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Wild Creature
🕑 Added 2021-09-16 21:26:53 +0000 UTCI began to prepare my survival kit, making sure to pack a compass and my dart gun. “Oh, Dan, what have you gotten yourself into this time?” I mumbled as I double checked that I had everything.
Just a few hours ago I’d been in the private estate of the Austin family. They’d heard of me thanks to my efforts in conservation and wildlife rescue, and called me to take on an urgent job that they’d pay any price for.
“We appreciate your time, Mr. Baker. We know this is a last minute request, but we are really desperate.”
“And I appreciate your trust… however, before accepting I would like to know what’s going on.”
“We have a certain wild and rather unique animal that is prowling the neighboring forests. We want you to capture it."
“Shouldn’t be an issue. Can you tell me more about the animal though?” I asked. I’d captured several different animals in my time working in animal rescue. Whatever they were asking me to hunt shouldn’t be an issue.
"We are happy to hear that, since… we want you to capture our daughter."
The Austin’s explained everything to me. Their daughter had mutated recently and quite a lot apparently. She had acquired certain animal characteristics that apparently had changed her perception of reality. It wasn’t uncommon for animal girls to prefer a more rural setting, just because that’s where their instincts led them, but Vivian Austin’s case was a bit more severe. It sounded like she was thoroughly determined to embrace the role of wild beast.
That’s how I wound up here, parking my truck on the edge of the forest and setting out to hunt a mutant.
I moved quickly through the forest looking for clues. Despite the steepness of the terrain and the dense trees, I was able to find some that seemed to put me on Vivian’s trail.
It didn’t take long before I found a dead bird lying in the middle of the trail. Judging by the size of the bite and the fact that there was ample meat leftover it was definitely killed by a fledgling hunter. Someone not quite used to hunting, or eating a fresh kill, yet.
I kept going, trying to move through the trees silently. The silence of the forest was broken by a sudden crack above me. I looked up just in time to see Vivian falling through the branches. On reflex I jumped back, barely avoiding Vivian’s claws as she landed where I had been only a second earlier.
My target was right in front of me. At a glance she was just a small slender girl. But it didn’t take much to notice the feline and reptilian features she’d grown. Her feet looked more like cat paws and her four arms were covered in blond fur that ended in razor sharp claws. Her six breasts jiggled ever so slightly as her tail thrashed behind her. She glared at me through sharp yellow eyes, though the rest of her face as still human.
"Oh my, you're fast," Vivian said in an excited tone. "I'll gut you and leave your corpse as a warning for the other hunters."
"Vivian, I'm not here to hurt you," I said. My dart gun was loaded with tranquilizers. I had only to aim and shoot if it came to that. "Your parents hired me to bring you safely home."
"Home? I am home! I am a wild animal, I have embraced the forest and the forest has embraced me,” she said as she circled around me, a hunter stalking its prey.
“You know you don’t belong in the forest! In simple terms you are an invasive species, and your presence here only harms the balance of this ecosystem."
"W-Wait what?! Really?" The thought had clearly never occurred to her. She was distracted and now was my chance. I aimed my gun and fired. Vivian lept up into a nearby tree, narrowly dodging my tranq dart “You almost fooled me, hunter. It won’t happen again,” she growled.
It was getting dark, and it was not wise to continue walking through the forest at night. I built a makeshift shelter and set noise traps around me. I didn't think Vivian would attack me at night, but cougars and bears have been spotted on occasion around here. With my gun in my hand, I went to sleep.
The next day, I quickly packed up my camp and set out to continue my hunt. It was very complex trying to hunt down such a smart and agile target. If I couldn't reason with her this would get very complicated.
I walked towards a small open area in the woods following Vivian's trail. As I was bent over examining some tracks, I heard a bush rustle beside me. I raised my gun expecting to see a wild animal appear but from behind the trees Vivian appeared waving a leaf.
I lowered my weapon. "What does that leaf mean?" I asked.
“I want a truce,” she said. There was blood dripping down her leg. "I need help, one of your bear traps hurt me."
“That’s not mine. Those traps are cruel. I try to capture animals without hurting them,” I said. “Come here, I’ll take a look at your leg and see what I can do.”
Vivian limped over and sat on a large log. I opened my first aid kit and began cleaning the wound as best I could. She couldn’t help growling from the pain when I washed it with disinfectant. She may have claws and a tail, but in that she reminded me that beneath the fur she was still human after all.
When I finished dressing the wound, Vivian stood up. Her wounded leg would take a while to heal. She’d have the limp for a few days at least. I expected her to run away, but she just silently looked at me for a few minutes.
"Aren't you going to shoot me?" she asked.
“I brought my gun in case a wild animal finds me. Yesterday I shot you with a tranquilizer just because it looked like you were about to pounce me," I said. "My job was to track you down and convince you to go home."
"So, you're not a hunter?"
"No. I am a wildlife specialist. I even have my own ranch for animal rescue and recovery,” I told her. "Now… in your case, you must go home."
“I don't want to go back… I’m not completely human like my mother wants me to be. I am different. But…” she bit her lip.
"But what?"
“BUT I HATE THE FOREST! It is very cold and it was so hard to find water! I was about to drink my pee, MY PEE. I'm starving too! I caught a bird and it was so gross, I took a bite and almost threw up. Then I caught a rabbit and I was very sad to eat it. Besides, there’s a raccoon that won’t stop following me. I think he likes mem,” Vivian covered her head with her upper arms.
"Your mutation was very recent. it’s possible you’re emitting a lot of pheromones," I said.
“And not only that, but I really miss eating a hamburger and having a clean bathroom. And the internet, I haven’t checked Twitter in days! I don't know what is happening in the world.”
"If you want my humble opinion, you’re a lousy wild animal," I said as I placed my hand on her shoulder. "You are too used to the creature comforts of human life.”
Vivian's eyes widened. "If that is true, I am not a wild animal. I am a pet!”
"Wait, you want to behave like an animal... but at home?" I said puzzled.
As quickly as her eyes lit up, they fell again. "...you're right, my mother would never let me.”
"Your mother will always see you as her daughter, not as a pet."
"You're right," Vivian said. Suddenly her ears perked up. “Wait. Adopt me!”
"What?!"
"Please?! You know about animals and stuff, and you have a ranch. It sounds perfect!”
"I don't think your parents would like the idea of you becoming the pet of an older man.”
"Come on, I don't want to behave like an ordinary human girl, and if I stay in this forest I'll end up starving to death… or being the mother of a litter of raccoons,” she said and shuddered at the idea.
“Ok, look, I'll talk to your parents about letting you live at my ranch. It is safer than staying in the forest, but under no circumstance should you mention that you’d be my pet. Believe me, it wouldn’t be taken the way you’re meaning.”
"Won’t say a word,” Vivian said.
Vivian followed me back to my truck. Before getting in, I tossed my jacket to Vivian. “Cover yourself with that. I don't think your mother would be happy to see her daughter come home naked."
Vivian reluctantly put it on. She had to keep one pair of arms curled around her torso though since human jackets only have two arm holes. She was so small my jacket looked almost like a dress on her.
I opened the back door and pulled out a large cage that we used to rescue large animals. Vivian looked at it in horror.
"W-what is that?" she asked and took a step back.
"A cage. It’s how I transport any animal I’m taking back to the ranch."
Vivian stared at it in horror. No way was she getting in that thing. “TRUCE,” she yelled.
"Truce? What do you mean by that?”
"I mean, I’m not getting in that thing. I can ride in the cab like anyone else.” Her voice was shaky though she was trying to sound tough.
I put the cage back in the bed of the truck. "Like I said, you are a lousy wild animal."
Vivian slid into the cab and immediately turned on the air conditioning and began fiddling with the radio. I couldn’t help noticing how cute she was even though she was a spoiled little girl.
"Hey, do you think that before we go to my parents' house we could some hamburgers and fries?" Vivian asked and gave me puppy dog eyes.
I just sighed and nodded. My life had definitely gotten more complicated.
