Chapter 3: Neutral Benefits

Once Zira was done with the wolves she then started to head towards the dark and shady guy. "Good god- a few ruffled feathers but he'll be fine. Now as for you my kite friend-" he said as she aimed the dagger at his neck. "Give me a good reason not to gut you like a fish you shady mc shaderson!". He stared for a second and then laughed.

"Right, manners. I'm Carter! I apologize for my attire but as you know some of us have skeletons in the closet!". 'He's being way too optimistic' she thought. She lowered the blade and said "Well Carter I have to now get to the land of scales-" she stopped as he held up a finger. "Well unfortunately for you, the land of scales is a 24 hour flight from here. Tell you what: you and your friend here could let me escort you to neutral to rest and relax, and then after you're not dying you can get some proper escort!".

She considered his offer since there was literally no other options. "Fine. But if this is a trick I swear I'm going to kill you!". She threw June over her shoulder and they started walking. On the way there they get to a village full of humans. "Ow and ow...." Said June as he slurred awake. "Hey June. You done trying to kill me or do I knock you back unconscious?" Zira said untying him. "I'm fine but where are we now?" he ask stretching. "In a human village. why?".

She then looks at Carter to see his ears go flat. "You good car-" She's interrupted as he gives them a map and starts making a break for the woods when he gets tackled by another human. "You have got a lot of nerve to show your face back here Carter!!!!" Says a guy who looks like a sheriff. He was about 6'2, buff, black hair and almond skin, and was very close to strangling the feline.

"Micheal! We can talk, I like talking, we don't gotta fight!" He says to the tall guy. He puts on shades and says "You wouldn't hit a guy with glasses would you?". This then causes Micheal to grab the shades, crush them, and then throw them in the trash. "It's my sole duty to protect the peace, meanwhile you act like yours is to disturb it!". "I'm a hunter, it's my job to also give people materials and hunt the local flora and fauna or I'm screwed. You act like yours is to stop that!".

"You could endanger animals! And the only reason you have the job is because of that stupid mutation!". They just stare at the two fighting when Zira ask "Whats a mutation?". "A mutation," June says going next to her. "Is what happens when two humans get together and have an empowered offspring. You see humans don't have any extraordinary power or abilities which is why their called neutral."

"However there was one more thing that set them apart. Its uncommon, but parents have a 40% chance of giving birth to a mutation in the genes that causes them to have the characteristics of mammalian animals. For example a set of human parents could give birth to a wolf, or a fox. That's what he meant by mutation." June said with his arms crossed.

"OKAY OKAY! I'm going to get my friends here into a place to stay and then I'm leaving got it!" He says walking away. While they're following him June for a second thinks he see's something like a black rope. They enter an inn and Carter orders them a room while they look over the map. "Okay so if we just start flying west from here we'll reach the scales land by Friday." June says to her. Carter leads them to their room and before they close the door he says "Sorry about earlier. Good luck on your journey ahead!".

Once he leaves June says "That Carter guy, he seemed.... frantic? Was it just me or?". "Yeah it's not just you. He really must not like being around people. I wonder why?".

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June starts to wake up as he see's Carter sitting outside his window.... in the rain.... like a sad puppy. "Carter?!" He says as he pulls him in. "What are you doing out there it's raining cats and dogs?! You want to get sick-", "ACHOO!!!!" he says coming in. "Sorry. I just had to know how you guys were doign and then the rain started a few hours ago so....". "YOU'VE BEEN OUT THERE FOR HOURS?!?!?!?!?!?!" Yelled Zira to both of their surprise.

"Carter, you could have just woken us up." Zira said wrapping him in a towel. "You can use our shower since we'll be leaving soon. And actually try to get better all right!" Zira said to him. Once he got in the shower Zira gave June a worried glance. "He'll be fine! It's the guy who helped you so he should be alright." June said reassuring her.

Once he got out they were surprised to say the least. Carter, under all that clothing was honestly pretty young. He had short brown hair, milky skin, 5'5(Short), blue bell eyes. And for his animal, a slender black tail with two black cat ears, and they looked like they had black spots on them too.

".... Carter, what the fuck." Zira said staring at him. "What?". June put his hands together and said "Carter, what happened to the big guy, with an intimidating look?!". Carters ears went back and said "Yeah.... Let's just say I had to do a lot of.... adapting.". Zira then said "Carter how old are you?!". "I'm.... 15.". They both took a minute and June said "You have got to be the most awesome 15 year old I've ever met! How do you live?!". Zira then looked at his height and said "You.... Are so.... CUTE!". She then proceeded to hug and nuzzle the crap out of him.

"No!!!! I'm not cute! I'm angry! I'm intimidating!" He shouted in protest. "Oh! I can see why you need the outfit now. If anyone saw you without it you wouldn't be fooling anyone." June said in realization. "Carter.... Why are you out here alone?". After Zira asked this Carter froze up and his tail stiffened. "CARTER!!!! Why are you alone?! Does this have to do with why you left in a hurry?". Carter sighed and sat down.

".... I assume you've heard about what poachers do right?". They both nodded. "Well when I was born lets just say that my parents decided I wasn't worth the trouble and gave up on me the moment I was born. I.... Went through a lot of homes when I was young until one day I was 'accidentally' given away to some poachers. And because of my fur I would sell a considerable price on the black market. I somehow escaped and used what I knew to get a job as a hunter.".

"Again, because of my fur it was easy. I was assigned to animals that were causing problems and I took them out. The only thing I regret was that those poachers were only gonna sell me for a measly $100,000. I'm worth at least $500,000!". Carter said finishing. "Whoa- hey are you two good-" He's stopped as they both hugged him. "Carter...." Said June as they hugged him. "Yeah?".

"Are you purring?".