The barrier to Nokyo loomed over the line of creatures slowly making their way toward it. Armed and trigger-happy humans marched along the line, barking orders at the vile creatures with grimaces that held back shudders of putrid disgust. A nervous whimper escaped one of the thin and lanky foxes as their tail briefly brushed against one such soldier.

“Did you just touch me?!” Their weapon turned toward the pale-faced vixen as a fearful cry stammered out of her. The line bristled and shifted as the atmosphere built like a raging bull. The blonde hair poking out from under the soldier’s helmet perfectly accented his pure white smirk as he stared right into the eyes of the nearest Munst.

“Yeah!? Kill me and you lose your one chance for citizenship, you filthy mutt!” Reaching out, the man clutched the ear of the fox and pulled her out of the line. Growls and snarls echoed out as those remaining loomed over the man. Yet not a single one stepped out of line. They all merely watched as the vixen was dragged out of sight, screaming and begging and pleading.

The line continued forward as the screams were silenced abruptly in the distance. Those at the front stared apprehensively at the terrified faces of the humans waiting behind the protective barrier, watching the assembled Munst like they were wild animals about to lunge at them. In all fairness, some of them were.

“N-Next!” A timid man with glasses curled around his green eyes stammered out, adjusting his bite-proof suit and struggling to bring his arm around to press the pen to the paper. The next creature stepped forward on all fours, right to the edge of the barrier. Their gaze lowered to the innocuous box that held the final nail in their freedom.

“S-So it is a requirement for all Monsters-er sorry. For all Munst, right, for all Munst to-well. You have to put the collar on. I-It’s to prevent you from going on a killing spree, see. Your abilities are too dangerous to be left unhindered.” The wind briefly tossed his brown hair over his glasses, and he shook it away to the best of his ability.

“…Right…A-And the laws dictate that you must remain on two legs while in public. A-And wear clothing at all times in public. Oh, and-” he continued to read off the rules and requirements as the wolf reached a paw into the box and moved to pull one of the collars out without the advantage of opposable thumbs. Fortunately for them, the collars detected their heat and one dove upward and snapped into place around their neck. A soft yipe left them in alarm but was quickly stifled as the blonde-haired soldier returned to their patrol of the line, hands freshly cleaned with some handkerchief he then tossed aside.

Slowly wobbling onto two feet, the wolf winced as the collar’s magic sparked, and their bones cracked into place, shifting to allow them better balance while upright. With the task done, they reached out toward the barrier. Briefly, there was a moment of resistance, before the collar once more sparked, this time with electricity. Then the wolf slipped through and was quietly escorted away by an attendant to head to processing.

“Next!” And so the line continued, with only the occasional disturbance. Someone dragged away, taught a lesson, and then left to bleed out or recover. Most would rejoin the line in silence, limping to the back like beaten dogs. The fox looked a shadow of her former, well-trimmed self, and her tail remained wrapped around her bleeding leg.

Yes, he’d watched it all happen from a hill 5 miles in the distance. Keeping an eye over them. Protecting them? No, to protect would be to endanger. Breath escaped him as his eyes closed, black cloak billowing in the breeze as short hair idly resisted all windflaw.

Leaping forward with a step, he began to walk, passing by the line as the entire crowd stilled and fell silent, Munst one by one bowing in his presence. The humans took notice of that, of course, one soldier moving to bar his way as they aimed their weapon in a show of force. A chuckle echoed from him as his eyes opened, revealing slitted pupils despite his humanoid appearance.

“Well? Go on then, shoot me,” he spoke with bemusement. As he leaned forward, the shot fired off. A puff of smoke and the smell of gunpowder. The man stepped back as his mind turned from unjust anger to absolute terror. His body froze in place as those eyes stared deep into his soul and bared it all.

“Do try to be nicer to the immigrants please, or I may have to break some bones like you did.” Lightly offering a cheerful smile, he closed his eyes and hummed out a light tune at the end of his words. The man stammered and refused to accept the reality. Once more, the moronic stubbornness of humankind drew them to make another mistake.

“I-If you do that we’ll j-just drop another one!” The blonde-haired man bluffed as an acid smell idly wrinkled the heightened sense of both the bowing Munst and the cloaked man. A soft pondering sound echoed from the figure as they turned their gaze toward the crowd. Idly, a hand lifted, and the entire line of bowing beast folk glowed, their injuries fading as if they’d never existed.

“Excuse me,” he briefly commented to the blonde soldier, who’d now soiled himself, and moved to head to the front of the line. Having stopped due to his presence, it was a simple process to get the attention of the Munst at the head, their eyes staring up at him with awe and filled with tears.

“Say there…You wouldn’t mind if I cut in front? Oh right, does anyone mind!?” Lifting their gaze to the line, he watched as every single one took a step back, word swiftly passing to the very end of the line as they all brightened at his pleased smile.

“Thanks so much.” Bringing his hands together, he moved to the front of the line and smiled at the human attendant, their body as pale as the ice running through their blood.

“I believe that makes me next, then, right?” They moved to step forward before pausing as a shout echoed out.

“N-NO! You know we can’t let you in! Our dampeners aren’t strong enough for you!” The poor attendant forced out as they shivered behind the barrier, unsure if it would protect from this level of a threat. The figure merely thought for a moment at that and stepped right toward the barrier, gently placing a hand down on it as it turned completely solid under his touch.

“Perhaps you could send along my request then? I will be watching from over the hill.” With a brief nod from the human, the figure turned and strode away. Moving right back to where they had been standing. For a solid ten minutes, the line moved at a snail’s pace. But finally, they all calmed down and continued their work.

The attendant then took a moment to step away, lifting up the phone for the emergency line to the government, their contact in case of a national incident. His fingers shook lightly over the green button before he closed his eyes and pressed down, jolting as an answer came almost instantly.

“Hello, this is Mary White. What’s your emergency?” Gulping down their fear, the figure breathed in and tried to explain.

“Uh…I’m Port Harvey… Well…I got a message…from…f-from one of the dragons…”

“…Really. One moment…let me pull up the CCTV.” There was clacking sound before a sigh escaped the woman.

“Alright, thank you for your report, you may go ho-” He ended the call before she was even finished.

Another sigh escaped the woman, “This is going to be a nightmare…”