My long nails wrapped around the old wooden boards of the train tracks buried amongst layers of grey gravel. The steel beams running either side were boiled under the sun slowly cooking them and my own body. 319Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOO8PFww1LG
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The sky was clear, as it had been for a week now, with not a grey cloud in the sky. It was the perfect temperature too. The air was cool but not cold enough to freeze me or hot enough to choke me. It was pleasant to idle in on my wander to the house in the distance. 319Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYkKRAUB0BF
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I kept my eyes locked on the tracks running as far as the eye could see through overgrown fields of grass that rippled like water in the breeze. My pace turned to excited running and my heart gripped at my chest when I saw a flash of orange and blue emerge from the house in the distance. 319Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIJShs1KZH3
319Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBe7tEAVemW
I bounded over the river and paused on the other side where people were moving across the empty road to the shops lined either side. 319Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡikjX08hnMR
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I was in clear sight of them now. 319Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡR4t62uxo3o
319Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8BsGMOG2AL
"Soup!" the tiny voice blew on the breeze to catch my attention again. 319Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWSmoBjfbOf
It was so faint, but it was the sound I was waiting for. 319Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3h8FI02rB5
319Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡD1tu5BiDlH
A portly man approached the tracks as quick as his waddling body allowed, placing distance between us so he could squint in the direction of the house. 319Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGNXIqURpzE
319Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1M9YqFWuNb
He was the news agency owner here. His balding head with a halo of grey hair and leathery skin once roughed by laborious work in his youth was easily distinguishable. 319Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWaBaFrUdYA
His corner-shop was only a few meters from the tracks so he could have the time to waddle out each afternoon I made my appearance to make himself known. 319Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDkQFHO624C
319Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMaw5nNTc3V
I used to call him Bartleby. He preferred Bartie.319Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVV9PpdUjxl
319Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGWHfNfPktY
"MISSY!" Bartie cupped his hands around his mouth before pointing them to me "you've got to stop feeding the beast!" 319Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqyK4NMRJZD
319Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYdDEeOzc4J
I snickered at his concern and walked past Bartie before he cleared his throat to halt me. 319Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2YynnhsVvI
319Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2tUPbRIkAK
"You be good to her, Soup, you hear?" he scowled and waved a finger to me "I'll know if you do anything to her!" 319Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnDMWP12hvL
319Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡx9lP2hJ3l7
He had no reason to worry so much. It was the same empty threat he had been giving me for three months straight now. 319Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9S2rSP1trV
I just shook off Bartie's concern and raced for the woman waving for me to come. 319Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3UEc1YqWnZ
319Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDTQBc1ite2
I was smitten with her. She was so kind and had this wonderful light voice that was rougher around the edges. She had the most adorable freckles painted on her face and a lovely round body that she liked to swamp in knitted jumpers or flowing dresses she made. 319Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcqFm6A0DWf
319Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4RE2v5B0z9
When her features began to form on the figure bobbing closer into focus, I grinned wildly and pushed myself to sprint for her laughing face bent down to search for me through the sea of grass. I swam through it to break through to her open gate held back for me. Her scooter was heaved back into its stand here too. 319Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvmpbVj6ZPI
319Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5aR1rkI476
Missy stood on the wooden stairs to her porch hugging the front half of her little wooden home. It was a very cost place made entirely of old wood painted in a muted green. 319Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3cTB1KUakO
It had herbs growing in the windows glimpsing into her sewing room in the left where she had spools of fabric hung on the wall next to her machine and dotted cloth mannequins. 319Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡf3FrfOMeDL
319Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzxQt8RxOLz
Her right window had parts of her kitchen on show. I had peered into it a few times when I had been too eager to wait, watching her cook on her gas oven nestled within stone countertops while she shooed me away with a smile. 319Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡddu3Dh1ZEx
319Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzECra5WylG
Missy had the window wide open to waft out the smell of the food she had been cooking. The rich beef spiralled around the earthy tones of stock and tangy herbs freshly plucked from her windows. I could smell the carrots and buttery pumpkin I knew were harvested from her garden nestled out the back. 319Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFiG4rSpIFT
319Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGA2ei2UxLj
That's how we had met. I had been raiding her gardens at night before she caught me and chased me off. After a few nights of futile attempts to stop me, and several vegetables left discarded in my escape, she started offering me her leftovers before it became proper meals. 319Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ51e17JF1r6
319Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJKlYqD4KAD
She didn't know what to call me, so she called me Soup. It was her favourite thing to feed me, and the easiest on her budget made selling homemade dresses. 319Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9f0kMeV7j7
319Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1lLpYBoocP
"Soup!" Missy cooed down to me waiting at the bottom of her stairs "I missed you! I'll grab your food. I think you'll like it today." 319Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxPNm4uyyTx
319Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡuRDS6ro3Eq
I liked how her voice rose excitedly when she saw me. It sounded like she was greeting a lifelong pet dear to her heart. I didn’t mind that; I was just glad she loved me so dearly to put this much effort into caring for me. 319Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxqAOpLITKl
319Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQxZjaReR0u
"Beef soup with my own vegetables and the local meat. I cooked it with teriyaki before putting it in" Missy exclaimed as she returned carrying two stone bowls and carefully placing one down on the grass for me. 319Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRcbbWJ6vHa
319Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9NO7UJhtXZ
My mouth was watering when I saw the mixture of colours beside me. Steam spiralled from the fresh meal Missy set down so she could fan out her checkered blue and white dress to sit on the stairs. 319Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡaHztHy1pf9
319Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡuwT0ms0rEq
She cradled her soup in her lap while I blew onto mine to try and cool it enough to scoff it down. 319Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLqEGjSswxL
My stomach was begging for the hot meal that little birds and discarded rubbish along the roads could never satisfy. 319Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxcVNHbl0GA
319Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdqRgTAV6yJ
"Thank you" I grinned to her and wrapped my hands around the hot bowl so I could lift myself onto my legs and drink it down. 319Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTQUABfc0jF
Soup spilled down my chest to burn trails down my skin before I could swipe then up. The chunks of beef were chewy and wedged between my teeth. The bitter teriyaki coated all its layers to bring out the meaty flavour. 319Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3E3Ahsc0YT
319Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSCEcGivsWR
It was the cheap meat again. I don't think Missy could afford anything like the ones that fell from the bone or had soft marbles of fat throughout rather than thick coats. 319Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPFMZ5t81ad
319Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVTuG3BgQhk
She grinned and watched me try to keep my balance as I felt the meal burn a new hole in my stomach that growled for more. My legs trembled, not used to being so relied upon when I had all four of my limbs to power me effortlessly now. 319Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUWdD1THX7t
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I placed the bowl beside her and lowered myself back down. 319Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡc53ACJ7o8A
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"More please" I pointed.319Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtiQOe3KFro
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She couldn't understand me but smiled like she had. All she heard were the same noises I did whenever I spoke in this form. It was just a mixture of growls and low snaps that I preferred to keep quiet, so I didn't scare her. 319Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZLTzDQLf0m
319Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUUGgfqfPdO
Missy liked it when I talked to her, and I liked it when I made Missy happy. 319Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjMDToaFPW1
319Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcXK6INXwrd
"You're hungry today" she mused "did I not feed you enough yesterday?" 319Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9hqYY4P7QW
319Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡakweg6JOZM
I just smiled and watched her retreat back inside, leaving her bowl on the stairs. 319Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzT1cidMuTf
319Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpdk8lqCHfK
Missy was the type of person I would grow old with as a human. I often let my mind wander to what we could be if I hid behind my skin again as a human and tried to form a relationship with her in this home built for two. 319Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIk5MFAQVTv
319Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmfwphq1EcB
Despite having a sunny personality and being loved in town, Missy liked her quiet life. She didn't want her heart to be broken or taken advantage of. She was worried she was too poor to ever please a man or mother children. She hated that she was too scared to reach out and form those connections. 319Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTJ4sjaCoxo
319Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOTvKZBReGC
She liked me because I was an animal to her. I had no commitments other than one hot meal a day. I wasn't going to make her sad or upset her simple lifestyle with big ambitions. I didn't drain her trickling budget or offer anything outside the trinkets of lost belongings or junk I presented her with. 319Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSu1i9n8LF7
319Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHYLFnHIXfQ
I didn't want to ruin that. I kept in this form and didn't dare to try and act on my daydreams of being accepted into her life as her partner with open arms. 319Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYaOsmSkmve
319Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWS5VIL2sYd
I ate my soup and accepted her new name for me that spread through the town. It was simple and the way things were. 319Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡum2VoGZLQy
319Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOZ60ks2vre
"Here we go!" Missy returned from the house along with two slices of crusty sourdough she had pushed into the bowl "buttered it for you too, you greedy guts. I'm surprised you didn't eat mine." 319Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJCIOArFr60
319Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6MUSxoXu8d
I was lucky to have her. She was too kind to be so afraid of life itself. Missy deserved more than it was handing her.319Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDss1ZP0DMw
319Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5RPaU7b6Hk
I took the filled bowl to drop one of the slices of bread into her own before shovelling this one down greedily. 319Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡewjnXmhEky
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I could feel the warmth of it leaking down my front from the inside and bubble in my gut gurgling from so much liquid drowning it at once. 319Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpn0DXTTJ8S
319Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRszYWWXa2v
I snapped down the tough meat, licked the bowl, then headed back for the wall of grass awaiting me. 319Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYxPgjvU9xP
319Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡH4DGG2LT1m
"See you tomorrow?" Missy called out with a worried frown. 319Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtel8VmFAtp
319Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡODbU3NN24Y
Of course, she would. I would never leave her wondering where I had gone. 319Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2f1w0625w9
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I nodded and disappeared into the grass to follow the train tracks back to the East. 319Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5iFAh8bsZV
319Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIXzwwLTKqF
I stared up at the moon nestled in amongst the glittering stars from my grassy ledge curved over several meters from the tracks behind me. 319Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9MOqIArK07
319Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ94j9Tj06bn
The field surrounding me was dancing with wildflowers that stirred at the touch of glowing fireflies blinking through the air like showers of floating embers. 319Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡebnoVWIPNu
319Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJC7692F7jB
They flitted like fire in the cool air and amongst the flowers. The fireflies reached for the stars themselves and I watched them ascend to the dusted void above. 319Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCxRCmCQsGS
319Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3hgjvTLnff
It was so peaceful here with only the moonlight basking over the land. There was no artificial glow of streetlights or the sound of cars screeching on tar. The only sound piercing through the silence was the scraping of metal as the train thundered by on its nightly route to distant towns. Each lit window slashed over the grass below, reminding me of the loud and bright reality amongst the dark serenity until it was gone again. 319Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOiVN8qnCMR
319Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHzbjxp0O7A
One day I might go visit those places. For now, I had my reason to stay here. 319Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdt1FtpM2la
I wonder if she just stopped to stare at the beauty of the moon too. Maybe she sewed in her room while wondering about things beyond her reach like I did? 319Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9IoOSlUdd8
319Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIJDKuW3vjH
I smiled at the moon and laid back, so I didn't have to take my eyes from it. 319Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOH9unYnyFD
The soft grass would be my bed tonight. Usually, I roamed for food or trash on the roadside for several kilometres to try and salvage something until sleep sapped my energy and I collapsed wherever I was. 319Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQkexkhasca
319Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxfKFEcHaxI
The moonlit field of fireflies would be nice tonight. I could wait until Missy gifted me with her wonderful food tomorrow. 319Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5JHFPT1XnW
319Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJmaDtWJg9p
I curled up with my hands wrapped around me, pretending they were hers cradling me and breathing warmth into me. 319Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTh8xoR5585
319Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGbZSWB53D7
One day...
Penana
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