Shifter Shots

Daddy Issues 1

Dallas ^

I yawned, stretching my legs. Had it all been a dream? As I rose from my curled up form under a redwood tree I realized that it hadn't. The muscles in my legs throbbed, sending bolts white hot pain into the rest of my body. I shook out my now dry fur and stretched, releasing some of the tension. I hated water. It was a natural hate my fox form caused. Fennec foxes are originally found in North Africa but long long long ago some of them were shipped to the United States to be kept as pets. Therefore, the shifters came with them and here I am today. I was born in California but have lived in the forest my entire life. When I was a kit my father left me in the forest. I can remember a fire, it engulfed the house and the trees around it. My father left me in the woods to go back for my mother but neither returned. I don't know how old I am but at the time I was able to walk and make noise but not talk. I was a slow learner and I didn't really like talking. It was hard. I knew what talking sounded like and I understood people but I spoke very little myself. I'm not very sad about losing my parents but I don't remember them very much so I don't really have anything to be sad about. I was really small when it happened and have lived roaming the forest ever since. 

After glancing up at the cliff from which I had fallen from I decided it would be best to start exploring. My stomach growled in irritation, causing another uncomfortable ache. I kept my nose to the ground, wiggling it and huffing in and out to try to pick up a scent.  My enormous ears could easily hear any sound within a very far radius, including bugs underground. Every overpowered feature comes with a price though and mine happened to be that they were very sensitive to any type of contact. If I bump them on something or something touches them it sends a throbbing pulse through my body.

 I continued my search for something to satisfy my growing stomach pain and easily my ears picked up on a sound. Silently, I followed, listening closely to the movement and the direction it came from. A squirming... thing caught my eye, tearing my nose away from the ground. A bird's nest had fallen out of a tree, leaving the eggs and the slightly developed chicks inside perfectly vulnerable. It must be my lucky day! With a foxy grin on my face, I trotted over to the nest that lay unscathed on the ground, my mouth watering. A bird I assumed was the mother, cawed and swooped down at my head but I ignored her, pinning my ears and flicking my tail in annoyance. I picked up an egg in my jaw and let out a screeching bark from my throat, telling her that the eggs were mine and to stay away. After diving at my head a couple more times she finally gave up and I was able to eat my delicious eggs in peace. I slurped the protein out of the broken spotted shells with a sigh of delight. While in my bliss as I savored the food I was oblivious to the audience I had acquired. I licked my snout, wiping the yoke from my black nose when I heard a low growl. Whipping around, I was met with an enormous dagger clad paw. A creature so terrifying it caused me to freeze in place, stood before me. My jaw dropped from utter shock. An enormous lion shifter was emotionlessly perched before me. He had to be at least two times the size of a normal lion which indicated he was at least fifteen times my size. His paw was as big as me. In a matter of seconds, I came to my senses and let out the most venomous snarl I could muster, pinning my ears so far back the top of my head was as flat as a board. I lifted my lips and crouched on my haunches, raising my fur and looking as big as I possibly could. I yipped and snarled at him, baring my tiny razor-sharp teeth. The lion simply stood there gazing down at me, flicking his tail in contentment. His eyes were a bright green and his pupils sharp. He was definitely in predator mode. With on swift swipe of his paw I was pinned to the ground. My captor bared his four-inch incisors and bit down on the back of my neck. I thought for sure I was done for. I accepted my defeat and allowed him to easily bite into my tiny form. My stomach dropped and my body fell limp as he gently lifted me off the ground. I was more than surprised when I didn't feel his teeth piercing into my body and crushing my bones. He gently picked me up by my scruff like a mother would have done to carry her kit. He let out a grunt and I felt his chest rumble, sending a wave of energy and warm breath over my coat. He carried me so I was facing away from him, traveling deeper into the forest. Everything looked bigger from where I was. It felt weird being able to see everything from such a point of view. My body shuddered in his grasp as his warm breaths tickled my back. Unintentionally, a chirp of contentment escaped my throat despite being carried away by a giant predator that could easily kill me. The lion seemed to notice and he purposely let out a large sigh of hot air, earning him another happy chirp from me.

 I didn't have any home to return to or parents to worry about me so what was the point of fighting? He seemed to be carrying me in the direction of what I imagined to be his den. Maybe he wanted a pet? Or someone to keep him company? I didn't really have a reason to fight. He had not killed me yet and it appeared he wouldn't be anytime soon with how gently he was carrying me. I found odd comfort in being carried by my scruff. It made me feel as if I were a kit again. Then again, he probably thought I would run away if he set me down.

Edited: March 8th 2020