Meat and Metal

Freedom

A/N: This chapter is probably a bit short. I will be trying to make the next one longer.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Trees fly past you as you weave through them. Your heart seems to pound in rhythm with your footsteps. Twigs and leaves snap and crunch beneath your feet as they hit the ground. Soil clings to your scales before being thrown off by your quick pace. Freedom is at the end of your clawed fingertips. The bullets that bury themselves into trees behind you don't matter. What does matter is the wind that runs over your body and all the new sounds and smells that assault your senses. You've never felt this good.

Being cooped up in a cage that was just barely big enough to fit you had left you agitated. The repeating concrete walls had filled your vision for years. Those who kept you captive had repeatedly tried to tame you. Each attempt had failed. Your escape would've come sooner if you'd had the strength for it. Now, you do. And you used it. No more will chains bind you. Nor will you be muzzled for simply existing. This new world has welcomed you with open arms and you have accepted its invitation.

Your captors stand no chance of keeping up with you. Especially when you can bend your body to slip past trees without your ongoing speed faltering. The bark brushes against your scales as you run. The sensation is new to you. However, it isn't unwelcome. When you get the chance to stop, you might rub against a tree or two just to enjoy the feeling. That chance won't be coming anytime soon. You intend to put as much distance between that building as you can.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Eventually, you've ran for so long that you have to stop. Your heavy breaths create small puffs of smoke in the cool air that surrounds you. The place that you've chosen to stop is a large clearing that is covered in snow. Every time you take a step your feet sink into the cold, white substance beneath you. A rushing waterfall draws you in as it drops into the pond beneath it. Your neck cranes down as you rely on your paws to keep you balanced. You had to get on all fours to reach the water. The refreshing liquid slides down your throat each time you take a drink. Small amounts of excess water fall from the spaces in between your sharp, jagged teeth.

Finally being able to properly drink something feels wonderful. It fills your body and quenches your thirst. Your atrophied muscles relax as you replenish yourself with a much needed drink. Soon enough, you're raising your head back up. You're on two legs once more. A expressive rumbling noise emits from your throat. For once, you're actually happy.

This clearing has provided you with most of the things you'll need. Water, shelter, and a place to rest. You will have to hunt in the forest, but you don't mind. In fact, you're looking forward to it. Hunting in your previous residence was lackluster and you never had enough to eat. They believed that a pig would be enough to sate your hunger. It never was. Out here, you'll find things more suited to your appetite.

For now, however, your priority is getting the rest you need. You make your way around the pound to the waterfall. A cave is hidden behind the constantly moving water. You hesitate before stepping through the liquid. It hits your body harshly before fading as you step into the cave. Your claws click against the wet stone. Your sides visibly flinch before you shake, flinging water from your scales. You make your way further into the rocky structure that surrounds you. It leads you to a large, open area that you deem suitable to use as your resting place. There's a hole in the ceiling that allows moonlight to shine in. It highlights your scales as you lay down in the center of the cave. You take in a deep breath before exhaling heavily. Your tired and worn out body relaxes completely. Your eyelids grow heavy before shutting slowly. Sleep invades your mind and pulls you into its dark embrace.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

A low rumbling groan slips from your throat as you wake up. Sunlight is shining directly through the ceiling of the cave. Its warmth had hit you in the face rather crudely, forcing you to wake up. You stretch your large body while yawning. Afterwards, you blink your eyes a couple times to get the tired out of them. You stand up slowly before shaking just as you did last night. You feel a little sore, but it's not too bad. You proceed to make your way out of the cave and past the waterfall. The water once again coats your scales. You take the time to refresh your dry mouth by drinking from the pond.

Once you have finished waking up, you venture into the forest in search of food. The padded bottoms on your feet quiet your footsteps significantly. You cannot be heard unless you're being looked for. Your dark scales allow you to blend in amongst the trees and their shadows with ease. Your nostrils flare repeatedly as you sniff the air. So many different scents are filling your nose. However, there's one nearby that has caught your interest. It's warm in nature and whatever it belongs to is moving closer to you. Your empty stomach rumbles hungrily. Saliva begins to pools in your mouth and some of it drips out. Excitement rushes through your veins. This will be your first hunt in the wild. You can't help but feel giddy. After all, this is what you were made for.