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The Hunter and the Changeling(LastTargaryen and Gunner)

LilGunner

LilGunner

Nonsolis radios sediouis fulmina mitto.
Joined
Jul 16, 2017
Location
Michigan
The sirens screeched and screamed into the darkness. Trees encroached and surrounded the hidden compound, obscuring the light of a waning half-moon. The wail of alarms echoed off the ancient bark making the fresh summer leaves shiver with the sound. Flood lights threw extremes of light and dark around the compound. Guards filled the yard, bordered by a razor wire fence. Such a small, obscure looking building. Little more than a dilapidated office building. How fifty armed and armored men managed to pour out would seem a mystery. A mystery to any that didn’t know of the vast underground tunnels that swept below the old, crumbling building. Few other facilities were so hidden, so secret that only those with the highest clearances and need to know even heard rumor of the facility.

Deep in the shadows a long, furry shape scampered. Damn the shining silver fur, hard to hide even in the extreme shadows from the flood lights. She could smell, them, heard them. They were coming. The screech of alarms rang in her acute ears painfully. The only chance, had to run. Had to get out. She hunkered back as two men jogged by. With a deep breath she darted forward. First a low, slinking run. “There she is!” A man shouted. Her legs strengthened by fear she ran. Heart pounding, tongue lolling between sharp and glimmering teeth. Gun fire burst out in the night. If the subject couldn’t be captured it had to be eliminated. Sudden, sharp, searing pain laced her shoulder. A yelp leaped from her throat and she stumbled. Blood seeped down her shoulder, the bullet had grazed a long gash. Had to escape.

She pushed herself up and darted for the fence. It was so high. Too high. Her haunches tucked in and she kicked as hard as she could. The long, furry body launched into the air. Front paws made it over, belly made it. A high yelping whine joined the cacophony of escape. The hind right leg didn’t quite make it. The razor wire caught and held onto thick fur and soft flesh. She barked and whined from the pain, from the terror. She rolled and thrashed, the wire biting deep and slicing long into her skin. She leaned up and snapped at it. Just the right spot, just the right patch of fur. She slipped loose and plummeted down. The dirt was hard and unwelcoming. Leg, haunches, shoulder all bleeding she lay there a moment panting, throbbing in agony. Couldn’t stop, had to keep moving. Push through the pain, push through the fear, freedom was just beyond the trees.

With a heaving grunt she pushed herself up to all four paws. The world spun a moment; her legs didn’t want to support her. Behind her the shouting grew louder, chains sang and echoed. They would be after her. With a shake of her great, silvery head she started forward. First at a limping walk, pushing and forcing her injured body to move on. Slowly she managed to pick up her pace, the wailing sirens growing ever more distant and quiet. At a full run through the grasping, scraping brush. She zigged and she zagged through the forest. Doubling back and changing directions. The balance between beast and sentience was always delicate. The beast knew to hide its trail the girl knew to run as far and fast as possible. As the night wore on, the alarms barely heard, her pace slowed. Not intentionally of course. Her body was exhausted and weary, more wounded than when she had escaped. Her paws drug heavily in the dirt. Had to keep moving, had to go on.

She couldn’t get caught, not again. So close to freedom she would sooner die than go back. Her vision went in and out from sharp and crisp to blurring shapes and colors. Long, pink, tongue with lines of foaming saliva hung from the side of her long maw. Couldn’t stop, never again. Her mother had died there. Died from days, moths, years of torture. They called it science. Cutting, drilling, drawing, forcing changes with electric shocks. Testing extremes of tolerance. Cold, heat, near drowning. Everything. No more. Not when her mother finally died. The sweet release of death. That was when she made her escape. Couldn’t think of it, had to keep going. Wolves couldn’t cry.

Dawn was quickly encroaching. Her pace was slow, almost wandering. Where her paws took her she didn’t know anymore. Still bloodied. Her legs gave out, couldn’t go any more. With a low whine she dragged herself to some brush. Just a bit of cover. Had to hide. Sleep. Her body went limp, eyes shut and all was darkness. A change ruffled her fur. It was fast. No slow reversion, no painful shortening and changing of bone structure. Where once lay a wolf with shimmering, silver fur lay a girl. Pale as the moon with mane of silver hair to her knees, the sides above her ears shaved and scarred. Her body soft and painfully lean, just bordering on the thinness of starvation. The soft flesh bears the cuts and slashes of her escape along with the long damage of their science. Exhausted, unconscious, helpless.
 
Dark figures in white coats. Curious eyes, cheers of triumph and groans of defeat. The screams. Always the screams. From the dying, from the tortured, from the damned. Neither human nor animal, somewhere in between but forever trapped. Weakness and madness. Pain. So much pain. Strapped down as drills and knives took what they wanted. They only gave soothing medications if the screaming and thrashing grew bad enough. They'd had enough small samples, after-all there was another. Every bit of tissue was harvest, slowly. Kept alive for the procedure. She had watched every moment of it. Cutting away at bone and flesh. Screaming and sobbing. There was nothing she could do. So weak, strength hampered from malnutrition and from the drugs. Shut her up. More drugs. Sight, touch, sound, taste. All the senses and none of the motion. Tears ran hot and salty. She died, then and there on the table. Her organs harvested, skull cut open and the brain removed. One subject left.

Despite the nightmares she was as still as the dead. Fully unaware of the new arrival. As he lifted her up she was as limp as a child's doll. Despite being so thin she was oddly well shaped. Everything in surprisingly perfect proportions. Eeriely so. Her face, still thin with gaunt cheeks, was small and neat with high cheek bones and a straight nose. Lips pale but plush, slack and relaxed from her state of unconsciousness. Every limb limp and relaxed as she was hurried back through the woods, totally unaware of the unlikely savior. Humans couldn't be trusted though. She didn't move an inch as he tended to her wounds. Lucky for him given the stitching needed. Not even a groan of discomfort as he treated each wound and found a shirt for some bit of modesty. Exhausted, perhaps a bit anemic from lack of proper food and blood loss. Just barely non-lethal.

Finally the dreams settled away and she eased from the deep state of unconsciousness. She lay on something soft. So comfortable, cozy. Everything was plush and silky against her skin. Unheard she gave a small groan as more sensation flowed in. The sharp, aching pain of wounds, the pull of taped gauze on her flesh. The heaviness from exhausted limbs. Had to move. Had to run. Her eyes fluttered, squeezed and finally opened. Bright blue eyes the color of clear summer skies focused on the ceiling above. Still comfortable. Everything so soft. Slowly she tilted her head. Inside somewhere. What was the last thing she could remember? Running, pain, terror. Her legs had given way and then nothingness. Dreams. No, nightmares. Was she safe though? Where was she? How did she get there? Everything was sore and she was still so very tired. Hungry too. Despite the pain and the confusion her stomach gave a low, loud growl.

Slowly, carefully, she pushed herself up to sit. The sheet fell off of her. An interesting shirt. She plucked at it a moment before lifting the collar and giving a delicate sniff. Human and male but not one she recognized. Her heart sped up. The smell surrounded her. Everything smelled like the human male. A strong, musky scent married with the fresh smells of the woods. Not the sharp, sterile smell of the others. She lifted her arms and inspected the bandaging. Someone had cleaned her wounds. Her shoulder ached fiercely along with her thigh. She pulled down the collar of the shirt to see more gauze. It was fine work, neat and careful. Not the roughshod work the others did. Just enough to stop the bleeding, usually chemical agents were used. It was simply quicker. The bed though. So soft. Her hands pressed into the cushion below her. She had never laid on such a plush surface. Turning around, wincing with the motion, she picked up the pillow. It was so fluffy. Like nothing she had ever felt before. She pressed and mushed the pillow this way and that, perfectly amazed by how malleable it was. "Amazing," she whispered as she nuzzled her face into it. Immediately surrounded by that scent again.

The click and squeal of a door caught her attention. She lifted her head to see a human stroll into the room. Her blood went cold, every muscle stiffened. She hugged the pillow close and tight, pressing the soft surface to mer mouth. A slow but high sort of squeak was muffled by the pillow. A human! No! No humans! She drew her legs up protectively, eyes wide and wild. So close to freedom. What did the human want. Yet the pillow so close reminded her. The smell. Someone had helped her. It couldn't be a human though! Impossible. She looked every bit ready to fight, flee, and cry all at the same time yet held utterly still and frozen like a terrified deer.
 
She took in the look and sheer size of the human. Most of the ones she had known were smaller, like twigs or grubs. This one reminded her of some great bear making him all the more imposing and terrifying. Some of the guards were the size of this man but she didn’t see them too often. Not unless she had gotten violent. Though she had learned early that violence just led to more pain. She still hugged the pillow tight to her chest as she watched him and heard him. His voice rumbled like thunder and had a strange sort of sound to it. A different sound than the others even though he spoke the same language. Even still, below that sound and the rumble of his voice there was a strange note. Like a relaxed happiness. Relief perhaps. Relief that she still lived? Yes living tissue was better, so they had said. Her little, thin fingers dug deep into the pillow as she watched him.

Safe. You’re safe now. The words were short, sharp, brusque. Entirely sure and certain. Safe. Slowly she lowered the pillow and tilted her head at him curiously. Safe from them? He was not them? Humans were all the enemy, her mother had said so. He moved and spoke again. Not going to hurt…but he cut himself off suddenly. Her head tilted the other direction as he looked down to examine himself. Well he certainly did wear odd clothing. Not the white coats like the others. She watched him as he snatched up clothes from a pile she hadn’t noticed and turned his back to her. The towel fell and the human was sudden quite naked. Though she didn’t flush or swoon at the sight of a bare backside, just watched curiously as he dressed in equally strange clothing. Uniforms and coats, the single suited gowns of the captive, that was all she knew of clothing really. Even the shirt she wore was a little strange. Close to the short gown of the captives but still different.

Dressed properly she met his eyes again. It was strange how hard they were to read. So used to the cold, calculating look of humans. The careless, remorseless gaze as they cut and drilled as was their pleasure. This was different. He finished his statement. Not going to hurt you. Words were wind. He began approaching, slowly, steadily. Gentle or a predator. The motions were curiously similar. She curled up again with the pillow as he approached. Instead of the wide, terrified look her eyes were narrowed, cautious and suspicious. She listened as he explained himself. The words soft but simple. Curt and straight to the point. No sickly sweet coaxing or false gentility. Slowly she lowered the pillow, never taking her eyes off of him. As slow as his motions her darker but still silvery grey eyebrows folded to a curious frown. His bed and his clothes. Finally her eyes left him a moment to look at the pillow, the unusual scent still lingering.

“Why?” She asked sharply, bright blue eyes leaping back to his face, the suspicious yet curious frown still plastering her brow. “You are…human, yes? Why help?” A strange question of course from any perspective other than her own. This was still dangerous and she had no strength to change. If this was a lie, some kind of trap, there was nothing she would be able to do to defend herself.
 
The change from simple curiosity to utter confusion was almost impressive. Silence fell between them as he stared at her as though he hadn't understood what she said. Perhaps he didn't. Did she not use the right words? Even she might admit her vocabulary with human language wasn't impressive she thought she had a decent enough grasp of it. Five and twenty years of being around humans had given her a decent understanding, passably conversational. Not that any of them had wanted to speak with her overmuch. She watched him as his eyes drifted around her, as if trying to guess what she was trying to convey to him. All she wanted to know was why a human might help her.

Finally he was spurred into speech. Her head cocked at him and his question. He confirmed he was a human. She had guessed well enough. It wasn't like she would encounter any of her kind anyways. She glanced to his hand as he showed it off. No claws. A tiny ghost of an amused, lopsided smile quirked her lips. He was certainly a funny human. Of course they didn't have claws. Humans were really quite boring and weak creatures. That's why they had to invent the weapons they used. Though, like a sudden summer storm, the amusement turned to shocked surprised. Human too? So he really didn't know what or who she was. Well of course she looked human. Mostly anyways. She had yet to see one quite like her.

Most importantly he didn't know. That meant he didn't work for them. If he didn't work for them then perhaps this human was her safest chance. A chance to recover then shift into a bird and fly off. Back to that place her mother had spoken of. The land of...Orioles? Was that it? Lousy something too. It was so long ago and seemed a world away, an impossibility. The real question was: what did she tell the male? She looked up at him with that puzzled surprise still. Lie. "I...am sorry," she said as she raised up a small, delicate hand and brushed it across her face and into the mane of silver. "Yes I am...just tired and a little confused." Only sort of a lie, she neither confirmed nor denied his question. "But...still, why? I am...not used to this. Kindness, I think. Yes." Well that was an understatement given the various wounds, scars, and bruises all over her body. "Thank you for...for your kindness."

She attempted a small smile for the man when her stomach interrupted. A loud, low, squealing grumbled. She blinked a moment before giving a tiny, awkward grin, wrapping an arm around her stomach.
 
Relief flooded her chest. He believed the not-quite-lie. Safer that way really. He might have helped her, fixed up her wounds, given her a space to rest while unconscious but he was still human. A particularly large human too. Weak they might be she was perfectly aware of his strength advantages over her while she was in such a weakened state. Unable to change even blunt nails into claws she was as helpless as a newly whelped deer. He didn't seem phased by the growl from her stomach. Instead he moved away to a bag in the corner. She watched him curiously as he stooped to it and retrieved a long metal tube. For a moment she tensed but quickly relaxed. It didn't look like a sample collector. She watched intently as he unscrewed the top and poured clear water into the top which acted like a cup. Fascinating. As he held it out for her she stared at it in wonder a moment. What an amazing object!

The stern command snapped her back. She looked up at him with those wide blue eyes before reaching out and taking the cup. Drink. Right. Just water. She lifted the cup up and took a drink from it. Until the cold water hit her tongue she hadn't realized how thirsty she had been. Tilting her head back she knocked the rest of it down in two cups, exhaling in delight. So cold and refreshing! She shivered as she felt the icy water slide down inside of her. How did water ever get so cold? It was delicious. "The body makes more blood," she said simply enough, her voice light as if describing pleasant weather. It was something the scientists said when they drew too much. So much it left her weak and dizzy for days.

The mention of food made her stomach grumble in agreement and her mouth water. It had been at least a day since she last ate especially given they were only fed once a day. She still held the metal cup, turning to examine it as he packed away the items on the tiny table. Boring and weak humans were clever creatures apparently. To have a cup attached to the storage for water. Ingenious! Her head snapped up when he spoke to her again. Well she didn't know what steaks were but if it was food she would eat it. Could hardly be worse than what she was fed normally. The options he gave she was unsure about and she paused to consider but then he posed another question. This human had too many questions. She just wanted to eat. Also she had no idea what meat was. "Yes...of course I eat meat. Why...why would I not eat this? It is normal food," she said this with a quiet indignation. "I..think I can walk though..." she said as she pushed the sheet off of her.

Slowly she swung her legs off the bed, resting her toes on the floor. With a slow breath and a wince she pushed herself up. She wobbled a moment, catching herself on the edge of the bed. Standing she was only as tall as his chest. "I can do this..." she said more to herself than the male. Her legs were painfully weak and she took a couple of tentative steps forward. "No issues...walking..." Despite all she was a resilient little thing and she managed a few steps before needing to grab the small table. Then to the door and hand to grasp the frame. Her knees shook from the effort. Though the stairs would be impossible and she would have to relent to at least being helped down if not simply carried.
 
"Vegan?" She questioned the word having never heard it before. No! What if it was a common, human word? The way he said it made her assume a vegan was something bad. She blinked a moment before shaking her head. "I mean...of course not. Vegan...no, ew," she said with a pulled face of disgust and an awkward laugh. Well she gathered that vegan perhaps didn't like this steak thing he spoke of. A type of food. Were humans so well favored with food that certain people could ignore types of food? Curious creatures.

She had made it so far! Perfectly strong and capable. Her little fingers gripped at the door frame and she leaned into it for support. The male had spoke his doubts on her abilities. Well take that human, she had made it to the door. Just had to get down the stairs. Of course that was a whole world of other problems. Her legs were already shaking with the effort, the deeper wounds on her right leg was throbbing and aching. Though before she could even fully decide how to go about leaving the room and going down the stairs he had mentioned she heard his quick, heavy steps behind her. His large paw of a hand suddenly pushed on the door. With his weight against it there was no way she'd be able to open it.

Slowly she turned, leaning her back against the wall for support. First she was met with the broad, strong chest at her eye level. Inch by inch her eyes raised up to meet with his gaze. Well she had certainly gauged right. The man was like a human bear. Massive and imposing, especially with how close he stood. Somehow he was both chastising her and praising her efforts. She was indeed tough. If she wasn't she probably would have died well before her mother. For a little she just stared up as him as he leaned over her. A small waft of that familiar scent caught her attention. The scent from the pillow and the shirt. Though it was stronger with him standing over her. Of course she had already figured out it was his scent, the smell of male and of forest.

While she didn't understand the way he spoke sometimes she got the idea he was trying to convey. He didn't want her to try going down the stairs on her own. If she were honest with herself she fully agreed. After a few moment of staring up at him she released a slow sigh and tilted her head down, her neck already sore from craning back to look up at him. "You are...right...I cannot make it," she conceded to him. Though being manhandled down the stairs didn't sound much more comfortable either at least she wouldn't tumble headlong down them. Part of her still didn't understand why the human seemed to care what happened to her. He sort of acted like she was simply an inconvenience in his life.
 
Break herself or his house. Well at least break herself came first, that was nice. Of course she still was unclear why he cared for a stranger like this. One that was lying to his face. Not that he knew she was lying of course. Still, lies didn't feel particularly nice. She could help a small, self-pleased grin at what he said though. He hadn't even expected her to sit up let alone make it five steps. A very difficult five steps with the pain in her leg. Well her kind were not weak. They healed a little faster than a human but not by much. At least that's what she heard them say. Of course her kind were stronger too. That was a given. Though at the moment this big bear of a human was worlds stronger than she was. Oh just wait until her strength returned. She'd turn to a bear herself then they'd see who was stronger.

As he opened the door she glanced down the open hall. Well she could see the aforementioned stairs and they certainly looked a challenge, given how weak her legs felt. The dark wall was strange, the bit she could see from their vantage point. Why have a wall of dark glass? When Bear spoke she turned to look up at him once more. Her stomach gave another little growl in agreement. She was more than ready to eat as well. "On three and don't freak out," she said with a nod. What freak out meant she wasn't entirely sure. Oh she had hear the word before. Casually flung at her and her mother. Freak. Monster. Demon. Perhaps he meant don't change. Did he know? Was he lying too? She stiffened a little but certainly wasn't about to lash out at him in her weak state.

The perfect semblance of calm as one arm came around her back, the other at her legs. She met his eye and gave him a ever-so-slight nod back. Then all at once her feet left the ground. Her legs pressed together and she couldn't help a small wince until she was fully settled in his arms, tucked up against his strong chest. It wasn't that she wanted to hold on but her arm was awkwardly scrunched so she let it drape over his shoulder, fingers splayed against the back of his neck. The other arm, the one with the bullet wound, just rested over her stomach, the hand lightly brushing his collar bone. She twisted her head some and look down. "Mm...this is high..." she said in an thoughtful and slightly amused way. "See? Not a freak...out. Not a freak out," she said with a small awkward laugh as she turned to look up at him again.

As they headed out of the room she was utterly bursting with questions. Were human homes usually made with wood? What was with the dark wall of glass? Where did the other doors lead? What the hell was steak? Where did it come from? What was cook? Of course she kept silent on every single one of those. She was curious but wise enough to assume most humans would know those things already. The last thing she wanted was for Bear to grow suspicious of her. More suspicious than he likely already was at any rate.
 
His light chuckle rumbled around her and made her grin a little from the vibration of his chest. Given his apparently stern behavior the light chuckle was almost refreshing. She didn’t grip him as he headed out, her hands relaxed against his neck and his chest bearing her weight with ease. As he walked she looked around the place. Wood everywhere. She thought it was very lovely. Her comparison were cells and labs though. Still the natural feel of the place set her spirit at ease. Why it did she couldn’t fully say. Her mother said that their kind had a deep connection with the natural world but she had never experienced the natural world. Born in the labs, raised in a cell. Her first day among nature was the day of her escape. Blue eyes were set wide as she tried to take everything in at once, her head twisting this way and that as they made it down the stairs. The place was so big! Well no wonder, Bear was very large too. It would be expected his home would be spacious. The wall of glass, she realized, was to the outside. A silvery orb hung in the sky. The moon, so she assumed. Patron Goddess of her people. According to her mother anyways.

A large, handsome table of dark and shiny wood sat by some strange room. It look like a lab and yet not. She wondered if that was the place where ‘steak’ was kept and ‘cooking’ happened. He moved to a chair and gently eased her into one. Every motion was slow and careful. His personality might be as gruff as some of the scientists but his actions were far gentler than she had ever felt in her life. The chair was odd though, her toes barely brushed the floor below her. Once settled in she looked up at him as he still leaned over her. Just for a moment, watching carefully. Satisfied he stood up and gave his stern command albeit with the tiniest of amused smirks. “Staying here,” she said with a nod. She wasn’t sure if Tough Girl was a sort of nickname for her he had developed, as she called him Bear in her head, but she liked it anyways.

She watched him walk away to the not-lab and start working with odd metal instruments. Her body turned and contorted a little to watch him curiously as he worked. Her chin rested on the chair back, eyes following him as he moved. Not entirely unlike how a faithful hound might watch their master working about the house. He had two great pieces of…well of something. Pink and kind of mushy looking from where she sat. He tossed them into the metal dish and they hissed like an angry cat. Her head jerked up in surprise at the strange sound. Though it was only moment before a new and utterly savory smell filled the room. She tilted her head back and sniffed at the air, her stomach giving another ferocious growl. Her mouth was really starting to water. Was that the ‘steak’ thing? It was the best smell ever!

There was barely any wait before he took the no long squishy pink things off of the metal. They were darker, browner, but still deliciously wet looking. He turned with a flat, round, tray of the food and brought it over to her. Her eyes had doubled in size at the sight. Both in awe and utterly curious. She didn’t know what was before her but it smelled amazing. Of course she was more than ready to tear into the food, no utensils necessary. Yet she waited. They always had to wait until told to eat. This place was different, he was not one of them and yet she couldn’t help herself but wait for the OK to begin eating. Once he was seated and even began uttering the word ‘eat’ her hands lashed out and picked up the steak. Never mind the silverware, she didn’t know what it was for anyways. Paying no attention anything but the ‘steak’ she took a massive bit from it, right through any fat or bits of gristle.

She stopped away two chews of the huge bite she took. Her eyes went wider than a junkies with a fresh hit. She wanted to cry it tasted so good. An explosion of delicious joy against her tongue. Salty and tangy, she shivered in delight at the taste. Nothing like the greyish blue food she had been fed her whole life. Nutrition paste. She began chewing again, staring at the steak in wonder. How could things taste so good? With a hard swallow she downed the whole bite and leaned in for another massive bite. Of course massive bites for her were probably regular sized ones for Bear. There were other things on the round tray too. Green sticks and…worms maybe? With another hard swallow she picked up the green stick and examined it, sniffed at it, tried it. Not as good as the steak but still tasty. Salty but a little bitter. Next she gave the worms a try. Steak was definitely the best.

All the while she was blithely unaware that her table manners would be considered quite informal. To put it lightly anyways.
 
So focused on consuming the food, especially steak, she didn't see Bear move. Her wrist was suddenly seized by a massive hand. She flinched away with a terrified, squeaking, hiss. Her body turned as if to flee and her eyes squeezed shut, wrist pulling against his hand. As he held on her breath came in short, sharp little pants until she remembered where she was. Slowly her eyes opened to look over at him. Some kind of animal. Well sort of. Not at the moment of course. He seemed surprised, shocked even. She looked around wondering just why. His laughter made her head tilt curiously. This was far different from the thundering chuckle. She couldn't help a small, confused smile at him.

Her wrist was freed with his comment. She couldn't really see her own face but she could feel the wetness from the steak. Well maybe he shouldn't serve such wet food? His command halted her and she held utterly still as commanded. This time she didn't flinch as he leaned over with the strange piece of cloth. His touch was gentle as he wiped away the mess she had made. "A strange one?" She parroted in a puzzled voice. "Probably," she agreed. Well she didn't know what strange was either but clearly strange made Bear laugh and she rather liked to hear him laugh. It made her feel light, made her smile.

Try to use this. He picked up one of the silver implements and stabbed the worms with it. She reached over with her messy hand at first but stopped herself. Well she understood that humans used the implements to consume food and used the odd cloth to clean up mess. Clearing her throat she picked up her napkin and wiped her hand off so as to not make the spiky silver thing messy. She grasped it like a child might, fully fisted around the haft, and popped the worms in her mouth. Well it certainly was cleaner. She ate a few more bites of those and green stick while glancing over at Bear. He used a knife, oh she well knew what knives were, to slices off smaller bites of steak.

She grabbed her own knife, however awkward, and copied what Bear did. It was certainly not an easy task she found. The pieces she carved off were ragged and jagged, mostly torn off by the time she struggled it away. This was infuriating! Why was it so hard? Why did humans eat with such stupid little things? The so-called fork and a knife. Grabbing it with hands was so much easier. Of course she didn't want to make a mess again and disappoint so she kept at it with the fork until she cleared off the whole plate. "That was...amazing. Best food I ever had," she said with a content and awed sigh. That was no joke either. It was the first meal she'd ever had that was fully solid and had any flavor. This meal exploded in delightful flavors. Especially the steak. "Do hu...you eat food like this all the time Bear?" She asked with a tilt of her head. Then her head jerked back a moment. She had been calling him 'Bear' so much in her head it slipped into the world. "Sorry...did I...is that rude?" She questioned, cringing a little.
 
She cringed when he nearly choked on his strange, dark colored drink. His look confused her. She couldn’t tell if he was angry about it or just surprised. With his questions she slowly nodded to confirm he had heard right. Maybe humans thought it was rude to be named like an animal. The scientists didn’t seem to have good opinions of her sort or the monstrosities they had created. Perhaps humans really didn’t like animals. She watched him, curious but wary. Sorely uncertain if she had angered him which was the last thing she wanted to do. It hadn’t really taken long for her to start to trust the human, save the initial reactions. He had mended her and fed her. Fed her very delicious food she might add. Hadn’t tried to hurt her. There was no reason not to trust him.

Finally he spoke, tell her it was alright. She let out a slow, quiet sigh of relief and managed a small, awkward smile. Her head tilted at him again as he gave his name. Robert but Rob was fine. “Rob,” she said with a slow nod, trying out the name on her tongue. “Rob…I like it…” She said with a bright grin. Not that it should matter if she liked his name or not. Of course she still liked Bear too. “You…are like a bear though,” she said with a quiet but high laugh. “You are big and strong and your voice is like low growlings,” she said while still grinning at him. “But Rob is a good name too.” She added quickly with a slow nod. For a moment she was quiet, her eyebrows pulled into a ponderous frown. Well he had given his name. She should give hers. Of course the name given to her by her mother might be a little strange for a human. There was the other name…her name in the labs. Specimen name.

“My name is Fauna,” she said eventually, turning her attention back to Rob. “That is…what they called me anyways,” she said with a small shrug. Her mouth opened to continue but she snapped it shut. He didn’t need to know she had another name, especially when he wouldn’t be able to say it. She wasn’t even certain what it would translate to in human language. Her little fingers drummed lightly on the table a moment. “You…uhm…are alone?” she asked, glancing around the room. She noted more chairs around the table but had yet to see any other humans around. “Sorry I don’t…know the right things to…talk about.” She cringed a little. She needed to stop talking else she was going to let something slip that he didn’t need to know. Like the fact that she wasn’t exactly human. And it wasn’t like conversation was normal with the other humans. What did humans even talk about anyways?

Actually, with a full belly, she was quickly growing a little tired despite being unconscious all day. Still she was very curious about Rob. There were so many things she wanted to ask him but questions were dangerous territory. She didn’t know what a normal human should know and if she asked about something a normal human should know he would grow suspicious. Then part of her wondered what he might think if he knew what she really was. While decently certain he wouldn’t turn her back over to the scientists…she couldn’t be 100% certain. Not yet anyways. She had to be careful.
 
His response to her question and follow up, telling her they didn't have to talk about anything, was information enough. He didn't want to talk about how or why he was alone. She respected that and wasn't about to pry any further. After all she didn't want him prying to much into her life either. Not if she was going to try and keep up the lie. She watched him, curious about the brief downturn in his mood, as he rose up and took the round trays back to the cooking lab. For some reason she felt oddly sad for him. Why, she didn't entirely know. Yet the slight, even if brief, change in him stuck with her. As if she felt a little of his sadness as well. Though as quickly as it all came it all left. By the time he had finished running the trays under water and came back the brief stint of sadness was gone. Her head craned back to look up at him as he stood over her.

A bedroom downstairs. A room with a bed in it but one on the level they were on at that moment. Well she was able to piece together what a bedroom was and she hoped she was right. Probably another thing humans just knew. Though she did wonder: how many bedrooms did one human need? Were there more? Irrelevant. She grinned some at his mild attempt at humor. Another bear-like quality. Possessive. Bears were not known to be very good at sharing. So her mother had said anyways. "I would not want to keep a bed from a bear," she said with a brighter grin and short, snorting laugh. "Or a Rob I think." An odd silence fell as he stared down at her and she back up at him. Her head tilted once more at him, a curious frown creasing her brows.

Fauna leaned back just a little, surprised as he knelt down so they were on the same level. Her brows raised at him some, sky blue eyes wide. She studied his face for that brief moment, seeing it for the first time without having to crane her neck up. He had a nice face, strong and nicely built. Once more her head tilted curiously at him as he reached out and laid a large but gentle hand on her shoulder. His hand was warm and strangely comforting as it nearly engulfed her small shoulder, the heat from his seeping up her neck and down her arm. His question jerked her head back in surprise, her eyes only turning wider. Wide enough they might be likely to fall right out of her head.

Are you ok? No one had ever asked her that. Even her mother, mostly because her mother knew things were not ok. Such a simple question that sent shockwaves through her. Enough so she remained silent and staring, her breath nearly stilled. The short, simple answer was no. Her body was sore, tired, abused. She had spent her entirely life being the subject of sick experiments and tissue harvesting. Treated only slightly better than a lab rat given that more rats were easy to come by. More creatures like herself, not so much. As she stared at him silently her eyes turned glassy. She looked fit to burst into tears. How could she though? Then she would have to explain everything.

The silver-haired girl gave a hard, stuttering sniff. Don't cry. Don't cry. Without warning she suddenly leaned forward and wrapped her skinny arms around his neck, burying her face into his shoulder. She didn't know if this was something humans did but, at the moment, she didn't entirely care. Still she managed to hold back any tears, just clung to him for a little. "No one has ever asked me this," she muttered into the hard muscle of his shoulder. Then just as quick as she had grabbed him she sat back, pushing a little against his chest, cringing as it worked her stitches some. "I...will be ok," she finally said, though found she couldn't look him in the eye with the response. "I am sorry...just very tired," she said with a quiet sigh, managing to glance up and meet his eyes again. "And so is Rob."
 
Fauna had felt a small sliver of peace and comfort hanging onto Rob like that. The way he seemed to engulf her with his warm strength felt like a shield against the world. For that brief moment she felt a pang of guilt for lying to him. Yet she still wasn't sure how he would react. Humans were naturally fearful, hating things that were different. At least that's what her mother told her. He confirmed her comment. Both were in dire need of sleep. Same as last time. She edged forward some in her chair as he positioned his arms once again. Though her own arms came up straight away to drape around his shoulders before he even stood up, bearing her weight as though it were nothing.

As they walked through the space she glanced around curiously. Past the stairs and deeper into the home. Her head craned up to look at the strange things he kept on the walls. Was this normal human custom? Having images and dead creatures adorn the wall. It seemed odd but she would like to take some time to look at them better. Maybe after some sleep she would get a chance to. He made his way to another room. It was quite a lot like the one from up the stairs. Smaller and cozier. The bed was still quite big and looked just as comfortable as the other. In a feat of strength and dexterity he pushed the blankets back before settling her down into the bed. Oh yes it was just as cozy and cushy.

She looked up at him as he pulled the blankets back over her. Immediately cozy and warm under them. Such a marvel really. She never knew a sleeping spot could be so nice. The bed dipped some as he sat down with her a moment. Fauna quietly watched him before giving him a sleepy smile, a hand reaching up to lightly rest on his forearm. With the comfort of the bed, her own body heat warming up the blankets, and the sheer exhaustion she was struggling to remain awake ever after just the minute or so. "Thank you Rob," she said as her finger brushed along his arm. She gave a little sort of wiggle, cozying further down into the bed, nearly buried into the blankets and mattress. "You are a good human," she murmured before completely knocking out. The poor girl was tired.

It was only a few hours until dawn broke. Fauna slept until the sun crested the trees. She woke with sleepy groan, yawning widely. In the night she had curled around the blankets, making them into a sort of nest. At least the stitches had held through the odd nesting. Slowly she woke, so comfortable. Her bones weren't frozen, her muscles and joints didn't ache from sleeping on a cold, hard floor. She sat up and yawned again, rubbing the sleep from her eyes. She certainly felt worlds better. Maybe good enough to try walking again. Slowly, carefully, she stood up. Her legs didn't wobble and shake as they did before. She tried a few steps then some more. Though she was slow she was steady. Fauna crept towards the door and pulled it open.

Her eyes slammed shut as light assaulted them. Her eyes struggled to adjust, blinking and watering. Slowly she could see again. The brilliant light streamed in through the glass wall. Handsome greens from the forest trickled in with the light. Her eyes, finally adjusted to the light, went wide at the sight. She drifted forward in awe. A hand reached out and touched the glass wall then the other followed. She moved forward until both hands and her nose were pressed to the glass. She had escaped in darkness. So frighted, so panicked, so determined to find freedom she didn't pay attention to the world around her. She had never seen the world outside the labs. Had never seen the sun. She wanted to go out there. Bathe in the sunlight and drink in the smell of the world.
 
Fauna was far too busy staring at the outside world to hear Rob emerge. Even with the telltale creak of a door. It was more than she could have possibly imagined. Her mother had spoke at length of trees and flowers in all hues. The lush forests that covered their home, sweeping glens and majestic mountains. Of course she’d never even seen a picture of a tree. Her mother had tried to describe them but her words, without context, did not do their majesty justice. Even behind the glass was she could hear the gentle chatter of the stream. Oh how she wanted out there. Bask in the light and feel the earth. It was beautiful and it was so close. She had half a mind to figure out which door would take her out there. If she got out of the labs she could surely get out of Rob’s home.

She jumped at the low, amused rumble of Rob’s voice. Her head whispered around sending her hair flying to catch in the morning light. It shimmered and sparkled as though made of strands of fine silver, setting a glittering halo before laying still again. He had already turned his gaze to the forest. Though it was quick to find her again. Fauna nodded. “Nice is not enough to describe it,” she said as she turned back to the glass wall to gaze out. “It’s is...like a dream. A nice dream,” she said at the window. Good dreams were a rarity. No dreams or nightmares were the commonplace. Her hands flexed and curled, nails scraping on the glass with shrill squeaks. It had been all sleep and darkness through the night. She wondered how long it would last.

“Can we go out there,” she asked as her attention turned back to Rob. “Is it allowed?” Oh how she wanted to go out there. The river was just as enticing as the trees and shining sun. “Not even far just...out...” One hand slipped from the glass and she took a tentative step away. Her attention back on the outside world as she back up another step and the remaining hand left the window. Even if they couldn’t she could stare at it all for hours and it wouldn’t be enough. The world was more beautiful than she could have ever imagined. No tale could do it justice. Finally she managed to drag that longing gaze away from the glass wall and focus on Rob. She managed a small smile for him. “You had...good sleep then? In your bed?” Emphasis on your and still smiling.
 
Despite the jest in his voice Fauna's head jerked back little in surprise at the small outburst. Her blue eyes a little wide. She had known him to be a possessive sort, a bear of course. Perhaps, also like a bear, he was grumpy when first waking up. That would make sense. She watched him as he descended the stairs, the possessive words and yet mildly jesting tone still raining down. Fauna couldn't fully grasp if he was making light of things or making sure she understood that everything around belong to him. Very territorial. Definitely a bear. "Yes I slept well in your bed," she replied as he neared her and gave a gentle pat on her uninjured shoulder. She was quietly trying to give him the benefit of just because a cranky morning bear and a strange human. Though his mood and words confused her some.

Though her confused wariness turned to wide eyed delight as he said they could go out there. How far they could get didn't matter. She would be happy to just step out of the door! Her mouth opened but snapped shut quickly as he gave a little tug at the very large shirt she wore. His shirt of course. "Why?" She asked as she looked down at the shirt. She knew humans liked to cover up. Well her kind wore clothing too but not as animals. The shirt did a good job at covering her up like humans wanted. It was barely shorter than the odd, thin, scratchy shirt she had worn at the labs all her life. Her little hands plucked at the hem and pulled it out some, as though it were a skirt and she was going to curtsy. "It is a good shirt. It is more shirt than you are wearing," she said with an amused grin.

Seeing absolutely no reason to delay she grabbed his hand and turned toward the glass wall. Outside. Deep in the spirit of nature. "Not far just to the...the..." Well she knew very well that it would have a name but she didn't know what it would be. "The running...water..." She said in an awkward mumble. Quietly she cleared her throat, adamantly looking outside. "I can walk the whole way. Promise." She wasn't sure where he stood on bearing her weight everywhere but she figured her case would be helped if she swore she could make it on her own. She felt strong enough. Certainly she could run and probably couldn't even make it there and back in one jaunt but going there and having a rest by the water then back seemed completely possible.
 
Fauna stared up at Rob as she waited for his answer. While she did she noticed, for the first time, the marks on his body. These were something she was well acquainted with. She wondered just where he could have received such marks. She didn't think it was particularly likely he was experimented on too. All curiosity and wonder about the marks fled suddenly when he finally nodded and relented. Her eyes shot wide and a grin broke out across her face. A grin so wide it looked like her face might split in half from it. She didn't mind his conditions at all. "Understand," she said with a sharp nod, that grin still stretching from ear to ear. She felt his hand shift to take a better hold of her own, fully swallowing it up. Fauna walked along with him towards the door, her heart thundering a frantic rhythm in her chest.

The immediate warmth washed over them when the door was opened. Fauna hesitated a moment. Her excited elation turning into nervous wonder. She reached out her other hand as if to test the temperature of the air. Rather she was watching the dappled light dance across her palm. Her senses were overwhelmed, her sense of smell especially. The deep, woody scent of pine and cedar, of rotting leaf litter and fresh growth. Lighter flora scents floated on the breeze and even, lightly, the smell of passing critters. More distantly the notes of the fresh, rushing water caught in the air. The breeze tickled the fine hairs on her arms and coaxed her silvery hair into a gentle waltz. Suddenly she remembered she wasn't alone and looked back at Rob her expression somewhere between awe and joy. Wonder, amazement. There were too many words and yet not enough to explain the pure happiness flowing through her.

"Better," she repeated with a breathy little sigh. Fauna found her feet and took a tentative step onto the grass. The grin was back and she firmly planted both feet into the luscious carpet of soft green. Her toes wriggled against the grass and she couldn't help a small laugh as the blade tickled her feet. After that second pause she walked on with Rob towards the river. Her head whipped this way and that trying to drink in every sight, every sound, every smell the forest had to offer. The walk wasn't far but her gait was slow. The stitching on her leg prevented longer strides on her part though even a full stride of hers was likely half of Rob's. Though they eventually made it to the river bank. Fauna's eyes darted back and forth along the splashing river as if trying to follow the flow. She looked down at her feet and ankles as they were lightly splashed with tiny droplets of cool water.

Slowly, carefully, she eased herself onto a rock, just a little closer to the waters edge. She dipped her toes into the cold waver and shivered in delight. With a small laugh she let her foot sway back and forth in the water, letting it lap up at her ankle. She looked up almost with Rob and took a long, deep breath. Filling her lungs with fresh air before letting out an equally slow and contented sigh. She watched out across the river for a little bit, drinking in the warmth and the light. Her skin nearly glowed in the dappled light, so pale and damn near translucent. "It is...I don't have all of the right words," she finally broke the peaceful silence but still stared out across the river. "So much...missed..." she said with a little crack in her voice. Fauna swallowed hard and clear her throat. Don't cry. Humans got angry with tears. "Beautiful..." she finally managed with a small nod. It was the best word she could some up with.
 
Fauna was snapped from her reverie, and the unbidden welling of emotion, as a warm arm draped gently on her shoulders. Always taking care not to touch the wound. Always gentle with her. She was so very unused to gentle hands. Fauna looked up and over at Rob but he wasn't looking at her. He was surveying the world around them with a sort of passive diligence. Checking around them, watching, like a guard. A ghostly smile tugged at her lips. Gentle, diligent, possessive and a little blunt. Fauna hadn't even realized how quickly she had put her trust in him. She never really decided to trust him, it just happened. A little sigh of contentment escaped her lips and she looked around with him. Taking in more of the sights and smells that surrounded them. There was a certain strength in the forest. An ancient power and wisdom that, if one listened close enough, could be heard and felt.

Her name caught her attention once more and she turned to look up at him. She tilted her head some as he complimented his name. Different. Most women might like that sort of compliment. For her it set a cold chill to her blood. Too different? Suspiciously different? Her turned to her again, meeting her gaze. Then a question. One she had been dreading. Her heart gave a hard thud against her chest and an icy stone settled in her stomach. He went on before she could even try and formulate some kind of answer. A long way out. Out from where? More human homes? She couldn't even say with certainty where they were in the human world. Her tongue suddenly felt ten times it size. What happened? Her eyes widened some, lips pressing together. She couldn't stay silent. She had to answer.

"I...uh...I..." She stammered to a start. How could she even lie? Not for any moral reason. She knew nothing of the human world. Her legs curled up and she leaned forward as if to assume a protective ball. She winced and hissed as the stitching pulled painfully. Relaxing her leg back she looked down at the wound. One he had taken such care to sew up for her. Guilt welled in her. He deserved some kind of truth, some answer. Yet she feared what the truth might bring. Worse, she feared that look. The same, distant and yet fearful look. Monster. "I...ran away," she said evasively. "Ran from...my...home..." She certainly wasn't going to be believed as she stumbled through the vague story. Just give enough details. Few enough he might stop asking. Would hopefully stop asking.

"They...tried to stop me," she went on, cringing as the blurry images from that night returned. "Chased me...used their weapons." Her hand reached up and lightly danced along the grazing bullet wound. "It was a...bad place. Ran by bad hu...men. Bad men. My mother they..." Her throat swelled suddenly, halting her words with a little squeak as her eyes burned with hot, salty tears she held back with some effort. "Gone...gone..." She gave a hard sniff and stuck her face into her palms. "Please stop asking...it is too hard..." The wounds, literally and figuratively, were far too fresh. Not to mention her fear of him learning just what she was. If he asked too many more questions she would see that look. Monster.
 
Fauna sat there, hands over her face. It was a struggle to hold back. Such simple questions he asked. Yet they so damaging. She knew he was still kneeling there. Could feel his eyes on her. Eyes of concern and sympathy. He didn't understand, he couldn't understand, she wouldn't let him understand. Not yet, not ever if she had her say. While she didn't think he would turn her back over to them she couldn't imagine the shock and horror. Monster. In the darkness behind her own hands she could feel his hand on her. Warm and gentle, almost soothing. The fingers lightly as they danced across her bare leg. She felt sick and her head ached as she battled back the tears. If she could just slip away somehow. Just disappear. Let the rock absorb her, consume the hurt. It was agonizing.

Until Rob cracked that damn she hadn't had a chance to process the loss. The horror was there, every night. Yet the needles, the serums, they dulled the senses and the body. Numbed the mind, kept her docile. They'd had to use more since then. Two shots, then three. Back to two when they'd nearly lost her. So they said. All she could remember was the dark. Cold and yet somehow warm. Two shots, every night. Then one night they forgot and here she was, being asked what happened. How could she even explain that place? Even if Rob knew what she was, where she had been, what they had done. She barely knew herself.

Her body gave a little jerk at a whispered word. So soft, like a flower on the breeze. Her name again, a gentle coaxing. She didn't resist his warm, strong hands lowering her own. Her face was red from the effort, eyes bloodshot and glassy but her cheeks remained dry. She could see the sadness in his eyes, hear it in his voice as he apologized. Her lips trembled some at the kind words. No, he had nothing to be sorry for. He was not the one to upset her, to hurt her. Sure, he had cracked the wall but he had not filled the reservoir. Her mouth moved to try and speak but only the barest of squeaks escaped her constricted throat. He relieved her of having to go on, to fight more and try not to reveal what she was to him. Ever so slightly her face relaxed a little, the corners of her lips lifting some. Too difficult, too complicated. Secrets were easier. For a moment she felt relief, felt the lump in her throat diminishing.

That was, of course, until he leaned forward and wrapped her up in his arms. Fauna froze at the contact. Surprised hardly began to explain it. He pulled her took him until she was flush against him. Fauna blinked over his shoulder, her arms tucked up against his chest. Such a simple action. She gave a hard sniff and relaxed into the comforting embrace. Her face nestled against his neck, little hands resting against his collar bone. Something about the gesture was comforting, safe, warm. Still she didn't outright cry, didn't holler or sob against him. She had a few sniffles but more like ones at the end of a hard cry. Ones that didn't seem like they would ever end.

Though eventually they did and she stayed there just a little longer. Soaking in the warmth and comfort. "Thank you Bear," she said against his neck. Slowly she sat up and back. Her eyes still ringed in red. "Maybe...later I will tell but now it is...too close. Too new." And she didn't know he would react well to finding out what she was. Maybe she would never tell him. "You are a nice...man." She managed a small smile for him, her hands lifting to rest on his neck, just below his ears. "I am thankful for you."
 
Fauna’s smile turned a little crooked. Back to calling him Bear. Just for the moment, she still thought it fit him very well. He tried to throw back the thanks, tell her it was just the right thing to do. What kind of man would just leave her? If they didn’t need her for their experiments she imagined the scientists would have done just that. After harvesting whatever it was they needed of course. His coarse, simple statement about the luck of her not being dead already elicited a small, amused sort of chuff through her nose. “Me too,” she had to agree with him. The moment of abject misery had passed and she was once more thankful for life. Perhaps the rock below her didn’t need to swallow her up just yet.

As Rob went on her head tilted curiously. Someone up there? Her head tilted back to look at the sky above them, shielded some by the surrounding canopy of forest. Her eyebrows furrowed somewhat as she stared up. There was no one up there. What was he talking about? How could a person in the sky make those decisions? Plans for her. It was a very strange notion. She turned her head some and the movement of the two hawks caught her eye. Flying so gracefully across the deep blue. Well she was decently certain he wasn’t talking about them. Regal and beautiful they might be she didn’t think they would have much had in plans for her.

Rob grabbed her attention again as he started speaking. Talking of something called a hospital and taking her there. Perhaps a place for hurt people…or a prison? Her stomach developed a sudden sourness as he spoke of this hospital returning her. So hospitals worked for the scientists. Watchers perhaps, spies. On the look out for strange beings like her to take to the scientists. Well she was very glad that Rob hadn’t taken her there. Though that begged the question: did he actually know? Why take her to a hospital otherwise? Her eyebrows pulled into a curious and very puzzled frown, perhaps a little suspicious too. No, he couldn’t know. He wouldn’t have asked her such things if he had known. Why to a hospital then? Maybe hospital was something else. Humans were very confusing, their words strange. It didn’t help that her only knowledge was from the labs and it wasn’t like they put her through schooling.

She watched Rob as he slid down and settled up against the rock she was sitting on. His fingers were on her leg again, lightly playing against the bandaging. Her head tilted at his declaration. That she could stay as long as needed. Promised that she wouldn’t go back to that place. A gentle smile spread over her lips at the promise. While she had somewhat expected as much it was nice to hear. Rob hardly knew her, certainly didn’t know the secrets she kept from him, but was willing to keep her safe. Keep her away from the scientists. Just for a little while. She didn’t know how long she had until they started hunting her. She could only assume they would and she didn’t want him to get that involved. As soon as she was strong enough to take on a form that could fly she would be gone. Off in the night as a silvery owl or in the day as a hawk. Quietly. Rob never needed to know what she was, see the changes.

Slowly Fauna moved, edging herself down to the ground beside Rob. She was close, very close, her hip and leg pressed up against him. Sitting side by side as they were her head came up to his collar bone, her feet only so far as half calf on him. “I would thank you again…but you do not like the thanks,” she said with a wry smile and a small wrinkle of her nose. Sort of on level with him she noted the scars on his chest. She had made note of herself to ask. Slowly she reached up and splayed a tiny hand across one. Her look was curious, perhaps even a little angry, as she stared at his broad chest, her hand warm and small. “You too have hurts. Did they…” She stopped herself and frowned some, lips pursing as she hesitated. It was vastly unlikely that it was the scientists that had hurt him. “I am sorry for what hurt you. Maybe you will tell me? One day. It does not have to be today.”
 
Fauna wasn’t surprised at his reaction. She simply looked up at him with an understanding smile. Just like she didn’t want to tell him about everything that had happened to her. In a way it was like having a kindred spirit. Of course she was curious about what had happened to him, just as he was curious about what had happened to her. She didn’t resist as he wrapped his hand around hers and lowered it down. For a moment still just holding her hand in his, lost in his own thought. Fauna still smiled some as she settled back against the rock, letting him sit in silence with his thoughts. Leaning back she closed her eyes and just listened to the forest around them, felt the warmth from his body at her side. It was peaceful, for the moment at least. So long as they held and understanding that they didn’t want to share their dark secrets.

Her eyes snapped open as Rob began speaking once more. Her head tilted some as he struggled to find his words. Strange, she thought he was much more proficient in the human language, being human. Maybe what he had to say was just difficult to say. Though her head tilted further, a very confused frown creasing her brow. Get the wrong idea about him? Maybe she didn’t understand the words properly. Fauna was more than certain of her idea about it. Strong, kind, gentle, sometimes a little gruff and possessive of his territory. Combined with his imposing size was exactly why she had started calling him ‘Bear.’ There was a lot he had done she had hardly expected from a human. Her experience with humans, up until Rob, were not exactly what one might call positive. Rob changed her opinion, just a little, in the scarce span of time she had known him.

“Rob-“ she started but was suddenly cut off by the shriek from above. Her head whipped around and up just in time to see the streak of brown and grey feathers. The large bird dove right at Rob. Its large, razor talons sunk into his shoulder. Fauna flinched back as Rob roared in pain, lashing his arm at the bird. Only a second or two and the bird was gone again. Off into the sky with blood and flesh on its claws. Her eye darted back to Rob a moment with a sympathetic hiss. A little fist raised at the hawk as it flew away. “You bad bird! Come back here and say sorry!” She shouted at the quickly disappearing mass of feathers and evil. It had all happened so fast! Fast enough that she hadn’t even been able to understand the reason for the attack.

“Oh Rob…you’re hurt,” she said, her hands jumping back and forth all of a sudden as if she wanted to try and help but wasn’t entirely sure what to do. What to do, what to do. “Let’s go…inside,” she said as she pushed herself to her feet and grabbed his left hand to help coax him to stand up. So small and not particularly strong she wouldn’t be able to pull him up, just guide him to stand. She ushered him back towards the house, her gait quick but awkward. Her mind struggled to process what just happened along with trying to help him with the wound. She had never dressed a wound before and didn’t really know what she would need to do. Wash and wrap, that was the best she could know. Would he need the sewing? Was it deep enough? As she tried her best to help him out she kept muttering ‘sorry’ over and over again.
 
Fauna was a flurry of simple confusion, mild panic, and certain uncertainty. She wanted to help, wanted to make the hurting stop for Rob, wanted to fix him up like he had done for her. The trouble was she hadn't a clue how to really help. She didn't realize she was more in the way and causing more aggravation and worry for Rob. His commanding voice didn't break through the want to help, the failing attempts. She was fine! He was the on bleeding everywhere! It wasn't until he stopped her, just as they got to the house, and made her look up at him. The calm plea forced her to stop and reassess. She really didn't know how to help him except for cleaning up the blood and washing the wound out. Maybe sewing but she didn't know how to do that either. Though some relief seeped its way in when he said it just needed bandaging. No sewing, that was good.

She was calmer but still followed Rob and he went into the bathroom. Fauna paused to peer around a moment. A strange room but she recognized some of the things in there. A toilet for one and a strangely small sink. Though she didn't stop to appraised the little room for long as Rob went to the sink. She stood behind him, a little to the right. Near by if he needed something but trying her best to keep out of his way. Her fingers wouldn't stop moving, rolling and twining with each-other as if it was the only way to keep herself somewhat occupied and away from him. Her head tilted as he pulled out the brown bottle. Of course she didn't know what was in it. Her blue eyes met his in the mirror. Slowly she eased herself onto the edge of the tub to sit as he had said.

Though she was only there for a second. When he poured the liquid over the wound and screamed in pain she was back on her feet both in worry and in shock at the sound she heard him make. Oh she well knew the sound of pain. Clearly whatever was in that bottle was awful stuff! Still she tried to keep back though her hands nearly vibrated with a need and want to be helpful. He grabbed a stack of gauze and pressed it to the wound and still she kept back from him, so unsure. As he held the gauze there, huffing and leaning against the tiny sink, Fauna moved a tiny step forward. Then another. Slowly she reached out a little hand and laid it on his back, right between the shoulder blades. Just a small gesture, staying out of the way, to let him know she was there for him. A tiny attempt at comfort. Though as she stood there, her hand just lightly resting on his back, she finally realized how she could help. The handful of gauze would need to stay put. She had noted a roll of bandaging when he had grabbed the bottle of burning.

"Here...let me help," she said with a calmness she hadn't had a few minutes ago. "Please." With where it was he would have difficulty tying it in place. She picked up the bandages but he would have to sit down on the edge of the tub or the closed toilet seat for her to reach. Her work was perhaps a little haphazard and used the entire roll of bandaging but she managed to tie a knot to keep it all in place. Then she took up a wash cloth that had been handing up and wetted it to wipe up the blood. "Do...hawks attack often?" She asked as she very gently wiped up the drying streaks of blood. "You should have a serious talk with him," she said with a confident little nod, as if talking to hawks was common place. "Tell him that was not very nice to do."
 
Well Fauna didn't entirely agree that one yelling at would have set the hawk straight. She gave a small shrug, "maybe." The disbelieving scoff and sarcasm was lost on her. Perhaps she would see him again and figure out why he attacked Rob. It was very strange, she didn't think animals would attack like that. Not without some kind of provocation at least. Animals were nothing like humans. Simpler creatures certainly but that alone made them unlikely to attack or kill unless they were hunting or defending their territory. Maybe Rob's home was too close to a nest. That had to be it. It made the most sense really.

Lost in her thought it took Fauna a moment to realize Rob had moved. His large hand reached out and she stared a moment before realizing he wanted the towel she had used. Her eyes jumped to him, handing over the towel, as he checked her work in the mirror. The bandaging did look good, she was quite proud of how well it was tied. Half-way decent was better than bad so that was good enough for her who had never tied bandaging like that before. Flora grinned some as he studied the work she had done. Though as they stood there she finally noted the acrid smell that was drifting up around them. Mild at first but steadily getting stronger and stronger. Fauna blinked some as her eyes started to water. Her eyes followed the towel as he just dropped it into the burning liquid, head tilting some.

His thanks tore her attention away from the towel that was magically changing color. She looked up at him and smiled, bright and perhaps a little proud. "You are welcome. It was very strange for the hawk to do," she agreed with a slow nod. She was decently well set on having a talk with the hawk at some point, assuming she could go outside alone. Somehow she didn't think Rob would allow that, not yet, and she wasn't about to talk with a hawk in his presence. Rob was probably the best example of humans but she didn't know how well he would handle that. Handle anything she kept from him really. Steadily she was starting to hate lying to him, keeping secrets, but she wasn't sure if he would be frightened of her. Send her back to the labs.

Fauna rubbed her arm with a thoughtful little frown. For the time being he would just have to be careful and not upset the hawk. The real question was: now what? They'd had one heck of an adventure already. What did he do all day? What did humans do? There had to be more that humans did than experiments, Rob didn't seem like that type at all. Though the small answer came with another low, squealing growl. Fauna blinked and grinned sheepishly, pressing her hands to her stomach. She was used to two helping of the paste a day. It wasn't particularly filling but it was sort of food. "Sorry," she said with a small laugh. "I cannot control it."
 
Fauna's grin as still sheepish as Rob ushered her out of the room and into the rest of the house. Back to the cooking lab. A little stronger from some food and rest she stood at the counter to watch, with certain interest, as he cooked. His comment about the hawk was strange. Did humans eat hawks? Maybe humans ate anything. Animals did too, she supposed, and humans were still technically animals. Rulers of their own plane of existence. Clearly curious and yet terrified of things that were different from them. As Fauna watched Rob she wondered if there were more humans like him. Kind, even if gruff, and gentle but strong when needed. For the sake of their world she hoped there were more like him. As for her own world she knew she would need to get back. Once she was healed she would be gone. She would miss Rob, she had already decided, when she was strong enough to fly home.

It was a day unlike any other Fauna had in her life. Quiet, peaceful, no knives or needles, no painful shocks to force changes. For once in her long, painful, twenty five years she knew peace and comfort. While she didn't ask to go outside again, worried the hawk might come back for Rob, she spent a lot of her time at the large glass wall. Window apparently. She loved watching the trees dance in the gentle breeze, feel the sun warm her bare legs through the glass. On occasion Rob might catch animals at the window, curiously lookin in, staring at Fauna with canted heads and flicking tails. Not wanting to shout, or let Rob know things were strange, she just waved and grinned at them through the glass. Often they scattered when Rob made an appearance again, he would only see the flit of wings or the flash of fur disappearing into brush and sky.

She watched the sunset, as much as they could see, through the window. Blue eyes wide with wonder at the colors that danced through the sky. She had never seen something to beautiful. The bright reds, pinks, and oranges as they faded into dark shade of blue and purple. Darker and darker until the sun slipped away and the moon rose. A curious, electric tingle danced across her skin at the sight of it. She had an urge to run out into the darkness and howl. Silly of course and Rob would certainly question the behavior. Still had to pretend to be human. As with their other meals she watched with interest and curiosity as he cooked. Everything he made was delicious and not just because she had only eaten tasteless nutrition paste all her life. Perhaps a little of that was well. She enjoyed his food with nearly a vicious ferocity but used the utensils because that's what humans did. A bit inefficient for eating but if that's what they did then she would obey the social norm.

Eventually it was time to sleep. The oh so comfortable and fluffy bed was welcome as she curled up into the blankets, surrounded by warmth. Sleep came quickly and easily for her. Safe, fully, and wildly comfortable Fauna had not a care or worry to keep her awake. Just as the night prior she was asleep within moments, nested deep in the cozy bed. Though while she felt every bit safe in her waking mind her sleeping mind had other plans.

The same dream. Every night for months. Not so much a dream but a painful, vivid memory. The leather straps were tight on her wrists and ankles, the table tilted up just enough for her to see. Drugs coursed her veins making her movements sluggish yet her mind was as sharp as ever. Her mother had held onto her pained shrieks for a long time. Even as they peeled back flesh from her fingers and hands. It wasn't until the knife bit deep into her belly to open up her guts that she cried out. From then on she shrieked and screamed as the knife slid down, blood oozing and dripping into troughs around the table. They attached cables to her heart, keeping it pumping, keeping her alive as organs were harvested. All tissues was taken and set aside for further use and experimentation. They wanted to know the insides and, after all, they had a second. Fauna could hardly yell, hardly call out. Her mouth felt full of cotton, her tongue and lips unusable. She yelled and screamed but it all came out as unintelligible howling.

Outside of her dreams it had started with small groans. "No...stop...don't hurt her...don't do this...mama..." But the groans grew louder, her body thrashed without drugs and bonds. Her tongue and lips worked fine. Louder and more violent. The blankets were tossed to the ground or entangled around her legs. "No! Mama! Mama!" Sweat glistened on her brow in dewy droplets, it soaked the back of her shirt. Tears slipped down her face as her voice grew into terrified sobbing shrieks. "Stop! Mama! Mama!"
 
Fauna could hear nothing beyond the dream that ravaged her mind. Watching her mother die as she lay helpless on the cold slab. Rob's equally terrified bellows were lost on her as he ran down to her room. Even the door nearly shattering against his weight didn't stop the terrified sobbing and shrieking coming from the girl. Though distantly she thought she heard her name shouted. One of the scientists yelling at her to stop as she still weakly struggled against the leather bonds. Just a moment between the shout of her name and the sudden white hot light.

Fauna's eyes snapped open, a glowing flash of blue and slitted pupils. Her hands gripped the sheets, small tears through the fabric from inhumanly long claws. She sat up with a gasp, a flash of fuzzy, pointed ears in the tangle of her hair. Her teeth bared with a final yell of 'Mama!' Long and sharp teeth, ivory white, glinted in the sudden light. It was all just an instant in the light but she was awake and the flash of oddity was gone. A trick of the light perhaps. Or just a trick of sleepy, panicked brains. Fauna's head whipped over. Normal girl. No teeth, no claws, no ears. Normal girl with tears streaking down her face, her silvery hair in a tangle. Rob was yelling at her but the words were lost. Her blue eyes, once wide with terror, seemed to shrink at his yelling. Like the first night she curled in on herself, sniffing as she clutched the torn sheet.

"I am sorry," she whispered in a hoarse, rasping voice. "The dreams...I cannot control them," she said as she dropped her forehead onto her knees with a shuddering, staccato breath. Every night she got to watch it. Again and again. Still as vivid as ever. Even in the safety of Rob's home the dream had followed her. Watching them cut into her mother, forcing her heart to pump until they were satisfied. Disappointed really. Inside they were just like humans. A waste they had said. Too late of course, the subject was dead. At least they had another, no need to cut into that one. Keep it alive for as long as possible. "I watch as they cut her...every night," Fauna admitted in her whirling sorrow. She felt sick and her throat was raw from screaming. "They made me watch...drugs and straps...helpless."
 
Rob was quiet and all she saw was the darkness behind her eyelids as she rested her face on her knees. The adrenaline and horror from her nightly memory was abating and she was slowly calming down. Small bouts of shivers raced her spine, tingling as the adrenaline washed away. She look tong, slow breaths to calm her racing heart. It helped to calm her even if her raw throat was tight. Even months later it was hard. Losing her mother. Losing the only light in her life. The only one that wasn't them, the human scientists. The grief hadn't healed in that place. Every day a sick, hard reminder of the loss. Not that life while her mother was there had been much better but she had her mother. Then nothing. Nothing until she had managed to escape and Rob had found her.

She heard his foot steps as he approached and lifted her head to look up at him. The tears had stopped and she scrubbed her cheeks. There was something odd in Rob's face. Expressions she hadn't seen but somehow recognized. Though it was quickly fading and dawning confusion replacing it. He had been nearly as terrified as she had been. Were her shrieks that horrifying? She knew she screamed in her sleep. The guards were never shy about throwing cold water on her to make them stop. At least for a little while. Her head tilted some at him and his stammering, distant, confused questions. Fauna winced some as he touched one of the tears she had rent into the blanket. Her heart picked up pace again. Had she lost her control from the dreams? That was new and worrying. Her bright blue, red ringed eyes glanced away. "I...do not know..." she said slowly. How could she explain that away? "I am sorry...I did not meant to rip it," she said contritely as she looked back over to Rob. "I do not know what I do in the dreams," she said as she ran a hand through her damp silvery hair.

Fauna reached up and laid her fingers lightly on his forearm. "Thank you for coming...I did not mean to wake you up. They did not like the dream screams either but they were...not kind about it." Her lips twisted into a chagrined grimace. "They were not kind about anything." Fauna paused and huffed a small sigh. Maybe it was just the receding terror and relief of where she was but she wanted to tell Rob so much more. She thought he deserved to know more. The harder questions was how much. How much could she tell him? Certainly not about what she was. Even if he was kind and seemed to care somewhat she was frightened of how he would react to knowing what she was. "You seemed...scared too. Why scared?" She questioned curiously, trying to divert the subject a bit. Despite her want to explain more about that place she couldn't. Not yet.
 
Fauna blinked at the suddenly defensive tone he took, snatching his arm away from her touch. Fear was something Fauna knew very well and she was certain she had heard fear in his voice, saw it in his eyes. She waited quietly as he tried to explain himself. Her head tilted at him. Not used to this shit. Certainly an understatement especially given the missing pieces about her. Fauna couldn't help a small, amused smirk at the vehement statement. She certainly wasn't used to it either. Maybe the screaming dreams but that was it. She wasn't used to kindness, to someone rushing in while she screamed to see what was wrong. They had just wanted her quiet. She didn't argue with him though, tell him what she had seen in his face. If he wanted to pretend then that was fine with her. She wanted to pretend she was just a normal human. They could pretend together.

He was quiet, lost in his thought and staring into nothingness. So she stayed quiet as well, letting him mull over whatever was going on in his head. She was certain he suspected little about what she was. Fauna assumed that what she was couldn't be common in the human world and likely beyond simple guess work. Though his sudden question made her sit upright in surprise, his eyes suddenly turned to her, boring into her. Her unusually bright blue eyes widened at the partial question and partial accusation. She was quick enough to quell under his gaze and looked away. His tone grew harsher, commanding. He demanded an answer and wouldn't be satisfied unless she gave one. Fauna fiddled with the maimed sheets as she pondered. "I...didn't know their names..." she said slowly, her legs lifting to bend at her chest. She leaned forward, hands on her shins, fingers lightly drumming. That wouldn't be enough. Just enough but also vague enough.

"They were...are...hu-men. Men, all of them men," she said recovering from a fumble. Don't mention human, she was supposed to be human too. "Bad men that did bad things. Bad thing to my mother, bad thing to me, bad things to others. I...don't know who they were...men in coats and masks." She moved a hand just in-front of her mouth and nose to emphasize where the masks covered. "I was born there...mother was not. She came from-" Fauna cut herself off with wide eyes before squeezing them shut. "-from...I cannot remembered...New-new-oral leans. Oral Leans lousy Anna. It does not make sense." Not entirely a lie but not the real truth. "It was...testing. Cutting and prodding. Sample after sample," she gave a little more. Hopefully not too much but she wanted him to be satisfied enough. "I watched them...watched them cut her...all open," she said in a squeaking voice. Leaning forward she buried her face into her knees. "I dream this every night. The sleeping screams made the men angry. Cannot go back..." he face suddenly popped up, eyes wet and ringed in red. "Please...please promise. Do not send me back. Please Rob," she pleaded with him, clearly still afraid he might try and send her back with him. "I will leave when strong enough but...please. Do not."
 
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