The night was the same as every other night.
How the wind gently shook the branches of the trees.
The rustling filled the woods with noise in the otherwise silence under the moonlight.
It was the same as any other night.
Or was it?
On this night in particular.
A bat was born. Not just any bat but one of the...vampiric variety.
But like most, this bat had a fatal flaw.
They were blind.
Bloodthirsty.
But unlike the others.
This young bat was born weaker than the others, which led to abandonment.
Its tiny body could not keep up with the others in its family.
How its mother didn't want to burden herself with carrying the young bat everywhere they went.
Survival of the fittest, or so they say.
It was left alone in the cold, starving.
Indeed, it wouldn't be long before the young bat's life ended early.
How could the world be so cruel?
Barely born.
And already left behind.
Why?
What God had this poor bat's fate written?
Was this already the end?
As the young bat lay on a rock.
Clinging on for dear life so as not to find itself blown away by the harsh winds.
Maybe this was the world punishing the poor bat for something it couldn't control.
"Isn't it odd that the gods won't show even the slightest bit of mercy on such a poor innocent creature like yourself?"
A gentle voice followed by soft hands cupping the poor bat, lifting their body off the rock, shielding them from the winds that once threatened to blow their small body away.
"People say survival of the fittest, but giving the weak a fighting chance is not better? Perhaps one day, the weak will beat the strong with their large hearts rather than brute force."
Who held them? Who protected them? What were the odd words they were saying?
"You're quite the cute bat...such a shame that your family left you behind..." They sighed, gently brushing the fur from the bat's face.
The bat 'stared' at the person, blinking unquestioningly at them. Feeling the person's hands stutter, they laughed slightly at the bat's gaped mouth, how their ears twitched, and how the bat's tiny wings felt around the hands that held the bat off the ground.
The person's voice silenced the bat as the bat let out a small secession of squeaks.
"Do not worry, little one. You are unable to live a normal life as the bats here can. From now on, I will take care of you." They whispered, placing the tip of their finger on the bat's head.
It felt so unreal. The tingling sensation...how it felt as if they were burning overcame their once small body. Their fingers did the same as what were once wings seemingly shrunk, becoming replaced with arms.
Their legs grew, draping over the person's arms as they still carefully held the bat.
Sight overcame one of their eyes, allowing them to see the new limbs they were granted, admiring how their toes curled and wiggled with movement.
YOU ARE READING
Shadows Between Stars
General Fiction"Take a closer look, and you will find the shadows that lay between the stars, brother." The writer said, looking up at the projected sky, watching as the stars fell from their place. "I care not for the shadows that lay between them, but if you ar...
