The gravel of the car park is rough under my paws. Every step crunches loudly. Cellum is practically vibrating with barely-contained excitement, but manages to hold their tongue until we get to the car.
“It was specially designed so you could fit as well, so that’s why it’s bigger than the others. Um, here, put your bag in the boot, and then we can get going. Are you joining me in the front?” They shut the boot with a bang, and walk round to the driver’s side. I go to the passenger side, hook my paw round the handle, and pull the door open. It’s not hard; much thought has gone into this car, and even the door handles are designed so I can easily use them. I get in, and we set off. Home.
“Hopefully there won’t be much traffic,” I joke, trying to lighten my mood more than anything. I’m excited, sure, but also nervous. It will be fine though. Cellum’s put up with me for long enough, they’ll be fine living with me. Let’s just hope the neighbours don’t mind.
There’s a variety of opinions of our existence, I’ve gathered. Cellum tried to hide it from me, but my ears were good enough to hear the conversations of staff in the corridor, and not everyone in the world is happy that half-human half-animal creatures are to be treated like normal people. I can see why. They’re scared. Even I’m worried about what might happen, but it should be fine. The Forest’s influence is broken. I have my own mind back. The risk of any of us reverting back to mindless beasts is low, apparently. So that’s good.
Cellum turns on the radio, and immediately the hourly bulletin comes on.
“What great timing,” they mutter, and reach to turn it off, but I stop them. I want to hear.
“Today, those who were trapped in Ai Talyugaachi, also known as the Infinite Forest, are returning to society, despite many people worldwide calling for them to remain in confinement. Staff at the Humanoid Rehabilitation Facility assured the public in a statement yesterday that ‘all humanoids in our care passed their safety assessments with flying colours, and we are confident that there is no chance of them returning to the condition they were first brought to us in’. The return of human-like consciousness and cognitive ability is attributed to the felling of Ai Talyugaachi by magic experts, who claim that the forest’s destruction has broken the power it held over those who were lost within it. In other news-”
I turn it off. I’m not interested in other news, not right now. I just wanted to see what they say about us. I turn to Cellum, hesitant to ask.
“What sort of welcome am I awaiting by your neighbours?”
“Oh, they’re fine for the most part. Eda, next door, is a big fan - very excited to meet you. She’s like a grandma to the whole road, so expect some sort of food gift. She lives alone, so will pop round fairly regularly at weekends for a chat. The Thompsons, on the other side, don’t seem too bothered. The kids think it’s cool that you’re a wolf-man, parents are a little apprehensive, which I guess is understandable. They’re nice, though, and you’ll probably end up firm friends. Most people on the road are ok with you lot leaving the facility, there’s a couple who are worried but I’m sure they’ll change their minds once they meet you.”
“You have such faith in my ability to not terrify on sight.”
“Ah, you’re not that scary. And, like I said, once they get to know you-”
“If they make the effort”
“Well, if they don’t, that’s their loss. Anyway, you passed your safety assessment with flying colours, apparently, so they needn’t worry about you eating them.” They glance at me in the mirror. “Bad taste? Bad taste. Sorry. And also sorry that that was pun intended.”
I allow myself a snort of laughter at their garbled apology. “Well, while jokes about murderous rampages and the like are bad taste, people probably are too. So we’ll just have to call it a draw.”
“I guess so.” They carefully turn off the motorway into the city. “We’re nearly there now. Keep a look out when we get to the right street. It’s number 47, but I don’t think you’ll need that. I have a suspicion that there’ll be a welcome party. I did say to let you settle in first, but some people’s idea of ‘settle in’ involves home-made biscuits…which are very nice, I might add. It’s this street.”
I keep a look out, and Cellum was right.
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