{"sf1_id":1699521,"sf2_id":"znJwk331","title":" The Leaves of Fall Act 3: Something That Matters (Part 19)","author":"Oliver_Hart","words":1169,"posted_at":"2021-03-26T01:53:59.000Z","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/1699521-the-leaves-of-fall-act-3-something-that-matters-part-19","original_url":"https://sofurry.com/s/znJwk331","image_url":"https://cdn.sofurryfiles.com/submissions/thumbnails/37/fe/37fe3c22-9fb4-4ba0-8516-31211c481b8b","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":"\\\u003e\"You're right.\"  \n\\\u003eA voice — too familiar to you — booms over the loudspeakers  \n\\\u003eVanessa  \n\\\u003eThe music abruptly cuts  \n\\\u003eThe rat behind the table looks up at you four, her eyes glowing red with fire  \n\\\u003eFuck  \n\\\u003eHow did you not see it before?  \n\\\u003eThe rat smiles with a pair of obvious fangs pressed against her lower lips  \n\\\u003eYou know that rat  \n\\\u003eShe was with Vanessa on Tuesday  \n\\\u003e\"We didn't want to make it too easy for you. But God, are you kidding me?\" Vanessa's obnoxious whine on the speakers; the four of you suddenly under the pointed spotlights  \n\\\u003eWeapons drawn  \n\\\u003e\"You really didn't see a trap coming? You seriously thought you'd just be able to waltz in here? You're dumber than these normie idiots.\"  \n\\\u003eA spotlight shines into the parting fog  \n\\\u003eAnd there, in the bright pool of artificial light, is Vanessa Doermuth, Lydia Penferth — the lioness — at her side  \n\\\u003eVanessa shrugs in her tight black jacket, a canvas tote bag in the crook of her elbow  \n\\\u003e\"Was this Mike's idea to just waltz in here? Gah, what a dumb fuck. But people never change, I guess. I'm just disappointed that you're here with them Anonymous. You're smart. You ought to see reason.\"  \n\\\u003eHer voice booms over the speakers, and you guess that The Book of Wrath is somehow involved in that little vocal trick  \n\\\u003eLydia crosses her arms across her furred chest  \n\\\u003eThe light catches the many piercings that are stapled to her — in her lips, above her piercing eyes, hanging from her ears, the chain dangling from her pointed muzzle  \n\\\u003eShe stares hard, particularly at Mike  \n\\\u003eShaking, you answer back  \n“Where's your little pet, Vanessa? Did it run away on you? You can't do shit to us. Not while I have this.\"  \n\\\u003eStupidly, you draw The Book of Rite out of your pocket and hold it up like a token of invincibility  \n\\\u003eThat was your second mistake  \n\\\u003eYour first was asking about her 'little pet'  \n\\\u003eThe doe laughs  \n\\\u003e\"Pet? That depends — which one are you talking about?\"  \n\\\u003eAnother stage light fires off, illuminating an empty spot next to Vanessa  \n\\\u003eThere's a guttural snarl that echoes off the gym's walls  \n\\\u003eThe Behemoth — all cloaked in pouring mist — flashes in next to Vanessa  \n\\\u003eIt's nearly triple her size now  \n\\\u003eIt crouches low, as if ready to lunge forward at any moment  \n\\\u003eFuck  \n\\\u003eYou literally walked into thi-  \n\\\u003eAnother spotlight next to The Behemoth  \n\\\u003eChrist what is this? A professional wrestling ma-  \n\\\u003eOh  \n\\\u003eOh no  \n\\\u003eOh no no no no no no  \n\\\u003e\"Hi 'Nonny!\"  \n\\\u003eStanding in a clearing of the fog, underneath the yellow spotlight…  \n“Gloria?\" You say in exasperation  \n\\\u003eShe looks… Actually the same as when you betrayed her  \n\\\u003eDenim skirt down to her fucking ankles, crisp white blouse underneath a blue sweater, hands folded at her waist, horns polished to a high shine, innocent dimpled face  \n\\\u003eOnly… something ain't right with the way she's smiling  \n\\\u003eYou thought for sure there'd be fangs  \n\\\u003eThey wasted an opportunity to turn her into a vampire?  \n\\\u003eWack  \n“Wh-What are you doing with them?\" You ask  \n\\\u003eAll the guilt of your betrayal comes crashing down on you like leaden weights  \n\\\u003e\"My new friends? Well, after you tricked me and used me for a dark ritual-\" her cheerful smile widens “-I found out that, guess what, Vanessa was right!\"  \n\\\u003eThe doe flashes you a knowing smirk  \n\\\u003e\"She's right she's right she's right!\" Gloria claps her hands together proudly. “I changed my ways, Anonymous. And you should too!\"  \n“Changed your ways?\" You turn to face Vanessa. “Whatever happened to people not changing?\"  \n\\\u003eVanessa draws The Book of Wrath and a razor out of her canvas bag  \n\\\u003eShe approaches Gloria  \n\\\u003e\"Oh, don't worry. People don't change. Deep down at her core, she's still a horrible, hypocritical, prissy little bitch. But we think she's much nicer to be around as a slave.\"  \n\\\u003eSlave?  \n\\\u003eWith a christened smile, Gloria obediently rolls back her sleeve and holds out her wrist to Vanessa  \n\\\u003e\"One last chance to turn over the book and the bunny and join the winning side.\" Vanessa pauses, the gleaming razor just inches from Gloria's pure white wrists  \n\\\u003e\"Sam, Jenna, Anon… you're all welcome to join us.\" Lydia adds. “Except for you, Mike.\"  \n\\\u003eShe flashes a toothy grin \"I want you all to myself.\"  \n\\\u003e\"Hah, very scary you lanky cunt. Where's your gaggle of fledglings?\" Mike taunts  \n\\\u003e\"Oh, there's here.\" Lydia snaps her fingers  \n\\\u003eThe lights on you grow brighter, illuminating more of the gym  \n\\\u003eThe four of you are surrounded by no less than six cheerleaders — human and anthro — their eyes glowing red, bodies tight with strain and tension  \n\\\u003eThey look like hounds waiting for their master's call to swarm their prey  \n\\\u003eMike brings his super soaker around the gym  \n\\\u003e\"I already told you, I ain't joining you crazy bitches. You stole my goddamn future.\" His fingers slip around the trigger. “So try something. I dare you.\"  \n\\\u003e\"I'd love to, really baby.\" Lydia steps forward-  \n\\\u003e\"WAIT!\" Vanessa shrieks  \n\\\u003eSilence as Lydia freezes in place  \n\\\u003e\"We haven't heard from the leading 'man' yet. Anonymous? Spare your friends here? Give up the book and the bunny?\"  \n\\\u003e…  \n\\\u003eYou really can't win this one  \n\\\u003eAnd time is running out  \n\\\u003eYou're outnumbered, outclassed and outdone…  \n\\\u003e…That's what the old you would have said  \n\\\u003eBut Vanessa is wrong  \n\\\u003ePeople DO change  \n\\\u003eAnd you're not a coward anymore, despite the shaking in your voice and the tension in your throat  \n“Get fucked you evil bitch.\"  \n\\\u003eVanessa's eyes harden  \n\\\u003e\"So be it,\" she says   \n\\\u003eIn one quick motion she slashes the razor across Gloria's wrist  \n\\\u003eA waterfall of blood spills out…  \n\\\u003e…Which she catches on an open page of The Book of Wrath  \n\\\u003eGloria starts to shake and shudder  \n\\\u003eShe keels over in agony, dropping to her knees  \n\\\u003eHer sweater and blouse rip at the back as her shape grows larger  \n\\\u003eAnd taller by at least five feet more  \n\\\u003eAnd bulkier (is swole the right word here?)  \n\\\u003eUntil her whole fuzzy body ripples with muscles and her clothing is but stray scraps adorning her white fur  \n\\\u003eHeh, you can her tit-  \n\\\u003eHer eyes glow bright red as they settle on you  \n\\\u003e\"'NONNY!\" She growls  \n\\\u003eHer voice is at least several octaves lower than it should be  \n\\\u003eShe stomps forward as the spotlights follow her  \n\\\u003e\"YOU BETRAYED ME, 'NONNY.\"  \n\\\u003eOh  \n\\\u003eWell, fuck  \n\\\u003eYou shove the Book of Rite into your pocket  \n\\\u003eVanessa snaps The Book of Wrath shut. \"Be a good little girl and bring me the book and the bunny, okay Gloria?\"  \n\\\u003eBut with the way Gloria is moving, you don't think she intends to do anything except break your neck  \n\\\u003eVanessa doesn't seem to care. She turns to Lydia  \n\\\u003e\"They're all yours. Just don't kill Sam.\"  \n\\\u003eThe lioness roars with pride and snaps her fingers twice  \n\\\u003eThe cheerleaders snap to attention like trained soldier  \n\\\u003e\"Alright you cunts, have at 'em. Just leave Mike.\" She starts forward, parting the fog as she moves. “He's mine.\"","series":{"name":"The Leaves of Fall","previous":"https://fse.anthro.fr/stories/1697993-the-leaves-of-fall-act-3-something-that-matters-part-18.json","next":"https://fse.anthro.fr/stories/1701289-the-leaves-of-fall-act-3-something-that-matters-part-20.json"}}