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.