Inner-Selves No. 4, Part A
It was a new day at the college, Fidget, Stryper, Remy and Kat were at their desks waiting for their English class to begin. Macho hadn’t arrived yet, it wasn’t like him to show up as late as he was now. “I bet he’s sick today, there’s no other explanation” Stryper said. “That’s not true, he could’ve woken up late, there’s a lot of explanations” Remy replied. Stryper and Remy proceeded to have another argument, Kat wondered over and over why Fidget called them his friends, there was a lot about fur life that she couldn’t understand. Macho walked in the door, he was cut up and bruised all over, but acted like nothing was out of the ordinary. “What happened to you?!” Fidget asked. Macho hesitated, then said “I… got hit by a car.” Stryper and Remy were shocked. “That’s why you’re late?! Shouldn’t you be in the hospital” Stryper said. “I’m fine, but the guy in the car wasn’t, so I took him to the hospital, that’s why I’m late” Macho answered. As Macho took his seat and class commenced, the college baseball team had hit a home run and the ball came through the window of the class, smacking Macho in the side of the head at a high rate of speed. Everyone gasped as blood dripped from the side of his head, but somehow he sat up and once again acted like nothing had happened. After much prompting from the professor, Macho went to the nurse’s station and got his wound taken care of.
After class, Kat and the guys all hung out together, Remy and Stryper commented on the sudden rush of bad luck that had seemed to overcome Macho. “Well, what happened Macho, did you break a mirror or something?” said Stryper. “That’s just superstition Stryper, that doesn’t bring bad luck” Remy remarked. “I guess you’re right Remy, but the kid I’m mentoring doesn’t seem to agree” Macho said. “Macho, what do you mean mentoring?” Fidget asked. Macho went on to explain that he was involved in the ‘Big brothers for little cubs’ program, he was a mentor and guide to a younger fur that came from a less fortunate background than him. “My kid brother’s name is Blaze, he’s a fox who was orphaned about 3 years ago, he’s bounced back and forth from several foster homes, but the weird thing is that all the other guys assigned to him quit because they kept getting hurt whenever he started to build a good friendship with them” Macho said, concluding. Stryper and Remy continued to debate whether the kid brought bad luck to other furs, but Kat seemed to have a better understanding of what was going on, Fidget could sense what she might be thinking. “Uh, could you guys excuse us, I need to talk to Fidget alone” Kat said smiling and grabbing Fidget by the arm. “Ok, sure” Remy said as the two walked away. Stryper gave Fidget a thumbs up while Macho didn’t say or do anything, a normal reaction for him.
When they were far enough away, Fidget immediately asked the first question on his mind. “Do you think it could be a spirit eater targeting the boy and those connected with him?” he said. “I was thinking the same thing, wow Fidget, you’re getting good at this whole thing” Kat replied. “We can worry about that stuff later, we gotta find a way to meet that kid, let’s ask Macho.” “Alright, sounds like a good plan to me.” They walked back over to Macho and asked if they could meet Blaze. Macho didn’t know why, but didn’t see any harm in it, so he agreed. The rest of the classes proceeded as usual, after the last class, Kat and Fidget went with Macho to Blaze’s house, Macho was supposed to take him to the arcade today. Blaze’s foster mother answered the door and called for Blaze once she saw who it was. “I’m ever so greatful to you Macho, you’ve stayed with this boy longer than the others did, they all acted like he was hexed or something” she said to him. “No problem, it’s my job” Macho replied. Blaze arrived and saw that Macho wasn’t alone this time, he had a worried look on his face. “Mom, I don’t wanna go, I’ve got a tummy ache” he lied. “Maybe he’s just nervous Macho, I noticed you brought some friends with you.” “Yes, they wanted to hang out, so I figured they could tag along and have fun with us” Macho answered. After much coaxing, Blaze went with them, while they were on their way to the arcade, Blaze whispered to Macho. “Please Macho, tell them to go home, it’s bad enough you’re getting hurt, but they’re your friends.” “It’s alright, they’re adults like me, they can handle it” Macho reassured. Blaze lowered his head and tried not to cry, he knew what would happen to all of them. His parents were killed by a monster, he knew it, even though he couldn’t see it, he was pretty sure the same monster was trying to kill his other mentors, and it was the same reason several foster homes had sent him to other foster homes. He was surprised that Macho stayed with him so long, but he felt bad about him getting hurt so much, and now Macho’s friends would get hurt too, maybe even killed. A spirit eater lurked not far from them, and it was angry that it’s meal was being surrounded by those who would protect him, especially the two youth sprites.