There was a pressure, a tension, a compulsion, telling me to let go, to give in, to release the human hold that was dominant. The scientific, the logical, the dry and orderly side of me liked control, and it would not relinquish it without a fight - I could feel the war waging, but I was ignorant, wilfully so, to its origin, my desire to remain in control too strong, too overbearing. I ran in this body, learning the way the muscles tensed and sprang and propelled me forward, but I did not run with it - it was as if I was separate, a remote controller pushing buttons and watching the toy body mimic the movements it was programmed to do. My own ability to control this way has improved, and continues to do so with every stride I take, but I can't help but feel that it is not enough, there is more to this gift, this magic, this skill, that I will only learn if I keep trying, keep going.
The hound confirms, deep voice rumbling through the very fibres of my mind, confirming he held great knowledge about this vast wood, knowledge which I wanted, but instead I maintained the silence, letting my own eyes and ears and paws feed me that knowledge instead of pestering the attuned bond for it constantly. Practice enables perfection to come closer, the more movement I encourage from my limbs the more natural, the more automatic it becomes, and I am able to absorb more of the world around us, to appreciate it, to satiate the scientist driving the leopard, as least for the moment.
Travel continues, the layout of the trees and forest changing, evolving. Scents upon the wind are new and exciting, their sources not yet identifiable, but still I breathe them in. Space opens up before us, fields and fields of it, with evidence of human habitations and old, seemingly abandoned and run-down structures somewhere in the distance. All of this visible to my keen senses under the cloak of increasing night, still a novel, new and thrilling experience for the human controlling the leopard. My motions pause, as a particular feature on the horizon catches my focus, attention fixating, wondering, yearning, seeking to identify, to explain, to know. It is a monument, a tall and intimidating structure, though far off in the distance still, that only confirms to me it's great monolithic height. 'What is it?' I break the silence, colouring it with my wonder once more, my questions, unable to restrain my curiosity for long.
The hound confirms, deep voice rumbling through the very fibres of my mind, confirming he held great knowledge about this vast wood, knowledge which I wanted, but instead I maintained the silence, letting my own eyes and ears and paws feed me that knowledge instead of pestering the attuned bond for it constantly. Practice enables perfection to come closer, the more movement I encourage from my limbs the more natural, the more automatic it becomes, and I am able to absorb more of the world around us, to appreciate it, to satiate the scientist driving the leopard, as least for the moment.
Travel continues, the layout of the trees and forest changing, evolving. Scents upon the wind are new and exciting, their sources not yet identifiable, but still I breathe them in. Space opens up before us, fields and fields of it, with evidence of human habitations and old, seemingly abandoned and run-down structures somewhere in the distance. All of this visible to my keen senses under the cloak of increasing night, still a novel, new and thrilling experience for the human controlling the leopard. My motions pause, as a particular feature on the horizon catches my focus, attention fixating, wondering, yearning, seeking to identify, to explain, to know. It is a monument, a tall and intimidating structure, though far off in the distance still, that only confirms to me it's great monolithic height. 'What is it?' I break the silence, colouring it with my wonder once more, my questions, unable to restrain my curiosity for long.
Chulane
fridooh & whimzi @ deviantart
