back of his head was resting on her soft, not-so-humble chest that fluffed out with pride.

…

It made his mind scream.

“Hey! If you’re going to freeze me like this, at least take my head out of this position! I’m no filthy cheat! I’m a married man!”

“Really…!?” She screams. “THAT’S what’s bothering you right now?”

He even began to sing. “Ho-ney. I’m-not-a-chea-ter! HA-VA-NA-GI-LA!”

“It’s only weird if you make it weird, you know!”

“I’M-NOT-A-TTRAC-TED-TO-THIS-GIRL!”

“Yeah, keep defendin’ yourself despite no one fuckin’ askin’! That’ll certainly help your case!”

All of that singing proved tiring to Dan; he was trying to catch his breath. “Lord have mercy…when did I grow so tire-?”

In an instant, a wave of ice coats every inch of the girl, and a good chunk of the floor, with the exception of her head.

And that included the entirety of Dan’s body. He was now a little immobile icicle within the girl’s new ice shell.

It was a decision so random, so mind-boggling, both the girl and the enemy were left looking at him in stunned silence as his small body evaporates in pseudo-death.

Now it was just her, and the enemy. Alone.

Seeing as she was now frozen to the ground, the enemy couldn’t just lift her anymore.

And that’s when it clicked for her.

It brought forth her grin of malice once again.

“You smart little shit,” she grunts, her sharp eyes switching from Dan to the warden. “You know you’re fucked now, right? I know you can’t call for backup when you’re focused on keeping me bound. And you can’t even lift me anymore since I’m frozen to the ground. Your only options are to keep me like this and pray to god that your mana can hold out until the ice melts, which it won’t in this cold ass dungeon, or you can try to destroy the ice before bindin’ me again. But, the moment you do that, your ass is mine.” Her grin widens. “The choice is yours, cunt! How do you wanna go back to the Arrival!?”

Her screams echo down the hall in an ever-increasingly robotic hum.

An answer was eagerly awaited.

But, at present, the masked figure just looked at her; not moving a muscle.

“What’s the matter?” She asks. “Are you scare-”

“Why do you fight us?” Asks a female voice behind the mask.

A question that earns a scowl from the Celtic girl. “Huh?”

“Did you like your life as it was in the human world?”

“What does it matter? We’re fuckin’ dead!”

“No. We are free,” the masked woman responds. “Free of disease. Of mediocrity. Of loneliness.”

“What’s your point?”

“The old world is nothing to champion, and you know it. Everything is better here. We, are better here.”

“You wanna talk to me like you’re not an AI-generated wisdom bot? You’re startin’ to get on my nerves!”

“You are better here in every way than you were back on…Earth. And you just want to throw that away?”

“Newsflash, ya dumb cunt! If The Destroyer gets his way, the people we knew back on Earth are FUCKED! You know that, right?”

“That is none of my concern.”

That just about smacked all of the anger out of the frozen woman’s eyes; but just for a brief moment.

They very quickly simmer back down to disgust.

“Then we have nothing to talk about. Exhaust your mana waitin’ for the ice to melt, or try to out-speed me. The choice is yours.”

“I urge you to rethink-”

“Myeh-myeh-myeh, myeh-myeh-myeh- fuck you,” she mocks. “It’s not my fault you’re a loser that has powers now-”

The enemy stomped forward. “I am NOT a loser!”

Much to ice girl’s surprise, and newfound grin. “Oh yeah, because that’s what all winners say.”

“You shut your mouth, you big-chested whore!”

“What? Were you flat when you were human?”

“I told you to SHUT YOUR MOUTH!”

“Let me guess, you weren’t like the other girls,” the frozen woman says.

“I have the power to turn this entire world to ashes! Petty problems like that no longer concern me! Especially not from a whore caked in makeup like you!”

“Every crush you’ve ever had has always liked someone else, right?”

“STOP TALKING!”

“But it wasn’t your fault. Ooh nooo…”

“STOP! TALKING!”

“It was society’s fault.”

The grip on the mage’s staff gave way to the noise of light splintering. “WHAT THE HELL DO YOU KNOW!? IT’S SO EASY TO TALK LIKE THAT WHEN YOU WEREN’T BORN UGLY, LIKE I WAS! WHILE YOU WERE OBSESSING OVER MAKEUP AND GETTING RAILED BY MEN EVERY DAY, I WAS STUDYING MY ASS OFF; DAY AND NIGHT! BUT SOMEHOW, YOU’RE THE ONE THAT SOCIETY REWARDS!? THAT’S BULLSHIT!”

“There it is! That’s the reason no one liked you back on Earth!”

A bluff on ice girl’s part, but she would be proven right when the enemy snaps forward.

“SHUT UP! I DIDN’T NEED THE APPROVAL OF THE MINDLESS MASSES!”

“That sounds like a yes to me!”

“YOU DON’T KNOW ANYTHING ABOUT ME!”

“Oh, I’ve met enough girls like you to know everythin’ about you!”

“STOP TALKING!”

“You might be smart, but you’re too stupid to figure out why people hated you!”

“NO I’M NOT!”

“Spoiler alert: It wasn’t your appearance!”

“YES IT WAS!”

“The reason guys never liked you-”

“SHUT UP!”

“-is because you-”

“I DON’T CARE!”

“-have the personality-”

“YOU ARE BENEATH ME!”

“-of DICK CHEESE!”

The red room goes green when the enemy’s fire surfs out in all directions like big flaming tidal waves.

“I HAVE HAD ENOUGH OF YOU! BURN IN THE EMERALD DRAGON’S FLAMES, YOU WHORE!”

It was like a continuous flamethrower; with puffs so big, they bounced off the walls.

It didn’t matter what they ran over; wood, metal; stone; it all ended up the same.

Ash.

One second had passed.

Then two.

And several more.

Black smoke burned at the enemy’s coughing lungs something fierce, but that wasn’t enough to fully suppress her malicious laughter.

“You may respawn, just like the rest of us, but at least now you know who’s better-”

“SURPRISE!”

Ice girl no more. Her tail of flames propelled her forward from the cell hall that led into this room, and her hot kick of death made sure not to miss the enemy’s spine.

But there was no time for joking around.

The instant she bounced her foot off the wall that she destroyed with her kick, she angled her head towards the floor and commanded the flames to shoot out of both feet.

She was like a rocket. One that shattered her own skull, and teleported her back to the Arrival’s familiar library.

“I got her staff-” Dan’s eyes widen. “OH MY GOD!” But they shut as soon as he got a good look at the Scottish girl. “You’re naked!”

“No time to worry about that now, shrimp! Just hold on to that thing with your life!”

Sure enough, the blunt object Dan had been clubbed with was now in his large, stubby hands.

A sight the warden was not a fan of. “GIVE THAT BACK!”

An order ignored by Dan, and the human girl.

The latter of whom tackled the short woman. “Gotcha!”

Now bound by the tall woman’s grip, she wriggled and pushed; to no avail. “S-stop! Let me go! You don’t know what you’re doing!”

But she earned nothing more than fangs from closed-eye Dan. “Oh, I know exactly what I’m doing!”

And the redheaded girl’s sharp blue eyes didn’t look much too pleased, either. “You think you can just lock me up, and get away with it?”

“That is enough, both of you.” The sound of a metallic tap on the ground echoes around the now silent room. This gave the Celtic girl her clothes back. “You may open your eyes now, Dan.”

It was Camilla, and there was a tragic tone in her voice; if Dan’s ears were accurate.

“Camilla?” Asked the redhead. “I thought you were asleep.”

“I was.” The grip on her golden staff was rather tense. “But Dan woke me up, and filled me in on what happened. My apologies, you two, for having to go through this; especially you, Dan, on your first day.”

The other girl choked. “C-Camilla-”

“ Silence! ” Camilla’s cold tone mimicked the sounds of many. It was hard to tell what glowing yellow eyes meant, as her afro lifted itself to reveal them, but Dan had the feeling that this was about to get very, very ugly. “ Arrival 1967. In aligning yourself with The Destroyer, you have committed the worst sin possible! ” She turns her head to the Scot, and tilts it away; encouraging her to get off of Arrival 1967. “ As punishment, you shall pay the ultimate price! ”

“W-Wait!” Pleads 1967, watching as Camilla twists the staff behind her back before lifting it up to the heavens. “I’m sorry! I won’t do it again!” And now her small squirming body, which had rested on the glowing circle of blue at the center of the room, started to float. And the circle itself flipped from blue to yellow. “Camilla! Please! Have mercy!”

But Mercy was not known to Camilla’s face right now-

…wait. Was that even her at the moment?

Her movements from moments prior were smooth, calm, and proper.

But now, she was stiff as a board; not daring to move even an inch as her pearly-whites clenched and her thin arms revealed their muscles.

In a golden flash of beam that shot out towards the sky, judgment was delivered. And with it, the echoing of what sounds like a howling wolf blankets the area.

That, however, could not drown out the one final cry from the dissolving 1967 that reached out towards Dan. “NO-”

The haunting echo of her scream bounces around the room for a moment, but not for long. It dies quickly; along with the golden hue of the room as the beam thins.

In the distance, the remnants of the ‘howl’ remained; though its pitch, along with volume, lowered with distance.

No more beam.

No more glowing eyes.

No more Arrival 1967; clothes; fur; nothing.

She was gone.

And, if Camilla’s words from earlier were any indicator, she was not anywhere else.

“Before I answer your question, you should know that this is no mere ‘undo immortality’ ritual,” Dan recalls her saying_. “It is a punishment reserved for the worst of offenders. For you see: not only is your immortality undone, but your soul is destroyed as well.”_

Her thoughts.

Emotions.

Sensations.

Everything.

They were gone. Forever.

As Dan stood there, Camilla’s light groans follow her as she collapses on her knees and her golden staff rolls away.

“Camilla!” The redhead was quick to kneel down with her. “Are you okay?”

The sheep woman held her head. “Yes…” She says, her voice back to normal. “…I’m just a bit light-headed…thank you…”

Their conversation faded.

Right where 1967 had reached out towards Dan, he hadn’t moved.

That face of panic was etched into his mind.

Why?

He knew what she was doing.

So then-

“HEY!” Screams the redhead. “Are ya there, Major Tom? Help me move her!”

“What?” It too him a second for his consciousness to catch up. “Oh! Camilla!” He, too, ran towards her. “Are you still wiped out from earlier?”

“Earlier!?” The redhead asks. “Just what were you two doin’-”

Dan’s eyes widen. “NO! NO! She erected a barrier earlier, and it tired her out! It is NOT what you are thinking!”

“Erected? Barrier? Interestin’ choice of words…”

An emotional roller-coaster.

Today was an emotional roller-coaster.

It made Dan sigh. “I think I need to lie down myself. Today has proven to be…a lot.”

He may have been just half of Camilla’s height, but he proved to quite the cane with the way she gripped at his head.

Fortunately, the other girl was doing the most of the work as they walked.

But that just added to the shame Dan’s inner-man felt.

The redhead humms. “Well, you have been usin’ your magic a lot for a newbie. It doesn’t surprise me that you’re tired.”

“I’m glad I began to feel this way when I did. It helped me figure out how to turn the tides when we were stuck together.”

“So, that is why you suddenly froze yourself,” she says. “Interestin’, uh…”

“Daniel Lopez. But you can just call me Dan.”

“Nice to finally know your name. I’m Megan; Megan McFinnigan.”

“What a lovely name. Really rolls right off the tongue.”

“Yeah, well-” Megan’s tone suddenly crashes out as she looks around them. “HEY! DON’T THINK I DON’T NOTICE YOUR STARIN’!” She screams. “ANYONE THAT LOOKS FOR LONGER THAN ONE SECOND IS GETTIN’ THEIR ASS KICKED!”

Sure enough, everyone looks away immediately.

“So…” Dan continues. “…where do we take her? I don’t exactly know the layout of this place.”

A question the weak Camilla was willing to answer. “It’s at the far end of the-”

She’s short of collapsing, but was saved thanks to Dan and Megan’s quick thinking.

“Wh-okay!” Megan says. “Now I’m startin’ to see why she chose to crash at your place. She can’t even make it to hers.”

But they could make it to Dan’s. And as soon as they did, and as soon as Camilla’s torso felt the first touch of Dan’s bed, the light snoring had begun once again.

And as her tail rose and fell with her snoring, Dan just couldn’t help but glance at the oddity.

“She’s even worse than she was before. At least then, she could stand and pretend to be fine-” He lets out a yawn of his own. “Gosh…I guess I’m not so fine myself…”

“That makes one of us,” Megan says. “I’m gonna go take a shower. I haven’t had one in over a month.”

“A month!?” Dan looks at his tense claws. “Now I think I should take a shower…”

He was hugged by someone that hadn’t showered in a month.

Disgusting.

But his words unintentionally brought out a playful scoff from Megan. “What? Is that your way of tryin’ to get in the shower with me?”

Dan’s face soured. ‘I’m not even going to dignify that with a response.’

But hers was a giggle. “Oh, I’m just teasin’ ya!” She fans him off. “But I really am gonna go shower. I fuckin’ stink! See you tomorrow, okay?”

“Very well. Goodnight, Megan.” He wouldn’t sigh until after she’d left the room. ‘Nice girl, but her young age shows…’

Now that everything was calm again, it dawned on him just how weird this all was.

This morning, he was nothing more than a father looking to spend Christmas with his family.

And now, he’s a short, hairy beast that can freeze whatever he touches.

Then there’s all of this other magic, and staffs, and an animal-lady-god thing sleeping in his bed.

Ay ay ay…

He was about to take a very long shower…when he figures out just how he’s going to do that now that he’s covered in fur.

And hopefully, after he falls asleep and wakes again, this will have all been a weird dream.

He awoke.

And, sure enough, it was not a dream.

What was supposed to be the sight of his wife sleeping on her side, was instead Camilla’s exhausted shell; resting on her stomach, and hiding her face in a pillow.

Sigh.

Might as well go and check on the boy-

…

Gosh darn it.

It felt wrong waking up today.

Right about now, he’d be witness to a debate between both sides of his brain; blue tie, or red.

Then he’d waltz downstairs, called upon by the sweet scent of lady caffeine.

Instead, his new apartment smelled of…

…mango?

No wait, that’s just Camilla.

…

…and now he’s smelling an unconscious woman.

‘Okay, Dan!’ He thinks to himself. ‘Get up!’

Fucking creep.

No curiosity in the world excuses that behavior.

But, now that he thought about it, he wasn’t exactly leaning in for a close smell.

Even now, a few feet away, he could still make out that sweet tropical scent.

And that’s not all his new nose could detect.

Meat.

Eggs.

Their faint waft called upon Dan’s roaring gut.

But there was a problem.

When he did sneak out of the room, without waking Camilla of course, he followed his nose until he found the source of the meaty scent.

It was many, actually.

A breakfast shack here, a full-on tavern there; a lot of options.

But zero ways to explore them.

One shack offered kebabs. $5 for two.

Another was serving waffles. $2 per waffle, or $10 for a full breakfast. Eggs and hash-browns included.

And he didn’t even bother to look in the food establishments made of stone. Their prices were going to be higher; Dan knew that.

Not like that even mattered.

He was broke.

“Hey.”

Who was that?

“You. Shorts.”

It was a…black lab?

His eyes were as soulless as the khaki-colored beanie he wore. And yet, it felt like there was a predatory malice behind that unamused stare.

“…yes?” Dan asks.

Truth be told, his gut told him to walk away.

“You’re new here, right?” Asks the new man, hands in his baggy jeans.

“It’s my second day. Uh…can I help you?”

That certainly brought out a small gleam in his eyes. “Yeah. You can help me by giving me some booty.”

Dan’s maw was left agape. “E-xcuse me!?”

“I seen your little fight yesterday with Arrival 57. You’ve got a fire in your soul as fine as your ass.” The dog man’s footsteps approach Dan, slowly. “Now I’ll tell you what. I like ya, and I want ya. Now we can do this the easy way, or we can do it the hard way. The choice is yours.”

“Okay, I don’t know who you think you are-”

“O-okay, I see you’re choosing the hard way.”

“-but I am NOT letting you do anything with me,” Dan says.

Without a second to spare, the new man’s glowing hand summons his staff.

“Bootyus-paralysus!”

Agh!

This feeling again!

One that didn’t even let him twitch a toe!

Is that what the spell was called!? Really!?

Bam!

Another staff; though this one didn’t cast a spell.

Unless you count bashing it against someone’s head a spell.

Regardless, Dan was free; and the black lab was down.

“Dammit, 3 dash 8!” Another newcomer; this one looked like a doberman that hadn’t had its ears clipped. Even had a little police uniform on, and everything. Talk about cliché. “Do you love spending time in jail?”

‘3-8?’ Dan thinks to himself.

“Come on, you!” Screams the cop, dragging the predator by the collar of his white t-shirt. “Let’s go!”

Now that it was all over, Dan had only one question in his mind.

‘Where was HE yesterday?’

Looks like it wasn’t only Camilla that had to watch her back. Literally.

People with no regard for personal space, others jealous enough to burn everything after getting rejected, several working alongside The Destroyer for some reason, and now a few so bold that they’ll sexually assault someone in broad daylight?

Dan questioned the Arrival’s judgment when selecting candidates.

Growl!

Ah. That’s right. He hadn’t eaten breakfast yet.

Well, if he couldn’t afford anything, then it looks like he was going to have to go out and hunt.

He loved camping, anyway.

Air so pure, it smelled like pine trees; skies so dark, you could see your own shadow from nothing more than the Milky Way’s light; time so free, he could actually spend some with his family-

…

And now he was sad again.

“ALRIGHT, WHO TOOK IT!?”

Just the sound alone identified the erupting volcano quite a ways behind him.

“I’M GONNA START KICKIN’ ASSES ONE BY ONE UNTIL I FIND THE PERSON THAT STOLE MY MONEY!”

The volcano in question was, of course, Mt. Megan.

She more or less looked the same as yesterday. Only without jail cell grime knocking her colors down a few shades.

Under the morning sun’s rays, her hair could really show off its colorful glow. It was like one of those stained glass pieces they have in churches.

A similar sensation invoked in the sharp blue eyes that could incinerate the soul of anyone she locked eyes with.

Especially the poor rabbit bastard whose collar dangled before Megan’s livid grip.

“WHERE IS IT!?” She screams.

And so does the rabbit man. “I-I don’t know! I swear!”

There’s the pitch.

And Megan swings her fist right into his face-

And that’s a home run!

His little body screams for the horizon.

“WHO’S NEXT!?”

…nope. Dan was NOT going to get in the middle of that.

He was just gonna walk away, and-

“WHERE DO YOU THINK YOU’RE GOIN’!?” Her aggressive grip spins the now dizzy Dan around several times. “Oh! Dan!” She takes her claws off of him immediately. “I’m sorry!”

Dan’s entire world spun ‘round and ‘round. “…given the context…it’s fine…no harm no foul…”

“Yeah, not for the asshole that took my money. He’s gonna get a second one when I find him.”

“…did anyone tell you that you curse a lot…?”

“Yeah, I’ll keep that under advisement- OKAY, WHO’S NEXT!?” One of her fists gives her other palm a violent kiss.

There were many victims in a ten minute time span, and the cop from earlier was no exception.

But did Megan find the thief?

Well, let’s just say she sighs in defeat. “Fuck me…”

Dan’s fatherly instincts wanted to put a reassuring hand on her arm, but his survival instincts—still not caught up with his new circumstances—gave him a premonition that ended with him in heaven.

So, he pulled back.

“My condolences,” he says.

“Now what am I gonna do?”

“Well, what did you do when you first got here? I don’t exactly have money myself.”

“Camilla gives Arrivals enough money to get through the first week. Or, at least, that’s what she normally does. I’m gonna guess she knocked out before she gave it to you?”

“Correct,” Dan says. “Before I found you earlier, I was actually planning to-”

“S’cuse me,” says a buttery smooth southern drawl. “But I couldn’t help but overhear you folks sayin’ that you were flat broke.”

She was just a tad smaller than Megan was, and her voice was hesitant.

…

The former irked Dan so. ‘Why did I get stuck with the short body?’ He thinks.

Her frame, however, was on the heavier side.

Pink splotches of cow patterns, as opposed to black, decorated her otherwise white fur.

And aside from the cheery eyes that sparked like rubies (when they weren’t being covered by her over-sized pink bangs), her most noticeable…eh, ‘assets,’ were hanging in front of her.

How she could stand upright with those massive things, Dan did not know.

They were ridiculously large for someone her size.

‘How is that possible?’ He thinks to himself.

It was hard to look at her in the face from his angle. Her ‘assets’ did a good job of partially eclipsing it.

And what were those papers in her hands for?

Before he could ask, Megan had an inquiry of her own. “Maybe we’re broke, maybe we’re not. What’s it to ya?”

She takes a singular retreating step. “Well…” Continues the new lady. “…my girls ain’t milkin’, and normally I have a guy to help me with that. But, he’s not here. I came to Main Street lookin’ to put these here flyers up; but, after hearin’ you folks talk about your money problems, I think we can help each other out-”

“Wait,” Dan says abruptly, causing her to twitch. “Came to Main Street?” Dan asks. “I thought Main Street was the only safe haven we had left?”

“It is, but we still need somewhere to farm,” she responds. “My name’s Bessie, by the way!” She extends a fuzzy hand. “Bessie Sawyer!”

That tone was…well, positive but…

Dan’s ears couldn’t help but pick up…something. A hint of skepticism, maybe?

“Daniel Lopez,” Dan says, matching her grip. Literally. She clearly knew her way around a hard day’s work. “OhWowThat’sAStrongGrip- Arrival…uh…1989! That was it. What about you?”

“Me?” She asks, pulling back her hand into a small wave. “Oh, no! I’m not an arrival!”

Dan’s brows raise. “Really? That’s interesting. A native, huh?”

That question seemed to kick a pep in her step. “Yep!” She slaps her chest, and her worries. “Born and raised! Anyway-” She fans off. “You need money, I have money! I need help, you can offer it! Whadya say?”

“Money in exchange for milking cows, huh? Sounds like a good deal to me. What do you say, Megan?”

When he looked up, she looked like she was on the verge of tears with how hard the shaking girl was trying to suppress her laughter.

All she could do was give him a thumbs up.

Just what was so funny?

“Uh…” Dan’s confused hands shrug. “Yes! Okay! We have a deal!”

“Ho-yeah!” Bessie lets those fliers go with the sudden burst of wind that blew around them. “And y’all ain’t bad lookin’, neither! This is gonna be great!”

Dan raised a brow. ‘Not bad looking…?’

Why did that matter?

“Now I’m really glad Camilla had one of them ‘teleporters’ installed on the farm! We can be in and out before we know it!”

Megan’s farting lips couldn’t hold themselves back anymore.

It draws a skeptical leer from Dan. “Okay…just what is so funny?”

“N-nothin’!” Megan giggles. “Don’t worry about it!”

Something was going on.

But what?

And why were Megan’s cheeks red?

He supposed he would find out soon enough.

Rather than use the teleporter in the apartment complex, Bessie led them to one that was right beside the Arrival.

It reminded him of a bus stop.

Once inside, Bessie clears her throat.

“Prairie Farms!”

And off she went.

Dan and Megan made a similar request, which then brought forth the endless expanse of space once again.

But, he was ready this time.

Now that he wasn’t being thrown in here randomly, it was actually kind of nice.

It reminded him of the time he and his wife went camping in Big Bend National park.

Way before their son was born.

The way his wife looked under the endless cosmic sea was something he could never forget.

Even now.

Poof!

The other teleporter materialized before his very eyes.

On the other side of the teleporter’s door hole, Megan and Bessie were standing in wait.

And now, Bessie opens her mouth to speak.

“$%@(!&% $( !#( ##@!”

…

What?

Bessie’s hands waft towards her.

“*#@&! $**!#*! #( 8!@(#!* ($(**!(, )#(!#( #(()”

Again…

…what!?

Now Megan opens her lips.

“Whit are ye standin around thare for? Hurry up an get the fuck oot!”

Why is she talking like that?

Why is Bessie talking like that?

Did that teleportation damage his brain?

Dan looks between them both. “Are you two pranking me?”

Bessie’s head tilts in a confused moo.

Mega rolls her eyes.

She practically yanks him out.

“Hey!” He protests.

And when she next parts her lips…

“Quit wastin’ time! I’m starvin!”

Dan blinks.

He steps back into the teleporter.

Of course, Megan looks none too pleased. “Whit the…are ye tryin tae piss me aff!?”

And back out.

“Step in there one more time, and my foot is gonna get real acquainted with your ass!”

Dan crosses his arms. “Huh. That’s weird. You speak differently when I’m in there.”

The anger practically dissolves on Megan face that instant. “Oh! That’s right! That’s the first time you’ve been outside of the range of a translation spell, haven’t you?” She looks towards Bessie.

“I musta been speakin’ nonsense to you, huh?” Bessie asks.

Dan nods. “Indeed. But I guess I’m the fool for expecting everyone to speak English.”

Now he wonders what Camilla’s native tongue sounds like.

“Yeah yeah,” Megan dismisses, “English imperialism’s a bitch-let’s get started before I start killin’ someone for breakfast meat!”

Dan didn’t know if he could sweat in this new body, but he certainly felt something cold go down his spine when Megan’s aggressive eyes latched onto him in that instant.

“…agreed.”

When did young people get so violent?

He didn’t recall himself behaving like that when he was younger.

He just watched imported anime tapes from Japan, played video games, and minded his own business-

Clap!

A heavenly glow shined on Bessie’s face. “Finally! Y’all don’t know how long we’ve been waitin’ for this!” We? “I’d love to give y’all a tour of the place first, but I feel like I’m aboutta burst!”

I’m?

And that’s when the ten ton weight of realization nailed Dan to the ground.

The cows he has to milk…

The teets he has to touch…

are…

Bessie’s hands rests on her back. As the mooing woman stretches backwards, her massive glands practically stare at Dan.

‘Oh no…’

“I…” Dan begins to retreat. “…think I left the stove on! I’ll be back!”

Again, Megan begins to snort.

So this is why she was laughing. She knew he was completely ignorant of what the job actually entailed.

That little scoundrel.

Bessie blinks. “Ain’t you new here? I thought you didn’t own nothin’ yet.”

And Megan takes a tight grip of Dan’s arm. “Bessie, can you excuse us for a second?” She didn’t even wait for a response before she pulled Dan a few feet away.

“Hey! Stop pulling me-”

“Shut up!” She counters in a loud whisper. “Now I know what you’re probably thinkin-”

“I’m a married man!” He whispers back. “I am NOT touching her…her…” He couldn’t even say the word; his ears were red hot just thinking about it. Even from this far away, every subtle sway and bounce looked as if it had a camera on standby; just ready to show his wife. Somehow. “No! I’m out!”

“Newsflash, genius! You’re dead! That means your marriage is over!” Clearly, Dan’s antagonistic face needed more. “Second of all, you already agreed to help her! Do you really want to be the village cunt that doesn’t keep his word? Cause that’s already in abundance back on Main Street.”

Just the comparison to them was enough to turn Dan’s stomach inside out.

But did that justify putting his hands on another woman’s…balloons?

But he’s already made a promise to Bessie.

But he made a much more important promise to his wife long ago.

But his honor as a man is on the line.

But this was just too perverted for his tastes.

But…

But…

Dan’s fists clench.

“…the marriage isn’t over to me,” Dan says. “I’m sorry, but this just doesn’t feel right.”

Megan face palms. “You’re makin’ it weird for no reason again, you daft cunt,” she sighs. “It’s not like she’s askin’ ya for a shaggin’. She just wants you to milk her.”

“But, I’d be touching her…it’s not the same as milking a normal cow! Cows don’t have…”

“Tits!” Megan screams in a not-so-subtle whisper, grasping her own. “They have tits, Dan! They’re not gonna bite you if you touch ‘em! I mean…just think of it from her point of view! Do you think she sees this as a sex thing?”

Dan paused.

He hadn’t considered that.

But then again, Bessie’s words from earlier echoed in his mind.

‘And y’all ain’t bad lookin’, neither!’

And now her actual words were hitting his ears in real time. “S’cuse me!” She moos. “I can’t help but hear things gettin’ a little tense over here. Is everythin’ alright?”

Megan giggles nervously. “Y-yeah! Just havin’ a friendly little chat-”

“My apologies, Bessie,” Dan says, “I completely misunderstood just what it was you wanted me to do. I’m sorry, but as a married man, I just do not feel comfortable carrying out this task.”

Megan facepalms.

And Bessie’s curious head tilts. “You’re married?” She tries to hide her embarrassment with her hands. “Oh, I’m so sorry! I didn’t even bother to ask, did I?”

“In our world,” Megan adds. “He was married in our world.”

Bessie’s face made a partial reemergence. “And he’s still keepin’ true to his vows?” Her hands blanket her heart. “Aww, if that ain’t the sweetest thing I’ve heard all week!”

Dan kept his serious face. “So, no hard feelings?”

Bessie shakes her head. “No. I understand. I won’t make you do this if you don’t want to.”

A sigh of relief escapes Dan’s maw. “Thank goodness…”

And Megan rolls her eyes. “Well, fuckin’ great! Now what am I gonna do for breakfast money?”

Bessie looks at Megan. “Well, you’ve only got the one pair of hands…” Her soft, eager hands clasp in front of her. “…but I’m sure we can make it work.”

He didn’t like how her tone just dropped right then.

In an instant, Megan’s face was as pink at the splotches on Bessie’s fur.

…

‘I’m not a queer!’

That’s what he recalled Megan screaming at mach-10 just yesterday.

He didn’t know exactly what qualified as ‘queer’ to her; but from his point-of-view, he could practically see the rainbow in her eyes.

And before long, she’d be tasting it, too-

…

He did not just picture them having sex.

That is what hormonal young people do.

And that is not what he was.

Not at 40 years old.

Anyway, while they went off to ‘play,’ he took the time to look around the ranch.

It was actually fairly big.

The whole thing sat atop a hill with a wide, flat peak, which allowed him to see the rise and fall of the uneven landscape; far as the eye could see.

There were no tall buildings in sight.

No billboards that tried to sell you something.

No homes, gas stations, roads, signs, street lights…

Nothing but trees, and hills, and clouds that seemed so much bigger here.

They made him feel like an ant.

A sensation worsened by just how far the hills seemed to stretch out.

On all sides, beyond the edges of the ranch, there were many a rise and fall to the tall grassy hills; but overall an average descent that stretched out for god knows how far that was.

The only true ascent seemed to come from distant mountains; a few shades lighter, thanks to the hum of the atmosphere.

Growl!

…

Oh. That’s right.

He hasn’t eaten.

Well, the landscape out there looked peaceful enough. What was to stop him from just going out there, and-

“Don’t even think about it.”

Another bovine. This one male, and very, very tall.

If he had to estimate, he was at about…

…Shaquille O’Neal’s height?

“What?” Dan asks.

“I know that look in your eye, boy,” responds the tall bull man. “You think it’s nothin’ but sunshine and rainbows out there.” It literally was. “But don’t let the land fool ya. The Destroyer’s henchmen are lurkin’ ‘round every corner.”

His voice was so deep, he could feel the vibrations on the ground at his feet.

There was no way a guy like this was lacking with the ladies. Not with a voice that rich.

Unlike Dan, his torso was covered by a red long-sleeved shirt that rolled up to his biceps. And, Like Bessie, a humble pair of overalls completed his look.

They even matched in the whole hair-covering-eyes thing going on; though his mane was a dark, rich brown. It was a contrast to the skin-colored fur covering the rest of him.

“I appreciate the warning, uh…”

“Hank Sawyer,” says the bull man, offering an introductory palm.

A social convention Dan followed through on. “Daniel Lopez. But you can just call me Dan.”

His grip made iron feel like putty.

Not surprising.

Hank was built like he could bench two fridges at different ends of a construction beam

“Nice to meet you, Dan. My daughter told me you’re short on money. Also said you wouldn’t milk her on account of you bein’ married and all.” He crosses his arms. “I like that. It shows that you ain’t just another dirty Arrival.”

Dirty Arrival?

“Anyway,” he continues, “I’ve got a job for you that don’t involve touchin’ nobody. If you’re interested.”

Dan raises a brow. “I’m listening.”

There was a hammer, and there was a wooden fence post. One of the latter’s ends was sanded down at the edges; this was the part that points up to the scorching sky.

The other end, sharply pointed, aims down at the ground.

A few taps of Hank’s wooden mallet help to make the post stand on its own. Then, with a singular ear-quaking boom, Hank’s surprisingly swift arm hammers the thing down securely.

“And that’s all there is to it,” Hank says. “Think you’re up for it?”

“Seems simple enough,” Dan says. “I have a cousin back in my world that owns a farm. I’ve had to do this kind of stuff once or twice before.”

“Good,” Hank nods. “Now before you get started, there’s one more thing you need to be mindful of.” He points to an odd engraving in the wood. It kind of looked like a shield surrounded by vines. “This here symbol needs to be aimed towards the inside of the ranch. Not outside.”

“What’s that symbol for?” Dan asks.

“It helps your magical whatchamacallit keep the ranch safe.”

“So…right now, it’s defenseless?”

“Not exactly.”

As if on queue, some sort of big centaur-like spider creature zips into the ranch with blinding speed. It was heaving, groaning, and booking it straight for Dan.

But before the short man could even react…

Crash!

“Whoa!”

That knocked Dan on his butt.

“NICE TRY, MAGGOT!”

It was a distant manly echo reminiscent of a drill instructor.

When Dan looked up towards the screamer’s tall tower, sure enough; an olive-colored soldier’s helmet shielded a dog man’s head. And his eyes.

What was it with people in this world, and hiding their eyes, Dan wonders.

Nevertheless, Hank’s firm palm aims itself at the dog man. “We’ve got some of you Arrivals defendin’ our ranch. Just in case.”

“…yeah,” Dan says, looking at the new pile of ash. “…that’s uh…pretty effective…”

“Welp, I won’t get in your way anymore.” Hank’s heavy hooves begin to stomp away. “Have fun.” He freezes. “Oh. And ‘cause you’re takin’ on one of the more annoyin’ tasks, feel free to join us for lunch when you hear the next bell.”

He points to the humble two-story house at the center of it all.

It had clearly been there for a while; the red paint on the overlapping wood exterior had chipped off in many sections, and faded where it still remained.

And the roof was no better. Its metallic body rusted in evenly-spaced, chunky stripes.

Yet, there was a comfort to its sight. Maybe it wasn’t the fanciest building, but it worked.

Now was not the time to gawk, however. He had work to do.

Growl.

Sigh.

‘I know, stomach…I know…’

As the sun’s slow crawl aimed for the highest point in the sky, Dan hammers away as best he could.

He was no Hank, of course; with this tiny body, and all.

The one-handed mallet had to be wielded by both of his stubby claws; but even then, it still took quite a good number of whacks to really get it in to where it had to be.

But he didn’t let that get him down.

In fact, as he whacked and whacked, he’d inadvertently transitioned into using the hammer and stakes as an instrument.

It was like he’d been hypnotized by the labor.

Bam.

You load 16 tons,

What do you get? Bam.

Another day older , and-a deeper in debt. Bam.

St. Peter don’t you call me

‘Cause I can’t go. Bam.

I owe my soul

To the company stooooooo…

Knock.

His eyes had briefly twitched to take note of his surroundings. And when they did, they full-on focused when he realized that a hoard of cow people was just…staring at him.

Male and female.

But when his singing stopped, they seemed to lose interest.

Was it illegal to sing here, or something?

That was extremely creepy.

Regardless, here came fence post number twelve…

…god, it was hot out here…

At least now he knew he couldn’t sweat.

And now he knew why the pet dog panted when it got warm.

It helped keep Dan cool when he did it.

Ding! Dong-ding! Dong-ding!

Was that the bell?

Oh, thank Christ.

Now, just what kind of food would they serve in this extradimensional farm?

Whatever it was, the ever-strengthening scent grew more delectable the closer he got.

Not a single smell was familiar. But at the same time, it was.

He could recognize the baked goods tickling his nose; different ingredients be damned.

And maybe this meat was unlike anything he’d ever tasted before, but the mouth-watering aroma was unmistakable.

Where exactly did he have to go to get some of-

Whoa.

That’s a lot of cows in a very big outdoor dining area.

Just how many times have Hank and Mrs. Sawyer gone at it!? Jesus Christ!

He couldn’t even count the number of heads here! Mainly because every single one made him look like a child by comparison!

Speaking of looking…

…a lot of them were watching him with caution.

Some with malice.

Others with anxiety.

His first instinct is to take a step back.

‘I feel,’ Dan thinks, ‘like maybe I shouldn’t be here…’

He turns around.

And just when he was on the verge of finally eating today.

What a shame-

What the hell is that in his peripheral vision-

Oh. More boobs hanging right over him. He can’t even see who they belong to because his snout is mere millimeters from her crotch-

“OH MY GOD-” He screams, flinching back. “-I’m so sorry!” And he takes many, many more steps back. Just to be sure. “I almost bumped into you!”

The tall woman’s heavenly giggle quakes her big chest. “You’re alright!” She, too, had a southern accent. “It was my fault for standin’ right behind ya!”

She must have been the queen of the cows here. This woman was WIDE. Though that may have been thanks to how her mass scales in comparison to her height. She was just short of Hank’s towering reach.

“Good thing I caught myself…” Dan scratches at the back of his head. “My nose almost landed somewhere it shouldn’t…”

Her hands land on her hips. “Wow! Hank and Bessie were right! You are different!”

“…different how-”

She crouches, and offers Dan a palm. “My name’s Sweetie-Bell Sawyer! Nice ta meetcha!”

“Daniel Lopez,” he says for the millionth time.

His grip on her firm worker hand was weak by comparison. It contrasted to how soft every other part of her looked.

From her ecstatic amber eyes, to the vanilla-strawberry swirl of her fur, she looked like she had a personality so sweet that it could give him diabetes.

He didn’t dare deviate his glare from her eyes, however. The rolled-up red long-sleeved under her overalls seemed useless with how open her shirt was at the chest.

Though it did match the red bandanna on her head that was tied in the front like a pair of bunny ears. It helped keep the long locks of pink out of her eyes.

Perhaps similar restraint was needed under her shirt, Dan thought. Those overalls looked stressed holding back ‘assets’ as big as her head.

“Oh you Arrivals always have the most interestin’ names!” She stands tall on her hooves once again. “Dan-yell Low-pehz! I like that!”

“Uh…yeah…”

Maybe it was just him, but he felt like he was being watched again; and not just by other cows in the area.

This one felt very personal; like his actions with this new cow woman could have very, very dire consequences.

“Oh, don’t be so nervous!” Sweetie-Bell says. “Come on! You must be starvin’!”

Crash!

Another strike of lightning in the distance.

“LIFE DEE-SMISSED!” Echoes the distant soldier man.

Sweetie-Bell was kind enough to serve Dan’s food for him; on account of everything being built for farmer height, and all.

When everything was all said and done, Dan stood on what should’ve been his seat for the wooden table, but was instead a makeshift stool for him to reach the table to begin with

“There!” Sweetie-Bell chimes, hands clasped near her face. “Can I getcha anythin’ else, hun?”

‘Hun?’ He heavily suppressed his urge to clap his brows together. “No, I’m fine as-is,” Dan says, nodding. “Thank you so much for your help.”

“Oh, it’s no problem at all! If you need anythin’ else, just holler!”

“Will do. Thanks again.”

With a simple nod, Sweetie-Bell walks away, attending to the many other cow people that needed assistance.

All in all, Dan felt like she was nice.

She didn’t try to attack him, or slander him, or rape him, or anything else.

Nope, she saw a man that wasn’t even from this world, and she welcomed him like he was just one of the neighbors.

Native People 4 – Arrivals 1.

Why four? Well, can’t discount Camilla, Bessie, and Hank. Nor Megan, the only Arrival that actually seems somewhat like an ally.

Where did she go, anyway?

Last he saw her, she was about to help Bessie-

‘Don’t picture it, don’t picture it, don’t picture it-’

His eyes locked onto his plate; specifically his silverware.

…

Wait.

The locals know about silverware?

And this pie slice. The crust has been woven in a checker-like pattern. This, to Dan, screamed humanity.

Where it differed was directly underneath; a moist yet firm mixture of soft fruit and some kind of purple jam.

How does a mere lick taste like-

…

Oh.

That’s good.

It was an unfamiliar sweetness that had no rival back on Earth.

Not to say that it topped everything else. The humble apple pie was still his favorite.

But this was a close second.

He’s definitely saving this for last.

Now then-

A plate slams against the table Dan sat at. “Howdy, Dan!”

…what now-

“Oh. Hello again, Bessie.” Dan says.

“Haven’t seen you in a little while! How’re ya likin’ the farm so far?”

“Well, this gig comes with great food, so…I’m not complaining.” He looks around. “Say, where’d Megan go?”

A nervous shake clouded Bessie’s voice. “Oh…her? We uhh finished a little while ago. She said she was gonna go home and shower.”

“I see.” Dan observes the cut of meat on his plate, slicing into it carefully. “That’s good.”

Don’t picture it.

Don’t picture it.

Don’t picture it-

Megan and Bessie kissing.

…

‘God dammit-’

“I hear daddy put you in charge of the fence,” she says. “I’m surprised he even talked to you at all. He hates most of y’all arrivals.”

And, Dan’s attention was once again obtained. “You know, your dad did mention something about that when I talked to him earlier. Even some of the other guys around here look at me like I killed their mom. What’s up with that?”

“Well…” Bessie rolls her ruby peepers. “…it’s complicated. It ain’t like it ain’t justified, or nothin’. A lot of y’all tend to treat us like dirt.”

Dan’s brows furrow. “Like dirt? What’s happened between y’all and arrivals?”

Y’all?

Oops! Looks like this place is starting to affect him.

She scratches the back of her head. “It’s complicated. I’d need an entire day to tell you all about.”

“Well, regardless of what happened, just know I have nothing against you or your family,” Dan says. “You’re good people.”

A phrase that brought about a soft smile to Bessie’s lips. “I’m glad to hear that.” She scoots in closer to Dan, extending a hand out. “So uh…friends?”

Dan nods, matching her grip. “Sure. Why not?”

“Great!” She practically explodes with ecstasy. “So now that we’re friends, you mind answering some questions for me?”

“Uh…depends on the questions?”

Why did he sound unsure?

“Oh it ain’t nothin’ bad! Promise!”

She clears her throat.

“What’s your world like?

Do y’all really come in different colors?

What’s 69?

And BBW?

Did y’all really go to the moon? Cause we ain’t ever done that here, even with magic!”

…wow.

Someone opened up rather quickly.

The questions kept coming one after the other in rapid-fire succession.

It was like she’d been holding these in for a while.

So much curiosity, but without the socialization to satisfy it.

It just made Dan all the more curious of what exactly went on before he got here.

And that uncanny feeling of being watched.

It still hasn’t gone away; even though he’s now talking to Bessie.

In fact, it feels worse now than when he was talking to Sweetie-Bell.

Something’s not right here. He can feel it.

Dan’s new lunch came and went as the hypnotized Bessie leaned her arms in with infinite curiosity.

“That sounds amazin’!” She squeals. “I can’t believe y’all did that without magic!”

“Well…if I’m being honest, I certainly consider it to be its own type of magic,” Dan says.

She stands. “What did they look like?” And leans in more. “Are they balls of light?” And even more. “Or somethin’ else!?”

And Dan, of course, leaned back; treasuring his personal space.

Not to say that he was completely uncomfortable. No, this young woman’s sparking ruby eyes brought out a chuckle from Dan’s maw.

Its awkwardness slapped some sense back into Bessie as she slingshots back to her seat. “Oh my! I’m sorry! I guess I got carried away there!”

“It’s okay, Bessie. I’d be more than happy to show you.”

He hops down from his seat.

Something that brings out a curious moo from the girl. “Where you going?”

“Just…” He was scanning the ground. “…looking for something to write in the dirt with…ah!”

A stick. Perfect.

Luckily, there was a tiny patch of land near their table that was void of all plant life.

Now, stick to ground, he tries to print the cosmic wonder in his mind.

It was spherical, of course; two thick parallel stripes ran down the middle, and many other thinner stripes lined up beside the main two.

Bessie’s head could only tilt as she observed in quiet wonder.

“This…” Dan says, poking the lower of the main parallel lines; his stick began to swirl. “…is Jupiter. A planet with a circular red storm that’s been active for almost 200 years.”

“200 years?” She crouches for a better look. “Wow…” She looks at Dan, who was still just a tad shorter than her; even now that she was crouching. “What does that look like up close?”

“No one knows,” he says. “Not only is it a planet made of gas. Its gravity is so strong, it could destroy our world effortlessly if it got too close. Just imagine what it could do to us, or even one of our space machines.” Now he was glad he taught her about space probes first. “In fact, we actually sent one to another planet with-”

Ding! Dong-Ding! Dong-Ding!

A disappointed moo escapes Bessie’s throat. “Aw, man! Lunch can’t be over yet! I wanna know more!”

“Perhaps another time, Bessie,” Dan says, eyeing the pole he was hammering last. “I do have an obligation to fulfill.”

“What? The fence?” Her eyes follow his. “Daddy told me you’d be done with it by lunchtime. Ain’t he shown you how to hammer ‘em, yet?”

“He certainly showed off his power, but I fail to see how it differs from how anyone else hammers an object.”

She groans, hand to her thick muzzle bridge. “Darnit. Of course daddy ain’t…” Her heavy steps and waving hand aim for Dan’s work site. “Come on, Dan! Let me show you how to do it right!”

So there he was again; cow person with a hammer in her hands, and him a witness.

“Now,” she begins, “if you wanna do this right, you’ve gotta use a power spell at the right time. Now, with me holdin’ it right in front of me; this is not the right time.” She pulls the hammer back behind her head in preparation for a strike. “Still not the right time.” Then she slowly swings it forward. “Not yet…” And her hammer stops just where the front face of the hammer starts to aim down. “Here.”

And all Dan could do was- “Uh…power spell?”

Bessie freezes, and smacks her own forehead. “Right! You’re new!”

“The only thing I’m familiar with is ice. It was the first thing I took notice of when I-”

Assaulted Camilla.

“…got here.”

“Ice, huh?” Bessie asks. “Well, you probably ain’t gonna have a hard time learnin’ about fire, then. But power is different.”

“Different how?”

“It ain’t just about taking somethin’ away or givin’ it in abundance. You’ve gotta learn how to drag out your inner physical power the right way, or the spell fails.” She pulls the hammer behind her head again. “If I try to use the spell from here…” And she strikes down on the fence post with the all-too-familiar sound of wood clunking against wood. “Nothing happens.” She swings it back again. “But if I do it right…!” This next swing was different. Once her hammer reached that point where the front face began to aim at the ground, it descended down to the pole with the speed of lightning; and the booming sound to match.

Which, speaking of…

“Ow!” Dan was covering his ears.

His scream froze Bessie. Whatever she was saying, it was drowned out by the sound of high-pitched ringing.

But it soon cleared; and just when she handed him back the hammer, too.

“But that’s just my way of sayin’ that power magic is like a muscle. The more you do it, the better it gets.”

“…I see.”

“For now, just practice swingin’ right. Remember: don’t try to channel your power too early!”

“I’ll keep that in mind,” Dan says. “Thank you, Bessie.”

“No problem!” She moos ecstatically. “Just let me know if you need anythin’ else!”

He nods. “Will do.”

This post was just about done anyway, thanks to Bessie, so he moved on to the next one.

Summon his power just before striking, huh?

Looks like this job has turned into practice.

First, he takes a few light hits at the new post to stabilize itself on the ground.

Then, he lifts the hammer above his head-

“Whoa!”

He almost falls backwards.

But that would not be enough to deter him.

‘Alright, Dan…’ He thinks. ‘Just before striking…’

He wasn’t sure what he was supposed to do with his own body.

Ice was simple. It was like he was sucking out the heat from whatever he was touching.

But this power stuff…

He wasn’t exactly an athlete in his old life.

He huffs.

‘Come on, Dan!’ His grip tightens. ‘You can do this!’

Here comes the swing!

And-

Thunk!

…he couldn’t feel a difference.

Maybe it was too early?

Here he goes again, and-

Thunk!

Same as every swing he’s dealt before this.

Thunk!

Hey! That one sounded different-

‘No it didn’t Dan…’ Says his honest soul.

Thunk!

Thunk!

Thunk!

He groans. ‘This is impossible!’

‘That’s the process of learning something new, Dan,’ Echoes his wife once again. ‘We’re stupid confident in the beginning, we realize we’re not the hot shit we thought we were, and then we slowly become experts.’ She points at him. “If you don’t keep trying, you’ll never be hot shit. You’ll just be shit.”

That’s a pep talk he hadn’t heard since he was in his 20s.

But it gave his soul the confidence it needed to keep going.

Thunk!

Thunk!

Thunk!

Eventually, something had to reveal itself.

Thunk!

Thunk!

Thunk!

No matter how much time he spent. No matter how many times he did it without getting any feedback in return.

Thunk!

Thunk!

Thunk!

Even as the sun’s descent began to take on a pink hue from the clouds in the sky, and then a sharp orange.

Thunk!

Thunk!

Thunk!

Even if he’d just finished the very last pole, and his arms were quaking something fierce, and his hands felt like bloody murder every time his fingers twitched.

‘I finished…’

Every pole now hums to life; its engraved shield-and-vine crest glowing a heavenly blue.

“Good job, Dan.” It was Hank. “And just before the sun’s gone to bed.”

“…it feels like my arms are about to fall off…”

That gave Hank a good and hearty laugh. “Yep. That’s normal. Just means your new body ain’t used to labor.”

“…to be fair, my old one wasn’t either…” Dan collapses onto his butt. “I was left feeling similar whenever I helped out my cousin with his fencing…”

He wasn’t even sure why he tried to sell himself on that earlier.

Hard labor was one of his allergies.

“But you still did it with your own two hands. Be proud of that.”

“I wish I could be…” he groans. “…but I’m no closer to understanding power magic than when I started…” He chuckles. “Look at me…complaining like I’m still young…”

Hank moos curiously. “Are you not?”

“I’m 40 years old…”

Hank’s head cranes back. “No kidding? You don’t seem like it.”

“Honest to god, it’s the truth…”

The sun’s light was not completely gone yet, but that didn’t stop the stars from calling out to Dan’s eyes.

Its cosmic landscape was nothing like photos. It never was.

There were no wild colors, no crazy details, no galactic core that screamed with the brightness of millions of suns directly in your face.

But that didn’t stop the real thing from taking his breath away.

Merely existing in the middle of all these distant twinkles made even this land feel like it was a grain of sand; and Dan like he was nothing.

“Beatiful, ain’t it?”

Now Sweetie-Bell had joined the conversation; and Bessie was right next to her.

Dan nods. “It’s as beautiful as the naked skies back home,” he says. “I wonder if I can see my home star from here.”

If he could, he wouldn’t be able to tell which one it was; assuming it was there at all.

His home star.

The sun.

He scanned the sky, picking one at random and deciding ‘yes, that’s it.’

That’s the Sun.

Likely hundreds, thousands, millions of light years away.

That’s how far his family was.

And he couldn’t reach them.

It made his ears flatten.

Now it felt like his so-called Sun was taunting him.

‘Ha ha, they’re all the way over here and there’s nothing you can do to reach them!’

Dan sighs.

“Dan-yell?” Sweetie-Bell asks. “You alright, hun?”

Dan’s ears flipped up, as did his fake spirits. “Huh? Oh! Uh…yes! I must be-” He stands, but then wobbles right onto his newly plowed fence post. “Whoa, more tired than I thought!” His arms trembled as they tried to stabilize their grip on the post, but they were no match for exhaustion, and he fell for the ground once more. “Oh!”

Bessie twitches to help him. “Dan!” But his body seems to have stopped before falling to the ground.

And now he was levitating.

Towards Camilla.

“I finally found you,” says the sheep lady. “And just in time, it seems.”

“…thanks, Camilla…” Groans an exhausted Dan.

Now the air went quiet.

Camilla could only look at the bovine family as they did the same to her.

That is, until Bessie opened her mouth. “Camilla,” she says, nodding.

“Ms. Sawyer,” responds Camilla, nodding. “Mr. Sawyer. Mrs. Sawyer.”

Both parents node at her. “Camilla.”

More silence.

It made Camilla clear her throat. “If you do not mind, I will now escort this arrival back to his room.”

Hank nods. “Sounds good. Goodnight, Camilla.”

She nods back. “Goodnight, Mr. Sawyer.”

Camilla’s strut was classy and stable.

Two words that do not describe the unease that Dan can see on her pursed lips as soon as she turned around.

…

His soul told him to wait a few steps before whispering. “What just happened?”

Her head and tone both take a small dip. “Nothing of importance…”

…yeah, if she couldn’t tell that he wasn’t buying it, he didn’t know what else he could say now.

She clearly has a history with them.

And not a good one. Not if two different parties react like that to each other; kind parties, no less.

But, he knew better than to pry.

The current moment required more urgent action, anyhow.

“Okay, then, uh…if you don’t mind, now I’ve got something to ask of you…”

She turns her afro towards him. “Yes?”

“…I…can’t move my arms. When we get to my room, could you place my hand on the doorknob and twist it for me?”

She shakes her head. “I cannot do that. The lock spell only responds to you. It is to protect you from malicious cases, such as a fellow arrival knocking you unconscious to access your room.”

“Right…didn’t think of that…’

“What were you doing, if you do not mind my asking?”

“Hammering down fence posts…” Dan says, still lacking energy. “…and trying to figure out power magic in the process…”

“Is that right? Well, did you?”

“…no, not even a little bit…but at least I got paid…uh…” He scoff-sighs. “…crap…I forgot…”

“It is okay. You will know when the money arrives in your account.” A hand lightly slaps her cheek. “Which I completely forgot to tell you about! My apologies! I was over one day awake when you arrived. Along with what happened, and well…”

“One day awake…? As in, you didn’t sleep the night before…?”

“Correct.”

“Tough schedule…?”

He could feel the agony in her sigh. “Unfortunately…” But her posture stiffens. “Oh! But the conversation was about you and your room! As you cannot go inside, it appears as if it is my turn to play host.”

Dan’s brows furrow. “Is that your way of inviting me to your place…?”

“Affirmative,” she nods. “You shall see where I live. However, if I may be blunt, I have not had company over in a long time. As a result, this leaves me in a state of…dithery.”

He had no idea what that meant. But, if her shaky tone was any indicator, she was probably shy.

“Your first guest in a while, huh…? I’m honored…”

He wondered what her place would look like.

She’s been here a long time, longer than any arrival (probably), so her place had to be something straight out of a fantasy book.

Right?

Well, his question would have to wait until after he’d been paraded around town like he was Camilla’s floating pet.

Or, at least, that’s what he thought was going to happen.

Before they set foot inside of the farm’s teleporter, one tap of her staff on the grass killed every inch of her image.

And Dan’s.

He had a question.

But Camilla spoke first. “I do not wish to interact with more troublemakers. Therefore, our stroll through the town will be discrete.”

And that answered his question.

Goodbye, teleporter.

Goodbye, Arrival building.

Goodbye, passersby on Main Street who are-

“OH MY-”

Dan’s maw was quickly shut by Camilla. Who could apparently still see him, somehow.

The distant clapping of hip to butt came to a stop.

“What was that?”

“Was someone screaming just now?”

“Who cares? Keep pounding!”

Dan couldn’t believe it.

They were-!

He was-!

Penis-!

In the middle of the street!

And not just them! It seemed as if the entire population was either inside of someone else, or the one doing the…entering!

And the worst part?

His new nose could pick up EVERYTHING.

All of the musty cum.

All of the sweat.

All of the lubrication; natural, or otherwise.

Every.

Single.

Drop.

One thing was certain. He was NOT to set foot in this town again.

Poor Camilla. Her hooves are gonna have to-

-levitate right over the mess.

Right. Magic.

And it helped conceal their location too, as the clocking of hooves to rock would not be audible.

What he wouldn’t give to hear it instead of…

“Oh god!”

“Right there!”

“Cum in me, daddy!”

…this.

No wince in existence could properly convey how Dan felt about their lustful shrieks.

He closes his eyes, but his new ears more than make up for them; able to pick up all of the repetitive suction.

He wanted to cover his nose, but his arms were still exhausted from his earlier failure to grasp power magic.

Sweetie-Bell’s pie stirs, threatening to claw its way out of his throat if all of this didn’t stop soon.

‘Be strong, Dan…’ He thinks. ‘It’s just sex…nothing you haven’t done before…’

He had to occupy his mind with something else.

Anything else.

Uhh…

PLAP!

PLAP!

PLAP!

PLAP!

PLAP!

PLAP!

A distant scream. “OOOH GODDDDD!”

Oh, it was impossible, he feels. All of these accursed noises were far too disgusting to ignore.

Ugh…his stomach was starting to turn…

An unease Camilla picks up on. Though she says nothing.

There was a brief flash in his mind. One from a place he’d long forgotten of.

Everyone was laughing at him. Pointing, too.

It only worsens the bubble growing in his stomach.

“What a dork!” Echoes a teenage boy’s voice.

“I can’t believe he thought he was gonna have sex with Vicky!” Says another.

“OH-!” Laughs a voice Dan recognized as Vicky. “There’s the Ipecac!”

It was a memory he’d shoved down a long, long time ago.

Why it chose to come out now was a mystery to him.

Unlike then, he wasn’t being embarrassed; nor was he even visible.

But the feeling was all the same.

For some reason, he just couldn’t help but lick at his salivating maw again. And again. And again.

This seems to have forced Camilla’s flight to take on a much faster pace. The wind of her flight even managed to knock some of the arrivals off their balance.

“What was that?” Asks one.

“What a gust…”

The chatter and clapping went quiet before Dan and Camilla knew it.

It was great and all that they’d finally gotten to her house, but his eyes were focused on a nearby bush that Camilla was floating him towards.

Once on his feet, he ran; and shot his trauma all over the ground.

He couldn’t even stand anymore. Maybe it was the anxious trauma pulsing through his veins, or maybe his day of hard labor was finally catching up with him.

He didn’t know.

And he still couldn’t move his arms.

“Dan!”

If Camilla hadn’t caught him, he’d be face-first in his own puke.

He was trembling; her concerned grip could feel it.

“Do not worry,” She assures. “I will not let you fall. Void as many times as you need to.”

Dan spits out any remnants of vomit. “It’s fine…” He groans. “I’m feeling better already…I won’t blow again…”

She nods. “Okay. Then let me help you inside.”

Not like he had another choice.

It was a shame that his vision could not care less about how the exterior of her house looked. All his body wanted was to sit down somewhere.

Anywhere.

As Camilla opens the door, the refreshing touch of air conditioning washes over him in relieving euphoria.

He could almost feel his nausea just…wash away.

And on its tail, the sandman pulls down at Dan’s eyelids.

“Welcome t…house,” Camilla says.

…

What?

He could barely stand, let alone make out what she was saying.

He knew he was walking, but-

“Oof!”

His face hit a wall.

Whoops.

He blinks, and finds himself sitting on the most comfortable…

…thing he’s ever felt.

Yawn.

It was soft, too.

Like he was resting on a cloud…

…almost made him want to…

…