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The AdvAnTAGE Project: AdvAnimals - Pet, Person or...? A First-hand Account

By Mantrid Brizon

(10/08/2021)

Pet, Person or...?

By Alexander W. Webb

Contributor for Forbes

I've been a journalist for over a decade now. I've seen over thirty countries and written more than a thousand articles. That's a lot of text! I was on the ground in Afghanistan and Iraq, and I've seen more than my fare share of the violence and tumult in West and Central Africa. I've followed human traffickers and drug dealers through South and Central America, and I even briefly covered the Russian mob, back in my early days in the good old 2000s. If you wanted to read an interesting and eye-opening article that tells it like it is and didn't require a dictionary to decipher, then I was the journalist for you.

Not to toot my own horn, but that's quite a career! Lately, however, I've been decidedly absent. The truth of the matter is that I've been working, preparing for my latest story, and it's quite possibly the biggest I've ever covered. That's no small claim!

“What could this story be?!" You might be wondering.

“Well, sit back and scroll down." I'd say, if we were meeting face-to-face. “And prepare for my expose on Welcoming an AdvAnimal..."

It doesn't seem like all that long ago, but in retrospect, it might as well be a lifetime. When I was just a young boy, barely a teenager, I saw the little girl who'd change everything. With yellow fur covering her body, that strange, little snout and those tall, perky ears, Harriet waved to the cameras, while wearing the dress of a typical little girl. The world was captivated. The story of her life, the astounding science that formed her, the heartwarming sight of the doctors who took to caring for her like she was their own flesh and blood, and the myriad of dramatic possibilities for an entirely new, man-made race.

My youthful mind couldn't comprehend it back then - it was all magic to me - but I certainly comprehend it now. For as much as they've captivated us, we still known so little about these special creatures, who owe their entire existence to humanity. With the start of Phase Two, Unifact loosened the access to the wondrous race known as “AdvAnimals". I wonder, sometimes; why didn't they spell it “AdVanimals", to match the pronunciation in their ad campaigns? In any case, I find it odd that they chose to wait so long. Surely, they had their reasons, but releasing these creatures earlier might've gone a long way.

As some of you may know, I've been reporting on these creatures and the legal developments for some time. It goes all the way back to when I was first hired, when the Puritan movement was still a force to be reckoned with. It seems like a lifetime ago, now; they were bombing facilities in a futile attempt to stop the development of these creatures, taking innocent lives in the process. While many supported them, up until the bombings, at least - some supported their efforts even after such horrid events - I, for one, cannot understand why. Why would they target an entirely new species, one which they didn't understand and had no first-hand experience with?

Fear. It's always been fear, and as a great man once said, 'the only thing to fear is fear itself'. Wise words. Words that, unfortunately, I didn't take as seriously as I should've. For as much as I was curious about the AdvAnimals, I'd also been very afraid. After all, one only has to see them and then glimpse a mirror to realize the drastic differences. What are they like? What do they feel? Do they think like us or have more primitive instincts, instincts which we've lost? What could humans and AdvAnimals hope to gain by sharing our world? Perhaps it was time to stop guessing and find out for myself?

It's been barely a month since the AdvAnimals have become readily available, with the arduous and expensive process of what they called “Phase One" all but a distant memory. Now, anyone without a criminal record, a halfway decent job and $3,500 to spend can simply apply to Welcome an AdvAnimal at any of 2,000 new Welcoming Centers, and more are popping up every day. These centers, which feel a bit like pet stores, house the available AdvAnimals in fortified barracks, while the front sections of the facilities serve as storefronts for AdvAnimal specific products, which line the shelves as they would in any other establishment.

I felt uneasy when I first stood in line, on the very first day of Phase Two. I'd arrived just before midnight, and it was akin to a major video game release. It was all quite surreal. I told myself that these are living creatures, intelligent and stable beings and yet we were lining up to buy them... Still, I was captivated, and being twenty-third in a line that soon grew to be almost four-hundred deep, I wasn't about to leave, despite the gnawing of my admittedly fastidious conscience. I told myself that I'd make up for it later, after I'd Welcomed an AdvAnimal into my home.

An exceedingly and almost unnervingly polite representative of Unifact came out to meet the crowd, flanked by armed security. The barracks, we were told, housed no more than 400 AdvAnimals of both genders and varying breeds. Upon hearing this, the crowd became more than a little unsettled. It was strange how the feeling in the very air we breathed seemed to change. Dare I say, you could cut it with a claw. The crowd grew nervous, many fearing that they would again be denied the chance to see these fascinating creatures in the flesh. I can't exactly blame them.

The adulation of many who'd so fervently petitioned, protested and otherwise supported the protection and legalization of the man-made beings was as heartwarming as it was shocking. In many ways, they almost appeared to be AdvAnimal supremacists, extolling them above humanity. I admit that I was among those who spoke out, berating the Unifact employee (as politely as possible, of course) to ensure that they didn't turn anyone away or limit the release of these spectacular creatures. Furthermore, in my youth, I'd attended many a protest and signed a petition as soon as I was old enough to vote, pushing for AdvAnimal legalization in the public sphere. That was right before my career as a journalist began.

Only now, after so long, could we truly enjoy the fruit of our labor. Until so very recently, only the wealthy and “most deserving" - as decided by the obnoxiously long and unnervingly personal questionnaire - have had access to these beings, with some notable examples being the A-list actress Anna-Maria Villa-Gonzalez, Penelope Packwood, a porn starlet and the heiress to the posh Packwood-Mizrelli law firm, and more than a handful of Congressmen and Prime Ministers. The rest of us plebs have had to wait. Understandably, the Unifact employee appeared quite nervous, and seemed hesitant to give the chafed horde, of which I was a part, bad news.

However, she gathered herself together and assured us that all was well, and began letting people in ten at a time. The armed private security and a heavy police presence outside helped quell many of those at the back of the line, as did a last-minute voucher system, which would save their place in line, in the event that they had to be turned away. With the crowd settled, I waited patiently. I couldn't help but notice that when the second group entered about twenty minutes later, the first group hadn't returned. Ten minutes passed, and those in my group began to speculate.

No one had left the building yet, and many were hoping for at least a quick glimpse at even one of the AdvAnimals as they emerged with their new, human companions. I hesitate to call them family members, as that feels rather disingenuous, nor would I call them pets, as that feels demeaning to the AdvAnimals as a race. After nearly an hour, it was finally my group's turn. At approximately 1:13 AM, we were let into the Welcoming Center and led through the aisles of products and toward the rear. Upon reaching a large counter, I was tempted to ask if the woman behind it was a groomer, but I held my tongue. In retrospect, that would've been in poor taste.

She politely introduced herself as “Ronda" and informed us that we'd be seen individually by representatives of Unifact. These reps, she explained, were to take us into small, private offices and show us a pamphlet explaining what to expect by “cohabitating with an AdvAnimal", while our IDs and social security numbers were taken, to allow for a thorough criminal background and credit check. Ronda equated it to the background check necessary to buy a firearm, which, not being a gun owner myself, was news to me. People make it sound so easy, and yet the FBI apparently run these background checks all of the time! Anyone with locked credit reports would be given a place-holding voucher and sent home.

Unable to resist the urge, I raised my hand. Pointing to me, she asked if I had a question, and I inquired as to who was going to be running these checks. It seemed like an appropriate question, but Ronda simply smiled.

“If you'll please follow the yellow line, the representatives will see you in the order you arrive." She said, pointing toward the floor. “Single file!" She chirped, in case we'd forgotten our manners.

We obeyed, and followed the yellow line painted on the otherwise white tile floor. It reminded me of a somewhat archaic system I'd seen used in older hospitals, but for a building the size of the Welcoming Center, it was more than adequate. We soon found ourselves standing before five doors, all of which ran along one wall. Men and women, all of them dressed in business casual and wearing laminated badges on lanyards around their necks, emerged to talk to the first five, while the others were asked to sit in chairs in what was clearly meant to be a waiting area. I was in the first group.

“Hello, sir. I'm Shandra." My representative greeted me.

“Hi. Alexander Wilfred Webb." I replied.

“Your initials are 'A.W.W.'?" She laughed.

“Yeah." I nodded and sighed.

“Well, it's a pleasure to meet you, Mr. Webb!"

“Alex is fine... So, is this the new process?" I couldn't help but ask, making myself comfortable in one of the cheap computer chairs placed before her humble IKEA desk.

“Oh, no! This is just for that line outside!" Shandra hastily replied. “When all the dust settles, the average person or families can come in and have a one-on-one with us! It'll be just like any other store."

“Oh! So, how does this all work, then? Edify me."

And so she did; Shandra presented me with a rather thick pamphlet, which explained the ins and outs of life with an AdvAnimal. As I read it, I noticed that nowhere did it say “ownership" or “pet" or anything that undermined the AdvAnimals' agency. Instead, it repeated the phrases “welcoming", “companion" and “cohabitating". I suppose they did that to make it feel as little like a market as possible, which is definitely a good thing. A particular word that starts with 'S' was coming to mind. That's when I noticed it.

“This part right here..." I just had to speak up.

She looked to me, her hands clasped before her chin, waiting for me to continue.

“Right here it says that they bond, and that once that begins, you need to limit time away from them."

“Ahh, yes..." Shandra said with a heavy sigh.

It was clear that she was waiting for me to point that out.

“It's no secret that AdvAnimals and humans can have... Very close relationships." She began.

My mind immediately returned to those well-known faces, such as Anna-Maria Villa-Gonzales and Penelope Packwood, two women who have openly admitted to sexual relationships with their AdvAnimals. In Anna-Maria's case, she'd petitioned the court to allow her to marry her AdvAnimal bodyguard, Marcus, a petition she won. It set a precedent which many have been talking about ever since, and some even replicating. A coworker of mine is currently drafting a story about human-AdvAnimal partnerships and marriages, but I digress.

“AdvAnimals are not humans, and they aren't for everyone. If you work away from home and cannot get a concession to take them with you, it can be... Challenging. They're naturally very tribal, and that means that if you're serious about this, you need to adjust your life around this new behavior."

“Can't they learn to do things our way?" I asked, rather perplexed.

“No." She laughed, thoroughly amused by my obvious ignorance of this new race. “They have an instinct that we've lost a long time ago, so if you want to Welcome one, your life conforms to their norms or not at all. Also, as a single male, you can only Welcome a female."

“I can't Welcome a male?!" I raised an eyebrow.

“No." She calmly replied.

“Why not?! I had all these cool fantasies about playing Call of Duty with him on the couch, and going camping and stuff!" I joked, secretly probing for answers.

Admittedly, I very briefly entertained fantasies of having a surrogate brother in an AdvAnimal, but again, I digress.

“While you could do all of those things, if you left him alone for too long, he might... Get into trouble. As a male, he won't ever bond with you to the point that he would lose his independence. That's a trait all males tend to have, to varying degrees, and as intelligent as they are, we cannot allow that. Only females and families can Welcome the males. You'd have to Welcome a female, and as a young and handsome man, she'd latch onto you rather quickly!" Shandra cheerfully explained.

I flushed at the compliment, even though I'm certain she was just trying to placate me. My work can be very taxing, all that travel and excitement, and while I've never been much of a ladies' man, that isn't to say that I haven't had my share of relationships. Still, it was startling to hear, almost as much as what she said next.

“When you Welcome the female of your choice, she'll begin to bond with you almost instantly. As the male of the household, she'll follow your lead, listen to your every word and try her best to please you. It's simply in her nature. She may be shy, nervous and a little skittish at first, but she'll inevitably become your most loyal companion. Should that bond evolve and you were to take her virginity, it would become unbreakable."

“What?!" I gasped.

“Should you sleep with her, any territorial behavior you've noticed will be exacerbated." Shandra calmly repeated herself.

“Oh... But what if she's not a virgin? I mean... What if she's, uhm... 'Bonded' to someone else?"

“Not possible."

“Why not? There's so many, already. I mean, how can you stop these creatures from experimenting with each other?" I asked, raising an eyebrow.

“As I said, AdvAnimals are not humans. Don't subscribe human behaviors and mannerisms to them." Shandra smirked. “It's for this reason that we have to conduct a thorough background check. We need to ensure that you have no history of domestic violence, no violent crimes of any sort, and no current significant others." She continued.

“Is that a common thing? I mean, humans getting 'involved' with AdvAnimals?!"

“This is all new, even to us, so it's hard to say for sure, but it's happened before, so it's a possibility that needs to be taken into account. If you cannot commit to that, then we'll have to end it here, unfortunately."

“I see... What if that never happened? I mean, what if she and I never made a home run, so to speak?" I asked.

“Heh..." She snickered, as if I'd told a not-so-funny joke.

“There's no guarantee I'd even be interested in her like that, and from what I hear, with their claws and whatnot, it isn't like I could force her to sleep with me. Maybe it wouldn't ever happen, and I'd just have a really hairy roommate?" I continued.

“We have to assume that it will. It's safer that way."

I could tell from the look on Shandra's face that she was deadly serious. Clearly, this is what she meant when she said that AdvAnimals aren't for everyone. I hesitate to speak on my personal life, but to further my tale, unfortunately, I must. The life of a journalist can be taxing, and I don't often find the free time to seek out adequate company and feel truly fulfilled. I was also born an only child and have lived away from my parents for quite some time. I've never married or had children, and after months in South Korea, documenting the plight of the North Korean refugees, I can honestly say that I was reaching the peak of my isolation and loneliness.

As Shandra spoke, I found myself oddly intrigued by the possibility. Maybe this is exactly what I need? A proper companion; someone to spend time with. It seemed like a door worth stepping through. Shandra waited with the patience and warmth of Mother Theresa, allowing me to mull over the possibilities for what felt like hours. When I found myself debating the possibilities out loud, she was a comfort. I never felt pressured to walk away or continue, and that, in many ways, actually made it harder to choose! However, I inevitably decided to go through with it, otherwise you wouldn't be reading this article.

“We have several methods to help you choose. You can fill out a questionnaire and then once I scan it into our computers, it'll go through the roster, syphoning out the females who might clash too much with your personality and personal tastes. These matches will likely be very compatible, in all ways..."

As she eyed me with a peculiar smile on her face, I couldn't help but flush. I knew exactly what she meant.

“If that seems too 'dating website' for you, then we can also let you choose what you think you'd like by filtering through the roster yourself. Or, if you're feeling brave and don't mind taking the time, you can scan through each and every one!" She chirped.

“That last one sounds really appealing, but I don't want to be here all night. I mean, there's still people waiting." I replied, glancing toward the door.

“Don't worry about that, Alex. This is a life-changing decision. This isn't something you can just reverse whenever you feel like it. It's not like a pet you can no longer care for or that gets on your nerves, so you call up a shelter and have them sent away. This is permanent..."

Shandra's sudden sternness was jarring, and I could tell she meant business. Once again, I found myself mulling it all over. This time, however, it wasn't nearly so challenging, not like before, at least.

“Well... I'm single, I lost touch with most of my old friends and lately I've been working from home. What do I have to lose?" I blurted out.

“Alright, then." She flashed a little grin. “Which method would you prefer?"

“Just let me flip through them." I answered.

And so she did. Presenting me with a very unique looking tablet, I found myself examining an AdvAnimal's picture. It was a head-shot, quite similar to a driver's license photo or state ID, except not the worst quality possible. Beside this large, HD photograph of an admittedly jarring half-human and half-animal face, I was surprised to see a pair of images beside her head-shot. Wearing only panties and a bra, the female stood facing toward the camera, and then another picture with her side toward me. Her features were remarkable! The big, paw-feet, the ears, the tail and the long claws. It was as alluring as it was unsettling.

Dare I admit, my fear was nearly as strong as my curiosity. It almost took away from the obviously feminine figure she had, which, I somewhat shamelessly ogled for more than a few seconds. I closed my eyes and literally shook my head to snap myself out of it, only to read her brief bio. It revealed her name, height, weight, her base species - she was a feline, though I could already tell from her appearance - and gave some tidbits into her known personality traits. It all looked good, but I decided to keep searching, and after the short read I swiped my finger across the screen to see the next in the list. This one looked very familiar.

“Oh, look! A bunny!" I chirped.

“Yeah." Shandra smiled.

“She's brown, though. Not yellow."

“A lot of people get nostalgia with the bunnies, and they're quite popular." Shandra noted.

“I can imagine. Harriet made a lasting impression on most of our generation." I replied, swiping the screen.

“Yeah. I still think the bunnies are the coolest." Shandra spoke very casually.

“Oh, neat! This girl looks like a skunk! ... She doesn't, uhm..." I hesitated to ask, and merely glanced up at Shandra.

“Don't worry. They don't have any scent glands." She quickly replied, withholding a chuckle.

“Are they removed or-?"

“They get their base physiology from humans and the aesthetics from the animal genes; they never develope scent glands." Shandra explained.

“That's a very fluffy tail she has there." I murmured, my eyes glued to her buttocks.

I swiped several more times, and each was just as appealing as the last. I saw a wolf, a fox, a lioness, a mouse, a squirrel and even a mink! It was so hard for me to decide what I liked more, and I shamefully admit that I'd since devolved into simply looking at their figures, but then I saw her... I froze, my eyes growing wide. With my finger hovering over the screen and my jaw hanging open, I was as still as a statue, and Shandra noticed.

“Do we have a winner?" She asked with a little chuckle.

“Hold on..." I murmured, my eyes scanning the page.

I looked at the AdvAnimal, but this one was different, positively unique! Her base animal was a whitetail deer, and I could tell. Her fur coloration, her snout and nose, her ears and her tail. She had a noticeable lack of claws, and her feet were not the paws of the others, but a pair of cloven hooves. Strangely, her eyes were the brightest shade of blue I'd ever seen, and her long hair, which stretched to her lower back, appeared reddish-brown, straddling the line of burnt orange. It was in stark contrast to the rest of her. All of this, and she still has the shapely figure of a healthy and rather buxom swimsuit model.

All in all, she was a very alluring doe! My eyes scanned her information. She was noted as being “mostly vegan", with a sweet, demure and genteel personality. Her preferred music was listed as “Jazz & Classical", which I found quite intriguing. Jazz is my favorite as well! I read her name aloud.

“Autumn." I whispered to myself.

Even her name felt good on my lips!

“May I?" Shandra asked, holding out her hand.

I returned her tablet and she pressed the screen, only to type on it for a moment and set it aside.

“She'll be right out."

“Just like that?!" I gasped.

“Just like that."

As we waited, I couldn't help but feel a little dirty. This was a little too much like one of those live animal markets you see in places like rural China, except worse; with the implications Shandra had made earlier, I felt more like one of those sleazy men in the auction rooms, near the ending of the movie 'Taken'. Still, I sat there and waited, and after a rather awkward silence, a door opened. I rose from my seat and tried to look presentable in my button-down shirt and clean, blue jeans, and though I'd prepared to greet whomever was on the other side, everything stopped when she entered the room.

Immediately upon seeing her, I was flabbergasted. She walked with a casual and even confident gait, but her face showed a level of apprehension. Her shyness was more than evident as she glanced around, only for her to lay eyes on me and stop. We stared at each other for the longest. I was expecting an AdvAnimal, of course, but to see her in the flesh, or in this case, the fur, was nothing short of breathtaking! She cocked her head and used the back of her hand to brush the long, straight hair away from her face. I could see now that it was extremely red. The thought of fall leaves filled my mind and I chuckled.

“So, you're Autumn." I spoke in a soft, gentle voice.

“Mhm!" She flashed a little smile and nodded, her anxiety seemingly melting away.

Even from that brief sample, her voice sounded as soft and warm as her fur looked. I'd call it 'motherly'. At five-feet and eight-inches tall, she looked me straight in the eyes. A pair of beautiful pools, like the crystalline waters of the Caribbean, gazed into my generic green eyes. The nostrils of her rounded nose, very much like a deer's, flared as she sniffed the air, and her smile widened as she suddenly took a step closer. Her form was very much like a human woman, and obviously identical to her photos. It's a figure that I somewhat begrudgingly admit is very pleasing to my eyes, which couldn't help but scan her one more time.

Her shapely figure is akin to an hourglass, with gentle curves leading from her waist to her broad hips. Her arms are somewhat spindly but seem to fit her, while her legs are long and slender but toned. Her bust is both human-like and exceptionally large, which only added to her mystique. If she were a human, she'd easily qualify in a Ms. America pageant. Still, something unnerved me. Was it her feet, the cloven hooves that they are? Was it the fact that she's covered in brown, tawny and cream-colored fur, which shown through her startlingly transparent summer dress? Or perhaps it was the animalesque shape of her head?

That rather long, broad snout and a rounded off nose with flattened nostrils, sitting where human lips and a conventional nose should be. It was just enough human features to be Uncanny Valley territory. Her pointy ears twitched at the top corners of her head, and once again she cocked her head, this time in the other direction.

“Are you alright, Alex?" Shandra asked.

“Yeah, I'm... I'm just a little..."

I lost my train of thought. My brain opted instead to stare at the creature before me. Her smile began to fade, and only then did I realize that she appeared worried. Was I displeased, or worse, frightened or repulsed by her?

“I'm sorry!" I closed my eyes and shook my head. “I've never met an AdvAnimal before. I wasn't expecting you to be so pretty."

My mouth moved faster than my brain and it took me a moment to realize what I'd just said. As my cheeks flushed, Autumn's smile returned. She stepped closer, and after sizing me up one more time, she raised her arms above her head and very gracefully spun around. She moved like a ballerina, complete with the head motions to negate dizziness. It was both unsettling and surreal. Why would she show off her figure like that? Especially when her dress is already hardly concealing it, and I'd already seen her pictures. Shandra took a seat and Autumn approached the chair directly beside mine.

We both sat down and stared at each other. Shandra finally cut through the silence by clearing her throat. I turned to the representative and she shifted her eyes, motioning toward Autumn. Through her pantomimes, I could tell what she was asking. She wanted to know what I thought of her. Was she pleasing to me? Should we continue? I subtly nodded my head, then turned back to Autumn.

“So... Ahem... I'm Alex. Alexander Wilfred Webb." I said, extending a hand.

“Aww." The deer girl replied, flashing a strange grin.

Again, I felt my face flushing as she found amusement in my initials. Autumn extended her hand and shook mine, nodding her head in a silent, formal greeting. I was amazed by how soft her fur felt. To be perfectly honest, I didn't want to let go; she slowly slipped her hand away from my grasp, and with the shy smile of a young woman meeting a dashing rogue. It did wonders for my ego. I spoke to her for a moment, encouraged by Shandra, and Autumn responded with a 2-in-1 tablet. She types almost as fast as I do! Through this unconventional exchange, I came to know her and I felt myself pitying Autumn, who clearly didn't enjoy life in the barracks.

In our brief exchange, Autumn endeared herself to me. The deer AdvAnimal appeared to have all the traits of a normal if shy, human woman, and shared many dreams that I believe most people share, whether they'd admit it or not. She yearned for a “normal life", as she called it, desiring a proper home and most importantly, companionship. She wanted to belong. She wanted someone to care for and about her. She wanted someone she could care for in return. She wanted a family to love her. It was all very touching, and in many ways, opened my eyes to my own hidden desire for stability, something I'm sorely lacking.

“Life is very lonely, sometimes." She admitted to me.

“I'm sorry. I know how that is. I've been on my own for the longest." I replied.

“I often wish I was anywhere else but here."

With that, I'd made up my mind. This was going to happen. Perhaps it needed to happen? I turned to Shandra and symbolically asked “where do I sign?" This made Autumn's face light up, and Shandra couldn't help but chuckle. She turned to me and motioned with a hand, and after sliding the chair closer to her desk, she presented me with her tablet, which now revealed a very different screen. I read what appeared to be a contract, agreeing to care for Autumn for the remainder of her life, and with my signature, I was accepting full custody of her. Something about the wording seemed odd, perhaps a little insensitive. I signed it anyway.

The deer girl clasped her hands together quite loudly and as I turned my head toward her; I saw her scooting her chair closer to me. The look on her face was truly priceless. Rapturous joy. She smiled from cheek to cheek, flashing her pearly white and very human-like teeth. It actually made me feel bad, not for her, but for the other AdvAnimals. If Autumn is so eager to leave, I can only imagine how the others feel! Rising from our chairs, Shandra led us through a door behind her desk, taking us into a hall that stretched the width of the building, which was quite substantial.

We approached a counter that reminded me of a receptionist at a doctor's office. She explained that the necessary paperwork and the deposit needed to be paid here. Regardless of the cost, they were insistent upon full payment, up front. I asked if they had payment plans, as $3,500 can be a considerable sum for most. They said no, and for a moment, I believe they thought that I didn't have the money. Autumn looked horrified at the prospect of remaining in the barracks. I clarified that it was merely a question for this article, but they explained something to me.

“During your background and credit check, we pull bank records, Mr. Webb. Had you not had that sum in your last bank statement, we'd have never brought her out to meet you."

With that, I swiped my card and felt a tinge of guilt. I'd just traded currency for flesh, but I told myself it was the cost of her free papers, and I was doing her a service. As soon as the machine beeped and the clerk said “all done!", Autumn threw her arms around my neck and gave me a rather tight embrace. She nuzzled my cheek and I felt myself flushing yet again. After signing more papers and being given a 'starter pack', a large suitcase on wheels with everything she'd need for her first few nights with me, we were led through the hall in the opposite direction and let out through a back door.

I now understood why I'd never seen anyone leave. An armed guard in a navy-blue uniform escorted us to my car. Upon reaching my Prius, I opened the passenger door for her, and Autumn thanked me with a smile and a gentle caress of my cheek. The guard watched in silence as we drove away, and I promptly took us to my penthouse apartment. I repeatedly glanced at her in the passenger seat as she marveled at the wondrous sights that've undoubtedly been kept from her. It was just a typical American city, but to her it might as well have been Venice, Italy.

Once we'd arrived, I showed her to the guest bedroom, which I'd prepared in advance, just in case. She seemed a little disappointed and repeatedly glanced to my room, which I'd pointed out along the way. I wasn't sure why. She settled in quickly, as she had only one set of clothes in her starter pack, which was mostly hygienic products and grooming tools, as well as a booklet for me to keep with some emergency hotline numbers. I offered to make her dinner. This seemed puzzling to her, so I led her to my humble kitchen. I began to prep, but my new companion soon pushed me aside.

When I asked what she wanted, she shooed me out of my kitchen, her hands on my shoulders as she walked me into the living room. Apparently, she wanted to earn her keep, and I found myself on the couch, watching her in my kitchen and making our dinner. The veggie burger patties sizzled as she whipped up a salad from things I'd pulled from my refrigerator. I didn't expect that, and a part of me felt a bit like I was using her, but she seemed quite content! She hummed a tune I recognized, so in an effort to make her feel more at home, I went to my media center and found the song.

As soon as it began, I could feel a change in the air. Leaning against the bar counter, from the living room side of the bar, I watched Autumn cooking. She glanced back, and the look on her face was a sight to behold. It was the happiest of smiles. I could see her small, fluffy tail, which was barely visible beneath her rather revealing dress. It was moving from side to side, reminiscent of a happy dog. It almost appeared to be dancing to the beat of my slow jazz record. Once she was done, she found me still seated at the counter. I'd stared at her the entire time she cooked.

I simply couldn't help myself, as something about her was unusually intriguing. She sat beside me and we ate our first dinner together, then washed the dishes. Though I kept thinking it should've felt strange, somehow it didn't. If anything, it felt right. Having her there made my penthouse, which until recently I was rarely inhabiting, feel warmer and brighter. After we finished washing the dishes, she joined me on the couch, making a pit-stop to her room to collect something. She returned with an already charged 2-in-1, identical to what she'd used at the Welcoming Center.

I gave her full control of the remote, and she soon settled on a classic comedy that had just started playing. As we watched the intro to Airplane!, I suddenly felt nervous. Autumn had leaned over and tucked herself beneath my arm. It was almost like a teenage girl cuddling up to her first boyfriend at a movie theater. For some reason, this affected me a lot more than I'd assumed it would. I didn't now what else to do; I wanted to hold her, and so I did. With my arm draping over her, I felt her soft fur. It was so warm!

Brushing her arm with my fingertips, I heard her coo. While a part of me was elated to have this moment, having long desired some companionship, another part of me felt guilty. Was she this comfortable because she liked me or was she acting this way because I Welcomed her? After all, I effectively bought her freedom and took her home. Was this encroaching on mail-order bride territory? I suddenly felt unsure of myself, and so I shifted. She noticed immediately, sat up and turned to me. I glanced over at her to find her gazing into my eyes, her brow softened.

She looked sad, and perhaps even a little worried or offended. I cleared my throat and she reached for her communicator, which is what I've been calling the unlabeled electronic device.

“Is there something wrong?" She asked.

I stumbled over my words, only increasing her anxiety. Eventually, I had to ask for a moment to collect my thoughts. She waited with the patience of a saint, a little smile on her face.

“Autumn..." I finally began. “I don't want you to feel like you have to do anything. I didn't buy you; I don't own you, and I don't want you acting like I do."

“That's very sweet of you to say." She typed out, her smile growing wider. “But I'm not. I like feeling your body against mine. It comforts me, to know that this is my home, and you're my companion. I just want to be close to you."

With a response like that, how could I argue?! I leaned back and made myself comfortable, and within seconds she was right back at it, tucked under my arm and with her head on my chest. After a while, I couldn't help but rub her arm and pet her head. She reciprocated with soft coos, which I discovered is my new favorite tune. After a while, however, she did a little more. With an arm outstretched, lying across my stomach, she wiggled her fingers and tickled my side. As I'm unfortunately very ticklish, I didn't give her the response she wanted, and so she moved her hand to my leg, or more accurately, my inner thigh.

I froze and she began to rub me. Though I tried to think of something else, anything to take my mind off of what she was doing, her ministrations caused a particular reaction, one that she seemed to expect. She chirped as soon as she noticed my growing erection, and cooed as she stared. My face flushed. Sliding a hand up, she placed her palm over me and gave him a little squeeze, which caused me to jump. I couldn't believe what she was doing! Was this really happening or was I having some kind of bizarre and highly detailed dream?!

Looking up at me, she pantomimed with her eyes. It took me all of a millisecond to realize that she was asking for permission to see it, which made me even more nervous. Were she a human, this might've been playing out very differently, but considering who she is and how she came to be in my house, I found it all very unsettling and certainly inappropriate. However, before I could protest, she groped me again and grabbed onto my zipper. I jolted and asked her not to do that, while she bolted upright. To my surprise, she seemed quite disappointed by that request!

In a way, it was very flattering, but as nervous as I was, I was eager to move on. We switched positions and stretched out on my couch. I laid behind her, but with my pelvis twisted slightly, so as not to feel her butt against my crotch. She lay there, clutching onto one of my forearms, which I'd slithered around her body, and we finished the film with nary a peep. Afterward, I led her to her room. She seemed excited at first, and I was certain I knew why. I told her that she could sleep whenever she wanted to, but that I had a particular schedule, and was about to go to bed.

As a night owl, I'm often in bed just before dawn, and I do my work in the late afternoon, after I wake up and have “breakfast". The evening and nighttime are when I take time for myself. She found that curious but admitted, through her communicator, that she was rather tired from her ordeal. Apparently, being purchased by a stranger is as mentally and emotionally taxing for her as it was for me! I said goodnight to her and gave her a hug, and I was about to leave the room when she suddenly did something the pamphlet had warned me about.

Without a hint of shame, Autumn pulled off her dress and stripped. She looked to me and smiled as she removed her undergarments, only to climb into bed and wave 'goodbye' to me. I cleared my throat, waved back and went to my room. What else could I do? It was hard to sleep that night, even though I felt drained, but I eventually managed to drift off. When I awoke, I was startled by the familiar scent of veggie bacon and eggs cooking! Stepping out of the hallway in only my boxers, I wondered who had broken in to eat my food, but turning the corner, I was reminded that I was not alone.

Somehow, in my groggy state, I'd forgotten that I'd Welcomed an AdvAnimal the night before. I stood at the bar counter and stared with wide eyes. Autumn was at the stove, wearing only her fur. Her little tail swayed and she hummed another equally familiar tune as she tended to the sizzling veggie bacon with a spatula. I stared at her for longer than I care to admit, before clearing my throat. She turned to me and smiled, unsurprised and unashamed. She glanced down and her smile widened. Only then did I realize that he was a little more than half-mast. Clearing my throat, I stepped behind the bar.

She approached the nearby counter to place the meal on two plates, right where we'd eaten our dinner the night before. She faced me as if it was nothing, allowing me to see all of her. Having reacted as most healthy men would, I was forced to hide my interest by stepping into my room. A curious Autumn followed me, and just as I buttoned my jeans, I turned around to find her standing behind me, within arm's reach. She held a plate about breast high, the most innocent of smiles on her face. She'd walked right past the opened blinds of our living room and didn't seem to care. To any who might be considering Welcoming these creatures, please keep this in mind.

Being an upstanding gentleman, I tried to keep my eyes locked onto hers, rather than exploring all that she had to offer... Again... She presented me the food and I accepted, then cleared my throat and spoke my mind.

“I know everything is new to you, Autumn, but-"

She stopped me, pressing two fingers to my lips before darting out of the room. I couldn't help but notice certain parts of her bouncing and swaying. Moments later, she returned with her own plate, some drinks and her communicator. She sat on my bed and turned to me, nibbling on the veggie bacon in the most adorable way, with her head tilted forward and eyes looking up at me. It was as if she was actively trying to disarm me with cuteness.

“I don't really know what things were like for you before, if you lived with the other AdvAnimals or had your own space so you could... Anyway, I get that you don't know how things are out here, with all of us humans. I understand all that, but... There are some things you'll need to learn. Now, I don't want to tell you what to do, okay? I really don't, and if you prefer to be naked... I don't want to stop you, but until we know each other better... A lot better... Maybe you could practice a little modesty?"

She whimpered in a manner so adorable that I actually felt like a jerk for making the suggestion. Still, I persisted.

“I'd personally prefer it. This is all new to me, too, so not overwhelming me with..." I paused, motioning a hand over her admittedly exquisite figure. “Look, I'm just saying, even I don't walk around here without at least underwear on, and certainly not with the blinds open, and I've lived alone in this penthouse for about a year. Please?"

After a moment, she smiled, nodded and then pulled me into a hug. Feeling her up against me like that was vastly different than previous hugs. Her soft fur against my bare skin and her body, which radiates warmth like a space heater; it was as comforting as it was confusing. It was then that I noticed something. A faint but peculiar scent emanated from her fur; it's like a field of roses. I wondered if that was her natural scent or some kind of special body wash. Perhaps it was something I could buy for her at the Welcoming Center. Whatever it was, I loved it, and it made it easy to relax.

We took our food into the living room and she took the time to put on her bra and panties, albeit begrudgingly. Admittedly, it didn't help my nerves all that much, but I thanked her, regardless. The last thing I wanted to do was confuse her with mixed signals. We watched some Netflix, and after breakfast, she insisted upon cleaning up on her own. When I offered to help her like I did the night before, she spun me around and pointed to my work desk. I didn't know how to tell her that I'd made my quota of articles for the week, so I simply sat at my desk and wrote down my thoughts.

She startled me by bringing me a cold drink, and then wanted to massage my shoulders. I felt like she was waiting on me, but when I suggested she relax and do something she enjoyed, she simply continued. Eventually, she pulled my reclining chair over to my desk just so she could sit with me. I was quite surprised, as I'd struggled just to get that heavy thing out of the box! Autumn sat on the chair, pulling in her legs and tucking them beneath her as she leaned against an armrest. Her eyes were glued to me, and it was then that I decided to come clean.

I explained my work to her and what it was I was doing, and after some silent begging, batting her eyelashes at me, I surrendered and allowed her to read the thoughts I'd been writing. It seemed to bring us closer together, and she used my computer to respond to each and everyone one. She admitted to being nervous about the transition, but was already comfortable with me and my place. She was flattered by my intrigue and openly admitted to having a physical attraction to me, which I found equally flattering, though I was obviously far more confused about it than her.

Before I knew it, we were having a long and meaningful conversation. Our chat ran the gamut, from favorite colors to preferred foods and even what she thought about before she went to bed last night. That part was especially flattering... We didn't stop until our stomachs growled, which she was quick to point out. It wasn't herself that she was concerned for, but me. When I asked her what she wanted to eat, she seemed to think it was the greatest compliment in the world. We made a very late dinner and then continued our talk, this time on the couch.

It wasn't until the sun came up that I'd realized just how long we'd been talking. It was already the next morning, and I'd long since missed my usual bedtime. Since we'd been up so long and the hunger pains were returning, I asked her if she wanted to go out for breakfast. The look of elation in her eyes was reward enough for whatever the bill might be. We finally got properly dressed - I was grateful that Autumn's second set of clothes wasn't an almost transparent summer dress - and I drove her to a diner that I often frequent.

They were surprised to see me there so early (or late, depending on your point of view), almost as much as they were to see Autumn. That's when I noticed it. There was a visible shift in the room. The younger people were excited to see an AdvAnimal and wanted to meet her. The older people, roughly my parents age or older, were staring with a mixture of distrust, disgust or even outright fear. Even some of the people my age, in their mid to late thirties, seemed to struggle with her presence. Should they be curious, afraid, intrigued or revolted?

The night cook, who I know quite well and will refrain from naming, seemed shaken. He promptly punched out a full two hours earlier than usual. As the crowd thinned out, we were left only with those who thought that Autumn was the hottest thing since sliced bread. It was roughly half the original number of patrons. It was only then that I felt comfortable enough to eat there. Though it was good for her to be out, I knew that it might be some time before she could have the normal life which she so desperately craved.

After our meal I decided to make the best of a Monday morning. I took her shopping for clothes, thankful that I had the budget to pay for everything she was interested in. I was simultaneously surprised and unsurprised when she revealed her tastes to be akin to my hippie mother, desiring mostly loosely fitting summer dresses, boot cut pants and flowy blouses with nice cleavage. She put on a new outfit just before we left, and with bags in-hand, we made our way to the parking lot where we loaded up my Prius and drove to the nearest Whole Foods.

I'd already gone shopping, but that was two days ago and I'd only shopped for myself; I hadn't yet decided to Welcome an AdvAnimal. We loaded two carts and racked up a nearly $800 bill, but she seemed satisfied, and so was I. It was a chore to pack that little Prius, but somehow, we managed. Returning home, I warned her that it might take a few trips to carry everything to the elevator. To my astonishment she carried a cart full of bags at once and didn't even break a sweat! For those who're wondering, yes, AdvAnimals do sweat.

I managed to carry the other half, though my arms were screaming the entire way. I actually felt rather meek in comparison, made worse when I eyed her figure for the hundredth time. Her strength and endurance are remarkable. Clearly, AdvAnimals glean something from their animal genes that we humans lack. This became more apparent as time went on. With nearly an entire week to ourselves, we spent our time together watching TV, playing games and communicating. It was only interrupted on the fourth day by a thunderstorm which, aside from startling her considerably, caused a twelve-hour power outage.

To my surprise, she was able to traverse the apartment in the pitch dark to find the flashlights and candles. As a test, I asked her to find the can opener in the kitchen junk drawer. She didn't take any light source with her, and after rummaging for a few seconds, she returned with two, a conventional crank can opener and a manual one I'd forgotten I had! On one occasion, as we entered the garage, I offered to race her to the car. She beat me handily, and not because I'm slow, though I am rather slow. Autumn moves with the swiftness of a gazelle; I think she could easily clock 30 mph!

Whenever our neighbors in the penthouse across the hall would argue, she would transcribe their dialogue for me, mostly for our amusement. If you're reading this, Mr. and Mrs. Helmsworth, I promise I won't tell! If you recall my original issues with Autumn's modesty (and I hereby apologize for the length of this article) then you can rest assured that she did begin wearing a robe I'd bought for her. She seemed eager to make me comfortable, something that I, though not my inner beast, greatly appreciated.

Still, her newfound modesty didn't stop other odd and embarrassing incidents from occurring. On multiple occasions, she intruded on me while I was in the bathroom with the comfort and confidence of a long-term girlfriend or wife. After only a few days with me, she wanted to begin joining me in the shower, startling me by pulling open the curtain. It's not for the reasons you'd assume, considering her interest in me; she just wanted to wash with me. That didn't make it any less awkward, but after the third time she tried, just over two weeks after I Welcomed her, I allowed it. I don't even know why.

She stepped inside and I briefly worried that her cloven hooves might slip on the floor of the tub, but she proved steadier than I am. Autumn smiled so innocently as the water soaked her fur. My face must've been candy apple red, because she suddenly giggled, finding amusement in looking at me. Without a hint of sensuality in her actions, she lathered me, and she was very thorough. Somehow, even as she grabbed him and rubbed on the soap, he didn't crash the party. Afterward, she passed me the bath poof and soap, and turned her back to me. I knew it was my turn.

This time, however, he wouldn't sit on the sidelines. I tried to be as thorough as her, but I felt it before I saw it. As I passed the poof over her breasts, which are quite large, I stopped, glanced down and audibly gasped. Peering over her shoulder, Autumn saw it and cooed. I could tell from the moment she'd stepped inside that she was interested, but for my nerve's sake, she never acted on it. Now, however, she took my erection as an invitation. With a strange grin on her face, she turned to face me, reached out and grabbed him! I couldn't believe it! Autumn behaved as if she'd always had exclusive rights to my body.

She stroked me with a surprising level of skill and gentleness, then looked me in the eyes, slowly turned back around and bent over. She leaned at a slight angle, probably only ten or fifteen degrees, planted a hand on the wall and stuck her butt out. Looking over her shoulder, she stared at me with that strange, little smile and batted her eyelashes. Looking down, I couldn't help but notice her tail, the flame shaped poof that it is, dancing from side to side. After waiting on me to act, she made it even more obvious, slowly swaying her buttocks while placing a hand on a cheek and spreading them for me.

I saw her womanhood and stared. I'm embarrassed (and a little ashamed) to admit it, but I shook like a leaf. I'd never been so scared to act. I've also never had this problem with women before, but Autumn is an AdvAnimal, and a being that I effectively purchased at a market. Something about it just ate at my conscience! Realizing how much of a negative effect her presentation was having on me, Autumn's smile faded. She let out a little sigh and then turned back around, rescinding her offer to let me have my way with her, then took the shower head from the hangar and rinsed us off.

We wrapped ourselves in towels and stepped out as if nothing had happened. Though the awkward moment had passed, things only became more complicated from there. It was at about that time that I began to notice a theme. Autumn couldn't be away from me for more than twenty or thirty minutes without looking for me, and if I had to leave for any reason, she eagerly followed, even if I was only going to the lobby to check my mail. Perhaps that was the bonding process showing itself? Or perhaps our shower had exacerbated it?

I was initially worried about this, but it's funny how quickly one adapts. I soon I came to accept and even appreciate her attention. It made it easy to otherwise live as a recluse in our apartment. I grew to enjoy her more and more, but this was especially true after my sudden illness. About halfway through our third week together, we'd gone on another massive shopping trip, only to get caught in the rain. I don't know if that was the cause, all I know is that when I woke up the next afternoon, I was shivering.

Autumn came to bring me breakfast, only to notice my state. She hastily collected a thermometer and found that I was running a fever of 102 degrees. She fetched me medicine from the cabinet and waited on me hand and foot, literally sitting at my bedside the entire time. She only left me to prepare food and use the bathroom. Though some might call me foolish or overly sentimental, I believe that Autumn's kindness and affection was a big part of me avoiding a trip to the hospital. After two days, I recovered from the fever. I felt that I was in her debt, and my affection toward her grew, as did my willingness to show it.

She certainly wasn't complaining, but I felt like I could and should do more for her. I would soon have that chance, as my somewhat estranged parents called and invited me to join them for a rather impromptu family reunion at my uncle's house, a state over. It was to occur in the early afternoon of the next day. I had only one request. To their chagrin, I both revealed Autumn's existence and demanded she be formally invited. They agreed, and we prepared for the trip. Though she seemed excited, I was worried.

My parents, being from that older generation, didn't shy away from telling me their feelings. I'd always known that they didn't have the highest opinion of the AdvAnimals - part of the reason for our estrangement is because of my youthful participation in the support protests - and I'd hoped that actually meeting Autumn in person would change that. I stopped her as she showed me an outfit to give her fair warning, and though she used her communicator to tell me that she'd be fine so long as I was with her, I felt like there'd been a subtle shift in her mood.

Still, I was hopeful. On the drive out of upstate New York and into northern Massachusetts, I prepared myself for just about anything. To my surprise and elation, however, upon reaching my uncle's estate, I found everyone to be welcoming... At least initially. People I hadn't seen in a long time, some of whom I didn't even remember, greeted Autumn and I very politely. I heard so many names that I began to forget them as each new name was thrown at me. We made our way to the large tent in the backyard, where an outdoor banquette hall had been set up.

The family members with children all turned and stared, while their kids, many between the ages of 4 and 12, shrieked as they rushed toward us. They passed by me, of course, and immediately swarmed Autumn. To my silent elation, she actually appeared to enjoy it. It was the first time in weeks that I was able to walk around without her, and a part of me immediately felt the loss. I glanced over to her more times than I could count, watching her entertaining the children, playing everything from Frisbee to horseshoes and even races.

She always let them win. It was surprisingly wholesome. However, as I conversed with the rest of my family, I couldn't help but notice their side glances, silent snickers and even a few passive-aggressive remarks at her expense. It became increasingly difficult to stand there and have a civil conversation. After about an hour, things took a turn, and not for the better. One family abruptly left, calling to their daughter before pulling the small child away.

“But I wanna play with Autumn!" The girl exclaimed, to no avail.

At first, I told myself that something must've come up, but in short order, more and more parents pulled their kids away. When I pointed this out to my own parents, who stood with my uncle and his wife, they scoffed and said, “can you blame them?" Within the span of ten minutes, the horde of nearly two dozen children had dwindled to zero, and Autumn was standing alone. The look on her face was gut-wrenching. She was so sad! I tried to make my way to her, but my mother grabbed my arm.

“She'll be fine." She said to me.

“But she looks upset!" I exclaimed.

“You really think she feels that? She's probably just confused. I mean, she's not like us!" She snickered.

I'd heard enough.

“Take your hands off me, you heartless bitch!" I snarled, yanking my arm away.

“Hey! Watch how you talk to your mother!" My father growled.

“I'm a grown man! Don't you tell me what to do! This is exactly why I didn't want to come here! Why do you think I ran off as soon as I was able?! Because you people are cold, heartless and insensitive pricks! You never understood why I protested, why I didn't care when I got arrested for it! You're too damn selfish!"

After barking a series of expletives, I made my way toward Autumn, who still stood all alone, at the fringes of my family's reunion. The look on her face as I forced my way past people to get to her; it affected me. It was only then that I realized just how much she mattered to me, how important her happiness was to my own. I loved her, and I knew it from the tearing I felt in my chest. I abandoned my family without uttering another word; I just wanted to comfort her. She heard me coming and glanced at me, only to look perplexed by my expression.

I took her hand in mine and after a brief moment of quiet, I pulled her into a tender embrace. It felt so good to finally hold her again, to try and make her feel as comforted as she made me feel when she nursed me back to health. She whimpered but I shushed her and told her it was all okay. Pulling back, I looked into her eyes, then planted a kiss on her unlike any I can recall. She was taken aback, and so were my family. The children who were left, being loaded into the family cars, hooted like an old episode of Saved By The Bell, but their parents were silent. After our first kiss, I offered to take her home.

She smiled and nodded, and as we walked away from the reunion without so much as a goodbye, she rested her head on my shoulder. Upon returning home, she made her way into the bathroom. I took off my shoes and called out to her. When she didn't appear, I searched for her and found her staring into the mirrored medicine cabinet hanging above the sink. She scanned her facial features very carefully, but it wasn't to apply makeup or look for wrinkles. Autumn was very melancholy, and it seemed as if she was asking herself why. Why did she have to be so different? Why was she made an AdvAnimal? It broke my heart, so I continued to comfort her.

“Hey there, beautiful." I chirped, standing in the doorway.

She turned to me and furled her brow. From the look on her face, it was as if she was questioning my sanity. I stepped closer, rested a hand upon her bicep and rubbed her, then repeated my affections. I made it clear that I loved her, and that I thought she was perfect just the way she is. I apologized for not realizing it sooner, and gave her another kiss. I made it as soft as I possibly could. As I pulled our lips apart, she shed a tear, but this time it was joyous. With my hand on her cheek, she reached up and caressed it, then stole a kiss.

Our passion grew, among other things, and within the hour we'd made love. It was the most intense, intimate and carnal thing I'd ever experienced, and after taking her virginity, as evidenced by the crimson stains on my bedsheets, I told her something I'd never told anyone before. I told her that my life wouldn't be the same without her, that I wanted her to be my partner and I didn't want us to ever be apart. It was all true, and she was overjoyed. From that moment forward, Autumn has slept beside me every night, and on many of those nights, we make love.

She's an AdvAnimal, not a human, but that doesn't change the fact that she's a sentient being with feelings, hopes and dreams. I genuinely cannot say what the AdvAnimals are or where they belong in the grand scheme of things, but I know that she's more than human to me. She deserves happiness, just as I do, and I'm thankful that we finally found it in each other. As she sits beside me, watching me draft my expose, I can only say that to those of you who need true companionship and haven't found it, to the lonely who could use a companion who'd rather die than abandon you, perhaps you should Welcome an AdvAnimal, as I did?