Chapter 2 - Unexpected Arrival

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            Birds chirped happily around me, but I was running; running faster than I’d ever ran before.  I felt the panic, but this was all so unfamiliar to me.  What was going on?  Where was I?  I thought I’d woken up, but this could only have been a dream; this couldn’t be real.

            Something familiar drifted through my nostrils.  Finally, something I knew.  I pushed my awkward new body forward, trying to reach the source.

            Trees flew past like paint strokes on canvas.  The scent was close – very close.  Slowly, an odd weakness filled me.  I kept running, though.  I needed to find the scent.

            I stumbled upon a house.  I leapt up onto the wall, digging my claws in.  Silently, I climbed the wall and crawled onto the roof, then stalked to the side window.

            The whine escaped my jaws again.  Everything collapsed inward, as if I was shrinking.  The fur all across my body retracted and all returned to normal – I was human.

            Clothed in tatters, I crawled desperately to the window.  I threw my hand up and grabbed the ledge, somehow finding the strength to pull myself up.  I knocked gently, trying to awake whoever was inside.  My head fell, but I soon heard someone cautiously walking up to the glass.

            “Who are you?” a man’s strained voice whispered.  It sounded so familiar…

            “I…” my mind failed to form a complete sentence, “help…”  I used my last bit of strength and lifted my head.

            I heard a sudden gasp, but nothing registered anymore.  Everything was fading away.

            “Raven,” I heard him whispering as he lifted me from the roof and set me on a sheet, “my love, what happened to you?  Please, babe, stay with me…”

            My eyes opened slightly.  “I… am okay…”  I managed to whisper, “must… rest…”

            He nodded. “You’ll have to sleep in my closet.  I can make room and keep you hidden.  When you wake up, be sure to be silent, my parents…”  His voice faded out as darkness swallowed me.  I didn’t have the strength to fight it.

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