“Good morning Dex, how are you feeling?"

Tired as always. Even after waking up a few hours ago, my body still feels worn down. Even though im confined in this hospital, the world around me seem to change at an alarming rate. It's like time is speeding up before my very eyes the more I look out that window. You are evolving and it's all thanks to us. No doubt  you used the technology within the ruins of all three citadels to get to where you are today.

Modern era beastmen eh? Without our downfall, you wouldn't have ascended to such heights. Without our extinction, you would have never gotten to where you are. Solar panels, geothermal reactors, hydroponic Gardens, jet airliners. Obtaining all that knowledge from our civilization and used it for the betterment of your kind. Now I'm in the front row seats of such a event. Sometimes late at night, I could hear music playing off in the distance. Not your typical beating on drums or blowing on an flute music but something originating from loudspeakers. A house party or a nightclub maybe? I'm not sure but I wanted get up from my bed and experience such a thing badly because I wasn't old enough to go to such a thing back in the day.

“Maybe you could go to one when you are finished with your interview."

Oh please, once I'm finished telling my tale, you'll try to kill me yourself and I won't blame you for it. Besides, I'll stand out like sore thumb and I prefer not to be the center of attention. I'm fine right here in this bed. There's nothing out there for a human anyway. Anyway, let us continue.

I had a difficult time keeping up with Vincent as he dashed through the dense trees, vaulting over fallen log while maintaining his incredible speed. Hunter was also holding his own as well, his size would make one assume that he would have a hard time moving around in this area but that wasn't the case for him. Eventually, we made it to a trial that was just wide enough for two people to walk together side by side. I was out of breath so I couldn't say an single thing but Vincent didn't seem faze at all, not even breaking a sweat. “ Dex you lazy fuck, you need to work on your endurance more." He joked as i fell to ground, gasping for air. Hunter laughed hard at my misfortune, patting me on the back with hand. “Look alive, they'll be here soon. Dex stop fooling around and hide!"

Sure enough, I heard distinctive barking up ahead. Beastmen's way of communication was different than humans, while we use tongues to speak the desired words, barks and growls was your alternative. I have always found it fascinating that you can understand each other but it would have taken an human an considerable amount of years to partially grasp just a single language from just one of the many local tribes on the planet. I took my position behind a tree while Vincent and hunter did the same, the noises grew ever so closer. I leaned out from the tree to take a small peak at what I was concealing my presence from.  A curvy shaped vixen and a decently built fox strolled down the path, holding paws while nuzzling each others noses.

The first thing that came to mind was the fact that they didn't wear any pants or even underwear, nothing but fur. I wasn't able to see their privates or anything due to the thick coating, not that I was hoping I could see it or anything. The couple did wore shirts to cover their upper body while carrying large outdoor backpacks. I figured that the backpack was our target and not the animals but vincent had other plans that day. He didn't waste any time as he slowly creeped into their path, giving them a halfass wave and smirk. The pair stopped in their tracks and stared at him for while, eyes growing wider by the second. I knew what needed to be done at that moment so I sneaked around  and revealed myself so they couldn't run.

“Nowhere to run, no sudden moves or so help me." Vincent demanded as slowly advanced, I followed up on his moves and did the same. The male fox was growling viciously at us while he gently pushed away his vixen. “Hunter! Your time to shine!" Vincent yelled to the top of his lungs, keeping that same smirk. Rustling could be heard in the nearby busher and out came the giant. His hand was balled into a fist with his shoulder cocked back, planting his left foot firmly onto the ground. He landed a devastating punch to the foxes lower jaw, knocking him straight to the ground. “You crazy bastard, I felt that from here."  Vincent said, giving his bodyguard a high five.

The lady fox dropped to the ground, holding on to her unconscious mate while softly growling at the three of us. Hunter ignored her warnings and went straight for the backpacks, reaching out to grab them but was attacked by the vixen. She lashed out at him, using her sharp claws to dig deep into his arm. He whence in pain, immediately stepping to examine the damage. Vincent was quick to place her in a headlock, taking note to not go anywhere near her claws. “Dex check the goods, may be something to help hunter in there." I did as I was told and search the bags, finding a bunch of stuff from dried meats wrapped in aluminum foil to a glass bottle containing an unknown liquid. Truth be told, I did find a first-aid kit along with a photo.

“Hey Vincent, take a look at this." I gave him picture while tossing hunter the medical kit. Vincent's smirk turn into a ear to ear smile as he presented the photo to the vixens face. “You don't live far off from here do you? I have to thank ya for inviting us to such a home."

“What was on the photo?"

It was a picture of family in front of a fancy looking cabin. Two adult and one young kit standing together with joyful expressions in their faces. We came in contact with the mother and father in the photo that day. We did what had to be done in order to survive, to insure that they won't run away and call for help, we were given little choice but to kill them. I can still remember it now, the way she whimpered at me while he twisted her neck, finishing with a loud snap. Vincent looked in my direction and handed me a large knife. “Finish him off while I get this one out of sight." He said calmly as if this was normal to him. Even if he ended someone's life, his heart was colder than ice.

Hesitation was something that i can't seem to overcome. Blade in hand, I stood over the fox who laid motionless. I couldn't be like him, not in a million years. However a familiar presence manifested behind me, full of hatred and malevolence. “why do you think we are in this position? Who were the ones responsible for causing us so much suffering. It was the savages! They snuffed out our light and claimed it for themselves." I couldn't stop sweating, hands shaking uncontrollably. I was terrified to turn around, to see who was right behind me. “they killed billions and yet, you can't kill one. Don't you want revenge? This is your chance, KILL HIM!"

“Die you end his life?"

Yeah, all of that pent up rage inside me was directed at the poor bastard. I stabbed him over and over again, screaming that it was his fault for everything that. The blood was everywhere, eventually surrounding me in the warm substance. “we must do whatever it takes to archive our wildest dreams, even if it means killing." I whispered those to myself.  The presence vanished from thin air. The world around me resumed and I was left alone with my thoughts.

The situation was well within Vincent's control once the rest of the gang closed in on the trail. The couple we killed were dragged off deeper into the Forest and disposed off so no one would never find them, leaving only the kit. With nothing to go on other than a picture, we all set out in the direction of where the couple came from.

A full hour had passed when we reached the cabin, sitting atop of a hill. Lights could be seen inside with a shadowy figure darting from room to room. Vincent was the first step on the front porch, calmly knocking on the door to see if they would answer. The noise stopped instantly inside and was left with dead silence. It was safe to assume that our leader was surprised to see the door swung open to reveal the girl from the photo, yapping happily. My guess was that she about the same age as me but was a foot higher. She howled in terror when she saw his face instead of her parents and bolted inside, leaving the door wide open.

Hunter and grizzly and a few more were sent to find the vulpine while everyone else explored the place. It was well furnished for an cabin, having a nice, welcoming feel to it. A full living room set with a leather finish, including a recliner chair and glass coffee table. Vincent claimed the recliner while everyone else argued over who called dibs on what first. “Good job everyone for not kicking bucket so soon. Each and everyone of you deserves a break for now so get some rest." Vincent's voice echoed across the cabin. Its been awhile since I slept of an actual bed so i couldn't pass up on a opportunity to finally sleep on something that wasn't dirt or rocks. Everyone else had the same conclusion as well and decided to settled down for the remainder of the night.