The war of the races

"Don't breathe in too deeply... it's really not so fresh" Zaida smiled and leapt ahead of Todd. "slow down there... it's not as safe as you think..." Zaida pulled out her keyring that she took from the vault and moved towards where the fresh air was coming and shifted back into anthro, smiling as she walked to a wall with a dull glowing mouldy green patch.

"Ok then...." Todd said waiting patiently.

Zaida smiled and wiped the keyring in front of the pad and she turned her head to the group "Welcome to safety..." She smiled and walked forward through the wall, sighing happily as she met the thousands of anthros lurking inside around hundreds of labs and computers.

Todd sighed happily at the site of his home.

Jake gawked at all the anthro's
"I-Is there anywhere to bury the dead?"

"Sorry mate, no burials, but we have a crematorium... VICKY!" a violet leopard turned around and walked towards Zaida, her deep violet tail curling up. "Please show Jake to the crematorium..." Zaida turned and patted Jake's back. "Sorry mate, that's all we got.."

Jake looked down.
"Thats okay..."
He mumbled as he followed the violet leapord.

Todd ran off in other direction upon seeing someone.

Zaida's ears drooped at the sight, knowing exactly how Jake felt and she walked forward, looking more perky at the site of the gathered anthro's.
"Simply amazing.." She looked down at Scott who was still in water form "We should get you to a doctor eh?" She leant down and stroked the surface of the water on scott's back

"I know someone who could help." Todd said smiling.

Jake sadly put the body in the cremation chamber and talked to the leapord.
"She wanted to be buried where we used to own a house.. green field... birds flew.. circkets sang all night.."
He shed a tear.
"Sad to see planning go to waste..."
He watched the fire leap up and burn the body, then put his head in his hands and cried heavily into his palms.

Vicky gently rubbed Jakes back and handed him a drink or water, placing it beside him and in his mind she whispered "It'll be alright, brother, one day you will unite again in soul." She smiled at him and walked slowly out of the crematorium, and disappeared amongst the anthro crowd.

Jake smiled when he heard this.
He picked up the water and took a sip of it.
"See you soon, love...."
Jake walked out of the crematorium and into the crowd as well.

Melanie sighed "Poor Jake..."

Zaida walked back to melanie and gave her a long awaited embrace and she smiled... "I'm sorry about Clane... he was a great mentor... a great leader.."

Melanie hugged her back tightly, crying. "He was..."

Zaida rubbed Melanie's back and then began leading her to a dining hall, filled with Anthro's eating their meals and clearing out, it was late. She sat herself and Melanie down at the table and a mouse anthro in a waiter's suit came out.
"may i take your order, those who starve don't fight well."

"Only a soup for me please." Melanie said glumly.

the mouse turned to Zaida and she smiled at him ....food. That hadn't came up much around in her life.
"May i have water and a burger please?"
"Of course ma'am"
the mouse walked off cheerfully and Zaida slumped back into her chair, watching Melanie intently.

Melanie smiled at her friend weakly and began carving something in the table with her dagger. "How'd you get here Zad?"

"After the war a few months ago and losing my mate... i honestly couldn't stand Africa anymore.. I came here in search of the base and resistance all on these babies" She smiled and looks down at her feet "oh and the help of this.." clicking jher fingers and summoning the water from melanie's glass. She smiled at her friend and used the water to wash the dirt off of the fox's cheekfur.

Melanie smiled, some light coming back into her eyes and the fire blazed more brightly in the corner. "Thats awesome Zad. I'm so glad to see you"

Zaida purred and the mouse waiter came out and served up Melanie's soup and retreated to the kitchen again. Zad's stomach growled at her and she held it. "Ohhh me so hungry..." She smiled

Melanie smiled back and sipped at her soup.

There was the sound of a sudden explosion from another part of the base. Followed by the sound of gibberish yelling.