Needles of excitement pricked along my skin just before my arrival. The butterflies in my stomach leaped around with intense anticipation, catalyzing a steep increase of my heartbeat. I stepped out of the car, nauseous but thrilled, looking around to recognize the visages of the strangers around me. They were familiar, but so strange as well, since in reality, I had never met any of these people. I knew who they were, but didn’t at the same time; they were the epitome of all I held dear. A fangirling shriek forced its way up my throat, but with a lot of willpower, I was able to suppress it. The smiling sun above me was sweltering, radiating a bright, blistering glow as my companions clutched me by the wrists and pulled me inside. I was overcome with joy to see all of these breathtaking, beautiful perfect strangers; these were my kin, the commonality, my community, and even though it was my debut to this kind of scene, I felt strangely at home.

The cool air inside the convention hall clung to my feverish skin, embracing me in its cold but loving grip. The climate change between inside and outside was astounding. The pavement outdoors was a fire, slowly eating through the soles of one’s shoes and lapping at her sensitive, vulnerable skin. It was slightly windy outside, but instead of chilled air, the wind blew gusts of torridity into one’s face, leaving her eyes and cheeks stinging. We would have avoided being outside at all if we could, but the raging crowd behind us pushed us every which-way en route to the next anticipated panel. I felt two gentle taps on my shoulder and craned my neck upwards to see who it was. A sweaty boy, no older than myself, licked his dry lips before asking for directions. The packed, constantly moving bodies of the corridor didn’t allow me to answer and shoved me forward. It was a two-lane street, and stopping unexpectedly wasn’t an option. It was a maze of condensed, sweaty bodies, but despite our discomfort, it did not quell the buzzing excitement and playful acts of camaraderie. Once in an isolated loft of the hall, a group of a few rogues and myself were able to talk and play a few rounds of a common schoolyard game. We leaped through the air, screaming like a couple of banshees, all in great fun. I couldn’t believe they liked me--in my eyes, they were on a much higher rung on the ladder of authority than I--but as a matter of fact, they were just nerdy kids like me.

Later that day was when I first came upon what would become the bane of my existence: furries. The moment those giant balls of matted fur strode past us, we could smell them. The stench of sweat and other bodily fluids clung to my nostrils. Not only did the furries pollute the air with their vile malodor, they were also the most terrifying things I had ever seen in my life. One of them, a man in a cat suit, approached me, putting his oversized paws over my shoulders as if draping a curtain of horror over my face. As furries do not speak, he made otherworldly gestures towards me like a confused mime. Whatever he had been trying to say was lost on me. When one of the other furries, a large, colorful brute of a dog, set down a stereo and cranked up the jams, the cat quickly retreated to join them. It was an avalanche of dubstep and speedcore, and before the bass could even drop, the courtyard was flooded up to the hilt with furries. The shaggy bodies spasmed to the music, similar to a person having a seizure. Before long, a circle had formed, and the most experienced breakdancers spazzed in the center. I was shaken speechless by their dancing, impressed, even. It has to take a lot of skill to dance like a professional choreographer while wearing a 100 pound fur suit. We snuck away during their dance; as fascinating as it was, the fascination did not overcome the desire to evacuate the area.

Minutes later, I felt a sharp pang in my stomach. Someone had taken a knife and plunged it into my gut, twisting it into my stomach and tying it into a knot. This sudden pain had been triggered by the aroma of pizza floating through the air, making me realize the intensity of my hunger. The quality of the pizza was far below par, but literally anything felt appealing to my complaining stomach and salivating mouth. I waited in line, eyes twitching with impatience and downright irritation as the girl preceding me begged for change from the people around us, eyes brimming with guilty tears. In the still coherent corner of my mind, I understood; the food here was ludicrously overpriced, and it was hard not to spend every last cent in your pockets as soon as you set foot into the vendor’s hall. After what seemed like an eternity, the girl was gone and I was able to buy my flimsy, tasteless dinner. The crust was bland, and the cheese, artificial, but despite that, the pizza sent a wave of relief throughout my body. My feet ached as if I had been walking for miles, throbbing just enough to be extremely uncomfortable as I sat against the wall with my empty cardboard box. Who knew walking around in circles all day could be so tiring?

By now the sun had fallen between purple peaks. The air was calm as the masses settled down, the dried grass getting a rest after being trampled throughout the day. It was eerily silent for a place that was still so full of people, the noise in the atmosphere never rising above a dull murmur. One could still hear the ferocious beat of the furries in the distance, the fandom that never sleeps. Everything went hush for the night, recuperating before the busy repeat the next day.