Upon Three Paws

Chapter 10

Revelation

Almond's POV

Watching him leave, I wait an extra minute to ensure that he won't be coming back for something. My eyes struggle to adjust as I get used to the dim light illuminating the features of the room. Now's my chance to find a way out. Who knows how long until this opportunity comes around again.

Like I'd planned, I shift the blanket over to the wall of glass. The food bowl I was chewing goes on top of it. The indents and scratches my teeth created serve as traction as I hop almost effortlessly over the glass. That short period of play worked wonders for my muscles. So much so that they feel almost as flexible as they were back out in the forest.

My claws click along the wooden table, it's cooler temperature momentarily stuns my paws which are used to the warm, soft material of the bedding. I allow myself time to adjust to the idea of being out of the enclosure before peering over the edge of the table.

The distance to the ground was large and played my lack of flying practice against me. I wish I flew more in the wild, that way I'd have built up more strength and reassurance in my wing.

Come on Almond. I spread my wings. You got this.

Deciding to get it over with it as fast as possible, I push off the edge of the table and flap down hard with my wings. The extra boost lifts me up so that I'm nearly touching the ceiling. In a panic, I tuck them in and dive down towards the blanket thing Fesco's always sitting on.

My landing is anything but graceful as I trip over my own paws and fall head first into the structure. Thankfully it's soft enough to not break anything on impact, although I can feel a bruise beginning to form on my snout. It'll slow my eating and remain sore for awhile, but it will heal with time.

Shaking out my messy fur, I wince slightly as the action sparks a streak of pain in my snout.

Great. I growl to myself. Clumsy wings, look what you've done.

Forcing the subject out of my head, I trot over to the end of the deformed cloud and jump down the remainder of the way. The action reminds me of the time I came back down to the ground from looking at the night sky. I'll be sure to do that again in the future. After many sessions of flying class of course.

My chest warms at the idea.

With a newfound determination, I search the room for a way out, keeping in mind the few hiding spots. Everything is either too close to the ground to squeeze under, especially with my wings sticking out from my back, or too high up that it doesn't stand for a decent hiding spot. Huffing in frustration, I move on through a hall to the right of the room. It leads to another room, but smaller and three more doors.

This room is filled with the scent of food and water. Thankfully I'm still full from my previous meal, but this exercise has made me thirsty.

My hopes dampen as I realize that the only possible water source is up. Water is always found on the ground, so at the thought of having to fly to get water I quickly dismiss the idea. This new environment has new rules and is just that, a new environment. It's not the forest, there's no trees, no dirt, no sand, rocks, grass, wind, and water isn't on the ground.

A shiver runs up my back and my fur stands on end. All of these new observations are quickly growing overwhelming. I know that I need to get out of here and quick, or else Fesco may come back too soon and I'll get into trouble.

My ears perk up as I catch the faint scent of nature. Keeping my nose low to the ground, I follow it and see that it leads me to another door around a corner that I didn't manage to spot earlier.