>>58059627>Nothing but the sound of your paws hitting the ground and the rush of wind.>In minutes, you covered miles.>And you felt invigorated.>It would’ve taken hours to walk here, and you didn’t feel a shred of exhaustion.>The tracks ran right next to the reported farm.>Excited from your runner’s high, you looked up to the clouds and…>…>Well, what were you expecting?>You leapt up the highest tree.>After balancing on the highest, shaky branch, you brought a paw to your forehead to block the sun.>You’d driven past the old barn there before. And there’s the farmhouse
>You recognized the livestock there. A few horses were in that field.>Chicken coop there.>Apple tree. >Hedges.>Cornrows.>…>If there was a new hawk here, you didn’t see it.>You sighed.>At least coming out here was good exercise.>Thoughts of heading back were dashed when you saw an old tree stand.>You couldn’t be so impatient.>Your old responsibilities were a thing of the past; you had all day.>The stand groaned with every movement you made, but it would do. The view was nice.>A great place to wait.>And a great place to practice.***
>You gasped, needing a breather.>The trip here barely fazed you, but this? >This was hard!>Moving your… >You didn’t know what to call them.>Dreads? Sensors? Appendages?>It was exhausting. >You’d panicked yesterday, flaring your aura.>But summoning it when you wanted it was a Sisyphean task.>You were moving muscles you didn’t know existed.>Your hands would glow for a second at most before sputtering out.>Rest was cut short.>A sharp cry startled you.>From the other side of the farm, you were sure.>Not human. Not earthly.>With renewed vigor, you dove from the window and barreled towards the farm.>Crouch-running down a drainage ditch kept you low and fast.>Hugging a grain silo, you slunk behind a tractor and…>Majestic. >You could hardly believe it. >A magnificent creature.>The beast held its head high, lording over its domain. 