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Counter Earth Chronicles - Dual Realities

Chapter 30: Spiraling Towards The Consequences Of Our Own Actions

September 12th, YOE 35

6:10 PM Master Koala's Lab (World Three Technology Museum)

The koala scientist continued to tinker with his life's work, a machine that could peer into other realities not our own. His ultimate goal was to locate the whereabouts of Naomi Good. That impulsive teenager that created bad publicity for him within the scientific community when she disappeared from the museum six months ago after a demonstration. In reality she used his invention to leave Counter Earth for what she thought was a better Counter Earth.

He tried to cover up the incident, to deflect, obfuscate. But there was that hedgehog boy and his paranormal investigative team, they wouldn't leave well enough alone. Going as far as to confront him in his office with a device that proved she had left this reality for another. But where?

The koala scientist looked at his communication cube on a nearby stand. There was a video message awaiting playback. He decided to view it.

An image of a hedgehog boy appeared above the device. _“Master Koala, Arthur Speedwell here. I know our first meeting regarding Naomi Good's disappearance was not… how you say quite productive. However, I and my team stumbled across some new information during a recent paranormal investigation..." _

He terminated the message to stare at the viewscreen of his invention which appeared within the frame of its doorway. Something had changed. The viewscreen managed to 'lock' onto the image it was displaying for more than a few seconds instead of rotating to the next reality. By his calculations it had been more than a minute!

If he could somehow extend that for hours, maybe even days, he might be able to send a probe through, possibly find her and bring her back… theoretically. Obviously more research was needed. Or even better start exploring other realities! But on the flipside, he would have to be careful to not bring something undesirable from the otherside back to this reality. That would require more consideration, thought and planning.

_7:00 PM Finnick's Diner (World Two) _

“Sorry we are closing." The waitress said as I walked in and casually sat down at one of the booths within the diner.

“That is fine. I just wanted something quick." I said taking in the establishment. Hmm… red walls, comfortable booths with high seats that had a lot of packing.

The waitress looked at her large fennec supervisor who reluctantly shook his head.

(It is nice to see that this place hasn't changed.)

“So what brought you in here tonight?" The waitress in the pink dress with a white apron asked me.

“Actually it was you Courtney Perfect."

“Is that some sort of come on?!" She asked, staring me down.

“No!! It is not like that!" I replied flailing my arms trying not to make a scene or sounding like a creep. “A acquaintance of yours reached out to the Consortium For Mutual Coexistence."

“It must have been Leslie Arrow. She helped me get a job here after a beastial did the same for her some years back." Courtney replied.

“Human, did you come here to order or to talk?" The fennec chef in the white apron and cooking hat behind the counter asked impatiently.

“Um, a little bit of both?" I replied to Ms. Perfect's supervisor.

“We are closing so either order or get." He ordered me rather sternly.

“Ok, okay! How about a vanilla malt?"

“Fine. It will be right up. Courtney close!" He shouted.

I watched as the waitress pressed a button on her uniform locking the door of the diner.

“As I was saying Ms. Perfect, said acquaintance was so concerned about you, she notified the consortium."

“Leslie was always perceptive. Even from afar." She said grimacing.

“So there is a problem then?"

“I am frustrated." The waitress responded.

“About what?"

“I can't believe you even asked that! I am human, you are human! Try not to fry your brain thinking about it!"

“Indeed." I replied.

“Our lives have been completely miserable since the empire's crackdown nearly two years ago."

“You mean when the rebels were defeated December 31st Year Of Empire 33?"

“Yes. After that date a lot changed." Courtney huffed.

“More than you know." I replied under my breath.

“So you aren't blind then?"

“Even more restrictions on freedoms, increased scrutiny and the curfews?" I asked raising my eyebrow that would make Lady Ursa proud.

“All of a sudden every human has been assigned an overseer who monitors their activities! Human you can't go here, human you must be here by this time at this date, human you can't live there- you must live here, human you can't have that job it is for beastials only- you can take this menial piece of misery instead, human you can't date that human he isn't good enough for you it won't benefit the empire, human you shouldn't have sex tonight it will affect your productivity the next day."

My eyes nearly popped out of my head at Ms. Perfect's revelations.

(Wow, that was oddly specific.)

“I then have this guy who rides me hard and puts me away wet- he works me to the bone, cuts my pay if I don't perform to his expectations; and if I complain about it he says…"

“Well I could always find another 'you' who would work for even less which means you Ms. Perfect would have to go back to living in the bowels of the city." The fennec chef snickered bringing over my malt. “If you want to live comfortably, have a hover vehicle, a nice house, in a nice neighborhood, with a nice park, a nice beach, with a personal pond or lake then you better work bitch."

*HMPF* The waitress said, crossing her arms. “Kissing his butt is also helps."

“But in all fairness she is a hard worker, punctual and tolerates my idiosyncrasies." The chef said slapping her on her behind. You would look better with a tail though."

By idiosyncrasies he meant his dominating harassment of her.

Leslie's friend was at the end of her rope. It was clear to see that.

“So the consortium sent you here?" Courtney asked me.

“The consortium reached out to a group I am affiliated with. We decided to investigate."

I replied looking at that beautiful dessert I was about to devour.

“Boss I am going on break!" The waitress announced as she sat down in the booth right across from me."

“Then it will be two butt kissings before you leave. Both of my cheeks." The fennec chef announced.

“Fuck my life." Ms. Perfect grumbled.

“I see." I said clasping my hands. “So what are you going to do about it?"

“I was thinking about becoming one of them." She said pointing to her fennec boss. “Maybe I would get some respect around here."

“Not a good idea- they still haven't perfected human to beastial transformations; your sentience would be lost. You could become a partial beastial I suppose."

“You mean like a centaur or satyr? Ick." Courtney replied. “I was told that there is potentially another option."

“There is. But the price is very high." I replied.

“How high?" Courtney asked.

“You would be free from beastial domination, subjugation and oppression. But you would have to give up everything else; family, friends, acquaintances, lovers. It would be like you were abducted by the KLIS, died or were transformed into another creature."

“So you are saying that I would be literally cutting ties and starting over?"

I nodded. “Oh my now this is a good malt!"

“I see." She said thinking.

“It is not a decision to be made lightly Ms. Perfect. It depends on exactly how frustrated you are right here, right now."

“Very."

“Give it some more thought. If you are interested, really interested, then I suggest that you take some vacation time."

“And then don't come back?"

“We can make it look like a KLIS abduction, accidental accident or attempted beastial transformation gone wrong." I said smiling.

7:50 PM The Nicest Neighborhood (World Two)

Courtney was deep in thought as she walked the two blocks back to her apartment. The neighborhood she lived in was MEH, but still better than living in the basement of the city. That crap she had to put up with working for the fennec chef at the diner did allow her to live better than most humans, but barely.

She had Leslie to thank for all of that before leaving the diner for something better, Leslie had made sure the fennec cook had personally selected Courtney as a replacement and successor. Weird thing was that Leslie had dropped off the map after leaving the diner never to be heard from again. Wait, did Leslie participate in this whatever that blond freckled person she had served at the diner suggested? Was she living somewhere else free from the beastials?

“You are ten minutes late!" A red female naga said greeting her.

“Ms. Una…. I mean overseer. I am sorry. It took me a little longer than usual to close the diner." Courtney responded to the video link on the viewscreen in her living room.

“You know what time your curfew is. You are not to break it for any reason."

“Yes, overseer, I will work faster next time."

“Not faster Ms. Perfect, smarter. So how are things outside of work? Engage in any illegal activities? Mobs? Protests? Public disobedience?"

“No, overseer. I would not want to risk my safety, security or future." Courtney replied trying to be respectful but growing annoyed at the prying.

“That is very wise. If you lost your job, you couldn't afford to live where you live. So how is your love-life? Are you seeing that boy I recommended?"

“I didn't work out."

“Why? He seemed to be perfect for you!"

“He had no personality and he agreed with everything I said." Courtney said putting away her uniform.

“He was the perfect human, demure, docile, obedient and didn't question his superiors. You could learn a lot from him."

Courtney looked at the red hooded cobra on the viewscreen. Ms. Una must have been one of the worst overbearing overseers that ever existed. Who did this female naga think she was, her mother?

“Well thank you for checking up on me, my overseer. I have some things to do now before I call it a night." Courtney said ending the connection.

As she lay in bed, she thought about her life now under the footpaws of the animal people. It was annoyingly, irritating and obnoxious now and only getting to get worse. Could she continue to go on like this? No, she thought reaching for her cube.

8:20 PM Corey and Rumble's Lair (Forests Near World Five)

“AGAIN?" The black haired teen asked as he spied on a knight patrol from the below ground entrance to the hideout he shared with the escaped lab experiment.

“...told ya hidden entrance was a good idea…" The were-creature whispered.

“Yeah, yeah, yeah these guys are persistent! Did we get made?"

“...down…" Rumble said as the two dropped their heads below the rock that hid the entrance to the world.

“I have something… it's faint, but it is there!" A red saytr announced to his red minotaur companion.

“Where?"

“Um… that direction." The knight patrol started walking away.

“I think it is the jammer for my tracker tracer implant it must be failing." Corey panted. “I should have had it removed a long time ago."

“...are you sure…?"

“Hey big guy we can't keep playing a game of cat and mouse with them- we move further out into the suburbs and they pursue. Eventually our luck will run out." The black haired teen said quietly.

The teen and his werewolf rested on the slope of the underground entrance making sure the rock above it was secure.

“But who can I find to help me remove it way out here?" Corey lamented looking at Rumble.

The brown were smiled back at his boy.

“You look totally creepy when you do that you know right?"

“...hmm…" Rumble said sniffing the teen's arm.

“Rumble buddy?" Corey said nervously as the werecreature started licking it, like a nurse preparing a predetermined site for surgery. “We are friends right?"

“...keep still…" he grumbled.

*slice*

“GAH!!!" Corey gasped.

“...here…" The werewolf said handing him a small chip.

“How did you do that?!"

“...technique…"

“Right. Well thank you big guy. Now, what to do with this? Maybe put this on a moving target like a deer or fox? Or maybe throw it into some place it would be hard recover like in a marsh or swamp? The possibilities are endless."

[MEANWHILE]

September 12th, YOE 35

6:10 PM Central Tower (World Seven)

It was with trepidation that Arthur entered the King's court. This had been the third time in as many days. He grew nervous each and every time he had been summoned for a status update because he had nothing to report.

Inside he found members of the Colony Council, ambassador Umebo, Duchess Jua, representatives from the merfolk, marsh folk, tree folk and mud folk all in deep discussion about the goings on of the planet.

“King Dragon the public is not going to react well to this decision." Basil replied.

“I will not allow a mass evacuation to Counter Earth for whatever reason." Sorren replied to all present. “There is nothing there but death, destruction and ruin."

“Ur… urr.. Urr…" The stone folk's leader opined.

“That is the direction Chaundoon is headed for, the spiked boy said so." Duchess Jua said translating.

“Even so the situation here is better than where we came from." Sorren said crossing his arms assuming an air of authority. “No one is being possessed."

“Follow up question Basil?" The leader of the sand folk asked the prehistoric cave bear with the grey muzzle.

“......"

“Basil?" Shira asked.

“Are you okay?" Masha asked.

Kip's adoptive father and Rose's mate looked befuddled.

“Errooooo!!!"

“It is the crazy!" Haem signed.

“Mathias! Mattimeo!" The duchess ordered her guards.

“Did I say possessed?!" Sorren pointed his paw finger to his mouth like an innocent school girl.

“King Dragon, Duchess Jua you summoned me?" Arthur said walking into what he thought would be a packed court. But it wasn't. To his right he saw the remaining council members as well as the duchess's guards piled onto Basil. “Am I interrupting anything?"

The boy noticed an embarrassed stare from the stone folk, marsh folk, tree folk, mud folk and merfolk present as well as Haem waving his tentacles nervously as if he were saying pay no attention to the chaos over there in the corner.

Approaching the power couple standing in front of their thrones he bowed respectfully as he was greeted rather abruptly.

“Arthur Speedwell have you made any progress?" The leader of the sand folk asked.

“None. I have been trying to come up with a solution, any solution but I have nothing. I am sorry your majesties."

“But you are the chosen one." One of the mud folk present grunted.

“He was told that he has a role to play in the planet's salvation." One of the marsh folk replied.

“By mysterious creatures we know little about. Sound familiar?" King Dragon said addressing all present. “No pressure Mr. Speedwell."

The leader of the Ghost Hunters shook his head… he had nothing.

“That is like telling someone how to liberate Counter Earth from ONE." Masha replied from the dog pile on Basil in the corner of the room.

“I have been brainstorming with planetary sciences and have yet to come up with any solutions."

“The head of medical had some outlandish ideas but none worked." Haem signed.

“Keep at it. We want any and all ideas no matter how outlandish Arthur." The dragoness ordered.

“Yes your majesties." Arthur said bowing as he started to take his leave.

“One more thing…" King Dragon said addressing the boy.

“Sir?"

“Could you fetch medical? There is a... um... situation…." The red dragon said blushing.

7:00 PM Wild's Restaurant

“So how is Basil?" Diana asked.

“Under observation." I replied.

“Where?" The she centaur asked.

“The only place we could contain a strong individual like himself…. The pit. How are you, Hue, Little Corey, Mia and Lolly doing?"

“We are good but the food supply not so much." Hue's mate replied.

“What's wrong?" I asked as she guided me to a table.

“The day and night imbalance is wreaking havoc on our crops and the recent bouts of fire-rain didn't help either."

“Are you saying that there is going to be fruits and vegetables shortage?"

“Yes. It is coming." She said solemnly. “Can I take your order?"

(Um, none of that please.)

Shortly thereafter my table partner arrived.

“You are late." I said to the hedgehog boy.

“Sorry, another audience with the monarchs. They wanted to know if I have fulfilled my purpose yet."

“Have you?" I asked dropping my menu to look at the leader of the Ghost Hunters.

“No. I mean…. I mean… I don't know what I mean."

“Well medical sciences and planetary sciences have been brain-storming for months about trying to stop the dark moon's influence on the planet and they have not been successful. You Arthur have only been back a week, so cut yourself some slack."

“But I was also identified by the dark eyed child as having a role to play in the planet's salvation. Too bad, I don't know what it is yet." He said placing his head in his paws.

I have never seen the hedgehog boy so frazzled, he was always calm, cool and collected. Especially during some of the creepiest investigations I have accompanied him and Minka on.

“I tell you what, Ms. Una's having another group counseling session this evening for the stressed. As long as it doesn't rain fire, it should still be happening. Why don't we go?"

“What do you have to be stressed out about?" The teen asked me.

I smirked at the paranormal investigator.

“That's right you are a recovering from being a meat puppet of ONE."

“I did some despicable things as an Other, things I am still struggling to come to terms with every day Arthur."

“Does the guilt ever go away Alex?"

“No. But when it wells up, I remind myself that I have also done some good as an Other as well." I replied thinking of Tina and Little Gia.

7:22 PM Modest Townhome (Westside of World Seven)

“So what do you think Axe?" Theresa questioned the stoic warrior while Oliver looked on.

“This undergarment is too tight." The S'mar warrior replied complaining about his black bottom-wear.

Oliver inspected the black fundoshi-looking underwear the Kenja Pride warrior was trying on.

“It seems like a perfect fit to me."

“It is quite uncomfortable." Axe complained. “And constraining."

“Okay so your boys can't breathe. Alright try this on." Theresa said, handing him something white.

The red head watched with great interest as he removed what he was wearing to try the white underwear.

“Axe?"

“No- this really limits my movement."

*rip*

“Wow you tore right through that like it was nothing." Mr. Justice concluded.

“I don't think it was on purpose- it just happened." Ms. Branch added.

“I don't understand how your pride can wear something so defined, so limiting; it even obscures the beauty of one's body." The savage complained.

“It is just societal differences. What is acceptable in S'mar culture is not necessarily acceptable here." Oliver observed.

“Does walking around with my groin and bottom on display unnerve you?" Axe asked.

“Not necessarily." Theresa replied. “I think your groin and bottom are rather handsome."

Oliver took that to mean she liked Axe's square butt. The package on display up front wasn't bad to look at either.

“Perve." Oliver teased. “Axe, while we are okay with it, others will not be… which means…"

“When I am outside your home I am to dress properly no matter how uncomfortable and constraining it may be." The feline warrior sighed.

“If it makes you feel better Axe when you are here inside you may wear traditional S'mar clothing."

“Theresa?" Oliver asked his roommate.

“Well he is very easy on the eyes." She said smiling. “And Axe this is not just Oliver and my residence, it is your home as well."

“How about this?" Oliver said handing their friend another piece of bottom-wear.

“What is this?" The Kenja Pride warrior asked.

“A loin-cloth. Just enough to cover your unmentionables but not enough to limit your movement." The male wildlife researched replied.

“Nice color." The feline savage said rolling the garment over in his paws.

“It matches the color of his fur too doesn't it?" The female wildlife researcher observed.

Axe put on the garment and took a good look at what was around his waist, it was soft, flexible, comfortable, and not too long either.

“It is acceptable." He replied. “Thank you Theresa Branch. Thank you Oliver Justice."

“No we are the ones that should be thankful." Theresa said, smiling again as a *plunk* *plunk* was heard outside.

7:50 PM Dawn and Corbin's Home

“It is raining again." Club announced.

“The wet type of the fire type?" The professor asked the S'mar warrior within her home.

“The first." He said turning to address her.

The archeologist had been deeply immersed in research. The table they were standing around was immersed in books and other archaeological research and notes.

“That is a relief. I have just have about had it with what's going on, the chaos it is causing, and the disruptions to our lives." Dawn said looking up from her notes which were strewn everywhere.

“Dawn Stern you seem irritated." The former chieftain of Kenja Pride observed.

“The restrictions the king have enacted are getting to me chief Club."

“Former chief." He said correcting her.

“I get that it is to try to limit the effects of the imbalance and the crazy on the populace. But it really isn't addressing the problem. We are literally watching the world collapse around us and are helpless to do anything about it… again."

“You saw this before?" The savage replied peering over the woman's shoulder.

“The world we came from was ravaged by an unconquerable invisible enemy who destroyed our chieftain, causing pain, misery and suffering to many."

“Even death Dawn Stern?"

“Yes Club dear, that is why we fled here. But we realized as well that this world is also in a similar state."

“And you feel inferior, helpless, powerless?"

“Yes. It is happening again and there is nothing we can do about it."

“Perhaps you should take a break." The feline warrior said offering her his paw.

The blond archeologist accepted it. Club led professor Stern to her bedroom to lie down and relax.

“I have a few techniques I use to unwind at the end of a stressful conquest."

“Really?" Dawn said grabbing a note pad. She had been interviewing Club ever since his discharge from the infirmary in an attempt to learn more about S'mar culture.

The former leader of Kenja Pride realized that the human female was still smarting from her failed attempt at cultural immersion within his tribe from earlier.

“There is no need to record these techniques, but they are more effective if the recipient is dressed similar to the participant." He said politely.

Dawn stared at the warrior who was dressed in his traditional clothes- nothing at all. Unlike Axe, Club had yet to select what to wear outside the house.

“Well, that is different." Said thought. “But I do love making discoveries."

The archaeologist removed her yellow shirt, brown shorts, socks and associated undergarments until she was similarly dressed like Club.

“Now lie face down, arms at your sides." He commanded her.

Dawn complied. The next thing she knew she felt feline paws kneading her shoulder muscles, massaging tension from her trapezius muscles making her feel like a pet being pampered by her owner for the first time.

*OAH* “This is nice!!" She exclaimed.

“It is a technique we use to treat muscle injuries from battle."

“Club, if I may the tribal conflict between the prides… what exactly is the underlying cause?" Dawn asked as those paws of his moved down her back, lower and lower.

“It is what your kind would call resources. No one pride has everything they need to survive. Most only have one or two. Maybe three if they are lucky. So the prides fight amongst each other to secure that which they don't have." The former chieftain said rather bluntly.

“Instead of bartering or trading?"

“It does happen but it is rather rare." Club said moving down her posterior. He noted it was smooth, tail-less furless and was quite pleasant to the touch. These humans, well especially this one, are quite fascinating. “Please roll over."

“Hmm?" Dawn asked.

“I am going to work on the other side."

Professor Stern complied.

Her feline masseuse started at her hands, kneading her palms, then each individual finger before lightly gripping her arms and sliding his paws down each. Club paused to rub her shoulders before moving on to her collarbone and then her breasts!!

Club gently gripped and lewdly rubbed each pushing them together, then apart, teasing the nipples and feeling the areolar area underneath like he was in some weird porno video. It caused the human woman to squeak.

He then moved to her stomach performing similar motions and then to her sex!!

*OAH* Dawn moaned.

“Dawn Stern are you alright?" Club asked as he noticed she was becoming rather wet in the area he just rubbed.

“I wasn't expecting that." She admitted as the feline focused on her legs.

“That was a pleasure area? I did not mean to stimulate you in such a way." He started to apologize.

“It is fine, but I am curious, Club tell me about S'mar courtship practices." Dawn asked as he massaged her feet. She had been meaning to ask during her many interviews with him, but just didn't know how to approach the subject… until now.

“They vary from pride to pride Dawn Stern."

“Then tell me about Kenja Pride's."

“Well a warrior's duty is to their pride first and foremost, if the pride thrives then so does all in it."

“Go on." She moaned.

“Prosperity comes from healthy offspring. When looking for a mate or partner, we prefer one who has qualities beneficial to the tribe- strength, intelligence, skill, health, bravery, courageousness."

“I see something that will breed effective warriors and ensure a strong healthy pride."

“Yes. From the time of our birth we are trained and conditioned to serve each other and the pride as a whole."

“I remember you saying that a youth earns their name when they become proficient in a weapon of their choosing." Dawn said giving her instructor in S'mar customs her undivided attention.

Club nodded.

“What about mating practices, are they similar to our own?" Dawn asked as Club finished her massage.

“S'mar females carry and birth our young." Club said climbing onto the bed to straddle the human female's waist. “They also are the ones to initiate mating."

She looked at the nude feline warrior who was clearly presenting himself to her.

“Really? Is this true for all prides?"

“No, just Kenja Pride." Club said taking her hands in his paws then guiding them to his ball sack and penis sheath.

Professor Stern gripped his furry scrotal sack in her left hand feeling the smoothness, the roundness of Club's orbs while holding his sheath in her right hand like Aladdin preparing to rub his genie's lamp.

She watched as her companion grew quite erect. Club rubbed his emerging penis in the Dawn's juices before leaning forward.

The archeologist looked at the feline, his protruding canines, the whiskers that tickled her face, those yellow eyes and kissed the warrior pulling him forward on to her.

Club laid right on top of his human female as he reciprocated, his penis finding its mark.

Dawn gasped as she felt the barbs on the feline warrior's penis scrape the sides of the inner walls of her tunnel. Club was slow, gentle and careful not to damage his companion.

“Now if the female is receptive to the male's advances she will wrap her arms around him and then her legs locking the two into a tight embrace." Club announced.

The two close friends enjoyed each other's company for a moment.

“Then mating commences- both focusing on creating strong healthy warriors for the pride." The feline warrior announced. “As the male approaches his peak and is about to fire his bolt, he warns his partner…"

“Who embraces him tighter as hers also approaches." Dawn said in blissful ecstasy.

*SNARL*

Dawn felt the feline's testicles pull up and the phallus inside her spasm before feeling warm semen flood her insides. A lot of it. The lion/tiger/jaguar/panther warrior gently laying on her as he finished cumming.

“That was informational and quite wonderful." Dawn said kissing Club on the forehead.

“Thank you for staying with me during my recovery." The savage gasped.

“It was the least I could do. You risked everything to protect Theresa, Oliver, myself and my son. For that I thank you chieftain Club."

“It is just Club now Dawn Stern."

“To me, you will always be a chief." She said kissing him again.

“Professor? Club?" Corbin asked walking by the mated couple.

“Kenja Pride mating practices change slightly if there is pre-existing offspring."

“They do? In what way Club?" Dawn asked curiously.

“Corbin Mongoose we require your assistance." The feline warrior said to the boy.

8:20 PM A werewolf is instructing another werewolf...

“...Corey what do you feel..?" The brown werewolf asked the white werewolf.

“That perhaps, I should have chosen a loincloth instead of pants, there isn't much room for my tail."

“...no what do you feel…?"

The former human put aside his discomfort to focus on honing his senses.

“The wind brushing against my fur, its cool breeze, the dampness in the atmosphere and the ground beneath my feet… err paws."

“...what do you see..?"

“Much more than before! I see a line forming at the space gate again, more guards at the entrance to the city, every tuff, every fiber of fur on my body, on your body." Corey exclaimed to his 'feral teacher.'

“...good. What do you hear?…"

“Those in the crowd at the space gate; they are fearful. Patrons at the Wild's restaurant talking. King Dragon in discussions with the colony council." The former human exclaimed.

“...anything else?..." The were-beast asked his charge.

“Um… professor Stern. She is making these weird noises. Is she in trouble? Is it the crazy?"

The white werewolf was preparing to spring into action when a brown paw stopped him in his tracks followed by a question.

“...what do you smell…?"

“Um… dirt… stones… sand… the fruits and vegetables in the community garden and the smell of… sex. It is professor Stern! She is getting railed right now! And she is enjoying it!"

“...very good you are learning…"

“Wow. Rumble this is how you experience the world?!"

*nod*

“Amazing! Can we explore the wilderness next?" Corey asked, his tail waging.

The two were-creatures field trip ended as they approached the main entrance to the city.

“I am sorry Rumble and Corey, but King Dragon has prohibited all residents from leaving." The scorpion boy said to the two were-creatures.

“Nuts. Rumble was going to teach me how to track." The white were-creature huffed.

*Hiss* *Hiss* *Hiss* The fire lizard with the scorpion boy replied.

“What did he say?"

“Friendship park would be your best bet." Linias replied. “The entrances to the city have been closed with the constant threat of the fire-rain."

“And the park has plenty of places to take shelter if it did start raining." Mr. Collins reasoned. Rumble nodded in agreement.

“...let's go…"

“Congratulations on a dream come true." Linias replied.

“Thanks. It is a little difficult brushing my teeth and grooming in the morning though."

“...no it's not…" The brown werewolf said contradicting the white werewolf.

“I am not licking my fur or any other part of my body! That is gross!" The former human said following his mentor.

“...you will get used to it…" Rumble grumbled.

Linas and Sandu looked at each other and laughed at the exchange.

9:06 PM Ms. Una's Classroom

“You ready? I asked as I met Arthur outside the naga's classroom."

“Let's see Tina, Little Gia, Commander Rhinox, Milton, Melinda, Yogi and a lot of out of town-ers. Wow it is crowded." The hedgehog boy observed.

The chairs in the room were spread out in a circular shape centering around the female naga.

He and I decided to walk in a seat in the back as a heated discussion was brewing.

*Grunt* *Grunt* *Grunt*.

“I understand that you are scared." The female red hooded cobra replied to a slender individual of the mudfolk tribe. “But trading one bad situation for an even worse one is not the answer."

“And then there is ONE to deal with. No it is not a good option at all." Tina replied.

“That is why the king has ordered the space gate deactivated. If ONE were somehow able to come here." The rhino knight said.

“We would all be wiped out." Milton said finishing his sentence.

“We are all about to be wiped out anyway." A dark sand dragon replied. “Perhaps we should use the space gate to evacuate somewhere else?"

“That is a good idea but where?" Yogi asked. The rock creature next to him pondered the question as well.

“UR…."

10:12 PM Dark Home (Northside of World Seven)

“Mr. Black?" A hedgehog boy asked peeking into a certain akita's bedroom.

“What is it boy?" The assassin said looking up from a book he was reading.

“I don't want to be alone right now, can I stay with you?"

“If you wish." The dark canine said inviting the boy inside his shared bedroom.

Midnight black was lying on his right side facing the doorway. He was in his white bottom-wear and nothing else. As the hedgehog boy entered, he soon realized that the canine was not alone; a paw seemed to reach over his hip moving toward his stomach.

“My akita!" A monkey girl mumbled in her sleep behind him.

“My you two have grown close."

“Very." The dark canine replied. “How was the naga's therapy session?"

“Crowded." The hedgehog said sitting on the bed. “There was Ms. Una's regular group those from Counter Earth with their apocalyptic trauma and then there were those here on Chaundoon dealing with trauma from the dark moon."

“Sounds like it was very intense boy."

“It was Mr. Black. It was also short."

The canine looked up from his book.

“I sat with Alex, toward the end of the session we saw red streaks in the sky. Some of those present, thought the sky was raining fire again and panicked."

“There was no fire-rain this evening."

“No, just a meteor shower." Arthur said laying down on the opposite side of the akita.

“But that is not what is troubling you is it?"

“No it is just the weight of being the chosen one." The leader of the Ghost Hunters said staring up at the ceiling of the bedroom. “Everyone is looking to me to save the planet."

“Per the dark eyed child." Midnight Black interjected.

“That's right- the monarchs want daily updates on my progress. I feel guilty that I have nothing to tell them."

“You are pushing yourself too hard, you are going to make yourself sick boy. Clear your mind, clear your thoughts, forget about everyone's expectations, trying to please everyone and just be. The answer will come to you."

“What if it doesn't Mr. Black?"

“Then the crazy will claim some of us and the dark moon the rest."

That blunt statement was not encouraging.

“Investigating the paranormal is so much easier. We have a set list of procedures." Arthur replied as the akita joined him staring at the ceiling of the bedroom while pulling the sleeping monkey girl close.

“Tell me, what do you do when something unexpected happens? Getting pulled into a realm of fire and magma or a even pocket dimension?"

“Learn from it and move forward. Keep moving forward. Yeah, I see what you mean." The hedgehog boy said staring out the window. The meteor shower was continuing.

“That is pretty." The dark akita said looking a particularly meteor with a long tail as it streaked by.

“They look like millions of falling red stars." Arthur said gasping.

“Boy?"

“Mr. Black! I think I have it!"

To Be Continued….