Post by Youko on Jan 8, 2010 23:22:31 GMT -8
Lovable Hybrid
No one knew where it came from, or what was really wrong with the place. Even if someone knew, they didn’t seem to care. It was a place for the wealthy to buy pets that knew how to speak, love, and feel emotions without seeming too human-like or even too animal-like. There was no real name for these new types of beings, other then Hybrids. People would often go into the new Hybrid Petshop on the edge of town to see the different types of hybrids that were there. The sight frightened some, the animals there looking more human then they would like.
Some just came in to watch the hybrids interact with people, to see if they were actually like pets at all. Often, children came into the shop and pressed their small faces against the glass of the enclosures to get a good look at the hybrids inside. There was one enclosure though, that they never went near. They were always too afraid that he would break free somehow and try to eat them; even though the shopkeeper ensured them that he wouldn’t harm a human.
Next to that enclosure was a sign that said:
Tray
Panthera Tigris
Inside only a thin, white tail with black stripes could be seen peeking out of a small plastic like cave that was surrounded by what looked like an artificial forest. The ‘perfect’ habitat for this animal, the striped tail slowly began to tap on the leaf-covered ground as if the creature inside were waiting for something, though it wasn’t like that, he had just had lunch.
This wasn’t where he wanted to be in life; that was for sure. Sapphire orbs stared at the inside of the artificial cave as he thought about this; as if the counterfeit stone held the answer he was looking for. He had been here for four years, ok, not exactly that store, but he had been all around in several different Hybrid Pet shops, still he hasn’t been purchased.
He flicked an ear lightly before standing on all fours, like he was taught, and trotted lightly into view. Taking a seat under a tree, giving everyone a full view considering he wasn’t allowed to wear any sort of clothing, he ran clawed hand though long white locks trying to groom the mess it had become after sleeping. He frowned slightly in concentration as he stuck his tongue out lightly trying to get a specific strand to do what he wanted it too. It didn’t work, after a while he decided to give up and just plopped lightly onto his side and looked though the glass, watching as the shopkeeper opened the store for the day.
Tray knew the exact reason why no one had bought him; it was because of the animal he had become, but it wasn’t like he was that dangerous. The shopkeeper treated him just like a big housecat, which he enjoyed actually, and didn’t show any kind of fear. Then again, life was never fair to the white tiger, if it was he would still be a normal human writing his books for a living, but he was an animal now. He acted like one too. Tray had forgotten how to be human, as did every animal in the shop.
A lot of the pets that are sold there have completely forgotten that they were once human, but not him. He’ll never forget. Every now and then he still longs to be out in the world amongst the humans, as one of them. He longs to find love and to be held by someone who was not like a parent to him. None of the other animals would talk to him, not even the Raccoon in the enclosure next to his.
Tray had to admit, he hoped that someone would buy him already and save him from the deep loneliness that he felt.
