# Aftermath - The Quiet Life

Author: SrA havenofimage
Tags: Snow Leopard, Story Series, Teacher

#1 of Aftermath

&nbsp;

&nbsp;&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp;This is the final part of the Kirian Harper Trilogy beginning with The Academy and Task Force.&nbsp; It's hard to believe where this story has ended up.&nbsp; I would never have made it without the devoted support of m watchers.&nbsp; I thank you all for your encouragement, help, and humor.&nbsp; I would love to recognize each of you individually, but that wouldn't be practical.&nbsp; I would however like to recognize some very special users who have put up with me from the beginning.&nbsp; Eveser, Foxmoulder992, Dasher Cheetah, and Avers, you guys are great.&nbsp; These four have some great stories as well so when you're done reading this, be sure to check them out.&nbsp; I'd also like to give a shout out to a few of my more recent followers who have been very supportive.&nbsp; 927shadofox729, Dirty Sam, James Matrix, Lando the Charizard, Motormout, Sanmer, and SgtMG; Thanks for all the comments and suggestions.&nbsp; Well, before I start to ramble, I present Aftermath.&nbsp; Enjoy.

\*\*\*

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; I dreamed a lot while laying in a coma on that hospital bed after the crash.&nbsp; They were always the same.&nbsp; Just faces, the faces of two beautiful women, an otter and a marten.&nbsp; I knew they must have meant something to my life, but I had no idea what.&nbsp; I didn't even know who they were.&nbsp; Eventual I woke up, my life shattered, and the dreams stopped.&nbsp; I will never forget those faces though.

Five years later...

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; "Coach, can you check these targets?"

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; I turned to David, a tall athletic badger, who had just left the firing line.

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; "Sure, just give me a minute.&nbsp; Ears and eyes on, the range is hot!&nbsp; Fire at will.&nbsp; Okay let me see them."

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; He laid the three targets on the desk in front of me.&nbsp; I looked over the shots and began scoring them.&nbsp; David was one of my better shooters.&nbsp; He wasn't the best, but he had the potential to be, if he put his mind to it.

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; "These are good.&nbsp; Ninety eight on prone is the best you've shot but I'm still looking for a hundred out of you.&nbsp; With those shot groups on your sighters you should have it soon.&nbsp; You still tend to shift your position half way through the target though.&nbsp; As far as your standing and kneeling, remember your follow-through.&nbsp; Don't rush reloading as soon as you take the shot.&nbsp; On your next target I want you stay on the sights for three seconds after pulling the trigger.&nbsp; I think you will see a definite improvement.&nbsp; Alright, try to get one more set in before the end of practice.&nbsp; You're still sitting at number four and I'd hate to see you bet bumped."

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; "Okay coach."

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; I handed him a loaded round box and he left my desk.&nbsp; I watched the other shooters on the line.&nbsp; We had a good team this year.&nbsp; I had high expectations for them.&nbsp; I had taken individuals to nationals before, but this may be the first season we had ever taken a full team.&nbsp; I spun my wheelchair and rolled over to the leader board.&nbsp; Ryan held the top slots with hundreds and nineties.&nbsp; I could shoot exceptionally well myself, but there were very few competitions for paraplegics so I settled for teaching others.

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; I had no idea why I was so good at marksmanship.&nbsp; As far as I knew, I had never had any formal training.&nbsp; After recovering from the wreck, a friend I had met took me out one day and I had naturally handled the rifle perfectly.&nbsp; Now I was coaching the high school rifle team.

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; "Cease Fire!&nbsp; Alright, good practice today.&nbsp; It's Friday so let's get the range cleaned up."

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; "Ah, come on coach."

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; "No complaining.&nbsp; Get it done quickly, you can go home quickly.&nbsp; And I don't want to find a single piece of brass on the ground when I come back here on Monday!"

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; After cleaning up I called the team together.&nbsp; They gathered around where I sat.

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; "Good practice today.&nbsp; I'm seeing a lot of improvement in everyone's shooting.&nbsp; Challenges will continue through Tuesday, but that is the last chance to get on the completion team before Thursday's match.&nbsp; After practice I need to speak with Ryan, Rachel, Paul, David, Drew, and Sarah.&nbsp; Everyone else can leave. &nbsp;I'll see you after school on Monday."

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Fourteen of the students shuffled up the stairs and off the range leaving the six I had called behind.&nbsp; I wheeled back over to the leader board.&nbsp; All six of them had at least one target filling the twelve slots.

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; "Alright, unless something drastic happens, you're my shooters for Thursday.&nbsp; Only five can compete though so Drew and Sarah, I'm still watching both of you. &nbsp;It's going to come down to the wire next week as far as which one of you shoots, and who has to watch."

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; "Okay coach."

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; They were both very close friends, but both were also extremely competitive.&nbsp; I wouldn't be surprised if one of them jumped to third trying to beat the other.&nbsp; I knew the challenge would bring out the best shooting in both of them.

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; "As far as you other four, that doesn't mean you can't still be bumped.&nbsp; You know the rules.&nbsp; Many of you fought hard for your positions, so don't lose them now.&nbsp; Stay focused at practice and stick to the diet for the next week.&nbsp; Alright, I just wanted to let you know so you start preparing.&nbsp; Raleigh High is a tough team.&nbsp; Anyone have questions?&nbsp; Alright, you can go."

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; David spoke up, "Hey coach, a few of us are going out for a bit tonight.&nbsp; We were wondering if you'd like to join us."

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; I was taken off guard by the question.

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; "Well, as long as it's not just to kiss up, sure.&nbsp; I know a good place, why doesn't everyone hop in a couple cars and head out there?"

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; They seemed to like this idea.&nbsp; Paul said he had to go, but the other five came along.&nbsp; We went to a small pub on the outside of town.&nbsp; The owner, a slightly overweight border collie named Brian, was a good friend of mine.&nbsp; It was one of the towns best kept secrets.&nbsp; The food was good, the atmosphere was good, and it was rarely too busy.&nbsp; Brian greeted me as we entered, his belly protruding over the top of his stained denim apron.

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; "Hey Eryn!&nbsp; Who are your friends?"

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; "It's just a few members from the team.&nbsp; I'll keep them in line, you don't have to worry."

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; He laughed at our inside joke and then turned to a pair of older gentlemen at the bar to refill their drinks.&nbsp; I lead the team to a corner booth and they all sat down.&nbsp; I rolled up to the end of the table and locked the wheels on my chair.

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; "Where did you find this place coach?&nbsp; I've never been here before."

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; "I've been coming here ever since I got out of the hospital five years ago."

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; "Hospital?&nbsp; What happened?"

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; "I don't really know myself.&nbsp; All I know is what the doctors and a Lieutenant Colonel from the National Guard told me."

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; "So what happened?"

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; "As far as I know, I was serving as a helicopter pilot in the National Guard.&nbsp; I was running a mission to rescue two stranded hikers in the mountains when the weather took a turn for the worse.&nbsp; I lost control of the chopper and crashed on the mountain side.&nbsp; The first thing I remember is waking up in the Hospital.&nbsp; It must have been a bad crash because I couldn't, and still can't remember anything after about middle school.&nbsp; I couldn't remember my name, my birthday, my parents' names, if I had a wife or girlfriend, what high school I went to, or were I had gone to college.&nbsp; On top of that, they told me I was paralyzed from the waist down.&nbsp; After I had recovered a little, I was told of the crash and that my name was Eryn Snow.&nbsp; Eventually, I got out and had to start a new life, having no clue what my old one had been."

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; "So what brought you to Leavenworth?"

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; "Well, I was in the hospital here.&nbsp; When I got out, I had nowhere else to go.&nbsp; I liked the town, I like the mountains, so I decided to stay.&nbsp; After discovering a small fortune left in my bank account, I bought a house on three acres of land outside of town and my car.&nbsp; I found that I had a strange connection to guns, especially rifles.&nbsp; The gun shop I own now was going out of business so I took out a loan and bought it as well.&nbsp; I figured if I made it or not, what was the point.&nbsp; I had no connection, no family, and no friends.&nbsp; I could always start over again.&nbsp; Well, things worked out pretty well.&nbsp; I did good business and started instructing customers in shooting and gun safety.&nbsp; A year later, one of my few friends told me the school was looking for a new coach for the rifle team.&nbsp; I decided to apply and got the job.&nbsp; I also had to start teaching so I could take the job, so now I teach the advanced math coarse for one hour a day, and run my shop the rest of the time.&nbsp; It's a pretty good deal in my opinion."

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; "Have you ever tried to find out about your life before the wreck?"

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; "I did for a little while, but then I decided that there was no point to it.&nbsp; I had a new life now, so why waste my time searching for the old one."

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; We talked and ate and had a good time for the rest of the night.&nbsp; Finally the others left leaving me alone at the table.&nbsp; Brian came over and had a seat with me.&nbsp; He handed me a tall glass of dark beer, imported from his home county.

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; "They seem like a good bunch of kids."

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; "They are, good shooters too."

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; "And how are you holding up Eryn?"

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; "Pretty well.&nbsp; We're doing steady business out of the shop, but not quite as good as I'd like.&nbsp; I was hoping to replace the racks, it's becoming a pain to fix them all the time, but we just don't have the money."

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; "Ah well, that's the business world son.&nbsp; You know what you need?&nbsp; A nice woman to distract you."

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Here we go again.&nbsp; Every time I came in her, Brian would lecture me about my lack of a love life.

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; "I know friend, but I just haven't found the right girl yet."

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; "Well, that is a problem, but you'll never find her if you don't look."

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; "I've been looking, for about five years."

&nbsp;&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp;"Ha! &nbsp;It must be the fur right? &nbsp;No girls in the market for an albino snow leopard? &nbsp;You'll find her ma' boy. &nbsp;Don't worry. &nbsp;Theres some one out their for all of us. &nbsp;Sometimes there's two some ones, that's what I like to call... Jackpot!"

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; The truth was, I had been looking.&nbsp; I had been looking for the girls from the dreams.&nbsp; It was probably a foolish endeavor, they probably didn't even exist.&nbsp; I had to know though.&nbsp; If I ever saw one of them, I had to know who they were, and what they had been to me.&nbsp; Brian and I sat at the table talking late into the night.&nbsp; He drank quite a few glasses, but I stopped after the second, still having to drive home.&nbsp; Finally I decided to leave.

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; "Well, it was nice talking to you Eryn."

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; "You too."

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; I swung the door shut behind me.&nbsp; My car was the only one left in the front lot.&nbsp; I rolled out too it and opened the door.&nbsp; The process of getting in had taken a while to learn, but now I had it mastered.&nbsp; I lifted myself out of the chair and slid over into the driver's seat.&nbsp; I reached down and collapsed the wheelchair and swung it into the back.&nbsp; My car had been specially designed and the gas and break controls were integrated into the steering wheel.&nbsp; I turned the ignition and drove home.

Source: https://sofurry.com/s/k1V6vYN1
Part of the series Aftermath
Next: https://fse.anthro.fr/stories/147020-aftermath-intermission.md