Chapter 1: The nightmare begins

I held two cups of coffee. One for Thomas, and one for me. It was around midnight night now and it was our turn for watch duty. Living on a survivalist compound in a blizzard wasn't exactly my definition of a great time. Then again, it ain't exactly some dirt floor ghetto in the middle of nowhere. It was built around a old radio station that closed in the eighties in the middle of Alaska. It was just a matter of renovating the station and adding a barrack, underground shelter, armory, and warehouse. All of it had solid floors and smelled like cleaning chemicals and was cleaned once a week by everybody It was cozy out here, it was just really damn boring. I entered the monitor room, he was watching the screens intently. The compound was self sustaining and defensible. Ready for the end, even if it never comes. We all had a role here. I served as the primary physician here, I learned medicine and basic field surgery. Before that, I was in charge of logistics, taking inventory of all our supplies. I could handle anything from paper cuts to severed limbs. There are twenty of us here. Four different families that pooled their income to sustain this lifestyle. Each night, six of us would go out there to a system of trenches and brick pillboxes to watch each sector. Two would watch the cameras and keep in touch with everyone. Tonight, was our night. I entered the surveillance room, Thomas stared intently at twenty five monitors. His finger hovered near the intercom, ready to alert everyone in the event something happened. I placed the cup next to him and he shook in surprise. "Calm down Thomas."

"Yea, yea. Sorry."

"You've been playing that five nights game haven't you?"

"Yea, and I'm half expecting to see some robot bear pop out and try to fucking murder me."

"Christ Thomas, you laugh at me for being afraid of old Siberian tales and yet you can't handle a jump scare video game?"

"Hey, it's terrifying."

I laughed and drank some coffee. "You're tired. Get some rest Thomas. I'll take it from here."

"You sure?"

"Yea, it's fine. Don't worry."

"Well...Alright, wake me up if something happens."

He backed away on the swivel chair and leaned back in it. I sat down and took a sip of coffee. Extra cream and sugar. Hate the stuff but I'll never survive without it. I looked at all the screens and picked up the radio. "Radio check, everyone report in."

"Sam here, nothing on the north side."

"Delilah reporting, all quiet. Over."

"Sarah, nothing. Over."

"Ansley, I got nothing here. Over."

"Robert here, nothing. Over."

"Tom, nothing here either. Over."

"James, nothing. Over."

"Richard, all clear. Over."

"Copy that, maintain positions and keep and eye out. It's gonna be a long night. Over and out."

They all responded and clicked out. I continued to watch the cameras. Nothing.

"GAAAAAAAAAAHHHHHHHHHHHH!"

The hell? Thomas shook awake and I quickly picked up the radio. "Everyone report in, what the fuck was that?"

The, the chatter of a automatic weapon pierced the air. I couldn't see anything on the surveillance cams. "Sam here, I heard shots! Over!"

"Delilah here, I heard it as well! Over!"

"Sarah here, that came from the eastern side! Over."

"Robert here, Ansley is in trouble! Over."

"Tom here, I'm going over and help him! Over."

"James here. Don't move Tom, stay where you are! Over."

"Richard here. Charlie, get everyone up! Over."

I hit the radio again. "Ansley! Are you there, pick up the fucking radio! Over!"

I heard it crackle. "Help...Please, help..."

He sounded like he was in pain, he could barely speak. "Shit, hang in there Ansley, I'm on the way! Over!"

Marcus pushed past me. "Charlie! Get your kit and help Ansley! I'll be here."

"Got it!"

I ran out of the surveillance room and put on my winter coat in the process. As I ran out into the blizzard across the courtyard, I heard the intercom come to life as alarms began to blare. "Everyone wake up! Wake up! Arm yourselves and get to your designated stations! We are under attack! Code red!"

I reached the armory and opened the heavy steel door. Inside, several of the other residents had begun taking up arms, I quickly ran over to my locker and grabbed my equipment. One makarov pistol, my survival kit and a trauma bag. I quickly loaded a magazine and ran out with several others, splitting up as they went to their positions in watch towers and cement barricades. I jumped over a trench and down the hill. I had to save him. Eventually, I managed to navigate my way to his pillbox. The steel door had somehow been torn off. I peered inside, Ansley was still there, holding his guts in. Beside him laid... It looked human, but not quite right, very thing and heavily atrophied. An elongated body structure clearly showed it wasn't human as well as it's claws. I think it's called a wendigo. I then set my gear down and checked his pulse...Nothing... His body had frozen over and had locked his body in place, giving the impression he was alive. I turned the wendigo over and saw that a blade had been stabbed through the heart. His silver knife, so that's how he killed it. I ripped it out and put it in my pack. However, before I could call it in, I heard gunshots and a blast from the compound. I looked outside and saw fire coming from the courtyard as the radio tower fell. SHIT! I hit the radio. "Any one out there? Come in, does any one read?"

Nothing, but static. The relay tower is out and this blizzard is blocking the signal. I began to race up the hill. Pistol at the ready. I heard shuffling in the snow behind me. I quickly whipped around and fired blindly. Whatever it was, it shrieked and ran out into the blizzard. I didn't even see it. It was too fast. I continued to run to the compound. It was a mess. The comm room was burning, some of the barricades had been completely destroyed and several bodies laid about the courtyard. Both human and wendigo. Where the fuck did everyone go! "Hello! Holland? Thomas? Delaney? Where the fuck did you all go!"

I looked around, scattered cartridges laid on the floor leading to... the bunker. I quickly ran towards the shed where the entrance was located. I quickly opened the shed door and shut it behind me. The bunker hatch had already been uncovered. I quickly entered the code into the keypad.. only for it to deny access. The fuck?! I hit the comm button. "Hello? Is anyone down there? I'm still up here! Help!"

I waited for a moment, then Thomas's voice came out of the speaker. "Sorry Charlie. No can do. Your dad initiated the isolation protocol. No one get in, no one gets out."

"God damn it Thomas, open the fucking hatch!"

"I'm sorry but I can't. You know your father, for the greater good. There are only ten of us in here. He says he won't risk one of those things getting in here."

"FUCK! I DON'T BELIEVE THIS SHIT! I GO OUT TO RISK MY LIFE AND THIS HAPPENS, PUT THE COWARD ON THE LINE, I WANT A DAMN GOOD REASON WHY HE WON'T LET ME IN!"

"He... He won't... I'm sorry... There's nothing I can do. He locked himself in his office. He won't talk to anyone."

"FINE, FUCK IT! FUCK HIM TOO! I'M TAKING OUR CAR AND GETTING THE FUCK OUT OF HERE!"

"Alright, stay safe Charlie."

"Bye Thomas. If I survive and this all blows over. Tell my dad, I think he's a selfish prick."

I quickly stood up and ran to the back out into the courtyard. The garage wasn't too far away. If I could get to it, I can take the pick up and get out. I may be too young to drive but that doesn't matter. This is a matter of survival now. I entered the dusty room. There were three cars. A station wagon, a truck, and a jeep. The truck was mine and my father's. We drove here every summer from anchorage. He had it since the eighties and had reinforced it with iron plating when he joined the group. I opened the door and and quickly shut it. I opened the glove box and pulled the keys. Easy easy, just a stick shift, do what dad taught you. It's not that hard. I quickly put the keys in the ignition,shifted gears and floored it, smashing through the wooden garage door and into the blizzard. The head lights on the damn thing could barely pierce the darkness and snow. I kept an eye out for any more wendigoes, however, they seemed to have left the area entirely. Perhaps they believed they had killed everyone. Still, that doesn't explain why they aren't feasting on the bodies. I drove as fast as I could. Past the wrecked comm tower and the front gate. Over the bridge and out into the woods. I hit the wipers, hoping the snow wouldn't pile up.

I continued to drive through the darkness. However, a pair of headlights appeared in front of me. I quickly slammed the breaks and the other vehicle did too. What the hell? How is that out here? There's nothing for miles but open wilderness out here. Why is there a car here?

I quickly picked up my pistol and opened the door, positioning myself so I could use it as a shield. They did as well. I could tell it was a military vehicle. An MRAP. I lowered my gun. Maybe they knew these things were out here and they came to help. "Hey! Who are you?"

"Put your weapon down kid!"

"WHO ARE YOU?"

"We are here to save you, but you need to trust us."

Before I could respond, the something landed nearby. It looks like a... OH SHIT! I turned away just in time to avoid the disorienting effects of the flash-bang. I quickly turn-

A rifle butt hit me in the face. I fell backwards and someone pinned me down. When everything stopped moving, I could see a soldier in front of me, shining a light into my face, I couldn't see. "What do we do sir?"

"We can't have any witnesses, and we forgot amnestics. Use the stone on her."

"Sir are you-"

"Yes."

"Alright, everyone get back. Private, get the object."

"Yes sir."

They shuffled about and the soldier holding me let go but aimed his rifle at me. Ensuring I couldn't move without retaliation. I couldn't do anything. Then, the other soldier came back with some strange object. "Sorry kid."

And he threw it.

Hot...

Hot...

It's HOT!

I opened my eyes. It's bright. Too bright... I'm on the floor looking at the sun. This isn't right. I feel dirt, not snow, where am I. I quickly sat up and tore off my winter clothes. I wasn't in a arctic forest anymore. It was a deciduous forest I think? How the hell did I get here? What trees are these, why are the conical? Where the hell am I, I've never seen anything like this in Alaska. I... I feel... Wrong. Something isn't right! I looked down... my legs, why aren't they jointed right! And why are my hands... Furry? I don't feel right. I touched my head, ears, they're rounded and on the top of my head and... I need a mirror. I stood up carefully, trying not to fall flat on my face and... OH MY GOD! What ever looked at me in the mirror... It wasn't human. It's not me! It's a a god damn snow leopard! White with little spots all over. What the fuck did those soldiers do to me! I looked around, trying to figure out where I was... Whatever... Too late. Get a bearing, figure out where I am and where I have to go. That's all that matters now. These trees should be easy enough to climb.

I unslung my kit and fished out my binoculars, these trees should be easy enough to climb. Besides, there are holes in these trees at their base. I climbed in and crept to the top, the leaves crackling under my paws as I went. When I got to the top, I could instantly spot a tower in the distance. I raised my binoculars and looked at it. Definitely man made, extremely unlikely to be uninhabited, I can still see windows that look sparkling clean. If I could get to it, maybe I can figure out more about where I am.

I slid back down and went back to the truck. It had somehow landed in some ditch, the front wheels were stuck and the mud was slick. No way in hell I'll be able to get it out. I picked up my pack as well as the makarov, quickly checking the magazine to see I still had plenty of ammo left. Then, I holstered it and began to rifle through the glove box for anything useful. Old recites, owners manual, registration, yata yata yata, oh hey, a granola bar. Hell yes. I quickly took the thing and ate it. Granola and honey, nature valley. I lifted the cushion up on the seat where I knew we had left a gun inside. Inside was a spas 12 and three boxes of shells. Dad's emergency kit. I would take it with me but it's way to big, I won't be able to hide it on me. I stashed my winter clothes inside, shut the seat, took the keys from the ignition and shut the door, making sure to lock it. If I can, I should come back for this thing once I get some proper equipment to drag it out of the ditch, it is a good car after all. All I was wearing now was a purple sweater, some brown jeans and a blue t shirt. I climbed over a rock and headed in the direction of the tower. This should be fun.

I had found a dirt road out here and I was following it, it was man made for sure because there was fencing here that clearly had nails in it. There were tracks here too. Fresh ones, from a cart and a four legged animal. Likely a horse. Maybe there are the equivalent of Amish people out here roaming about. That or this is close to a farming community and the person doesn't own a car. I continued my walk through the country side. Very quiet out here. It is definitely close to October here from the looks of the environment. Orange leaves, cold weather, mud... Nothing out of the ordinary really. But though it was the middle of July in Alaska and there was a freak snowstorm there so the change in climate is quite strange. I took another look at my hands. The weird thing was that my hands were still hands and my body structure was relatively the same. My feet had become legs, I had a tail, my head was a snow leopard's and my body was covered in fur. Apart from that, everything was the same. I swayed my tail over and grabbed it. Definitely real. I wonder what happened though. I'm clearly not on earth but that would be impossible. Then again, I didn't think wendigos existed so you know... Getting sent to another world might not be too crazy either. Why was I a snow leopard though? I like wolves more... I guess it might be because my parents are from Siberia but... I'm not even sure myself. *Thawk!*

I quickly ducked down and jumped to the side of the road. I heard something from ahead on the road behind a row of trees that the road twisted around. I can also hear yelling, can't really hear who it is though. I quietly crept through the bushes, taking care not to rustle the leaves or step on loose twigs. "-I already gave you what you want, what else could you possible need?"

"MORE DIBSHIT!"

I approached the road and saw that there were two individuals. One looked like a white bear and the other looked like a green squirrel. Okay, this is really weird, clearly, there might not be any humans here. But hey, at least I'll blend in and the speak the same language so it might not be that big of a jump from being human to this. The squirrel was leaning against a toppled cart with the animal still attached, he was trying to get away from the bear who held very large knife. Around them, it looked like there were barrels of produce as well as bottles of what I could only assume is alcohol.

"I gave you what I had, what mo-"

"You know what the fuck I'm talking about Kirk, don't bullshit me! Give me the good stuff!"

I quietly picked up a rock and snuck up behind the bear. The other guy couldn't see me behind the him which meant he wouldn't give me away. "And if you thin-"

I hit him in the back of the head, causing him to shut up and fall over unconscious. "Oh spirits!"

The squirrel sat back against the cart, clearly petrified by the ordeal. He clearly had a few cuts on him as well as a broken leg which was likely hit with a club of some sort and cut and cut with that knife the bear was holding. "Don't worry pal, I'll patch you up."

I set my bag down and opened the trauma kit. I put on a pair of gloves before I took out a pair of scissors from the kit and cut his pant leg open. Quiet messy. I took a tourniquet out of my pouch and tied it a hands length away from the lacerations on his thigh to slow blood loss. I then took out some water and poured it on the wound, washing away some of the blood. He hissed in pain. "Listen kid, I appreciate this and all, but you really shouldn't have done that."

I used some gauze to clean up the water and blood. A couple lacerations, nothing that couldn't be fixed. He might have a limp for a while though, at least the bone appears to shattered in one spot so it's not totally screwed. "Why?"

"Because he'll just come for me and my family."

I poured some alcohol on a rag and applied it to the wound, causing him to flinch. "And let me guess, he has dirt on you and it would be life destroying if it did get out so you can't call the police."

"I...Yes."

Well, it's clean for now. I pulled out a needle and some thread, time to suture the wounds. "You... Mind if I call you Kirk?"

"No, go ahead."

"You want morphine Kirk?"

"Nah, I'm fine."

"This will hurt a bit, and you still have to walk."

"Don't worry, I've done this before."

"Alright. You can call me Charlie."

I stuck the needle in, making sure it poked through the other side before looping it around to continue. Surprisingly, he managed to hold still, he was gritting his teeth the entire time though, tensing up as I pulled the needle through his leg. "Well Kirk, to answer your previous question... I did what I had to do to save you and that guy won't be coming for you."

"Are you sure?"

"I hit him in the head and knocked him out. And the fact that he is bleeding is proof of that. If he does come out of this, he won't exactly function like he did before. He will have brain damage so it's very unlikely he will be able to come for you."

I finished sewing up his leg and secured the twine. Now, bandages and something to splint it. I took a two small planks from the destroyed cart as well as a lot of bandages. I wrapped the leg up before I splinted the leg with rope I found laying on the ground. Looks like it would hold. I carefully stood him up, making sure he could stand against the cart for support. "Alight, you'll be fine for now but you should really get to a hospital. You might be out of commission for a while but it beats dead."

"Thanks kid."

The cart was still overturned and trashed. The axle was damaged and the main body was torn apart. How the hell did that happen anyways? The animal on the other hand resembled a horse but it was clearly green and... well, obviously not a horse. It seemed alright other then a few scratches it had and it had a saddle. Well now. "Hey, can you give me a ride?"

He leaned against the cart. "What?"

"You know, unhitch this boy and get riding with me."

"I can't leave this stuff behind."

"Just come back later to salvage it. Besides, I think your life is more valuable then whatever is left out here. If you don't get that wound looked at properly, it could get infected. Then you'll have to amputate it."

"At least help me hide this stuff."

I picked up one of the intact boxes and carried them to the side of the road."Alright fine, but you have to get me a ride to that city."

"I was headed to the small town just outside the city. I'll have to drop you off there while I talk with a friend about this. You're gonna have to walk the rest of the way."

"Alright. I'll take all the help I can get."

I went back to collect more of the produce on the ground. Then, he asked a question. "Why are you headed to the Anduruna anyways?"

So that's what the city is called. Well, I need to fabricate a story because telling this guy I'm human might make me look crazy. "An opportunity. The orphanage back home was too full and understaffed so I decided to run to Andaruna to see if I could have a second chance."

"I'm sorry to hear that."

"Don't feel bad... What's happened happened. Nothing I can do now. All I can do is keep going."

I bend down and... What the hell? Why is the guy covered in vines. "Kirk... What happened to him?"

"Oh yea, it's nothing. There are plants out here that do that. They don't really prey on dreamkeepers, it more... They think he's a viable source of neutrients and they want to suck it out of him."

"Should we be concerned?"

"Nah. So long as none of us fall asleep out here, we should be fine."

"Alright. Now I really want to get out of here."

"They hurry. The sun's going down."

"Come on, I've got ya."

"Ugh, I'm trying."

I carefully assisted Kirk off the animal, making sure his bad leg wouldn't the ground too hard. We had arrived in the middle of the afternoon at a small farming community outside the city. There were fields of crops and farm animals roaming about their pens. A wall separated the farmland from the actual city. I'm not sure what to think about this. Is this like... Some sort of feudal modern mash-up society in which all the poor farmers live outside the city and the rich people live inside the city? Clearly, that tower has been made with metal and glass, something a medieval society definitely couldn't put together due to the amount they would have needed to construct the tower. The sheer size alone is a testament to that. Maybe it's like that book hunger games in which all the rich people live in the city and all the poor workers and farmers live outside the city. That might explain some things but that doesn't seem like the case. These people do look like they live in relative comfort and well fed from the looks of it.

I began to walk Kirk to the door of a small cottage. One story, maybe three rooms inside. There was a vegetable patch in the front and some sort of enclosure outback that I only caught a glimpse of when we were coming down the road. We stepped on the porch and he knocked on the door. "Alright kid, just let me do the talking, and everything will go smoothly."

"Okay."

I could hear footsteps from inside before someone answered the door. He... Looked kind of like a cheetah that was mixed with a lynx or a caracal. That would certainly explain why he's got the pointy ears. His hair was a mix of purple and read and he had blue spots along his body. "Woah! Kirk! What the hell happened to you?"

"Got attacked by him again. Fortunately, this kid saved me."

"Well, get inside and rest. I'll get a doctor for you as soon as possible."

"Thanks Robert."

Robert helped me walk Kirk inside. This place was nice. It was warm, well furnished and had lights on. I took him to a couch. Robert then called for someone else. "Vi! Get over here, Kirk is hurt!"

"What!"

A female voice sounded from behind a door. After we set him down on the couch, a pink and black rabbit with a very long tail, who I assumed was Vi, came out of what I the door to, what I guess was, the basement. "What happened?"

"He was attacked by Brutice again."

"God damn it! That's the third time this month, I swear, if we ever find him, I'm gonna rip his arms off and – Who is this?"

I extended my hand. "My name's Chalrie, and don't worry about the bear, I hit him in the head with a rock. He's not walking away from that."

She shook my hand. "Well, my name's Vi. Thanks for saving Kirk here. Bastard couldn't make a fist even if he tried."

Kirk protested. "That's not true!"

"You know it is Kirk. You had to get your ass bailed out by a kid, that does say something about you."

"He used a power and the only reason why she managed to beat him was because she got the jump on him."

What the hell is a power? "You know your power too Kirk."

"Yea, but what can growning plants from the ground do against a guy who can literally knock my off my feet with telekinesis."

Okay, so it's like some... super power or something? Wait a second. That's why that guy was covered in vines. He must have told me to hide the stuff so he could do it without me noticing. Clever."A lot if you can grow a pair as well."

"I can't! Besides, I've got him tied down there, what more do you want?"

Alright, this may be escalating too far. Fortunately, Robert decided to cut the fight off before it even started. "Alright, calm down you too. What's happened has happened. The most we can do is recover what was left behind out there."

Vi sighed. "I'll have a talk with Scinter but he might not like what he has to hear."

"Okay, you do that, I'll talk to the kid."

Vi pulled out a phone and went into another room for privacy. Robert turned to me. "Alright kid, I need to ask you a few questions, is that okay?"

"Shoot."

"Did you see anything strange when you were walking down that road?"

"Like what?"

"Any lights, strange objects, anything?"

Shit, he might be referring to me. "No, why?"

"Well, Vi and I saw something out there. We just wanted to know if you saw anything since you were traveling along that road."

"Well, I can't say I saw anything out of the ordinary since this is my first time heading to Anduruna."

"Oh, where did you come from?"

"Anchorage."

"Where's that?"

"It's a very remote mining town in the mountains. We don't really trade with the outside except for food."

"Well, can you point it out on a map?"

"Don't bother. We sort of got wiped out when a mine shaft collapsed and everyone in it died. Everyone is moving out of there because there's no way we will be able to sustain ourselves with our main source of economic income out."

"Where are your parents?"

"Dead. Both of them are dead, they were in the mines when it collapsed. I got put in an orphanage but I had to leave because... You know."

"I understand. Do you have anywhere to go in Anduruna, you staying with relatives?"

"No, I was hoping to get into another orphanage in the city, go to school and become a nurse or surgeon."

"You good at fixing people up?"

"Yea... Mostly, I'm more like a field medic then a surgeon. I worked in the nurses station back home and helped any miners that were hurt."

"Well, there are plenty of opportunities in Anduruna for a doctor. I think you'll be a fine addition to Anduruna's medical care programs."

"Is there a way for me to get into the city?"

"Sure, but you'll have to go through processing and then they have to put you in an orphanage."

"Okay. That's might not be so bad."

"That's the spirit."

"Hey, who is Scinter?"

"A friend."

"Anything else?"

"No.. You don't really have to worry about him."

"Okay, if you say so."

Then, Vi walked back out of the room. "Alright, Scinter told us to go recover the goods. Get something out of it. Meanwhile, Charlie here will have to get to the city on foot."

"Great. Lets go."

I cut in. "Hey wait a second, what should I do when I get to the gate?"

"Don't worry about it. They know you are coming."

"How?"

"Scinter will tell them to expect you. They well let you in and take you to Grunn's orphanage."

"Where's that?"

"They well take you there. Kirk, I've called for a doctor, one is on the way. Come on Robert, the sooner we recover that produce, the sooner we can go back home."

"Sounds fine by me."

I walked back outside. "Thanks for the help."

"No problem. Stay safe kid."

"You too."

I approached the gate to the city, the walls were massive and imposing. Three guards stood out front, all of them wore strange, ornate armor with purple and golden markings on them. Two stood next to the gate and one stood a few meters ahead of them alone in the middle of the road. Above the gate door hung a banner with a red star and a capital a in the center. I really hope these people aren't communists or that would really suck. Just play it calm, I've done nothing wrong. Nothing wrong at all.

I approached the closest guard. "Hello? I was told you could help me get into the city?"

He looked at me. I couldn't even begin to describe what he is. It looked like a mammal but it had a tail that was more similar to a lizard's. "I.D please."

I dug through my pack and gave him my passport. "Here, this is all I have."

He took it and looked at it skeptically before handing it back to me. "Sorry kid, I can't let you in with this."

"But I was told you coul-"

"But maybe, you might find an I.D hidden in a ditch behind that tree in the distance."

He directed my attention to a tree in the distance. "I really hope this isn't going where I think it is going."

"Wha- Shit. Sorry, that came out wrong."

He looked around. "Look Scinter told me to expect you. I don't know why he wants you in the city or what purpose you could possible serve, but it's not my position to argue. There's a smuggler's tunnel by that tree over there, you can use it to get into the city. Someone will be on the other side waiting for you."

"Alright. That's better then what I thought was going to happen. Thank you."

"No problem."

I turned around and headed back to that tree, trying my best to not look suspicious. Fortunately, not many people were around and those that were here were busy doing their own things. I approached the tree and low and behold, there was indeed a tunnel. No lights though. I took out my flash light and shook it, making sure it would come on before I crept in. It was very musty and stuffy down here. It was thick more then anything, very stale air. The flashlight made it easy to navigate though and the tunnel was large enough to the point where a person could walk. I wouldn't really trust a person who tells me to get into a hole but hey, it beats being homeless. Besides, I've got a gun, what's the worst that could happen? The distance was quite long. Eventually, I could smell sewage. So this tunnel definitely leads into the city. I could see light coming down above from a small hole in the a brick wall so I shut off my light and put it back in my pack. I climbed out and low and behold, it was a concrete room with a water way with god knows what in it. A precarious looking plank ran across the sewage line. I could see a hatch on the other side above some rubble that lead up to an opening in the ceiling. I quickly ran across the plank trying to ignore the smell before I reached the pile and began to climb. I got the to top and- "Oh, hello! You must be Charlie."

I quickly turned around and saw someone else in the room I had climbed into from the floor. A female, not sure what species though, clearly a canine, she was white and pink and she had a little heart on hear cheek. She also had slight Hispanic accent. "Hi... Are you going to take me to the orphanage?"

"Yep. Scinter told me to come find you. Had to leave my post at the bar so I could take you there."

"What should I call you?"

"You can call me Indi."

"Thanks for going out of your way to help me Indi."

"No problem. Anything for a helpless orphan."

Okay, getting creepy. "I'm... I'm not going to have to serve as a drug mule or something like that for the rest of my life because of this will I?"

She laughed. "Of course not! What makes you think that?"

"Because there is some really shady stuff going on and the fact that all you people are acting so weird makes me think I'm interacting with a criminal syndicate without even realizing it."

She shook her head. "No, no. The only criminals here are the CCA. They're the ones who... Never mind, you'll find out when you're older."

"I think I can handle it."

"It's not about if you can handle it, it's a matter of if you'll even believe it. Now come, it will take us a while to get there."

The orphanage was on the coast, a grimy, rundown boat. Damn it. Indi had left me here once she had taken me to this part of the city. She told me that something had come up and that she was needed elsewhere so she left me when little boat transport arrived at the Margate district and had given me a letter that I would have to give to Grunn when I arrived. It was mostly quiet out here and the scenery was nice. Except for the orphanage that was in the way. Oh well, at least it's subtle. This was rather strange though. This was far too easy. I shouldn't have gotten into the city so easily or received help just like that... Maybe they knew I had arrived in the world somehow and they want to keep tabs on me. Maybe they knew I was lying when I gave them my cover story and this is just the easy way of luring me into a false sense of security... I don't know but I don't really have many options here, it's either this or live as a forest dweller for the rest of my life. I headed over, crossing sand dues and walking over plants that grew sprouted out of the ground, strange crustaceans scurried across the sand. I noticed someone on the beach, clearly asleep. A big fellow, a shark, male, appears to be morbidly obese but that could just be the anatomy. That must be Grunn. Empty liquor bottles lay scattered around him as well as pornography. Great, so I got a shitty caretaker. My god damn luck. I shook him a little, he grumbled a bit but he didn't respond. Probably best if I didn't wake him.

I decided to leave him and I went to the boat instead. I could hear people inside. I quietly went up. I could smell something cooking, can't really describe the smell, it was almost like the taste of boiled spinach. I took the stairs to the deck of the orphanage and saw smoke coming out of a room. I assume this is the mess hall. I approached the door and put my hand on it. There were definitely other people inside, I could hear them talking inside. I opened the door.

Sorry, I've been busy for a while. I've also been trying to straighten out my story lines so I don't end up contradicting myself later. I got a new chapter for my star fox fanfic up. I'm working on my zootopia one. Take care everyone.