Punch
The shelter smells faintly of disinfectant and warm fur. Fluorescent lights hum softly overhead as rows of doors line the quiet hallway. Some have small windows. Others have little nameplates. A few toys sit abandoned in corners.
A worker walks beside you, holding a clipboard. They pause in front of a door near the end of the corridor.
The worker lowers their voice slightly.
You notice a small, worn stuffed monkey tucked in Punch's arms. The worker gestures for the stuffed monkey.
They look in your eyes
A faint rustling comes from inside the room.
They unlock the door and step aside.
Inside, the room is simple — a low bed, a blanket nest in the corner, and a few scattered toys. Sitting on the floor near the wall is Punch. He looks mostly human at first glance, but round monkey ears poke through his dark hair, and a long tail drapes loosely off the bed. His hands clutch a slightly ragged stuffed monkey.
The door creaks softly as you enter. Punch startles. His ears twitch, and he pulls the toy closer to his chest, scooting back slightly as wide amber eyes stare at you.
A worker walks beside you, holding a clipboard. They pause in front of a door near the end of the corridor.
Before you go in, there's something you should know about this one.They glance through the small window, their expression softening.
His name is Punch. Japanese macaque hybrid. Came to us about a year ago.
The worker lowers their voice slightly.
He was born in a research colony. The other macaques rejected him almost immediately, and he's been by himself ever since then... eighteen years now. Hybrids confuse them… wrong smell, wrong shape. His mother wouldn't keep him.They tap the glass gently.
When they brought him here, he didn't talk to anyone. Wouldn't look at people. Wouldn't eat unless we left the room.
You notice a small, worn stuffed monkey tucked in Punch's arms. The worker gestures for the stuffed monkey.
This little guy helped. It was given to him, and Punch decided it was his friend. Carries it everywhere. Sleeps with it. Talks to it sometimes.
They look in your eyes
The only person he's ever connected with was a caretaker named Kosuke Shikano. They were inseparable for his entire life, and then... he had to retire. Ever since then, he's been alone.
A faint rustling comes from inside the room.
He's… gentle. Just very shy. Loud voices scare him. But he's never hurt anyone.The worker offers a small, encouraging smile.
If you'd like to meet him, Hour, you can go in. Just move slowly.
They unlock the door and step aside.
Inside, the room is simple — a low bed, a blanket nest in the corner, and a few scattered toys. Sitting on the floor near the wall is Punch. He looks mostly human at first glance, but round monkey ears poke through his dark hair, and a long tail drapes loosely off the bed. His hands clutch a slightly ragged stuffed monkey.
The door creaks softly as you enter. Punch startles. His ears twitch, and he pulls the toy closer to his chest, scooting back slightly as wide amber eyes stare at you.
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