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Changes We Make

Chapter Eleven

© Cederwyn Whitefurr

1st October, 2021

All Rights Reserved.

Nicole hung her head, trembling with fear, and awaiting whatever fate these Therian's had planned for her and Jennifer, who stood beside her.

“A decision has been made -" Spoke the Elder. “I can not lie to you, the vote was close amongst us."

Vote? Come Nicole's thoughts. I never saw them even...

"You showed strength of character, compassion and mercy – traits your human kind rarely show. We regret the circumstances that befell you, such an accident was unfortunate, in this, we are in agreement."

Heads across the table nodded.

“You will be taken to a place of safety amongst your kind, rest easy, we will help you to learn our ways and how to ensure the beast within you threatens neither you nor another. Here you will remain, for not only your safety, but that of ourselves and our kind. We can not permit one, even one as obviously strong of spirit as you, to remain free in the human's world. Please understand, we only seek your safety and ours."

“May I speak in my defence?" Jennifer murmured.

A few faces frowned, but the Elder smiled and nodded.

“You are not on trial child, if anything, your compassion and spirit have swayed some of us. Whilst you are not born of our blood, nor carry it within you, your willingness to protect not only this one, but the joey as well, speaks highly of your moral compass."

“I'm...you won't kill me?" Jennifer stammered, eyes wide.

“We are not inherently violent nor are we cruel – contrary to that which the beast within this one may have shown you. She will be guided and helped. We know the joey is not this one's biological offspring, but it has bonded not only to you, but to her as well. Rest assured, if you promise to keep our secrets – you will be brought to the place where you will find not only ones such as yourself, but others like we are. There, we live harmoniously alongside those precious few humans who know of us, and protect us, as we know and protect those of them. No, you will not be killed, I have spoken, and as I have spoken, so it shall be!"

“What about the..." Nicole began, then winced and gingerly touched her throat.

“Fear not those who hunted you child, for they never have discovered our place of residence in over a hundred years. We have humans who work alongside us, who keep us safe and protected."

“I mean no disrespect, but the...doe..." Nicole sighed and gestured at herself.

With a sigh the Elder shook her head sadly.

“We regret it, as I said, that one was young, angry and rebellious. All joeys go through this stage, we help them as best we can of course, yet sometimes, some retain this...unpleasant nature. She fled our compound and evaded our sentries who should have been more cautious... She was missing for months, nearly six, before whatever fates conspired to turn against her...and led those to her."

Nicole shuddered, feeling the sickening guilt and shame that filled her, the Therian silent, but its presence remorseful.

“We know so very little of what happened to her, from your tale, we can assume that once more, the fates conspired – it may have been more merciful if she had died then and there... then there is that of her offspring. We do not know if she conceived that Joey whilst in our protection or if..."

Nicole winced, wondering about the if...

“In time, the Joey will reach adolescence and with us to guide and teach her, and you with your kindness and mercy, we are sure she will grow up to be a valued and treasured member of our community. Now, you said that you had training as a Veterinarian? Your skills will be most useful, as we have only one, an elderly human male."

“I...accept, given the...alternatives..." Nicole whispered softly, then flexed her wrists. “Please, may these be removed?"

With a wave of her hand, the Elder nodded. A man stepped up behind Nicole, then as Nicole shivered, he unbound her wrists and crouched down, using a small key to unlock the leg shackles.

“Welcome to our embrace young ones, we pray and hope you will put these unfortunate circumstances behind you. Alas, we can do nothing about that which you have lost – as surely as the sun rises, those who hunt us and you – will keep watchful eye over your properties and other things. Their reach is long and dangerous to us, but we can assure you, your needs will be well taken care of with regards to food, clothing, safety and other needs, be it personal or otherwise."

As they all rose, Nicole looked at Jennifer, then reached out and gently took Jennifer's fingers in her own, with Jennifer gently squeezing back.

“One last precaution, as I've said, its for our safety...please don't be offended, but we will need to mask you both again, before you're relocated to our private location."

Jennifer and Nicole both squealed as black hoods were pulled over their heads and thick leather collars were cinched about their necks before they were lead out.

*

Neither Jennifer nor Nicole felt past the initial sting as a needle was slipped into their necks, the coldness of the liquid spreading, before either of them could knew what it was, they were gently lowered to the back of a van and driven away.

*

“Urgh...I'm going to throw up..." Jennifer gagged, as she come back to a groggy consciousness.

“Join the party – I already did - “ Nicole's equally weak moan come.

Weakly, Jessica's eyes fluttered open and she took in the tasteful, yet comfortable bed on which she lay. Twisting her head to the side, she seen Nicole sitting up, her legs over the edge of the bed as she clutched her head in her hands.

“Where are we..." Jennifer gasped, as she struggled to sit up, then placed both hands on the bed as the room seemed to spin around her, adding to her nausea.

“I wish I knew...safe, I'm assuming - “ Nicole looked around, then she frowned and tried to stand, but her freshly bandaged leg screamed at her and made her sit right back down.

“They...drugged us – was that really necessary?"

“What with?" Nicole murmured, as she rubbed at her eyes. “One thing I do know, is that Therian's have a remarkably strong tolerance to tranquillisers... Whatever they used on me..."

Both of them startled, as the door opened suddenly and a young woman walked in, carrying the makeshift pouch, in which the joey snuggled, its nose poking out between its hind legs. At the sight of Nicole, the Joey chattered and squirmed, trying to get out.

“I'm sorry for intruding," Spoke the woman quietly, as she knelt down, then tilted the pouch over.

Awkwardly, the Joey clambered out, then ran to Nicole and clawed at her, making that unusual chattering sound.

I'm not a feral... I mean, in that form, yet she...how does she know who I am?

Carefully, Nicole reached down and placed both hands around the joey's slender body and lifted her up, laying her on her back and cradling her in the crook of her arm, gently stroking the shivering joeys belly.

“I'm Felicity," Come the voice of the woman, as she nervously approached and set the makeshift pouch on the end of Nicole's bed. “I...you're...like me?"

Nicole stopped caressing the quivering joey, before she glanced at Felicity.

“Forgive me, I didn't mean to be so...confronting. I can..."

Felicity hung her head and looked ashamed and guilty.

“Sorry, I've just never met...well, one of your species, I mean..."

Nicole frowned, then slowly made the connection.

“You're one of the... the Macropus Giganteus, aren't you? There's something – your scent...how can I..."

“Forgive me, but a...?" Felicity stammered.

Nicole smiled, then nodded. “My apologies, old habits. You're a Grey kangaroo, aren't you?"

Felicity nodded. “It...a Therian can smell another Therian, its a blessing and in many ways...a curse as well. In time, you'll learn a lot about us, I mean...oh, I'm not good at this..."

Nicole moved over, then with her free hand, she gently patted the bed.

“Please...sit, I have so many questions, can you help answer some?"

Felicity fidgeted, wringing her hands, before she smiled nervously and sat on a chair, keeping a respectful distance.

“I was only bringing this little one to you, she's been fed and toileted, but she was crying out and...the poor little thing was so scared!"

Nicole looked down and gently tickled the joeys belly again, watching as it squirmed and clutched at her fingers.

Jennifer pulled her knees close to her chest, then set her chin on her forearms as she watched Nicole and the Joey.

Something deep inside Nicole seemed to sense there was no danger here – she was, for the first time in months, truly at ease...

I think, at last, we can finally be free of the nightmares...

Indeed... Welcome home...sister... Come the thoughts of the Therian.

END