took her hair out the bow and laid that ribbon in my hand
That night she'd dreamt of bats.
A swarm of them, flying around her head, picking at her blonde curls and whispering in her ear. Humming as they had the night she'd seen them with Rance, their eerie cadence then now a sweet song in her ear. Like honey on the tongue, she felt comforted by it, though wild as it was it was a good dream.
When she awoke, it was still dark outside. Which wasn't odd, the stress of the impending LongNight and the move pilgrimage that came with it had kept her restless the past few nights. However she she awoke in her room at the manor today something felt different. The leopardess paced at her core, a fire that always burned there. But another ember had ignited, an ember that burned a different light. She could feel it twisting and pulling, urging her to shift.
And so she did, thinking little of it, stepping up from her bed as though it was instinct. Her feet did not become dapple paws, and they did not press against the wood flooring. Her eyes did not glow sunny yellow in the moonlight. They were dark like the night, but full of a new kind of sight. Detailed and wonderful, and exciting.
She found as well that she remained off the floor, flapping leathery wings. Blazing plumage covered her neck and back, and the crest of her head. Ears swiveled, hearing more than she could even in her leopard skin. Her teeth were a familiar kind of sharp, and that familiarity was welcome. The golden crown had finally settled into a second shift, and though it was new she wasn't scared. It felt right.
Wobbly but right. Unfortunately, wobbly prevailed, and on fledgling wings she tried to stay aloft, but instead began to veer towards the ground. That would warrant some practice for sure, for now she caught onto the blanket on her bed and climbed up with her claws, coming to rest awkwardly on the plush sheets. Exhiliration building in her chest, she called out in the attuned bond, "Oliver!" hoping perhaps he was around to hear.
Oliver BAT AISHA!
A swarm of them, flying around her head, picking at her blonde curls and whispering in her ear. Humming as they had the night she'd seen them with Rance, their eerie cadence then now a sweet song in her ear. Like honey on the tongue, she felt comforted by it, though wild as it was it was a good dream.
When she awoke, it was still dark outside. Which wasn't odd, the stress of the impending LongNight and the move pilgrimage that came with it had kept her restless the past few nights. However she she awoke in her room at the manor today something felt different. The leopardess paced at her core, a fire that always burned there. But another ember had ignited, an ember that burned a different light. She could feel it twisting and pulling, urging her to shift.
And so she did, thinking little of it, stepping up from her bed as though it was instinct. Her feet did not become dapple paws, and they did not press against the wood flooring. Her eyes did not glow sunny yellow in the moonlight. They were dark like the night, but full of a new kind of sight. Detailed and wonderful, and exciting.
She found as well that she remained off the floor, flapping leathery wings. Blazing plumage covered her neck and back, and the crest of her head. Ears swiveled, hearing more than she could even in her leopard skin. Her teeth were a familiar kind of sharp, and that familiarity was welcome. The golden crown had finally settled into a second shift, and though it was new she wasn't scared. It felt right.
Wobbly but right. Unfortunately, wobbly prevailed, and on fledgling wings she tried to stay aloft, but instead began to veer towards the ground. That would warrant some practice for sure, for now she caught onto the blanket on her bed and climbed up with her claws, coming to rest awkwardly on the plush sheets. Exhiliration building in her chest, she called out in the attuned bond, "Oliver!" hoping perhaps he was around to hear.
AISHA
