I got up a bit earlier than usual the following morning, sitting up in my bed and rubbing the sleep out of my eyes. Normally I like mornings, but this was a bit early even for me. I uncovered myself, trying not to look down, and slid off the short mattress. Standing up I stretched my tired back and shoulders, definitely feeling the labor from the previous day. No matter, it would go away after a couple days.

Grabbing today's set of clothes from the top of my dresser I quickly covered myself, allowing myself a small sigh of relief as I finally looked in the mirror. I reached for my comb and made an attempt at taming my hair, but only made the usual amount of progress. Ah well. Running my fingers through the fur on my chin I ruffled what was there to give...maybe the slightest indication of facial hair, at least.

Once as content as I could be with my appearance I walked over to grab what remained of the work I had yet to turn in. Everything was in order as far as one could tell, so I opened the door and departed my room. Before reaching the stairs I turned to my right and carefully pushed open Riv's door just enough to look inside. He still lay there, sleeping peacefully. With a small smile I closed the door to its previous state and continued down the hall, down the stairs, and down the lower hall to the lobby.

I paused for a moment to look out the lobby window to the world beyond. The sky was beginning to turn from a pale twilight blue to a bright yellow as the sun continued to rise. It was quite a pleasant sight to behold-- the backlit orange clouds against the open blue.

With my folders in hand I opened the door, checking the outer side for any more vandalism before leaving the house. This should only take a few minutes and Riv was still asleep, so I didn't want to waste much time.

Quickly I walked the usual way to town, only a few people up as early as I was. It would take more time to stay to the back streets, so I took advantage of the situation and cut through the middle, hoping to move at a steady, unassuming pace enough to avoid confrontation. Spotting my first stop I dipped inside to quickly drop off my finished work and receive my compensation. A brief moment to look through the bills before departure-- this time I'd not been shorted. While the manager still looked at me strangely it was comforting to receive my full price. He handed me my future assignments and I was free to scout out the second -- and hopefully last -- place.

I carefully slid from that establishment back into the overworld, looking all around me for my second stop. It would require going farther south, which I was not looking forward to. After a gulp and a tug at my collar I stepped lightly from the first place to the direction of the second, trying to lay low. Looking at the passersby they seemed to not notice me much, save for a few, which I could deal with.

Upon arrival I placed my hand on the heavy door and pushed inward, the little bell above the door alerting the clerk and a couple patrons of my presence. I took out my last folder and offered the paperwork, setting it on the counter. The manager received it, looked it over, and handed me a few crumpled bills. I could tell just from looking at it that this was significantly less than I'd agreed to.

"Um, excuse me, but this is only about half of what I agreed to work for," I said, picking up the bills and counting them just to be sure. "H-Has my work not been satisfactory?"

"Could say that," he said, restacking the papers and turning away.

"But...if that's the case, why tell me now?" I asked. "I...I'm a very careful worker and I even turn in my work early should there be any error. Please, if there has been any mistake I would like to know so I may correct that in the future."

"Future?" he said, raising an eyebrow. "Naw, son, I don't want yer business here no more."

"I-I'm sorry? I don't understand. Have I done something wrong?"

"I know 'bout that kid o' yers. Last thing I wanna do is fund a race-traitor. Too many'a the destructive shits already."

"What? Destructive? How could he--"

"Don't make excuses for that thing," he sneered, orange eyes narrow with contempt. "Get out of my shop and don't bother comin' back 'less you get rid o' that fuckin' biological hazard. Be thankful I paid'ja at all."

"...Um...a-alright," I stuttered, putting the bills into my wallet. "...Have a good rest of your day."

For the entirety it took to reach for the door and leave he glared at me, uttering a low, nasty growl. I gently closed the door behind me.

Well, that was that, I guess. I took a deep breath and looked around, hoping to see any shop or place willing to humor my work to make up for the patron I'd just lost. Not three steps later I could feel eyes on me.

"Hey, you," came a low voice. "You're the one with that kid."

I spun around to face the speaker. A short walk from me was three men, backs hunched and faces full of scrutiny. They didn't look like the dock workers, but certainly acted like them.

I stayed silent. Nothing good could come from talking.

Off to my side I saw more gather. I started backpacing, trying to keep my eyes on the advancing parties before me.

This was all too familiar.

I continued backstepping, looking for any kind of out, finally coming to the end of the shop's wall to my right. Before I could take my detour I was caught by surprise by a fist from the same direction, landing squarely against my snout and pushing me several feet as my world cut to white. I fell to the road below, vision blurred and blood leaking from my nose and lip.

Too familiar.

Before I could see straight again I was struck in the gut, presumably with a foot, as one of them had advanced close enough. I yelped and gasped, holding my stomach tightly as I curled into the fetal position. I could see their shadows slowly coming toward me, a menacing mass of anger. Cackles of mocking laughter echoed over me.

Familiar.

My eyes widened and I quickly rose to my feet. Putting everything my scrawny body had into my legs I ran as fast as I could as they trailed me. I bobbed and wove my way past other citizens just trying to get these people off my shadow.

I need a building.

I need a shelter.

I need anything to get away from this.

I won't get caught again.

I can't get caught again.

Not again.

Not far from me I saw the carpentry shop and sped as fast as I could through its door, collapsing to the floor upon arrival and panting like mad. The woman behind the counter promptly got up to meet me, putting her hand on my shoulder.

"Hey, what's going on?" she asked, concerned. "What happened?"

I looked up at her, then to the door, eyes wide with potent fear and blood down the front of my snout. I was gasping too hard to speak.

"Oh, oh no," she said, ears raked back. "Tamani! I need you out here, now! Kuri and Shindi, you too!"

Both of us heard the oncoming rush of noise outside, growing louder and more raucous. The three ramiotran movers trotted into the main room as I tried to catch my breath, the blood in my nose and mouth choking me as I gasped.

"Ta...mani," I tried to speak. "Riv is...still home...please help me...not safe."

Without a word he grabbed a baton from behind the counter and fled the building. Shindi and Kuri grabbed one of their own, with Shindi leaving through the back door.

"I'm gonna get Ulimi," he said as he ran out the door.

The clerk, Yua, put her arms around me and lifted me slowly, carefully to my feet to get me farther away from the door. I put what strength I had into each step to follow her lead. The commotion caught the attention of other woodworkers in the building who'd now grabbed their own batons.

"Hey, little guy, you're the one with the kid?" asked a red one. "Where ya live? I'll meet Tamani there."

"Fos...Foster home..." I stammered through grit teeth. "North end...of town."

"Got it," he said. "Couple'a you come with me."

A few of them left with the red one, batons ready and hooves slamming the ground. I held my gut as some of those from the mass tried to enter the building. The other workers barricaded the door while some others went around front to forcibly pacify the angry mob.

It was a smaller mob than I had seen.

"Th-They know where I live," I whimpered. "They know about him. They're...some of them have..."

Without a second thought I sprang back to my feet and bailed out the back door. I stopped for nothing and no one, no sound or dirty look could deter me. I had only one thing on my mind, a fog blinding me to any other option.

I ran through the streets as fast as my legs could carry me until I saw my home in the distance. A small group of people had gathered, screaming and shouting, held off by the ramiotran workers. Blows were exchanged, words were spat, slurs and obscenities assailed everyone within the general radius.

I ran closer.

Closer.

Before long I was spotted by members of the unfriendly troupe, their eyes and attention turned to me. Fortunately the ramiotrans weren't done giving them a piece of their mind, so several were grabbed and held in place as I wove, ducked, and dove into my home through the forced-open door.

In the lobby one of the workers held off another angry citizen, but I paid them little mind. I had somewhere to be.

Please be safe.

Please.

I sailed down the hallway and ascended the stairs without hardly touching them. I immediately turned right to see Riv's door, now open, and my heart jumped.

No. Please...please no.

My feet bolted down the stub of a hallway and stopped in the center of the doorway, shoving the door fully open in a panic. There Tamani sat, holding onto tiny Riv whose eyes were big and fearful as ever. He looked up at me with a look of concern and terror as my bangs dripped sweat and my snout had caked with blood.

"Riv, you're...you're safe," I gasped, tears welling in my eyes. "...You're safe."

"Father, what's happening?" he whined.

"People...angry people...I don't think we--" I took a knee. "I don't think...we can stay...in this town much longer."

Riv's ears raked back and eyes filled with tears as he hugged onto Tamani.

"Riv, please understand...it's not you," I coughed. "It's not your fault. You are a...you are my precious, sweet boy. You did nothing wrong. I just want...to keep you safe. Just please...give me time."

Tamani released Riv, the little boy running up to me and putting his arms loosely around my neck. His sniffling permeated my ears and echoed through my very thoughts.

Whatever happens...I would not be my father.

I held him close, rubbing his back to comfort him and trying not to cover him in my dried blood.

"You mean...the world to me, Riv," I said, "and I'm not going...to let them take that away."

Tamani stood up and helped me do the same, slowly walking me to my room and sitting me on my bed. Riv followed closely behind, not taking those minty eyes off of me for a second. From behind my desk Riv retrieved a first aid box and gave it to Tamani. The ramiotran opened the lid and, not seeing gloves for his type of hand, opted to pour alcohol over them instead. Riv wrinkled his nose at the smell and shuffled through the box to find a small bottle of saline solution, offering it to Tamani. Tamani poured some of it onto a small cloth.

"Alright, hold still," he said, holding my chin up with one hand.

He carefully pat and cleaned away the dirt and dried blood from my mouth and nose. Lightly gripping my chin he pulled my jaw open and looked inside to my red-stained teeth.

"Looks like your teeth cut your cheek open, but that'll heal on its own pretty easily," he said.

"I-I'm so sorry, Tamani," I choked. "This isn't what you signed up for."

"Ain't gonna sit on my ass while a bunch of spastics with half my education try to hurt a man and his kid," he said, dabbing my sweaty forehead with a small towel. "You're nice people. I like nice people. Not much more to it."

"...Thank you," I whispered.

"Okay, I'm gonna go see if that bullshit's done with since it's gotten quieter," he said, putting aside the box. "If everything is clear I'll come back up. Don't leave this room until then."

He grabbed the knob of the door, locked it, and left.