Story
He was a marvel. He was sure of it. Even in this world of advanced wrist communicators, and artificial intelligent robots making human life easier. The man could remember his name and that he had been engaged, but he couldn't remember how he ended here. The location of where he lived was also a lost memory now, but the worst of all, he wished he remembered just what happened to him?! His ears! They were no longer there! Instead they were replaced those of an animal! Even a tail! Not only were they embarrassing as hell but they get him into trouble especially from the rich and wealthy gangsters and cops that find him odd.
The streets in the big city were generally unforgiving to those dreary and dirty homeless on its busy, cold streets. The gap between the rich and poor was enormous but the rich, surprisingly, outnumbered the poor. He wore his hood and would hide his new features as he had no mode of transportation to get around the ice covered streets. This new New York City was almost cleaner than it had been in the past. Subways were abandoned, and car accidents that so frequently happened on the ground were now replaced with hovercraft collisions. The Little girls and boys didn't have real animals, some did, but most had A.I. mates that didn't need food or water. Most parents approved of the devices because there was virtually no mess and it kept their children entertained. But for him, who was left with no recollection of his home or his job, he was forced to sleep on the streets alone with nothing but his clothes; hat, shirt, coat, etc. , and his outrageous ears.
So, soon, he began to come to terms that if you walk with the dirt and lonely hobos that can't fly like the other civilians, then surely, he was one of them. Down on the cold ground, although he had his ears to hide, he was beginning to look like all the schizophrenics and drug addicts. Not that he was losing his mind or he was doing drugs, but like all of them, he was beginning to blend with gray and white pavements, beginning to recognize the other homeless around the area, and how others would avoid his gaze making him invisible to the world. It was like he was being punished for not remembering what happened to him. As if being wiped out of existence by an invisible gap that sucked him down and away from the possibility of a normal life. All thanks to these new ears and tail.
One day, as he would walk to a new place to sleep for the night, a hoard of new gangsters came to find him. He may have recognized some, but part of this looked like an initiation. Lately, members that wanted to join the gangs would be put through cruel and dehumanizing tasks in order to stay. Some of the situations they were put through would range from playing the knife game, jamming fingers or toes in toasters, to even taking something's life or worse. It seemed like the animal man was to be a part of this initiation. Whether he feared for his life or not, he certainly wasn't expecting to live through the ordeal no matter what these low lives were planning. This world was so dull and lifeless, despite his features, being dead probably seemed better than being homeless and forgotten. But then... a flash of color. Another man that seemed to be quite fast, had managed to spring forth and through a series of ..probably more lucky than skillful events, rescued the possible gang victim!
This character was colorful, but also a nobody on these streets of new New York. But he carried himself so much differently than the others. One problem however. Unlike, the other layabouts around the city that would beg and hold out their hands for money, this man clearly stole things. Whenever if asked if he had any money, the same answer would always be ' no 'and yet, he could attain anything anyone needed. And by anyone, that usually means by the animals that he lives with. Most of them were cats. Only about 5. But he never stole for sport. He just took what he needed. What kind of homeless man was he? With such parkour like skills, to steal little things like cat food, bird food, and bananas? To others, it seemed like such a waste.
.... And maybe one more problem. Although the man with a tail knows he's engaged to a woman somewhere, he couldn't help but notice that the man that saved him... is very physical. Maybe nothing along the lines to consider it as molestation, but he and his animal ears (though with no memories) still contained some form of dignity and self preservation to find it annoying. Of course his savior didn't mean to be so "touchy-feely". And not only that, he wasn't very ... clever. When he successfully stole things, it was was only because he either outran them or an event of something would delay them from catching him.
But now, in the end of it, the two would have to live with each other. Well, they don't have to, but perhaps this fast moving, lucky food stealer would prove useful. Besides, its a lot easier to tread these busy, lonely streets when you're not alone.
