Let's save that for the end of the story. I mean, who the hell starts a story with "and they all lived happily ever after"? That would be a real kicker, wouldn't it?
I let out a small groan, rubbing my back up and down on the rough bark, letting my tail curl around the tree. Not exactly the /best/ solution to scratching your back... but close enough. And just since I'm smarted than your average bear, this wasn't my worst idea.
I stretched a little, taking a step away from the tree, pulling my tail closer up against me. It was a beautiful, early, early morning. Maybe six am, at the earliest. I started most days the same. An early morning stroll through my lovely forest.
You see, unlike you, I have no real home. I live in a small caddy shack, here, in southern Indiana. It's a small cabin, that looks prepared to fall down from the outside. On the inside... it's /kind/ of fixed up. It's enough to keep me warm during the winter and keep the sun off myself during the summer. I obviously keep my belongings there. I've lived there for little under six months... It's okay enough.
Obviously, already, by me mentioning the tail and ears, I'm not normal. I'm about as freaky as it gets, actually.
I'm a Vulpes Hybrid. If you're guessing I'm a vulture hybrid, you're wrong. I'm a red fox hybrid... And yes, I have the ears on my head and the long, bushy tail. It sticks out like a sore thumb.
I, like few others, were created at the School, in California. It's basically this huge scientific research facility, were they take humans (mostly children), and conduct illegal experiments. Well, the whole thing may be shut down, if possibly, they were found out about. I heard that they were almost busted by the FBI once... but weren't.
I've been there for as long as I remember... I don't think I was born this way, but I don't have the memories to back that statement up.
But I do know I was created by Jeb Batchelder ; A top-notch scientist when it came to turning humans into mutants. He taught me everything I know today. Or, mostly everything. I learned some things from books, music, experience. You know the deal.
I lived at the school for many, many years. There, Jeb took pretty good care of me. Sure other scientists tested on me, which was never what I wanted. They made me run miles on end. They made me search and dig. Sometimes, they'd ship me halfway across the country, and see if I could make it home. With all this, you'd figure the chances of me being able to escape would be amazing. But no. I have a collar, very similar to a dog's. If they tracked no movement, I'd receive a high voltage shock via the collar.
But it was never that bad... Not till Jeb left. He left, and I'm not sure where he went. No one is. He just up and left. Well, okay.
The School didn't treat me like he did. With him not there, there were never any pick-me-up's ; Only kick-me-downs. I went starving for weeks. Scientists are smart, including the brains to know when I'd need to be fed to survive. They gave me endless water as well, cause in that way, that was practically enough to keep me alive and halfway well.
But it was all too exasperating. I'd read those books. I knew what people could make out of themselves and become! Go to college! Go to school.
None of those authors or characters slept in a medium sized dog crate every night.
I tried several attempts to escape ; None successful. Eventually, on my fifth try or so, I was free... With the plus of killing two scientists and an Eraser. But even after escaping, they were all hot on my tail. Literally.
While somewhere in Maine, I accidentally ran into Jeb again... Only then did I realize I'd missed him more than I'd thought I had. He said he had "missed me too", and was "sorry he'd left me in the first place", that he "would've brought me with him, and kept me as a daughter, if he could've".
Meanwhile, I'm not sure if I buy that even today. Suuure, I miss him and all. He's pretty much all the family I had, being a father to me. But I knew lies like the back of my hand.
He apologized with a credit card, but didn't ask me to say. He sent me back here, to Indiana, with the promise the Erasers couldn't find me here.
I've been here since.
I use the card only to eat on ; I don't need much clothes or a big fancy house. Jeb's taking care of me from afar, and that's all I have to be thankful for.
The birds began to awaken now, rattling in their nests above, in the trees. I couldn't help but yawn. A few grass-hoppers began to chirp, and I heard what sounded like a deer rustle in the leaves a mile or so ago.
Being a hybrid does have it kicks ; Like super sensitive hearing, being supernaturally strong, and things along that line.
The sun pushed itself even higher into the sky, and I found myself yawning again. I guess I dreamed too much to rest well. I began to sleepily, slink back to the cabin.