A/N: I still don't know where this is going… not entirely…
Chapter 2: they are coming
The problem is a human – probably male, but I can't smell him from this distance… especially not when Ray has been so discourteous as to have the windows rolled up. What is wrong with him, that he can't handle a little winter? See… there's another reason why it's a miracle that human beings have survived. They are entirely ill-equipped for it, physically. I mean… they're slow runners… they've got no fur or protective colouring to speak of – well maybe a little on their heads… but what good does it do them there? It must be some sort of mating thing, since they're incapable of detecting even the strongest of pheromones.
I can smell something else, however… and I wait until Fraser has left before I make my play for it.
"Hey! Get your nose out of there!" As usual, I ignore Ray and finish off the cheeseburger he so kindly brought me. Ray and I have this understanding: he yells at me, and I don't pay any attention. Then he complains that I don't listen – and Fraser reminds him that I'm deaf. Then Ray mutters some nasty things… and we start all over again next time.
"Aw, hell." Ray watches Fraser for a moment – Fraser has gone to talk to the male who is causing the traffic jam. One of Ray's endearing traits is that he – on some points – is not as stupid as Fraser. Ray is smart enough to know that you don't go talking to the obviously insane – because they might bite you… and then you'll go insane.
Ray gets out of the car, and I follow before he can stop me. If Fraser's in trouble… like I said, he's my pack-mate and I am obligated to help him.
The human who decided to interrupt our day is clearly insane… he's even frothing at the mouth. And while in most creatures a large amount of hair in the winter is considered a sign of good health (again, I marvel at how humans have survived), he clearly has not been tending to his grooming, which in any creature is a sign of declining condition.
Fraser doesn't seem to notice, however. "Sir. If you could please step out of the street…"
"They are coming… they are going to take us… we will be destroyed for our failures."
"Sir…"
"They are coming…"
"Who's coming, sir?"
"They are coming. Them."
Ray gets up there and shoves his badge into the insane one's (okay, sorry, the insane one who isn't Fraser) face. "Already here, pal. Police. Now move it." But the guy's not paying attention – he's watching me instead.
"Please! Tell them we didn't mean it… tell them that we are willing to repent our sins." He throws himself to the ground in front of me. "O Noblest One, let them know… save us, please."
Now while it is gratifying to find a human who finally understands which species is the alpha species (what's so great about seeing in colour anyways, when you can only smell in black and white… you can't even pick up grey?), it's frustrating to accept the fact that the only ones who do, tend to be insane in other areas and are thus never heeded by their fellows.
I back away slowly, but he crawls forward after me. Oh joy. I keep backing up, guiding him slowly out of traffic. Ray turns and runs back to his car, where somebody is attempting to steal it. A look at Ray's face and his gun convince the guy otherwise.
"Sir… are you all right, sir?" Fraser can't seem to let go of the possibility of communication – he always believes the best of people.
"Please… you must believe me… we had no idea."
"Sir…"
"Look at the nutcase, he's talking to a dog." I see some hairy male laugh and point.
"Actually, he's a wolf." Fraser turns away from me to correct this misunderstanding, but I know what he's saying, because he always says it. He turns back to the lunatic. "Now sir… who is coming? Are they dangerous?"
Oh no. He's actually taking this person seriously. Then again, we are speaking of someone with the common sense of a potato chip, and we all know what happens to them. I consider biting him (Fraser, that is) if only to get his attention.
"The ones… the avengers." Nutbar sees a rat slinking in an alleyway, and turns to it. I can't tell what he's saying, but I'm pretty sure he's pleading with the rat, too. The rat proves his intelligence by running away.
And Fraser proves again that he has none. "Sir… sir… is there…"
"Come on, Fraser." Ray has re-joined us, probably realising that potato chip brain won't move without bodily force. Once he gets it in his mind to help somebody…
"There will be a great thunder… and all will be destroyed. I heard them… mark my words. They gather at the empty warehouse." The lunatic scrambles to his feet and waves his arms around wildly. "They will destroy us… we are but useless fools in their eyes." He runs away down the street, screaming.
"Come on, Fraser…" Ray pulls on Fraser's arm, guiding him back towards the car.
"I wonder what he meant…" Fraser stares after the lunatic, and I know that look. We're going to be figuring this one out… and I'm not going to get paid one single Twinkie or tortilla chip for the job. Lovely.