Deer Little One
A Comission Novella for Drakira
By Misterebony
PRELUDE: Invasion
 No one knew what caused the disease. The effect was immediate however, as the people of whole countries were soon infected. The disease seemed to spread like wildfire, and at the worst possible time. For at almost the same time, the pillars began to fall.
 Giant pillars of pure obsidian fell in droves, dropped by advanced ships that seemed to be bombing whole cities. The resulting quakes that occured killed hundreds, and hurt more. Desperate, what humans could mounted a counter assult with heavy weapons, even nuclear warheads.
 In this hellish time Aaron was running with his mom, who was pale as snow, but still strong, as they made for one of the nearby cars that had been abandoned. Above them, fighter jets and the strange craft of the invaders were shooting it out.
"Mom... I don't feel so good..." He said, holding his stomach, as his mother loaded him in the car.
"I know dear, but we have to get away first. We have to go where it is... *cough... cough...*"
The woman slumped over for a moment, but shook her head and turned on the car by hot wiring it, then drove as fast as she could for the town boarder. But she did not get far as over head, another bomber was dropping more of those damn pillars. The woman drove as well as she could, but it was becoming harder and harder with each pillar fall.
"MOM!" Aaron screamed but it was too late as the car slammed into a newly fallen pillar, both sent flying, on the verge of death thanks to their new wounds and the disease, little noticing as the tower began to glow, little noticing as the aliens landed nearby, and not noticing at all as a fur covered form exited from it, trying to see what had happened...
  CHAPTER 1: Awakening
 Darkness.
 So long there was darkness.
 No sound, no light, no breath, no... nothing.
 Just an immeasurable, permeating darkness that covered his body from head to toe. He felt it here and now, a darkness that could not go away.
 And yet... it was. After what seemed like an eternity, light once again peirced his mind as his eyes opened after what seemed like ages. He stared in confusion all around him, trying to place where exactly he was. The room he was in was white and grey, the walls decorated with colorful rainbows here and there but otherwise hgaving little in the way of color. He heard a faint beeping in a rythmatic fashion near his head, and he felt intense pain all over. He winced some as he tried to figure out why he was here, and more imporantly where he was... and where his mom was.
 "Ah, looks like your awake." A voice beside the boy said. But as he turned, he stared with horror at the form that stood over him. The form was clearly a doctor, he knew that from the lab coat, one he saw for many months when he learned he had the disease, the unnamed disease that had killed so many. He even saw the stethoscope doctors would often wear, and a nametag that said "Leon Mane, M.D."
 But the form in those items was not human.
 Standing before him was a massive lion, wearing glasses and dressed as a doctor was dressed. He reguarded the now wide eyed boy with a smile, but Aaron did not return it.
 "So... your chart labels you as Aaron Wilde, is that right?"
 The boy did not answer, too afriad of the obvious alien before him. Then... he remembered the tower crashing in front of him and his mother as they were driving, and the crash that followed. That made him utter his first words.
 "Where is mom?" He asked. There was silence as the lion creature gave a gentle sigh.
 "I am afraid I cannot answer that. It after all has been several months since you were brought here, so I do not know."
 The boy sat up. "Your lying! Where is she?!"
 The lion eased the boy down. "Easy now little one. You had to be reformed right away, your wounds were quite severe, and the infestation had spread significantly."
 The boy laid down, wondering what the lion meant. "Infestation?"
 The lion nodded. "Yes. Your world was ideal for our colonizing purposes, save for the presence of a small microorganism that spread among your people and which you had no cure for. Worse, you had no reformative technology, so there was little time. We had no choice but to place the towers in as many population centers and rural regions as we could, and clense and save as many as we could. But... then your people attacked us.
 "We lost many good fursons during those days, when we were trying to help establish a peaceful coexistance, but we had an obligation to save your race. But... we were too late. By the time we had the towers place your race was too far infected. We had no choice but to use the animals of your world to create a creature that combined both worlds. We wound up creating a race of animal beings, ones who were immune to the infestation."
 Aaron froze. That meant.... slolwy he lifted his hand, and brought it into view. As he did, he felt his blood run cold.
 Gone were the traditional fingers, replaced instead by five hard black appendages similar to fingers but seemingly more like hooves, blending perfectly with the light brown fur his arm now had. He traced his arm up his head, and went wide eyed as he felt his ears not where they should be, but on the side of his head and somewhat soft and slightly flopsy. Then there was a pain he felt on his head, and when he felt it, he felt two small bumps on his head. He turned his head toward a mirror, afriad of what he would see, and as he did, he lost it. There, staring back at him, was a reflection that was NOT what he remembered.
  For one, he was younger. He was about ten when the accident happened, but now he looked about seven years old. He also looked less like a human and more like what would happen if you took a deer and a human boy and crossed them over, his feet now hooves, his hands now hard fingers, his body now furry and forming a sort of clothing over what skin he had left, looking for all the world like a cartoon deer. Given what he saw, his reaction was natural.
 He bolted.
 The doctor let out a scream as Aaron ran for the door, calling for nurses to get him and bring him back. But Aaron did not notice. He did not notice how most of the demis he would pass had tags on them. He was not even noticing that now he had on a huge padded diaper, not noticing his new clothes that included a weird collar... he noticed none of it. Simply stated, he just focused on one thing as he ran down the hall and out a large door.
 "MOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOM!!!!!!!!!!!!" He screamed, running out into the night, rain starting to fall all around them. He had to run, he had to wake up from this nightmare and get back to his mothers arms.
 But there was no waking up. He was alone.
 *************
 Sora sighed as she drove her hovercar down what once had been a rather impressive human road. It was sad seeing the world in this state, that the humans had fought them not knowing what they were trying to do. But in the past month it was clear humans could not be saved. Theyw ere too far gone it seemed. Now they had to accept their new role as demi creatures, beings that fused them with the animals of their world.
 That, as it turned out, was actually not a bad thing. In the months that followed their arrival and the inevitable human extinction, it was discovered the demis were also a viable and easily reformable food source. This made them all the more desireable for the fursons, who were in desperate need of a steady food supply. The plump wolf woman smiled a little at that, having had several farm raised demis of late.
 That was the most unique part. When the humans began the change and reformation into demis, the leaders declared that they had to be transfered to special education centers, which were technically glorified ranches. Here they were taught to be less violent and more receptive to being refomable food stuffs. It seemed to work too, given there had not been a violent attack since the order occured. Besides, demis along with prey furs were food and friends, so why not help the barbaric creatures to a better...
 Wait, what was that ahead?
 "It look like...." the wolf said, turning her hovercar to better see the form on the side of the road. She gasped as she saw it. Or rather.... him.
 There, sobbing and soaking wet, was a little deer demi no more than seven yearsof age. But it was weird. He bore no brand, no marks, not even an id tag. He was.... a stray?
 Sora got out of her car and walked closer, the form positively miserable as he sobbed. The wolf saw him in his soaked diaper and took pity onhim, returning to her car and wrapping him in a waterproof blanket. He looked up at him and she smiled softly.
 "Shhhhh, it's ok. I won't hurt you. I won't hurt you." She whispered. The deer whimpered, his lips quivering.
 "I want my mom.... please..... I..... I gotta find her...." He choked out amidst sobs and choking whimpers. Sora stroked the boy and took him to her car.
 Mom? But demis are trained not to worry about that, just to be food. They were violent otherwise right? But.... no.... no this was a runaway calf she was certain.
 She would find out immediately, bringing up her hovercars vidphone as soon as she got in, letting the deer lie down in the back while she contacted the local farm.
 "Hello, is this happy meals?"
 On the other end, a cute and fat pig fur nodded. "Sure as sausage! What can I get you?"
 "Actually I have a question. Are you missing any of your stock?"
 There was a pause for a moment, then the pig shook his head. "Nope. Why?"
 "Well.... I found a stray deer, but he has no tags or markings. He also is asking for his mom. Also.... he is very young. Seven I think."
 "What?! That's impossible! All demi stock are marked when they first reform. And as for families... they are kept together until old enough to be on their own. No exception."
 Sora was dumbfounded. "Then... how...."
 "Look.... you should just take him to the hospital and have his memories wiped. Then bring him to us."
 Sora shook her head. "As much as I support domestication of humans... this is different. It feels wrong. He's just a kid, a baby even."
 The pig nodded. "I hear ya. Well I cannot say I disagree if youtake him in. Just make sure high order knows."
 Sora nodded. "Ok. They will."
 The wolf hung up, turning to the boy sleeping in the back seat. She would reason it out later. For now he could use a bath, food.... and maybe a warm place to sleep.
 Perhaps.... he will be greatful in a certain way.
  CHAPTER 2: Radiant Dawn
 Aaron awoke in different surroundings yet again. But this time at least he was warm and cozy. The blanket he was under was lined with thick rabbit fur, and it felt so good on his skin. Under his head was the softest pillow he ever had been on, and moving felt like it was a chore, like he should just lay here forever. He did however want to know where he was, so slowly he got up.
 After all, his last memory was shivering cold and wet after running from that horrible place into the street, not finding his mom anywhere. Nor for that matter anyone other than more of those animal people/aliens that were attacking Earth. Why did they attack anyway? What did they want? Aaron was too young to know, and now it did not even matter as he was no longer even human. Yet why was he now in a home that looked so much like ones he lived in?
 Indeed, the more he looked the more it looked like his old bedroom. It wasn't, but it was lined with shelves of toys for little tykes and even some picture books. Clearly it was meant for someone much younger but it still looked so adorable. Slowly he got up to examine it further and saw that the sun was just starting to come up outside, the sunrise showing a lovely yard surrounded by a white picket fence, a wooded area not too far away.
 And by the woods was one of those pillars.
 "Excuse me?" A voice said behind him. The boy turned and went white with fear at the form before him... but only for a moment.
 For there before him was another of those animal beings, this one a wolf, clearly female. She wore a pretty green housedress with cream highlights, a light yellow apron on over that. Her fur was grey and white, and her figure was shapely but not skinny, and she had the prettiest smile and green eyes that had evee been seen. It was those eyes that helped calm Aaron down, gentle and soothing, unlike the lion who looked car more scary.
 "Sorry, I hope I didn't wake you little one. And I hope you slept well."
 Aaron nodded. "Where am I?"
 "This is my home." The lovely wolf said, sitting on the bed. For some reason, Aaron was compelled to sit by her. "Now we can properly introduce ourselves. My name is Sora, and what is your name little stray?"
 Aaron blinked. "Aaron. Aaron Wildfur. And I am not a stray, I'm a human.... or at least I was..."
Sora sighed softly. "Well, stray or no your safe now. Last night you were in such rough shape I thought it better to just clean you up and get you to bed. But now we will change that diaper of yours and get you into your new clothes. I had to guess your size so I hope they fit."
 Aaron blinked some as she lifted him up for a diaper change, making Aaron shudder a little. He was far too old to need a diaper change and yet here he was for that, carried from the cozy room to another seemingly dedicated to changing diapers. It had everything a mother might need for changing even a big baby, and as he was set on the changing table the feeling of comfort once again overwhelmed him. He couod not explain it, but he felt safe all of a sudden. It was like he knew this wolf was different from the lion at the hospital.
 So he let himself be changed. He watched as the old, uncomfortable diaper was removed, and he was flipped over and wiped clean. He blushed some at that. However it was what happened next that made everything change. He watched her reach for what he thought was baby powder, but on the shelf by it was..... POWDERED SUGAR.
 He went wide eyed and remembered one clear fact about the aliens that the UN had warned everyone about: they ate people, even some of rheir own kind. Footage confirmed kids beijg devoured by landing parties, and now he was seeing it may be true. It also explained why some of the diapers were aclctually in a refrigerator or had funny colors.
 They were made of food.
 "There we go." She said, grabbing the actual baby powder and beginning to sprinkle it all over the boys bumcheeks. But nnow he was scared, and she knew it. "Um.... you ok?"
 "Please don't eat me." He begged. "I don't taste good."
 
Sora smiled. "Well, one, I think you look delicious, but you have nothing to fear from me. I prefer to get my demis from the farms after they hsve been properly conditioned."
 Aaron did not like the sound of that. He recalled two things: his collar, and all those demis with tags on them. He was compelled to ask.
 "All demis go there after changing from being human, don't they."
 Sora seemed confused. "You didn't know? That is unusual. But yes, all demis go to the farms to be given retraining. The more cruel ones have their memories wiped, but most are just cuddled and brought up with kindness and lots of love."
 Aaron still was not convinced. "But... on farms... aren't there pigsand cattle.... or... are... demis...."
 Sora sighed. "Well you were intended to be food. But after attacking us we realized we could not tr-"
 But she didn't finish as Aaron sat up in anger. "Attacked you? You attacked first dropping those stones on us! They killed a lot of people! Even my friends!!!" Tears were on his cheek, and Sora remembered this was just a kid. He did not know the cruelty of his adult peers. She wiped them off as she spoke.
 "Those stones are the key to reformation. Immortality for foodstuffs as it were. When those towers activsted every demi became able to rebuild their bodies from the tiniest atoms to full individuals after being eaten up. This meant humans would not have feared being our food, and we would have secured a solid food supply at last."
 Aaron shook his head. "So why didn't you tell us?"
 "We tried. Your leaders at the.... what was it? UN? ON? PUN? Anyway we met with them and they kicked us out, the infestation starting soon after."
 Aaron did not know what to say to that so he said nothing. Sora meanwhile picked out some clothes for him, but as soon as he saw tuem he felt very. ... silly.
 "Ummmm..." he began to say as he lifted a shirt that had a cream color on the bottom and a wavy black upper portion including the sleeves. He put it on, as well as an accompanying beanie that had little bits of color and a deep red pompom on top. He looked for all the world like a walking fawn sundae. That, given who gave him the outfit, made him very nervous.
 "Please don't worry little one. I promise I will not eat you unless you want me too. However I should tell you again that if I do you will probably enjoy it, and will reform afterward with not a bit of worry."
 Aaron shook his head. "No thanks. Right now.... I just want to find my mom."
 Sora again felt odd about that. Even a stray would have had some conditioning at the farm. Enough that the focus would be more on curiosity than on finding the heffer you were born from.
 Sora reexamined that thought. Did.... she just classify the demis as...
 No. Stay focused. This little tidbit needed some tlc for now. Then she would get some answers. She led the changed and dressed boy out of the changing room and into a vast, two story main room of the house, which served as the living room and was dvided off for the kitchen area. A set of circular stairs made of wood led down to it from the rooms that the two had been in, and it was illuminated by a large chandelier at night and several skylights in the day. Aaron stared in awe at it all as he was led down. But as they reached their destination in the massive kitchen he gave an annoyed groan. For while the changing room and his room setup clearly was intended to baby him, the large high chair he was led to confirmed thst intent. While cozy, he still felt....
 "Now, with you still being not quite 100% I made a bit of mash for you." She withdrew a large bowl of delicious smelling stuff that looked like mashed potatoes and reeked of desserts. Aaron liked the smell of it, but groaned as she got a spoonful and held it before him.
 "I can feed myself." Aaron insisted. But Sora smiled sweetly.
 "I know little stray, but I rather you just focus on eating. If you do decide to let ke eat you, it will help you get fatter quicker. Now, open wide."
 Aaron groaned some and did so, dwelling for a moment on that statement. True, he will confess he ajd his mom did pretend it sometimes. But this was...
 And then the food hit his tounge. And he was in utopia. It was as if all his favorite desserts came together and had a party... and he was the main guest.
 "Its.... it's delicious!!!" He said. Sora beemed.
 "Glad you like it. I am a very good cook, in all respects. If you do ever let me eat you I promise it will be a lot of fun."
 Aaron actually smiled as he was fed more. Indeed this wolf WAS a good cook, like mom in many ways. He ate and ate for a half hour at the huge bowl of utopia mash, as he called it in his mind, until his belly seemed to sing at how full it was, and his form had a cute little bump. Sora smiled and pat the boy.
 "Wow, you were hungry. How do you feel now?"
 Th boy sighed. "Ok. That was so good. Reminded me of the cakes mom used to make."
 Sora was about to ask more about it when there was a loud knock on the door. Wondering who it could be Sora went to the front door and answered it, only to see Dr. Leon on the other side.
 "Are you Sora Wolfe?"
 The wolf nodded.
 "You are harboring an unprocessed food demi, qnd are to hand it over immediately or face immediate incarceration. "
  CHAPTER 3 Binding Blade
 Aaron hid behind the wolf as the doctor walked in. But Leon still regarded him with a smile.
 "Well, nice to see you again. I like the outfit."
 Aaron hid more. "Please dont hurt me. I just want to find my mom."
 Leon sighed. He looked to Sora. "As I feared. He has not been processed yet. He still is holding to his barbaric ideas."
 Aaron was wide eyed. "But I miss her!"
 "The only thing you should be missing is being in a pie."
 Sora blinked at that. True domesticated demis were indeed happy to be food, but she had assumed that was how they naturally were. She just figured Aaron was too much in shock. But...
 "Forgive Dr. Leon, but what happens when he is processed?"
 The doctor sighed once. "Well the better ones go to training, learning how to be a proper demi, or to be a pet. The worse ones have their memories erased in the hope good is still in them. But.... if it is not then we have no choice but elimination. Only fair for their race, given they attacked us."
  Aaron peeked out at that. "Stop saying that!" He shouted, both furs taken aback. "Do you really believe dropping rocks on us without even saying what they were for, or not caring who they hurt, was peaceful?"
 Dr. Leon was about to argue when he remembered the night the boy was brought in. He did have a point. Sadly he was not the first to say that very thing. In their desperation to save all they could they killed around 2.8 million individuals from the towers, to say nothing of the death in the arial warfare. They were not innocent in their zeal. The violent tendencies of the humans had doomed them... but the efforts of the furs did not help as much as it could have.
 "Where is my mom!?" He demanded again. "Or did you kill her for being too bad?!"
 "Aaron!" Sora said, but the lion just growled.
 "Now you listen. We were not the ones who released the infestation. Your government did. We hae no intent of killing anyone."
 Aaron froze. "What?"
 Sora spoke up. "Doctor stop! He's just a boy! Please leave him alone. I'll take full responsibility if he causes any trouble, but leave him alone!"
 Dr. Leon sighed. Finally he nodded. "Your right. Its... not fair to blame him for what his leaders did." He looked to Aaron. "We both lost a lot in that time. I only wish things could have been different."
 The boy nodded. "Just please find my mom. I miss her." He said, a single tear falling from his eye as he spoke. "You say you wanted to help us, but you hurt so many without caring. And our own leaders just poison us. Why? Why did we have to fight? Why cant we just...." Aaron broke down. "Why can't we just stop trying to hurt each other?!"
 Sora picked the boy up ad held him, looking to Dr Wolf. She looked sternly at him, almost with shame.
 "Why did I ever believe they were purely violent if all we saw were their leaders and people just fighting to stay alive?" She asked. "Do what you want to me. This boy is not going to a farm. I will care for him myself until I find his mom. And I promise until he asks me to I will not eat him. I will only love him."
 Dr. LLeon nodded. "Alright. I'll look in my records. But understand that deer will need a lot."
 Sora held him close. "He will have it all. And then some."
 Dr. Leon left after that, questioning his way of life and all he knew about humans. He now wished things really had been different.
 CHAPTER 4 Sacred Stones
 For the next week or so there was little that was learned about Aarons mother. Files on the humans were vast and sometimes classified, so tracing one specific human had a lot of issues. Still Dr. Leon swore on his honor, and he kept his word.
 All the while Aaron was taught about Soras race of animal beings. Called Zoorairans, they had been seeking a new home to live on when a comet destroyed their planet. Millions upon millions died, leaving onoy a fraction of a once mighty race. Soon they found Earth, a planet populated by a race that, when analyzed, was easy to reform from consumption and, based on brain scans, had a large population who would have been willing for such a coexistence, for many different ways. So contact was made with the leaders.
 Sadly the infestation ended any hope of the utopia that would have been, the leaders using it to keep their power over others, signing the death warrant for their planet almost without abandon. In a hope to save those who seemed pure the pillars were unloaded in major population areas... but that was a mistake, as humans traveled these areas in vehicles too fragile to stop them. It made humans believe they were at war with an alien species. As a result their machines of war attacked the alien ships, and many died on both sides. When it was over, about a month ago, both sides were a mere fraction of what they were, though humans turned out to outnumber the surviving furry invaders almost 5 to 1.
 All of this Aaron learned, along with why they looked so much like the animals of earth.... well most did anyway. The planet they lived on was very similar to Earth in many ways save that the humans never developed and died out in an early age. Overtime the animal beings, Zooairians (or Zoos, as Aaron learned many called themselves) developed into bipedal crearures, with pred and prey side by side.
 In this world reformatives soon needed developed as a result, and many were made witu great success. At first a simple pill was used, but soon rays and even pillars that emitted special energy were developed. These held the spirit in place while a new body was crafted using the targets dna. Sadly humans were too far gone, as they were so infected that reformwtion would not heal them but instead onoy add to their suffering.
 "So why clone us with animals?" Aaron asked one day as all of this was discussed. He and Sora were on the big, sqishy couch in the living room as they discussed this. Sora smiled.
 "Several of our scientists discovered the infestation only infected humans, and realized if we mixed the dna with that of compatible animals we would make a hybrid immune to the disease. It was a massive success."
 Aaron nodded. Slowly he was getting used to his more fuzzy form, and actually loving when it was pet or combed. Of course it also led to other discussions.
 "So... why so you eat people?" He asked, snuggled against the wolf, slowly getting used to her and to the fact that she was not an evil alien.
 Mostly.
 "Well.... several reasons. Like all carnivores we have to eat meat. Even those who do not solely eat meat cannot eat just vegtables and fruits. They have to eat meat, and humans and prey races have proven to be absolutely scrumptious as well as highly nutritious. In the same way you being food for us... or rather when you are... the resulting reformation is extremely beneficial."
 "It is?" Aaron asked puzzled, and Sora smiled rubbing around his antler nubs. THAT felt wonderful.
 "Absolutely. When reformed, traces of cancer and other disease are removed from the body. Tye key to that lay in the pillars."
 Aaron blinked, recalling how they killed so many.
 "Inside them is a metal that naturally produces massive amounts of energy. That energy can be formed and replicated in any way, makijg reformation not only possible but a viable healing tool. While it cannot fix all things, it will extended a preys life extensively."
 Aaron blinked. "And.... it doesn't hurt?"
 Sora smiled, continuing to pet the boy. "Not at all. The only side effect sadly is a case of incontinence, hence why so many preys are babied. On that note some ask to reform as babies. While possible it does not fix everything and takes a long time. But.... well.... the result is a sweet little treat."
 Aaron could not help but chuckle at the thought of a baby given a lettuce diaper as he lay on a big sub for Sora. The image in his mind was too cute to keep from smiking.
 "And those towers.... make it possible?"
 "A gift from the heavens in many ways." She smiled and snuggled him, letting him get comfortable. "Say... if you want to learn more, maybe we better enroll you in school."
 Aaron blinked. "School? But.... I'm just..."
 Sora smiled. "Relax. Yes reformation allows you to be eaten and reformed and yes there are farms of demis now but that does not mean you are just livestock. You still are a person unless you prefer to just be food, which I do not think is the case. So, best thing for you is to go to school and have a normal childhood. And if you worry about it, no one can eat you in school without your permission."
 Aaron nodded, understanding just enough to know that it meant he was still a kid after all and the wolf reguarded him as such. "Okay. Um.... just one thing."
 "Yes?"
 Aaron bkushed. He did have one issue he only told his mom about, esoecially since she said she would have liked to have a daughter someday.
 "Ummmmm.... can I have a dress?"