“Finally, come in Zack.” I said, smiling as the other hybrid stepped into the house.

Zack was a feline hybrid, particularly a lion. With his massive fro, barely noticeable round ears hidden beneath it, and long, languidly trailing on the floor behind him, it wasn't too hard to guess that's what his species was.

“So, you said you have a new 'pet?'” Zack asked, getting straight to the point. “When? Where'd you even get it, I thought you were busy here at home.”
“He,” I corrected. “Is actually a stray, found him in my house stealing shit.”
“What? And you're just going to keep i- him?” He asked, confused. “I thought you were done with this sort of thing for awhile. A long while.”
“I was...but clearly he was brought here for a reason.” I mused as the two walked up the stairs, I already had a room, thankfully, that held my new possession captive. “I think it's fate.”
“I think you're not only nuts, but not ready for a new pet.” Zack sighed, narrowing his eyes. “He's not in that room is he?”
“Yes. Yes he is.” I turned down one hall where only one door was closed.
“Alex, you can't keep him in there. That's cruel.”
“Like it matters,” I huffed.

“No, I'm serious.” Zack stopped them right outside the closed door, turning to his friend. “People are talking, their minds...they're changing. There are new laws being thrown out there, and even some humans are being treated...well more like us. They get their own houses on their owners properties in some places.”
“Zack, the world is not changing. People are overly optimistic.”
“You used to want that.” He remind me, making me glare.
“Yeah well, I changed my mind.”
“Which is why I don't think you're ready for this. After what happened with Ma-”
“Don't say it.” I growled, making his friend sigh.
“What happened with...him. You've begun to dislike...even maybe hate humans. As a doctor and your friend, the last thing I wanna see is you become like those abusive assholes who-”
“Zack.” I interrupted. “I'm not going to do anything too horrible. Just make him clean and shit. Though I have to warn you, the little shit has balls.”
“Whatever, let me do a check up, look at the arm and we'll discus this later.” He sighed and watched me as I undid the two locks of the door and pushed the heavy thing open.

The room was fairly big, but empty. Inside was a simple cot, the walls were white the floor was simply made of wood. There was one light at the top. No outlets, no closet, no other door, and only one, very small window at the top. Currently, there was also another item. A human huddled in the corner glaring at Zack and I as he cradled his arm to his chest.

“Okay, what did you do to him?” Zack immediately asked looking at me with a frown.
“He was like this when I found him.” I muttered back. The human let out a distastful snort, and looked away from us. “I told you he was a little shit.”
“Right, kay.” He rolled his eyes and set down his suitcase of stuff. “Wanna leave so I can do my job?”
“Fine, call me when you're done. Or if he gives you trouble.” I waved him off, leaving the room and shutting the door.

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~**~*~*~*~*~**~*~*~*~*~

Jack's POV

I could hear talking outside, but didn't pay much attention until the door was hung open and not only did the one hybrid walk in, but he brought a friend. Great. Is this the part where they kill me? Maybe I should have paid attention...

The new one looked at me, and I got a good look at his feature. Feline. Lion breed. Wonderful.

“Okay, what did you do to him?” The feline asked, looking at the wolf with clear dislike of something.
“He was like this when I found him.” The wolf offered, making me snort and look away. “I told you he was a little shit.”
“Right, kay. Wanna leave so I can do my job?” The feline said. His job? Was he a mercenary or something? Does the killing for the precious rich, hybrid snobs?
“Fine, call me when you're done. Or if he gives you trouble.” I heard the door shut and looked over again to find only the feline was here.

“Um, hello. I'm uhhh Zack,” he started, sounding nervous.
“Why are you tell me your name? Just get on with it.” I snapped, I didn't want to know the name of who was ending my life. But then again, life hates me.
“Look, I'm just here to-”
“Murder me. Hurry up.” I sneered and 'Zack' got a look a shock on his face, quickly waving his hands.
“No no, I'm a doctor.” He explained seeming horrified. “I'm a friend of Alex's and I happen to specialize in human medicine. Now if you could just come over here and-”
“Like hell I'm going anywhere near you.” I said, curling more into the wall. “Go away if you're not going to do me in.”
“Okay, let's try this.” He said as he sat down, crossing his legs and tail curing around. “We can just talk for a bit first. I swear I'm not here to hurt you or anything. I just need to look at your arm and do a check up so you're healthy again.”
“I'm fine. Go away.”

Okay, that was a lie. I have been awake the whole night in this prison cause my arm hurts like hell and the current position I have it in is the closest thing to having it in 'somewhat not searing, horrible pain.'

“Clearly you're not. Can you tell me how your arm was injured? Alex told me its from you breaking in, but I don't think I believe him.” Zack huffed and looked at the door, seeming annoyed with his friend.
“He broke it.” I stated simply.
“What?!” Zack's eyes snapped to mine and I repeated.
“The other hybrid. He broke my arm.”

Within a moment, Zack was on his feet and tearing the door open while yowling out Alex you fucking piece of shit, get up here.

“What?” Alex's voice called from the hall. “What happened?”

Right as I saw him step into view, Zack was shutting the door again behind them and started talking. This time I tried listening but I was too far away. Getting up, I stepped over in time to hear better.

“-if I did it? It's not like it matters.” Alex.
“It does matter! I told you there are new laws being placed. You can't just be breaking bones and causing bruises like that.” Zack. “And he's so skinny. How do I not know you've had him longer than you say. How do I know you're not starving him? What you thought you could hide this until you actually need someone to fucking help out. Like now, since you decided to break his arm?”
“I swear on my life I just found him yesterday. In my house. I broke his arm cause he needed to learn a fucking lesson.”
“Alex.” Zack seethed. “I'm going to ignore this one instance. This one time. Cause I swear to God if you start acting like half the clients I have I will find away to make sure you never have a pet again.”
“Pfft, whatever. Don't you have work to do?” Alex asked and next thing I know the door is opening and I'm face to face with Alex and Zack is standing off to the side looking pissed off. Alex narrowed his eyes at me and immediately barked. “What the fuck do you think you're doing? Back up.”
“Alex.” Zack hissesed, making the wolf roll his eyes before just walking away.

I had backed up anyway, I may or may not be a little scared of him. Considering he fucking broke my arm and dragged me up a flight of stairs to shove me in this room with no light, one very high window, and no escape. It was torture to not know rather or not I was going to be left in there to die or worse.

One Alex was out of sight, Zack sighed letting his shoulders slum before looking at me.

“Okay, let's try this again.” He started, I just stared at him. “Will you please let me look at, and treat, your arm before anything else?”

I frowned but nodded. I can't exactly go through any possible future escape plans with a fucked up arm.

“Cool, will you answer some questions while I do it? You don't have to, but it would help me out if you did.” He explained, walking over to his discarded bag and looked at me. “You can sit on the bed, I'll just stand and do it.”
“Okay.” I muttered before slinking over to the bed and sitting down.

Zack followed and held out his hand looking at my injured arm, clearly wanting me to hold it out. I did so, and he gently took it into his hand looking at the clear bruising from Alex's grip. Frowning, he began pushing down a bit making me hiss.

“Sorry, I need to know where all the tender areas are and make sure there's no fragments floating about.” Zack apologized, and tried a couple more areas. “So, Alex said you were a stray. How long have you been one?”
“I was born on the outside.” I answered, knowing he would understand.
“Wait,” He stopped pressing into my arm and looked up. “You mean you weren't bred, born at an owner's house, antyhing?” “No. My mom and dad ran away when they were teens, stayed out of trouble, and had me on the run.” I explained. Zack stopped poking around and let me have my arm back to look through his bag.
“Okay, do you know where your parents are?”
“No.”
“You don't have to lie, I won't report it.” He assured, setting some supplies on the bed next to me. I didn't believe him at all, but it didn't matter.
“I really don't know.” I said.
“How can you not know?” He asked, setting more stuff on the bed and standing again. I didn't answer him. “Okay... not answering that, got it. Have you had any shots?”
“Shots?”
“Like, vaccines. Someone like me putting a needle in your arm?”
“No. I don't want any.”
“You'll need them if you're going to be living with Alex. There's a lot of-”
“I don't want to live with that fucker.” I snapped. Zack flinched, ears twitching from my sudden outburst. Looking uncomfortable he began talking again.
“Um, yeah...uhhh, I need to realign the bone so....arm please?” I did so and next thing I knew he was snapping it again.
“OW!” I screamed and he mumbled apologies as I cursed and resisted the urge to rip my arm away from his hand.
“Um, alright, just uh lay down. Watch out for the cast and splint stuff.”

That's how the next twenty or so minutes went as Zack wrapped up my arm and asked questions. Where have I been living. How often did I get to eat. Are there others. Am I in pain anywhere besides my arm. Have I gotten sick. What from. What symptoms. Blah blah blah. By the end of it, I just wanted him to leave so I could sleep or something. Exhaustion was really starting to hit me.

“Okay, so I'll probably be back tomorrow to give you those vaccines.” He said. “Hopefully you don't react too badly to them. I also think I'll be over a lot more now that Alex will probably quit being a shut in and ha you. If anything like this happens again, don't hesitate to tell me. I don't know if you heard us arguing, but basically I am not letting him turn into a fucking asshole abuser all because of one incident.” Zack practically snarled the word abuse. “Plus you're going to need a special diet plan for the next couple months, and probably regular check ups for awhile and-”

“Why do you care about any of this?” I asked. I couldn't help it. I was curious. “Or is this an act? Cause if it is, you can drop it. I hate being lied to.”
“I'm not acting, I assure you.” Zack put his hands up in a defensive pose. “I do care. I never really understood the way this all works or why. If I had it my way, humans would have the rights we do. We're not that different.”

It took me a moment to take that all in, then I just started to laugh. Shaking my head and just laughing for a solid minute before looking at him with a half smile.

“I'm afraid you're wrong.” I stated. “We're very different.”

Notes

I honestly have no idea how I feel about this story.