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Humanity; Lost

Chapter Four

© Cederwyn Whitefurr

21st January, 2024

All Rights Reserved.

Late one morning, bathed in the soft ambiance of the sunlight streaming through the cottage window, Becky found herself on the couch. Alex lay with his head and upper body across her lap. His muscular tail curled in an awkward yet endearing manner between his furred thighs and hung over the edge of the couch. As their eyes met, Becky could sense his innate discomfort in this vulnerable position, but his trust in her created a silent pact between them.

Her fingers trailed along the edge of one ear, making it flick and Alex quiver.

"Sorry, must be ticklish - " Becky murmured, moving down to his neck and shoulder.

With a sibilant grunt, Alex wriggled slightly, the discomfort in his tail momentarily overridden by his trust in Becky's inquisitive and gentle touch.

As her fingers continued their exploration down his arm, she delicately picked up a paw, examining the leathery pads and short, sharp black claws at its tips.

"I'm...curious Alex," she confessed. "You're the first kangaroo I've seen and touched. The actual feel of your fur and just...you...it's beyond my imagination. I thought it might be rough and shaggy, like a cow or something, you know?"

Alex, listening to her voice, blinked and gave a gentle nod of understanding.

Smiling, Becky tracked a fingertip along his paw, then applied a bit more force, prompting a twitch, a cough, and a shiver from Alex.

"Not very sensitive, I take it?" Becky asked, laying her hand on his furred chest.

Alex growled softly, then closed his eyes in frustration, before taking her hand in his paws, attempting to communicate. He lightly tapped her palm, then his own.

"...oh... uma - " Come his weak voice.

"Not human? No - " Becky sighed. "I thought, maybe, kangaroos would have a different level of sensitivity, considering, you sometimes walk on all fours, so I'm not surprised your palms are a lot more desensitized. I'm...curious - how flexible are they?"

Alex frowned, twisting his paw back and forth, then forwards and back - showing the range of movement, but when it come to actual fine manipulation, he was quite limited with his fingers. He was able to splay them out, but only with extreme effort, could he move one or two individually.

Becky watched with interest before she slid her fingers through his fur - then stopped and a deep blush crept up her cheeks and she looked away. Alex blinked up at her, before tenderly touching her cheeks with his paws, giving her a gentle caress.

"You...you_are_... a...a male...right? I mean, I can_see...well..._those..."

Alex took a moment, trying to understand, before he awkwardly tried to sit up, looking down his belly as the blushing Becky gestured to his furred scrotum, which currently was tucked in close against his lower abdomen.

"...is..." Alex struggled, before growling and slapping a paw down on the couch. "...ale..."

Becky, sensing his frustration and anger, tenderly stroked his belly in what she hoped was a comforting touch.

Alex quivered, fighting his marsupial instincts, with his more rational, human mind, his muzzle wrinkling as he began to tremble, his fingers curling and grasping, before he grunted and shuddered.

"Alex...you - okay?" Becky asked.

He looked up at her, then gave a nod. With a deep shiver, he relaxed his tense muscles and directed her attention back down his belly.

As Becky watched, confused, then in growing fascination, as the mound just below his furred scrotum slowly relaxed as he mentally exerted himself - and let himself present for her.

"Oh..." Becky gasped, her gentle stroking of his belly slowing, then stopping as she looked down.

With a nervous cough, Alex twitched, drawing her attention back.

Becky laughed nervously, then swallowed and resumed gently petting him, a brief moment of awkwardness passing as quickly as it'd come.

With a smile, Becky lifted Alex's head to gaze into his eyes, before she leaned her head down awkwardly, and kissed his furred lips, warmth in her eyes as his went wide.

"Thank you... Alex...for what you've done, your trust in me is remarkable..."

*

Late one night, Becky made her apologies to Elara, Becky yawned and wearily made her way to the bedroom, Alex looked up from where he lay on the couch, turning his gaze towards Elara, who smiled and nodded.

"She needs you more than I do, go to her -"

With a grunt and difficulty, Alex crawled off the couch, giving his mother a gentle nuzzle as he crawled off towards the spare room, placing his claws against the door and carefully easing it open.

Once inside, he saw Becky who gasped then blushed, naked as the day she was born, and his startlement showed in his open muzzle, wide eyes, and slicked-back ears.

"Alex- " Becky nervously laughed, covering herself with her hands, her cheeks turning scarlet, before she laughed and dropped her hands. "It's...not like you haven't seen me undressed before..."

Alex dropped his head, quivering and uttering that submission cough, his eyes downcast. The awkwardness between them hung in the air for a moment, before Becky couldn't hold back her laughter, breaking the tension.

"Alex, you're going to have to get used to me - I'm not_leaving you, not now, not ever. You're being silly! Privacy between us isn't a _thing and you know it, I'm sorry, I didn't mean to startle you, your sudden appearance just - caught me unwary. I guess we _both_have some adjustments to make in our ongoing friendship - don't we, big guy?"

Alex coughed again, as the moment hung in the air, as Becky crouched down in front of Alex, cupping his chin gently. She lifted his head, meeting his eyes with a reassuring smile. In that intimate moment, she leaned in, placing a tender and understanding kiss on his lips. It was a gesture of their shared love, an unspoken promise that despite everything, they still had each other.

Alex, still adjusting to his new form, felt the warmth of her lips and Becky's sincerity behind it. It was a reassurance, an acknowledgment that their bond - despite his strange form - remained between them. His eyes widened in surprise before he trembled and looked beseechingly up at her, his eyes filled with his love for her, as he lightly licked her nose.

"No," Becky smiled and shook her head, his soft tongue tickling. "I...can we, I mean - "

Alex's eyes grew pensive, as he tilted his head, not understanding what she wanted.

"Like..." Becky tightened her hold, once more pressing her lips against his - and this time, he truly understood...

His eyes closed, his lips parted slightly, as he tenderly embraced her around the back of the head with his paws. Becky's tongue lightly touched his, feeling the suppleness and strangeness, but she smiled and passionately embraced him, her fingers interlacing behind his head as she pulled him close against her.

Becky, felt a warmth blooming within her as their lips parted, gently pulled back, her hands cupping Alex's furry cheeks. "I never..."

He stared at her, one ear slightly flattened, his lips open and just frozen like a deer in headlights, trying to mentally resolve this unexpected - but not unwanted - display of trust and affection.

Becky threw back the coverlets, then the sheets, as she lay herself down, then watched as Alex dropped to his paws and circled, clawing at the mat beside the bed, before he lay down with a thump and a grunt, resting his head on a forearm.

"No," Becky's gentle voice made his ears twitch. "No, you're not going to sleep on the floor like a common animal, come on - up..."

Alex sat up, his head turning to look at her.

"Up!" Becky made beckoning gestures at him with her hands. "Up, on the bed - please?"

Struggling back to his feet, Alex frowned, looking between her, then at the bed, then back at her.

"UP!" Becky slapped the bed, the smile on her face contrary to the sharpness of her request.

With difficulty, Alex dragged himself up onto the bed, then stood wobbling on his hind legs, before he lay down on the edge, facing away from Becky. She sighed, then wriggled across, sliding an arm underneath his back and resting her hands on his chest, gently spooning him.

His body warmth flowed into her, as she smiled and tenderly stroked his chest and stomach, giving light, gentle kisses at the base of his ears as she cradled him in her embrace.

Alex's body was tense, feeling her naked body against his back, instinct fighting his human thoughts, before Becky murmured softly into his ear, as if sensing - or reading - his troubled thoughts.

"I'm just cuddling you, so stop...please - go to sleep..."

Alex quivered, as the quietness of the sounding farm worked its magic, soon broken by Alex's slow, gentle breathing, Becky's breath making his left ear flick. For the first time since his transformation had taken him, Alex truly slept - warm, comfortable, and happy, in his lover's embrace.

*

In the living room, Elara, sensing the tranquillity that had settled like a comforting blanket, over her cottage, listened to the muted voices from the bedroom. A smile spread across her face, as she put down her dog-eared novel she'd been reading and stood up. Making her way to her own bedroom, Elara startled, hearing a loud, high-pitched human squeal, followed by Becky's hysterical giggles.

Elara paused at the entrance of her bedroom, one hand on the door, before Becky's giggles rang out and the words 'Cold paws!' reached Elara's ears, leaving her wondering about the nature of the exchange between Becky and Alex.

As the laughter and squeals continued, hinting at a playful and gentle interaction, but the details remained elusive - Elara's own mind bringing back memories and a smile touched her lips as she nodded and made her way to the bedroom - her reminiscing of her past leading her into beautiful - and alluring - dreams...

*

Alex snorted and snapped awake, the remnants of dreams still lingering in his mind. Shuddering, he carefully extracted himself from Becky's embrace, rolling over and then dropping off the bed with a quiet thud as his tail struck the floor. Glancing towards the window, he gripped the curtains and pulled them aside, revealing the greyish-white fog that shrouded the valley. A myriad of emotions and sensations rippled through his mind and body, as he twisted about and scratched at an itch at the base of his tail. His head lifted and he gazed at Becky, her beauty in slumber filling him with love for her. He left the room, his marsupial instincts guiding him.

Outside, the cool air of the dawn greeted him, the fog swiftly surrounding him in a wet, greyish-white shroud. His muscles were stiff, and he began a slow, stiff-legged hopping, easing his cramped limbs. Alex's breath came in foggy exhalations as he gradually increased his pace, darting hither and yon through the dawn fog - squealing before instinctively, his leg muscles bunched beneath him, the powerful tendons launching him up and over a railed fence.

Muted sounds, carried by the gentle breeze that started to tear apart the fog, made Alex's ears flick and twitch, making it impossible to narrow down their origin. The landscape, familiar, yet altered, slowly began to reveal itself before him. Each hop was a step further from the safety and love of his new home, his meandering aimless, giving him moments of introspection to reflect upon his slow amalgamation between his human mind, and the body he now inhabited.

As Alex continued his rhythmic hopping through the fog-draped morning, an eerie silhouette materialized before him. A sense of compulsion overcame him, an instinctive warning echoing through the mist that swirled around him.

Suddenly, his body skidded and tumbled, a momentary disconnection between his mind and feet - that tangled and sent him tumbling head over tail, the air blasting from his lungs in an explosive exhalation.

The figure, shrouded by the fog, exuded an aura of intimidation. Though Alex couldn't discern its form. As he lay on his back, disoriented and his eyes watering from the impact his skull had on the ground, his instincts screamed at him, compelling him to instantly crouch and cough, an involuntary response impressed upon him and directed at the enigmatic and formidable presence before him.

Alex rolled over, then rose into a crouched position, head down, submissive and non-threatening. About a dozen paces away, the figure stood, tall and impassive like a statue. The air was charged with tension, and the younger kangaroo felt the undeniable weight of dominance emanating from the fog-shrouded figure.

With a slow, deliberate movement, it moved, and Alex's ears flattened and he kept his eyes firmly down, his body beginning to tremble as he made repeated grunts of submission. As its presence drew half the distance it had been, its almost palpable shadow loomed over him. Fog swirled, cutting off his senses, making it difficult to discern _what_this enigmatic being was before him.

As the dominant figure circled him, seemingly inspecting him with an air of authority. Despite Alex's now borderline hysterical fears, partially his own, partially those of his instincts in this form, he could _feel_the weight of scrutiny, the _judgment_that pressed upon him. His instinctive response held him in a submissive posture, a primal acknowledgment of the figure's superior status.

In the silence of the misty morning, the encounter unfolded, an ancient dance of dominance over submission. It remained an enigma, its identity, even its scent, masked by the fog, leaving Alex crouched, coughing and trembling, his heart slamming against his rib cage.

Without a word, it moved away, then as Alex drew a shaking breath through his mouth, he timidly glanced up, only seeing the fog that swirled and tormented him, resuming slowly peeling apart under the increasing breeze.

He rose, nervously lifting his head, the droplets from the fog like tears on his eyelashes, before he blinked and shook himself, a fine spray of water coming off him, as his tubular ears swished this way and that, his eyes moving from side to side, as the vestiges of fear still clung to him.

With a terrified marsupial squeal, Alex swiftly pivoted and raced across the grass and tilled earth, his toes almost gliding, imprinting footprints along his frantic path. He skidded abruptly, narrowly avoiding a potentially excruciating tumble into the porch stairs.

In a desperate attempt to escape, his fur drenched in sweat, each gasp of breath felt like shards of glass scratching at his raw throat. With adrenaline surging throughout him, he lunged forward, clearing the ramp his mother had made in a single leap. Without a moment's hesitation, he instinctively leaned back on his thick tail and forcefully kicked open the front door with his powerful feet.

Entering the cottage in a panicked frenzy, he hastily slammed the door shut behind him, The resounding bang echoed loudly, threatening to shake the very foundations of the cottage. Alex slumped back against the door, each beat of his thudding heart felt like it was an hour or more, between one and the next. An overwhelming taste of fear, hot, and metallic, filled his mouth, making his salivary glands go into overdrive.

The air in the room felt heavy, charged with tension, as if it too, had been startled by the abrupt appearance. Wheezing and shaking, he slowly began sliding down to the floor, his tail protesting the unnatural pose.

Hearing the thunderous slam, Elara shot up from her bed, her eyes wide and her adrenaline spiking wildly. Having been sound asleep, the noise had shattered the wonderful dreamscape and left her bewildered and frightened. In her hurry, she rushed to the living room, her heart pounding in trepidation.

Becky, too, was startled from her sleep, staggering out of the spare room, draped in only the bed sheet, her own eyes wide with confusion and fear. The sudden commotion had shaken her badly, and she flashed a fearful glance at Elara.

As they reached the living room together, the scene unfolded and froze them both in their tracks. Alex, usually composed and gentle-spirited, was a picture of borderline hysteria. His heaving breaths and wild, terrified eyes, told a story of sheer, primal terror.

"Alex- " Elara gasped, as she rushed to his side, then crouched down and placed a hand on his shoulder.

Becky too moved to his other side, her hands trembling as she touched his shivering right leg, trying to comfort him. "Hey, hey, it's okay. You're safe now. What..."

"Happened out there - " Elara finished, her voice barely controlled, her maternal instinct to protect her offspring rising like a volcano about to blow, inside her.

Alex gasped and trembled, shaking his head and clawing at his throat until Elara grabbed his wrists and pulled them down.

"Breathe, my son - " Elara spoke, her voice trying to be as comforting as she could, before looking at Becky. "Becky, please - kitchen...get a bowl of water,hurry..."

Becky did as instructed, coming back with a bowl. Hold it up to Alex's muzzle, he began slopping it everywhere, until Elara snorted and forced him to drink more cautiously.

It took nearly half an hour, to get Alex to a calmer state, between the two of the women, they carried him over to the couch and lay him down, Elara placing a wet cloth on his neck.

"Now - if you can... tell us, please - what happened. You're safe, you're alright - "

He shuddered and glanced at his mother, then at Becky, before she gave him another drink of water.

"...og..." He began, his voice broken and garbled, barely able to be comprehended. "Fog... hing... thing!"

Alex growled and slammed his paw down on the couch, eliciting a sharp rebuke from his mother.

"Alexander- calm yourself!"

He shivered and coughed, before struggling to articulate. "Thing... bi...cary... shad..."

Elara frowned, taking a moment to de-clutter the broken sentence. "A shadow? Someone..."

"...HING...THING!" Alex shrieked, then whimpered and squeezed his eyes tightly shut. "Scared..."

Becky shivered, offering another drink to Alex, who drank deeply and swallowed the cold water.

"Can... you describe it?" Elara probed cautiously. "Anything? Smell, how tall? Even a...a shape, a description.."

Frustrated, Alex shook his head violently, his ears flapping against the edge of the sofa. "Oo - scared..."

"Did...did it threaten you? Try to hurt you?" Elara continued, trying to coax as much out of her terrified son as she could.

"Nnn... no - Instin - made...down..." Alexander suddenly made that submissive cough repeatedly, using his vocalizations to express his inability to use words.

"Shhh, it's okay - " Elara sighed, realizing the challenge of understanding Alex's limited communication. "It's alright, you're okay. We believe you. Whatever it is - together, we'll figure it out. Just try to catch your breath, alright?"

Alex continued to tremble, the combination of the soothing wet cloth on his neck and the love and reassurance of the two women, gradually began to have a calming effect. As his breathing slowed, they remained by his side, offering support and comfort.

Becky refreshed the bowl of water before Elara continued to wet the cloth and wiped it across Alex's forehead.

"Rest now Alex, you're safe. Take your time, just breathe..."

Becky sat on the edge of the couch, her hand tenderly stroking Alex's chest with a considerate, gentle caress.

"We're both here for you, Alex. Whatever it was, it's gone now. You're not alone."

Alex, still catching his breath, managed to nod slightly, his eyes still swimming with a mix of fear and gratitude. Elara squeezed his forearm lightly, a gentle, reassuring touch that she wasn't going to leave him either.

After a few anxious minutes, Alex's breathing became more regular, and the wild look in his eyes began to fade away, like the fragments of a nightmare. As they watched, his eyelids grew heavier and heavier, before finally closing, and he lapsed into a deep, exhausted sleep. Elara exchanged a glance with Becky, who nodded, the two silently agreeing to give him time to rest and recover from his traumatic ordeal.

"Let's give him some space," Elara whispered, as she rose and smoothed down her nightgown. "He'll let us know when he's ready to talk."

Becky nodded, giving one final, gentle stroke, before they both retreated to the kitchen, leaving Alex sleeping on the couch. A palpable cloud hung over the room, the residual echoes of panic still lingering. Elara put the kettle on to boil, whilst Becky sat, turning her chair to look back out through the doorway of the kitchen, towards the living room.

"I've... never seen this side of him - " Becky admitted, her voice filled with bewilderment.

Elara sighed, leaning up against the kitchen counter. "His instincts are powerful. Whatever he encountered triggered a primal, instinctual response in him. We need to be patient, and supportive, let him process it in his own way and time."

As they waited for the kettle, Elara and Becky exchanged quiet conversation, Elara elucidating on what she knew about kangaroos, helping the confused Becky to slowly comprehend.

*

It was early evening, Alex stirred on the couch, startling awake with a fearful cough, before he shuddered and blinked, looking around, momentarily confused and bewildered, before he fully awoke. Elara and Becky sat next to him, Elara on a small sofa chair, Becky sitting on the floor, as she gently reached up and touched his forearm in reassurance.

"Alex, whenever you're ready, we're here to listen, if you feel calmer and want to talk," Elara told him gently. "If not, I understand. You had a terrifying experience, I fully understand if you don't..."

"...og... th...thing... hadow... scared," Tumbled the words out of Alex's muzzle.

Becky, with a soft sigh, gently slid her fingers down and squeezed his paw carefully.

"We believe you, Alex. Whatever it was... I've heard wolves and..."

"Nnngh - " Alex growled, struggling. "Not...woof... big...hadow..."

Glancing at Elara, who shook her head, Becky only stroked Alex's paw again and tried to reassure him once more.

*

In the quiet expanse well away from the cottage, an enigmatic presence stirred. Elusive and cautious, it crept through the shadows, drawn inexorably toward the flickering glow of the light that spilled from the cottage windows. Like a moth to an open flame, it couldn't resist the allure of warmth and illumination.

Cloaked by darkness, the figure approached with a strange movement. The moonlight, nearly full and shining down, caught its eyes for a fleeting moment. A slow, foggy exhale escaped its form, as it rose up and stood just outside the pools of light, peering into the cottage with a heavy heart.

Memories of what once was flooded its consciousness and a profound sense of loss settled upon the figure. It's gaze held a mixture of longing and deep remorse as it observed silently, the scenes unfolding within the cottage. It was at that moment, the figure became acutely aware of everything it had left behind...

So long ago...

TO BE CONTINUED...