* The Hybrids *

Chapter 6: Wren

Pain.

What is pain?

Pain is an ache you can't stop

Pain is your heart being ripped to shreds as your lover walks away from the breakup

Or, pain is wings, horns, and a tail being pushed out of your fucking skin.

I can't remember a single thing about what happened besides pain. I turn to my bedside and see some warm soup, waiting for me. I still see the steam rising from the bowl, so at least someone must still be here. I slowly try to get up, but my pain in my back keeps me down. I see the figure of someone in the distance. I squint, but can't make them out.

"..Hello? Is someone there?"

The figure turns towards me and starts walking over. Their face was a light gray tint, with pretty red eyes and bright red hair. "So you're finally awake?" it asks me. I give a weak nod. "Perfect. You must be hungry, transformations really drain you. But you get used to it."

"Used to it..? Don't you stay a hybrid once you become one?" I questioned in a groggy tone.

"Oh, of course not! That would be absolute torture! You wouldn't be able to go anywhere!" They turn to grab the soup that was on my bedside. "Although, you won't be able to change for another few months," they add

"Think about it this way. We have to live somewhere, right? And there are so many hybrids, almost 10,000! We can't all live here, so we've got to blend into either the dragons or humans! Depending on what your mother was depends on what your transformation turns to. Since your mother's mother was a human, your transformation will be human as well! Does that make sense?"

"I... guess so.," I mutter.

"Now, open your mouth so I can give you the soup. Trust me, it'll really help the pains." They bring a spoon full of soup to my mouth and I slowly eat it.

About an hour later, I successfully moved from the bed to the couch. It was surprisingly comfy. I found out from Robin, the guy with red hair, that Jamie, Ophelia, and Dalinda went out to find more help. So, it was just me and him for now. I stumble over to a nearby bookshelf and grab a book. It was called "The Gravity of Us". It was pretty good. I got to about chapter 2 before I heard a thump. I perked up my head to see what was going on, but then flinched back from pain.

Robin said something along the lines of "Ruth! Oh my god!". About a minute later, I saw Robin having a hard time carrying a girl into the "living room", or whatever this is. She had short, dark cyan hair, and had a light brown coat falling off her shoulders. Her left arm and upper back were gushing with blood. There were about 7 arrow wounds total in her back and arm. Robin rushed out of the room and came back with a stack of bandages. He put pressure on her arm and tightly wrapped it, and squeezed her chest, and tightly wrapped more bandages on her back. He carefully laid her down on the couch, and I stumbled over to the side.

"Stay with her. Her name is Ruth. If she wakes up while I'm gone, tell her not to move.". He grabbed some pillows from the bed and gave them to me. "Lean up against these. I'll be back soon. I need to get (Nurse character).". I nod, and he heads out.

I prop myself up against the wall and put some pillows behind me. My wings flinched from the pressure of sitting back so suddenly. I try repositioning them many times, but nothing's comfortable. Finding no comfortable way to sit, I reposition myself and lay down on the floor face down. I grab The Gravity of Us and start reading it in awkward poses.

After a while, Ruth finally woke up. She made these weird grunting noises. Maybe her mom was a dragon?

She tries to sit up, and I quickly say "Don't do that!". She jumped in surprise and looked around.

"Who's there?" she said, with a shell-shocked look on her face. She looked around rapidly.

"On the floor." I tell her, "Robin told me to keep you laying down 'cause of your injuries.".

"Ah, I see,". She repositioned herself to lay down and calmed down. "Where is he?"

"I'm not sure," I respond, "But he should be back soon.". She seems to be sorrowful about something. "You okay? You seem... sad."

She turns her head. "I'm fine," she insists, "It just hurts."

"Makes sense. I mean, those wounds looked nasty. What happened, if you don't mind me asking?"

She stays silent

"It's alright.". There's silence for a few seconds. "Well, I'm gonna go to sleep. Night."

"Night" she responds.