Only A WishWritten by: Udon T.E. And Abigail K.T.

Chapter 45: Canis Alatus

Chapter Forty-Five

[]Canis Alatus[]

The nurse stepped in, carrying a clipboard in the book of her arm.

"Pyri, we're going to put you into the speed healing pod, so you won't be able to talk to your friends."

Pyri nodded, probably not wanting to speak any more than needed. I doubt she would even care about talking to us.

Pyri lifted herself out of the bed, grimacing as the nurse led her out of the room.

I waved to Pyri's slowly retreating, even though I knew she wouldn't see.

Ira gave me a tilted smile and snorted as soon as Pyri left.

I lightly punched her arm. "Ira, it's late, since there's nothing we can do here, let's head to Chance's kennel." I looked up at Hunter and asked: 'You are okay with Chance, right?' She stared right back down at me and said: 'Yeah, but he's an old coot. And a boring old man at that.' I hardly managed to stifle a giggle, and Ira gave me a puzzled look.

I waved it off- "Nothing." I shrugged, wincing at a sudden cramp in my shoulder.

Once we arrived at Chance's kennel, Ira typed in the password and stepped in.

It was a comfortable temperature, not warm, but not too cold.

I smiled up at Chance, who was very large, but not as tall as Chocolate. Even though Chocolate isn't fully grown.

Chance takes a deep breath, probably finding and singling out my scent.

Ira began to talk with the hefty shepherd, so I made an educated guess that he may have talked to her first. Probably about me. Maybe about Hunter?

'It wasn't about you.' Hunter growls in my mind.

How did she-

'Can hear your thoughts.'

Of course she can.

Taking me out of my head, Ira motions for Hunter and I to follow her further back, into an oddly huge dog bed. I take a spot on the edge, and Ira sits in the middle with Chance. Hunter stands awkwardly, out of place, the only one left up, then decides to take a place on the bed next to me.

I leaned against the high side of the cushioned dog bed, drifting off.

-A flash of red. I turned, facing a small tan-coloured cat.

The creature had beautiful ear tufts, and black lines that looked like ink dripping from its eyes.

I followed the ink lines up. Those depthless blank eyes stared up at me. Or, rather, past me?

I tried to turn around, but I couldn't. I was stuck in place.

My short, dark hair floated above my shoulders. Hold on, I don't have short hair. I blinked, and when I brought my focus back, the cat was gone.

What is happening?

It's like I'm in someone else's body.

An exhilarating feeling fills my body, suddenly I'm in a hot climate, the ground flying beneath me.

I looked downwards.

The tawny-coloured cat from earlier.

I reached down and felt its fur.

To my surprise, it was brittle, and oddly long.

We never talked about cats, particularly because they were the national symbol of Kolonia, they had felines as we had canines.

The sun was setting, painting a vibrant red, orange and yellow across the horizon.

It was a breathtaking view, nothing like the cold, snow and mountains on Lucerix.

A canyon appeared in front of us, but the cat leapt it, paws skimming the other edge.

We continued to lope until we reached a shimmering body of water.

The cat slowed, and in a blur, I was underwater.

Gasping, I desperately clutched my throat and raked my nails down my neck as blisteringly cold water flooded my lungs. Steadily sinking, I looked upwards, the bright sunlight from the desert-like climate fading.

I jerked awake.

'Are you okay, Kori?' Hunter asked, and to my dismay, pinned me with the most pitying glance I'd ever seen. Ever.

I hummed in response, trying to remember what had happened.

I rubbed my eyes and my wings were obnoxiously not satisfied with being tucked away, because they were cramping, along with my still tense shoulder.

I groaned, shifted my position, and leaned ever so slightly on Hunter.

She looked down, a bit startled.

I smiled sheepishly. "Sorry, just a bit tired." I replied mentally through our bond.

Hunter gave me a look that was mixed between: "Ew?" and "What's going on...?"

I dismissed the gesture, knowing in both our cultures that touch wasn't taken lightly. And leaning on someone you barely knew definitely wasn't.

Yanking herself up, Ira stared at me, a blatant expression on her face that could not be described as anything but 'really, dude? You had to wake me?' She arched an eyebrow.

"Sorry. Dream." It took all of two words to explain what had happened. Seeming satisfied with my answer, Ira flopped back against a snoring Chance, still exhausted.

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