New Beginnings by wolfjedisamuel on DeviantArt (original) (raw)

`You never know what's just around the corner...

Happy [Belated] New Year everyone!
I hope 2024 has been treating you well thus far...

`

So, I wanted to make this piece my Christmas image for 2023, but I didn't think it matched the season. So I opted for the new year instead, as I think it has more meaning for us this year.

So last year, a number of friends on FB were reposting these comic strips of a young fox-girl being bullied by her human classmates. And at first I thought it was just probably a certain part of the story.
But then as another chapter was reposted, and another... I began to notice there was no improvement in this girl's story. She was constantly being mistreated just because she was furry.

Finally I decide to look up this comic hoping to see some silver lining in her story, but was shocked by what I found.
So the manga is called "Fur Just Wanna Be Friends" by Theterm.
And it's basically about a fox-girl named "Fur" living amongst humans who basically harass her for being an Anthro-fox.
And each chapter is about her going through school, trying to be nice to people, and having people just treating her like absolute garbage regardless.

I was appalled by the story, my heart sank. I was like "What is THIS!? Where's Child Protective Services when you need them!?"... Because there was little to no relief for this girl!
I just wanted to jump into the comic and pull her out as fast as I could, get her away from these terrible people as soon as possible.
And I hated the fact (at the time) there was no peace for her. It pained me to see her suffering so much. So I thought I'd do something to give this girl some bit of solace. And while I personally probably couldn't do it alone myself, I knew there were proper authorities who could. A couple of furs themselves who've been in the same position before...

Now, at the time of doing this image, as mentioned she was in poor condition.
But I'm happy to report her story has made a good and rather unexpected turn (SPOILER: She finally makes a friend).
I'm just hoping it doesn't make a sudden U-Turn for the worse. Here's hoping the previous chapters are long behind her.

And while her story is a harsh one, I think symbolically it's something for us to reflect on this coming year. We may encounter strife & hardship, but you never know what tomorrow will bring. You never know who'll be there to lend a helping hand.
2023 was a tough year, and there's no guarantee 2024 will be any better. But like "Fur", we just gotta keep our heads high, never give up, and keep moving forward no matter what obstacles stand in our way.

"Fur Just Wanna Be Friends" (Chapters 1-9)

LATEST CHAPTERS (1-15)
www.patreon.com/collection/392…

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Fur (character) © "Fur Just Wanna Be Friends (manga) - "2019-present" by theterm
Judy Hopps & Nick Wilde (characters) © "Zootopia" (2016) Byron Howard, Rich Moore, Clark Spencer, Jared Bush, Phil Johnston (Walt Disney Studios, Pictures & Animation Studio ™ )
Wolf J. Samuel (character) © me
Subway Sandwich (logo) © "1965 - present" Fred DeLuca & Peter Buck (Subway IP Inc. ™ )
Sans (character) © "2015" (Undertale) TobyFox (GameMaker: Studio™ )
OTHER REFERENCES, LOGOS, CHARACTERS, ITEMS, FILMS, SERIES, MUSIC, GAMES, BRANDING, ETC. ARE COPYRIGHTED © & TRADEMARKED ™ TO THEIR RESPECTIVE OWNER, PRODUCTION, COMPANY OR STUDIOS.
wolfjedisamuel © 24