"Alternate universe? That's awesome!"

This is like your favorite episode of the sci-fi show you watched as a kid! You can't help but wonder if there's an alternate you in the other universe, and what AU-you would be like. What college does he go to? Is he also watching his aunt's house? Is he friends with Furs, or does he hate them?

Zayne arches an eyebrow as he regards you. "Well, that's surprising. We were told we'd most likely be met with fear and ****."

And just like that, reality dampens your enthusiasm like a wet blanket on a birthday candle, because this isn't a TV show, with a thinly veiled moral and a happy ending, this is the real world, where people kill each other for the stupidest reasons.

"Whoever told you that is probably right," you say. "Humans can be hateful, intolerant assholes, and that's to each other. I can't imagine what they'll do to a race of talking horse-people."

"Oh, not all Furs are horses," Zayne says. "There are cats, wolves, foxes, raccoons, rabbits -- most kinds of mammals, actually, as well as some birds and reptiles. Anything the army thought would make a good soldier."

You suddenly realize that he still has his hand on your wrist. "Um, can I have my arm back?"

The horse, who you're starting to think might be considered handsome and charming among his own kind, leans closer to you. "I quit holding on to you five minutes ago," he says in a low, sultry voice, his fingers sliding up your forearm. "If you want your arm back, just take it."