Work Text:
i step outside,
the wind brushing my fur
my paws feel coarse concrete
wait
this isn't my home
where am i
i am in a forest,
except the trees are buildings,
and the animals are humans
no no no
this isn't right
where are my friends
i find myself being talked to,
just as if i were one of them
its okay
if they cant see the difference i cant either
i can still run like how i did,
though the people don't like it
sometimes they get too close and touch my tail or wings
i notice but i have learned not to say anything
for they don't see what i see
sometimes i still long to hunt
and i try to find my prey
but instead they're in pictures
they're suffocated in fire but the people find it more pleasing
when i speak my natural words
they all find it strange
“what are you saying?” they say
“can you not understand me?” i think in my head
i don't give a reply and instead make an excuse
everyone is strange and unnatural
i found someone
another one of my kind
they possess wings and everything like me
though not the wings i bear on my head
it is freeing not to see another person
we run through the spaces we can
doing what is natural
some of the people still haven't learned yet
they call us strange words they use
i have found other people
not like me and them but close enough
they cant grasp what we are really but are respectful enough about it
sometimes they ask things that shouldn't be answered
But they're only people
they wont ever understand truly
i found some things
there's some people that wear things
masks
that look like us
maybe they understand
they're much nicer than the other people
there's some people out there
they feel like one of us when i see them
but something feels off
but its okay
if they do what we do they are welcome
...
Now I see it.
I look down.
Where are they?
Where are my paws?
I look behind me.
Were my wings cut off?
Where did they go?
It doesn't feel natural.
I feel my tail, but it is not behind me.
I try go down like before.
My body doesn't shape into it as it used to.
No matter.
I put on my mask, my tail, my gear as they call it.
I look into the mirror.
I see what I was before, before something.
Close enough.
Running through the trees
I can feel it again
it feels right
i am in the right mind
the wind runs through my fur again
the grass caresses my paws
it feels right
Wait
Where did the grass go
Why is the ground coarse again
What is that bright BEAMING LIGHT THAT IS COVERING MY EYES