The Secret Within

Chapter 4: Captured

It had taken me a long time to find my way back to the hollow and it was now dark. Too tired to eat or wash up I lowered myself to the ground beneath the willow tree. Strange images shot threw my mind as I tried to sleep, finally sleep came but the questions continued throughout my dreams. Possibilities for what I could do, how could this have happened? What do I do next?

I woke up. Pain filled my body but most of it was in my arm that now was swollen and a little pussy. I tried to ignore it until after I had eaten. After eating I walked over to the water and began to clean the cut. It burned but at the same time felt good as the cool water soaked in. I finally couldn't ignore the nagging question in the back of my mind "is a lizard the only thing I can turn into?". It wasn't that turning into a lizard wasn't cool but I could think of way cooler animals to turn into. Finally after putting a new bandage on the wound I stepped onto open ground. I was about to try to turn into a tiger but decided on something a little more simple. "Cat. Cat. Cat" I waited for something to happen... nothing did.

I continued searching the woods around my utopia trying to keep the strange thoughts out of my mind. I had found a lot of fruit but now I was in the mood for berries. After searching around for awhile I spotted a berry bush. I rushed over ready for a much needed snack "RAWR" I had stepped on a thorn and screamed, but it wasn't a scream. Standing there I refused to move except to reach up to touch my throat. Was that me? Did I just rawr? I pulled out the thorn with a gentle groan, but with no other strange noise thankfully. Why couldn't I transform when I wanted to but now I suddenly just rawr. This was all very confusing and I didn't know what to think about it.

Later after getting my appetite back I gathered the berries this time careful for thorns. As I ate the delicious, ripe berries I began to wonder. Maybe I can't force it, maybe it just comes by instinct. No because I wanted myself to transform when I was stuck in the hole. There is definitely something here that I am missing.

I watched the moon flicker threw the leaves sending dancing, silver flecks of light around me. I just lay there, not wanting to move or think. I felt sleep coaxing me and soon I began to give in, but then I heard the same strange rustling of leaves in the woods. I jumped to my feet this time ready to face this strange person I could not see "Show yourself!" I yelled into the shadows. I stood there without moving a muscle, listening. Suddenly men came at me from all directions, wearing black cloaks with black hoods, I couldn't make out their faces. "Stay back !" I yelled, the strange figures didn't even seem to notice and continued toward me. I became angry I will not go back there!!!!!!!. Suddenly I felt myself grow. I could see whiskers, I felt my teeth grow. My small dress became incredibly tight and began to rip as orange and black fur began to show through. *RAWR* my claws dug into the ground as I readied myself to pounce on one of the stunned figures. *BAM!* I landed on the poor man with a thud. Turning I watched for someone else to take down OW!!!!. I felt the blow of a large club across my shoulder send me flying into one of the apple trees. A man with a net came closer as I lay limp with pain. *Grrrrrrrrr* I growled at the strange man, he laughed as my growl quited as I lost conscience.