{"sf1_id":1489921,"sf2_id":"ZmMjzzqn","title":"The Leaves of Fall Act 2: Fear the Nobodies (Part 3)","author":"Oliver_Hart","words":2307,"posted_at":"2019-09-16T22:54:26.000Z","tags":["Adventure","Alternate Reality","Anon","Boy","Brother","Bunny","Classroom","Couple","Emo","Fight","Girl","Green text","Greentext","HMOFA","Halloween","Heterosexual","High School","Hmofa/","Human","Kissing","Plot Development","Rabbit","Siblings","Slow burn","Young Romance","anthro/human"],"url":"https://fse.anthro.fr/stories/1489921-the-leaves-of-fall-act-2-fear-the-nobodies-part-3","original_url":"https://sofurry.com/s/ZmMjzzqn","image_url":"https://cdn.sofurryfiles.com/submissions/thumbnails/c5/92/c5924277-e0fa-4424-bb46-6b4c22fc6ff6","description":"You've never really 'fit in' with the heavily divided Ranchview High School crowd. Jock, Goth, Prep, Cheerleader, Nerd... you were never any of these. But as Halloween approaches, strange things start happening, and a dark ritual begins with the finding of a curious red book. It's a race against time for you and your friends to stop a group of students from ushering in an age of darkness, and to also figure out just what the hell is wrong with that rabbit.  \n~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~  \n  \nAbout this version: originally, The Leaves of Fall was split into two pastebins to compensate for the length of the story. Given that pastebin has chosen to censor this story for ambiguous reasons, it will forever be stored here and on AO3. This new version contains spelling, grammar and content fixes. Please understand that the content is all the same as the earlier versions minus some sentences being changed and fixed up. I cannot stress this enough: no new content has been added. It's my hope that this is a cleaner, easier-to-read version of the story.  \n  \nCover: [https://imgur.com/a/vZS4Q](https://imgur.com/a/vZS4Q)  \nSam (drawn by Akella of /hmofa/) [https://imgur.com/a/nk3t1wT](https://imgur.com/a/nk3t1wT)  \nFan art collection: [https://imgur.com/a/SCCSIQv](https://imgur.com/a/SCCSIQv)  \nAccompanying playlist (WIP): [https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PL9aXlzDRA49QKxgYsOV2JuDd410\\_nI-0J](https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PL9aXlzDRA49QKxgYsOV2JuDd410_nI-0J)  \nAlternative link: [https://www.sofurry.com/view/1479078](https://www.sofurry.com/view/1479078)  \nTotal word count: 147,552 words","content":"\\\u003eBe Sam  \n\\\u003eBe 18 again  \n\\\u003eWatching out the window, heart racing as the train passes by in the night  \n\\\u003eYou didn’t get back there, to that day, when you were the one on the tracks  \n\\\u003eBut that doesn’t make your memories of Jacob any less painful  \n\\\u003eBreathing a sigh of relief, you hop down and dig under your bed, pushing aside your brother’s old bat  \n\\\u003eThe bruises on your shoulder slow you down, so you only just grab the paper sack by the tails  \n\\\u003eIt’s more precious than gold, so you’re extra quiet as you withdraw the bag’s contents  \n\\\u003eComic books  \n\\\u003eThis whole ritual always makes your body shake and heart race  \n\\\u003eIf Dad were to catch you with these  \n\\\u003eOh there’d be hell to pay, just like last time  \n\\\u003eYou had welts for weeks, and you never saw those Hurricane Jones issues ever again  \n\\\u003eThey were the last things you had to remind you of Jacob  \n\\\u003eYou sit back against your mattress, your walls covered in looseleaf drawings and sketches, shaking as the train rips into the night  \n\\\u003eYou’ve read these all so many times, but they help calm you down  \n\\\u003eEspecially after everything that’s happened tonight  \n\\\u003eAs you flip through the pages, eyes scanning across the print, you can’t help but let your mind drift towards happier thoughts  \n\\\u003eLike Halloween decorations  \n\\\u003eAnd Anon’s car  \n\\\u003eAnd the way he walked up with you to the house  \n\\\u003eYou bet he understands why dad treats you like he does  \n\\\u003eIt’s not like you don’t deserve the punishment and the cruelty  \n\\\u003eYou’re a useless, slow, shy, timid piece of shit  \n\\\u003eFrankly, you don’t think you deserve Anon’s friendship  \n\\\u003eYour fingers turn the pages, but you’re no longer reading as Hurricane Jones uppercuts a terrorist  \n\\\u003eYou can’t help but miss Anon  \n\\\u003eIn some ways, he reminds you a lot of Jacob  \n\\\u003eYou push the comic book away and stare at the drawings on the wall  \n\\\u003eHe’s strong and cool, but also not afraid to be afraid  \n\\\u003eJacob was always talking about being strong  \n\\\u003eAnd you know you let him down someho-  \n\\\u003eThe nob starts to turn  \n\\\u003eYour eyes split with panic and you dive forward, throwing the Hurricane Jones comic into the bag, then shoving it under your bed, just as the door creaks open  \n\\\u003eDad is standing in the door, looking around  \n\\\u003e”The hell are you doing on the floor?” He asks, eyes narrowing into slits  \n\\\u003eYou can smell how drunk he is — the smell of whiskey and motor oil radiates off him  \n“J-Just, I… I was t-t-trying to do h-homework,” you say, not meeting his gaze  \n\\\u003eIf dad heard you, he doesn’t give a response. Only glares at you, as if you’d just told him that you were a lion  \n\\\u003e”Listen. That friend of yours?”  \n\\\u003eEverything except your hands goes numb  \n\\\u003eYou pluck and stroke your ears  \n\\\u003e”What’s his name?” Your dad says  \n\\\u003e…  \n\\\u003eDo you tell him Anon’s real name? You know Anon gave him a fake name, but what was it?  \n\\\u003eBrody? Tyler? Joseph?  \n\\\u003e”Hey, retard, did you hear me?” Your dad steps forward  \n\\\u003e”Because I don’t want him around you anymore. So I want his name.”  \n\\\u003e”H-His name is Brody,” you squeak, coiling up against the mattress  \n\\\u003eHe stops and braces himself against the door, lightly swaying to the tune of a whiskey stupor  \n\\\u003eYou notice the belt in his other hand  \n\\\u003eSometimes, when he’s drunk, you can make him forget to punish you  \n\\\u003eYou know that it’s for the best, but still, it doesn’t make you feel good  \n\\\u003eSo sometimes you take advantage of the situation  \n“He’s not my f-friend. S-S-So you won’t s-see him anymore,” you continue.  \n“I d-don’t have any friends.” Your voice falls into a whisper  \n\\\u003eDad coughs loudly, bracing against the door  \n\\\u003e”Course you don’t,” he says. “But if you EVER bring any of them back here again, I swear, you’re getting worse than the belt.”  \n\\\u003eHe steps forward  \n\\\u003eYou don’t think there’s any avoiding this  \n\\\u003e”You still have so much debt to pay off,” he growls  \n\\\u003eYou shrink into a tight ball, shivering as his shadow blots out the light, the belt loose in his grip  \n\\\u003eYou try to think of Halloween decorations   \n  \n\\\u003eBe the next day  \n\\\u003eBe Anon  \n\\\u003e”Biological Diversity Week is a state-mandated week in which we, the unfortunate souls who thought teaching was a noble endeavor, get to explain to you the nuances and caveats of a multi-species society. Now, before we begin, do we have ANY questions?”  \n\\\u003eGloria raises her hand  \n\\\u003e”…Annnnyyy questions…” Mr. Bolm, your science teacher, asks again, eyes practically begging for someone other than Gloria to speak up  \n\\\u003eGloria makes an impatient grunt and starts waving her arm  \n\\\u003eThe science teacher, a human in his mid 40s, runs a hand through his failing head of hair, and calls on Gloria  \n\\\u003e”Yes, Mr. Bolm, will we be discussing sexual immorality and degeneracy as a part of this unit?”  \n\\\u003eThe class groans, and your head hits the desk  \n\\\u003eWhy is she always like this? You thought Sam was oblivious to social cues, but Gloria takes it a step further  \n\\\u003e”No, Gloria. The syllabus clearly explains that this week is set aside so we can learn about the biological and physiological differences between all of us, so that we can all learn to better appreciate one another.”  \n\\\u003eNot quite satisfied with that response, Gloria asks if she can lead the class in a prayer before they discuss such ‘disgusting topics’  \n\\\u003eMr. Bolm shakes his head again, and you can see the desperation for a drink already worn on his face  \n\\\u003e”Once again, Mrs. Duchene, as I’ve told you before, the school does not endorse any sort or religious ceremony. If you’d like, you may quietly pray. And furthermore this is purely science and biology. There’s nothing to be afraid of here, and we do not deal with topics like faith.”  \n\\\u003eHis words falling on deaf ears, Gloria smacks her palms together loudly in pious fashion  \n\\\u003e”I’ll pray for all of you, especially those among you who have given in to Satanic temptation…” she says, casting her judgmental gaze around the room, pausing on hard on Vanessa Doermuth  \n\\\u003e”…And those who I believe can still be saved,” she says, as her eyes land on you with a wink  \n\\\u003eYou shiver a little bit, the holy spirit of the lord vacating your body at her vile gaze  \n\\\u003eVanessa hurls an eraser at Gloria’s head, and you’d laugh if you weren’t so on edge right now  \n\\\u003eSam hasn’t assailed you with his presence yet, which is a usual Monday morning ritual  \n\\\u003eThe fact that you haven’t even seen him wandering around aimlessly between classes had you late to Mr. Bolm’s class  \n\\\u003eYou spent the whole time and a few minutes after the bell waiting for him to show up  \n\\\u003eAnd what’s worse is Vanessa Doermuth is in your class  \n\\\u003eYou cast a sideways glance at her  \n\\\u003eShe’s slouched in her seat, open-mouthed as she gawks at the ceiling tiles  \n\\\u003eAnd though her fur is a lighter color, she’s dyed her hair a raven black, and cropped it short into an intimidating slice that rests easily across her light green eyes  \n\\\u003eThe very definition of ‘rebellious phase’, you used to think  \n\\\u003eBut now, as you study her, you can’t help but see her as something else — a cult leader, a witch, a servant — somehow she’s wrapped up in this whole thing, whether she knows it or not  \n\\\u003eHer eyes flick over to you, and you try to stare straight ahead at Mr. Bolm as he endures another barrage of questions from Gloria  \n\\\u003eA few seconds later, a ball of wadded up notebook paper bounces off the side of your head and onto your desk  \n\\\u003eYou sneak the ball behind your science textbook and unfold it  \n\\\u003e’Saw you looking over my direction. Got something to say to me? - Vanessa’  \n\\\u003eAnd of course it’s written in all black and decorated with pentagrams   \n\\\u003eI mean, I how cheesy can you get?  \n\\\u003eYou scribble a reply, hands shaking  \n\\\u003eYour distraction is only broken when yet another girl, this time an otter in a cheerleaders uniform, exits the room  \n\\\u003eThere was practice after school, that much was sure, but of the five in your class, four of them have left the room, and none of them have come back  \n\\\u003eYou know what to write  \n\\\u003eGotta play it smooth, Anon. Don’t let her know you know she’s involved  \n\\\u003eHell she might not even know she’s involved with some demonic fuckery  \n\\\u003eJussssst talk about the weather, that sort of chit chat  \n’What’s with the cheerleaders leaving the room? - Anon’  \n\\\u003eYou hop the note over to her desk. Another returns in a few seconds  \n\\\u003e’Why don’t you go to the second floor men’s bathroom and find out? Winky face. - Vanessa’  \n\\\u003eWhat  \n‘What’s that supposed to mean? - Anon.’  \n\\\u003eYou turn in your desk. Vanessa flashes you an evil grin  \n\\\u003eYou’re almost tempted to go to the second floor bathroom and find out for yourself  \n\\\u003eAnother note from Vanessa hits your desk  \n\\\u003e’You know who is an even bigger slut than any cheerleader? Gloria. I bet if you put on a priest’s robes she wouldn’t mind being your little choir girl. Winky face - Vanessa XXX’  \n\\\u003eNow that’s just disgusting  \n\\\u003eYou shiver at the idea of Gloria’s body on top of your own  \n\\\u003eYou don’t mind anthro girls, but you do mind Gloria Duchene. You mind her a lot  \n\\\u003eYou scribble a quick note, and throw it at Vanessa—  \n‘That’s disgusting. I’d never do anything with Gloria. But seriously, what’s going on in the second floor men’s room that you know about? - Anon’  \n\\\u003e—Which never makes it to its recipient  \n\\\u003ePaper, that fickle bitch, never cooperates with you  \n\\\u003eInstead the note sails a wide left, bouncing off Louis’ head  \n\\\u003eLouis, in a room full of other gray wolves, would quickly stand out like a tree stands out among saplings  \n\\\u003eHe’s gawky, tall, body stripped of the typical broad-shouldered muscle and angular features that define his species  \n\\\u003eWere he in anyone’s pack, he wouldn’t even qualify as an omega wolf  \n\\\u003eHis disinterest in reality and other people actually makes him some kind of an autistic alpha  \n\\\u003ePlus he just outsizes most other wolves, at a cool 6’6”, so tall he has to slouch wherever he goes (at least for a wolf)  \n\\\u003eHe uncurls the note, reads it, and then shoots you a disinterested look  \n\\\u003eYou silently tear another piece of notebook paper out and scrawl down some instructions  \n\\\u003e’Don’t go in the bathroom Louis. Trust me. Something is up. - Anon’  \n\\\u003eIt bounces painlessly off Vanessa’s head  \n\\\u003eYou grit your teeth and swallow a barrage of swears  \n\\\u003eShe reads the note, holding back her laughter, but just barely  \n\\\u003eYou try to signal for the two of them to switch notes, but Vanessa pockets Louis’ note with a devil smirk, and Louis raises his spindly, stick-like arm  \n\\\u003eYou can see trails of red ants crawling through his fur, probably a sign that he yet again brought his ant farm to school despite what happened last time  \n\\\u003eYou wonder why they never bite him  \n\\\u003eMr. Bolm breathes a sigh of relief when he sees Louis’ hand go up  \n\\\u003e”Yes, Louis. You have a question?”  \n\\\u003e”Yeah. Can I use the bathroom Mr. Uhhhhh…”  \n\\\u003eMr. Bolm looks like he’s about to collapse  \n\\\u003eHe wheezes a yes and weakly announces that his name is “Mr. Bolm” as Louis makes his way to the front of the room, hands drowned in his pockets, body curved in a slouch  \n\\\u003eGloria’s hand flies up again as Louis walks past her, his spine bent in a permanent ‘C’  \n\\\u003e”Mr. Bolm, do wolves eat their mates?”  \n\\\u003eLouis slams the door loudly  \n\\\u003e”What? That- No. They don’t,” he replies, rather quickly  \n\\\u003e”Do wolves eat their pups? Do wolves have a lot of pups? Do wolves-“  \n\\\u003e”No, yes, and whatever you’re about to ask: No.”  \n\\\u003eShe weakly lowers her hand and looks around the room  \n\\\u003eEveryone is as still as lead statues  \n\\\u003e”Well come on people, don’t any of you have questions?”  \n\\\u003eJenna Orthorn raises her hand  \n\\\u003eYou’ve always liked Jenna  \n\\\u003eShe’s a red fox, very clever (no stereotypes implied) and reads the same books you do  \n\\\u003eBut something doesn’t seem right  \n\\\u003eShe almost never speaks up in class  \n\\\u003eYou notice that she’s shifting uncomfortably in her seat, her dress practically shaking as her legs spam into the carpet  \n\\\u003eMr. Bolm notices too. “Bathroom, Jenna?” He says  \n\\\u003e”YES!” She bolts from the room, her nimble body maneuvering around larger desks  \n\\\u003eVanessa and Gloria watch her red tail bounce through the door, Gloria with fascination, Vanessa with a sick and gleeful smile  \n\\\u003eAlmost mechanically, that goat’s hands shoots up, and she speaks without ever being called on  \n\\\u003e”If foxes mate for life then why is Adrian Orthorn such a man-slut?” she quips. “He’s been with at least three other vixens since freshman year. I heard he and Jenna-”  \n\\\u003e”Gloria,” Mr. Duchene stiffens up, face going red. “If you don’t have any appropriate questions about mating rituals or rites for Canids, then PLEASE be quiet. I reserve the right to remove you from the lesson you know.”  \n\\\u003eGloria shrinks in her seat with a pained expression  \n\\\u003e”Yes sir!” You swear she’d salute if she were told to do so. “My apologies sir.”  \n\\\u003eMr. Bolm sighs  \n\\\u003e”It- It’s okay. Now if we could move on, with class almost over-“  \n“One more question, sir,” Gloria’s voice reaches a military staccato   \n\\\u003eHe hangs his head even lower, arms slackening like socks full of yogurt  \n\\\u003e”What is it? You get one more question, Gloria.”  \n\\\u003e”What about humans?” she asks, her hooves clacking anxiously on the floor as she sneaks a glance behind her  \n\\\u003eAt you  \n\\\u003e“Do humans mate for life?”","series":{"name":"The Leaves of Fall","previous":"https://fse.anthro.fr/stories/1488376-the-leaves-of-fall-act-2-fear-the-nobodies-part-2.json","next":"https://fse.anthro.fr/stories/1491631-the-leaves-of-fall-act-2-fear-the-nobodies-part-4.json"}}