Hey everyone! This is a new story that I started working on. I happened to be visiting a zoo over break and this little idea just popped into my head. I should note that the style of the prologue is not the style that the story itself is written in. This chapter does highlight an emotional background that I don't think I could convey with a different writing style. Anyway, I hope you enjoy it!
Chapter 0: Prologue
Hey, you. Yeah, you. The one staring at me through the glass. Can I ask you a question?
What do they say about us? Those people in the uniforms that take you and all of the others around the place. They always look like they're telling you all something. They always talk to you and point or gesture at us. So, what are they saying?
No one ever tells us anything and the glass cuts off all sound. We can't hear what they're saying. Come to think of it, we can't hear what you all are saying either. Crowds of you gather up and some of you press your hands and even your faces against the glass.
So many of you talk and point and you all seem like you're trying to tell us something. And then one of us will try to send a message back, we'll put our hands on the glass or wave or something, and you all start yelling and waving and we just get confused.
What are you all saying? Why are you all yelling and waving? Are we funny? Are we scary? Why won't anybody tell us what the joke is? What do they say about us?
Does anybody out there care? Do you ask questions about us? Sometimes it looks like it from where we are. One of the people in the uniforms will lead a group of you over here and talk, and then some of you will raise your hands until the guy in the uniform points at you. Then you talk and the guy talks back. Then you all look at us, maybe laugh or point, and then you all leave. What are you saying? What do they say about us?
You know, we really don't get why you all find us so interesting. We don't look that much different from you all. Some of us are girls and some of us are boys. Some of you are girls and some of you are boys.
Some of us have light hair and some of us have dark hair. Some of you have light hair and some of you have dark hair.
Many of us have different colored eyes. Many of you have different colored eyes. We notice when you all put your faces really close to the glass.
Many of us have different colored skin. Some are really dark and some are really pale. Many of you have different colored skin. Some are really dark and some are really pale.
We all talk to each other using words we were taught. Our parents teach us most of our words. Sometimes the people in the uniforms teach us others.
You all seem to talk to each other and we're pretty sure you use many of the same words we do. Your mouths move in similar ways that ours do when we talk. We're not sure where you learn your words from.
We're really not all that different, you and I. We really don't get what all the excitement is about. We're really not all that sure why there's a glass wall between us and you. I mean, if we're not all that different, why aren't we allow to hear you or talk to you?
Why do we get punished if we try to reach you? Why do you look at those signs that are placed nearby the walls? Why do you listen to the people in the uniforms when they lead you to the wall? What do they say about us?
I have to say, I'm a little surprised. Most times when I try to ask a question, you people shout and point or wave at me. Can you actually hear me? I hope so. You seem like a good listener.
Can you tell me what they say about us? Can you tell me why you all find us so interesting? We're really not that different, you and I.
… I don't think I can hear you. I can see your lips moving, but the glass is not letting me hear you. I hope you can hear me. It's been nice just to talk. I did notice that you were pointing at my head though. Is that what they talk about? My head?
I don't think it's really all that special. I have skin, the same as you do. I have hair, the same as you do. I have eyes the same as you do. They might match in color, but we both still have them. You and I have noses too. They're not the same shape but they're both clearly noses.
Hey, now that's odd. Why do you only have ears on the side of your head? I have ears there too, but I've got another set on top of my head too. Oh! Was that what you were pointing at? Why are you pointing at those old things? I've always had those. Then again, I don't think any of you people have had those kinds of ears. I haven't seen any, at any rate. My mom has ears like mine. So does my dad.
But not all of us have ears like this. One of my friends has a tail. It's really kind of cute. She can move it around and it tickles whenever it brushes my skin. Hey, do you have a tail like she does? Can you turn around? Here, let me try to gesture.
… Oh. It doesn't look like you have one. That's a bummer. I kinda think tails are cute.
Can you tell me what they talk about? Those guys in the uniforms. Do they talk about my ears or my friend's tail? Are they really that interesting? We've had them for as long as either of us can remember. None of you people seem to have them, but hey, I guess that's just who you are right?
I really appreciate you staying here and listening. None of you people seem to like doing it. Even when the guys in the uniforms are talking to you, a lot of you just seem to be looking at something else, like those rectangular things you all seem to have.
Hey, what are those actually? A lot of you point those things at us and something seems to happen. Some times they flash a bright light at us. I really don't like that part. It hurts my eyes when that flash of light happens. But it must do something because you all gather around to look at them after that happens. It must be really interesting too, if you don't listen to the people in the uniforms.
My mom said that I have to listen to them. I really don't want to, but they tell us when our food is ready and all kinds of other stuff. Mom had a word for the guys in the uniforms. What was it again? I think it was… ummm… Keepers! That was it. She called them Keepers. She won't tell me what that means. Hey, do you know?
Oh, that's right. I can't hear you through the glass. I hope you know the answer. It'd be nice to know that someone knows.
Oh, are you getting bored with the talking? You're looking at one of those signs that have near the wall. Hey, what do those things say anyway? I can't understand what's on them. Are they important? There's a bunch of them that I can see.
I really want to know if you can hear me. I wish I could just get through the glass so we can just talk. I really just want to talk to someone who knows stuff. All of my friends know some things, but none of us really know a lot.
The Keepers keep us all separate a lot of the time. I get to see mom and dad a lot and I get to see some of my friends from time to time. I don't get to see some of the others except on rare occasions. Most the friends I do get to see have ears like I do or tails like my best friend.
Hey, I've got another question. My best friend swears that there are places like ours all over. Is that true? I mean I see other places when the Keepers take me to different places.
Sometimes, they take me to see this guy who wears this long white coat. He'll place this cold metal circle on parts of my body and do all sorts of other stuff. I get to see him when I'm not feeling well.
Oh, and I get to go see my parents a lot. I don't stay here in this place with glass walls all of the time. There are lots of times when the Keepers take me to this… I guess the word is house, that is somewhere else. Sometimes I don't stay here for several days. That's been happening less and less as I get older.
Mom says that it happens to all of the pretty ones. I guess it means I'm pretty. Do you think so?
It's odd. I've spent my whole life in this place, but the more I talk to you about it, the more I begin to not like it. I mean, this place has space. I don't feel cramped. There's a pool of water here for me play in, although it seems a lot smaller now that I'm bigger. I get food several times a day, although there are times when I want more. And it's usually the same stuff too.
You all seem to have all kinds of things. I've seen some of you carrying puffy pink or blue things on little white sticks and some of you have these brown things that are twisted and bent around themselves. Oh, and some of you have little things that you unwrap and munch on when you're looking at us.
That's another thing that's different between us. The things you wear have little spots that you can put things in. I don't have those. I kinda wish I did. But, what would I put in them? I don't have any little things like you see to.
That really doesn't seem fair. We're not that different. So what if I have a pair of ears on my head. Why can't I have what you guys seem to have? You've all got these that you can carry and eat and look at. You've got all these people you can listen to or ignore whenever you want. You can ignore the Keepers and they get mad at you. It's not fair! What makes you so SPECIAL?!
… I'm sorry. I didn't mean to scare you like that. I just… I just so mad, you know? I wanted to hit something. I didn't mean to hit the glass in front of you. It was just… there. Please don't leave. No one has ever stood there and just listened to me.
Are we really that different, you and I? I've got a pair of ears on my head that you don't. Does that make us different? My best friend has a tail that you don't. Does that make you two different?
Can you even hear what I'm saying? Are just staying here to make me feel better? I'm not sure if it's working. I've talked about stuff I haven't thought about in a long time.
This room doesn't really feel like it has space now. It feels really small and cramped.
My mom and dad don't talk about this stuff and they tell me not to talk about it either. They say the Keepers will take me away if they catch me talking like this. You won't tell the Keepers, will you? I don't like it here so much right now, but I don't want to leave mom and dad or my friends.
I've seen them take people away before. It's not just something mom and dad say to keep me behaved. I've seen them take away people who wouldn't stop talking like I was a bit ago.
I don't know what happens to them, but I never see them again. There's a word the Keepers use when that happens. What was it again?
…
Untamed! That's the word. Mom and dad won't tell me what it means. No one I know will tell me what it means. Do you know? I wish you could tell me. I really would like to know what it means.
They don't always take away some of us because we're 'Untamed'. Sometimes they come and take away some of us who are my age. They use different words and I guess they're different reasons.
"Transferred' is one. Some of us are 'transferred', whatever that means. Another word is 'Acquired'. Some of us are 'acquired'. My dad always snorts softly and says 'sold' whenever we hear about someone being 'acquired'. A lot of us that are around my age are 'acquired'. A lot of them are girls too. Actually, a lot of them are girls who spend a lot of time out in these spots. The pretty ones.
You're not going to acquire me, are you? Is that why you're staying here, watching me? Do you want to see if I am worth acquiring? Worth BUYING?! I don't care what the Keepers say. Dad's right. You people buy us, don't you?! You look at us all the time, deciding whether or not we're worth buying!
Well?! Are you just going to stand there and not make a sound or a motion or anything?!
…Can you please tell me where I am? I don't think I like it here anymore. I want to be over there, next to you. I want to be on the other side of the glass. I don't want to be 'transferred' or 'acquired' or 'sold' or anything. I just want to be me. I just want to be me, but over there.
Can you please tell me where I am? Why do you people find us so interesting? Why do you think we're different, when we're so alike?
Can you at least answer one question? If nothing else, can you just answer one question? None of the others will say anything. All I really want right now is the answer to one simple question.
What do they say about us? The guys in the uniforms. What do they say about us Faunus?
Author's note: What do you guys think? I hope you liked it and that it gave you guys something to think about. I haven't come up with a schedule for this story quite yet. If you enjoyed this, don't forget to take a look at my other story EMRD. Don't forget to follow, favorite, and review! See ya next time!
