π˜Ύπ™π™–π™₯π™©π™šπ™§ 𝙏𝙬𝙀

(Back to the present)

Colin was interrupted when Charles said "This is my part, let me tell it from here."
Dr. K watched an arguement break out with amusement, and patiently waited for them to continue.
"Fine." Lin said and held his paws up in defeat.
Charles looked smug as he continued the story from his point of view.

(Charles' perspective)

Charles entered the dark cave, holding out a dim flashlight. He knew he would be punished if he was caught outside in the woods.
But he didn't care. Life is boring when you don't take risks. He stepped into the cave slowly, so he didn't trip on anything.
The cave was covered with a black substance that almost seemed alive. He descended into the dark latex cave, careful not to trip.
Deeper in, the cave was home to beautiful glowing crystals. Charles reached a gloved hand out and broke off a small, perfect chunk of the crystal.
He placed it in a small leather traveling bag. He turned and walked up and out of the cave, happy with himself for collecting the crystal,
and not being Transfurred in the process. He was just about to walk away when his flashlight slipped from his gloved fingers, making a series of loud clunks as it fell back into the cave. "Dammit!" He yelled.
Charles turned around and set his bag down so he could grab his flashlight. He stormed into the cave, immediately spotting it lying against a scaly cave wall.
He reached for it... And the scaly 'wall' shifted, revealing a dragon made of dark latex, glaring at him. He cried out in terror and ran towards the mouth of the cave,
desperate to escape. He slammed into a latex claw now blocking the exit, and spun around to face the beast.
He tugged a hunting knife from his belt and tried to intimidate the thing. The dragon, from how it looked, was not impressed.
The claw behind Charles shot forwards, holding him up to the dragon. Charles screamed again as the dragon roared, then noticed the beast wasn't staring at him anymore.
In the mouth of the cave stood a white latex wolf with blue eyes. The wolf, for some reason, seemed almost... Unhappy. Charles had no reason to be staring at the wolf,
as he realized he had an opportunity and stabbed his hunting knife into the dragon's claw, wedging it between the scales and causing the dragon to drop him. He landed running,
abandoning his traveling pack and escaping. He ran a safe distance and then, seeing no sign of any latex creatures, sat down to rest near a stream.
"Great. Just great." He said. "I guess I have to go back for my stuff later."
"No you don't, I brought it!" He heard somebody say behind him and turned.
The white latex wolf stood there, holding out his pack. Charles took it, and stepping back, looked into the wolf's blue eyes.
"First of all, thanks. Second, how can you talk to me? You're a... Latex creature." He said.
"Well I am now. I used to be a human, actually. I was Transfurred using a special substance so I didn't lose my identity. Speaking of that, i'm Lin. What's your name?"
He grinned. "Charles. Thanks for distracting the dragon for me."
To his suprise, Lin laughed. "Oh, it was nothing. There's a similar dragon back at the lab..."
"Lab?" Charles asked.
"Nothing. I'm sure you're getting cold in the woods out here, and I'll bet Puro is worried. Why don't you come with me and exchange stories?" The wolf said.
Charles grinned. "Sure. And who's Puro?"

(The present)

Colin glared at Charles and said "Hey, why don't we just TAKE TURNS telling it? That would be much easier."
Charles just rolled his eyes.

(Colin's perspective)

Colin and the human walked through the woods. strong winds blew through the trees, pelting the two with autumn leaves.
He wasn't cold, but he quickly realized that was due to his fur coat and noticed Charles was shivering in the wind.
"Are you cold?" He asked, but the human just shrugged.
A minute later, a roaring campfire came into view. Puro stood over it, the entire bag of marshmellows dangling over the fire.
You have got to be kidding me, Colin thought as he got closer.
"Puro! Why are you burning the entire bag, Charles might want some." Colin scolded.
"No, I think i'm fine." Charles said.
Puro looked dissapointed. "Puro thought they would all toast. And who's Charles?"
Charles waved. "Hey."
Puro said "So there are other humans left. Where do you come from, Charles? Puro wants to know."
Colin blinked. "Right, I forgot to ask. Are there other humans?"
Puro tended to the melting plastic.
"I live in a walled city known as The Stronghold. After the plague, the remaining wealthy families paid for it. My family may be important, but nobody there likes me." Charles said.
He smiled. "That's why I go here to escape. It may be like a fortress, but there's ways to get out."
Colin was shocked by everything he said. The idea that humans were thriving in a tiny, untouched place...
He remembered the people that were no longer in his life and wondered if his family might be there. They had never been particularly rich but he had hope. Hope that grew and grew until...
"Take me there." He said.
Charles looked at him, suprised. "But you're not... You know.. Like them. If they saw you they would lock you up, or worse."
"I don't care. I just want to see it." Colin said,
his mind already picturing the scene of being reunited with his family.
Charles sighed. "There's an old tree leaning against the wall surrounding the city. If you scale it you can see the city from above. Good enough?"
"I guess. How far away is the city?" He said.
"About an hour's walk from here." Was Charles' answer.
"Puro will come with! Puro would love to see a human city!" Puro said joyfully.
"Well, um, actually-" Charles started.
"C'mon Charles, We're already ahead of you!" Colin said.
Charles muttered something and caught up, pointing them in the right direction. They walked for quite a while, careful to avoid the dark latex cave.
After a long time, Colin started to hear shouting. Puro whined nervously beside him. He looked around. Charles wasn't there. Colin turned around and ran back, following their path.
He saw Charles tussling with a dark latex creature. Latex was already climbing up his arm when Colin sprang at him, trying to pull the latex wolf away.
The stuff had reached Charles' shoulder when Puro started to help pull. With a pop the wolf was pulled away from Charles, who immediately brushed the gunk off his arm.
Charles said "Thank you. You guys got lost so when I saw that thing, I thought it was Puro and went towards it."
Puro's ears went back. Colin laughed.
"Hey, I see it." Charles said.
Colin turned around. There was just woods in every direction.
"Uh... Where?" He said.
Charles smiled. "It's camouflaged. Look harder."
Colin started to make out a stone wall, colored to blend in with the tall trees.
"I see it." He and Puro said at the same time.
They walked up to the massive wall. It was very solid, and Colin didn't know how it could be made in only five years.
Charles led them around it until a tree leaning against it came into view. Charles scrambled up the log easily. Puro shrugged and followed him slowly.
He started to climb the log. It was actually pretty easy on four legs. Puro and Charles stood on a small platform overlooking the city.
The city was beautiful. There were parks and houses littered along, broken up by clumps of tall buildings. It was alive.
Colin was transfixed by the beauty. But something was wrong. He sniffed the air, and was instantly alert. He turned and saw military soldiers on the same platform.
They pointed rapid-fire guns. He knew there was no way out of this. It had been a stupid idea to come here, and now he would die for it.
The human moved between him and the soldiers. What was he doing?
"STOP! DON'T SHOOT THEM!" He screamed.
He said "Don't you see? They aren't mindless latex creatures. They can speak. They have intelligence!"
The lead soldier shook his head and said "Charles. We always knew you were radical, but this? You won't stop us from destroying these creatures. I'm sorry."
Colin pushed him out of the way and felt bullet tear through his latex body. He felt numbed pain, probably due to his latex insides. He fell off the wall and tumbled to the ground,
and saw Puro falling next to him. He choked out a goodbye right before the impact silenced him.

This isn't the end.