“His muzzle seems to be perfectly fine. His head is healing incredibly fast as well.”
“That’s not right! He slammed into a tree going like…like super-fast!”
Those were the words I heard when I woke up. My eyes creaked open and my head hurt massively. I could feel the swelling on my head throb and my brain ache from distress. I couldn’t remember anything except my name.
Why is it always like that? Why is it that the one telling the story either has a tragic back-story, can’t remember anything, or can’t remember his tragic back-story so he makes it up as he goes? Hell, the last novel I read was about an angsty fifteen year who got amnesia after his parents were blown up by a bomb strapped to his dog…
I wish I was kidding.
My eyes creaked open a little more, but all I could process was bright, colorful blurs. I felt like I was being blinded.
“Where…where am I?” I stammered. It actually might’ve taken me several seconds to word it out first and then say it. I was having trouble speaking for some reason.
“He’s awake!” the concerned voice from before shouted. I heard something like clogs hitting the floor; it was in a set of four. There was also something heavy laying on the edge of my bed. I wanted to reach over and grab her hand, assuming that’s what it was, but I was paralyzed everywhere. I could barely move my tongue to speak…
“Where…where am I?” I said only managing to move my jaw up and down.
“You’re at the hospital.” I was suddenly feeling much better. I was safe at least…unfortunately, I still didn’t know where I was. “The doctor is coming.”
I closed my eyes, unable to look at the bright colors and blurry lines any longer. The door nearby opened and four clogs came near my bed.
“How are you today?” the doctor said to me happily. I didn’t like how doctors faked their kindness when talking to patients. It’s part of protocol to be as nice as possible when confronting a patient to avoid scaring them, which could make the situation worse.
“I feel like I just got hit by a truck and I can’t move anything but my jaw. If you can understand anything I’m saying, I’ll be truly surprised.”
“I can understand you just fine. I’ve been a doctor for quite a while so I’ve heard many dialects and accents. Plus, I’ve never heard of a ‘truck’ before. Is it a piece of your home culture? I assume it’s pretty heavy.”
“Don’t dick with me, okay? I need to know what’s wrong with me.”
The doctor scoffed at my impatience and replied smugly, “You fell and this filly here was around at the perfect to help you.”
“Thank you, whoever you are. I kind of can’t move or see right now.”
“My name is Dashie,” the child said confidently. “You came crashing down from the sky like you were a fireball! It was so cool! You tore a hole through the forest and...!”
“That’s enough, little one. We’ve called for your guardian and she’ll be here soon to pick you up. You can wait outside in the waiting area for her.”
“Aw…” I heard the child whine as she left. It was strange. The weight lifted from my bed and I heard two sets of clogs exit the room. I felt my heartbeat quicken. Was I alone again? It didn’t make sense!
“Doctor?” I whimpered sadly.”
“Yes?”
“Oh, okay. I thought you left.”
“Nope. I’m going to be here for a while now. It seems that we don’t have any record of you anywhere in our archives. Where are you from?”
“I…uh…can’t remember. I think it was called Illinois?”
“I’ve never heard of such a place, but I’ll check. Would you please offer us a name?”
My name? I had a sudden urge to lie to the good doctor. I didn’t have it in me to tell her my name…
Why? It’s just my name. There isn’t much to it, so why was did I become so anxious at the mention of my name.
“I…I don’t remember…” I lied. It would be a stretch for me to say that I wasn’t really lying (seeing that I really didn’t remember and I hadn’t actually specified what I didn’t remember), but it made me feel a little better for doing so.
“Oh…well…what do you remember? It might make it easier for us to figure out where you’re from.”
“I…I don’t remember anything.” Now that was a lie and my conscious suddenly hurt.
“Hmm…” the doctor said softly. “Well, for the being we’ll have to call you something. Would you prefer John Doe or something of your choosing?”
“I just want to sleep…” I lied. I actually wanted my head to stop hurting and sleep seemed to be the only way to help. I contemplated asking for drugs for half a second, but I don’t think they’d go with it. I did look like a stoner.
“Okay then. I’ll be back when you wake up.” Four feet left. I still couldn’t quite figure it out.
I decided to ignore it all; it seemed to be a better choice. I didn’t want to overwork myself over something insignificant. Instead, I took several deep breaths in and closed my eyes, blocking the blinding lights. I could already feel my headache dispersing…and it felt glorious.
Slumber soon overtook me, and I found myself flying for a few seconds…I’ve always wanted to fly. Ever since I was a child, flight was my dream; not with planes but with wings or maybe like Superman. I didn’t care. I wanted to soar through clouds, grabbing them and throwing fluffy balls at my friends. I wanted to see the ground below and everyone else like ants.
What if that’s what made me lose my memories? I tried to fly and I hit my head like that little girl said. It made sense, but I don’t see why I would try to fly without some kind of apparatus or a plane. Humans can’t naturally fly.
Waking up was the strangest sensation I had ever felt up to that point in my life. I felt tingly all over and I felt like I could run for miles. A permanent adrenaline rush. Unfortunately, I still couldn’t see…only this time everything was dark, a stark contrast to blinding brightness before. There was a flickering lamp across from me and my bed didn’t feel the same as before. This one felt harder, like it was on the floor.
I decided to take everything slow. My head still ached, but significantly less than before. I stretched my arm out and felt the two things: something feathery and what felt like a smooth concrete floor.
I was lying on the floor and apparently there was a really big bird lying next to me. I became curious and started searching for the bird, tracing the wing to its body.
Unfortunately, the body was mine. I made a confused face and poked it roughly, wincing at the pain I caused myself. I yelped with terror coursing through me.
“Ah!!” I screamed, leaping out the bed and scrambling to keep myself on my feet. My legs shook violently and my knees buckled awkwardly and I collapsed. I could feel my new appendages flapping wildly…
It felt…disturbing. Having something new like that…just waving around without my control but a part of me…it felt sick. I wanted to throw up.
So I did…
“Oh no! Master has gotten sick!!” I heard nearby. “Oh no no no no! Why were you on my bed, Master? You shouldn’t be on the floor!”
I heard four bare feet come galloping towards me from across the room. I felt someone or something lift me up with ease and carry me to a soft be across the room. I didn’t react to it at all, despite the person’s hands feeling like…well nothing I had ever felt before. They did feel kind of furry. Plus, did he call me “master”?
I also didn’t react when the person didn’t react to the fact that I had wings. I was too confused by the whole situation to even care. It’s not every day you wake up with wings.
“I’ll be right back, Master,” he said before leaving.
I was alone again…and I hurt from it…
I need him back. I needed answers. I needed something to fill that void around me. I didn’t care who it was. Then I felt that void disappear...like a sixth sense had just activated. There was someone nearby.
“Hello?” I said aloud, worry and anxiety coursing through me.
It is difficult, is it not?
“What?” There was no voice, but I still heard them. It felt like something was shoving their words to the forefront of my mind.
Adjusting your eyes will hurt, but at least the darkness will not frighten you.
“What’s going on?”
The heart shall carry to your armor and the soul to your sword.
“I don’t understand…”
Do not worry, young one. I will be here. There is much for you to learn.
“And you’re kind of starting to piss me off…”
Careful. Rage always leads to suffering. Stow your hatred and impatience and spite.
“I swear to God, I will kick your ass if you don’t stop with the cryptic speaking!”
They didn’t respond. At first, I thought they were just angry with my threat because I went against what they had specifically told me not to do. Then after a few more moments of prolonged silence, I could feel the void embracing me again. I felt cold and lost and more confused than ever.
I began breathing heavily, sporadically exhaling. My new limbs fell flat and my body lost its adrenaline rush. I felt all the energy I had drain from me. I don’t know what happened next, but my apparent servant stayed by my bedside until I woke up the next day.
Even when I woke up without wings…