The Fast and the Furryest

Neo had arrived at the bar ahead of Tez. Partly because she enjoyed being first and partly because she wanted to see him arrive in the dress. She wondered if he actually would do it now. Technically there was no actual contract stating he had to, on top of that if he had no access to a dress there was little that could be done. It was really more about the sport of it, the fun.

She had been nervous waiting for him to arrive and had already ordered self a double that she had slipped back rather quickly while handing the bartender amount due.

She turned to look around the bar. Several Centaurs could be seen at all corners. Some drinking, some talking, all having a good time. A few of them were even from her farm, which was always nice to see. The ones she knew nodded at her knowingly. On a normal night she would have gone over to have a drink and a laugh with them, but tonight was different.

The humans and other species that were here looked just as happy and relaxed as the centaurs. Some of them had on ten-gallon hats and boots. some of these people she recognized from neighboring farms, and a few others from the farmers market. Everyone seemed to be having a good time.

As Tez entered the bar she struggled to surpress her giggle. He had done it. He had arrived wearing a dress, and not a bad looking one at that. She waved him over to her spot at the bar. Many people had stopped to gawk as he entered. It wasn't every day that a guy walked into the Barn wearing a dress.

"I'm glad you made it. I was worried you didn't know where it was." She was still grinning as she turned to face the bar while he ordered his drink. "Oh for me? I'll take a beer to start." She said confidently

"So uh... I like your dress. It compliments your figure." She teased as the bartender handed them their drinks.

Neo giggled as he took the teasing well and twirled. It was good to be around people who weren't always so serious. Still, though they were receiving a lot of attention and she partly felt bad for that, as she was the one who made the bet. "hey... Cmon let's go upstairs." She backed away from the bar as she spoke holding her glass of beer securely as she did. "Follow me." She instructed as she led him over to the ramp up to the loft.

Up top, there were only a few other bar-goers. Even up top, the music was still able to be heard as it poured out of the speakers down below. Neo Led Tez over to a table next to the railing that overlooked the rest of the bar. There were a couple of chairs up here and she grabbed one as she passed, dragging it to the table for Tez.

"So Centaur farms is maybe 10 or 11 miles from here. Not too far for me. Maybe 10 minutes run for me. The city was nice enough to set us up comfortably between the school and the city to better accommodate us."

She drank deeply from her beer and smiled. "There are like thirty of us now. We keep growing as other join the herd. Everyone has a place and jobs to do." She loved her life her family, he everything. It was a simple life in many ways but it was fulfilling.

"So whats your story?"

Neo listened carefully as Tez told his story. It was in many ways similar to a lot of stories she had heard. A child with latent abilities suddenly develops into their powers or forms and they are brought here. Many families had been divided like this. Of course, that wasn't the whole thing. Many people had been saved like this as well.

"Me? Well, let's see. My family is from Greece. My mom and I and 5 others came over like 18 years ago. Since then others have joined us adding to our herd. I don't remember anything from Greece. I mean I was way too young." She smiled as she spoke, and her words flowed as freely as a well-rehearsed story. This was what she told everyone. The facts of her life. There were other things too. Little details, how she believed her father was in hiding, how her original herd was underground for safety. How she grew up being raised by other centaurs from other herds. Her life wasn't bad however, it was just difficult, and many of her stories weren't worth reciting so soon after meeting someone.

"I try not to think about the past. The odds of me ever going there are slim, so there is no point really dwelling on it. I tend to try to look ahead, like when I run. Visualize my finish line and get to it." Sometimes that finish line was just making it to the end of the day. She took another drink from her beer and smiled, leaning over the table a bit.

"So why the extraction teams? Like why leave the island?"

Neo stood silently, leaning on the railing while Tez explained his reasons. All in all, they seemed good. At the very least good intentioned and honest. Still, it raised a few more questions. These would need to wait a moment however as a young waitress came up the ramp and approached them.

"You folks doing alright? Can I get you another?"

Neo looked over at the waitress and smiled while holding up her glass. "I'll have another of these please." She said before downing the last sip of her beer. It wasn't easy for a centaur to become intoxicated. Their bodies and liver for that matter were far too large and efficient to be bested by a few drinks." And he will have one too." She said as she gestured to Tez.

As the waitress left with Neo's empty glass and drink order. She turned to look back at Tez now and smiled thoughtfully. "So you're a humanitarian then? That's not a bad way to live. But won't that have you out in the field a lot? You know. out in the narrow reality?"

"And your friend came from a bad spot? I'm sorry to hear that. I know a lot of people came here from bad spots. The world is kinda harsh out there." She rested her arm on the railing casually while she spoke. Her mom had told her that things had been bad for them right before they came here, but she couldn't remember any of that. In a way that made it different for her. She had no real basis of comparison to the outside world, just the stories she heard from others.

Neo nodded in agreement as she started in on her second drink. "The world can be a terrible place. I mean I don't know what it's actually like out there. But I have heard from a lot of people that its just hell for other species. I wouldn't want to be out there. But then again... I'm pretty happy where I am."

It was nice being away from things and taking a breather. She didn't do this as often as she wanted, and often when she came here and hung out with others from her herd, the talk would fall back to work. There was more to life than that.

"So. I want to be a nurse because... Well Because my mom thinks I'm suited for it. Lightweights like myself don't usually have too many career choices within a herd. In many cases, we aren't even good baby makers. Heavies handle most of the larger jobs, and Dairies handle child care. So in many cases, lights like me get stuck with medical types of jobs or odd careers."

She sighed as she looked over the railing. There were a lot of heavies here tonight. She could easily tell them apart from the few lights. Their wide and sturdy bodies were made to handle the toughest of jobs. And they often rubbed it in her face. That was why she pushed herself so hard. She had to be able to match them, to prove herself. And now, there wasn't a one amongst them that could catch her on the run.

"I know it's not as exciting as scouting and exploring the world. But it's something."